Mommy Pehpot, Author at Mommy Pehpot

Plan Ahead And Save Money

I am still not back on track. There is so much I want to tell about our pre Holiday vacation at Widus, our simple Holiday (and stress free!) feast.. and a lot more about the year that was and this year that is quickly unfolding!

But before everything, I juts have to share this article because this what we all need right now! So sit back and do some reading before you start computing how much money you still got.
Food With a View — Saving Money on Meals By Planning Ahead

Expensive as they are fun, the Christmas and New Year celebrations may already seem like a distant memory as 2015 is already under way. That’s until you receive your credit card invoice or arrive at the grocery store cash register and are reminded of all the money that you’ve spent or about to part with!

The good news is that there’s plenty of time between now and when the festive season rolls around again. The better news is that there’s time to save money in between on your grocery shopping. You just have to plan ahead.

Take an inventory

Don’t just dash off down to the grocery story with a shopping bag and a fistful of dollars! Take a good look at what you’ve got stored away in your cupboards and fridge freezer before you buy any groceries. Then you can make a list of what you need and avoid buying stuff that you already have in and, ultimately, keep more of those hard-earned dollars for next week’s shop.

Plan your meals for the week

Thinking ahead about what you and the family are going to eat will leave you with more money in your pocket. Look for recipes that use the same ingredients, which will make it less necessary to buy as much of them, or of extra ingredients, so that the foods you already have in last longer. It’s also a chance to save money by buying larger packs of food for certain meals, rather than separately. We all know buying in bulk saves money, right!

Remember to freeze!

blanched veggies ready for freezing

Buying fresh food all the time can really ratchet up your shopping bill. Before foods go out of date, store them away in a Hotpoint fridge freezer. You can defrost them for use later.

Manage your money and show willpower

Credit cards are a double-edged sword when it comes to shopping — it’s so gloriously convenient and easy to just place things on the card, which includes stuff that you don’t really need (but feel you must have!). Of course, you’ll have to pay charges for using the card too, and that adds to the expense. Instead, estimate how much your shop should come to and draw out the cash to cover it. Then, when you start shopping, stick to paying in cash and you’ll find that you’re more careful with the money. This remarkable feat of restraint will save you dollars!

It really does pay, almost literally, to plan your meals ahead and what you’ll buy. Don’t forget, saving as you go can leave you with more money at the end of the year for the next big Christmas shop! You wouldn’t want to be without that turkey at Christmas time!

Image by Mike Schmid, used under Creative Commons license

So do you plan ahead to save money? What are your money saving tips? Share it with us!

What You Need to Know Before You Buy a Maid Service Franchise

If you are thinking about starting a cleaning business, odds are that you have thought about buying a franchise. And while franchises do offer a number of benefits over starting a business from scratch there are a few things that you need to know before you sign on the dotted line.

Franchise model
Experts have long come to the conclusion that the franchise model is one of the best business models out there. It leverages the knowledge and experience of one entrepreneur and duplicates it time and time again through franchisees in order to expand the brand. At the end of the day, a franchisee is really just an investor. In exchange for their investment (in the form of franchise fees and ongoing royalty payments), the franchisee gets to use a well-established brand identity and a how to manual for running a successful business. The franchisor can then take that cashand continue to grow the business while the franchisee can run their own business at a much lower risk than if they’d tried to start one from scratch. It’s a total win-win for everyone.

Risk tolerance
Starting a business, any business, is risky. However, while franchising is not without risk, the risk is considerably lower than by starting the business from scratch. This is because the brand is already well known and has a customer base waiting. Evaluating your risk tolerance will go a long way to determining what franchise to buy, if any. Make sure you can handle the risk before you write the check.

Obligations
Franchising a business does not give you a carte blanche pass to running the business however you feel is right. There are obligations, on both sides, that have to be honored in order for a franchise to work. The franchisee will have to ensure that they are offering the right services, at the right prices, using the approved equipment, and at the right hours while the franchisor must provide training and offer ongoing support. It’s important to understand all of the obligations that you are expected to meet as well as what the franchisor is responsible for before you sign on the dotted line.

Finances
Make sure you meet the minimum financial requirement before you dig in. Not only will you need to pay the initial franchise fee, but most will require you to have 6 months to a year’s worth of expenses set aside before they will approve you to own a franchise. This can be a hefty amount of cash.

How to Find Cleaning Business Franchises
The easiest way to find cleaning business opportunities is to run an Internet search. Look for maid service franchises, cleaning service franchises and house cleaning franchises to start.

Do Your Homework
Look over the franchisor’s financial disclosure documents, talk to existing franchisees and see what their thoughts are, and check out the business with various regulatory agencies to ensure that the franchisor is on the up and up. There is little recourse you will have if you write the check and the franchisor disappears with your money.

If you are in the market for a cleaning business franchise, there are things you should do to protect yourself. But, if you take the proper steps, you’ll be a successful cleaning business owner in no time.

What do you think? Is it best to franchise or start from scratch when putting up a cleaning business?

My Fearless Pinays List For 2014

In event held at Enderun last November, Whisper encourage Filipinas to shed their inhibitions and be bold and fearless.

A theatrical mime showed how the “mahinhin” culture and concerns about “tagos” holds women back from fully engaging in activities they like. And then the All-Girls Division Champions of the 2014 South East Asian Cheer leading Open DLSU Animo Squad demonstrated the exhilarating freedom that comes with unencumbered movement. Pole Cats also gave a mesmerizing performance to demonstrate how women can take control of their situation. Race car driver Michele Bumgarner shared her story on how she reached the top of male-dominated field through confidence and determination.

The Fearless Whisper event inspired me to make my very own Fearless Pinays List! Fearless woman is one who breaks the norm and stands up to what she believes in and get what she deserves!

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago because she said she eats death threats for breakfast (source). And not only that, while still recuperating from cancer (it was reported that 90% of her cancer cells have regressed), she’s working like it was just another ordinary day: (source)

I have managed to discharge my duties as chair of certain Senate committees. In addition, I continue to file bills and resolutions on weekly basis. I have also managed to discharge some speaking obligations, on condition that the event will not last more than two hours, which is my physical limit at this time.

And being you’d think this Senator is all work and no play? She published her very own humor book! A compilation of speeches, one liners and jokes delivered by the Senator.. this is one of my favorite quotes:

“Hindi naman ako mataba eh. In fact, I’m so sexy that it overflows.”

You can’t get any fearless than that!<

Another woman that I admire and should be on my Fearless Pinay list is the mommy blogger behind the Totally Homemade Sweet Treats And Savory Sidekicks, Bebeng:

Watching her grow.. para akong nanay na proud sa isang anak!

I admire her guts and how she made a successful food business from bananas while being a full time mom to Pia (and a full time virtual flirt to her military husband).

(READ>> “It All Began with Bananas”: Denise Rayala of Bebeng’s Kitchen Shares Her Story )

Sharing you her very inspiring quotes on success:

“Success is unreachable for those who make excuses all the time.”

Last on my list is my sister..

It would be her first Christmas away from us. She’s now living in London chasing her dreams. She had to leave the comfort she used to and her son. And I know how hard it was for her but she’s really trying. Her move to leave the country and get out of her comfort zone made her the fearless woman that I admire.. but dearly miss! ahuhu

Share with me your Fearless Pinay List!

**** Through their #Fearless campaign, Whisper encourages women to be part of the new breed of forward-thinking women who challenge the norm and show that nothing can hold them back.Whisper Cottony Long is every young fearless woman’s best friend in her journey to be her fun, fearless self. It gives up to 100% no back leaks encouraging women to stand up with confidence and take control of their lives.

One fearless trivia: In a world where the norm is for a man to pursue a woman, yours truly made a move to pursue the man that I want. It was such a bold move but it was worth it!