The easiest way to save money

If anyone asks me, what's the easiest way to save money, i would say, it's to automate savings and investment! It's a money saving hack everyone with a payroll account should do.

Based on my experience, i'm just too lazy to keep a separate account for my savings. What i did back then was to manually deposit my saving to a separate bank account (with a different bank, i should add) with a passbook. I used a passbook account separate from my payroll ATM because I simply don't trust myself not to touch what remains in my atm account.

However doing the actual task of  depositing every payday seemed tedious. The bank is literally steps away from my office, yet i'm  too lazy to go there in person to deposit my fund. Sometimes the lines at the teller are just too long or i just can't spare a few minutes because i'm way too busy at work. (Yes, i know, there are too many excuses.)

Then i tried opening a separate savings account which i can access via online banking.

Yes, at first, it worked because i no longer have to personally go to the bank to deposit. But i just find it too hard to just leave the money there especially at "petsa de peligro" days - those few days just before the next paycheck, if you know what I mean.

I tried to discipline myself and be responsible, but it was just too easy to transfer money from my designated savings account to my payroll  via online.

This left me  with zilch amount of savings by the end of the month!

So i thought of some other way for me to easily tuck away my money and yet  it would take an effort  to withdraw.

In comes the "hidden" wonders of automatic banking.

Image from consumerfinance.gov

Did you know that some banks allow you to "automatically" save and  directly invest a portion of your salary regularly?

DIY Play dough

How's your child's summer break so far? My son's classes have ended three weeks ago so he's at home the entire day. IT IS a challenge to keep him busy, but i manage to squeeze in a few ways to he keep his hands off the Ipad even just for a few hours.

His most requested activities so far include making volcanoes (you know the reaction when you mix baking soda with vinegar?) and play dough. These keep him busy for a while and i like it because he's able to practice his fine motor skills on a sit down activity.

Let me share how we make our own play dough.  I found several different versions online, but the recipe below seems to be the simplest and i readily had three main ingredients in our pantry.

"Thou shall not fear the Credit Card"

Yes! You read it right. This has been my mantra these past few months. Expenses have been piling up and I had to resort to swiping the dreaded card more than i planned to just last month. Honestly, i think my goal of having zero credit card debt seems unreachable this year. I originally planned to eliminate using "plastic", but we had a huge unexpected expense last November, and i needed to take an emergency loan from our cooperative. I had to pay the loan for 3 years, at Php 6000 monthly. This loan made a big dent in our family fund, sending my budget on haywire. I ended up relying on the credit card for daily needs like groceries, school requirements, even gasoline, along with some little indulgences like dining out here and there.

Test of my conviction

I had to look twice or thrice when i checked my stock portfolio at COL today. I'm seeing MOSTLY RED in my account! Wait, what? Even my prime blue chips are in the red? I was so used to  just seeing 1 or 2 of my basura stocks plunging. But in the last few days my entire portfolio is in that deep, pathetic bloody color. Is the dreaded market correction finally here?

Of course don't trust me on that. I am a newbie stock market investor, just got in last September! That's why i get so jittery whenever I log in to my COL account these days. Hhmmm i need to relax and think this through. I have to look at the bigger picture.

SAVE or SPLURGE: A new mom's guide to saving (Part 3)

Raising a child can really be costly, don't you agree? But practical parents always find baby products and gear that give the best bang for their precious bucks!

Here's the third installment of my series on buying guide for your baby and/or toddler.

Breast pump parts that need extra TLC

My relationship with my current breast pump is about 20 months.... and still going strong! I'm the burara type so that's really an achievement. Before finding this "one" pump, i road tested two other pumps. Read about my review of my other pumps here. At first, i was reluctant  to  invest in an expensive double electric breast pump because i was afraid i'd wreck it!

My Diaper Bag Checklist

Baby's diaper bag is the one constant accessory we've been carrying around since baby came. This bag can make or break a trip so it pay to be a smart packer! It holds pretty much everything your child needs for the day.

A few years back a friend gave out a "Diaper Bag Checklist" during a baby shower! I kept this all these years because i knew it would be helpful.  Do you notice how moms are obsessed about lists ... from shopping list, gift list.. etc. May be this is their last ditch effort to be more organized?  Who knew that keeping true to this list can be such a back-breaking task?  You see, hubby carries THE BAG more than i do, so i don't realize just how heavy and how hard it was to lug around! Imagine walking around for hours carrying extra kilos hanging on you shoulder. 

SAVE or SPLURGE: A new mom's guide to saving (Part 2)

Making the most out of the baby products we buy is the key here.  I didn't realize items for my little guy can cost even more than our one month's worth of grocery!

So parents should always  read up and check out the pros and cons before actually buying. It also pays "where" you get the items. I've noticed that baby products are more pricey in the malls, compared to online shops or bazaars. There are also select items in second hand stores and thrift shops, if you have an eye for bargain hunting.

Here are 5 more baby products and gears plus some  tips before getting them.

Baby bottles

• I suggest to SPLURGE on baby bottles! We use them primarily used as breast milk  storage because my son stopped feeding from synthetic nipples at 8 months.  He drank his milk from cup or through a big syringe without the needle. We invested in bottles made with hard and thicker plastic, so they don't expand or contract when exposed to high heat when i sterilize them.


• You can also get bottles that are convertible. Some brands have a line of sealing discs, spouts and handles which fit the screws of the feeding bottles.  Get the a spout to convert it into a cup. Or just get a sealing disc to make it a storage bottle.


• If  breastfeeding, choose small bottles -  those  with 4 to 5 oz capacity. Breastfed babies feed more frequently but in small quantities.


• Actually, it does not matter what brand you choose, but always choose BPA free bottles or plastic utensils for your baby. Bisphenol A  (BPA) is a chemical used in making plastics. Too much exposure to this may cause developmental defects in newborns, according to some studies done on animals. Based on La Leche Leagues's Breastfeeding Answer Book, plastics with the recycling symbol # 1,2,4 or 5 and/or PP are BPA free. Look for this symbol at the bottom of the bottle.

Baby rocker

• It's a tossup between SAVE and  SPLURGE  on this one. Actually we did not use  a rocker then, but we bought one.  The problem is we bought it late so we did not maximize its use. P was "malikot" and more mobile and resisted being put in the rocker.  I suggest to buy it as early as possible so your baby can use it longer.


• Always check to weight limit of the rocker, that can give you an idea how much longer you baby can use it.Look for straps to make sure baby is securely placed on it.


• The biggest come-on (for me) when we got this one is that it has music and lights - which should have come secondary to the rocker's structural design.

[caption id="attachment_2357" align="aligncenter" width="300"] We bought this rocker when baby was around 7 months, only to realize he's about to reach the weight limit![/caption]

Safety gate 

• A safety gate is a must to prevent your toddler from getting to hazardous places like the kitchen or stairs.  SAVE on this by checking online stores or second hand stores or thrift shops. Believe me, once they start walking they'll  try to get to these  areas when you're  not looking! They usually start walking around 9 to 13 months.


• Make sure that the safety gate is easy to install but at the same time sturdy.  Make sure they fit right on your doorway so it won't fall down when your child swings on it. Believe me, he will! 

[caption id="attachment_2424" align="aligncenter" width="225"] We bought a safety gate like this for P1,000 in a thrift store along McArthur Highway in Valenzuela. Source of photo: ebay[/caption]

 High chair

• You can SAVE on a high chair if you check out thrift stores. (As you may notice by now, we are a fond of bargain hunting!) 


• You can get a high chair when the baby starts to sit on his own, that's around 6 months for our baby.

[caption id="attachment_2423" align="aligncenter" width="300"] We got this high chair from a thrift shop along Del Monte Ave in QC for only P800.00. This converts into a swing by pushing down the back panel. When baby was younger, he would actually sleep on this.[/caption]

• Look for a high chair with a heavy and wide base. This adds to the stability of the chair. Sturdy highchairs won't topple down when your child reaches out to grab on something.


• Straps are a must for high chairs so you're secure as he sits on this. I once sat may baby down, and being to small, he almost slipped down because i forgot to strap him.

Baby shoes

• SAVE  your bucks rather than spend it on too many baby shoes! Baby feet grow so fast! At 12 months, i think we got  about 12 shoes for P din! He just kept on outgrowing them.


• I can't emphasize enough how important it is to get the right size for your kid. Always have some allowance, but not too large for his feet.

Every family's need is unique so take time to check if you really need to get these items. Do diligent research before buying big ticket items like a rocker or a  high chair.  Avoid buying on a whim or else you won't have time to analyze the product's features.

Shopping for baby is always happy time for me! It even get happier when you know that your every purchase is worth it.

Also worth reading:

• A new mom's guide to saving (Part1) 

***

Rights of the Filipina Working Mom

I have just about 16 months of motherhood and i could not ask for anything more! Being a mother has totally met, and oftentimes,  exceeded,  my expectations. I also have the rest of my life being the doting mommy to this wonderful little human being! It's been just over a year and i think i've changed a lot, for the better i hope! Mother's Day is just around the corner and what better way to remember this day than to list down some of the rights of Pinay working mommies!

Maternity leave

• Every regularly employed mom should be given about one month paid maternity leave by her company after a normal delivery. Maternity leave after CS is about 78 days (approximately three months). She can also take two weeks off before her expected date of delivery.  The bad news ,  i think this, this applies to REGULAR employees only. The leave arrangement varies for contractual or project-based workers.


• In hindsight, i'm actually thankful that i had c-section, i had 3 months time off with my newborn!  But did you know the Filipino moms have a short period of maternity leave compared to other countries? In Norway, which is among the best place for moms according to the 2013 State of the World's Moms, maternity leave lasts for 36 to 46 weeks! In Denmark, maternity leave is 0ne year! I'd love to have given birth there! haha


• Imagine if Filipino moms have longer time off after giving birth. They'll have longer time to bond with baby.  Surely, they'll breastfeed longer! Some moms stop breastfeeding after the first month because they have to return to work already!

Maternity allowance

• Aside from paid time off, working moms who are pregnant are entitled to   SSS maternity benefit. This is cash allowance for female workers who are not able to work because of  child birth or miscarriage.  Naturally, the SSS maternity benefit is larger for CS cases. Click here for the computation.


• This benefit can only be released to you if your SSS records and contributions are in order.  So better review the records and notify your HR as soon as you confirmed your pregnancy. You'll have to file an SSS maternity notification form. If you undergo cesarean delivery, you should submit a medical certificate from your OB. By the way, even a self- employed or contractual worker moms can avail of this maternity benefit.


• Ideally, you should receive the SSS check one month before your expected date of delivery. The SSS maternity benefit i got was spent to buy a swanky double electric breast pump! So better have this in order, sayang din ang benefit na ito!

Health coverage 

• Working moms are entitled to health benefit coverage when they give birth.  This mean that upon billing, hospitals are required to deduct this  coverage from your bill.  This automatic deduction will only happen if your records are updated and you have processed the required documents. You need to submit Philhealth Claim Form 1 to your hospital (make sure that the hospital is Philhealth-accredited). You also need your latest available Member Data Record, which you can get from your Human Resource Department or from the Philhealth office where you pay your premiums.  Click this for more information on Philhealth  medical availments.


• If these papers are not in order upon your checkout, you'll have to personally file for reimbursement. That's totally a hassle and the reimbursement check will be released after two loooonnggg  months.


• For normal delivery the amount deducted is P6,500 to P8,000 (depending on type of hospital). For cesarean delivery, the Philhealth coverage is P19,000. Read this for more information about Philhealth coverage.


• Lucky are those with HMO that cover at least a portion of the maternity bill!

Lactation breaks

• I know I sound like a broken record when i say, "Breastfeeding is possible even after you return to work"! BUT IT'S TRUE! By law, employers should give lactation breaks - at least 40 minutes within an 8-hour period to pump milk at work.  But the problem is not all offices or companies provide accessible lactation stations, which make expressing breast milk much more comfortable. This is among the reasons why breastfeeding while working is such a challenge!

Skin-to-skin contact right after giving birth

• This is not just for working moms! All moms should be given ample time right after giving birth to bond and experience "breast crawl".  This is among my frustrations, since it was an emergency cs delivery for me and my baby was not well enough. He had a hard time breathing during the first hour!


• According to the Department of Health, "Unang Yakap" helps decrease new born mortality and it increases bonding between mom and her infant. I do hope i get to do this on my next pregnancy! For preggy mommies, ask your OB about the hospital's protocol about this.

Happy Mother's Day to all especially to Pinay working moms!  I wish that every mommy be empowered to KNOW and ASSERT her right!

Also worth reading:

• Downloadables for pregnant moms and mos to be


• Alarming facts about breastfeeding in the Philippines


• For breast milk givers and takers

***

Saving Up for Baby's College Fund

Providing the best possible future for one's child is every parent's dream.  This is high up there in my life list of to do's! So much of giving him the best future depends on whether he goes and finishes college.  Putting a child through college is such an achievement and i really admire parents who did just this for their children. I have such high respect for parents who prioritize the education of their child and i do hope that when our time to spend on education comes, we can and will be able to afford it!

[caption id="attachment_2080" align="aligncenter" width="214"] Putting a child through college is a life feat we're willing to face head on! Source of photo: alabama.gov[/caption]

So this early, i have started to stash part of my meager salary to start saving for baby's college fund! Starting to save for the future (for me, that's 15 years years from now), will give me more headroom to gather my nerves in facing the daunting task of investing in education.

I've also contacted Leah Angela Limon-Mendania, a financial advisor, to guide me in financing this life goal!  According to her saving for baby's education can never be too early. "With tuition fees increasing every year coupled with the rising cost of goods and services, nothing could be wiser but to keep up and start saving", Leah explains.   She also  shared are some  helpful points to guide us in drafting a  savings plan solely for your child's college:

Start as early as you can.

The earlier you start saving, the less will be the amount you need to save regularly. For example, you need 500,000 for your baby's college education when he/she is about 19 years old. If you start saving while your child is still a baby, you need to save about Php 930 monthly. As opposed to when you start saving when your child is about 7, then you will need to save about Php 2,030 monthly.

Save as much and as regular as you can.

The more you save now, the more interest you will earn and the more money will be compounded through the years. For example, saving Php 500 monthly for 19 years will yield Php 268,572 if your investment earns 8% interest. While saving Php 1,000 monthly for 19 years will yield 537,144 at 8% interest.

Choose the appropriate investment vehicle to save your money in.

In determining the appropriate financial product to invest in, think about your purpose. If your saving for something that you need within a year or two, then your only investing for the short-term so a financial product with guaranteed returns is more appropriate like a savings account. On the other hand, if you're saving for something you need in three or more years, then you may choose more aggressive financial products which will give higher but not guaranteed returns like unit investment trust funds, mutual funds and even variable universal life insurance.

Choose the right company where you will invest your money.

In choosing the right company, credit worthiness is a primary consideration. You may check a financial institution's credit rating online. The higher the rating a company has means they are more credit worthy and financially stable than those with lower ratings.

Choose a financial product which will give you higher returns.

The higher the interest rate that your money will earn, the less money you will need to save and the shorter the time frame will be towards achieving your goal. Each company's investment performance record is always available for the client's reference. However, please take note that this consideration is only secondary to choosing the right company.

Leah Angela Limon-Mendania is  a Certified Public Accountant by profession. She worked for an auditing firm for 4 years. She works as a financial advisor and shares her shares her knowledge and skills to educate Filipinos financially. Her passion for food and desserts in particular led her to put up her own  cakes and pastries business,  she's  now currently supplying to a concessionaire of a hotel in Manila. 

Here are Leah's contact details if you want to learn more about personal finance.

Email: lavlimon@yahoo.com

Mobile: 0917-8605059

Landline (duo): 975-4992

My Diaper Bag Checklist

Baby's diaper bag is the one constant accessory we've been carrying around since baby came. This bag can make or break a trip so it pay to be a smart packer! It holds pretty much everything your child needs for the day.

A few years back a friend gave out a "Diaper Bag Checklist" during a baby shower! I kept this all these years because i knew it would be helpful.  Do you notice how moms are obsessed about lists ... from shopping list, gift list.. etc. May be this is their last ditch effort to be more organized?  Who knew that keeping true to this list can be such a back-breaking task?  You see, hubby carries THE BAG more than i do, so i don't realize just how heavy and how hard it was to lug around! Imagine walking around for hours carrying extra kilos hanging on you shoulder.  I'm now reviewing this list to leave some items at home, to at least lighten the load.

[caption id="attachment_1746" align="aligncenter" width="225"] I kept this checklist from a friend's baby shower, not knowing that i would be needing this a year later![/caption]

Baby's one year-old now and we can do away with some of the stuff in that darn heavy bag. After much thought, here's my short checklist of diaper bag must haves!

Diaper 

That's why it's called that, right? Just how many pieces to bring depends on how long you'll be out and on your baby's condition, if he's more prone to wetting and pooping.

Extra snack and water for baby

This saves us some bucks because we won't have to buy anymore during short trips. It's a good thing my baby loves bananas. Bananas are a healthy snack to go, it even comes on its own packaging! 

A book or a toy for baby

This is to keep baby occupied during trips or while waiting for your turn at the doc's clinic.

Change of clothes

I always pack extra clothes like onesies, shirts and shorts  even on a daytrip just to be safe. We've been out several times when baby pooed so much that i had to change his entire outfit! Better be prepared for such days. 

Baby wipes

For convenience we bring small baby wipe packs. Did you notice how heavy  a big full pack of this wet wipes are?

Bring items that can serve more than one purpose to minimize the number of items you need to bring. Such multi-use items are:

Alcohol in sprayer 

It's the most economical hand sanitizer around. Spray  it directly on surfaces that needs cleaning.

Liquid soap 

For tough poo stains. 'Nuff said. You get the idea, right? Some poo are just to sticky they require more than just wiping.

Lampin or any cloth

The trusty lampin is just so versatile! I use it to wipes food, sweat, tears or just about any other booboos.

Blanket

The blanket is one of those multi-tasking items. Use it as liner for the stroller, or in place of mats during a quick picnic, or block the sun using the blanket.  It even comes handy as a nursing cover!  

There. That's my SHORT list.  Carrying THE BAG is now more bearable. You may read this on the diaper bag necessities.

Having to leave some items at home can be such pain so analyse your own situation. Ask yourself, "Do i really need to bring this?" In the end, the less items you bring, the more organized you'll be, don't you think?

***

This Mommy's New Year's Resolution

It’s 2013 and I’m a proud mommy of a toddler! I'm glad that the pressures from P's birthday party are done and gone, sa wakas! I could not be happier, having such an active and healthy son.  I do hope it stays that way.

I have a few targets for the coming year, all for being a better mommy. So  I’m  sharing my resolutions this 2013!

Start saving for P’s education

• In a few years, tuition dues will come knocking on my door so best to start saving right now! A painless way to do this is to automate savings. I plan to have a no-touch account for him and ask my bank to automatically deduct a portion of my salary and transfer that to the no-touch account. This way, I won’t be “aware” of the deposits I’m making to that account since all that’s left in my ATM is salary minus my son’s “education fund”.


• I’ll be scouting for more investments since I’ve noticed a huge, huge hike in tuition! Imagine, when I was in high school an entire school year costs just P8,000. When I went to our high school recently i saw that tuition is P48,000! Just how much would that be my son enters high school?

Start saving for my retirement

• Yes, aside from my son’s schooling, I’m really concerned about my retirement.  I would not want to be old, toothless and penniless!  I have hard working parents who emphasized the value of every centavo they earn and how it’s important to prepare for old age.  In short, huwag daw gawing retirement plan ang pag-asang aalagaan ka ng anak mo pagtanda mo. Let’s face it, by the time i’m about 60 and retired (hopefully), my son will be busy earning for his own child’s future. So best to set aside a portion of your current income for that.


• I'm keeping a coin box on my work station for all my loose change. I'll open a savings account just for this. When it grows big enough i shall transfer the fund to higher earning investments like mutual funds or stocks. This may be loose change, but i gotta start somewhere, right?

[caption id="attachment_1561" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The iconic piggy bank should be always in sight so you'll be reminded of your financial goals.[/caption]

Cook more

• In 2012 i was swamped with lots of food deliveries and eat-outs. May be because the doting mother in me would not want to be away from the baby to cook. We were even introduced to eat-all-you-can restaurants lately! Well, this can be a culprit why i'm having such a hard time saving. So for this coming year,  i vow to cook more!. This way i get to cut back on those expensive meals. Besides, my toddler is starting to taste real foods and i would love to have my son taste my cooking, too!

Be more organized

• Clutter has been permanent in my life. Even when i was still single and living with my dorm mates, i really had that stash of junk that i can't seem to put away.  Now, baby's accumulating a lot of clothes and toys, which occupy a lot of space in our already cramped up room. So for next year, i vow to rid my space of all my junk to give way for his stuff.  It's time to make our space more baby-friendly.


• The diaper bag has also been a cause for concern. It's becoming heavier and harder to lug that around so i'm planning to simplify my life by bringing only the basic necessities. Here's  What to Expect's shortlist of the stuff to put in that bag.

Breastfeed longer

• That little toddler has been more up and about, eager to explore his surroundings but at the end of the day, he still looks for his mommy for that last minute meals... and i'm more than glad to indulge him. After a year of nursing, i'm still excited about it!  Although some can say that it's time to wean baby, i would rather not, not at this time. I guess it's me who’s not yet ready to say good bye to breastfeeding. So for next year I plan to sustain my dwindling milk supply.  No matter how disheartening it is to see how little my pumping output has been lately, I still continue to pump.  There’s really no better way to get more milk than to pump more frequently and to nurse directly whenever possible. I was inspired by this post on how beneficial extended breastfeeding is.

A new year marks the beginning of  another chapter in our lives... so it's never too late to start over and be better. Happy New Year, folks!

***

Baby Toys for Every Age

Its the "BER" months, the start of Philippine’s very very long Christmas season. At may kasabihan tayo "Ang Pasko ay para sa mga bata." Kaya nga siguro sa gitna ng Christmas rush, damit at laruan ng mga bata ang ma-benta.

If you’re a parent looking for toys for babies  here are some points to consider.

Actually there's really no strict rules on the type of toy for a baby of a certain age. It may depend on what baby can do on a particular age.  As a guide here's Baby Center's guide to babies'e development stages. Newborns may just be contented with rattles and mobile, since they just developing their sight and hearing. You may need to reassess then upgrade toys once he learns to sit or walk.  Napansin ko nga sa baby ko, 9 months na sya,  hinahagis na lang nya ung mga rattle nya, mukhang bored na at gusto na ng  mga toys like stacking cups and books.

NEWBORN TO SIX MONTHS

Mobiles and rattles will definitely be fun to a newborn to probably about 3  months. Since limited pa ang vision at hearing nila. At this stage, baby’s eyesight and hearing are developing. He'll spend hours and hours gazing and listening to crib mobile. They say black, red and white are most appealing to newborns so look for toys in these colors.

[caption id="attachment_1054" align="aligncenter" width="210"] From my baby, this crib mobile is my nephew's apple of the eye.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1056" align="aligncenter" width="300"] This black and white panda was P's best friend during his first two months.[/caption]

The rattle will provide exercise for hearing. Watch baby get curious and look for the source of the sound as you shake the rattle from different directions.

When baby learns to hold and grasp, this usually  starts around 2 months,  you might want to give him textured toys like blocks or books. Such will stimulate his sense of touch. Pulô's tita gave him Tiny Love First Book, which is double sided so it's teeming with fun activities. Guide his hands while touching a cloud on the activity book and say "This is soft!".

Another fun activity for babies at this age is looking human faces. You may place an unbreakable mirror in front of him. You'll see that he's starting to stare, may be even coo at the face in front of him.  You can add some learning by teaching him parts of his face.  Point to his nose and say "nose". Maybe he's not old enough to retain this but it's definitely a fun activity for newborns.

SIX MONTHS TO ONE YEAR

Starting around 6 months, babies may start to sit. Mine started sitting (with balance) around 7 months.  His view has now changed from just lying down to being able to sit up. You can offer him shape sorters, building blocks and stacking cups. What to Expect also suggests toys like shape sorter, nesting toys and busy boards around this month. These may develop his hand and eye coordination. Hindi pa kaya ni baby na pagpatung-patungin ang stacking cups nya pero natutuwa sya kapag pinapatumba nya ang tower!

[caption id="attachment_853" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Stackable cups can help improve hand-eye coordination.[/caption]

As early as three months, babies can actually see farther than those away from his straight line of sight, may even be aware of things inside the room. He may now  appreciate stuffed toys.  Just a note, never stock the stuffed toys in the crib with the baby in it. Baby's ventilation may be blocked.

[caption id="attachment_858" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Stuffed toys are versatible. My baby loves this gorilla. He had this when he was 6 months. Until now, Gori is still his friend.[/caption]

By the time he can stand with support, you can give him toy push carts or walkers. They can provide support as he takes his first steps. Just make sure such push toys have skids and are stable, so baby can lean on them safely as he moves forward. Never leave the baby who's just learning to stand and walk alone on a push toy.

A note on baby walkers

There's actually conflicting advices on using baby walkers. Read my post discussing this. My take is as long as you're using it with adult supervision and for a limited period per day, then it's ok.

Do not under estimate to joy babies can get from ordinary objects. Let him touch actual things rather than looking on just pictures or photos. Click here for my post on everyday objects which may work as baby's toys.

Most labels in the toy packaging usually indicate the appropriate aged for the toy.  Read this for more tips on choosing and taking care of the little one's toys.

Ok, have fun with baby!

***

Everyday Objects as Baby's Play Things

Stimulating senses is key in baby’s development.  Introducing age-appropriate toys is integral in nourishing his senses. Read this page to check on baby’s developmental stages.

Parents can encourage stimulation by introducing toys. But buying baby toys can drill a hole in our pocket! Believe me, hubby and I often go overboard when we stray in the mall’s baby toy section!  We’ve been tempted to buy a walker worth P3500 but luckily we haven’t given up to the urge. We’re still weighing in on the toy’s pros and cons.

Playing with baby need not be expensive!  There are ordinary things that could be useful tools in stimulating baby’s senses.

Here are of some ordinary objects that work as baby toys:

Baby’s hands

• Baby’s hands are also his first toys. His hands are most attractive to him in the first months as he  just realized that it is part of his body.  Baby’s vision at  1 month is still blurry so he is most attracted to objects near his sight, that includes his hands.


• As early as 1 month our pedia told us to remove baby's mittens. This is so that we can check if baby is able to move his fingers. Being able to do is integral in developing baby's fine motor skills. Just make sure you cut and buff his fingers regularly so he won't scratch his face.


• You are bound to hear “Close open! Close Open!” as your LSS. This is a good way to promote baby’s eye-hand coordination


• At about 6 months, baby learned to play with his hands and feet! At this stage din, kahit anong mahawakan ni baby, isinubo, so make sure to always sanitize baby’s hands and feet.

[caption id="attachment_215" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Favorite past time ni Baby ang paglalaro ng kanyang kamay.[/caption]

 Your hands

• Use his hands to tickle him and stimulate his sense of touch.


• My baby seems to be attracted to anything moving, especially near his eyes. He responds to the funny acrobatics his dad does with his hand. Daddy’s finger plays give baby quite a good laugh.


• Teach baby how to clap, count and point out his body parts.

 Baby’s Face and Your face

• At six months, baby recognizes many faces. He  laughs when you smile at him or when you make ridiculous faces.


• He learns to track persons from across the room. This can be a good time to play "Where's mommy?".  This game teaches him about the non-permanence of things to make both of you deal with separation anxiety better.

Mirror

• I’m surprised to find that baby finds his own face so amusing!Tuwing humaharap sya sa salamin at nakikita ang sarili niya, dahan-dahan pa syang ngumingiti!


• Just make sure you're giving him an unbreakable mirror if you intend to let baby touch it!

Cellular phone and other techie stuff

• The internet is a source anything and everything! My husband downloaded early learning apps on his Itouch.  Baby enjoys "playing these games" like "baby rattles" or "animal sounds". Some apps can be downloaded for free.


• Toy companies like Fisher Price also provides applications like baby games and apps that teach baby colors, animal sounds and numbers!


• Ipads and cellular phone hold tons of dirt  so be sure to always sanitize before letting baby touch them.

TV and Radio

• Expose baby to different sights and sounds.   For sure you've let baby watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Bananas and Pajamas... the list goes on...


• Expose his ears to different voices and music on the radio.

Posters   

• As early as 5 months baby can distinguish bold colors so choose brightly colored posters. Baby will surely spend hours and hours just staring.


• Colorful posters ang kadalasang tinititigan ni Baby pagkagasing.  We bought number and shapes posters from National bookstore for about P50 each.

[caption id="attachment_214" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Tinadtad ni Daddy ng posters showing number, colors, shapes, animals and alphabet ang dingding ng kwarto.[/caption]

Plastic cups and plastic balls

• These can act as shape sorter.  Just show baby how to enjoy them. Show baby how a ball can fit into a plastic cup.


• Avoid giving him small pieces for risks of choking.  Always guide him in playing with these toys.

Wooden spoons and cardboard boxes

• These will encourage him to tap and bang these together, producing sounds and rhythm. Of course babies need adult supervision while handling these stuff.

Flashlights

• At night when almost all lights are off use a flash light to reflect shadows on the ceiling. Baby will stare at shadows and light reflected from the bed. A fancy toy which does almost the same thing can be sold for around P1,500.

Tickle baby's sense of smell by letting him smell the aroma of anything cooking at the kitchen. Or make him smell freshly cut fruits. Or expose him to the scent of mild colognes and soaps.

Let baby interact with other kids. At this age (7 months) i noticed that baby is much more curious and turns toward any source of "new"voices and sounds.   This will serve as foundation of his social skills.

Give him lots of objects to touch and grasp. This will develop his sense of touch. Instead of showing him a picture of an apple, why not let him touch and feel the skin of an actual apple? Let him touch a variety of things  to make him accustomed to different textures. These activities improve baby’s fine motor skills, which are required for him to be able to feed on his tie his shows or dress himself up.

Here's WTE's  list of other non toys that could be baby's playthings.

After seven months as newbie parents, we've discovered that buying for baby could be quite expensive!  Parents need to be practical to better allocate the family budget. Avoid buying on impulse so you won't regret that decision when you get home.  Have a list of pros and cons before buying any toy.

Expensive toys are useless if you don't find time to play with your baby. In the end, quality time spent will make your baby an intelligent and independent little one.

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Breastfeeding Supplies and Tipid Alternatives

Breastfeeding is free! That’s among the main come-ons why I’ve decided to breastfeed. However there are necessary expenses that working moms need in order to establish and maintain breastfeeding. These buys are mainly for pumping and storing breast milk.

Money spent on these products can drill a hole in a family’s tight budget. As a working mom myself, i focused on finding cheaper alternatives .  I have searched high and low to find the most sulit breastfeeding supplies around.

[caption id="attachment_187" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] My pumping at work essentials
Always check your gear before heading out![/caption]

Here’s a list of my breastfeeding essentials and practical alternatives:

Double Electric Breast Pump

My most expensive "for baby" purchase so far is my Medela Pump-in-Style Advanced breast pump. I bought it for P13,000 from an ebay seller. Yes, it was splurge,  but I didn’t regret buying it considering how reliable the pump was. I had manual pump before this and my hand almost gave out after several weeks of pumping regularly for 4 to 5 times daily! The reason i decided to invest on this pump is because i read many good reviews about it.  It's also recommended by my officemates who breastfed. So far, i'm really satisfied with this pump!

Later I’ve read mommy blogs and most of them recommend the Ameda brand as a cheaper alternative. This can be purchased from Baby Mama. Babymama sells double electric pumps for as low as P4900.

You can also learn to express breast milk by hand. This requires skill and a lot of practice. Hand expressing saves the day when you accidentally forgot a piece of your pumping equipment.

You may also settle for a manual single pump. My First Years Manual Pump proved very useful in my first weeks after delivery. But I think double electric pumps are a "must have" for working moms. You might as well invest in a reliable pump when you’re working to save time and effort. You cut the pumping time in half if you use double electric.

Breast milk storage

Moms seeking to build up milk supply before going to work need to store milk efficiently. She needs to decide which type of storage to use depending on her need. Say, if you have limited storage space in the refrigerator or freezer, you may opt to use breast milk storage bags. You may want to use bottles to which you can pump directly then store right away, no need to transfer from container to container. Make sure you're using BPA Free plastic for storage.

These are the most affordable containers i found:

Evenflo Simplymilk 50z (P400 per 4 pcs) - If you have Medela electric breast pump, you can pump directly to these bottles. Medela bottles are much more expensive than Evenflo, each set of 3 50z Medela bottles costs P870 at Medela House.

Playtex bottle liners 8 oz (P425 for 125 pcs) Most blogs I read discouraged using bottle liners because they may be too messy since they don’t seal on their own. My solution is not to fill to its full capacity to avoid spillage. For example, you may put only 4 oz of breast milk in a 8oz bottle lines to make sure you can twist  and securely seal the plastic. Playtex bottle liners come with sealing clips to close the bag, but you can also use rubber bands to seal the storage bags.

Spectra milk bag (200 pesos per 30 pcs) from Baby Mama These are the cheapest self-sealing milk bag i found online. Lansinoh bags cost P350 for 25 pcs. The capacity of Spectra bags is 70z, for Lansinoh bags  12 oz.  Spectra bags have single lock, Lansinoh bags have double sealing system. Both are self-standing. Since these bags are for single use only, please recycle these plastics. I used mine as container of laundry detergent for use when we go to the province on  weekends.

Baby food glass jars with lids (Earth’s Best & Gerber) Glass containers are a good storage alternative. Just make  sure to sterilize these jars, including the caps.  These glass jars have a 1.5 oz and 2.5 oz capacity, good if you intend to store milk in small increments. Using these jars for breast milk storage is a good way to recycle.

Nursing Cover

Nursing covers gave me the confidence to breastfeed outside the house. The cheapest i know is at Php 300 from Nxt9. But a flowing blouse with hem that can be easily lifted might be a good alternative. Any ordinary shawl might also work, just tie the sides around you neck while pumping or breastfeeding and it will provide the cover you need.

Breastfeeding wear

Blouses and shirts specifically designed for discreet breastfeeding are a bit pricey, some up to more than P1,000 per pc. I have not purchased any of these. I just bought ordinary blouses the with buttons that fully open at the front and with wide v-neck designs.

Breastfeeding supplements

My OB recommened supplements to ensure that i get adequate vitamins and minerals while breastfeeding.  Breastfeeding moms are at risk of mineral deficiency as  most of her minerals will be channeled to breast milk. Supplements will also boost moms' milk supply.

My OB prescribed Natalac malunggay capsules twice a day. Each 250 mg costs  around P8.50 per cap. I found a cheaper version of  malunggay capsule at 500 mg per cap at P2.50 from agricultural shops in Quezon Memorial Circle. She also recommended to take Caltrate Plus to ensure adequate calcium supply. From Mercury Drugstore i bought Rhea Calcium Lactate 625mg tablets at P 100 per 100 pieces. The label says the tablets are for lactating moms.

Hands free pump support

I wanted a pump support to hold the horns of my double electric pump to free my hands while expressing milk. But I was surprised to find that it costs about Php 1500 in malls! I’ve decided I won’t shell out P1500 for a pump support so I improvised.

I cut holes on one of my old bras. I just made sure that the diameter of the hole is smaller than the diameter of my breast shield so it won’t slip. I put it on as a normal bra and slip on the breast shield before pumping.  So far, this improvised hands free works.

Kellymom provided a step-by-step guide how to make an ordinary nursing bra a hands free support.

Nursing Bra

A good nursing bra provides easy access and support. The cheapest nursing bra I found were from SOEN, worth P250 to P300. Invest in just 2 – 3 pieces. Breast size is largest 1 - 2 months  before delivery. Breasts may still be engorged from initial milk production until one month post partum. You could go back to using your regular bras 4 to 6 months after delivery because you breast size will normalize.

Pregnancy and breast feeding resources

Whenever I had breastfeeding  questions I turned to books and the internet for answers. I bought second-hand baby books from Booksale . The internet is a universe of free information. Just make sure the source you're using is correct and reliable. These websites are my trusted information provider: Kellymom, Work and Pump and Chronicles of a Nursing Mom

I also downloaded free Android smartphone applications like Baby tracker from Babycenter  and Pregnancy tracker from What to Expect. These applications give day-to-day tips of pregnancy and baby care, also breastfeeding tips.

Moms, armed with the necessary tools, you can be confident in taking your breastfeeding journey. Don't be intimated by the the long list of breastfeeding essentials. The supplies are just nice-to-have but your determination will be a good motivation to explore cheaper breastfeeding options. In the end, YOUR BREAST IS ALL YOU NEED FEED BABY!

Note: I’m not paid by the sellers I mentioned in this post.

Also worth reading:

• Breastfeeding "essentials" you probably won't use


• My DIY Breastfeeding Poncho

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