Image courtesy of hin255/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
My usual Saturday would be to relax at one of the nearby malls in my area. The mall opens at 10:00 am and I would go straight to Freshaire for a pedicure. Depending on my mood and my budget, I would ask for additional services like a haircut or eyebrow groom. However, when I have my credit card with me, I forget about the budget. It just depends on my mood. Then I'll have the foot spa and hot oil and I would have no fear because it's all going to be charged on my credit card anyway. I'd thought to myself, I'll worry about it later.
I'm a trying-hard-to-be-frugal person and yes, I have always been conscious of how I spend. But I do lose track especially when I have my credit card.
After treating myself in the salon, I'd treat myself for food. If I have extra cash, I'd eat at a non-credit card food place or restaurant. My favorite food places are for Korean food like Bibimbop and Red Table and my latest favorite, Impressca (A healthy snack bar at 5th floor of SM Manila). If I don't have enough cash, I'd go to a food place which accepts credit cards. And I just love food! So I end up charging it all to my credit card again.
After eating, I'd usually go and look around the mall without intending to shop. But then I'd see this and that and they would be on sale! So again, I'd end up using my credit card and worry about the bill later. The last time, I ended up buying worth P7,000 of cute items because the gift shop was on super dead drop sale. I thought I would sell the items in my province. I started with picking 10 items and then added more and more. It was okay, I thought, I have my credit card anyway. Well, I did recover my cost because the items were sold by my mother and to thank her, I gave her all the profits. I hope all of her customers had already paid. I guess that was kind of a positive side of having used my credit card.
Today was different.
The good thing about today was that I went on with my usual weekend off at the mall, but this time I forgot my credit card holder. So I left all of my cards (SM Advantage card, Robinsons Rewards card, National Bookstore card, ATM cards, etc.). It's a good thing I have money in my wallet.
So again I went to Freshaire and had my pedicure with my favorite pedicurist. However, since I left my cardholder, I also didn't have my Freshaire discount card with me. I have foregone a 10% discount but it was okay. I also didn't think of adding an additional service.
After my pedicure, I went to the department store to see things that I would need. I thought I needed to buy an organizer for my cluttered jewelry. I spent about 20 minutes or more choosing which one to buy depending on my budget. When I finally settled on my choice, I went around a little but not long enough because I headed fast to the cashier to get my shopping done. Not my usual habit of picking anything I like. I paid for P200 for the organizer without my SM Advantage card. Thereafter, I thought I wanted to look for organic bath items so I passed by Zen Nutrients. I understand these items would be expensive so I asked for smaller sizes because I just needed to try them to see if it's effective on me. I didn't bother to ask if they accept credit card but I paid about P400 plus for the 3 items. Then I went to the grocery store and chose carefully what I just needed. I paid P456 for my grocery and not the usual thousand-charge-it-on-the-card habit. I was pleased with myself, again even without my SM Advantage card. I regret a bit that I have foregone about 13 points on my purchases today.
Before I went home, I passed by one of my favorite restaurants, Khanzu Hand Pulled Noodles. I had my usual order of Spicy Sliced Beef Noodles with free house tea. I paid for only about P165. Then I went home via bus. I paid only P10.
Before I wrote this post, I checked how much money was left in my wallet and monitored my unposted/unbilled transactions in my credit card via online. These charges were from my expenses charged last month and if I don't control my usage until the half of July, my credit card bill will further increase. As of checking, my next bills would cost me more than half of my salary.
This is not the first time it happened. Sometimes I'd think I'm spending my money wisely but actually I'm not. I thought I am being thrifty because I'm not cashing out my money, however I'd be using my credit cards. Then I noticed that when I get my salary, it's just enough to my pay my credit card bills. So I'm glad I forgot my credit cards today or else I'd have used them further and then I'll just freak out again when I receive my statement of bills.
Image courtesy of stockimages/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Before I wrote this post, I kept safely my credit cards in my drawer with a lock so I won't be able to use them for now until I fully pay them all. I know I will be using them again, but I guess they will rest there for a while.
