Teaching Kuya the Importance of Investing, Saving, Wise Spending, and Delayed Gratification

Three months ago, my husband and I decided to teach my eight year old son a better way to understand that valuing money is very, very essential.  We asked him to invest in our home-based business Php 350.00 of his savings. 

We used Kuya's money in purchasing raw materials in creating  these Keep Calm and Posters-inspired key holders. Sales went directly to him. We guided him on how to use his money properly.

When we gave him his gross income, he bought  Artzooka (Php 299.75) and a small pack of Mighty Beans (Php 99.75) that he wanted for a very long time which we refused to buy before. These were his rewards after earning from his first investment. He reinvested Php 350.00 then planned to save what remained.

He told us that he realized that money was hard to earn. He felt good knowing that he was capable of buying things for himself by investing and earning. The result of delayed gratification was so sweet!

He would ask us to buy him toys whenever we go to the mall but we wouldn't give in. I would tell him that he has plenty at home so why buy often. He would listen but we could feel his sadness and frustration.


After this learning experience, he was able to understand us. He realized the importance of  PRIORITIZING WHAT WE NEED AND NOT WHAT WE WANT. He was happy that he could make a way to own the things that he wanted but he should work hard to get them.

These are the photos out of his reward, Artzooka! He made all these by himself with so much patience, love, and pride!

Kuya has so much to learn! Thank God he is very much willing to listen...

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Tips Before Grocery Shopping

I would like to give you five simple tips before going to the supermarket. These help me save time, energy, and money.

1. Purchase based on your budget.

You have to prioritize your purchases by buying what you need and not what you want.

In our case, we don't have a credit card and we shop only on our means. We also omit junk food like chips, chocolates, candies, and the likes. It not just economical but it makes us healthier too.

2. Prepare a shopping list.

Writing down what you really need to buy and sticking to your list will help you avoid overspending. Make sure that you write down all the things that you need until your next visit to the supermarket to save time, energy, gas, and money.

If you are going with your kids, make sure to brief  them first that you will only buy things that are written in the shopping list. Normally, when you are inside the supermarket, they will insist that you should buy what they want. You have to be firm and show them that you are not going to give in. Teaching by example is the most effective learning experience for the kids.

3. Go to the supermarket with full stomach.

When you go to the supermarket hungry, you have the tendency to spend for hot food in the food court or buy something to satisfy your craving that is not included in your shopping list. Imagine when hungry family members go with you. You'll end up spending so much money.

4. Bring a calculator and pen.

Calculator is needed to track down the cost of what you buy and pen to cross-out what you already placed in your shopping cart.

5. Bring a reusable shopping bag or eco-bag.

Be environmental friendly! Bringing reusable shopping bags or eco-bags help cut down the usage of plastic bags. You can also save money by not paying Php 2.00 per bag especially when you live in Quezon City where the use of eco-bags are encouraged as per city ordinance.

Don't forget to bring your eco-bag, calculator, pen, shopping list, and money, of course, before grocery shopping!

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My Chewy Sugar Coated Fried Bananas

Last Sunday was probably one of the best Sundays my eldest son had because he was able to satisfy his craving for Banana Que. I did my own version and he liked it much better than the ones he would usually buy outside. The caramelized sugar coating was chewy while the banana inside was soft and sweet.

I only used three ingredients--- Saging na Saba 

(Saba Banana), washed sugar (light brown sugar), and canola oil. 

Growing-up in Central Luzon makes me prefer to eat over-ripe Saba Bananas because they are very, very sweet and soft. To spot them, you have to check if their skin is thin, golden to mocha brown, and they smell like sweet alcohol due to high ethylene content. By the way, ethylene accelerates the ripening of bananas.

Procedure

1. Peel the Saba Bananas' skin and cut into bite sizes.

I didn't make them like the usual sugar coated fried bananas in skewers for my children's safety.

2. Coat the sliced bananas with washed sugar.

3. Deep fry in hot canola oil. Make sure to flip the bananas when golden brown. It takes about 2 minutes to cook each side.

4. Serve while hot! 

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My Hubby's Easy Pork Adobo Recipe

I am not a fan of pork unless it is barbecued or fried well-done. But when my husband cooked his "reinvented" Pork Adobo, all I could say is that it helped me start appreciating pork!

As the saying goes, "Nakalimutan ko ang pangalan ko sa sarap!" It is dry, fried, garlicky, the one that I prefer...in short very flavorful.

My husband discovered this way of cooking Pork Adobo while he was ordering his lunch in the school canteen. He asked the chef why his Adobo tasted so great. He said,  "The secret is how you cook the meat in vinegar and everything follows!"

Well, let me share how...

Ingredients

• 1 kilo pork, sliced into small cubes
• 3 big onions, sliced thinly
• 2 cups white vinegar
• 1 cup soy sauce (can be more or less based on your taste preference)
• 2 big heads of garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp ground pepper corns
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• Knorr All-In-One Meaty Seasoning Granules

Procedure

1. Mix all the ingredients EXCEPT soy sauce and Knorr All-In-One Meaty Seasoning Granules and let it boil until it's almost dry.      

         Note: Make sure that when you boil it, the lid is slightly open and don't stir it! Vinegar makes the meat tender. When you add soy sauce and seasoning at the start of the cooking process, they make the meat tough. 

When the mixture is almost dry, you may put the remaining ingredients.

2. Pour-in soy sauce, Knorr All-In-One Meaty Seasoning Granules and cooking oil. Stir and let it boil until the sauce is dry. Fry a little and serve! 

What we do is we cook Pork Adobo the day before it is served. It tastes better when meat already absorbs all flavors!

My hubby's Pork Adobo Recipe is always a hit!Let's eat!

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My Very Easy Century Tuna Pasta Recipe with Garlic Toast

This is "My Very Easy Century Tuna Pasta Recipe" with Plain Bread instead of Garlic Toast which my hubby prefers. 

It will only take you 30 minutes or less to prepare these two yummy, healthy recipes!

Ingredients

• 420 grams Century Tuna Flakes in Oil
• 1 big onion, sliced thinly
•  298 grams Jolly Sliced Button Mushrooms
• 250 ml Alaska Evaporada
• 250 ml Alaska Crema All-Purpose Cream
• 450 grams pasta (depending on your preference) 
• McCormick Thyme 
• pepper
• salt (optional)

  

Procedure

1. Boil water, add uncooked pasta. Cook it based on packaging directions. Set aside after cooking.
2.  Saute onions in Century Tuna's oil until transparent. Add tuna flakes and saute for a minute.
3. Add mushrooms and saute for a minute. Lower the flame to avoid curdling of milk and cream.
4. Add cream and milk and cook while stirring continuously.
5. Season with pepper and dried thyme. You may add salt if you prefer.  
6.  Pour the sauce on pasta. Serve while it's hot with your plain white bread or garlic toast!

Note: If you want your pasta to be garlicky, substitute onion with garlic. If your kids tend to remove veggies from their food, you may use Cream of Mushroom instead of button mushrooms and mince onions or garlic too.

This is what my sons love! No button mushrooms! It has mushrooms in a form of cream that's why they don't notice!

 Here's how I do my Garlic Toast!

Ingredients

• 1 bar Dairy Creme Classic
• 1 big head garlic, minced  
• McCormick Basil
• Toast/ White Bread

Procedure

1. Melt butter in room temperature.
2. Add minced garlic to butter and mix the two ingredients together.
3. Spread on toast/white bread and top with basil.
4. Toast the bread until garlic and bread turn light brown.

Note: If you want your garlic spread to be garlicky, add another small head of garlic on your mixture. 

Store the remaining garlic spread on your refrigerator.  

Just take it out of the refrigerator and let it stand for a while to melt when you are going to use it again. Please consume it after a week.

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Nino Muhlach's Fried Rice Recipe

This is another must-try recipe by actor and 70's Child Wonder Nino Muhlach as shown in Mars at News TV Channel 11. 

My kids loved it! Hope yours too...

Ingredients

• cooking oil
• minced garlic
• diced Spam
• diced carrots
• frozen green peas
• boiled rice
• oyster sauce
• seasoning powder

Nino didn't mention any measurement nor amount in each ingredient. It depends on your preference.

Procedure

1. Heat oil in a big pan. 
2. Fry garlic until golden brown. Remove from the pan. Set aside. 
3.  Fry Spam. Add carrots and green peas when Spam is golden brown. Fry for a minute. 
4.  Add boiled rice. Fry for a minute then add oyster sauce. 
5.  Sprinkle with seasoning.
6. Plate. Sprinkle with toasted garlic on top.

My Version

I used 1 big head garlic, 200 grams mixed frozen vegetables- corn, green peas, and carrots, 215 grams oyster sauce, about 5 to 6 cups of rice, 1 pack Maggi Magic Sarap, and  Purefoods Luncheon Meat as substitute to Spam because they taste the same but differ in price. The former costs less than the later.

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By the way, I am so honored that Nino Muhlach shared the link of this article on his own fan page!

 

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Easy Mac & Cheese Recipe Using Del Monte Cheese Magic

My hubby bought Del Monte Cheese Magic last week just to let me experiment with the recipe written at the back of the packaging. I wasn't surprised that it tasted so good! Of course it's from Del Monte!

Del Monte's Meaty Mac and Cheese Recipe:

Ingredients 

 

 1/4 cup ground beef

 140 grams Del Monte Macaroni

 5 cups water

1 pack 200 grams Del Monte Cheese Magic

 1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup fresh milk

Procedure

1. Saute beef in 1 teaspoon oil for 5 minutes or until cooked. Set aside.

2. Boil water, add macaroni. Cook for 8 minutes stirring occasionally. Drain, do not rinse.

3. Transfer to the same pan. While still hot, add butter, milk, Del Monte Cheese Magic and meat. Cook over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

4. Serve. Makes 3-4 servings.

My Version

 I followed the recipe above but I added a little cream and dried basil. I used penne instead of macaroni.

My own version of Meaty Mac and Cheese using Del Monte Cheese Magic

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