Christmas bonuses and Black friday

Can you already feel the holiday cheer? What with Thanksgiving just around the corner and Christmas fast approaching.

My friends are already starting to go places, vacation sounds like a good idea to everyone. Except I'm swamped with work. Sometimes I hate it. Okay half the time I hate it. Okay okay okay! You got me, most of the time I hate working. But the making money I love.

Just wanted to drop some tips here and there,

1. Plan your shopping - SALES are going to be very attractive. Heck I know I want to buy the whole mall during Black Friday Sales.

2. Go cash - if you can't afford it in cash it's probably not the right time to go shopping. What I do is make sure I bring the exact amount I plan to spend on shopping. Yes, you have to factor in SHOPPING in your budget. I know I've said it over and over to budget. The only way to go is to plan it.

3. Compare prices - I know it can be tempting to buy the first deal you see but it does more harm than good to check at least three stores and compare price tags. These information are also available online so you can research online and then buy at the store. (Sometimes there are better online deals so also check those out.)

Remember to always be thankful for the blessings you have. People or things or your job. I know I can hate those things for the most part but it helps to look back and keep a thankful heart.

What are you thankful for this year?

Xo,

Paula

The Value of Planning

Planning to some people can mean a lot of over thinking, going over pieces of information, anticipating events that may or may not happen. It is for this same reason that people tend to forget it.

Let me tell you this, planning is the difference between getting off a plane and going somewhere specific versus getting off a plane, taking a while to come out of the toilet and seating on a stool in the airport lobby. It is bringing an umbrella because you checked the weather app and you know it will rain. It is packing sandals for when you can't wear sneakers. It is a lot of things considered to make the best of a circumstance.

If you were from my country you would understand what I was trying to avoid when I took the first flight out of the city. Originally I had a meeting scheduled for the most part of the day. I imagined the air traffic and the actual traffic on ground and felt the need to book a flight early.

It's a four day trip with nothing planned. Last night I couldn't sleep. Thinking about what I'm going to do. I have no meeting to go to. No people to see. Nobody I knew. I was in a new place all alone. Its like the perfect adventure.

And I aim to make it just that. In a bit. After coffee. When the sun comes out. Actually not even. I just need it to be 5am so that establishments start to open and I can start doing something.

I'm writing this with people staring at me. Mostly cause it's a ghost town and I'm literally the only one here. While they make necessary preparation to make the airport look decent. I can hear them murmuring a foreign language I can not understand. I blink in response when they seem to address me. I've been pointed towards the exit several times but I just can't leave the comfort of this stool, lighting, ventilation and Wi-Fi.

Is planning important you ask? Definitely it is most definitely important. Next trip I'm doing a full on itinerary with time stamp and everything else!

Its a lot of waste when you don't. Not having planned on transportation and accommodation I'm probably going to have to book a room right now unsure if there are rooms available. I'm going to eat again in any place open to pass time. For when the sun is out and I can sight see.

Happy Eid to all my muslim friends! Enjoying this long weekend cause of you guys.

Xo,
Paula