TipidTip # 23 - Get a haircut before having your hair treated.

If you want to avail of the treatments that most salons offer and want to get a huge discount, here's a Tipidtip for you. Why not sport the very uso "bob" before undergoing any of these treatments? Or just get a trim?

Prices of the treatments vary depending on the length of one's hair. May it be hot oil, hair straightening, hair rebonding, hair spa, perm or what have you, it's ultimately cheaper to get a haircut first to lessen the cost. Try getting a trim from the reliable parlorista in your neighborhood for about P50-P80 before going to the high-end salons for their Kerastase treatment. Not only do you shave the treatment price in half, you get healthier roots and tips as well.

Tipid ka na, ang ganda pa ng lola mo! :)

***changed the pic to my own picture taken at Azta Urban Salon, Katipunan Ave., Quezon City, Philippines

TipidTip # 22 - Surf online for great travel deals. Or marry a flight attendant. (haha)

I am a wanna-be jetsetter. :) But until the day I marry The Boyfriend (who's a PAL flight steward), I would have to resort to cheap travel packages and deals online. :)

And I'm pretty good at it! I went to Bangkok, Bohol and Cagayan de Oro using my Mabuhay Miles and spent only a little for taxes. And what do you know, I get transferred to business class because well, I have "connections." Hahaha :)

So the next time you and your family go to US via Philippine Airlines, enroll yourself in the Mabuhay Miles program online because the redeemable miles would be about 7,000 miles already. And nothing beats flying with the flag carrier. (Loyalty!)

Anyway, as much as I want to fly PAL all the time, Miles do run out and I am still unemployed (and I am not yet Mrs. PAL flight steward). So the next best thing is to surf online for the latest travel deals and borrow my friends' Lonely Planet Travel On A Shoestring series (or just read it at FullyBooked Bonifacio High Street which is ginormous!).

I have found the cheapest way to go to Europe!!! My ultimate dream!!! OasisHongkong is one of the newest budget airline today. It will take you to London, one of the most expensive cities in the world. But what the heck, I can eat bread all the time and bring canned goods. I am not a TipidTips girl for nothing! Ha! :) A one-way ticket for economy class costs only HKD 2955 (fares+taxes) or roughly P17,730! Europe is not an impossible dream after all!

Here's the website http://fly.oasishongkong.com/booking/search.aspx. We still have to go to Hong Kong but there's Cebu Pacific for that right?

Speaking of CebuPac, they have another on-going travel promo right now for China flights. P1888 for Manila to Shanghai and P888 for Manila to Macau, Guangzhou and Xiamen. Sale period is June28-July 4, travel period around September to December this year. I tried the Macau flight, it only amounted to P5,194! Woohoo! But I didn't book, as I'll be going someplace else come October. :)

Here are other travel websites that could help you look for the cheapest deal:
http://sidestep.com
http://cheapflights.com (for domestic travel within the US)

and and.. http://philippineairlines.com! Ipilit ba??? :)
Well, they have an ongoing buy1 take1 promo, but that is if you buy a First Class or Mabuhay Class ticket. For example, for Hong Kong, the ticket will set you back $888 but that's for two already, with all the luxury of business class. Not bad, eh? Go look at the page at http://www.philippineairlines.com/tempfiles/741.asp

Enjoy travelling!!!

TipidTip # 21 - If you're a Globe subscriber, use their 232 and 235 function.

I'm not sure if this is a promo as this had been around for a long time already. In case you're wondering, these "value offers" still work.

If you know you will be talking to your friend for a long time, use the 235 function. Dial 235 + 10 digit Globe number (235+9178001234). It only costs P10.00 per 3 minute call, and for the succeeding minutes, only P3.33/minute will be charged.

If you plan on making a quick call, use the 232 function. Dial 232 + 10 digit Globe number (232+9178001234). It's only P0.10 per second.

What I do is, I make 3 entries in my phonebook for one Globe number. One that has the original number (ex. 09178001234), one that starts with 232, and the last one with 235. The original number is where I send my text message to. The other two numbers I use when I call.

And no, I didn't get anything from Globe for this post. :)

TipidTip # 20 - Renew your driver's license at LTO's Driver's License Renewal Centers (DLRC).

Can you guys believe that The Boyfriend had been driving around the metropolis with an expired license for more than a month?! Eeeep! Good thing he's a cautious driver, he didn't have an encounter with the MMDA during that time.

When I asked my mom how the state of affairs was in the LTO Southern Licensing Extension Office in Las Pinas when she renewed her license last month, she said it was a horrendous experience. There were a lot of people there and the process took more than half a day. But at least she picked up a valuable Time Tipidtip there!

Take a look at the Official Receipt of your driver's license. If it is still typewritten, bad news, you'd have to brave the crowd in the LTO offices. But if it is a computer print-out already, you can save time and energy and just go to LTO's Driver's License Renewal Centers. The renewal process will only take you about half an hour! Most can be found in malls so it's convenient and most likely airconditioned. :)

Got this list from the official LTO website. (http://www.lto.gov.ph)

Alabang Towncenter Ma. Adriana C. Cabileza Unit 2 motortown 2 Ayala, Muntinlupa City 7:30 am - 6:30 pm Monday – Thursday

Ayala MRT Romeo Jose M. Dela Cuesta Ayala MRT Station :00 am - 6:00 pm Monday – Friday

Araneta Square Mall Ma. Jane R. Cabarrubias 4F Araneta Square Mall, Kalookan City

Farmers Plaza Q.C. Leonardo Ongtangco, Jr. 3/f Farmers Plaza Cubao, Quezon City :00 am - 8:00 pm Monday - Thursday

Metro Point Kiosk (Taft EDSA) Diosdado Jorge, Jr. Unit 416 4th flr. Metro point Mall, Edsa, corner Taft Ave. Pasay City 9:00 am - 8:00 pm Monday - Thursday

SM Davao Edmund B. Arocha Davao DLRC SM Davao, Ecoland, Davao City 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Monday - Friday 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Saturday

SM Kiosk Cebu Jean Encarnacion D. Aying Cebu DLRC, SM Cebu 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Monday - Friday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Saturday

I was driving by Libis and I saw that SM Hypermart in Pasig also offers driver's license renewal.

Perhaps, soon, before we know it, paying real property taxes would be as easy as an online fund transfer. :) I wish I wish!!!

TipidTip # 19 - If you're a dormer in Katipunan area, dial 8-Happy Homes.

Well, not really. Here are the actual numbers: 02- 9205084 and 09163295302 .

Happy Homes is a food delivery business that caters to dormers and boarders in the Katipunan area. You just call the numbers above and ask the person who answered the phone what are available. They have breakfast, lunch and dinner meals. For one meal complete with rice, ulam and banana, it will only cost you P35! No kidding! But you have to order at least two meals because that's their minimum. But still, so cheap! You could buy one for lunch and one for dinner, right? Or ask your roommate if she wants to order too. And what's more, you don't have to leave your place because they deliver your food right at your doorstep..for free!

They have been around for a long time. Eight years ago I remember ordering from them at P35, and now they're still here, at the same price!!! (Kumonti lang yung ulam, hehe.)

It's hard to be sawa because they have about 10 choices per meal in a day. Like for breakfast they have hotdog with egg, tocino with egg, longganisa with egg, etc. For lunch and dinner, they would have kare-kare, tinolang manok, pork binagoongan, sinigang, adobo with pinya, etc. Sometimes they have pancit or spaghetti with lumpiang shanghai. Perfect for merienda. :)

Food budget per day with delivery = P70.
Respite from pancit canton and Century Tuna = priceless.

Only in Katipunan :)

pic from http://www.lakbaypilipinas.com/

TipidTip # 18 - Leech on a free wi-fi network.

Now that laptops are so cheap, everybody totes one around as if it's a hot fashion accessory. Admittedly, some people really need to work so they must bring them along wherever they are. Some though, are just checking Multiply updates and checking Friendster profiles. Not that I have anything against them. I do it myself. :) But at P2.oo/minute via Globe Wiz, it's Paris Hilton scandalous!

After a little research online, here are the free wi-fi spots around Metro Manila:




FROM YUGA TECH
(http://www.yugatech.com/blog/?p=656)

• Cyberzone, SM Megamall Building B (Philcom)
• Baywalk - in front of Max’s Resto (EG 6 )
• Mabini cor. Salas (linksys)
• Shell - Magallanes (linksys)
• Starbucks Greenbelt 3 near the lagoon
• Mobile 1 Park Square Makati
• Palm Store Glorietta 4th Floor
• Starbucks G4
• Seattle’s Best, E. Rodriguez
• Robinsons Galleria, Ortigas
• Shangri-la Plaza, Ortigas
• Ermita, Manila (Ferguson Plaza)
• Podium, Ortigas (Philcom)
• Libreria Coffee Shop & Bookstore, Tomas Morato
• Seattle’s Best, Eastwood City
• Robinsons Place, Manila (near food center)
• SM San Lazaro
• DavidSpot! HotZone (within the vicinity of DLSU-CSU, St. Benilde) Get free account here.
• WalterMart along Pasong Tamo-Pasay Road (Linksys)
• Masas, and Greenbelt 2 area
• Baang Coffee Shop, Timog Avenue, QC
• Starbucks Ash Creek Center, Ortigas Avenue (near Xavier School/Mary the Queen Church) - free WiFi provided by Cooltoyz laptop store.
• Hotel Intercontenental, Ayala Avenue, Makati
• Manila Peninsula, Lobby area
• Robinsons Pioneer
• Rustans, Shangri-la (I’m inside the taxi at Shaw)
• Makati City Hall (accessible from Guadalupe Bridge)
• Shell Maya vicinity (corner Buendia & Ayala Ave., Makati) {name: tsunami}
• Captain’s Bar, Mandarin Oriental, Makati
• Free Public Wifi (ad hoc) at Paseo de Roxas near Mandarin Oriental, Makati
• Amorsolo cor. V.A Rufino (formerly Herrera), Makati {name: linksys}
• WLAN PS - in front of Philam Life Tower, Makati
• Sotto cor. V.A Rufino, Makati {name: Asus}
• Pier One, The Fort, Taguig City (BayanTel)
• Pier One, Tomas Morato, Quezon City (BayanTel)
• Holiday Inn Galleria Manila (Galleria Suites), Ortigas Center
• Seattle’s Best, Powerplant Mall, Makati (linksys)
• Shangri-la Hotel Makati, Lobby and Lobby Lounge
• Entertainment Arts Center, Jupiter St., Makati Avenue
• Mario’s Kitchen, Metrowalk, Ortigas
• Placemat Pinoy Cafe in Tomas Morato cor. Sct. Castor, Quezon City
• Italliani’s, Greenbelt 2 {name: wireless, ISP: Globe}
• Bluewave Mall, Macapagal Highway, Pasay City (linksys)
• Teriyaki Boy in Buendia (Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue) cor. Jupiter Street {Jupiter Suites}
• Zupa, Cybermall in Eastwood City, Libis

FROM THE COUCH KAMOTE
(http://digitalsolutions.ph/couchkamotereviews/free_wifi_hotspots)

1. The Podium at Ortigas Center. (Strongest signal is at the ground floor, near Cafe Breton and Starbucks).
2. Robinsons Galleria (Ortigas), at the East Wing. Strongest signal is at Bar One and Bo's Cafe on the basement.
3. Robinsons Pioneer (EDSA corner Pioneer). The cafes on the second floor offer free WiFi.
4. ALL Robinson’s Malls
5. Shangri-La Hotel in Makati. Babes and Apin tipped me off on this. For the price of coffee at the hotel lobby, you get fast internet connection.
6. Shell Magallanes
   
7. Petron Makati
8. Murphy’s, along Esteban Ave.
9. Old Swiss Inn, The Atrium, Makati
10. Libreria - Along Tomas Morato
11. Starbucks WalMart, Pasong Tamo
12. Cafea - Found it near the ABS-CBN complex, besides Singles

Leech on! :)

TipidTip # 17 - Research online before going to restaurants.

One person's hobby is another person's treasure trove of information. Blogging has taken up the internet by storm and I'm one to say that it is a wonderful thing!

There are gossip blogs, fashion blogs, travel blogs and what-have-you. But the kind I'm focusing on right now as a TipidTip are those related to food and restaurant. Food blogs are the best! (Nagugutom tuloy ako!)

In Metro Manila alone, there are a number of helpful blogs which feature the up and coming restaurants and rare culinary finds. So, my suggestion is, when planning for the next big date with your lovey, surf the net for a while and research about restaurants online. Most blogs have pictures of the food, the place and the menu -- with prices to boot! The bloggers also write their own honest feedbacks so there's none of that paid advertisement crap.

Here are some of the food blogs I read:

http://anton.blogs.com
http://wysgal.blogspot.com (not really a food blog as she dabbles on a lot of things too)
http://www.dessertcomesfirst.com (although she's on blog burnout right now)

Plan your next date with these online resto guides. At least you know how much to prepare and what to order. Value for money is almost the same as Tipid, right? :) Enjoy!


*pic from Our Awesome Planet*

TipidTip # 16 - Use the Starbucks napkin as oil-control paper.

There's one more excuse to drop by your favorite Starbucks branch -- to get stock of their napkins. Their brown recycled napkin absorbs very well oil, whether in your face or in your fried food. I tried it myself and it worked!

I made myself a ham and cheese sandwich last week. Since I fried the ham, it was soaked in cooking oil and its own oil. Eww. Luckily, I had some Starbucks tissue inside my bag so I took them out to blot the oil. It absorbed the oil quickly and didn't disintegrate into pieces, which would make my ham taste like paper.

So, seeing its effects, I tried it on my face. I used a new one, of course. :) I saw oil stain marks on the tissue, which showed that it worked indeed. It was pretty much like the kind you see in your Gatsby Oil Control Film after using it.

Now, everytime I go to Starbucks, I make sure to take an extra wad of tissue for my oil-control purposes. Or for some other emergencies. Hehe! :)

TipidTip # 15 - Ipadala mo! (Xend it!)

Yihee. Loyalty!

I am very happy at the ease and convenience of courier services in Metro Manila nowadays. Whenever I need to give something to a friend or submit a research paper to Diliman, I just ship it via courier. I don't spend on gas. I don't waste time. In short, TipidTip!

Moreover, having an online business (check out http://bagsbuddy.multiply.com/! dali! :D), it's very hassle-free to sell my bag organizers since I don't have to meet with my buyers one by one. They just send payment via Gcash or bank deposit and I just ship their orders via Xend Express (895-XEND).

For a one-day delivery within Metro Manila, it costs only P50 for the 1st half-kilo. And the best part is, I don't have to leave home because they pick up the items from my house! Yup, in all my pambahay glory. Instead of me shelling out money for gas and my buyer shelling out money for gas or fare (sometimes food also!), my buyer just shoulders the P50 and stays in the comfort of her own home too. (Documents go for P40 only.)

There is a problem with this set up, however. Sometimes, when there are many pick-ups, they arrive at my house very late already. At one time, they came by at nine o'clock in the evening! Poor Xend men. No family life at all!

Anyway, they have generally been pleasant and efficient. No problems YET on missing deadlines or losing items in the delivery. I hope it stays that way.

Take note, however, that there is another courier company offering similar services (pick-up and delivery) as Xend. At way lower prices! OCS charges only P36 for the first half-kilo within Metro Manila. Grabe, how are they making money when their services are soooo cheap?! But why should I concern myself with these things? Let's just be thankful there's a cheaper alternative, right? :)

TipidTip # 14 - Have your own trusty mananahi.

As Filipinos, we are very blessed in that whatever part of the country we live in, we can find a modista also living nearby. The tricky part is finding someone whom you can form a relationship with -- someone whose handiwork you like and who has the talent to put your vision into reality.

Trust me. You need your own mananahi.

To cut up your newly-bought denims which is just too long for you.
To alter blazers or dresses you bought which totally hid your curves.
To alter hand-me-downs too cute to pass up!
To sew your school or work uniforms.
To make you that fabulous long gown you copied off of Hollywood stars for formal events.
To create for you that outfit showing your own personal style.
To recreate trendy pieces when you don't want to spend that much.
To make sure whatever you wear fits you perfectly.

An ordinary sewer charges very little. Usually it's just P20-P50 to shorten your pants. If you want to have the very uso dresses made, it usually costs P200-300 for labor but at least you get to buy the fabric you like! For gowns, usual price starts from P1000.

Recently, I was in search of the perfect vest that would add oomph to my otherwise simple shirt-and-jeans ensemble. I had searched online and in malls but failed to find one which I liked and my wallet agreed with. So off I went to my sewer and had one made for me. It cost only P150 for the labor and less than P100 for the fabric! And it was not your usual tiangge vest, which made it stand out from the crowd. Needless to say, it was exactly what I wanted!

You can look really expensive if your outfit fits you well. Custom-made always displayed class and sophistication. Now the next thing to work on is your EQ, because waiting for the output is just like the marshmallow test. But harder.

TipidTip # 13 - Don't be a drugstore-brand snob.

It's hard to believe but sometimes the cosmetic brands that really work can be found in your trusty neighborhood drugstore. Maybe it's because these brands come from big companies which devote a lot of their budget for research and development. Or, as in the case of Filipino brands, they engage in reverse engineering so they can make a cheaper version of the imported labels. Yep, we're tuso that way. ^_^

As a TipidTip girl, I can waste hours inside a drugstore checking counters and counters of cheap products and makeup and not get bored. A major dilemma? To buy or not to buy the new Ever Bilena Shea Body Butter that looks convincingly part of the Body Shop family. Haha!

Here's a few of my top TipidTip picks (and when I say Tipid, I mean tipid):

Myra-E facial moisturizer (P75)-- works wonders! My face feels supple and it smells powdery too!
Maybelline dream matte mousse foundation (P550)-- perfect make-up base. Sulit because one pot would last for months.
San-San foundation (P79)-- amazingly, just one swipe absorbs all my blemishes and makes me look flawless!
Nichido final powder (P129)-- to make sure all your make-up application is set in place.
Maybelline fruity lipgloss (P199)-- has a minty taste and doesn't come off easily.
Careline lipgloss (P50)-- not too glossy which I like, comes in great colors too.
Maybelline mascara (P300)-- any kind works really well.
Fashion 21 eyeshadow (P50)-- comes in duo tones so you don't have to think which color to blend with.
Ellips body lotion (P60)-- a rip-off of the Neutrogena body oil. Feels and smells exactly the same.
Ever Bilena (P150)-- shea body butter. Thick and creamy. You won't feel guilty slathering it all over.
Johnson & Johnson moisturizing soap (P10)-- did you know that the best germicidal soap is J&J is not Safeguard?? I read that somewhere, I forgot already where. Plus it smells really nice too!
Sunsilk Repair Shampoo and Conditioner (P80 each)-- dynamic duo that takes care of my frizzy hair.
Citre Shine Anti-Frizz serum (P369)-- can't leave home without putting this on my hair! (the one selling in Watson's for Buy1 Take1 for P129 works too!)

If you know of great drugstore products, let me know!

TipidTip # 12 - Don't buy gel-based hand sanitizers.

Hand sanitizers were all the rage when I was in college. All of a sudden, a lot of brands came up with their own versions like Bench, Bath & Body Works, Safeguard, etc. But have you noticed that all of sudden too, they lost their must-buy status on your grocery list? They didn't remain to be a staple in your bag and you felt that the space can be allotted to a more deserving item -- like, let's say, a second lip balm.

I don't think that this meant we don't care anymore about germs, bacteria and all those sickness-inducing organisms. I think it boils down to a simple reason -- they don't work.

They don't kill 99.9% of the germs, they feel sticky and the stickiness attracts more dirt than when you didn't put it on. You can see the dirty stuff just rolling around your hand and you'd have to get a tissue to wipe them off. So it's back to square one.

Don't buy gel-based hand sanitizers. Instead, (TipidTips time!) buy an atomizer in Watson's or Health & Beauty or use your old cologne spritzer (like Victoria's Secret or Calgon) and make your own hand sanitizer that works. Pour inexpensive but effective alcohol (I prefer Green Cross) in the atomizer and spray. Voila! Clean hands is one cheap spritz away..or more if you're that OC.

The atomizer lengthens the life of the alcohol, you'll be amazed. You can also use it for other purposes. I spray it on a mosquito bite to take away the itchiness. Or you can use it when a tamad waitress fails to wipe clean the table you're about to occupy. Just make sure it doesn't go to your utensils or food. But I'm sure you know that already.

TipidTip # 11 - During special occasions, ask the restaurant staff if they give something to the celebrator.

Most restaurants will be glad to be part of your celebration when you reach a milestone in your life. They appreciate having been chosen, among so many, as the site where you and your loved ones will break bread together and share your rejoicings. So, it really wouldn't hurt having the guts to ask the restaurant staff if they have a complimentary dessert or dish for the celebrator.

Having just finished studies in UP, we have two graduation ceremonies -- the University and the College graduations. Being so happy to finally graduate, I attended both. It also meant two graduation dinners. Yey!

For the first graduation dinner, we ate at Conti's in Serendra. Wearing my white dress and being fully made up, I looked like I had just graduated. So I asked the waiter if they had a gift for the new graduates. He asked the manager about it since they didn't offer graduation promos. The manager without hesitation asked if I would like a slice of cake. Of course I said yes! He gave me a pistachio cake and four forks. :) Baet!

For the second graduation dinner, we ate at Hai in Fort Bonifacio (formerly Bamboo Lounge, near MC Home Depot). My dad asked the waiter if they had any gifts for the graduates. The manager came to our table and explained that they didn't give out such treats. However, she said that if it's okay with us, she'll give us instead a 10% discount card. They even applied such discount to our bill that night already! Baet baet!

They say there's no such thing as a free lunch. But you can get free cakes and some discounts naman if you ask!

Tipid Tip # 10 - Give your broken lipstick a new release on life.

Many of us have suffered the all-too familiar drama of breaking that expensive lipstick when we’re putting on make up in a rush. Or when we absent-mindedly put the cap back on and we forget that we haven't twisted it back to its original position.

I have good news for you. You don't have to throw them away and waste the money you shelled out for them. You can give your broken lipstick a new release on life.

Find an old make-up pot where you can put that cut-up lipstick. Use your lip brush or index finger to apply to your lips. It's small and portable. And it doesn't look too tacky when you get it out from your bag to re-apply in the girl's comfort room. I used my old Maybelline mousse bronzer container since it's made of glass and has a cover. I even have ready an old Burt's Bees LipBalm container waiting for the next victim.

I found another tip online. "Simply take off the broken portion with a tissue, then slowly wave a lit match under the broken piece of lipstick. When it's melted a bit, put it back on the base, swivel it down and put it in the fridge -- uncovered -- for 30 minutes."

My churchmate Sarah Camille taught me another trick. She turned it into a lipgloss! What to do: Buy pure petroleum jelly in drugstores. A small pot of Apollo costs P29, I think. Put some of it in a big spoon or a metal measuring cup. To add a dash of color, get the cut-up lipstick and put it in the same container. Heat it for like a few seconds over a candle. Make sure to guard it at all costs so that it doesn't reach boiling point. Mix it using a stirrer while still melted. Voila! Your own lipgloss! To be safer, you can probably use also the glass container of your old lipbalms and steam it on top of boiling water.

D-I-Y projects spell F-U-N. and T-I-P-I-D.

Tipid Tip # 9 - Get a Sun phone.

No, I'm not in any way an employee of Sun Cellular nor did they pay me to write this post. But I am a true believer. :)

I am a telebabad person. I need to talk to The Boyfriend everyday just so I would know what went on with his day and I can tell him what happened with mine. Since I'm living in a dorm right now with no phone line (but with DSL! *grins*), it became a potential problem. But armed with two Sun Cellular phones, the problem was solved before it even started!

Here's how: The Boyfriend got a postpaid line - P350/month for unlimited Sun to Sun calls and texts plus 250 free texts to other networks - and that comes with a free LG phone. I got a prepaid sim card for myself - P100 one-time purchase. Sometimes I buy P150 regular load that will last me two months or not buy prepaid credits at all! He calls me and we talk. If I need to talk to him, I dial his number and "ring" his phone to signal him to call me. Or I text him using my Globe number to call me. When we get his bill, his usage is usually worth P4,000! But since there is a "discount" (as they term it in the bill) of about P3,650, he just pays the rate he signed up for!

Keeping the romance alive = P350/month = TipidTip!!!

Sure beats waiting for the PLDT men to install that landline.