Cloth Diapers

Babies mostly sleep, eat and urinate/poop generally.
This is one of the reasons why they can be so expensive, which is why I am planning on breastfeeding (versus 7K pesos per week), and using cloth diapers (which is also more environmental friendly and less prone to diaper rashes for the baby). Modern cloth diapers (versus the lampin) usually have cute designs (no need for the baby to wear separate shorts? Haha) with adjustable sizes (some even claim until 3 yrs old).

I have read on the different kinds of modern cloth diapers, but I have decided to focus on the following because I think this is where I will stick to. To read about the basics, you can click here, or here, or here, or just google it :)

1. Flats
Most Filipinos grow up with the concept of lampin (or flats).

Pros:
Cheap (1 dozen can only cost PhP 220)
Easy to wash and dry
Breathable (presko)
Easily adjusted based on size by using diaper clamps (I remember using pins when I was young, but clamps are safer)
Lampins are also versatile and can be used as burp pads, wipes, towels for the back, etc.


Cons:
Not waterproof - but can be remedied by using diaper covers
Can be hard to put on, especially when baby is makulit

2. Pocket Diapers
Pocket diapers consists of an outer waterproof layer, and an suede inner layer with an opening on the end, to serve as a pocket. Inside the pocket, you can add flats or inserts or combine them together (to be discussed later).

Pros:
Inserts/absorbancy can easily be adjusted
No need for diaper pins/clamps
Popular (these are what I usually find in department stores)

Cons:
Needs time to stuff the pocket with inserts
Harder to dry when cleaning
May also be more disgusting because you have to separate the insert from the pocket when washing

3. All in Twos
I think this is our favorite. But I have seen different variations. It usually has two components, an outer waterproof layer with a separate absorbable insert that can be snapped on to the waterproof layer. The outer layer (also known as the diaper cover) can either have a snap for the insert, or flaps on both side of the diaper where the insert can be inserted.

The other variation I've seen is a waterproof outer layer with a suede inner layer that can be used as a pocket, but it also has a snap that can be used with a removable snap-on insert.

Pros:
Reusable in between washing (if only the insert gets wet or dirty with urine)
No need for diaper pins/clamps
Easier to dry than All in Ones and Pockets
Can be combined with a disposable insert (well, this is actually available only from the US and can be expensive)

Cons:
Need time to stuff the insert
Inserts can shift when the baby moves


From all these, I figured we would use All in Twos a lot because they are reusable in between washings (we just need to buy and wash more inserts). We would also use the pocket, especially for night use where we could stuff the pockets with more inserts. I think it's pretty useful also if the baby is constantly moving, which might displace the inserts with All in Twos.


I've been talking about inserts a lot, and base from my research...
1. Flats - lampin; because this is pretty cheap and easy to dry
2. Microfiber - most common default insert
Pros:
2-3x more absorbent than flats
Cheaper than other modern inserts

Cons:
Cannot be directly put on the baby's bum
Can retain the stink
Absorbancy properties gets lost after about a year

3. Bamboo charcoal
Pros:
More absorbent than microfiber
Can be direct on the baby's bum

Cons:
Bulky
Also said to retain the sink
Harder to dry when washing

4. Hemp
Pros:
More absorbent than bamboo charcoal
So much thinner than bamboo charcoal
Natural fiber so can be next to baby's bum
Softer with every washing

Cons:
More expensive

Because of all this, I was thinking on just going for the hemp inserts, and probably the microfiber ones because it is the free default insert that comes with most cloth diapers. Though I did also buy some bamboo charcoal and zorb already just to try it out when the baby comes.

I must say that I'm really excited about trying on cloth diapers on my baby. (Though maybe it's also because I don't really wash the laundry hahaha) They did say 20-30 diapers is already enough. But since I was planning to use AI2s, I think I can just buy 30 inserts and just make do with 15 diaper covers? Though I read from another blog, that a newborn can go through 15 diapers per day! Or... maybe I should just stick with the flats with nappy clamps and pins, which is bought per dozen anyway.

Though I was so excited when I first read up on it that I already bought 10 diapers when I was just 5 months pregnant (they are a mixture of 6 pockets, 2 AI2, and 2 diaper covers that I bought online) with a mixture of different inserts (including "special" ones like pure bamboo booster (for night use), hemp jersey (stiffer than pure bamboo, but just as absorbent), bamboo cotton, zorb diamond cloth (one of the most expensive but most absorbent out there), coffee fleece (claims to have absorb the smell).

Sample of a diaper cover with hemp insert

Sample of a pocket diaper with bamboo charcoal lining

Aside from the cloth diapers from shopee, I also bought a pure bamboo booster, hemp jersey, and bamboo cotton insert

Sample of a diaper with fleece as outer lining (in contrast to the usual TPU and PUL)

Aside from my cloth diapers from shoppee, I also bought a Wazoodle Zorb insert, microfiber, and bamboo charcoal insert

This is my favorite set from a certain shop in Shopee. It comes with 1 Diaper Cover with 2 snap on stay-dry (includes microfiber) layer and 1 hemp insert. There's a specific snap so they all match perfectly (3 diapers in 1!)

I just wanted to demonstrate the different sizes of the diaper depending on the buttons

Some diapers only have 3 rows adjustable (from small, medium, and large), but this one has 4 (to include newborn size).

This is a sample of All-in-Two with a snap-on Bamboo Charcoal Lining. (Unfortunately the snap on from the other diaper did not exactly match with the snap on from this shop but can still be used if I don't use the snaps.)

Aside from the cloth diapers, I also ordered a coffee insert (which isn't really common but I've read is good for the smells)

When I received them, this is when I realized that the AI2s were my favorite, particularly the "diaper cover-type" because we can just wipe off the PUL cover then reuse it again with another insert! Yey! 

Money Habits

When you'd asked my sisters, who is the cheapest of us all, I'm pretty sure they'd point me out haha
I'm just a simple girl! Haha But I spend my money on investments and travel, usually. I'm not into gadgets much, and I don't believe I'm also into clothes or shoe shopping. If ever, I can be addicted to online shopping instead haha

Anyway, how does one really become rich?

1. Living below your means
This is the problem with most Filipinos. Once they get their salary, it's time to celebrate and tada, the money flies! Or just because you get promoted, it doesn't mean that you have higher budget for spending too. If you can live simply before getting promoted, why do you have to change your lifestyle?

2. Keep a cash flow
When I was in grade 6, I started working for summer jobs for my parents. And they were real jobs, desk jobs like accounting and secretarial work (I had always been good with computers, typing and numbers) and physical jobs like being a gasoline girl (Okay, I was a bit older, like maybe 16? Haha). That's when I started listing down my salary, and where they go. After that summer, I continued to list my expenses and my allowances. (I had a cute organizer back then so I remembered using it a lot. After that, well, I kind of drifted off for a while and went back to being a kid.)

But when I started working again, I had to make a cash flow of my salary and expenses and where my income is going. I had to make sure I have a positive balance every month. This will enable you to figure out your budget.

3. Be disciplined and stick to your budget!
From your cash flow, you can see your needs and wants. It's better this way to figure out your budget every month. There are so many ways to budget. My budget when I was in high school up to med school were more of a cash flow and just generally living within my means. I learned to be more organized as I grew and learn.

There is the 10/10/80, which was taught by Bo Sanchez. It means once you get your net salary, you can allot 10% in tithes, 10% investments, and 80% daily living. Why do you need tithes? Because it was God who put you here, give you your talents and your job, and a measly 10% would only be small to repay for God, right? Besides, whatever comes around, goes around; good karma, etc. The other 10% is like paying for your future self, invest in yourself by putting your money in a mutual fund or IUTF or the stock market. The rest of your salary, you can spend on yourself.

Of course, you can always do better than that and just do 10/40/50 if you're single, not supporting anyone, living with parents, and doesn't have much needs for expenses.

For me, I currently use the JARS system. I have the following categories, and divide them accordingly:
10% Tithe - include donations to church and charity organizations
25% Investment - includes IUTF, Mutual Funds, Stocks
10% Work - includes transportation, food
10% Social - includes dating, meeting up with friends, sports/activity/movie
10% Personal - includes my cellphone, spa, medical and dental needs
10% Education - includes tuition, food
10% Shopping - includes grocery shopping, clothes, shoes, electrical needs
10% Travel - because everyone needs a break once in a while
5% Misc - because there are just somethings that don't fit in the other categories like unaccounted loss/gain, back charges

Up until recently, when I became a part-time student did I realize I need that category, because tuition would eat up a huge part of my budget, if I didn't prepare for it well.

Of course, budgeting is very flexible and it of course depends on you. Though the 10/10/80 might be simpler. Just remember to have a budget and stick to it.

4. Time is your friend
Some people don't realize that time is also money. That when you're wasting time, you're also wasting money. Invest and make time your ally.

Investing doesn't have to cost much. You just need to deposit even PhP 500 every month and eventually, it will increase through the power of compound interest. Watch about it in YouTube Pesos and Sense when they compared investing early and small, as compared to investing later, but bigger. You'll see that the earlier investor actually gained more!

Also, I'm not a big fan of the television (except the news), or idle time in the computer (okay, I'm guilty of Facebook). As much as possible, read and learn! Improve yourself. Do you want to fix your finances? Learn about finance, read up on the different IUTF and mutual funds. Learn about the stock market and forex. Read about the risks in properties. Look into more passive investments!

I learned another time-saving technique. When traveling, instead of listening to music, try listening to an audiobook instead. It will grow your mind, inspire you, and educate you.

5. Don't spend money you don't have. Avoid loans.
Try not to get into the habit of borrowing money from people, telling them that you'll pay them on payday. Sometimes, it will all compile and by the time that it's payday, you're already broke! Have the discipline not to spend on your wants. Aim yourself to maintain a positive balance every month.

6. Pay your credit cards on time and in full.
Credit cards make money by the charges that you incur with penalties, which increase and multiply because of compound interest. So make sure that before you swipe that card, make sure that you have enough money in your account to pay for it. Don't even wait for the deadline to pay, you can pay earlier just to make sure you don't incur any late charges. (I set my alarm 5 days before the actual due date.) Don't also use the Cash Advance or Loans because the charge is also higher.

If you know how to use your credit cards wisely, you can actually use them to get freebies and discounts to some restaurants. (My mother is a big fan of these because she uses her credit card for the business and gets freebies in many restaurants.) You can also exchange points accumulated for gift certificates and rewards. (Maybe next time, I will write on my credit cards.)

7. Keep yourself secure.
Of course, this all sounds so good on paper when you don't have people to help, medical bills, or already in debt. Hence, before investing, make sure that you have an emergency fund, and a personal insurance for yourself.

In your budget, instead of invest, replace it with Loans so you can finish paying your loan first. Once that is replaced, save for your emergency fund of at least 3-6 months worth of living expenses (in case you ran out of work).

Once you have an emergency fund, it's also better to have a personal health and life insurance for yourself, so in case anything happens to you, you don't have to dig into your investment accounts. The insurance will take care of it for you. (Personally, I have Kaiser, which has a health and life insurance with investment component. In case that I don't become sick or die, I can still claim my money at 65 years old... Though by that time, I think I just want to continue my health and life insurance, right? I think it's a good buy. Currently, it's accredited in World Citi (which is near our house), St. Luke's and Makati Med.

8. Stop those impulse spending. 
If you can still use your old phone, why would you buy something new. If your laptop is still working, do you really need a tablet? In this world of technology, it's so important to live simply and let go of those materialistic impulses.

If you really want to be frugal, when going inside a restaurant, think about the food that you will order. If a meal costs PhP 300, when you know that it's only going to satisfy your hunger for 3-4 hours then it will just disappear, is it worth it? (Well, that's really cheap-thinking hehe Because I know that there is quality food, but would you want to spend PhP 300 every time when you know that in some other restaurant, it can also keep you satisfied for less than PhP 100?) When my sister and I were out shopping, she told me that she would buy clothes/shoes/whatever instead of lunch because the value of her clothes will last longer than a few hours in her stomach.

Hmm... that's it for now. I'm getting hungry. I still have to cook my dinner.
Remember, read and educate yourself; time and discipline are keys to getting rich!