Frugal Expat

An expat's journey in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

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05 May 2012

Finally!

Finally my three months notice period culminated last Thursday, 3rd May 2012 and I felt relieve. Gladly they didn’t organize any farewell lunch as it was my personal request but they gave me a present as farewell gift.

On the other hand, my dear colleague and friend Tarek had taken an effort to drive all the way from Al Ain to simply have a dinner with our few chosen colleagues and friends. I really appreciated his effort because the distance between Al Ain  and  Dhabi is approximately 140 kms.

We dined in Castello Restaurant and Café, a nice Arabic restaurant and I liked really the location. And of course, we concluded our dinner with a shisha..

Thanks Buddy!

Posted by Frugal Xpat in Employment and tagged | Leave a Comment
16 Apr 2012

Abu Dhabi Distribution Company: How to Obtain Clearance?

I hardly visit government agencies since I work here in Abu Dhabi until last March 2012 when my flat’s tenancy contract was due to expire. Also, I didn’t know the headache of owning a flat here until I needed to give up my last flat.

Anyway, my flat was managed by Abu Dhabi National Property. I really had a very bad experience with them. It was like a nightmare stepping into their office. I do not want to dwell on that topic for now but for sure I will blog about it in the next couple of weeks.

Abu Dhabi Distribution Company (ADDC) is responsible for the water and electricity supplies here in Abu Dhabi. Since I didn’t renew my flat’s contract, I had to obtain a clearance certificate from ADDC to certify that I have no outstanding bill or that I have paid all my bills.

The certificate is one of the requirements of Abu Dhabi National Property. If I will not comply, then the money which was deposited during the signing of contract will not be refunded.

By the way, you can only obtain the clearance from ADDC which is located near Madinat Zayed or CristalHotel. I want to give you a head’s up. There is always a long queue in ADDC. During my three times visit, I spent two hours at least for the queue. I really didn’t have much of a choice but to wait.

When you enter the ADDC, ask for the priority number but inform them that you want to obtain a clearance certificate.

Wait for your turn, then the customer service agent will ask you for your account number and will tell you to leave your house key to the Nator. Once they put the notice in the system for termination of your account, their staff will visit the flat to disconnect the water and electricity supply.

You have to come back the following day (after the water and electricity supply is disconnected). They will advise you of the final amount of your bill. Pay the full amount then they will issue you a letter which I assume a clearance letter because it is written in Arabic.

It is easy but time-consuming because of long queue.

Posted by Frugal Xpat in Accommodation, Life in Abu Dhabi | Leave a Comment
12 Apr 2012

Overhaul

My life is going through an overhaul right now and in a way I am proud of it (I’ll tell you the reason later!). Actually the process is just initiating and the result is still to be seen and felt.

Work
I am one of those who keep their jobs for years for the sake of paycheck. Instead I endure the misery of working in the corporate world as I trade off my happiness, time, passion and health. Few more days from now, I will eventually get rid of the job that I detest for four years and five months.

Not only that, I will be office base worker soon. I am expecting a period of boredom on my first few months because for the last two year, I am always on the go – driving on the road, visiting clients in their respective offices, having lunch or dinner with guests or chatting on the phone to sort out issues or to extend assistance.

Soon, I will have a very minimal contact with clients, less time on the road and in my car, no work related phone calls which are disturbing on weekends and no more late night work oriented social functions.

Clothing
I am not yet sure though but I will probably be wearing smart casual clothes in my office because that’s what there staffs were wearing during my interview and it was a weekday. No more high powered business suits and high heels.

New Home Sweet Home
Hubby and I moved to a new flat. We just finished shifting last night, not an easy one but glad it was over. We realized yesterday that we really had a lot of personal effects which need to be trimmed down (and we should be ruthless in doing that!). Actually, we already downsized but I think it was not enough.

I believe that we should only stay in job that makes us happy. Why? Personally in my current job I come to office at around 7.45am and do not leave before 9pm and twice a week I have to stay until 10-11 in the evening. Imagine, I am not happy with my current role and I am spending 60% of my time at work. It implies during that 60% of my time I am not happy too.

I mentioned in the beginning that somehow I am proud of it. You know why? It took me so long to heap enough courage to take this decision because I was afraid to explore the world of unknown instead I chose to live in misery in my comfort zone.

Posted by Frugal Xpat in Accommodation, Employment, Finances, Life in Abu Dhabi | Leave a Comment
10 Apr 2012
1 Comment

Potential Income Streams and Business Ideas

Who does not want to increase their cash flow? For average expat worker, extra income means the opportunity to buy your wants but for a financially literate worker, it means additional money for investment. For couples with dependents, it is always beneficial to have an extra source of income.

As for me, I am actually looking for opportunities to increase my cash flow because I want to create fast my emergency fund. At the same time, I am on a look out for potential business that I can do back home.

Last weekend, I browsed the You Tube and I watched the previous episodes of my fave TV shows that tackle potential business opportunities back home. Then I realized that this is not actually the kind of business that I am keen to have. I noticed that business owners are still there in their shops day in and day out. They supervise the operation and are involved in every aspect of the business.

If I will take on such form of business, it means I am self-employed.

I am actually looking for a business that will give me passive income. It means that even if I will detach myself from the business, its operation continues and it will still give me income. I have identified few ideas but it will require substantial fund to start and I do not have that.

Do you have any passive incomes? Care to share..

Posted by Frugal Xpat in Uncategorized
08 Apr 2012

Embracing Minimalistic Lifestyle

Three weeks ago we finally shifted to our new accommodation.  

When we finished packing our things last month, I was stunned with the amount of things that we accumulated despite of getting rid many items prior to sorting and packing our belongings. We gave away many kitchen items, cupboards, clothes, and furniture. I threw old magazines, files of papers, and packed my over 300 books.

Still we ended up with a lot of stuff. The 2.5 ton cargo pick-up that we rented to help us shift our things made two trips as one was not enough.

Personally I really do not recommend accumulating things while working and living in UAE. We all know that our stay here is only temporary and eventually we have to go back home for good or migrate in other country.

I am considering that it is really time to be ruthless in downsizing and to start a minimalistic lifestyle. No more unnecessary things. I should only buy things if it is necessary.

It is time to go digital too. Hubby and I love books but it is space-consuming. As painful it is to let go paperbacks and hard cover books, I simply have to.

Getting rid of subscriptions. As I used to own a flat, I subscribed to internet, landline phone, cable and other utilities. On top of that, I am keeping (until my last working day) a postpaid mobile phone for my work.

As I gave up my flat, this allowed me to get rid of it except for my postpaid phone but it will soon, three more weeks to go.

Long term financial commitments. Again, our life here in UAE is unpredictable. Today you may have your secure and high paying job but it can be gone tomorrow. This is the reason that I personally do not recommend long term financial commitments like personal loans.

Many expats face this problem after they lose their jobs. They could not afford to pay the monthly dues anymore.

Until today I still have few boxes to unpack and to sort out.

Posted by Frugal Xpat in Accommodation, Life in Abu Dhabi, Thoughts and tagged | Leave a Comment
06 Apr 2012

Etisalat E-Life Subscription: Watch out for the Cancellation Policy

I am not renewing our flat this year and its contract is due to expire on 31st March 2012. Perhaps by the time you are reading this post, my flat is already empty. Then cancellations of utilities (i.e. water and electricity), internet, telephone and cable TV will follow.

When we took this flat, I availed the E-Life package of Etisalat (UAE’s leading telecommunication company). The package includes internet, cable tv and telephone line.

In February I inquired in one of Etisalat’s customer service outlet about its cancellation. The agent just advised me to visit the Etisalat Business Center as they could only do the cancellations. As I was preoccupied in my work, I visited the Business Center only a month after.

To my dismay, they informed me that a one-month notice period is required otherwise the customer needs to pay one month as penalty. I argued about it as I was not aware of that condition.

In a way I realized my mistake. I should always ask for the cancellation policy for any subscriptions that I will avail. Now, I have no option but to pay the penalty.

Posted by Frugal Xpat in Accommodation, Life in Abu Dhabi and tagged | Leave a Comment
04 Apr 2012

Side Business

I have really been very busy for the last few weeks doing all the errands. Also, I become very determined of pursuing my side business thus I go home late every night.

Sometimes when I am tired, discouragement starts to creep in. Then I have to remind myself again, the reason I am doing this side business. I want to increase my cash flow and eventually establish my own business. I see this as my passport to final exit from the corporate world and in return will allow me to have flexible time to be with my son.

This is the motivation that propels me to work extra hours every week hoping that my hard work and sacrifices will eventually pay off.  

I always remind myself that whatever I want to achieve in life, I need to work for it. Nothing comes free. You reap what you sow.

 

Posted by Frugal Xpat in Finances, Thoughts and tagged | Leave a Comment
02 Apr 2012
1 Comment

New Path to Healthier “Me”, Scattered Files

After weeks of dilly-dallying, I finally decided to embark a new journey – to trudge the path of living a healthier and fitter ‘me’. It means more fruits and veggies on my plate. Actually my long-term goal is to adapt a pure raw-food lifestyle. (I know, I posted about it earlier but I really didn’t try hard to stay on track.)

So last Saturday I shopped a small amount of fruits and vegetables. Then yesterday I had only salad for lunch and a big portion of sandwich in the evening. I realized that I have to keep my stomach full with fruits and vegetable during the day otherwise I will indulge in the evening. That’s what happened yesterday.

Today morning I am glad to start my day with coffee and followed later with watermelon, (hopefully) salad again for lunch and fruits in the evening.

Also, for the last one week I started to use stairs in the morning though I am taking it slowly. I live in the 9th floor and every morning I use the stairs when going down the building. Honestly my legs were paining in the first two days that I used the stairs but now my legs are okay.

Hopefully next week I will start climbing up the stairs even for two floors only. It is really more tiring to ascend.

I am setting my mind to achieve this goal on a gradual phase as long as I am consistent. I aim to lose 15 kilo.

On the other hand, I have not updated my blog for the last two weeks. I actually have written few blog posts but my files are scattered. I am currently using a laptop at home but the files are saved in the desktop computer. As I write in the office too during my lunch break, I ended up having some files again left in my office computer.

I am hoping that this weekend the internet connections for our desktop computers will be fixed so I will have one working desk and computer to use.

Posted by Frugal Xpat in Health, Life in Abu Dhabi and tagged ,
01 Apr 2012

Paralyze Without Internet

Today marks our one week stay in our new accommodation. Until now at this moment I am writing this post, we still do not have internet access in our room. I felt paralyze, honestly.

Not only that, my telephone bill is spiraling as I make almost daily long distance call toPhilippinesto check my son. Unfortunately, it seems phone calls do not ease my longing to my little boy because I cannot see him unlike in Skype.

Hopefully the internet connection will be fixed tomorrow. Actually there is available wifi in our flat but the signal inside our room is only limited. As we are using desktops, we need internet cables.

Even my online work is paralyzed. I cannot do any research for my writing gig and I have a deadline coming up soon.

Posted by Frugal Xpat in Accommodation, freelance writing, Investments, Life in Abu Dhabi | Leave a Comment
16 Mar 2012

Why Should I Prepare my Last Will & Testament?

My brother and I are on a mission to prepare our respective last will and testament once we have the opportunity to go home in the Philippines this year. It is one of our priorities.

Few years back, the idea of last will and testament is really farfetched. In our culture such thing is only for the affluent society but when I started attending financial literacy this year I learned its importance especially for individuals who have dependents.

Honestly, I do not have many assets but recently I started investing small amounts in mutual funds and stocks. Really, the amount I am investing is very minimal because of my current financial obligations. I am still trying various means to increase my cash flow to be able to invest more.

Anyway, I learned that in investment there are no beneficiaries unlike with insurances. Of course, I do not want my hard earned money (even it is minimal) to go to the government if ever I will die. Although it can be returned to your family, it will be subject first to court proceedings which for sure will take time.

My long term goal is to invest for my child’s college education and for our (hubby & I) retirement. If ever something happens to me, that goal should serve its purpose. Therefore, I have to ensure that it is written in black and white for security purpose.

Have you experienced preparing last will and testament? Has it been useful to you and your family? Feel free to share about it..

Posted by Frugal Xpat in Family, Finances and tagged | Leave a Comment

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