Frugal Expat

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

Archive for the category “Life in Abu Dhabi”

17 Feb 2012

Things to Focus in 2012

Photo Credit: www.clker.com

 

With my decision to leave my current job, I am optimistic to land a job that does not require me to work longer hours at the same time an uninterrupted weekends. You see, I enjoy tremendously my two days off but oftentimes I slot in few minutes of office work like checking and replying to important emails. Also, there are the inevitable phone calls from the clients and the company either requesting for some assistance or issues that need to be resolved.

Hopefully with my new job, I will be freed from this and I look forward to having more time honing my writing skills and do my side business which I aim to be my passive source of income soon. Let me know if you are interested. And most importantly, spending quality time with my hubby.

My brother has been urging me to pay attention and consider seriously my writing business. I used to do it for fun. It is more of a hobby and the earnings that come to it is more of a bonus only. This time, I want to follow my brother’s advice.

I am keen on learning the ins and outs of freelance writing and the potential business opportunities that come to it. I am willing to start the learning process all over again. This is one aspect that I want to focus and invest my time this year.

Secondly, I targeted to thrive in my side business. I just joined this company last month and so far I am still on the process of learning the business. I know that it takes a lot of hard work and a long stretch of perseverance to succeed in this field. I am working on it!

I will focus only on these two things this year..

Posted by Frugal Xpat in Employment, Finances, freelance writing, Life in Abu Dhabi | Leave a Comment
15 Feb 2012

February will be over soon…

I was just writing my journal today and realized that it is already 15th of February. It means that this month is already over. How fast the time flies?

Lately, I have been contemplating on going home for good. I am very tired of living a corporate life which sadly equates to stress. Sometimes I wonder why some people are so keen to stay in big cities and bear the hustle and bustle of the urban life.

I know that we have our own preferences and I like the greenery and laid back way of life in the province as long as I have an internet connection… LOL!

Anyway, let’s hope for the best this month. In the industry I am working right now, we are forecasting a tough year as competition intensifies and I know the situation will be even worst when the summer season comes.

In a way, I am glad that I decided to leave. What a good excuse, huh!

Posted by Frugal Xpat in Employment, Life in Abu Dhabi and tagged , , , | Leave a Comment
14 Feb 2012

How to Renew Your Emirates ID in Abu Dhabi?

Renewal of Emirates ID is now fast and efficient. I did mine in Infinity Services located in MarinaMall.

The requirements are your old Emirates ID and original passport.

Go to Infinity Services. They will do all the typing and then pay for AED 340 for the processing and courier services.

Then simply wait for the notification sent through sms for the delivery of your ID.

Here are the contact details of Infinity Services.

Phone Number: +971 2 6811 644
Fax number:      +971 2 6812 717
Website:             www.infinity-co.ae

Posted by Frugal Xpat in Life in Abu Dhabi and tagged , | Leave a Comment
12 Feb 2012
1 Comment

The Cost of Procrastination: A Hefty Fine!

Emirates ID is mandatory to all residents (expatriate and nationals) here in UAE. The ID has an electronic chip and it stores information such as name, date of birth, gender, marital status, ID number, fingerprint data, etc.

Its validity is coterminous with our residence or employment visa. I renewed my visa last March 2011 and ideally I should renew my Emirates ID too that time. The initial process of our Emirates ID was quite a nightmare because there were long queues. Because of what I experienced, I was just too lazy to process the renewal.

Then last December my colleague notified me that starting 2012 there will be fines for late renewals or applications. In end of January I renewed my Emirates ID. I was quite confident because the fines for Abu Dhabiresidents will start only on 1st of April.

Actually I was amazed because the processing now is fast and efficient. It took me only 15-20 minutes.

Anyway, after 2 days I received a sms advising me to visit again the Infinity Services, the agency that processes the renewal and applications of Emirates ID inAbu   Dhabi. Then I was informed that I had to pay the fine of AED 580 because of late renewal.

I came to know that I was fined for AED 20 per day since 1st January because I am holding a government visa.

Really, I felt bad for paying such a hefty fine but I had no choice.

Lesson learned – avoid procrastination!

Posted by Frugal Xpat in Finances, Frugal Tips, Life in Abu Dhabi and tagged , ,
02 Feb 2012

Western Union vs Bank Transfer Remittances

Long queues are always expected every end or beginning of the month in money exchange centers here in UAE because we, working expatriates specially Asians, are sending our remittances back home for our family and love ones.

Last week I sent remittances too, one for my family and the other for my hubby’s parents. I have never been really so keen on sending remittances through Western Union because its fee is expensive compared to the bank transfer.

Of course, I understand that with Western Unionwe are paying the speed of the transaction. It’s an instant transfer and your family back home can immediately collect the remittances five minutes after you send it. While the banks, it generally takes 24-48 working days to credit the transfer in the bank account.

Another plus factor withWestern Unionis the accessibility. You can collect the remittances back home almost anywhere. There are so many shops and stores affiliated withWestern Union. Unlike with banks, remittances can be withdrawn only through the ATMs or over the counters.

Western Unionis ideal for urgent situations where money is needed immediately. Otherwise, I still opt for the regular bank transfers because the fee is only AED 15 whileWestern Unionis AED 35.

We always send our remittances to my parent’s hubby through Western Union but l really never realized the big difference until last week. After completing my transactions in the money exchange center, I took the receipts and sat in my car. I was wondering why it seemed I paid more for my hubby’s remittance than for my family.

So, I was scrutinizing the details of each receipt and eureka! I found the answer. The exchange rate inWestern Unionreceipt was only AED 11.48 while in the bank transfer was AED 11.65.

I got out from the car and verified this to the teller in the money exchange center. And I heard the confirmation.

When sending money through Western Union, the exchange rate is always lower than the current one while sending through bank transfer, whatever is the prevailing exchange rate (during the time you send the money) will apply.

So think again when usingWestern Unionfor your remittances!

Posted by Frugal Xpat in Finances, Frugal Tips, Life in Abu Dhabi | Leave a Comment
28 Jan 2012
2 Comments

Experiment: The 30 Days Challenge

Photo Credit: http://betterhorsesclassifieds.com

Resolutions really do not work for me because I always fail. I read somewhere that one of the reasons to blame for not achieving any rate of success is the lack of motivation or purpose.

When your life is threatened to end because of an illness, you will definitely do anything that the doctor says in order to prolong your life. If the doctor advises you to change your diet (i.e. no more salty and high calorie foods), then you will definitely change your eating habits overnight, right?

You have a strong motivation which is to live longer. That your drive to change your habit instantly.

As for my case, I am caving in to Bo Sanchez’s 30-Days Challenge. I want to start a raw food diet. Well, I have tried it before for two weeks and I really felt good but it didn’t sustain longer. I have a list of excuses to back it up. LOL!

Anyway, I will start the 30 days challenge to gear me up and hopefully to adapt a healthier way of life for good.

My motivation? I know from the bottom of my heart that I am living an unhealthy lifestyle. That’s a given fact – no exercise, high consumption of fast foods, high level of stress from work, more processed foods in my daily diet and so on. Now that I have a son, I want to take care of my health hoping to live longer to see him growing up.

I just gave birth late last year and I am already in my early thirties. When I do my calculation, I will be in my fifties when he starts his college degree. So that’s my main motivation and hopefully strong enough to help me cling on my resolution.

Posted by Frugal Xpat in Family, Health, Life in Abu Dhabi and tagged ,
22 Jan 2012

Watch Out! Fines in Abu Dhabi

I was cleaning my car today and I saw a flyer “Keep Abu Dhabi City Clean”. I could not remember from where I got the flyer but it is worth to read.

  • Fine for Dropping Cigarette Butts  AED 200
  • Fine for Spitting AED 100
  • Fine for Littering on the Street AED 500
  • Fine for Spitting Gum AED 500

Posted by Frugal Xpat in Life in Abu Dhabi, Thoughts | Leave a Comment
19 Jan 2012

Thoughts About Retirement and Investments

I never had a serious thought about retirement until I spent three months maternity leave back home. My Mum just retired last year from her teaching job for more than 30 years. Though a bit fearful of the fact that she is no longer receiving monthly salary, the thought of her monthly pension somehow pacifies her but she will not receive it until five years from now.

It made me think.. really..  My Mum is lucky that she has a secured pension from her teaching job. What about me? If I will decide to go home to the Philippines, I will be jobless because I am considered already over age for any available jobs back home.

Therefore, I will rely only on my savings and hopefully investments to support me and my family. It is quite a scary thought, right? Savings I think no matter how big the amount  will eventually diminish in the long run if you do not have any other source of income.

Investments on the other hand can be risky especially if you opt for business. The return of investment is not 101% guaranteed.

Because of this realization, I started to explore the opportunities of securing our retirement and establishing potential source of income once my hubby and I decided to go home for good in the Philippines. I am quite cautious in any form of investments because it is our hard earned money. At the same time, I want to have saving options with higher yield.

So far, I am paying faithfully my Social Security System (SSS) monthly contributions. I really do not know how much to expect from it but it is better than nothing, right?

Also, my brother and I found very helpful information in Bo. Sachez’s The Truly Rich Club. We have been members for sometime now and it is really enlightening. We are not that financially literate but with the guidance and help of Bo. Sanchez, we started to invest in stock market. If you are a beginner in investments, then this is a good way to start actually.  If you want to know more about the Truly Rich Club, click it here.

You will get also a copy of his ebook called “My Maid Invests In The Stock Market… And Why You Should Too”.
Posted by Frugal Xpat in Family, Finances, Investments, Life in Abu Dhabi | Leave a Comment
15 Jan 2012

A Confirmed Morning Person

I woke up today at past two in the morning and I could not sleep anymore. So I decided to get up and check my office emails. After that, I started writing some blog posts. I kept a list of topics but sometimes I do not have the time to write it really.Now, I feel very productive. Thoughts are just flowing seamlessly. I wish to have this creative rhythm always  but sometimes getting up early in the morning can be very challenging.

Anyway, it is already almost five in the morning and I would like to take a nap for an hour at least before I will hit the office.

Wish me luck! Hopefully I will not be sleepy today..

Posted by Frugal Xpat in Life in Abu Dhabi, Thoughts | Leave a Comment
13 Jan 2012
3 Comments

New Breed of “OFW” Motherhood

My Son "ZJ"

 
After giving birth to my son “ZJ”, my life has never been the same again.  If weekends before were spent in the malls or out of town escapades, now it is spent on Skype because it is the only time I can bond “online” with my son.  

For those of you who are not familiar with the setting of Filipino families, let me give you a glimpse of it.  A big chunk of our population is working overseas. You can find an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) soul across the globe working as a nurse, waitress, housemaids, engineers, service crews and so on.

Oftentimes we trade our professions with the opportunity to work abroad hoping that we can give our family back home a better standard of living. It is not only our professions that we sacrifice but as well the reality of leaving your family for extended period of time.

There are OFWs who left their professions as doctors of medicine and instead worked as a nurse or nurse aid abroad because the pay is better. We have also OFWs who are teachers by profession and they leave this job to be housemaids abroad. Again, for the same reason  - the pay is better.

As for my case, I have been an OFW as early as 22 years old. I was single then and my motivation to leave my family was to explore the world and to earn more in order to help them.

Now that I am parent, my hubby and I have even deeper desire to give our son a better standard of living. We do not want him to experience the hardships that we went through while growing up.

And we know, this is not possible if we will work back home. So for the time being, we left our little boy at the good hands of my Mum and sister back home but we are working to take them very soon here in Abu Dhabi.

Until it happens, I am monitoring my son’s progress through Skype. Seeing him online eases my longing and the thought that he is better off back home makes our sacrifices worth it.

I miss you Z….

Posted by Frugal Xpat in Family, Life in Abu Dhabi

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