28 November 2017

My Husband's Tips on Buying Used Cars

It was in 2012 when my husband R bought our first family car, a pre-loved Toyota Vios. Sophia wasn't aware how important it was for us but I felt that she was happy that we didn't have to commute when we travel out of town. We rode in it during our frequent visit to Zambales, where R was assigned then. It also reached Baguio, Pangasinan and the entirety of Metro Manila. That gray Vios with fantastic sound system (kudos to my husband) served us well. We then sold it in 2016 when we acquired a brand-new Toyota Innova. 


R may not be a car expert, an enthusiast even, but when it comes to its practicalities, he got these tips for should you want to buy used cars in the future. 

Research the seller's credibility. This is very important as some used cars sold were previously stolen. I'm sure you don't want to end up in jail just because you bought a car. 
As much as possible, choose cars with low mileage. High mileage means the car has been used too often, which makes it more prone to defects eventually. 
Inspect the car thoroughly, best to bring along a trusted car mechanic. When we bought our Vios, one of my husband's staff, who knows car engines more than he does came with us.  
Check the car's history. Ask for the warranty booklet and previous accidents. 
In the event that you fell in-love with a specific car that didn't pass the above criteria, prepare a larger amount of money. You will surely be using it for purchasing some parts that needed replacement.

If you need further reading on cars and its what-nots, Cars.com is an awesome resource!


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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Cars.com but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

23 November 2017

The Truth About Baby Showers

When I was pregnant with Sophia, I threw myself a simple baby shower at home with a little help from a friend. Being young with no enough knowledge on proper etiquette and all, I did that for the gifts, apparently. As how we know it, "gifts are central to showers." That's the main reason why there is such to begin with.

My baby shower cake nine years ago
At the onset of my current pregnancy, I thought about it and discussed it with my husband. He said that no one will come to our baby shower anymore (should we have one) since most of the friends who attended the first are no longer in our circle. Even if it hurt me big time, I agreed with him. Sometimes, for one to finally accept the truth, it has to hurt first. I have moved on easily, though and gotten over it already. For me, growing up means losing some friends in the process.