Money = World's Greatest Stress Agent?

An interesting survey result caught my eyes the other day. Reader's Digest conducted a survey asking people from 16 different countries one simple question: What stresses you the most? Most of the 150 participants chose money as the number one reason for stress.

So, what are you stressed about?

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:31-33, NIV)

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Free Potty Training Kit from Pampers

Now that I have become a mom, I am always in search for baby products on sale or for free. Today I found out this free potty training kit. Hurry and get yours today. Thanks it's hip to save!

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Shoes under Lifetime Warranty

If you bought high quality shoes (mostly of well-known brands) in Korea, they come with lifetime warranty. However, the perk comes with a very high price tag. A pair of nice shoes costs usually twice or sometimes three times more than what they cost in US.

Since my feet are very small (US size 4.5), most of my shoes are bought in Korea where it's much easier to find small-sized shoes. Of course I feel bad that I have to spend so much money for shoes. So, to get the most for the money spent, I make sure to take a good care of them, and that's where that lifetime warranty comes in handy. A lot of my shoes are over 10 years old, but they are still in great shape, because whenever I get the chance, I take them to the store and have them repaired and polished. My mom jokes that if everyone in Korea were like me, all the shoes stores would have to close their business.

This past weekend, CJ got a new pair of very nice dress shoes. My mom, who is the master 'deal finder' informed me that men's high quality dress shoes are on sale for $50 at a major department store. So, CJ went shoes-shopping with my mom and found a great deal: a pair of Guy Laroche shoes which goes normally $300! They were only $50, and, in addition, the lifetime warranty came along as well. What a steal!

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Free sample of Pampers UnderJams

My daughter is still too small for this, so this free sample of Pampers UnderJams will most likely go to my niece. Click HERE and get yours!

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Saving One Income, Living On the Other Income

This is one of the challenges we took to our heart during Willow Creek's Good Sense workshop. CJ and I have briefly talked about this topic when we were engaged, but at that time, CJ didn't seem to think it's possible to live on one income. His such response was pretty understandable, because, at that time, after paying for his tuition, he did not have much spendable or savable income left.

Despite CJ's doubt and not-so-enthusiastic response, we have been working toward the goal ever since we got married two and a half years ago. During the first 12 months, we weren't able to save as much as we wanted because of CJ's tuition for his MBA program. However, we put into a savings account as much as we could even during that time. When CJ finished his schooling, we increased the monthly savings with a goal amount of money which we want to reach in one year. We kept pushing the limits, and before we realized, we were saving and investing almost one whole income.

Now that I am staying home with our baby daughter, I am very grateful that CJ and I have been well-trained to live on one income, that we can live contently with only one income. Actually, even now living with only one income, we are still saving quite a portion of it!

Consider saving as a game, a game with yourself. See how far you can stretch and save. It is often said that when it rains, it pours. How about building a safety net while you enjoy the saving same?

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I am back!

Ta-da(h)! Baby girl Elisha Bae Lee was born on June 4, 2010, and after three months of rigorous Korean style postpartum care, I am back to my blog. Five days at the hospital, three and a half weeks at a postpartum care center, and two months at home under my mom's supervision - that's how I spent the past three months. If you are not familiar with Korean style postpartum care, it simply consists of eating gallons of seaweed soup, lots of sweating, no cold food, drink or shower, and lots of sleep. I know it sounds pretty barbaric, but I didn't take a shower or brush my teeth for 8 days! Postpartum care center is like a retreat center for new moms and babies.

One good thing about living in Korea is that health care costs much less than the USA, and also it's much easier to see a doctor in Korea. With CJ's new job, we are paying about $5,000 a year for BCBS health insuracne plan for our family of three. So far, this year, we spent about $6,000 for health and dental care and BCBS reimbursed most of it. Oh, another good thing about Korean health care system is that their billing system is SOOOO much simpler and easier to deciper than the one in USA. Well, I will save discussing about different health care systems for a later posting.

Anyways, I am glad to be back!