He is just like my dad. He is very generous in giving me clothes, bags, food and even medicine to the point that I sometimes feel like a charity case. Minsan tuloy feeling ko para akong taong grasa na pinulot lang sa kalye!
I, on the other hand, am very KURIPOT. Sabi ng nanay ko baka daw effect yan na struggling ang business ni papa nung buntis sya sa akin. His business wasn't doing too well when my mom was preggers with me.
It also doesn't help that I worked in marketing in an FMCG company for 10 years. That has made me skeptical about brands. Do you know that companies selling liquid soaps can earn a minimum of 60% in profit per bottle! Imagine if you buy luxury brands. I read somewhere that LV bags can earn up to 800% in profit!
The problem is when S shows me love by spending on me, he expects that I will show him love in the same way. And so he feels bad when I only buy him generic medicines even if my cousin, who is a pharmacist, explained to him that there is no difference in formulation and efficacy.
Except for my periods of insanity, I rarely buy expensive items on impulse. When I see something I like, I ask myself the following questions: (I think you should do this too!)
First: "Can I afford this?"
Second: "Do I like this?"
Third: "Do I really need this?"
Fourth: "Do I have to get this product in this brand or are there other alternatives?"
Usually the answers for the first 2 questions are YES but most often than not, I don't really need the stuff that I see and like. So, I don't buy.
But when I buy....Oh Boy... I REALLY BUY!
Like when I went crazy in LV in Bordeaux even if I was fully aware of the margins and the strategy of the brand.
I'm so addicted to saving to the point that S and my future mother-in-law told me to not go overboard in cutting down wedding cost!
Don't you think S is lucky to have a kuripot wife?
Today we were buying the toiletries to fill our baby bathtub (for the ke tseng). I was getting private labels for the stuff that I am not particular with. He was quiet. I'm pretty sure he would have preferred we got the hand wash in Marks and Spencers.
I said, "I don't want to make my dad spend on expensive items. I think it's inconsiderate if I do that." I continued, "You know, if I am prudent with my father's money, you can be sure that I will be prudent with yours."
He smiled.
I feel it is better this way. I'd rather be the frugal one rather than have a husband who is not "galante" to me. I'm not quiet sure if the meaning of the word galante is exactly the same with generous.
A couple of days ago he got me a Kiehl's eyecream and a Mac Studio Fix. For anything I apply on my face, my lady parts and my hair, I go with brands that I've tried and tested. So, no complaints when I received my beauty loot. VANITY!
Today, he got me MYRA E and Centrum. When I saw the branded vitamins, I just couldn't stop myself from asking him why didn't he just get me generic ones. I should've just said "thank you", right?! But No! I had to blurt it out.
He said, "I don't mind you buying cheap hand wash but I really refuse to buy generic medicines. There are just things I won't compromise on."
And with that, I shut up and said, "Thank You"
Still on Pause,
L
Haha, I'm the opposite. I can stick to generic or store-brand food supplements but never compromise on hand wash. Penhaligon's and Molton Brown only. Hands really stay mabango. I usually hoard from airports. On the rare occasion I run out, I run to my neighbourhood L'Occitane store. I call it "selective kaartehan." Enjoying reading your blog. Greetings from Holland! (:
ReplyDeleteI dunno why I never seem to care about my hands....my husband gets upset that I clean the house (with zonrox and all) without gloves. My mom told me kasi that rough hands mean that I am a hardworking woman. So I never cared,
DeleteI should start putting lotion na though...I'm getting older.