Jul
2
2010

Out on a budget

I just can’t stay home 24/7/365. I need to go out jalan jalan cari makan or else I’ll be cranky. When I was working I was ok. Now that I am no longer teaching outside, I get bored pretty easily. The same applies to Ethan too. He’s the exact replica of me remember? :P

Darling’s solution is simple. On the way out to work, he’ll drop us at either my second or third home. The only problem is, spending the whole day out can be very damaging to the pocket. But after doing this so many times, I’m such a pro now :D I can spend the whole day out with Ethan and not spend more than RM10!

Let’s see how.. Wait, first I need to choose between my second or third home. Since I’ve blogged so much about my second home, let me do this Destinasi Bajet on my third home – Ikano, Ikea and the Curve :P

Darling will always drop us outside of Ikano. I’ll then head straight to IKEA to get the ice-cream :) RM1. We will then go to the Curve. Estimated time -11.00am-

First stop – Anakku. Why?

Because of the play area – F.O.C. On a good day, got TV to watch too. We can easily spend half an hour over here. Next stop is the MPH bookstore just opposite Anakku. Another hour easily gone. -12.30noon-

Then, walk a few steps out to the playground. Cute animals waiting to greet you :)

Here’s where we usually have a light bite. Something I usually bring from home. He’ll spend another good hour playing over here. -2.00pm-

After the Curve we head back to Ikea. Along the way, we stop by the calming and soothing water fountain for milk. Ethan loves looking at water, just like Mummy!

IKEA is a KID haven. Every single corner is fun for them. By the time we are done it is usually 4pm already. Oh, I dare not let Ethan play in their PlayLand. I think he’s still too young for that, especially the ball pool! Bigger kids will dive in and land on him! PlayLand is F.O.C too.

Eeew.. somebody’s not very happy to be photographed here..

Once out, we’ll grab a hotdog (RM2) and currypuffs (RM2 for two) for our tea. I always bring our own drinking water. -RM5-

Next stop, Popular bookstore in Ikano. We can easily kill a couple of hours or so until it’s time for Darling to pick us up again at approximately 6pm.

So much fun things to do, I don’t even need to spend money on Kiddy rides to keep him occupied. I love best being in the bookstores where I can catch up on my reading. I don’t usually read at home so the bookstore is the ONLY place I read :D

Total spent : RM5 from 11am – 6pm

That’s basically what I do twice a week :)

Here’s Ethan reading @ Popular Bookstore

Ethan @ 2 years 11 months

By the way, Toys R Us is opening soon on the 30th July 2010 in Ikano. Yeay, another hang out place for Ethan and I :D *You know where or not? The exact location where the Crocs Warehouse sales took place in May that day*

About the Author: Merryn Tan

28 Comments + Add Comment

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Kristie July 2, 2010 at 9:43 am

wowowowowoo what an eye opener!!!!!RM10 budget for the whole day!Should learn more tips from u hehehe!

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Caroline Ng May Ling July 2, 2010 at 1:34 pm

fuyoo!! really geng la u! not more than rm10 a day only!

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Caroline Ng May Ling July 2, 2010 at 1:36 pm

but i think if with me, sure will over budget! eating all the time! tsk tsk!!

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Tekkaus July 2, 2010 at 5:32 pm

Same here but at least I must ensure that I can play basketball. :p

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Bryan and Brandon&#0 July 2, 2010 at 5:42 pm

Wow that's quite good. But you don't need to cook dinner ah??

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Mommy to Chumsy July 2, 2010 at 6:16 pm

the whole day at the mall? I want to do that too! there aren't many ppl on weekdays so it's really nice to hangout there :D

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reanaclaire July 2, 2010 at 6:21 pm

Make Ikea 2nd home.. so much things to play and eat at such low prices too!

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suituapui July 2, 2010 at 7:10 pm

ToysRus…Popular…I must have spent a fortune at all these places buying toys and books for my daughter!!!

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Merryn July 2, 2010 at 7:12 pm

Dat's the difference STP. I go but I don't buy, unless necessary :PI have very strong will power. I dont simply spend money one.. :D

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vickylow July 2, 2010 at 7:22 pm

Clever boy he can rad by himself. My gal still cant do it haha. RM5 spend for whole day, awesome.

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iamthewitch July 2, 2010 at 7:34 pm

WOW! Amazing! Even I cannot spend so much time in your third home :P When are you coming up with a budget plan for adults ar? :P

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ChloeRuoyi July 2, 2010 at 7:40 pm

SOOOOO ENVY! My only outing during the weekdays is to the nearby kedai runcit only :( Agree, agree… time passes really quickly when we are at the malls, which is why can easily spend the whole day (as in 12 hours straight) in our 2nd home! :)

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bluedreamer27 July 2, 2010 at 8:11 pm

what a kids-friendly place thay are,…It is noce to see how great and wise you are in budgeting… you're such a great mom/….by th way merryn.. i can't comment to your Craftycrafted site for some reason…itried submitting a lot of comments but it seems really not working…the bee bookmark is so cute..

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bluedreamer27 July 2, 2010 at 8:13 pm

by the way have you seen the latest list of projects that me and my brother will be making for this month?check it herehttp://foundation08.blogspot.com

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AngelineChee♥ July 2, 2010 at 11:29 pm

Wow…great budget.!!! keep up the good work

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Annie Q July 2, 2010 at 11:57 pm

WOW!! Spent almost 7 hours at shopping mall and only spent RM5!!!OMG! How i wish i can have your strong will power!

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Irene July 3, 2010 at 12:18 am

that is really nice! i can do that too, but… errrrr… im working! damn… hehe!

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Oliveoylz July 3, 2010 at 12:23 am

Now I know where to find you when I'm in town…I'll start looking from Anakku if I'm there early and if I'm a little late, may just catch you both at MPH or even later at Ikea…Noted all the sequence edi! Oh ya…and will also hunt you at ToysRus too…hehe. How to get bored huh? So many activities for mummy and boy boy too!

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Kimmy July 3, 2010 at 12:38 am

You should take up driving again lar.. Then can venture to many many other places to kill time.. :D

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wenn July 3, 2010 at 6:41 am

fun time for both of u..great!

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MeRy July 3, 2010 at 7:17 am

Wow….Spend less,but so fun.

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Mummy Gwen July 3, 2010 at 7:30 am

I'm so ashamed of myself lah. I should learn from you. But hor, only your 2nd and 3rd home got free awesome playland for kids leh.

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Merryn July 3, 2010 at 8:33 am

Kimmy, the thought of driving send shivers down my spine! :P

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2ma July 5, 2010 at 4:26 pm

wow, really have to salute you! ethan don't sleep in the afternoon?

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lvynana July 5, 2010 at 5:45 pm

11am-6pm, twice a week..wahh..my legs really cannot tahan la..

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mNhL July 6, 2010 at 10:51 pm

So fun. Out the whole day. Twice a week somemore.

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slavemom July 7, 2010 at 9:40 am

*salute* 1) Can spend whole day at the mall with a toddler. 2) Spend less than RM10 oni.Eh, Ethan doesn't take naps anymore?

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John August 29, 2010 at 7:37 pm

havent see u for a long time edi. haha. ikea seems like a place for kids. adult suitable?

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About Me

Home is where MY heart is.
I am a mother to two boys; Ethan and Ayden and a wife to Darling William. I'm a stay at home mum who blogs to break the monotony of life and to avoid feeling jaded. Would love to get to know all the Super Mommies and Daddies and Babies or Singles out there with the hope that we can learn more from each other. Most of all, I am a happy person, and I hope YOU are too.