Tag: fashion

My budget-friendly watch collection

The first watch I remember having was a pink Baby-G that my mom gave me when I was 7 yo but lost in a typhoon. And, I guess that when I started liking wearing one. It took me some years before I finally had money from my own pocket to buy a decent one. Can you guess which one?

Above is the image with all my watches. I do not have a high-end watch yet because I cannot afford one. LOL. They are all below $200, and the most expensive and treasured one in this collection is the big automatic SEIKO. Let me list from the one closest to my hand down my arm:

1. Citizen Women’s Watch

I could not find the model number. LOL. But this is originally my mom’s. She bought one for me and one for her. Mine had already broken, and then she gave me hers. To date this has been with us since 2008.

Years with me: 16

Size: 20 mm

Pros: Durability. Versatility. No battery needed.

Cons: Not waterproof. You have to wear it often so you keep it running well.

Price (in Ebay): $100-200

2. Timex Indiglo

The second-hand second mid-brand watch I bought with my own money. I love the leather wristband that makes it versatile in a formal or casual outfit. Bought this a year after I graduated from my undergrad online for $35.

Years with me: 10

Size: 21 mm

Pros: Versatility. Light feature of Indiglo when you are in a very dark place.

Cons: Not easy to find leather band. Not waterproof. Needs battery every 3-5 yrs.

Price (in Ebay): $22-50

3. Seiko Women (SWR053)

My recent buy. Got this one month ago because of the Cartier Tank that slapped me in the face that I cannot afford it. HAHA. This is the perfect alternative, and it costs only a fraction of the Cartier. So elegant and classy. You can wear it in a dress or even in jeans.

Month/s with me: 1

Size: 18 mm

Pros: Versatility. Very light weight. Dupe of Cartier Tank without breaking the bank.

Cons: Needs break-in for the leather part. Requires battery.

Price (in Jomashop): $109

4. Fossil (f2)

My most used and had the highest ROI. My first watch to buy with my own money before graduating from my undergrad. I used this everyday. Got this wet while washing the dishes and I even accidentally wet this in the shower and in the beach but still working perfectly fine!

Years with me: 12

Size: 19 mm

Pros: Versatility. Duarability.

Cons: Needs battery. The gold tone will fade if it always gets wet.

Price (in Ebay): $35-50

5. Seiko Automatic Silver Dial Men’s Watch (SNKL57)

This is my favorite and treasured watch in my budget-friendly collection, you are right! It is given to me by my late father. Very versatile boyfriend watch from casual to dressing up!

Years with me: 7

Size: 38 mm

Pros: Does not need a battery. Versatile. Water resistant.

Cons: If you are not using it for some time, you have to wind it a bit again to make it work again.

Price (in Jomashop): $129

6. Casio BGD140-1A Women’s Baby-G Black

Because I miss my Baby G watch I had when I was a kid and I lost my Timex IRONMAN (which I highly recommend because it is very durable and not very big for the wrist compared to this Baby-G), I had an excuse tp buy this one. Used it in all the harsh weather locations.

Year/s with me: 1

Size: 42 mm

Pros: Very durable in the snowy, hot, and rainy conditions. Has light for dark settings.

Cons: Very dark dial so it is difficult to see the time. Difficult to clean. Needs battery.

Price: $70-100

7. Daniel Wellington Classic Sheffield

There was a year that this watch was very popular and as a bandwagoner, I had to get one. LOL. It was a good buy. Brought this in my very first trip abroad in 2018 and it served me well in all my outfits.

Years with me: 6

Size: 36 mm

Pros: Durable. Versatile with different outfits despite the size.

Cons: Leather band needs breaking in. Needs battery every 3-4 yrs.

Price (on the site): $199

8. (Not in the photo) Apple Watch Series 3 38 mm

I am not a big fan of digital watch and was not planning to get one til I found this one with the perfect size and did not break my bank (bought this second hand for $87). It helped me get back to my exercise habit but still I will not buy this brand new unless gifted to me. LOL.

Years with me: 2.5

Size:38 mm

Pros: Water resistant. Easy to charge. Reduces time to use phone.

Cons: Needs charging everyday.

That’s it! Over the years, I had several other watches, midbrands, unbranded ones, and a Swatch that was gifted to me and lasted for 3 years. I learned that investing in a quality watch pays in the long run, especially if you wear a watch everyday. A quality watch does not always equate to breaking the bank. Yes, I cannot afford a ten grand watch but each mid-brand watch I have had served me well for years, and most of them are still serving me during formal or casual days.

A Quick Guide To Ukay-Ukay Hub in Tagaytay

Do you have thrift/ukay-ukay shopping plans? Why not try the Ukay-Ukay Hub in Tagaytay? Here’s a quick guide:

HOW TO GET THERE?
If you have a car, going to Tagaytay will be very easy. Just locate Fora Mall, park and you are ready to go.

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photo not mine. ctto.

For commuters coming from places near Los Baños, Laguna, here’s what we did: At Crossing, Calamba Public Market you can ride a van going directly to Tagaytay City Market. However, our visit was during a holiday and there were fewer vans going to Tagaytay so we opted to cut trips. First, we rode a jeepney bound to Balibago Complex, Sta. Rosa. At the back of Target Mall in Balibago, we rode a jeepney bound to Tagaytay. We dropped off at the terminal in Tagaytay City Fruit/Flower Market and wait for a jeepney with ‘Olivarez’ signboard (or if you are a group of 3-5, you can ride an e-trike). You can walk going to Ukay-Ukay Hub from Olivarez Plaza. The Ukay-Ukay Hub is just across Fora Mall.

For those coming from the city, as a promdi, I am not well versed on commuting from Metro Manila/Quezon City. Check this link (http://www.thejunction-tagaytay.com/how-to-get-to-tagaytay-by-commuting/) on how to go to Tagaytay and then once you are at Olivarez Plaza or Fora Mall, you are just a few meters away (or a less than 5-minute walk). Use your google map to easily locate the place.

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WHAT TO PREPARE?

Do not underestimate the small signage of the Ukay-Ukay Hub. This thrift shop is so massive you’ll probably be overwhelmed. Don’t panic. Here are some preparations you can do:

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Wear appropriate clothes. Wear the most comfortable shirt, pants and footwear. Remember, you will be searching from several racks and will be standing for too long so better gear up. It’s also better if you bring and wear a face mask (because as in every ukay-ukay, you can’t avoid dust which can trigger sneezing).

Note: The shop is not air-conditioned but it has a commendable ventilation.

Bring some extras. Extra clothes so that you can change when you got sweaty and kinda dusty after shopping. Extra water and snack for that hydration and energy you need while finding thrifted treasures. Extra ecobag because who knows how many pieces you’ll get, right? And extra patience since you will face a wide array of options.

WHAT TO EXPECT?

Upon entry you’ll find sea of clothes hanging on the racks. At first glance it looks small, but as you walk inside you’ll see how big this Ukay-Ukay store is. Relative to those individual Ukay-Ukay shops I tried in Baguio, Anonas, Laguna, and LRT stations this one is the biggest I’ve seen. And, I am guessing, 4 hours is not enough to browse everything in this shop if you are considering checking each piece in every rack.

Ukay-Ukay Hub basically sells preloved shirts, polos, pants, tokongs and shorts for men, women and kids (dominated by clothes for women). Aside from clothes, you can also spot areas for bags and shoes.

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Clothing racks near the entrance are the priciest while lowest ones are at the back. Front line clothes are new arrivals with FIXED price ranging from 100-500 pesos. There are several brands to expect like Uniqlo, Zara, G2000, Levi’s, Cotton On, and H&M (these are brands I personally spotted).

TIPS: Branded piece at low price is a good steal IF AND ONLY IF it fits your size, the style suits your liking, and it still has good quality (check for any damage or stain). Stop yourself from getting ukay-ukay clothes that do not fit you or have damage or permanent stains just because they are cheap and/or branded. Also, do not settle for those pricey branded pieces because you are defeating your purpose of Ukay-Ukay shopping. There are a lot other unbranded and good quality clothes, shoes and bags on sale which can still ‘spark joy’. JUST KEEP LOOKING.

As you dig deep in, you will find racks on sale. These racks are labeled with less PhP 20, 30% off, PhP 10 – 60 each and 4 – 5 pieces for PhP 100.

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TIP: Start your search from the back.

I hope this post will lead you to a sulit, comfortable and fun Ukay-Ukay Hub shopping experience. If you have extra time and budget you can shop for fruits and flowers at Tagaytay City Fruit/Flower Market or view the Taal volcano while dining or sipping coffee. Besides, you need to relax after hours of standing and looking for budget-friendly pieces to add to your wardrobe.

 
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