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Di awal minggu lalu, teman saya tiba-tiba ngechat via instagram, ngajakin saya untuk ikutan event-nya Hijup : Inspirasi Wanita vol.3 : "Berawal dari Hobi, Kreatif Jadi Produktif". Salah satu pembicaranya adalah Miranti Andi Kasim, co-founder-nya LivingLoving. Saya kebetulan lumayan sering baca blog itu dan suka banget ngeliatin setiap post nya yang bisa bikin even the smallest thing sounds super fun. Narasumber yang lain adalah Indah Nada Puspita, seorang fashion blogger yang saya udah pernah dengar namanya sebelumnya tapi belum pernah baca blog nya. Karena ini formatnya sharing session, saya jadi penasaran hal apa yang akan mereka bagi, terutama karena saya lagi pengen banyak nulis di blog dan lagi seneng-senengnya crafting lagi. Jadilah saya semangat banget untuk ikutan (plus event-nya gratis hehehe).

sharing session dari mbak Miranti from LivingLoving

Making Painted Necklace with LivingLoving (demo aja tapi, huhu nggak kebagian)

As I worked Monday to Friday from 9 to sometime-after-7-but-definitely-not-the-day-after, I treat my weekend as sacred. Going out on weekend should be minimum, even more on Sunday. I would rather be at home, wishing for Monday to come slower.

What did I do at home, then? A lot. But mostly sleeping and streaming korean everything, from dramas to tv shows to idol performances. I can finish up to 6 episodes in one sitting, or a full episodes (with roughly 20 minutes per episode) of web dramas. Back then, for me, going out on weekend is exhausting. Why do I have to spend another time outside the house while I can do nothing at home? The time I use for going out is the time for catching up to sleeping and watching shows I had missed. It's like refreshing before another hectic weekdays.





I started with buying myself a watercolor set for brush lettering, and practice on it. Then, I made my long overdue traveling board. After that, I went book binding, reading more books on the weekend, visiting places (even if it's just malls with some friends), going to workshops, meeting people, decluttering my bookshelf, going out more often with my family, and the latest one, which I got hooked recently; crocheting.

Apparently spending my weekend doing something gave me an even more meaningful weekend. That not resting on the weekend is not draining, on the contrary, it is recharging. I got to do things that I thought I don't have time for, I'm having fun with myself, and since I only did those on weekend, I don't get bored with my activity. I can alternate between crocheting and book binding, or staying at home and going out or reading and watching my drama episodes.


Despite the initial purpose, spending time sleeping or idling in front of the screen watching some episodes actually makes me tired. Even more it makes the weekend goes faster (imagine that you start watching from 8 am, 3 episodes later, it's already 11. Meanwhile the lead actor haven't do anything yet). I learn that it's nice to have choices and it's even better when every choice is equally fun.

Cheers to more productive weekend ahead!

picture from here

I was, to put it simply, emotionally exhausted.

The first time I was feeling this way after reading a book was when I finished reading Suzanne Collin’s Mockingjay. I had to admit that I was skimming through the last pages that I wasn’t really sure (until now) about what had really happened (I didn’t watch the movie either). It was both surreal but weirdly… imaginable. Like life can be tragic and we just need to live through it.

On my second day in Seoul I decided that I'm going to visit the City Hall for... no particular reason actually. It's just the building is actually an extension of the old building and it was shaped of curved glass. In warmer days, it's also possible to do picnic on the lawn in front of the City Hall so I decided to just see what it would look like.

The Seoul City Hall

The museum displays were right under your feet

After that, I was going to look for some souvenirs in Nandaemun Market, so after spending some time in City Hall, I went to ask directions from the people on the information desk. But before I did, I found something I had miss in the guide book before. It was featuring places near the City Hall and it said that in the Seoul Museum of History, they have a permanent exhibition of a Seoul's scale model.

I seriously had a thing on city miniature! (and if it's not for the guide book, I must have missed it) that's why I was soooo excited and immediately change my route for the day. To the information desk, I asked the direction to Seoul Museum of History instead.

The girls on the information desk draw the route on my map. She said it was easily reached by walking. By my own experience, walking distance in another country is definitely not the distance I would walk in my own hometown, so I was kind of prepared of a bit longer journey. Besides, it was easy. Go straight, and then go left. I can do this.

I started my journey, walking to the direction of Gyeongbokgung Palace I visit the day before. The weather was cold, but I guess it wasn't as cold as the day I visit the palace and on that day, I had my gloves on (win!).

While walking, I noticed that there are sign directing to the Cheonggyecheon Stream. It was a place I reeeeeaaaalllly wanted to cover on my trip to Seoul. You know, with the history and public spaces and everything. I know it might not look as warm as the photograph since it's winter, but I definitely can miss this. So, I decided to visit the stream after I went to the museum before the Nandaemun.

But then, the statue that marks the Cheonggye Plaza was right in front of me. Oh well, why not change the plan to visit the museum after this. I've already there anyway.

Towards Cheonggye Plaza

I walked along the stream (which is the opposite way of my next destination), took a picture of strangers, watch carefully as a kid whining because he was afraid to step on the big stepping stones to cross the stream and wishing it was at least spring already.

The stream on winter. Not enough sun to melt the ice.

After some time, I stopped because it was the opposite direction and I have had enough of the stream in the winter. I decided to walk back, passing the Tourist Information on my way back and visit the building (because I read somewhere that the place had toilet with bidet and pray room (in short, because of no particular reason)).

Until then, I have walked for more than 1 km and definitely away from my city scale-model.

I did visit the Tourist Information though and making sure of my route. The officer told me that I need to cross the road using the subway exits and I'll be on my way to the museum. Other than that, the building was pretty cool. They had guides in several languages and also some VR Equipment.

How far I was willing to walk for a 1:1500 city scale model? Apparently, 20 minutes or more. After a short visit to the Tourist Information, I walked along the Cheonggyecheon to my first place and turn left to cross the roads via subway exits. I actually found another Tourist Information stand but I refrain myself from visiting the place to ask for more directions because I was so sure I was on the right direction.

And no, I wasn't wrong, I was just a bit panic because the street becomes a bit narrow and there are so many people walking. I was afraid I had made a wrong turn, but after a while of walking straight, there's a sign of directing towards the Seoul Museum of History. There's truly an achievement and satisfaction on finding the way to the museum on my own that I regard the fact that I have been walking for around 3 km.

There you are

Outdoor exhibition piece

The building was standing there, big and welcoming in brown with a spacious outdoor area that was also used as an exhibition space. City Scale Model, I'm coming.

The museum was warm and bustling with people. Apparently, there were another exhibition about H.C. Andersen and there were many children visiting with their parents.

The feel was kind of different there. The museum had no ancient or old feeling to them. The building was big with a high ceiling. A transparent wall on the opposite side of the entrance shows another outdoor exhibition space.

City Scale Model, here I come

The permanent exhibition was on the second floor and I went in and I was in awe. It was big, just like in Singapore, but it had a glass platform on top of them, so it was like looking on Google Earth, only in 3D.

My third city scale model!

The glass platform

The rest of the museum was also very exciting. It shows a complete guide to South Korea's culture and national history. There were a booth where you can learn how to fold paper Hanbok and there were also more miniature of South Korea's typical houses and neighborhood in certain year.

I think that was one of my best museum experience yet.

Seoul then and now

Display on Seoul Museum of HIstory

Looking back, I was grateful for the guide book and how the people in Seoul City Hall told me to walk to the museum. I was grateful for the detour. I got to see the Cheonggyecheon, being in awe for such a wonderful museum displays in both City Hall and Seoul Museum of History, feeling the satisfaction of navigating myself in a place I've never been and had the chance to walk the distance I never walked in my own country.

Last but not least, I learn more about the importance of planning a trip without losing the joy in exploring the city.

Anyway, see you in #6!

picture from here

Halah, serius amat judulnya.

Jadi kepikiran mau nulis ini karena baru-baru ini sempet ditanya sama beberapa temen soal gimana caranya saya nge-manage uang. Meskipun merasa nggak pernah me-manage income saya dengan sangat serius (bikin rencana bulanan atau target tabungan), saya jadi berpikir juga what have I done with my monthly income dan kenapa saya bisa nggak rungsing kalau menuju akhir bulan? Nah, tulisan saya ini adalah beberapa hal yang saya lakukan dan ada juga yang teman-teman saya lakukan untuk mengatur uang bulanan.

Nggak seperti beberapa orang yang saya kenal, saya nggak punya tabungan terpisah yang khusus untuk menabung. Pertama karena saya nggak kepikiran sampe kesana, kedua karena cara tersebut kayaknya nggak efektif buat saya yang nggak ngurus layanan M-Banking atau SMS Banking. Ini lebih banyak faktor males nya sih, tapi buat beberapa teman saya, cara ini cukup berhasil buat tetap bisa menyimpan sebagian gaijnya setiap bulan.

Saya merasa beruntung karena emang pada dasarnya saya anak rumahan yang alasan males belanja online-nya adalah karena males keluar untuk cari ATM untuk transfer. Faktor yang ini berperan besar buat saya nggak menghabiskan uang ke hal-hal yang tersier yang menggiurkan tiap kali browsing online shop. Godaan terbesar buat saya justru untuk beli buku lokal dan impor yang cover nya gemes-gemes di toko buku. Kalo ke mall, yang tadinya ngelewatin berapa lantai bisa nggak beli apa-apa, begitu ketemu toko buku, bisa picking up seenaknya dan langsung bayar pake ATM (biar berasa gak bayar). Tapi selain itu, saya cukup bisa mengontrol keinginan untuk belanja baju/lipstick/sepatu/notes unyu/pulpen warna warni dan lain-lainnya.

Jadi, yang pertama menurut saya; know your weakness. Cari tau barang apa yang paling bikin lemah dan mengalah untuk jalan ke kasir bawa-bawa kartu ATM. Be it a shoe, clothes, make up kit, tas, buku, even which shopping method is your weakness, online shopping atau (niat) window shopping di mall. Kalau memang serius dan commit untuk menabung, dengan tau kelemahan diri sendiri untuk masalah belanja barang tertentu, harusnya sih kita come up dengan counter-nya. Misalnya dengan nggak mengaktifkan M-Banking/SMS banking yang mempermudah kita untuk bayar barang-barang online shopping, atau misalnya minta bantuan teman untuk mengingatkan setiap kali jalan-jalan ke mall atau bazaar.

Yang kedua, know your compulsory expenses. Beberapa teman saya, setiap kali habis gajian, langsung menulis pos-pos mana saja yang harus mereka penuhi dan berapa pengeluarannya. Ada infaq bulanan (jangan lupa ya :)), bayar kos, beli pulsa, uang makan, uang ongkos, dan lain-lain. Buat saya sendiri, dengan tahu apa saja dan berapa yang harus dikeluarkan dalam satu bulan tertentu, langsung bisa jadi rem untuk diri sendiri tiap kali mikir tentang kebutuhan tersier saya. Misalnya, bulan lalu, teman saya menikah dan saya ikutan patungan dengan beberapa teman saya yang lain untuk beli hadiah. Berarti saya punya tambahan pengeluaran seharga sepatu yang tadinya pengen saya beli. Menurut hemat saya, which one is compulsory, itu yang jadi prioritas. Beli sepatu, selama yang lama masih bisa dipakai, masih bisa di bulan depan (misalnya).

Yang ketiga, limit your expenses. Saya punya teman yang ngejatahin Rp. 200.000,- per minggu untuk dirinya sendiri (di luar ongkos sehari-hari). Karena dia cukup strict sama dirinya sendiri, cara ini cukup berhasil. Saya sendiri, dengan pengeluaran harian yang tidak terduga, melakukan hal ini dengan cara bawa bekal ke kantor dan nebeng pulang sama adik saya supaya tidak perlu ongkos. Poin ketiga ini memang butuh komitmen dan tekad kuat (ha!). Jadi saya suka kasih reward ke diri sendiri: misalnya, saya sudah tiga hari berturut-turut bawa bekal dan pulang selalu bareng adik. Jadi uang yang tadinya buat ongkos dan makan bolehlah buat jajan donat JCo bareng anak-anak kantor. Tapi sebaliknya, harus tetap strict juga kalau seminggu udah beli makan siang terus dan nggak bisa nebeng pulang bareng adik.

Yang keempat, determine the amount you want to have in your saving account. Jaman saya kuliah dulu, bendahara himpunan punya istilah yang namanya dana abadi. Dana abadi ini kalau nggak salah adalah sejumlah dana yang harus tetap ada di kas dan nggak boleh dipakai kecuali terpaksa. Saya menerapkan cara ini (satu-satunya yang saya terapkan secara sadar sejak saya gajian sendiri) dan sejauh ini merupakan salah satu yang paling berhasil dan bikin saya bisa dua kali liburan setelah resign dua tahun belakangan.

Misalnya, setelah 3 bulan bekerja dengan gaji 3 juta rupiah, di bulan keempat, pas sebelum gajian, saya punya sisa uang 3 juta di rekening. Jadi saya menetapkan dana abadi saya jumlahnya harus 2 juta. Misalnya nanti saya gajian yang keempat, saya boleh pakai uangnya untuk apapun kecuali si 2 juta itu. Nanti, makin lama, si dana abadi ini bisa bertambah sendiri jumlahnya. Misalnya, setelah 8 bulan bekerja, saya bisa menghabiskan 2.500.000 dari gaji saya setiap bulan sehingga uang saya di rekening sebelum gajian ke-9 adalah 4.500.000, berarti saya bisa menaikkan dana abadi saya jadi 4 juta untuk bulan berikutnya.

Cara ini sih cukup berhasil buat saya, terutama dalam 6 bulan kemarin setelah pergi liburan dan harus bayar cicilan pesawat. Asal, ya itu tadi, jangan gampang menjustifikasi impulsive purchase.

Pada intinya, to manage the income, we need to commit. Bukan berarti dengan punya uang di akhir bulan saya nggak beli-beli barang lucu (atau paper clip gemas atau pulpen yang kayaknya butuh) dan jalan-jalan bareng teman-teman ke mall. Berhemat, really nggak sesedih pelit sama diri sendiri dan nggak ngebolehin saya beli sepatu Nike even if it's on sale atau makan di tempat unyu (misalnya). Intinya sih know yourself, limit yourself by your own standard, dan commit dengan apa yang sudah kita putuskan. Saya mungkin sedikit beruntung karena meskipun nggak punya kebiasaan menabung, saya juga nggak punya nature untuk buy whatever I see good impulsively.

Dan yang paling penting lainnya, uang itu bukan segalanya, people. I know nowadays there are remarks about money is not everything but everything needs money. Coba deh look deep on yourself, throw all the pessimistic thought, dan pikir lagi, nggak asyik banget hidup di define dari apa yang kita mampu beli dengan uang dan apa yang tidak. Dengan begitu, menurut saya sih, target menabungnya bisa banget tercapai.

Happy saving!