Calvin’s big purchases for 2009
I’ve always pride myself for being a frugal guy but looking back this year, I think I may have overdone my spending. Last year I think my biggest purchase was the iPod Touch followed by my PSP.
Here are my top purchases (more than Php5000) this year:
1. ASUS Eee PC 1000HE – bought for $374 (Php18,000++)
When I bought this, it was still on pre-order so I got it at a cheap price (still at P19,000 now). I was thinking of having a small netbook to bring with me during our travels. I always load movies on it in case we’d get stuck at the airport for a long time. I can also transfer photos and blog at the same time during trips. This one’s a real nice gadget that has proven its worth. Love the battery life!
2. Panasonic Lumix ZS1 – bought for $260 (Php12,000++)
I was forced to buy a new camera when I accidentally dropped and broke our old Nikon Coolpix S10 on our disaster trip to Boracay. And in a way I’m glad that it happened.
I really love how the Lumix ZS1 takes wide-angle photos (25mm) beautifully. Comparing to old photos taken with our Nikon, our Panasonic blows them away. Every time I go to camera stores I always ask them how much this costs today which is still in the Php18k range and I leave with a smirk. 
3. A.C. Ryan PlayOnHD media player – bought for $169 (Php8,000++)
I hated when our DVD player can’t play some of the DivX movies I download so I’m forced to watch it on my PC instead. At that time I was already eyeing at digital media players that will also act as my network storage.
This was a spur-of-the-moment purchase. I asked my wife (who was busy reading PEP or something) if I could buy this with my Paypal money which I don’t have any idea on how to withdraw and she just nodded me off. Hehehe.
I learned a very important lesson when I bought this player… Customs is bad. I had to shell out more than Php3k just to receive my player.
4. Columbia Sportswear Bugaboo Parka – bought for $80 (Php3,800++)
I’m including this because we bought two of this for our Beijing trip. At the mall, this costs an easy Php10,000. Good thing we bought it online during summer to get that cheap price. Right now it’s winter, the price is around $160.
So there are my top purchases for 2009. Small fries huh? So what did you buy for yourself this year?
You might also be interested in:
- Calvin’s Hub will be taking a short break
- Calvin’s Hub has successfully migrated
- Calvin’s Travels for 2009
- Top 10 Facebook games for September 2009
Filed under: Gadgets n' Games
sige nga.. gawin ko rin yan.. ma-shock ako sa cost ko.. hehehe.. kaya siguro half na lang nang savings ko ang naiwan.. hehehe
naks! ang dami… parang ayokong gumawa ng list na ganyan.. baka magsisi ako sa expenses ko. Haha!
hahaha ang gastos ko. next year nga minamataan ko na yung LX3 eh. pero hintayin ko umabot adsense earnings ko para bilhin yun. malapit na rin.
Ang yaman mo calvin.. happy new year!
wow! etong december ako bumawi sa expenses! hehehehe. pero wala pa rin macbook pro ko.
anong binili mo? puro damit lang naman pati yung uggs eh.
hello calvs,
i’ve been a follower of your blogs from your own web.
lots of infos ive got from you already.
bdwy, just want to ask about purchasing such items in the list you have mentioned above.
im also a traveller like you and working here in mt. apo geothermal power plant.
does it really safe to buy at amazon or other online stores since i havent tried it yet?
thanks and will continue to get some infos from you.
hi glenn, thanks for following my blog.
about buying from amazon? it’s pretty safe actually but they’re not always the cheapest. i haven’t tried having those items shipped here directly, some sellers will ship internationally but i don’t want to deal with insane custom taxes. as for other online shops, it’s better to research first if the shop has good service or not.