Ahh… Divisoria. Where brave men dare not tread. But get a couple of mommies together, throw in some single ladies looking for a good bargain, and you are good to go.
A lot of people think going to flea markets saves quite a bundle of money. In December 2006, when the economy was scraping the bottom, Agence France-Presse reported that Filipinos flocked to places like Divisoria, Baclaran, Quiapo and other bargain shopping areas instead of glitzy shopping malls. For many, it was the worst Christmas in years.
And these are not just the masa you are talking about. There are a lot of Divisoria divas in the rich mommy club. Take Melanie Marquez-Lawyer and Tessa Prieto-Valdes, for example.
I make it a point to go to Divisoria at least once a year. Believe it or not, to me it’s more of a therapy, hehe. But to get the most benefit from flea markets, you need a strategy. You need a plan. Saving buckets of cash will not happen just because you find yourself sweaty on Ilaya street. In fact, if you are not careful, you’ll end up losing a lot of money!
First, compute the value of time and gas you spend going to these flea markets. It will take you at least three to four hours to navigate through the streets. What is the cost of three hours to many of us? That doesn’t count gas.
Second, five mommies I interviewed said they ended up buying bargain items they did not need. One said up to 50% of the things she bought were not immediate needs – they were just good bargains she couldn’t pass up. Until now, bolts of good quality cloth bought at 70% discount are still taking up space in her closet. Bargain or no bargain, they are unnecessary expenses if they are of no use.
This doesn’t mean nobody can make or save money going to flea markets. Just be aware of the pitfalls. At the least bring a list of things to buy – and stick to it! There was a time I balked at making a shopping list. It sounded too OC for me. Many overspending months after, I decided that taking the time to write a shopping list is worth the effort.
(Email me at lightdream@gmail.com if you want to submit your own tip.)
October 19th, 2007 at 10:58 am
[...] year round at Starmills outlet store in San Fernando, Pampanga. But as I said in a previous post, “cheap” doesn’t necessarily equate to “good buy.” They create artificial needs. So be careful when shopping in an outlet store. Those huge discounts [...]
June 18th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
hey guys, speaking of bedsheets, you get really good ones (as in 100% cotton with 300ttc) in amazon for as low as $20-$30! I kid you not. i have so far bought 3 sets and one set already includes 1 fitted sheet, 1 flat sheet, and 2 pillow cases. in full or queen size! what a bargain huh? buy those on SALE!
of course it helps when the H is on BT abroad and i just address the packages to him or even officemates who get sent on BT and i make my kapalmuks plea that they bring my order with them. of course i also make use of amazon’s free shipping for orders over $25. beats going to divi or whatever tiangge.
my mom buys sheets on ukay though. she just washes them first in hot water to get rid of any germs or whatever. and they’re soft cool crisp cotton… heaven!
June 17th, 2007 at 9:24 am
Salve,
I want to sew my own sheets too! Kaso masyadong maliit yung width ng fabric, so how do I work my way around that? Itatahi ko ba siya sa gitna?
I’ve been frequenting Divisoria lately (once a week, at least) and I’m enjoying it immensely!
June 1st, 2007 at 7:18 pm
hi analy! you have to show me where you buy those stuff. Its time for new sheets and Im trying to resist the nice and very expensive ones at Rustans hehe.
May 30th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Hi Salve,
Divisoria is one perfect place to buy fabrics. They have variety of quality fabrics in stylish and colorful design. I used to buy my beddings in malls. Then one day my chinese tita brought me to Divisoria, i found out that the fabrics they use in expenssive ready-made beddings are available here at a very low price. Imagine you buy a set of bed cover with 2 pillow casses at P1800 in Department store ( 10%sale price) where in divisoria you can buy same fabric with same quality at P190/ yard times 5yards for one set, do the math you’ll have big savings. Eto eh kung marunong kang manahi, pero kahit na mag bayad ka ng P500 sa labor ng patahi malaki pa rin ang savings. And to get bigger savings I buy in sets and usually schedule it every summer time maraming sale at mas maraming free time manahi. So i have the luxury of having stylish, comfortable, clean sheets every other week without repeating same design in 5 months. They also have variety of fabrics for curtains, upholstery and even for my kids pajamas.
Last month i discovered that the Thai designed throw pillow cases on sale in sm at P150-300 are available in Divi at only P75-100. There is even a place in Ilaya where you can buy first class Fiber-cotton for pillows at P100/kg which is enough to make 2 medium pillow. Name it and you’ll find it there at a very low price.
You have to bring your shopping list with the design and color you want before you go there ’cause you might end up buying stuff you won’t be using.
May 26th, 2007 at 10:08 pm
real brave men dare venture into divisoria ^_^
but of course if they do so, it’s strictly for business purposes (I think, not for window shopping).
May 26th, 2007 at 10:22 am
salve and nina, my ukay purchases were done about 2 yrs ago before i started reading on financial independence. after that, i have barely bought anything new really.
and it is shameful, nay, sinful actually, to own so many things when majority of the world lives on so measly, even less than the basics.
so, getting rid of all these unnecessary stuff and not buying some more will serve 2 purposes : it will save me some money; more than that, it will make me sleep better knowing that i am now using my money wisely - only for the needs and a few wants - and not feel guilty about having more than enough while many more barely have anything. better to put someone thru school or help feed an orphan or give a few meds for a charity patient with a little money set aside monthly supposedly for frivolities
May 25th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
My mom is a Divisoria diva, she can haggle to the point of embarassment! Most often she gets the item at a price she wants, which is usally 50-75% of the original price. Some mommy do’s and don’ts you may find helpful while shopping at divi:
1. DO visit divisoria early - you can get better bargains if you are the stall’s first costumer.
2. DO make a list of the things you want to buy and STICK to it! - It will save you both time and money.
3. DO bring your own carry-all bag. - Zippered bayong bags in divi can cost as much as P50-P70 - imagine that!
4. DO visit Divisoria mall - its farther than 168 but items are cheaper
5. DO haggle! Start at 50% off…
6. DO use body bags/shoulder bags and swing it in front of you.
7. DON’T bring a car.
8. DON’T bring your cellphone and other tech gadgets.
9. DON’T bring your kids!
10. DON’T buy any item at its tag or initial price! You can definitely bring the price down (except in Tutuban mall shops)
11. DON’T forget to eat before shopping. Visiting Divisoria will suck the energy out of you!
May 25th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
to curb spending habits? dont go shopping for the sake of window shopping. shop when you actually need something and buy that one particular item only. pag nag-window shopping kasi, chances are may mabibili kasi nagandahan, namurahan, something unique, baka magamit sa futur, sale kasi, itatago na for gift for the future,etc. then we end up with stuff we dont really need, or dont really need just now. next problem is storage. or clutter, or how toget rid of them….vicious cycle.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
I truly agree that it is so cheap shopping in Divisioria! But we usually go there when we are buying primarily for cloths to sell as my mama is so much into re-selling cloths (comes in pair, one printed cloth for blouse and one plain for trouser). Many of my mama’s co-teachers are so in-love with the cloths we purchase from Divisoria!!!
Also, it is very true that Divisoria is a good place for buying nice but practical cost of souvenir stuff. “Dun namin nabili yung give-aways namin for our second baby’s christening!” They were so cuteeee!!!
May 25th, 2007 at 4:54 am
femaad, ganun yata talaga mga babae, sabi nga nila imeldific (tama ba spelling?)
I love shoes and I am very emotional with my shoes - even if it’s really old I can’t give it away!!! 
May 25th, 2007 at 4:49 am
hehehe
ako kasi I buy in bulk for gifts. minsan i shop with my friend, not necessarily for ourselves, pang regalo din.
I tried buy and sell before - stationeries, wallets, christmas wrappers
May 25th, 2007 at 4:31 am
Salve
Tama ka diyan. Monopoly is one of the perfect game for people to play if they want to learn about money. Sana yun Parker Brothers mag labas sila ng Pinoy version gn Monopoly. That would make my day.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:55 am
JP, i love monopoly too. its a good game for PF enthusiasts, dont you think?
May 25th, 2007 at 12:54 am
femaad, 45 pairs of shoes!! 10 suits! omygosh hehe. good luck on your garage sale =). be sure to advertise it well.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:53 am
nina, thats my problem with shopping there. what are you going to do with one dozen of each product? it would help if you go with your friends, but would you all like the same design? this is not to say i dont enjoy it, cause i really do :). as with everything else we do with personal finance, kelangan may plan at may strategy. A friend told me he poses as a chinese businessman, buys in bulk from divisoria, and sets up a roving store in the province. marketing strategy “everything P55″. ayun, he’s making quite a sum of money. magaling na strategist =). masipag din, considering ang gulo dun, mainit at matraffic!
May 25th, 2007 at 12:53 am
john: “it’s cheap there eh considering the toys in the mall, eh sisirain lang naman nila yun kasi bata pa sila =)”
expensive toys are one of the most foolish purchases parents can make, so buying cheap ones is a good decision :). gleng!
May 24th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
Simple lang naman ang dapat gawin para makaiwas sa mga flea markets at malls.
Isntead of spending time shopping why not just spend it on the family. Like during the weekends, after going to mass why not just play monopoly with the kids instead of hanging out in the malls. It is a great way to bond with the whole family and enjoy at the same time without any costs. It also make the family stronger.
May 24th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
salve, this is soooooooo true!
we don’t have divisoria here in baguio, but we have lots of ukay shops. if you know where to look, stuff can really be cheap. but, yes, i am now stuck w/ about 25 bags, and i use only about 2-3 on a regular basis. i have about 10 suits, and i use these only about once to twice in a year. i have about 45 pairs of shoes, yet i only use about 4 on a regular basis. etc etc
i discovered these stuff because we are moving to a new place and sorting and packing our things. i guess i need to have a garage sale and i hope there will be people who will go and buy
May 24th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Divisoria is good for bulk shopping (e.g. wedding souvenirs, give-aways) especially if you go to the right shops. From experience, those in the sidewalks are sometimes more expensive than if you go to the big shops. It’s good to there with 2 or three other friends who are intending to buy the same items so you can get bulk discounts. You’ll be amazed at how much discount they give if you buy a dozen or so of one product. Pag -isa-isa lang kasi ang bili, retail price din nila binebenta, not worth the effort to go there - sa SM na lang pareho din naman yong item at yong presyo.
I remember those fake Girbaud bags and wallets that was popular 4 or 5 years ago. The wallets are being sold in P. Gil sidewalk for 150-200 each but during those times, in Divisoria, you can get those for 100 each if you buy 6 or a dozen.
Two years ago, beaded shoes/sandals were very popular - it’s 400-500 in greenhills while sa 168 for the same shoes (i know it’s the same because the brand is the same) P180/pc lang ang retail price.
Divisoria is a good place to go to, depending on what you need how many you need. Look at the quality of product also - minsan kasi mura nga pero hindi naman maganda ang quality.
I also wouldn’t advice to bring cars to divisoria, there’s no parking area and the traffic jam - one of the worst!
May 24th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Things to consider when going to flea markets.
1) usually, products are substandard. avoid buying gadgets in flea market.
2) products are usually discounted when buying on wholesale. I remember the line they usually say “100 isa pero 80 isa pag wholesale”. so if you’re not buying on bulk, maybe it is not worth the effort
3) bring just enough cash. snatchers and pick pockets are rampant in the area, so if you’re unlucky, atleast they didn’t get that much
these are just some of the things i think should be considered. but it’s a fun experience. every xmas i go to divisioria to buy gifts for my inaanaks. it’s cheap there eh considering the toys in the mall, eh sisirain lang naman nila yun kasi bata pa sila =)