Look what I got in the mail ...

... in my email, that is. Hehe.

This is how the jacket looks like, close up. Kaloka! Damage: 299.00 AUD. (not bad for a leather jacket!) I trooped to the store straight away to have a closer look. Buttery soft leather in a yummy tan colour, with that leather scent. How can you resist?!?!

(Photos from Sportsgirl)

This can't come at a better timing because I've been obsessing about leather jackets for a while now. However, my shopping conscience tells me I have absolutely no right to make a single purchase that's more than 200 AUD given my latest purchases (inc. the bag) and the fact that we are moving house which means I have way too many gastos.

The solution? LAY-BY. :)

By definition, a lay-by is a convenient and inexpensive way of buying goods. It is offered by many traders and is an alternative to using credit cards or store cards. With a lay-by there are no credit charges to be paid. However, the consumer doesn’t receive the goods straight away. Consumers select the items they wish to buy and enter into an agreement with the trader to pay a deposit and the remainder of the cost in regular instalments. When the goods are completely paid for, the trader gives them to the consumer.

(Definition from here)

Not all stores offer lay-by. Needless to say, the premium designer stores don't do it. Layby terms and conditions also vary. Cancellation comes with a fee, and the layby period is anywhere from 6 weeks to months.

In Tagalog, this is our pa-hulugan. Yun lang nga, in Pinas you can only do "hulugan" with the alaheras and the byaheras who sell stuff sourced from Bangkok or Hongkong or the US factory outlets. Imagine being able to get a hulugan from Rustan's - what will you go for? La Perla? Juicy Couture? Betsey Johnson? Jimmy Choo? :D

I know I can charge the jacket straight to my credit card, but it makes more sense to delay it for a few more weeks. First of all, it's still summer in Australia so I won't be needing another leather jacket in my closet soon. And second, this way I have "secured" a very popular item (before it sells out) and still manage to be within my " shopping limits" for the month.

Kaya salamat na lang at may lay-by. :)