Snap shot

Refer to my earlier post on sink facials....managed to get some before/after shots.




And see the effective transformation for yourself! All liang-liang (aka beautiful) again ha ha ha.....

So don't under estimate your cream of tartar and vinegar combination. Btw, I've also tried it with just cream of tartar and water and it works well too.

Major spring cleaning in progress

While everyone is busy planning where to go for their holidays or what to bake/make, I’m having a huge headache trying to sort things out for the house. Didn’t realize how much stuff I've accumulated, and all hidden so well. Just realize I have an electric steamer?? When did I get this – not complaining because it could be useful especially for DH to steam his paos (and not burn my pots) but when exactly, can’t quite recall, hm….

Thinking we needed some dinner plates, got some last week and only to realize that hey I still have a whole set (and more) that we got for our wedding so many years ago, all still in their original boxes! Also discovered some wedding decoration presents and don’t know who they were from, even with the names inside the cards. Sei mou? Perhaps they are DH’s friends, hm….better check with them.

Yes as you can tell, have accumulated A LOT of things over the years, all secretly tucked under storage with a thick layer of dust. M is also counting the days that I will finally remove all the stuff I've left at her place!! *Soon ya* Thankfully not too many doubles except for storage containers which is fine as one could always do with more – erm, perhaps I shouldn't purchase those the other day? Oh well, too late.

Since we are sorting out things, guess its time to donate away some a lot of Master Prince baby stuff from high chair, stroller, bath tub, clothes, etc. etc. Thought of at least one/two keep-sake but don’t know which one. Did you keep any of your baby stuff/clothes as keep-sakes?

Also noticed one thing while rummaging our storeroom and that is DH seems to have this tendency to keep empty boxes, lots of them – from empty pillow case boxes, tv boxes, basically anything that he has bought which has a box is in that room…..gathering dust!! Unbelievable. No wonder my sinus is going crazy and my eyes are all scratchy! We could definitely have a nice meal (albeit cheap hawker fare) from the paper money collected.

So just in case you are wondering why I am so quiet here, maybe on a relaxing and fun holiday somewhere overseas….guess again – I’m actually rediscovering my muscles and trying not to twist my back in the process. Right now, having a headache trying to find a 'new home' for everything. So wishing for a wand right now, then I could just magically make everything go to its perfect place with a quick swish and wave! Ha ha ha

Hope to get the Xmas tree out before the actual day comes and goes…perhaps then I could save the tree for Chinese New Year and just hang the Chinese decorations instead?? Lolz….I know we will get there, just snail pace at the moment, late nights and early mornings :)

For those of you who have moved more than once - HOW DO YOU DO IT???

Story of 'The Pit'

Ok just stuffed my face with one gigantic cinnamon roll and sipping my freshly brewed coffee, caught up visiting some blogsites and feel a little refreshed to share my rather ‘hectic’ weekend.

For more than two months over (gee, time has passed so quickly), we’ve been putting up with the ugly and pitiful sight of the grey ‘pit’. Absolute gets on my nerves when other contractors think it’s an ideal and convenient place for rubbish!!! Anyway, when the main contractor finally came back to touch up a few things, got him to transport our teak tree from M’s place and so the motion begins.

The Pit.

The pit may look small but do not be deceived. It took me 4 trips to Sungai Buloh Nursery and whopping total of over ‘200’ bags of soil to fill the pit!!! Just don’t ask how much toll charges I paid that day. I’m also surprised by the number of bags purchased and so tired of making the trips back again and again. If I had known so much soil was required, would have definitely made other arrangements. Think the suspension on my poor car is all but koyak (Malay term for ‘busted’). The nursery sales person enquired why I need so much soil (as I keep coming back for more and MORE)….am I burying something or what? If I was Vietnamese, it could probably be gold but nope, all I wanted to do was to fill the pit…with some soil.

Of course, not all the trips were a waste as it gave me a chance to look at some plants. All lush, green and beautiful, it was just so tempting but had limited available space in my tiny car. At the end of the day, I had one simple criteria: it had to be a hardy no-fuss plant. As much as I really wish/want, I simply do not have the gift of ‘green thumbs’. In fact plants do the opposite of ‘flourishing’ under my care. Yes, please do fear for the safety of the plants!

M firmly believes that plants grown on our positive vibrations. In fact, the plants that she gives more attention by talking seem to grow better than those she don’t!! Well, I’m no plant whisperer and only hope they can amuse themselves with the pack of dogs (last count was 4) that permanently roam up and down thinking they own the b###*@@ entire street!! (But that's another story).

Here’s what the pit looks like now (as of yesterday). Still needs a little twigging with a few more plants as there are some gaps here and there.


D reckons that I should have just planted some shrubs or something, just to avoid heartaches of any vandalism. Well since the private security just started around my area, I can only hope and pray for the best – more for the plant survival than anything!! Ha ha ha

So I’m a little sunburnt, sore all over with gritty finger nails (never knew soil could be so staining) and my car interior is a total mess but am very glad to finally be rid of the former unsightly pit!!!

On a final note, I’m pleased to share that the kitchen fittings are finally finished. There have been a few delays in particular my kitchen hood bought a while back was out of stock and after a month of ‘chasing’ and calling, it was finally delivered and installed!!! *jumps for joy for a second or two....until I realize the cleaning up task ahead, groans!!*

Houser-cise

Remember this from the movie Karate Kid (ha ha....yes I am from 'that' generation).

....Right hand wax on.

....Left hand wax off.

.....now, keep doing that for a few hundred more times!!

Sums up my weekend.

Instead of having a relaxing Sunday, we have been 'waxing on and off', cleaning the house. Working up a sweat, discovering muscles that we never knew we had.

Let's just say some part of my arms and legs are feeling rather wobbly and numb at the moment, making it rather interesting to type this up!

But that's good right?

Household chores....the other gym-ercise! Too bad my intake (food that is) is greater than my output, otherwise I think I could actually knock off some pounds ;)

Don't get too excite yet for me, the place is not 'ready' yet - still a long list of minor things to be done and fittings to be put in. As weekend renovators - the contractors come in on Saturdays and then the 'cleaners' mop up after on Sundays. A few people have advised me to only 'clean up' after everything is ready, before moving it - but cannot stand aka tahan the messy and dust. Besides I'm not one of those that can stand around cowering over the contractors and not do something useful. Glaring is something but can't really do that for more than a few minutes. I believe that everyone needs some space to do their work well.

And so, what do I do to while away the time?? Let's just say the broom and dust pan have been very handy generously adding a deeper edge to the already blistered fingers. Yes, I'm just one of those who get boils and blisters just by holding a broom, no kidding!! Have now resorted to wearing gloves to help protect my dry, scarred, wrinkled and aging hands!!

wall decals

First noticed these in a home living magazine a few years back and thought they were a great way to brighten up an otherwise blank dull wall.

Great choices are available at:

www.wall-tailor.com IMHO they have the most design selection. Can get them at a discounted price if you purchase them at home expos road shows like CIMB Perfect Livin’, MMF and Homdec.

www.jundeco.com.my Shop is located at Ampang but can also purchase them online. Different designs from wall-tailor and seem to have more flowers designs such as tulips, sunflowers and poppy flowers which I like.

www.krisdesignstudio.com Designs are limited but still good if you happen to be looking for what they have.

Getting there

As I inspected the progress of the front two rooms, kept wondering how come the rooms look better today.


Thinking the reason must be the plastered walls.


Then it hit me, it’s the ceiling. They finally covered the horrid patches of bare looking ceilings. Can’t wait for the floor boards to be installed and the rooms painted!!

DH ma-fan 'dream' stairs

‘Ma-fan’ in the sense that it has taken a lot of EFFORT not to mention hair loss from everyone to solve the design of the staircase!

It started out as a rather innocent desire and request by DH for concrete staircase. I must add that I was totally against it from the start as I was of the opinion that the original metal stair frame was fine as it is and served the required purpose. So it squeaks a little when you walk but it is still good.


But NO……DH insisted otherwise and so begins the saga. It would have been less of a headache if he was better informed what could and couldn’t be done, better decisions would have been made and not to mention time and cost-savings!!!


Issue #1 – The concrete staircase could not be duplicated in terms of size, height and width of the original metal stairs. With concrete, its all ibigger and less ‘agile’ compared to wood and steel. So what we had imagined and expected came out different.

Issue #2 – With a fixed base and top, our lovely landing was halved, literally. I was shocked when I saw it and immediately said ‘NO WAY’. For a flat landing, we had to extend the bottom of the staircase out further with 2 extra steps. Imagine the space wasted!! Quickly raised S.O.S. flag with my dad to help solve the staircase dilemma since he’s an engineer. Maybe an architect could be better but personally don’t know any.

Landing diagonally cut.


Flat again after rectifying it.


End of the steps sticking out further than the original steps - sacrifice for the flat landing. Any tall persons visiting should watch their heads as they walk up the staircase! Hm, give another few years maybe Master Prince may have to watch it, we'll see.

Issue #3 – DH then thought it’d be great to extend the wall of the staircase 2 feet high, thereby ‘saving’ (all in vain lah, tell you) the cost of railings. But it was too high, making the area rather small and dark. So we ended up compromising at about 8 inches.

Wall a little too high for the small area.

Finally opting for lower staircase walls.

Issue #4 – With a bigger storeroom under the stairs, we needed to solve the 3 steps going up from the living to the dinning.

After some discussion this time, it was decided that perhaps a fan step would be best.

When the final design was unveiled, it was rejected by the senior engineer citing that the edge was too narrow, making impractical as only one person will be able to go up at a time – ok, point taken. This lead to our sifu tiller back to the drawing board to mull for at least 1 1/2 days over the fate of the 3 steps – omg, he’s really got a lot of patience ya?

Final end result, slightly curved steps with bigger feet space & enough traffic space for at least 2 people.

The staircase as it currently stands. Simple as it may look but it took a lot of mathematical precision!! The walking path is definitely much better compared to the earlier fan design where we had to walk more to the left to avoid the narrow edge. For lazy people, we can now walk shortcut nearer the column with ease!!

In a few months I'll probably laugh it off but not right now :p

Issue #5 - How to tile the walls between each stairs??? Issue is with the rounded sides, using tiles will result in odd shaped tiles which will not look so nice and even. Contemplating instead with a) painting it; b) use smaller mosaic tiles; c) pebble wash. Currently leaning towards pebble wash. Any better ideas or comments?

More updates:
Currently renovations are at my half way mark which means I’m now deciding on the kitchen cabinets. Will be making the decision soon and hopefully one that doesn't seal me to an indefinite fate of permanent loan repayments!! At the end of the day, the determining factor and question is HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO PAY??

Early days (part 1)

Friends have asked me how is the renovation going?

In a word – MESSY.

Still a way to go, so I’m constantly being reminded by my contractor. But I wonder what that really translates to in terms of timing as his reference of ‘not so fast/soon’ is actually quite fast by our standards. There have been a few incidents where he completed his tasks which in our mind we still had ‘some time to go’ to mull over.

Most of the time we are unsure whether to get excited with the progress or to slow down with our plans for the house.

There have also been a couple of boo-boos but nothing major, can be rectified either by additional money or some ingenuity/creativity or just accept the mistake and move on.

And so that is how the client-contractor civil relationship moves along forward!

We are as one might say – going with the flow or taking it in strides! Ha ha ha

The key is constant communications and daily physical inspections. But if you have a language barrier, that could be a problem!! Imagine a 'chicken and duck’ talking – that about describes my current situation, well almost. That is why when I communicate with our contractor, I always have pictures or paper at hand to show or try to draw out what is being related!! From a third party point of view, I suppose this can get quite commical at times.

DH commented that I seem to be changing my mind too often – what can I say except that if it can be done better, more functional and looks nicer, why not right? Maybe he just can’t keep up or too much reno talk is just draining rather than frustrating.

Besides there are situations where it may seem to make perfect sense on paper but it is not until you see it physically that you realize it will definitely not work out that well afterall!

I agree that it can get rather tiring mulling and checking on the renovations everyday but after you make decisions on a few big items, things will fall into place progressively; just need to solve minor issues as they arise. If possible, try to keep a few steps ahead so as not to slow down the work progress.

My half way marker is when they can start tilling the floors and bathrooms – then I’ll really start fussing over the kitchen cabinets, counter tops, cupboards, etc. For now, it seems a little premature to get worked up as the kitchen and cupboard people will still need to remeasure everything before they can finalize. So I still have room to ‘get creative’ and of course probably change my mind AGAIN!! :) *hm, better watch those variation cost as they could really sky-rocket!!*

pssst....those kitchen consultants must have patience like a SAINT! I'll probably go M-A-D with all the every other minute changes and questions!!! Ha ha ha

Its good that we do not have a set date to move in by. So there is not too much pressure on everyone to complete the works by a certain date. Its not that we are not excited with the move, guess its more that we are just taking our time.

As it is, I am still dragging my feet a little with the tiles….oh yeah, did I mention that we changed our minds on some tile selections recently? We almost have it all pat down, the final remaining area is just the laundry room – they tend to get the least attention don’t they?. Remember I mentioned that we are pretty bad at colour and tile coordination, well after some discussions with S (who just recently moved into their fab newly renovated house), I got some ideas on how to ‘mix and match’ the tiles. Nothing too complicated (just that DH will probably roll his eyes at the cost of cutting the tiles to the required size), still pretty simple but at least not just one boring colour – well conceptually on paper anyway ha ha ha!!

Here are some pictures of the progress thus far, as you can see for yourself, nothing too exciting as we have ‘still some way to go’.

Doesn't seem like we are making any progress right? Putting RC slab onto the ground so there will be minimal chances of the garage floor cracking in the longer term.

The kitchen.

Laundry area - still a little annoyed the contractor made this slightly bigger than my wet kitchen.


New water tank installed. Compare the size with the former one!


Master bedroom.

MP's room.

Backroom.

What it might look like

....continuation from the other post and especially dedicated to those who responded :)

Note that all pictures were obtained from the internet. Too many sources to list so I would like to give a blanket recognition upfront.

Here's what the kitchen could look like with Black Galaxy granite....

if it was Emerald Pearl granite....


if the granite was Blue Pearl.....

Finally, just wanted to share the various types of edging available.

Polished concrete for countertops

A friend asked me to consider polished concrete for my kitchen counter top as it is slowly becoming a popular choice (in the West).

Polished concrete is similar with engineered stones.

Concrete countertops are made by mixing cement, aggregates, color pigments, acrylics & fillers together. This mix is poured over either, steel bars, mesh fiber or fiberglass to help reinforce the concrete when it forms. Concrete countertops are then cured and polished to form a level piece that is ready to be sealed. Epoxy is the most common sealer used as it is very strong and keeps moisture from entering the concrete countertops.

The advantageous of polished concrete is that it is stain & scratch resistant, non-porous and easy to clean/maintain.

The other aesthetic advantage is that it is seamless and can choose different types of finishing from matte, low to super high polish and control the specks of the particles. There are also a variety of colours and tints that one can choose, even creating your very own unique design/pattern.

Unfortunately the place I enquired informed me that they are NOT interested as it is NOT worth their time & effort as they consider my kitchen requirement too small - haiseh man, feeling dissapointed and snubbed (had very high hopes for cream/ivory, darn). :(

What's your pick?

As you know I'm considering using granite for my dry kitchen counter top. The white base ones that I have seen are too freckled (too many large spots) and most of them are imported from China. Been advised by many not to use China white marbles for the kitchen counter top as they stain easily and go a little yellow over time. The darker coloured granites from China are ok.

Anyway, my search continues....

Here are some possibilities.

Leaning more towards Blue Pearl, Emerald Pearl or Black Galaxy. The grey ones are not too bad too.
If I had my wish, I would prefer cream/ivory with little tiny specks.

Total Strangers

For some time now, DH and I have been scouting (both driving and walking) around our neighbourhood for some home renovation ideas and inspirations.

Generally, we have been overwhelmed by the friendliness, generosity and warmness of house owners – all of whom are strangers to us. Two of them even extended welcome into their homes – one at late night and the other early in the morning. Imagine that huh - took us totally by surprise!!! They generously shared their ideas, giving their tips and comments on what and how to renovate as it was the house is the same design.

Another house owner was even friendly enough to give me a contact number of someone to help us on our application with the municipal for renovation. This family (dad, mum and son) also invited me to look inside their house but since I was alone, I thought it was not such a good idea at that time - cannot be careful thesedays.

Guess these people are really house proud even though they have completed their renovations a few years back – well, whatever it is, I am very grateful.

And not forgetting, fellow bloggers, in particular Agnes, for her knowledge and basically giving tips/advices on renovation. I think she really enjoys and has a keen interest in home furnishing & decorations while I only find it all a little intimidating, if not just one big headache! It doesn’t help either that I have a poor sense of colour coordination.

Anyway, back to the topic. Our experience so far talking and interacting with total strangers have been very positive so far…..up until yesterday where we seemed to have thread on toes of 2 house owners. One of which was cool and non-responsive (perhaps he was just tired of the many admirers’ enquiries or cautious that we might be thieves – can’t blame him since robberies are pretty common thesedays). The other, started very defensively by scolding us for taking pictures of his house and that his window design was unique and belong to him, blah blah blah. Imagine our shock, especially since there are a few houses around the neighbourhood with the same grill pattern. When we told him of our observation, he had the cheek to boast that he was the first home owner around our area to have those type of grills and that everyone else had copied him, hinting that he didn’t like the idea of us adopting his grill pattern either. He also commented that if we wanted to take picture of his house that we should actually get his permission first. To me, taking a photograph is the easiest. If he really objected to us taking picture, I could have easily drawn it since it’s a simple pattern, playing with the distance of the horizontal lines, like the one below.

Haiseh, perhaps he should blame himself for owning a nice looking contemporary house. Personally, I doubt his ‘sole exclusivity’ unless he has actually taken out a copyright on it and show it to us, ha ha. Anyway, after calming him a little by talking to him (DH couldn’t believe I was so patient with him), he sort of gave his grudging grunt of approval (I think)!!! This incident bothered us a little though I am sure that we certainly do not need his consent if we were to adopt the same type of grills (who knows, he could have gotten the same idea from somewhere else, the nerve of the man ya!!). Though I acknowledge that it would probably have been courteous if we got permission to take picture of his house first, I wonder whether people generally do the same for other things that we normally take pictures of – food at restaurant, park, buildings, mall, other tangible objects, etc. Having listed out the examples I realize that they are public areas compared to a house dwelling which could be argued as ‘private’ but outside the house boundary, I’m of the view that its public domain and so free for viewing/appreciation on a public road – erm, am I right??? If I were a tourist or in another country, I would be happily clicking away, taking pictures of all objects (including houses) that caught my fancy. Fortunately this grumpy new neighbour doesn't live on the same street!!

This incident reminds me of another incident where we took picture of strangers in a public area. They voiced out their strong displeasure of being photograph without obtaining their consent. In a similar incident, a friend of mine nearly got assaulted because of this. Hm, can only think that these people have something to hide or insecure that they may be under surveillance. Can’t help but wonder if I was the rude one!??

Kitchen counter top - solid surface, granite or quartz???

Been spending a lot of time and effort mulling over the kitchen top surface. Have ruled out solid surface since it seems to scratch easily. I really prefer a tougher and fuss free counter top. I know I can get the LG type which can be re-polished but kind-na put off by the high price tag, not to mention the dust and inconvenience from repolishing it. But I must say that solid surface counter tops do look fantastic.

So I'm left with granite or engineered stone. The latter is more consistent and uniform in terms of texture (as it is man-made) compared to the former (natural stone). But been getting and reading mix reviews whether granite is more durable compared to engineered stone?? Price wise, both are comparable.

If anyone has any opinions, I would definitely appreciate it. Right now, been getting prices and comparing. Ha ha...also wouldn't mind if anyone can recommend a granite supplier at affordable price!! ;p *would be eternally grateful!!*

TIP if getting granite counter top: Like in the restaurants choosing live fish/crabs, visit the factory or showroom and pick out the granite slab that you are satisfied with before making any payment. This will avoid any arguments later, not to mention any heart aches or dissapointments.

Also I've been told that even though China granite are cheaper they are not recommended for kitchen counter tops as they are not realiable (i.e. can stain easily and more porous).

In the meantime, I will leave you with an interesting read I found here on the Top 10 countertop choices.

1. Granite Counters
Granite is the countertop material of choice when there are no other things to think about - like money. It defines elegance in a kitchen. As the use of granite becomes more widespread, the price comes down. The beauty of the stone contributes to the beauty of even the most modest kitchen.
Pros: holds up to heat; comes in a range of almost 3000 colors; looks permanent and substantial; will last a lifetime; new sealers are almost maintenance-free; 2nd highest hardness rating after diamonds; has a high value to home buyers.
Cons: expensive, but becoming more affordable; requires some maintenance; some stones absorbs stains if not sealed; knives can become dull if you cut on it; can crack if stressed or improperly installed.

2. Engineered Stone
Engineered stone is composed of 93% quartz particles. It is available in a larger range of colors than granite and has a nonporous surface that resists scratches. It's easy to maintain, without the annual sealing required by natural stone. Some brands on the market include DuPont Zodiaq®, LG Viatera®, Cambria Quartz, and Silestone®.
Pros: resistant to stain and acid; easy care.
Cons: expensive.

3. Solid Surface
Because solid surface counters are just what they're called, solid, any scratches can be sanded out. The countertops are custom-made to your specifications by companies such as Avonite, Corian, and Swanstone.
Pros: comes in a rainbow of colors and patterns; seamless; stain resistant.
Cons: vulnerable to hot pans and stains which can damage the surface; can be moderately expensive.

4. Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile is durable and easy to clean. Add to that inexpensive and you've got a really good choice for countertops for the average home. Because it's installed a section at a time, it can be done by most resourceful homeowners.
Pros: takes hot pans; easy to clean; wide range of price, color, texture and design.
Cons: counter surface is uneven; tiles can easily chip or crack; grout lines become stained; custom-designed tiles are very expensive.

5. Laminates
Laminate counters bear trademarks such as Formica, Nevamar, and Wilsonart. They're made of plastic-coated synthetics with a smooth surface that's easy to clean. The pieces are cut to size and finished on the ends.
Pros: you can buy laminates in lots of colors; easy to maintain; durable; inexpensive.
Cons: scratches and chips are almost impossible to repair; seans show; end finishing and front edge choices can be pricey.

6. Wood or Butcher Block
Wood countertops offer a beautiful warm look and are available in a wide range of colors and finishes. Hardwoods such as maple and oak are most often used as countertop woods.
Pros: easy to clean; smooth; can be sanded and resealed as needed.
Cons: can be damaged by water and stains over time; scratches must be oiled or sealed according to manufacturer's instructions.

7. Stainless Steel Counters
For a really contemporary and industrial look for your kitchen, stainless steel is a good choice. They are heat resistant and durable. Because they're constructed to your specifications, you can have a seamless countertop.
Pros: takes hot pans; easy to clean.
Cons: Expensive; noisy; may dent; fabrication is expensive; you can't cut on it.

8. Soapstone Counters
Soapstone is generally dark gray in color and has a smooth feel. It is often seen in historic homes but is also used in modern homes as both a countertop and sink material.
Pros: rich, deep color; smooth feel; somewhat stain resistant.
Cons: requires regular maintenance with applications of mineral oil; may crack and darken over time.

9. Marble
Because of it's extremely high price tag, marble is not often seen on the countertops of whole kitchens. To get the luxurious look, use it on an island or inset at a baking center. Marble requires constant maintenance, as it easily stains. Some new sealers retard staining.
Pros: waterproof; heatproof; beautiful.
Cons: expensive; porous; stains easily unless professionally sealed; can scratch; may need resealing periodically as per manufacturer.


10. Concrete Counters
If you have countertops in unusual shapes, concrete may be a good choice, as they're often cast right in your kitchen. The high price tag may be beyond most people's budget.
Pros: heat and scratch resistant; can be color-tinted; looks exotic and unusual; new treatments eliminate cracking; additives reduce porosity; new finishes are more decorative.
Cons: mid to high range on cost due to custom work; cracking is possible; can look somewhat industrial; porous but can be sealed.

3D home planner

Software download can be found here.

Its a pretty cool tool which gives a 365 view of your room - kitchen, living or bedroom. Top and bottom view of the room also available too!!!

Definitely user friendly with drag and drop function. Can also change the colours of the cupboards/doors including door knobs etc. Only difficulty I've had so far is placing the wall cabinets. Somehow cannot stick up onto the wall, perhaps I'm asking too much??? ha ha ha

Since its a free software, its limited to featuring only Ikea products. Not that I mind because all I really want is a virtual idea or feel on how the room could look like. Plus side also is that you can plan in the comfort of your home.

So if you are renovating or planning a makeover and want a creative professional look, have a go with this fun software :)

ps. if lazy or really not sure what to do, can ask Ikea sales person to help plan for you, save the file and then go home and improve on it! Btw, there's a button which conveniently calculates the prices too. So you can immediately find out the damage on your pocket!! ha ha ;)