Car Loans .......

I called my dad few days ago and we talked about people buying brand new car. Maybe this can be his trick to ask for new ride as I promised him since last year. Haha... Anyway, technically I dont specify when I will buy car for the family even though that was one of the first thing that i thinked since i started working.
For me, I can tell how broke a person is by looking at what he is driving. A prestigious and luxurious car simply means the owner is full of debt, and has less cash for other more important expenses. This may not be true all the time but I know my neighborhood quite well.
Purchasing a car is going to be my biggest 'big ticket item' after a house. I will take months and a lot of courage for me to go to the dealer and asking the price tag. This is mainly because I am so afraid of having liability and not be able to pay the loan in the future. In contrary, others are proud to have such liability which i think way too heavy to carry.
It is amuse me how a girl, with a monthly salary of RM2000 (USD667) is able to purchase a brand new RM80,000 (USD26,667) car. Let say she made down payment of RM10,000. With loan interest of 2.5% per annum, this young lady has to pay RM794 per month for 9 years.Yes... 9 years.
In comparison, the down payment is equivalent to 5 months salary and monthly payment is 40% of the paycheck. For me, these numbers are too big to swallow. Not to forget annual insurance, road tax, service and maintenance. And last but not least, the petrol price rises steadily over last few years.
When I am about to finish my degree, I have outlined my spending plan for the next few years. I have made several plans according to my earning. As an engineer, I am expecting monthly salary of no less than RM2500. After several months working, I will consider to buy a car for myself because of necessity.
I will go for a second hand Proton Wira (Malaysian national car) which is about RM23000. I pay RM3000 for down payment. With 4% per annum interest rate, I need to pay RM400 monthly for installment. Then after 5 years, I will consider buying a better car. This way, I have more money to save and invest.

The Sequences >>>

" Because I don't live in either my past or my future. I'm interested only in the present.
If you can concentrate always on the present, you'll be a happy man.
You'll see there is life in desert,
that there are stars in heaven, and that
the tribesman fight because they are part of human race.
Life will be a party for you, a grand festival,
because life is the moment
we are living right now"

The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho

Three Cups of Tea

Three Cups of Tea

One Man’s Extraordinary Journey to Promote Peace … One School at a Time

“Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin”

Three Cups of Tea

‘Here we drink three cups of tea to do business: the first you are stranger, the second you become a friend, and the third you join our family, and for our family we are prepared to do anything – even die’

Haji Ali, Korphe Village Chief, Karakoram Mountains, Pakistan

This is one amazing story of an American in a foreign land. In 1993, Greg Mortensen arrived in Pakistan on his attempt to conquer the world’s second highest mountain, K2.

He failed to complete his disastrous attempt, and was drifted in cold into an impoverished Pakistan Village in the mountains. Haji Ali, the village leader offered his kindness, food and shelter to Greg. Moved by the inhabitant’s kindness, he promised to return and build a school for a remote village of Korphe.

A decade later, Greg managed to build not only one but fifty five schools across the forbidding and breathtaking landscape of Pakistan and Afghanistan. This man shows us the power of the humanitarian spirit within himself. Despite having no cash and home, he struggle to save and raise every penny for children in Pakistan.

‘An inspiring chronicle… This is one protagonist who clearly deserves to be called a hero’ – People

P/s – I read this book within a week, averaging two hours a day on my way to my training centre. I am in Abu Dhabi undergoing work training provided by my employer for two months. I make use of the two hours commuting time on the bus while others are trying to get a decent sleep. Something that most people are craving these days, including me. A good quality sleep.

One interesting thing about this book, is that on page 337, it is written:

“If Three Cups of Tea inspires you to do more, here are suggestions for how to help:

1. Visit www.threecupsoftea.com website…….Every purchase online, 7% will go towards a girls’ education scholarship fund in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
2. Suggest Three Cups of Tea to a friend……church, synagogue, mosque, university, high school class….
3. Check if Three Cups of Tea is in your local library. If not, either donate or suggest the library to add the book to their collection.
4. Encourage your local independent or chain bookstore to carry this book.
5. Write a Three Cups of Tea book review for Amazon.com, …….., or a blog..

6. …….

7……

And the list goes on. This is the first book that I read with a list of honest and thoughtful suggestions. I am amazed on how an American (an infidel, as described in the book) decided to open his heart to Muslim children. To be able to care and provide them with light of education more than a government can do. My sincere thanks to Mr. Greg Mortenson.

Postcards for Faraway Friends

Two will travel back to my home country,

One will fly cross the continent to the breathtaking New Zealand,

And one will land at the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam.

My prayer for the receivers,

May God bless them with good health,

Bestow them with happiness and wealth.

Words of Wisdom of The Alchemist

The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho

This is the second book of Paulo Coelho that I read. I love the story; mystical, adventurous and life enhancing. It was about a boy; Santiago who followed his dream, and the unexpected events he had encountered.

“A beautiful book about magic, dreams and the treasures we seek elsewhere, and then find at our doorstep” – MADONNA

Many words in this book make a lot of sense to me. Book like this one can make me happy, make me smile and cry without reason, make me appreciate every moment that passing by and making me feeling adventurous.

“It is the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting” – page 11

“I left my father, m my mother, and the town castle behind. They have got used to my being away, and so have I. The sheep will get used to my not being too” – page 29. P/s Like me, I was away from home since thirteen. But home is still a home. And everywhere I go, I know there is always a place that I can go back – my home.

“The boy felt jealous of the freedom of the wind, and saw that he could have the same freedom. There was nothing to hold him back except himself” – page 29.

“I’m like everyone else – I see the world in terms of what I would like to see happen, not what actually does” – page 42

“When you want something, all te universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” – page 42

Rich Site Summary (RSS)

When I start this blog 7 months ago, It was only for personal use. I want a space on the internet where I can link to all my favorite financial blogs. So, I can go to my personal blog and put links. However, a few months ago, I found IGoogle. I know there is a way that I can personalise my search engine, but never try to find out how. Then I started learning how to personalize IGoogle. I add a tab for personal finance where I can put the links to all my favorite blogs. Even more, this tool is so good that I can add RSS.

What is RSS?

RSS (Rich Site Summary) is a format for delivering regularly changing web content. Many news-related sites, weblogs and other online publishers syndicate their content as an RSS Feed to whoever wants it.

Why RSS? Benefits and Reasons for using RSS

RSS solves a problem for people who regularly use the web. It allows you to easily stay informed and save time by not needing to visit each site individually. You ensure your privacy, by not needing to join each site's email newsletter. The number of sites offering RSS feeds is growing rapidly and includes big names like Yahoo News. by retrieving the latest content from the sites you are interested in.

A Dollar A Day, A Minute At A Time

Read The One Minute Millionaire or Go to www.oneminutemillionaire.com

No matter your present circumstances, here are the four steps to your first million.

1. Decide that it's okay for you to become a millionaire.

Some people believe that the accumulation of wealth is an unworthy goal. Before you begin you journey to become an Enlightened Millionaire, search your attitudes to make sure you are willing to create wealth in a way that will support your inner beliefs and values.

2. Practice imagining yourself enjoying an abundant lifestyle.

All great fortunes are started in someone's imagination. See yourself living in the home of your dreams, enjoying ideal relationships with friends and loved ones, contributing to the world through your own unique talents and abilities. Imagine the fortune you could create and the good it could do. Believe it and you will see it.

3. Spend less than you earn.

But how? Pay yourself first. Deduct 10% off the top of your income, and deposit it into your investment account. Convert all your credit cards except one to debit cards so it is impossible fo you to go into debt. Then live on what is left over.

4. Invest the difference

Invest your 10% surplus into investments that can earn at least 10%. A dollar a day invested at 10% interest becomes a million dollars in 56 years. In other words, anyone can become a millionaire by investing only a dollar a day-30 bucks a month. If you want to become a millionaire faster, then invest more money or find ways to make your money grow at higer rates of return.

You can become a Millionaire.

• It only takes a minute to decide it.
• It only takes a minute to visualize it.
• It only takes a minute to save it.
• It only takes a minute to invest it.

A dollar a day-a minute at a time-you can get there. Slowly but surely.

A Dollar a Day and You are Millionaire

In many ways, we always think the impossible is really an impossible. Maybe because we focus too much on the final result. But what is more important is the journey. A small act everyday, through persistence routine can yield a magnificent result.

How many of us believe that anyone can be millionaire by putting a dollar aside each day? If this is possible, we surely have many millionaires in this world, rite? The problem is we always look at other people and choose to believe what the majority believe.

A Dollar a Day ..... A Slow Way

One of the greatest human invention in the world of investment and economics is 'interest'. I am talking about good interest here, not the bad one. The interest (or dividend) is simply the return that we get for the investment which is made. Usually in term of percentage and at yearly basis, although not necessarily. However, interest by itself is not really helpful to make us rich. The interest need to be compounded year in and year out. This simply means reinvesting the interest as investment.


"A great physicist, Albert Einstein once referred to compounded interest as the eight wonder of the world"
How A Dollar A Day Can Turn to ONE MILLION at Different Rate in 66 Years

Invest In	Interest		Amount Accumulated
(Hidden in a mattress)	0%		$24,000
(In a savings account)	3%		$77,000
(Certificates of deposit)	5%		$193,000
(Corporate bonds)	8%		$1,000,000
(Growth mutual funds)	10%		$2,700,000
(Aggressive growth mutual funds)	15%		$50,000,000
(Real Estate, businesses)	20%		$1,000,000,000
			(That's One Billion!)

See that!! We can be a millionaire given that you put aside a dollar each day at the right place. We just need to be consistent and live long enough. In country like Malaysia, it is not hard to find place to put in your money. Amanah Saham Bumiputra (ASB) is one of great place to start. The fund consistently yield dividend no less than 7% each year (Dividend + Bonus). Buy..Hey!!! That is a dollar a day, 30 dollars a month. How about putting extra..60 Dollars a month, or 100 Dollars a month. Get it now???

But I am at thirties right now. How I can buy back the 30 years which had passed?

Do not despair. Our first mistake was : not to initiate the investment a long time ago. But the biggest mistake is not to start it now. Remember, the journey is more important than the destination.

I know I am Rich

Millionaire? But I Earn only Few Hundreds Bucks...How I can save?

For me, this is a tough subject. Many people may ask me, how I can save when I earn little. Just enough to survive for another month. Have to pay bills, mortgages, unexpected and urgent payments and emergencies.

To be honest, I cannot answer this query with satisfactory explanation even to myself. This is mainly because I have no experience having so little money at any particular period of time. My life is a blessing and I am very thankful to God. This does not mean that I am coming from a rich family. But the opportunity and money is not something that I have to worry about. To illustrate this, let me tell my story.

Do you remember when is the first time you feel rich? I do. I start to feel that I live rich when I started university life. Rich is a relative perception. I refer to being rich is equal to having a calm and peaceful mind, having not to worry about money excessively. Every month, I meet my ends and needs.

By end of each month, I knew that there will be money in my bank account. It is not much, 240 pounds from the scholarships ( I was in Manchester that time). It is enough to eat and buy clothes. But the main factor how I survive was because I live below my own mean. I am not used to buy expensive clothing, perfume or concert tickets. The only things I spent my money on were books and electronics. I waited for boxing day to buy a nice jacket at at least 50% discount. I waited for summer and winter sale. I used online to buy cheaper books and electronics. I walked and cycled to university rather than took the bus. I brought home made sandwich and water for lunch. I did not make impulse purchases. I will wait for months to buy a camera just to find the cheapest deal and slowly save money for the item.

In young man's world, there are only two reason that messing our life. First is money, and second one is 'girl'. If I have a gilfriend, I will not buy her expensive thing. But do many small things that make big impact. Spend money on a romantic picnic at nearby park in easter rather go to expensive restaurant for dinner. Give her a cute little teddy when you are away rather buying her expensive necklace. Or start with a right choice, find girl with 'less maintenance'..Hehe.. unless u were born rich.

Jump Of Life

JuMp of My LiFe :: NortEast Coast of Ireland

JuMp of My LiFe :: Abu Dhabi Desert

I start to think is it a good idea to post more pictures in this blog. Certainly, I would like to remain anonymous in the cyber space. A place where people get connected without having to know each other personally. A community that is built on common cause, neither by cultural and economical background nor the physical appearance. But I start to like to snap pictures of me hanging on the air. Remind me of how love, money, success, knowledge, peace, freedom, opportunity, and health are abundance in this world. And people can share this thing together without selfishness.

Oil Price Hits USD126

Oil: After hitting $126, is $150 far behind? (05.09.2008)

Oil leaped into uncharted territory Friday, soaring past the $126-a-barrel mark for the first time, and leaving analysts and investors wondering how high the price will go.

Oil holds above $123 (05.08.2008)

Oil prices held steady Thursday in Asia after jumping to a record near $124 a barrel as investors captivated by the market's upward momentum seemed to ignore figures showing an increase in U.S. cru...

Why $120 oil is good (05.07.2008)

Speculators are often blamed for artificially inflating crude prices, but some experts say that's exactly what's needed to cut demand and develop new resources.

Analyst: $200 oil could be ahead (05.06.2008)

A Goldman Sachs analyst predicted Tuesday that oil prices could reach $150 to $200 a barrel over the next six months to two years, but said that how far prices could climb still "remains a major un...

The Witch of Portobello

Time: 0434 Abu Dhabi Sat, May 10

This week has been a fruitful week. Managed to read 2 books despite of 6am to 6pm tight schedule. The first book was The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Ceolho. The story of Athena evolves around a mystical journey of a women who want to help other, who discover an ability which bring destruction to herself. Her life is told by the many who knew her well - or hardly at all. It is like looking at a single object from different angles and distances.

I realised that the last novel I read was Dan Brown's collection : Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons, Digital Fortres and Deception Point. After finishing The Witch of Portobello, I continue reading The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. This is an excellent book. In life, there are books that worth reading only once, and there are kinds of book thats worth to understand, practice and analyse. And this book by Robin S. Sharma can be a guide to have a better life.

At the moment, I am in Abu Dhabi, having my training 6am to 6pm on daily basis. The bus ride to the learning center takes an hour each journey. Every day, I spent two hours on the not so comfortable bus seat with seatbelt on. However, hey..I found out that It was the best two hours for myself. Instead of sleeping, I listen to music and read good books. Once a while, I watch the passing cars and wonder which car I should buy first. A Honda, BMW, or Mercedes....Haha...Or I should just stick to our national models..perhaps the new Proton Saga BLM. This strengthen my believe that humankind can create time. Most of the time, we blame the hectic schedule of our life to the extend we can hardly find time for ourself.

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