Title

lillymoii  everything-boo  a-bee  hyppoletic  angelscryforus

A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G

If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z is represented
as: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26....

Then: H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K 8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 =98%
And K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E 11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 =96%
But , A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E 1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 =100%

And, B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T 2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 =103%

AND, look how far ass kissing will take you.
A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G 1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 118%

Credit card debt & personal loan again.......

Where are we going, and who is leading us into this? Look at these facts!

Kids take for granted that "money come from ATM", while 5 million people throng our 300+ shopping malls every WEEKEND and 41 people were declared bankrupt DAILY..... yet the banks declared more profits every QUARTERS!

There are about 3.2 million principal credit cardholders in the country with outstanding credit card debt at RM30.8bil as at the end of 2010, compared with RM26.7bil in 2009 and RM23bil in 2008.

The new method was part of the revised credit card guidelines issued by the central bank on March 18 this year.

Other measures that have taken effect include:

> A restriction on the minimum annual income requirement for credit card eligibility set at RM24,000 (from RM18,000 previously);

> Cardholders earning RM36,000 or less a year allowed to hold credit cards from only two issuers; and

> The maximum credit limit for those earning less than RM36,000 per year capped at double the monthly income of the cardholder from each issuing bank.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/9/30/nation/9602326&sec=nation

Bank Negara's figures in March showed that personal loans made up 15% of the overall household debt but housing loans make up the largest portion at 45%, followed by car financing at 20%, credit cards (5%) and purchase of securities (5%).

The Star recently reported that about 147,000 people who were facing personal debt problems had enrolled in financial distress and management programmes sponsored by Bank Negara's Credit Counselling And Debt Management Agency since 2006.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/9/30/nation/9603943&sec=nation

What are your position?

Odd of default....

I'm not an economist and hoping someone can tell me what is going on?
Stumble on this report here.

Car loan takers top bankruptcy list

How serious?

Jabatan Insolvensi Malaysia 2010 reports insolvency due to:

- 24.12% car loan
- 11.78% housing loan
- 5.5% credit card loan

Talking about car loan, yes it is a necessity now days due to bad transportation linkages, but if you can only afford a small car why buy a higher end car?

Read more here about this report.

Bigger homes = happier homes

"The phrase “old is gold” certainly holds true for many things such as family relations and friendships, but it does not seem to apply to consumer items, especially trendy ones. Barely months old gadgets are being replaced by new and trendier ones these days.

This underscores the strong consumerism movement and how it is promoting buying frenzy among the young and old alike.

The list of “must haves” is growing longer and it is not surprising that many of the items are actually status symbols.

One of the most easily replaceable items include mobile phones and other tacky communication devices. The big rush for Apple’s new iPad 2 is a good example of how much headway these tacky gadgets are having a hold on the people.

Even though it has been more than a month since its release, there is still a long waiting list for this latest tablet computer. Just try to place a booking for one with an authorised distributor in Kuala Lumpur and you’ll know what I mean."

Read full article by Angie Ng here

My comments is:

1. I did want a bigger home when I retire. But now when you know that the fact most of the home in a mature housing estate lived by old and single, I rethink! Do you really need the space after all or just a symbol of status.
   
2. Conspiracy theory between the bank and the developer! Any price will do as long there is a loan. Learn what is happening in America! I like the way American is walking away from their housing loan.
   
3. For ages, the adage in property investment, "always appreciate ma" but Here's The REAL Long-Term Return On Owning A Home written by Harvard researchers.
   
   

Be informed, not just listen to suggestions made thru the media!

'Tagline' perniagaan

Mak Minah dan Pak Mat ada 4 orang anak perempuan yang sangat disayangi iaitu Siti, Seri, Murni dan Suri. Satu hari mereka berpakat untuk kahwinkan anak mereka ini serentak.

Ceritakan macam mana honeymoon korang!
Tak payah tulis panjang-panjang, pakai tagline iklan aja dah cukup. 'Ringkas,...padat dan cepat’, kata Mak Minah memberi arahan pada anak-anaknya.

Seminggu lepas tu mereka terima surat dari Siti yang bertulis ‘Standard Chartered’. Tercari-carilah kedua suami isteri ni iklan bank itu dan bila jumpa tersenyum le kedua-duanya membaca iklan yang bertulis ‘Besar, teguh, peramah’. Bahagialah Si Siti rupanya...

Esoknya terima pula surat dari Seri yang bertulis ‘Nescafe’. Apabila melihat iklan tersebut, tersenyum lagi keduanya membaca iklan yang bertulis ‘Nikmatnya hingga ke titisan yang terakhir’. Bahagialah Si Seri rupanya…

Selang beberapa hari kemudian, tiba pula surat dari Murni bertulis 'KFC'. Mereka mencari iklan restoren tu dan tersenyum keduanya membaca iklan yang bertulis ‘Hingga Menjilat Jari'. Bahagialah Si Murni rupanya….

Seminggu berlalu, tiada surat dari Suri, Mak Minah dan Pak Mat dah risau. Dua Minggu… tak ada jugak... masuk minggu ke tiga baru sampai surat dari Suri dengan isi kandungannya 'AIR ASIA'. Bergegas le Mak Minah cari iklan penerbangan tu sebab tak sabar nak tau apa yg jadi pada anak bongsunya. Bila dibaca, Mak Minah dan Pak Mat terkulat-kulat tak tau nak senyum atau menangis. Apa tagline iklan itu…??

'7 KALI SEMINGGU... 3 JAM SEKALI... TANPA HENTI...'

*Kami x de apa-apa kaitan dengan syarikat-syarikat diatas dan tulisan ini hanya untuk hiburan je* Dipetik dari Sy Sham.

How banks make money?

Net interest Income! What is that? I believe that is your money and my money servicing the loan every month. Housing loan, car loan, personal loan, and many more loans.... Pity us because we had little choice. You don't borrow you can't pay for an accommodation. Yet that is a basic thing in our life.
The latest episode in the US where the house price drops more than 60% should make the whole world be more vigilant on these loans. I like the story that customer just walk out of a house loan in the US.

Yes you can buy a house but read this "how-much-house-can-you-afford-to-buy" Don't over pay and stress yourself and let someone make easy money on your hard earned salary and be in debt for a life long.

Debt free - life liberating experience - experience it!

Students loan!

Look at the red line! While the economic crisis took place, it does not effect that category. You can see that credit card loan took a plunge but with education cost rising and with emphasis on the "get a good education", I wonder who is really benefiting on this. The masses, I doubt!
I'm not saying don't get an education, but I think education has become more of a business rather than preparing a human capital for a country progress.

The university churns out graduates who after that chase for that little job openings. In the end these kids got no job after years of high hopes and left with problems to settle their education loan. One of the example here.

I pity them, but there must be a solution to it. Do you know?

How much does it cost to run a car?

If you a savvy person, choosing between Gen2 and a City makes a lot of different in your finance. The 4,998 difference in annual running cost, compounded over 5 years is 28,343 (at 6.3% annual return). That does not include the initial car price difference of almost 25,000. Go calculate and decide for yourself, am I throwing money out unnecessarily? Yep there are many other factors, but for me Myvi would be a much better option....

Go here for the original article.

How much house can you afford to buy?

The rule: You shouldn't buy a house that costs more than 2 1/2 years' worth of your income.

Why it works: During the wild years of the housing boom, consumers seemed to stop grounding their housing decisions in income. This rule can help remind consumers that income should be a primary criterion when deciding how much to pay for a house.

Grain of salt: One problem with this rule is it doesn't take into account how housing costs can fluctuate based on interest rates, says Pomeranz. For instance, a house that costs 2 1/2 times your income may be unaffordable in a high-rate environment but easy to pull off in a low-rate environment, says Pomeranz.

A better guide to whether to buy a home is rental prices in your area, says Finke. If you could rent a home that meets your needs for less than it would cost to buy and maintain a home, then renting is a no-brainer, he says.

Like the article, read full article here

Is property a safe investment after all?

This chart from www.chartoftheday.com say it all. So when is going to happen in your country? Don't despair if property price is way too expensive. Wait for the moments to come... I believe it will arrive - just you do not know when!

125 Ways to Manage Your Money

Some tips that are truly ageless:

• "An ounce of originality is worth a pound of swank."
• "...it is so easy to be extravagant and buy recklessly when one can say, 'Charge it.'" (September 1890)
• Children "should learn to appreciate the fact that the greatest happiness does not always come with the greatest wealth. Give them a suitable allowance when they have reached what may be called years of discretion." (September 1899)
• "It is oftener the trifling outlays frequently repeated that prove ruinous than any conspicuous extravagance." (January 1900)
• Having a small garden can be profitable: vegetables and fruit can be produced from 1/2 to 2/3 the cost of buying them. (May 1903)
• "Shoes soon lose their shape and appearance of newness. If two or three pairs are worn interchangeably, all look fresher, as well as wear longer." (March 1908)
• Buy furniture "just as it comes from the factory — unsanded, unpainted, and unstained" — to save money. (The chairs featured in the article cost 65 cents each!) (February 1909)
• "Stocks, even good stocks, are speculative; they always have been and the always will be." (November 1929)

Read more here...

Eye of the storm

I came across this article. Not a pretty picture though, rather scary. So if the major market corrects, run....
Read full article here.

Do you want a credit card, Sir

I wrote about banks previously. That was about property loan. This time its about credit cards. I had one credit card which I've been using for almost 20 years now. Yes it is very long time to be loyal to a credit card. During these years I pay in full amount and promptly. I guess that record will flash up brilliantly on the credit score. I also had an OD with a fully secured collateral. The OD limit extended to me is only 95% of my few hundred thousands collateral value.

Last month during a visit to an exhibition, while walking past a "chin" booth.
"Do you want a credit card, Sir". Well, I'm not working currently, can I get one? Yeah, you can apply....They took a copy of my identification, copy of my current credit card, fill up pages of forms.

Two week later, someone called to verify all the particulars. And guess what I never hear from them again. Man, maybe I'm a credit worthless.

When later I relate this story to my paid financial planner, we laugh at this silly chin bank. He said to me, "You know what, premium banking want you as their customer". Yet I do not qualify for a credit card...how silly the rules are.
Ah, its ok when you know where you stand and what is your capability, everything else does not matter anymore. Like the saying boys will be boys, this is banks will be banks.

Never get attached to banks...remember they are only service providers but be part of them by owning them.

Things you should not buy new

1. DVDs and CDs: Used DVDs and CDs will play like new if they were well taken care of. Even if you wind up with a scratched disc and you don't want to bother with a return, there are ways to remove the scratches and make the DVD or CD playable again.

2. Books: You can buy used books at significant discounts from online sellers and brick-and-mortar used book stores. The condition of the books may vary, but they usually range from good to like-new. And of course, check out your local library for free reading material.

3. Video Games: Kids get tired of video games rather quickly. You can easily find used video games from online sellers at sites like Amazon and eBay a few months after the release date. Most video game store outlets will feature a used game shelf, as well. And if you're not the patient type, you can rent or borrow from a friend first to see if it's worth the purchase.

4. Special Occasion and Holiday Clothing: Sometimes you'll need to buy formal clothing for special occasions, such as weddings or prom. Most people will take good care of formal clothing but will only wear it once or twice. Their closet castouts are your savings: Thrift stores, yard sales, online sellers and even some dress shops offer fantastic buys on used formalwear.

5. Jewelry: Depreciation hits hard when you try to sell used jewelry, but as a buyer you can take advantage of the markdown to save a bundle. This is especially true for diamonds, which has ridiculously low resale value. Check out estate sales and reputable pawn shops to find great deals on unique pieces. Even if you decide to resell the jewelry later, the depreciation won't hurt as much.

6. Ikea Furniture: Why bother assembling your own when you can pick it up for free (or nearly free) on Craigslist and Freecycle? Summer is the best time to hunt for Ikea furniture--that's when college students are changing apartments and tossing out their goodies.

7. Games and Toys: How long do games and toys remain your child's favorite before they're left forgotten under the bed or in the closet? You can find used children's toys in great condition at moving sales or on Craigslist, or you can ask your neighbors, friends, and family to trade used toys. Just make sure to give them a good wash before letting junior play.

8. Maternity and Baby Clothes: Compared to everyday outfits that you can wear any time, maternity clothes don't get much wear outside the few months of pregnancy when they fit. The same goes for baby clothes that are quickly outgrown. You'll save a small fortune by purchasing gently used maternity clothes and baby clothes at yard sales and thrift stores. Like children's games and toys, friends and family may have baby or maternity clothing that they'll be happy to let you take off their hands.

9. Musical Instruments: Purchasing new musical instruments for a beginner musician is rarely a good idea. (Are you ready to pay $60 an hour for piano lessons?) For your little dear who wants to learn to play an instrument, you should see how long his or her interest lasts by acquiring a rented or used instrument to practice with first. Unless you're a professional musician or your junior prodigy is seriously committed to music, a brand new instrument may not be the best investment.

10. Pets: If you buy a puppy (or kitty) from a professional breeder or a pet store outlet, it can set you back anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. On top of this, you'll need to anticipate additional fees and vet bills, too. Instead, adopt a pre-owned pet from your local animal shelter and get a new family member, fees, and vaccines at a substantially lower cost.

Sourced from Yahoo Finance

Surviving your work days

1. Don't skip breakfast or lunch.
2. Learn to recognize symptoms of stress (anxiety, headache, anger) so you can nip it in the bud.
3. Make some friends/allies at work.
4. Talk about your stress, to somebody.
5. Pay attention to your breathing; slow it down, deepen it.
6. Post family photos (or other images that make you happy) in your workspace.
7. Focus on the now (i.e., don't agonize over the past, don't fret over the future).
8. Take some alone time.
9. Find harmless ways to vent; e.g., cry, or punch a pillow.
10. Stop trying to multitask.

Good luck guys....

Water Dance

Tips for Surviving Your Worst Work Days

1. Don't promise what you can't deliver.
2. Learn to manage your emotions, instead of letting them control you.
3. Cultivate a sense of humor.
4. Resist perfectionism.
5. Resist micromanaging (of yourself and others).
6. Get the sleep you need.
7. Try getting to work 10-15 minutes early.
8. Take regular breaks.
9. Take a walk at lunch, or do some stretching exercises, or jumping jacks, or something.
10. Don't overdo the caffeine.

Dedicated to my 9 - 5 friends...