10 Sebab Anda Tidak Kaya

Copied from an article in Yahoo!Finance, quite some time ago.
Self-explanatory..hehehe..
Kalo2 terkena batang hidung tu mtk maap la ye (adoii...aku terkena gak.. especially no.7... kene buat garage sales le pasni...ekekeke)

Article tu ditulis (aku percaya) oleh non-Muslim. As Muslim, ade lagi aspek2 lain yg kite kene observe seperti jgn tido lepas Subuh, jgn kedekut, rajin2 bersedekah & lain2 amalan yang memurahkan rezeki kite.

Lagipun, matlamat hidup kite tak semestinye nak kaya-raya,
apa yg penting... kerjasama hidup sentiasa dilapangkan & dimurahkan rezeki oleh Allah,
Tuhan Ar-Razzak (Pemberi Rezeki)

Semoga sama2 dpt mengurus duit dgn lebih baik..
It's never too late!! Insya-Allah..




"Many people assume they aren't rich because they don't earn enough money. If I only earned a little more, I could save and invest better, they say.

The problem with that theory is they were probably making exactly the same argument before their last several raises. Becoming a millionaire has less to do with how much you make, it's how you treat money in your daily life.

The list of reasons you may not be rich doesn't end at 10. Caring what your neighbors think, not being patient, having bad habits, not having goals, not being prepared, trying to make a quick buck, relying on others to handle your money, investing in things you don't understand, being financially afraid and ignoring your finances.

Here are 10 more possible reasons you aren't rich:

You care what your car looks like
A car is a means of transportation to get from one place to another, but many people don't view it that way. Instead, they consider it a reflection of themselves and spend money every two years or so to impress others instead of driving the car for its entire useful life and investing the money saved.

You feel entitlement
If you believe you deserve to live a certain lifestyle, have certain things and spend a certain amount before you have earned to live that way, you will have to borrow money. That large chunk of debt will keep you from building wealth.

You lack diversification
There is a reason one of the oldest pieces of financial advice is to not keep all your eggs in a single basket. Having a diversified investment portfolio makes it much less likely that wealth will suddenly disappear.

You started too late
The magic of compound interest works best over long periods of time. If you find you're always saying there will be time to save and invest in a couple more years, you'll wake up one day to find retirement is just around the corner and there is still nothing in your retirement account.

You don't do what you enjoy
While your job doesn't necessarily need to be your dream job, you need to enjoy it. If you choose a job you don't like just for the money, you'll likely spend all that extra cash trying to relieve the stress of doing work you hate.

You don't like to learn
You may have assumed that once you graduated from college, there was no need to study or learn. That attitude might be enough to get you your first job or keep you employed, but it will never make you rich. A willingness to learn to improve your career and finances are essential if you want to eventually become wealthy.

You buy things you don't use
Take a look around your house, in the closets, basement, attic and garage and see if there are a lot of things you haven't used in the past year. If there are, chances are that all those things you purchased were wasted money that could have been used to increase your net worth.

You don't understand value
You buy things for any number of reasons besides the value that the purchase brings to you. This is not limited to those who feel the need to buy the most expensive items, but can also apply to those who always purchase the cheapest goods. Rarely are either the best value, and it's only when you learn to purchase good value that you have money left over to invest for your future.

Your house is too big
When you buy a house that is bigger than you can afford or need, you end up spending extra money on longer debt payments, increased taxes, higher upkeep and more things to fill it. Some people will try to argue that the increased value of the house makes it a good investment, but the truth is that unless you are willing to downgrade your living standards, which most people are not, it will never be a liquid asset or money that you can ever use and enjoy.

You fail to take advantage of opportunities
There has probably been more than one occasion where you heard about someone who has made it big and thought to yourself, "I could have thought of that." There are plenty of opportunities if you have the will and determination to keep your eyes open.

Nasi Lemak 20sen

Jumaat malam aritu, aku order mee goreng mamak... Kalo nak diikutkan, inilah makanan favourite aku since sekolah rendah...
sehinggalah ke hari ini.

anda dinasihatkan mengurangkan pengambilan telur bagi mengelakkan penyakit2 berkenaan kolestrol

Tak disangka2, kegemaran tu menurun pulak kat anak aku.. walaupun pedas, Amierah akan tetap 'mengecek' mee yg aku makan.. Yang geli hatinye... dia pun akan tergaru2 kepala dek kepedasan... mcm aku jugak...
Anakku bukan memang anakku..

Tetiba aku terkenangkan zaman kecik2 dulu...
Dulu, mak aku selalu kecik hati bile aku cakap mee goreng mak tak sedap... mee goreng warung Cik Mas kat depan taman tu lagi sedap...

Bile dah beso, baru aku menyedari betapa ungratefulnye aku..
Bayangkan, pelbagai rencah mak aku bubuh (fishball, udang, daging etc yg melimpah ruah) sedangkan aku lebih menyukai mee goreng yg dibeli di kedai, yg byk hanyalah tauge!!!

Seingat aku, masa tu harga sepinggan/sebungkus cuma RM1-RM1.20..
Hari ini,kalo dapat yg RM2.50 kire murah la tu...

Tapi the best mee goreng setakat ni pasninye yg digoreng oleh wife aku.. tak caya tanya Ajim... hehehe..
(dgn harapan bermakan-malamkan mee gorenglah aku hendaknye...)

Pastu, esok paginya..on the way menghantar wife aku pegi ofis singgah le stall nasik lemak...
(Kesian, Sabtu pun kene keje...sape kata keje Gomen goyang kaki?!!!)
Walaupun ade gak sebahagian yg sememangnye sedemikian.. (Sape makan cili terasa la pedasnye, ye tak...)
Kalo pedas minum air ye..jgn garu kepala lak...hehehe...
Nota: takde keje tak sama dgn tak buat keje...anda yang mana satu??
Opss....

Ok, back to the point..
sewaktu sibuk wife aku mengorder nasik lemak, tetiba datang sekumpulan budak2 sekolah bertanya tokey gerai tu..
"Abang, nasik lemak seringgit ade tak?"

Oh, dulu masa aku sekolah... nasik lemak cuma 20 sen aje..
pastu naik harga jdk 30 sen..
lepas tu naik & terus naik...

sekadar gambar hiasan..ini bukanlah nasi lemak 20 sen yg dimaksudkan

How time passing me by....

P/s: Agak2nye bile Amierah bersekolah nanti, berapakah harga sebungkus nasi lemak? Wallahua'lam..

Auto World: My Story

Recently, I received many questions pertaining to my job. Whether the concern was the gesture of sympathy or something else, it's Allah to decide.

Sometimes I just felt irritated, while in the positive mode, I should be grateful because at least there are people who are still concern about me.

Indeed, in this current situation, popular questions posed, amongst others are
"How's Toyota, any lay off/retrenchment?", "Market is down. How's Toyota doing?" or maybe in polite manner like... "How's your job?"

Most of the time, I just smile..
Nothing I can do to change the perception. Nor can I blame them for what they are thinking.
Whole world is down, can I say Malaysia against the odd?

Perhaps this article can answer the question.
"The Japanese Kaizen system says gives no power without responsibility. “ I have never heard of layoffs in Toyota. Toyota does not employ unnecessary people or create positions unnecessarily. But, once employed, the Toyota employee works for a lifetime,” says Kasahara. The level of job security runs high. But that does not mean that they continue with redundant people or that non-performers can stay."

Deep inside my heart, all I can do is pray to Allah..

*****************

Automotive is one of the top 3 most affected industries. First being electronic, the 3rd is property. And it is a vicious cycle, whole system will be brought down, hard & strong..no exception.
I will tell you why later..

Yesterday, there are some hope which may boost the auto market. I lauded Government for doing that. I believe more to come, to support this market.

Since I am very much involved in this, let me illustrate something.

In 2008, about 500,000 vehicles were sold. In my rough calculation, take average of sales tax of RM5,000 per vehicle & excise duty of RM10,000. Mind you, this is very conservative & minimal estimation. It definitely higher that that..because 50% of the market are non-national (other that Proton, Perodua & Naza)
Just an example, excise duty for Vios & Camry are RM20,000 & RM50,000 respectively!!

It is RM15,000 x 500,000 units = RM7.5bil.
My guts feeling..government enjoyed more that RM10bil alone from auto industry.

Toyota hit 100,000 units in 2008.
Meaning averagely additional excise duty & sales tax of RM50,000 per Toyota or
RM5bil in total.

* So guys, please don't blame Toyota for the high price we quote.
If still, what you can do is to compare the price of Peninsular against Labuan/Langkawi (duty free).

The difference is what Government received.
Ie: Vios/City high-grade priced @ RM60,000 ++ while Camry/Accord high-grade @ RM90,000++
Thinking of buying one? Please migrate over there...hehehe...

Back to the topic, forecast sales volume might be down as bad as 20%.

If that is the case, even Government will lose few billions from the taxes & duties.
As for finance industry, means they also need to content with lower revenue from lesser auto loans.

Maybe that is why we can see BNM already announced the cut of interest rate.
So the next industry ie: property will be well-prepared to face any circumstances.

Again, if property industry slump, Government, finance & all related parties will also fall in revenue.

I am not going to go into details, coz that will definitely haunt you.
Even so-called secured jobs are not spared. My apology.

Well, I am not taking any revenge, sincerely.
This is just an open explanation, in the hope we all aware what is happening around us..
And strengthen our believe that Allah who gave us rezeki...

So, to my friends..no worries..
Believe in Allah, not anybody else...

Wassalam..

Yes, it already came!!

Aku bukannye org yg layak bercakap tentang ekonomi..
subjek2 ekonomi masa kat UIA dulu aku main hafal je time nak periksa..
too theoretically..akibatnye..semua subject pun cukup2 mkn aje...
kat kelas,kalo ade calculation ke..baru la cerah bijik mata..

Mlm td,kebetulan bersembang2 dgn sorang jiran..
Tak disangka2, dia bukak ceta psl company dia yg tgh downsizing..
lebih memeranjatkan, dia mengaku baru seminggu lepas die berenti..opt for VSS..
(voluntary separation scheme)

"Huh, nama je volunteer..yg sebetulnya kitorang tu secara paksarela sign borang VSS tu.."

aku tak bercadang pergi lebih detail..brp offer,ape option yg ada etc...
cukup utk aku katakan,agak terkedu mendengarkan kisah abang ni..
melihat riak wajah & anak mata, aku tau dia tgh derita..

Tak sangka, era kegawatan sedang melanda..

1998 - Aku terlalu mentah utk mengerti apa itu gawat.. Alhamdulillah, ayah keje gomen. Mungkin jugak tak terasa sgt..

Berita semalam byk highlight psl persatuan2 peniaga yg mintak kerajaan jgn berdolak-dalih tentang hal ini.. "Kalau betul,just tell it off.. At least kita bole prepare mental & fizikal" - ntah Dato' mane yg komplen..tak ingat plak namanye..
Pun aku taknak komen ape2..They know better than me anyway..

Antara ungkapan dari jiran aku..
"Diorg tak highlight benda2 mcm ni kat TV..actual fact, ramai dah yg start takde keje Jan 09 nanti. Company abang je 1,200 orang!!"

Aku berharap & berdoa agar segera dia beroleh kerjaya baru, buat menampung anak2 & isteri..Itu je yg aku termampu..

Yes, recession is already here!!

Buat ingatan diri aku & semua, berjimat & berhemah dlm berbelanja..
Semoga Allah permudahkan urusan2 kita & memberkati setiap rezeki yg dikurniakanNYA..
Amin...

Premium That Strangled

As Selangor citizens enjoy the off day due to celebration of Sultan's Birthday today, I took this opportunity to send my car for 30k service.

Although my wife is still not well, I got no choice because my Vios gonna have couple of long journeys in Dec..
After bought her porridge & prepare for her medicine, I left home as early as possible so that I will be back before she knew it..

While waiting in the customer lounge, I suddenly feel like writing but I don't know what..
hahaha..

OK, let's talk about the premium that normally came along with the brand..

To be honest, I was surprised when I attended one pricing meeting..that was a long time ago when I first joined Toyota.
During that meeting, I was told that besides cost & profit to derive at the selling price, premium also a part of it.
Meaning to say, for a branded item, equation should read as PRICE = COST + PROFIT + PREMIUM.
However, most of the time, premium will be put under profit.

Well, this is something common and generally accepted by people.

Just give Nike or Adidas as example. Why we are willing to pay 100% more for a Nike shoe compare with other brands?
Shoe is just a shoe by principle. You wear it by your foot, not hanging it around your neck!!

Or perhaps Coffee Bean or Starbucks Coffee which I heard can cost you RM10 per cup easily (correct me if I'm wrong coz I never been there..)..What's the difference with mamak stall coffee??How difference is the coffee taste?

That what we call PREMIUM. Due to the fact that we know the quality, style, reputation and everything on earth that came with tagline... price doesn't really matter, who care!! (but I do)

Well, my next question is..whether the premium we pay is really justified with the item we paid??

It is a never ending dispute anyway..

It's just came across my mind while sitting here waiting for my car. As you can see at my back, people enjoying their drinks & snacks while reading magazine, watching Astro and surfing the internet. It's not free, of course. All amenities already included in the bill. Pity you if you think otherwise. Just compare the rate with workshop under the tree. You won't be getting the same ambience.


I had an opportunity went to Lexus showroom in Mutiara Damansara recently. Not to test drive or what, just a discussion on Lexus costing.
What can I say is WOW!! Even if you just been there for a peek or test drive, they will serve you Donkin Donut or Pizza Hut.
Masya-Allah....
Now you know why the price of Lexus cars are sky-high!! Somebody is paying someone's donut!!! hehehe..

Luckily, in this world I live in, I have an option.
I don't have to pay for what I don't want. I will choose for what I pay.
If the premium is fairly justified, why not?!!

Let the people who don't know where to spend their money throw their money unnecessarily..
Opss, for the sake of style or reputation perhaps... Unless the quality is proven & worth spend it, I won't..
Your money, your own..

"Ok Zairy, your car is ready"..
Aikk, dah siap?? Tak smpt aku nak ngomel lagi panjang..hehehe..
Ok, sambung gebang lain kali, insya-Allah...

Celosia

To turn this..

into this..

all I need is money, money & money.. :-)

"money can't buy happiness..but money can make you happy"
"money is not everything..but you need money for every single thing" - Abu Humairah

Ya-Allah, jadikanlah kami hamba yg mendahulukan akhirat lebih dari dunianya..
Kami pohon keberkatan atas rezeki2 kami, agar sentiasa merasa cukup atas apa yang telah Engkau kurniakan, Amin..

In Person : Azizi Ali

Last Tuesday, Toyota invited one of Malaysian millionaires Azizi Ali to give talk on money. (apparently, what else he's good at??)

Personally, I get to know this guy when I bought his book, Jutawan Dari Planet Jupiter 4-5 years back (during my 1st employment)
So, when RC (Resource Centre) announced about the session, I signed up immediately. It's FOC, anyway. Plus, I can take a break from work for 2 hours.. hehehe..

My mission, as the matter of fact, is not to be a millionaire. I just wanted to lead a comfortable life, whatever it takes. If needed be, be a millionaire, perhaps.. Who knows... :-)

5 steps as suggested by Azizi Ali (to be a millionaire, or to have a comfortable life.. whichever you like) :-

1- Pay yourself first
Set aside your montly salary at least 10% (more is better) for yourself before cracking your head to pay off all the debts. You work so hard, so why bother Astro, Celcom, Maxis, Banks etc while you are the first who suppose to receive the money. This is what we call SAVINGS.

2- Create Reserve Fund
You also must have 3 times your salary, readily available anytime you need (this to serve for emergency, uncertainties..lose your job included). Again, more will be better. 3 times already too much huh??

3- Buy Insurance
Needless to elaborate. This applicable for life insurance, as well as your properties, if any.

4- Manage Your Debts
Always give priority the debts with highest interest. Most of the time, it's your CREDIT CARD!! The rest, do not default payment. Or else, you name will appear in CTOS etc. This to ensure your name is clean to take up any loan in future.

5- Buy Assets / Investment
It can be property, (Note: Property can be liability, if location & some other factors overlooked), unit trust, stock market etc..but do not fall into scams. Little finance knowledge needed, perhaps.

The moment he finished his talk, I wonder whether I am up to that challenge or not.

Yes, the issue here..we already failed in point 1, what more to act on the rest. My Goodness..
Am I too late?? No, better late than never.

Azizi himself, was broke during his early days!! A pilot by profession, he earned RM2,000++ in 80's (he was 20++years old) and still in debts every month. Until he used this formula..

Nothing is impossible..

So, prioritise your spending.. This Raya could be the milestone, the first few steps before becoming a millionaire..
Insya-Allah..

Takaful @ Life Insurance: My Story

Life Insurance?No Thanks
Like most of us (I guess), I myself believe that life insurance is good, but yet again, just ignore the importance of it.

In my case, since 2005 I am approached not less than 3 friends who tried to get me signed up. I even sometimes had to avoid them because I have no heart to reject. Although I realized the benefits of taking a life insurance, the main factor refrained me from taking any is the MONEY.

If the policy is one-off payment, maybe I can consider that. However, monthly commitment to mantain the coverage triggered me to think twice. So, along that 3 years (2005 ~ 2007), my priority went to things other than that. (Household, cars & those..)

Signed Up
As life went through, our income is getting 'better' & age is getting older, we already put life insurance coverage in our 2008 budget planning.

So, in Feb 2008 one of my former classmates called me up & offered me takaful product which I believe the best in town. After a few discussions, I agreed to get my wife & I covered, which was dated on 6 March 2008.

Moment of Truth
Then came the faithful event, which led to my cancer diagnosis, on 18 April 2008. Sadly to say, in takaful policy, it stated that there is a grace period of 120 days from the day we sign before we are fully covered officially (on critical illnesses).
Yes, unlucky for me not to get any cents from the coverage. If not, I can be a few thousand richer by now.. :-)
Everything happened for a reason..that is what I believe.

~ to be continued ~