Tips Resipi

Hari ni masuk hari kedua kelas CCP saya untuk bulan Julai Dan hari ni saya belajar tentang National Land Code. Hari ini juga trainer telah mengemukakan satu lagi soalan yang buat saya ketawa besar (satu lagi soalan senang, tapi semua tak tau nak jawab. Hehehe… )

Soalan: Are u Malay or Bumi?

Ada sesiapa yang boleh bantu saya sekali lagi jawab soalan ni?

Hari ni saya ada kelas CCP seperti biasa. Kami belajar tentang cashflow. Sebelum masuk kepada isi yang lebih terperinci, trainer bertanyakan soalan yang sangat mudah, tapi kami semua tak tau nak jawab. Hehe :p

Soalan 1: Kenapa Balance Sheet mesti balance?

Soalan 2: Apa beza Profit dan Cash?

Ada sesiapa yang boleh jawabkan untuk saya?

Kesemua artikel ni saya dapat dari surat-surat pembaca majalah Personal Money, Julai 2007.

Surat 1

In 1996, my husband bought 80,000 units in a unit trust fund at RM1 each, using a bank loan. The price is now 21 sen. He also invested in the stock market and lost money. He has a finance degree. In 2000, I asked him to let me make the investment decisions. I bought books about family finances and subscribed to Personal Money. I learned how to make investments and avoid bad debts. I invested in unit trusts, some in equity funds and some in dividend funds. Recently, I sold a small part of my unit trusts and made an 8% profit in less than a year.

I also bought two houses and rented them out. For emergency purposes, I put some money in Tabung Haji, which gives dividends of over 4%. My husband is proud of me. He says I should have been the one wo obtained the finance degrree!

-A wife, Pahang-

Surat 2

I am the one who makes the investment decissions. My husband is an IT man who thinks that investing is a form of gambling. To win, you must have luck, he says. An economics graduate, I know, there is always a ‘win-win situation’ if we plan well. Eventhough we have different points of view, he trusts me with our investments, be it in the share market, unit trusts, insurance or properties. I have never dissapointed him.

-Anny, Selayang-

Surat 3 (BEST letter)

Being more interested in personal finance, I am the one who gathers information and shortlists suitable unit trusts, stocks and bonds for investment. I then ask my wife for her opinion on the risks and rewards. Her alternative views are very helpful. After much deliberation, we jointly decide on asset allocation. We used this approach two years ago and although I was initially cautious, my wife persuaded me to invest more in an Asia-Pacific-Specific fund and an India-specific fund. Thankfully, listened to her and the funds are currently enjoying 60% and 100% returns respectively!

-Cheah Khuan Yew, Singapore-

Eda: Pada saya, tak kisah la siapa pun yang buat keputusan dalam menguruskan kewangan keluarga masing-masing. Baik suami atau isteri, mahupun kedua-duanya. Yang penting, kedua-duanya mestilah faham dan saling sokong-menyokong dalam setiap keputusan yang dibuat.

Banyak diantara kita yang sudah berkahwin, bercerai kerana masalah ekonomi rumah tangga. Puncanya, kegagalan mereka untuk merancang ekonomi keluarga dengan baik.

Dan saya juga berpendapat, walaupun anda memiliki Ijazah dalam bidang Ekonomi, Perakaunan, Perniagaan, atau Pengurusan Bank dan Kewangan, ia bukanlah suatu jaminan bahawasanya anda memang seorang yang pakar dalam membuat keputusan berkaitan dengan personal financing. Buktinya, kita lihat saja contoh dalam surat pertama di atas.

Saya sendiri yang mempunyai ijazah dalam Ekonomi & Kewangan juga mengakui ilmu pengurusan kewangan peribadi saya masih lagi di tahap yang rendah. Saya masih lagi sering meminta nasihat dan pandangan dari teman rapat saya yang berkelulusan Perundangan! Malah, saya rasa beliau lagi hebat dari saya dalam memberikan pandangan tentang dunia pelaburan, pengurusan kewangan, dan perniagaan (secara jujurnya, saya amat kagumi beliau).

Bagi yang ingin mendirikan rumah tangga, pastikan anda dan pasangan sudah mula merancang masa depan keluarga anda. Fahami objektif / matlamat kewangan yang hendak dicapai mulai sekarang. Tidak menjadi masalah sekiranya bakal suami / isteri anda tidak mempunyai kerja yang tetap (baca: makan gaji) asalkan beliau tahu cara yang terbaik untuk menguruskan ekonomi keluarga anda. Minta pasangan anda jelaskan apa matlamat dan perancangan beliau dalam menguruskan hal ehwal ekonomi kehidupan anda berdua selepas ini.

Sekiranya pasangan hidup anda mempunyai kerja tetap yang bagus sekalipun, tetapi gagal merancang ekonomi keluarga dengan baik, masih tidak tahu menguruskan perbelanjaan keluarga dengan tepat, masih lagi seronok berbelanja menggunakan kad kredit, masih lagi tidak pernah memikirkan untuk membina passive income nya sendiri, saya berpendapat hidup anda atau kita semua belum lagi terjamin Kita masih lagi belum bebas dari bebanan kewangan.

Jadi, bertindak lah sekarang. Penuhilah dada anda dengan seberapa banyak ilmu pengurusan kewangan yang baik. Hadiri seminar-seminar, bengkel-bengkel, atau kelas-kelas pengurusan kewangan yang terdapat banyak disekeliling kita:

1) Bengkel Cashflow 101

2) Seminar Pelabur Bijak SIDC

Kebanyakan kita mempunyai pelbagai jenis hutang. Pinjaman rumah, pinjaman kereta, pinjaman peribadi (untuk belanja kahwin 10 tahun yang lepas), hutang kad kredit dan sebagainya. Memiliki hutang bukan lah suatu perkara yang buruk asalkan anda bijak mengawalnya dan bayar tepat pada waktunya. Malah, dalam Islam sendiri, hukum berhutang itu harus sekiranya mendatangkan manfaat kepada individu. Namun, adalah wajib bagi umat Islam membayar hutang-hutangnya.

Tetapi, harus diingatkan, miliki hutang yang terlalu tinggi boleh mengakibatkan kedudukan kewangan anda tidak sihat. Jadi, ambil masa anda dan tentukan samaada anda dibebani dengan hutang yang terlalu banyak atau tidak. Juga fikirkan adakah memiliki hutang-hutang ini merupakan tindakan bijak anda atau sebaliknya.

Satu cara paling mudah dan agak berkesan (bagi saya) untuk mengira beban hutang anda dengan mengira sendiri berapakah debt-to-income ratio anda. Atau, berapakah jumlah hutang bagi setiap ringgit pendapatan anda. Anda boleh mengira ratio ini dengan menjumlahkan kedua-dua jenis hutang, good debt vs. bad debt, ataupun hanya memasukkan bad debt sahaja. Dan saya, akan bantu anda mengira ratio ini dalam kedua-dua situasi:

Senario 1: Tanpa Good Debt

Pendapatan sebulan = RM3,000

Pinjaman kereta = RM350
Pinjaman rumah = RM500
Hutang kad kredit = RM300
JUMLAH PINJAMAN = RM1,100

Debt-to-income ratio = RM1,100 / RM3,000
= 0.367 x 100
= 36.7 %

Interpretasi : Anda telah menghabiskan 36.7% daripada jumlah pendapatan anda, hanya untuk bad debt sahaja! Atau, dengan bahasa yang lebih mudah lagi, bagi setiap RM100 pendapatan anda, anda telah habiskan RM36.70 untuk hutang-hutang anda sahaja. Still good?

Bilamana kita membincangkan tentang hutang / pinjaman, samaada good debt atau bad debt, makin rendah hutang yang anda miliki makin baik. Bad debt yang melebihi 10% boleh dikatakan terlalu tinggi bagi setiap individu dan ini menunjukkan anda memang dibebani dengan hutang yang terlalu tinggi. Dalam senario ini, menunjukkan anda memiliki bad debt yang terlalu banyak!

Senario 2: Good debt + Bad debt

Jumlah pendapatan (gaji + sewa rumah + dividen syer + komisyen bisnes) = RM5,000

Jumlah hutang (jumlah bad debt seperti di atas + good debt) = RM2,000

Seperti biasa, bahagikan jumlah hutang anda dengan jumlah pendapatan yang anda miliki (jangan lupa darabkan dengan 100) untuk mendapatkan debt-to-income ratio yang baru.

Debt-to-income ratio yang terbaik (termasuk bad debt dan good debt) adalah 36% ke bawah. Berhati-hati, sekiranya ratio anda menunjukkan 40% ke atas, menandakan anda perlu membuat sesuatu terhadap kedudukan kewangan anda.

P/s: Nantikan artikel seterusnya untuk mengetahui apa itu bad debt dan good debt

“Everyone needs a little pampering now and then. Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean you have to go broke”

Personal care items are important to everyone, and there are ways to minimize the amount of money you spend. Consider these possibilities:

1. Buy low-cost cosmetics and hygiene products

Generic or low-cost cosmetic and hygiene products work the same as their more expensive counterparts. You don’t have to pay for the packaging.

2. Do your own manicures and pedicures

Do you live for your regular manicure or pedicure? Some people can’t do without them, but if you think about how much you’re spending, you might reconsider. Doing it yourself will not only save you money, but you’ll also be able to sit in the privacy of your own home while your nails dry. If you can’t imagine doing this yourself, find a friend who’ll trade manicures with you.

3. Learn to trim your hair

If you keep your hair short, you probably find yourself at the barber or salon several times each year. If you just need a trim, you may be able to do it yourself and avoid some of the trips. While you’re there, do you sometimes pick up a bottle of shampoo or styling gel just because the stylist said it would be good for you? You could save all that money, including what you pay for a tip, by learning to trim your own hair and buying less expensive drug store hair care products.

4. Resolve to live with gray hair

If you’ve been dyeing your hair so the gray won’t show, you’re spending excess money that could be used elsewhere. Even if you do it yourself instead of going to a salon, it’s still an expensive proposition.

5. Cancel your gym membership

It may be helpful to work out with other people and use state-of-the-art equipment, but it can be quite expensive to maintain a gym membership. Instead, you might exercise outside at parks or local schools, or inside using an exercise video or climbing stairs.

6. Get regular check-ups

Staying healthy is typically a lot less expensive then getting healthy when you’re already sick. Having regular check-ups is a way to ensure you’re staying healthy, and gives you an opportunity to address minor problems before they become major ones.

7. Quit your habit

If you’re like some people, you may have a fondness for certain costly activities. Do you smoke cigarettes? Drink coffee on the way to work? Grab a few beers on the weekend? All of these things cost money, and you might consider breaking the habit or imposing some limits in order to control your expenses

Selamat mencuba!

“You don’t have to skimp on clothing just because you’re on a budget. Find out ways to save money and still look fashionable”

Ada orang kata “biar papa asal bergaya”. Ada jugak yang menyangkal kata-kata ini. Biar tak ada gaya, janji duit ada. Bagi saya, bergaya itu tidak salah, Cuma perlu berpada-pada.

Membeli baju baru boleh dikatakan sangat membebankan. Terutama kepada keluarga yang sedang membesar. Dengan kos sara hidup yang agak tinggi sekarang ni, kebanyakan ibu bapa agak tersepit bila mengenangkan rengekan anak yang inginkan baju baru. Begitu juga bila mengenangkan keperluan diri sendiri yang sudah hampir setahun tidak membeli baju baru.

Berikut beberapa tips yang boleh dikongsi bersama untuk berjimat dalam membeli pakaian:

1.Periksa almari baju anda sebelum keluar membeli belah

Pastikan anda intai dulu almari baju sebelum keluar ke pusat membeli-belah. Hey! Make sure you don’t buy something twice.

2.Tidak berbelanja bukan pada waktu karnival

Apa salahnya jika kita memakai baju yang dibeli pada harga diskaun. Boleh dikatakan setiap bulan pasti ada sahaja pusat-pusat membeli belah yang mengadakan krnival jualan masing-masing. Maka, rebutlah peluang ini untuk membeli pakaian berjenama anda dengan harga yang lebih murah. Kawan-kawan sekeliling anda tidak akan tahu sekiranya beg Gucci anda berharga 70% jauh lebih murah dari harga asal (oh.. saya sangat suka bila Jusco Member Card Day)

3.Buat baju sendiri

Mungkin ramai yang tidak menyedari, membuat baju sendiri jauh lebih murah kos nya dari membeli baju siap atau mengupah orang lain untuk menjahitnya. Selain itu, ia merupakan salah satu cara yang menarik untuk menonjolkan diri anda. Bayangkan jika ada yang memuji pakaian anda, maka anda boleh berkata dengan bangganya, “hey.. baju ini saya buat sendiri tau!”

Kos upah membuat sepasang baju kurung mencecah RM50. Bayangkan jika keluarga anda mempunyai 5 anak perempuan termasuk seorang isteri. Sebagai persediaan menyambut hari raya, masing-masing memerlukan 3 pasang baju kurung. Secara tidak sedar anda sudah menghabiskan hampir RM1000 semata-mata untuk baju mereka. Wow! Jadi, mula la fikir-fikirkan menjahit baju sendiri untuk keluarga anda

Selamat mencuba!

Cerita ini bukan saya yang karang. Cuma copy-n-paste sahaja Cerita yang baik saya rasa untuk dikongsi bersama anda semua.

by: Carolyn James

What seems like a century ago, I left school and joined a well-known High Street Bank. In those days working as a bank clerk was a well-established route for many school leavers and perceived to be a proper job with prospects. It wasn’t long before I became disillusioned with the world of banking and sought a change of job. In complete contrast to my previous job, I became a clerk in the local hospital dealing with the injured and infirm, but it was a role that I found strangely interesting and rewarding. In today’s parlance, it is known as job satisfaction.

My career progressed rapidly and after working in a number of different departments I became Admissions Officer of a major regional hospital where I soon gained valuable front line experience. There is nothing more conducive to honing your powers of communication, persuasion, resilience and empathy than dealing with people when they are at their most vulnerable. Working in an Accident and Emergency Department definitely puts one’s life completely into perspective and is like being part of a TV medical soap opera.

My career came to halt when I met my husband and moved away from the area. I have to admit that back in the early 70’s marrying and having the obligatory 2. 4 children was still the acceptable norm, although liberation for women was gathering pace. Being a conservative soul, I slipped into the mainstream and before I knew it I was the wife of a career man and the mother of two children living in a three-bed semi. Returning to work was not a consideration and this proved to be a sensible decision as my husband was posted to four different locations throughout the UK in the space of 6 years.

At the end of this period, the children were at school, our relocation days were over and we were finally able to establish some roots and settle down as a family. It was time to start considering my own needs and to plan a return to the mainstream work environment. This was not an easy thing to do after almost seven years of raising a family, but I plucked up courage and found myself back in the health care sector as a part time receptionist at my local doctor’s surgery, a role that I found very satisfying. My confidence increased and my job gave me a focus outside of my immediate family. I regained some independence, earned my own money and met a new circle of friends. At last I had an opportunity to talk about something other than children and I felt that the old grey matter was once again being stimulated!

After a while, the novelty of working in a doctor’s surgery wore off and I felt that I needed a fresh challenge. At the same time my husband also felt that he had had enough of corporate life and wanted to do something completely different. For a couple that had had a very structured life, the crossroads seemed to be particularly difficult to negotiate. After two years had passed and a couple of false starts, I decided that I wanted to pursue my own business interest with a little bit of help from my husband. He had pursued a portfolio career and had the time and expertise to help me develop my plans and make sure that I was on the right tracks.

The idea was quite simple and was borne out of my own frustration of finding quality lighting products locally for the home. Although we didn’t live in an isolated area, we still had to travel at least forty miles to find a lighting outlet that sold, what I considered to be, quality lighting. Upon further investigation, I found that there are many areas in the UK that are not well served with lighting shops and therefore I felt that there must be an opportunity to fill this gap in the market.

Once this need had been identified, the next problem was where to start. Opening my own shop was an option, but the economics of doing so were really not that attractive. Lighting is space hungry and the overheads associated with running a shop can be phenomenal. The other drawback was that whilst one shop would satisfy a few people, it didn’t really address the fundamental issue of providing a wide range of quality of lighting to as many people as possible as conveniently as possible. The answer lay on the Internet and via a mail order system, where people would not be bound by geographical or time constraints.

As the concept developed, I managed to enlist the cooperation of a couple of lighting manufacturers. This was not easy, since there are few suppliers who are prepared to take time to listen to your idea, let alone help you when you are not able to offer them any tangible evidence that you can deliver in any way, shape or form. Having secured the supply of products with David Hunt Lighting and Le Dauphin Lighting, I needed to find out how to set up a website and develop a mail order catalogue. I actually began by looking for an accountant, which is testimony to my optimism about the business empire that I was planning to build over the coming years! Within two meetings I had been introduced to a web designer and a marketing company, both of which were based locally. The brakes were off and before long I was immersed in a completely new world. After months of contemplation and planning, The Light Company (Direct) Ltd was formed and was rapidly taking shape. It was a further six months until all the pieces of the jigsaw came together and, on the 19 January 2004, the website was launched and the mail order catalogues delivered.

As with many new business ventures, the early days are the most difficult and I am spending all of my time exploring ways in which I can make people aware of the extensive range of contemporary and classical decorative lighting that is on offer. I have already decided to open a showroom that will double up as my office design studio and mail order room. Although compact, the showroom will be far more suitable than the lock up on an industrial estate that I am currently using. It is a leap of faith, but having come this far, it is one that I feel has to be taken.

It is certainly a long way from the Accident and Emergency Department. I have swapped a career in the NHS to become an entrepreneur, even though I do not believe that I have the archetypical qualities of such. I am still nervous about taking risks and I still worry about what the future may hold, but my course is set and there is no backtracking. Although completely unconnected, my years working in the health sector have proved to be useful particularly in dealing with customers and suppliers. It seems that good communication, combined with the ability to deal positively with people who are demanding across a whole spectrum of issues and events, are distinct attributes irrespective of your industry sector. In a perverse sort of way, this is the aspect of the business that turns me on and which fuels my enthusiasm to succeed.

Komen saya:

Setiap masalah tu adalah peluang bagi setiap usahawan