eBay Flooded With Brittany Murphy Memorabilia

Soon after the shocking news of Hollywood actress Brittany Murphy’s sudden death at 32 years old a few days ago, eBay has been flooded with Brittany Murphy memorabilia from so-called fans who are trying to cash in on her death. As the saying goes, strike while the iron is hot.

While Brittany Murphy was a very pretty lady, I have to say that even though I watched Clueless years ago, Brittany Murphy made no impression on me. Alicia Silverstone didn’t either. Perhaps Clueless was basically a very forgettable movie.

Brittany Murphy also starred in 8 Mile with Eminem and lent her voice to the character Luanne Platter in King of the Hill, both of which I did not watch. Perhaps I should watch them now that she is no longer with us.

Not A Time To Be Choosy

Working for myself, I certainly am not envious of my friends who have recently lost their employment. It's a very difficult time for them because it is taking them long months to look for a new job. A friend commented that now is not the time to be choosy and many of these people affected by the economic downturn have to settle for a lower position and smaller paycheck.

A friend who has been holding finance jobs all his working life now has to settle for a sales job. He said that finance and sales jobs are two totally different jobs but he has no choice but to adapt to a new job scope and environment and adapt to it fast too!

Really, looking at how stressed out they are, I am so glad that i am out of the rat race!

Maybank New Bonus Fixed Deposit Rates

The banking industry is a really competitive business. I get a call almost every month from my banks trying to sell me one savings or investment product or another. If not, it's one contest or another which makes me deposit more money into my account than intended.

Logging into my Maybank2U account today, I came across an announcement of new bonus Fixed Deposit rates offered by Maybank whereby we will receive 0.25% - 0.38% higher interest rate than Board Rate. Apparently this is a limited time offer and the minimum deposit is RM25,000 of fresh funds.

New Bonus Fixed Deposit Rates
7-Month Tenure - 0.25% + Prevailing Board Rate = 2.35% p.a.
8-Month Tenure - 0.35% + Prevailing Board Rate = 2.45% p.a.
9-Month Tenure - 0.38% + Prevailing Board Rate = 2.48% p.a.

The current prevailing Board Rate for these tenures is only 2.10% p.a. The difference may be slight but of course, the more you deposit, the bigger difference you see. Still, I hope that the Board Rate would go above 3% p.a. soon.

Building Houses As Usual

My friend, Paul, is an architect-cum-contractor. I asked him if business was affected due to the slower economy and he said that at first, it was but it is slowly picking up again. However, he said that his architecture side of business continues to be slow but it is his construction business that has seen a recovery.

Paul explained that the reason is because homeowners could save on the cost of building a new house by buying a home plan instead of having one drawn from scratch. Of course, not everyone likes to have a house that's similar to his neighbor's but what are the chances of two homes side by side with the same design when there are so many house plans to choose from? Check out the wide selection of plans at www.HousePlansandMore.com of HDA, Inc. and you will know what I am talking about. Besides, it is still cheaper just making changes to an existing plan.

Earlier, I checked out the website of HDA, Inc. on their house and cottage plans out of curiosity even though I have no plans to buy any yet but I have to say that I am thoroughly impressed with the quality and standard of design and architecture I believe it would not be difficult for to find a dream home here.

US Dollar Hits 3-month High Against Euro

Good news for those of us who earn US Dollars. After being lacklustre for the past month, the US Dollar is finally showing signs of some recovery these past few days.

The above graph* shows the past month's historical exchange rate between the Ringgit (MYR) against the US Dollar (USD) from 18th November, 2009 to 17th December, 2009 whereby you could actually see it touching a low of 3.36 on 25th November, 2009 and hitting a high of 3.44 on 12th December, 2009.

Of course, a strong US Dollar isn't something good for those who have to spend the Dollar, either because of business, education or travel but for those who earn it, of course this is great!

For someone like me who earns and spends USD, the gain or loss from the exchange rate is slight. It all depends on my own timing. I guess one could call it "luck". Still, I prefer it if the USD is a lot stronger! Am I dreaming?

* courtesy of http://www.exchange-rates.org/

Skin & Bones

I bumped into an old friend a couple of days ago and was surprised to see that she is just like a bag of bones. We have lost touch for some years but even back then, she was very skinny. We used to joke that a gust of wind could blow her away. While she was skinny previously, she is gaunt now. Not slim but gaunt. She puts the blame on a hectic lifestyle.

I think my friend needs to beef herself up, perhaps by hitting the gym or taking bodybuilding supplements. Slim is nice but gaunt, with bones poking out all over, isn't. I don't know if she would take up my suggestion. Perhaps I should tell her that guys don't like bony girls. They like girls with some curves, right?

Dell Lays Off 700 In Penang, Malaysia

Dell, the maker of personal computes, will lay off 700 employees in the Penang plant in Malaysia beginning January 2010. This exercise will run until June, 2010. 700 account for 16% of the total workforce in Malaysia including those with Dell in the capital city.

I have a few friends who are with Dell in Penang. Even though they are still uncertain of their position, they are quite optimistic that even if they opt for the Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS), they will be duly compensated and they will have no problems securing a job with another organization, thanks to their experience with Dell. Moreover, my friends are still young and age is on their side.

I guess when the New Year rolls around, they will know for sure who will leave and who will stay. In any case, I wish them all the best!

Shopping Conveniently At Home

You wouldn't believe me if I told you that I have only stepped out of my house once these past seven months. It's due to unforeseen circumstances and not by design. Frankly, if you asked me last year if I would be able to live without going out, I would say no but these past seven months, I have been able to pay bills and shop online for almost everything that I didn't miss my shopping trips to the mall. In fact, I find it a lot more convenient shopping online because I get to compare prices easily!

Over these past seven months, I have bought a lot of home medical supplies online. Taking care of an invalid 24/7 at home, I am not able to go out to get them even though there are two pharmacies in my residential area but I guess unless they do home delivery, they wouldn't be getting my business any time soon.

Susan Boyle Unexpectedly Big On eBay

Susan Boyle is a real winner even if she did not win the grand prize of Britain's Got Talent. Although we all know what a star she has become, I have to admit that I am caught by surprise by the influx of pirated Susan Boyle merchandise on eBay. But I guess, these pirates are only trying to meet the demand of consumers.

However, if you are thinking of cashing in on Susan Boyle's popularity by selling Susan Boyle fakes on eBay, watch out. Simon Cowell, whose company has signed on Susan Boyle for two albums, has warned that he would bring the law to anyone caught trying to take advantage of Susan Boyle in the pirate market.

Being entrepreneurial is great but one must draw a line between right and wrong. Well, I always say that making money is not difficult. It's only difficult when one makes money the legal way. Hahaha!

2010 Car Reviews

My friend told me that he is waiting for his year-end bonus so that he could purchase a new car. He said he hasn't decided which model to purchase yet but has spent the past week reading up on car reviews of 2010 models on the internet. Actually, I too have been reading up on car reviews even though I have no plans to buy a new car. I can’t afford one yet but I do like to keep myself updated.

I really like the design of the 2010 ford taurus. I have to say that although it looks a lot like the 2009 model, this one, with its slight changes to its design, looks sleeker and is definitely a head turner. My friend calls it a "chick magnet" and I think he's right!

While going through a handful of 2010 car models, I came across the 2010 Nissan Cube. It is not only a very cute car but also looks very spacious and would make a good family vacation car. Granted, it is not as spacious as an MPV but Nissan Cube is something different. I guess you have to agree with me that there are way too many MPVs on the road already!

Oh yes, I have to remember to show my brother-in-law chevy colorado pics. He is looking for a pickup to replace his present vehicle and I think he would love the Chevy Colorado. It looks rugged enough!

Christmas In A Castle

How about spending Christmas Day with your family and closest friends in a castle? yes, you read right. Access to Warwick Castle on Christmas Day is on auction on eBay currently with the starting bid at £25,000. At this time of writing, the bid has increased to £26,100 with three bids only. Auction ends in two days' time.

While £25,000 may seem like a fortune to a lot of us, I guess when one already has many things, they could afford to buy an "experience" and Christmas in a castle would definitely be an unforgettable experience. Just look at the amazing castle on sprawling grounds and the 25ft Christmas tree!

If you think about it, £25,000 is really not that expensive since a party of thirty is allows, which means that the cost of hosting each person is only slightly more than £1,000. And this sum would include meals, drinks and accommodation!

In addition, 100% of the proceeds from this auction will benefit Merlin's MagicWand, a charitable organization that aims to create a magical experience for children around the world who are seriously ill, disabled or disadvantaged.

Source: eBay

Holiday Ceramic Projects

It's the school holidays right now and all my friends who have school going children are pulling out their hair thinking of ways to keep their children occupied and entertained. The weather is so bad lately that they couldn't spend their days outdoors. Most of my friends tell me that all they are doing is to keep the children occupied with cartoons on TV and computer games.

I think that a good way to keep them occupied is to introduce them to ceramic projects. I used to play with clay a lot when I was younger but because I never had any proper lessons, I never made anything that could see the light of day.

Ceramic projects are inexpensive yet take up a lot of time and allow us to be as creative as we could be. Imagine, with a piece of clay dough, we are free to mold it into clay bodies or any other shape that we fancy.

If you are planning to make pottery, you would need to purchase electric wheels. It would also make a good investment if you are serious with your ceramic projects but no matter what projects you are planning to make, remember that for glazes, only lead free pottery glazes would do.

LoudLaunch - Compensating bloggers for their unbiased opinions, reviews, and analysis.

Chinese Online Shoppers

The China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) recently reported that more than 87 million Chinese (people in China) shopped online this year, and increase by 24 million people from last year, or an increase of 38.9 percent year-on-year.

Actually, I am not surprised that there are so many Chinese online shoppers because of the magnitude of China's population. In fact, many of my Chinese speaking friends in Malaysia are also starting to shop on China eCommerce sites like Taobao, an online marketplace similar to eBay. Needless to say, these friends used to shop on eBay and are not unfamiliar with online shopping or even online auctions.

What surprised me is in this same report is the average online shopper profile. A Chinese online shopper is said to be either a student or white-collar worker between the ages of 18 to 30 with a monthly income of 1,000 Yuan to 3,000 Yuan. That's ONLY US$146 to US$439 per month! And they shop so much?

And perhaps, that's also the reason that they shop online so much since shopping online may be cheaper than shopping in a local store!

Delayed "Wedding"

My sister reminded me that she will be celebrating her first wedding anniversary at the end of the month and once again lamented that they did not have a chance to go through a proper wedding. One year has passed and they still haven't found time to go through a wedding ceremony. They do have the papers to show but without the ceremony, it doesn't feel like they are married, according to my sister.

Since they did not go for a honeymoon either, I suggested that they do it this year. At the same time, they could book a destination wedding where they don't have to organize anything except to present themselves. My sister told me that destination weddings are very popular among her friends and they did suggest the same to her as well.

My sister may take up our suggestion but it’s too bad that her family will not be around to witness the moment.

Violation of Trademark and Intellectual Property

Off and on, Lelong administrators will issue a warning about violation of certain trademark and/or intellectual property. Recently, they have an alert for sellers of "Sony" products. Sellers can only mention the name Sony and other Sony trademarks if they are selling genuine products. If Sellers are not selling a Sony product, they are not allowed to mention Sony anywhere in their listing, certainly cannot mention "Not Sony, Not Ericsson".

Lelong has to be very strict with its sellers as these brand names are very diligent in monitoring the marketplace. After all, they are obligated to protect their brand name and reputation. They are multi-billion dollar concerns so it's understandable.

Should a seller be caught violating trademark and/or intellectual properties, his trading account will be suspended. A repeat offender will see his account banned totally. Do know that should the law be used against such a seller, Lelong will have no means to protect his identity and will fully co-operate with authorities, unfortunately for violators!

When Traffic Won't Come Naturally

When I first started an eCommerce website, I was very naive. I knew nothing about search engine optimization or marketing. I was a little desperate when traffic did not come and I did not clinch the sales that I thought I would, with an independent store. I know that traffic to my website could not be compared to what I enjoyed selling on eBay but honestly, looking at the statistics, I was a little disappointed and lost.

I subsequently had the idea that starting a blog to promote my own products and linking to my own store would help improve web traffic, hence sales. I guess I had the concept right except that it was a lot of work and consumed too much time and energy. It was all right with me since I was doing it full time.

Although much of what I know today I learned by trial and error, I would suggest anyone starting an online store to seek professional seo services. It took me quite a while and lots work on the back end to see traffic starting to trickle in and I am sure not everyone has as much time to spare as I did, or even the energy to waste. If one could buy such services, why not?

Looking back, I would rather spend time working on the front end of my online store and concentrate on what I do best; sales and customer service. Technicalities are certainly not my cup of tea and if I had known that there are companies that would take on the task of search engine optimization for me, I certainly would hand over the job to them!

*** This post has been sponsored.

Adam Lambert Autographed *For Your Entertainment* CD on eBay For Charity

If you are a fan of glam rocker, Adam Lambert of American Idol fame, this is probably a good chance to get your hands on an autographed CD of Adam Lambert's debut album, For Your Entertainment.

There are a total of three autographed CDs on eBay only and at the time of writing, there are already more than 30 bids on EACH auction, driving the price above US$350 EACH! How much would you pay for an autographed CD of Adam Lambert?

100% of proceeds will go towards Adam Lambert's choice of charity, DonorsChoose.org. Perhaps this is the reason fans of Adam Lambert willingly pay through their teeth for these CDs! It's all for a good cause, aye?

Visit Adam Lambert autographed CD auction page HERE!

Building Self-Confidence With Better Skin

Looking at me now, I don't think one could tell that I spent half my life searching for the right skincare product. During my search, not only did I spend a small fortune on a multitude of products, I also wasted a lot of time and worst of all, the effects of acne shows on my face.

This past year, I have been rather fortunate that no new acne has popped up. Perhaps it is because I finally found a product suitable for my skin type or perhaps it is age that caused my hormones to stabilize but I still bear acne scars that I would pay anything to get rid of.

It's like searching for a solution for acne all over again but even as I have tried as many products on the promise to smoothen my skin to no avail, I still continue to do so without giving up hope. I know that it's out there except that I haven't found it.

This morning, I was introduced to this acne scar treatment system, called ZenMed. Although I have not heard of it before or know of anyone who has used it successfully, I will willingly try it out. It's inexpensive and if it works, then great. I would love to look in the mirror one day without seeing those all too familiar scars on my face. Perhaps this is it. Never try, never know.

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Tesco Outlet

I read with a little amusement that Tesco UK has gone the eBay way by setting up a micro site with eBay and calling it Tesco Outlet. Here, they will be selling consumer electronics and electrical products that were once available in-store but have discontinued. Shoppers will also be able to buy 'customer returns' online. According to Tesco, these 'customer returns' have never been used. All items come with 12 month warranty.

What amuses me is that if a person has bought an electronic or electrical product from a hypermarket once, I believe one experience would be enough to put someone off for life. I don't intend to touch on this in detail but I'll say that while I look for cheap deals all the time, I also take quality into consideration. Warranty means nothing to me because when I purchase something, I want to be able to USE it and not waste time running around claiming warranty or even getting an exchange for a similar sub-par quality product.

Simple Home Decorating

I did a budget calculation the other day and realized that at this point, I could only afford a low to medium cost apartment in the capital city. The horrible part is that the size of such an apartment is only about four to five times the size of my bedroom at home. I wonder if I would feel claustrophobic!

But the advantage of living in a smaller home is that it's cheaper to upkeep and maintain and I like the fact that it's easy to decorate. I have plans to install simple wrought-iron lamps like those from Hubberton Forge. They are not too elaborate and yet has a classy air to them.

Of course, furnishing for the whole apartment has to gel too. The good thing about owning my home is that I dictate how I want to decorate it without interference from other family members!

PayPal Wishlist - Facebook Application

A couple of days ago, a friend on my Facenbook contact list invited me to install a application called PayPal Wishlist. You know, when it comes to stuff like PayPal and online banking websites, I am extra careful. I clicked IGNORE on his invitation and promptly forgot about it.

Today, by chance I visited a PayPal sister website and noticed a link to the same PayPal Wishlist Facebook application. Now I know that it's an authentic application by PayPal.

I don't really know how this application works except that we are to create a wishlist and share it with our friends. Apparently, the more we share, the more we earn and we will have the chance to earn up to US$100 by the end of the contest period.

Unfortunately, not everyone could participate as this contest is only open to PayPal users from India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam. Every Facebook user can install the application, though.

I have installed it and invited a couple of friends from the above-stated countries. Let's see how much I will earn. I don't have much faith, though!

Diamond Rings At Wholesale Prices

A friend, Canny, keeps lamenting that she has not received any wedding ring from her husband even though they have been married for ten years already. She didn't have an engagement ring as well. While she is proud of the fact that she did not spend a small fortune on her wedding, she still harbors hopes of receiving a wedding ring. Sometimes, she would joke that she was still single because she has no wedding ring to show her marital status, but I guess she was just trying to drop loud hints on her husband.

I guess I have to tell her husband, who is also a friend, that he could buy a diamond wedding ring online cheaply. To make up for the looooong delay, he needs a ring with a really large diamond and it would help if he shopped at an online store that sells Diamond Engagement Rings and wedding rings at wholesale prices. They could price their diamond rings cheaply because they are the manufacturers.

Even though I have no plans to buy any diamonds or diamond rings, I still took the time to browse through the website of Adiamor. I guess the glitter of the diamonds is just too captivating! Hopefully, Canny would finally get her diamond wedding ring so that I no longer need to listen to her lament aloud that she doesn’t have one.

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Maxis Dividend For 2009

I read in the papers yesterday that Maxis has declared dividend for the year 2009 at 6 sen per share. I don't remember the exact words and this 6 sen per share may even be wrong, if my memory failed me.

Whatever it is, conservatively, we should be getting $60 per 1000 shares. So little? Frankly, I was expecting something to the tune of $500 for 1000 shares. I hope that my calculation is wrong! Or better yet, I hope that I have more capital to buy even more Maxis shares! LOL But that's not possible right now. SIGH!

But even at 6 sen, it is better than none. Whatever amount I get would mean that the price of my Maxis shares is even cheaper than RM4.75. I was afraid that I would have to wait for another 12 months to reap the dividend. LOL

New Brand Name

Davis, a friend who also runs his own ecommerce store, told me that he has plans to start selling his own brand of clothes. Davis actually started selling brand name watches but he thinks that he should diversify. Perhaps he thinks that he could make better business selling clothes than watches! The watches he sells are very expensive so he would like to capture the market of an entirely different group of internet shoppers.

Davis asked me if I could give him a couple of suggestions for his new clothing line. He needs a new name but I told him that I wouldn't be able to help him. I said that he should consult a branding or a Naming Company. I am sure they would be able to come out with something. The reason I didn’t help him was because I also have plans to start my own clothing line and thought that there would be a conflict of interest.

My sister asked me why I don’t joint venture with Davis since we are both planning to go into the same business. I have actually thought about it after Davis proposed but after much thought, I decided that Davis is not the kind of partner I like. Davis is a good person but to be a business partner, one really has to be able to gel.

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Rampant Car Thefts

A friend, who lives in Kuching, related to me that there has been a spate of car thefts in Kuching City targeting Perodua Kembara. She said that her family car, a Kembara, was targeted two times; once last year and once this year.

Where I live, the top stolen car is Toyota Harrier but this doesn't mean that owners of smaller cars are spared. Even Perodua Kancil cars are stolen as well. It really doesn't matter if a car is big or small, old or new. If people can snatch handbags, they can steal cars too.

I guess the economy is so bad, there are so many jobless people, they have to resort to stealing and snatching to make ends meet. Of course, car thefts involve a syndicate, it's not something that could be done by one or two people.

The scary thing, my friend told me, was that these thieves would first steal the keyhole of the car first and they would then make a duplicate key, come back to steal the CAR! My, how much trouble these people go through. They must be making a lot of money from this activity.

Major Book Fair

A couple of friends told me that they have just returned from the Big Bad Wolf Books book fair and they had to carry their book purchases in boxes. I think they just want to make me jealous of them. I so would like to go too but can't because of commitments at home so I am not able to travel to the capital city.

These friends told me that they managed to buy new magazines, good quality foreign travel magazines, at only $3 each while new novels were only $8 each. There were books sold at other prices as well, of course. They just told me the cheapest prices. My, am I envious of them!

My friends said that they abused their credit cards after their cash ran out. It actually wasn't money that limited their purchases. It was their inability to carry anymore boxes of books. I think that if they bought anymore, they would need a Moving Company on standby to help them send their books home.

I think it’s a blessing in disguise as well that I didn’t manage to visit the book fair of I would bust my budget again and then have a huge problem on my hands trying to figure out how to cart those books home!

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No Easy Money

Jason, a long time friend, told me that since losing his job, he has been speculating shares and betting on race horses. You know, this guy has a terrible gambling habit since he was young even though he held a really high post in a multi-national company, until he lost it recently.

Even with his high pay cheque, he was still always short of money and when he lost his job suddenly, he was in a difficult time because he did not have savings. Yes, no savings DESPITE his high pay! And now, he is not even bothering to look for a job but speculate in shares and bet in horses, two extremely high risk investments.

I helped him to monitor his stocks on KLSE and NASDAQ for a few days over these past couple of weeks just to see how the markets trend but after so much trouble, I found that he did not gain anything. That's because he hasn't sold his holdings. Still, even if he did, he would only have gained US$20. That's for all the energy spent monitoring the market at ungodly hours!

If Jason thought that he could find easy money then I think that he's so wrong. I wonder why he doesn't realize that even after going through some really difficult time!

New Restaurant Business Venture

My friend, Amy, and her husband, just took over a Japanese restaurant in the Boston area. It's funny that although they are both Koreans, and used to run a Korean restaurant, they are now bosses of a Japanese restaurant. The husband is a trained Japanese chef, luckily.

Anyway, Amy said that they had to look for a Boston Moving Company to help them move their utensils from their recently closed Korean restaurant to their new Japanese restaurant. There were not many things to move, though, because of the different furnishings. Japan and Korea may be just neighbors but their cultures are surprisingly different.

Actually, Amy, who is also my sister’s friend, had asked if my sister would like to joint venture with them. My sister had to decline because if she were to invest in the restaurant, she would have to do it full time, which means that she would have to leave her job. At this point, my sister said she cannot afford to leave her job even though she wants to be a boss as well!

However, running a business is very risky and has many uncertainties, especially now when people are trying their best not to eat out. For Amy and her husband, I guess they have no choice since their Korean restaurant closed.

*** This post has been sponsored.

RM450 Refund On Maxis IPO From MIH Arrived

The long awaited check from Malaysian issuing House (MIH) has arrived this morning. This is actually the balance from the application of Maxis IPO, where we sent in RM5.20 but the IPO of Maxis was subsequently adjusted to RM4.75 only, hence, we were returned the extra of RM450 for 1000 shares.

The arrival of this cheque took almost two weeks from the day that Maxis was listed. I didn't wait for it, actually, but a couple of friends kept asking me when they will be getting back their cheques. I just told them to be patient that it will arrive sooner or later. I can imagine all the red tape since Maxis IPO was oversubscribed by I don't remember how many times now.

Anyway, I had felt that RM5.20 for Maxis IPO was too expensive and I know that many people thought so too. Luckily, the price was adjusted to RM4.75, a more attractive price to me and I am happy that I decided to apply for it and had the luck to be successful in my ballot.

Cutting Costs

Philip, a friend who runs an architectural firm with a few branches, told me that he's seriously considering closing a couple of his offices to consolidate his business and as a cost cutting measure. He said that he should have done so earlier but thought that he could withstand the financial turmoil but it looks like his industry is badly affected as well. Of course, when people have less expendable income, who would want to spend money on renovation or construction?

At the moment, Philip said he is calculating his costs and the ways to lower them. If the cost cutting measures do not work, then he has no choice but to close down a couple of offices. Well, I don't even know why he opened so many in the first place. He would have to look for a Boston Moving company to help him with the move.

I joked with Philip that he could operate his architecture business from home. This is what another friend of mine is doing. He’s also an architect and he works from home. He told me that his operating cost is really low and he relishes the time flexibility that working from home offers. I think Philip should seriously consider this option if all else fails.

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Unexpected Pay Cut

Many of my friends are earning just enough, they tell me they would not be able to manage should an unexpected bill arrive. They say they probably would have to resort to cash advance on their credit card or even a payday loan.

The scary part is that these people are not low wage earners. I would say they do draw a comfortable salary and would have no problems bringing up a small family on that amount. Yet, they find it difficult to live on their salary and I think they would go into a financial crisis should they suffer a pay cut.

A friend told me that his son had to take out an advance from him when his salary was cut. It was not a big cut, just a small percentage and yet, he said that unexpected cut caused him much financial distress and had to look for backup from his father.

I guess it all boils down to poor financial management. Back in those days when there were not this many distractions and temptations, entire families lived on such pay without problems. Now, many of us always find ourselves short of money. The problem is, we don't even know where we have spent the money on!

Moving Home

Paul's friend says that much to her chagrin, she has decided to move back with her parents. Westerners are really different from people in the East. We have no problems living with our parents, in fact, we are encouraged to do that, to care for them in their old age but Westerners, they get out of the nest as soon as they could and think it's an embarrassment to still be living with their parents when they are adults. I guess it's their way of being independent.

Anyway, this lady says that even though she hates it, she has no choice, because she is facing foreclosure on her home. Right now, she is looking for reliable Boston Movers to help her with her possessions before she loses everything in the house as well. Yes, I've read that this happens so I guess she just wants to make sure that even though the house may be taken away from her, at least her other possessions aren't.

Paul told me that this lady friend is only one of the many people facing a similar situation no thanks to the recent financial meltdown which affected many people. It really is too scary a thought to think that if one loses her job, she loses her home too.

*** This post has been sponsored.

Running Up Huge Debts

I recently read a survey report that says that people in my age group are running up huge debts. The majority of these people are women, unfortunately. A lot of them are working professionals with good pay and single, some are still living with their parents, sort of like me.

The problem is that they also spend a good chunk of their monthly salary repaying debts; debts with high interest rates like credit cards, store cards and even payday loans. No, this isn't like me.

As far as I know, the two major loans that we have to shoulder are housing and car loans though some people are still repaying their student loan. And I think it is a concern if one overspent and have to resort to cash advance or payday loans to make ends meet. I think most of us know that once an advance has been taken out, one would be caught in a catching game, except that it's like we are perpetually being left behind trying to catch up but never can.

If one is in such a situation, it's time to cut down on expenses and turn the lifestyle around.

Getting The Books In Order

It's the end of the year already and every business has to get the books in order. It’s not something that we like to do but it has to be done. Most of my friends, who run their own business, large or small, try to get this unenviable task over and done with before the start of their holidays. I do the same as well otherwise I keep worrying over the unfinished business.

One thing I like about running my own business is that I am comfortable with the scale and it's entirely up to me how I want to run it. A friend told me that his partner has accrued debts in a failed venture that he found out way too late only upon the arrival of Debt Collection agents at their office. Running my own small business, something like this has no chance of happening.

December is a time of revelation on how healthy one’s business has been throughout the year and if the books don’t look too good, it is time to reflect on the past and see what sort of changes could be implemented to improve on the business. This is the kind of challenge I like in business, not the books. I hate figures!

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Credit & Charge Card Annual Service Fee

There's another month to the New Year where a RM50 annual service fee will be imposed on each credit card and charge card while RM25 annual service fee will be imposed on supplementary cards.

Even though there's still just one month to go, we still have no concrete update yet if there really WILL be a service fee on all credit and charge cards, or if all these noise that we are making has made the Government do an about-turn and thinking twice if this service fee will be imposed at all, if it will be, will the service fee for the first card, or two, be waived?

I personally think that it's a dumb idea to restrict credit card ownership. Of course, if you are thinking from the revenue point of view, this is an excellent idea but I am thinking from the consumer point of view, from the average person's point of view. I AM an average person, after all, and I surely know what a burden the RM50 annual service fee makes for us.

Anyway, if you have multiple credit or charge cards have you decided on which cards to cancel and which to hold on to?

Demand Letters

Mary, a friend who works at a legal firm, told me that she has been so busy drafting demand letters to send out to companies that defaulted on payment whether for machinery that was rented or for work that was done and not paid after a reasonable amount of time. Times are really this bad, huh? Or is this the effects of the recent economic downturn?

According to Mary, sometimes, creditors would try to collect their monies with the help of Collection Agencies first before they take legal action. Chinese people usually do not like to resort to court cases but the cases that are handled by Mary have already reached a dead end and the creditors have no choice but to let the law take care of it.

I don't know if these companies that defaulted on payment really cannot pay up or if they just refuse to pay since going through the legal process takes such a long time because of red tape. Perhaps they want to gain some time first and then eventually settle their debt. Mary says the amount owed is usually not that big, surprisingly. Perhaps these debtors know that it's not that easy to go into bankruptcy?

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Christmas Gift Ideas For The Family

A friend was asking if I could let her know what top Christmas gifts one gets for family members. Well, I know that Zhu Zhu Pets are all the rage for young children, an eBook reading device would make a good gift for someone who loves reading, though lately I personally prefer audio books. For teenagers and young adults, mp3 devices like iPod and iTouch are cool though a little expensive and for adults, PS3, Wii or Nintendo would be great if they love gaming. Camera lens or accessories are great for the photography lover.

I know there are people who do not enjoy reading or think that playing games is a waste of time. But if they love shopping, that's where shopping vouchers come in! We could never get enough of them, can we? It sure saves a lot of time thinking what to buy for these shopaholics. At least they can use the shopping vouchers and buy what they like.

For people who love to eat, or try out new restaurants or diners, I take the trouble to accompany them for a meal. It's also an opportunity to sit down and catch up with one another. A rare thing with everyone so busy with their own lives!

Defaulting On Payment

My friend, Alex, was very angry yesterday when he discovered that his brother-in-law did not pay the car loan installment for a few months. Alex said that he wanted to help his brother-in-law who need a car for work but didn't have enough cash to buy one and was blacklisted to take out a loan in his own name. Alex came to the rescue on condition that the brother-in-law takes care of the installment on schedule.

Yesterday, Alex was contacted by a Collection Agency to pay up or face repossession of the car. Can you imagine how embarrassed Alex was to receive such a phone call in the office even though it was not his fault? The car wasn't even with him and he doesn't feel that he should be made to pay but he would have to if his brother-in-law doesn't, or couldn't.

I could certainly sympathize with Alex. Even though the car isn’t his, it’s his legally because it’s in his name and any defaulting on payment by his brother-in-law like what is happening now would be his responsibility. And he would have to bear the financial burden. That’s why one should only “loan” his name to someone that is 100% trustworthy. I think Alex has learned his lesson now.

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Shop Safely & Securely

My sister has been shopping online a lot lately. She says that it's so convenient and she doesn't have to brave the cold weather just to get something at the store that's selling at the same or even lower price that she could buy online, with free shipping to boot.

My sister has only just lately caught the bug to shop online. Previously, when I told her about my experiences, she said she was not comfortable disclosing her financial information, especially her credit card number, over the internet. Now, she has caught the bug of online shopping and I am a tad worried that she would accidentally shop at a non-secure website.

I reminded her just yesterday to only shop at reputable webstores and to look carefully that the online merchants are using secured payment methods. I am sure she doesn’t want to get a surprise when the credit card statement arrives!

Gifts For Kids

One thing I hate about Christmas is the many gifts that I have to buy all at the same time. It's fine to shop for a gift throughout the year for occasions like birthdays, anniversaries and housewarming parties but Christmas, I get overwhelmed just THINKING of all the shopping I have to do; for both genders and various age groups! Let's not even talk about my budget busting.

Don't get me wrong. I do love shopping; after all, I am in retail myself. But I find it extremely difficult coming up with a gift list because I try to buy different gifts for everyone and try not to repeat my gifts. I take pains remembering what I have bought for whom so that there would not be an awkward moment under the Christmas tree!

For children who love sports, I think I would be getting them NFL Jerseys. This is like a lifesaver for me because I can buy different team uniforms. Kids nowadays have their own mind and have their own favorite teams. I like the fact that these uniforms come in a set; they make a “complete” gift set. And I could also follow up my gift giving spree with various accessories and kits on their birthdays the following year.

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Spending Like No Tomorrow

I don't like December. Well, I like the season, I like the weather, I like shopping, but only if it's not shopping with my own money, money that I worked hard to save throughout the year only to be forced to spend on gifts and food at the end of the year, and for what? LOL

I guess I only have myself to blame for being tempted to overspend and over indulging in my family and myself, no thanks to the credit card calling out to me to be abused! My friend will always remind me, why work so hard if we don't get to enjoy it? December is certainly a time to enjoy to the maximum. Let's not even talk about the year-end vacation that most of us take!

I just received promotional material in the mail yesterday and again, I am tempted to upgrade my mobile device but I know I shouldn't. I haven't worked hard enough this year to justify spending $1 - 2K on a gift for myself even if I could buy it under and installment plan for up to 12 months. But I certainly hate the thought of being in debt for the next year for just a smart phone!

I guess first things first. I will have to get the list of Christmas gifts fulfilled first and see how much money is left for me to splurge on myself. SIGH!

A First Aid Kit In Every Household

My friend, Frank, shared with me how his mother-in-law slipped and fell at home, knocking her forehead against a glass cabinet, slashing her. When she tried to get up, she slipped again with the floor slippery with her own blood and slashed her forehead a second time.

Frank said that luckily he knows first aid and was able to stop the blood whilst waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Can you imagine what would have happened if no one knew first air? Luckily they have a First Aid Kit at home too.

This incident reminds me that I should get a first aid kit at home too. We don't have a proper one and even though I know the importance of having one on hand from the first aid lessons I attended back in high school, I have procrastinated in getting one. Actually, every household should have one.

I visited the webstore of AB First Aid, a leader in first aid supplies. AB First Aid Store carries a wide range of first aid supplies and kits for the home, medical professionals and for people out on an adventurous trip, for example.

Besides keeping a first aid kit at home, I think that we should have one in the car as well. Being on the road is actually very hazardous and a first aid kit can sometimes make a difference between life and death.

*** This post has been sponsored.

Opting For Online Shopping

Although the tradition of shoppers to queuing up in the pitch black and cold morning after Thanksgiving outside stores to grab doorbusters, freebies and special deals that are loss leaders for many stores just to attract shoppers, this year has seen an increase in online shoppers, as much as 30% increment compared to last year on the same day, so much so that website of online merchants could hardly accommodate the surge in traffic.

Many people still like to shop conventionally at brick and mortar stores and truly, nothing beats the shopping experience of a Black Friday morning. And there's no denying that shoppers still like to touch and feel something before they buy, checking out the quality, size and expiry date, for instance.

But for many web savvy people who are now very comfortable with disclosing their financial information over secured servers, online shopping allows them to shop in the comfort of home without having to get into a fight with other shoppers. And often times, they are able to find what they want online at a comparable, or even cheaper price than buying from a local store. On top of that, online merchants sweeten the deal with free shipping, and sometimes freebies too.

Popular online stores should anticipate an even larger number of online shoppers next year as more and more people get onto the bandwagon of shopping online. They have to make sure that their servers could handle the traffic or it would create a poor shopping experience for the shopper. And then, the first time a person shops there could also be her last.

Lifelong Knowledge

The funny thing about being self-employed is that what I learned in school isn’t that important anymore. I don't have colleagues to compare myself with. There is no boss to tell me so-and-so is smarter than I am because she has a college degree while I don't.

The problem is that I, myself, would like to continue with my studies, probably online since it is so convenient but I have no idea yet what online college courses to take up, hence the procrastination.

Like I said, paper qualification may no longer seem important to me but I know that even if I have no use for it, I would feel so much better about myself. I wouldn't feel like I am handicapped and feel like the girls in my class in high school who always came out last in exams and now holding high positions in corporate companies are BETTER than I am.

If I have paper qualification, these friends may still be smarter than I but the gap would be closed and I would feel so much better about it!

“This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com.”

Freebie Filled Free VS Runway Bag

If you are wondering what Victoria's Secret Online has in store for you on Black Friday, supposedly the busiest shopping day in the United States, then here is something really special. For one day only, they are giving away a high quality runway bag filled with beauty freebies if you spend a minimum of $60 on your regular purchases. Nothing comes absolutely free, don't you know? LOL Even so, this goodie bag isn't for everyone who qualifies. It's only while stocks last so you really have to be quick with your mouse. And of yes, I should mention that this freebie is only for orders shipped within the United States.

If you would like to have this freebie filled free VS runway bag and it is only happening on 27th November, 2009, online, shop at Victoria's Secret with a minimum purchase of US$60 and remember to check out your order with the coupon code VSFRIDAY. Your free bag, if your order qualifies, will be automatically included. Happy shopping!

All Inclusive Family Vacation

Evon, my friend who migrated to the United States over ten years ago, told me that her parents are planning a trip to visit her next year. Evon is ecstatic, of course, as she has not seen her parents for so long already. She is married and has two young children whom the parents have not even seen before! They haven't even met the son-in-law before too!

Evon said that she is so happy she wants to book a holiday at an all inclusive resort so that all six of them could have a fun time holidaying together, something that she has always longed for but haven't the chance to do so all these while.

Evon asked if Jamaica all inclusive vacations would be appropriate. I am not sure but I guess as long as everyone has a good time, anywhere would be fine, right? Besides, I know that Evon's parents wouldn't mind if there was no vacation at all. They just want to see their daughter and her new family!

In any case, Evon is already looking at various Caribbean resorts, wondering which one would be perfect for her family of six, even though her parents will not be there for a few more months. Evon told me that it's too bad that her brother and sister would not be able to make it. It would be awesome if they could all be together for a family vacation like last time!

Warehouse Sales

I read in the papers about the big bad book sale in Petaling Jaya that is currently on-going until early December and I am so pissed off that I cannot go! I guess I am unable to express my frustration of not being able to go and it would only be understood by a fellow book lover.

I told a friend that I wish I could live in Kuala Lumpur, and right now I can't due to family commitments, so that I could go shopping all the time! My friend, a KLite, told me that these warehouse sales are only during the end of the year, like end of November until after Christmas. And the retail business will be back to normal. But hey, there's Chinese New Year sales as well, and then Valentine's Day shopping, though there will be NO discounts during Valentine's Day. LOL!

The other day, this friend went to a Philips warehouse sale and bought a few popular consumer electronic products. He said that they were cheap! And Philips is a reputable brand so he wasn't worried about the quality or warranty. Living in Ipoh, I miss all these warehouse sales and could only look forward to PIKOM III which will be happening in mid-December, at the usual venue in Stadium Indera Mulia. Deep sigh!

Adult Vacation

My sister told me that this year, she would like to try something for her annual vacation. The winter is always too cold for her liking so it's time to go where the sun shines at this time of the year. No, she is not coming back to Malaysia. It's just too far and she couldn't take that many days off work. She is planning to go on an adult vacation in a neighboring country instead!

Kelly said that even though she has been in the United States for nine years already, she has not been on adult vacations yet even though these vacations are all the rage among her colleagues. They keep telling her how beautiful the adult resorts are, how memorable their vacation is, and showed her plenty of photos and videos of their vacations.

Although Kelly has taken her fair share of vacations over the years, they were always to Las Vegas and Florida. This vacation, she is going as a married lady and this change in marital status has certainly changed her outlook on adult vacations!

My sister hasn’t given me too many details yet since she is still planning but I expect her to tell me all about it when she returns from her well-deserved vacation! Boy, don’t I wish I could go on one as well!

Crazy Sale Starts Now

Now that Thanksgiving is over, people can start to keep away their cooking utensils, clean up the kitchen and go out there and clear out shopping malls! Yes, the crazy sales leading up to Christmas has started, beginning with Black Friday which sees people queuing up in the dark, in the wee hours of the morning outside stores even before the doors are open. If you are physically weak or small in size, then you are advised to stay at home and shop online. Truly, Black Friday shopping sprees aren't for the weak. It's like the fittest survive, with bags of cheap bargains!

It's just too bad there is no tradition here in Ipoh, heck, even here in Malaysia, or I would be out there, clearing shelves already. Hahaha! I tell you, shopping online can be addictive but shopping for real at shopping malls, jostling with the crowd could be extremely addictive as well, especially when one is swiping credit cards!

One good thing about living in Ipoh is the low cost of living and without shopping sales like these to entice us, we don't get to spend money at all, which is just as well since we don’t even earn that much in the first place!