Financial Planning for Babies

Babies here are not literally babies, bayi. What I meant is young executives who are new to the working life (like me…well, one year plus is still quite new) and just starting to lead a more stable life financially.

I started keeping track of my expenditure every month because, ONE, I’m a big spender. I spend a lot of money on unnecessary things like cheap clothes and accessories that will be worn out within a few months, TWO, it’s damn hard for me to save money. I go on a lot of holidays but instead of saving the money bit by bit every month, normally I’d just pool up my salary that particular month for a trip and just stop spending on anything. Which is just dumb.

Obama Wins!

I think this is the sweetest tweet ever :)

( Source : Here )

Congrats Obama!

Abuse

I met a friend recently and we got to talking about her friend, let’s call her A. My friend was telling me on why they had a fall out and somehow the reason was shocking, to me.

A is in a relationship with a guy. They’ve been together for a while. But A always complaints to my friend that her boyfriend always abused her. Like, physically abused her. When A came to my friend, she was limping and bleeding from her lips because she just had a fight with the boyfriend. He kicked her, I think they call it flying kick eh, kicked her in the stomach. And when she’s on the ground, she was kicked AGAIN. I swear, I was so shocked to hear that! She’s so tiny, how can she withstand such an abuse!

Copenhagenization

Back in May, I went for a two week trip to Copenhagen, Denmark and London. I've been to London quite a number of times so I had a pretty good idea of what to expect in London. But for Copenhagen, I wasn't too sure of what's there. Before coming there, the only thing I knew about Copenhagen are they have great Scandinavian designers, especially Bjarke Ingels and all his quirky buildings, Hans Christian Andersen, the Danish author who wrote 'The Little Mermaid' and 'The Ugly Duckling' and they are among the Happiest Cities and Greenest Cities in the world! Tu je. 

And before going, I wanted to experience a different kind of travelling. I went with my mom but she was busy with all the meetings she had to attend to in Copenhagen so I get to explore the city all alone and I was so excited with that idea. So I want to try travelling where I don't know what to find there but I will let myself explore by myself what's there for me to see. So, I avoided reading anything on Copenhagen prior to the trip.

The stories of my exploration will come someday but I want to write about the best thing I found there. It's called Copenhagenization. 

New Addition to The Family :)

I'm so happy to share with everyone that I'm a proud aunt of a beautiful bouncing baby boy, Aariq Bin Mohd Azmir. He was born on 3^rd August 2012, at 3.48 p.m., weighing 3.48 kg. Nice number right? The whole family were with my sister during her labour. 

Mom's Birthday Doa Selamat Event

Yesterday was my mom's 50^th birthday. She's been planning for a little celebration with the whole family but since it's Ramadhan and my sister's gonna give birth to her son in a few days time we planned for a small break fast / doa selamat / terawih event at home on Sunday. But it turned out to be not so small (which never happens in any event my family plans)

We had a tent outside and also Nasi Arab, Mandi Chicken, Hummus, Nasi Lemak Opah from Taipan and other food that I didn't get to eat. Mom invited just family, close friends and neighbours over.

Big Idea

You know that feeling when you have a big idea in your head? You can't stop thinking about it. You want to do it NOW. Your pulse goes faster thinking about that special idea that belongs to you. Your ears are warm from all the thinking. You just set a new goal in life. The goal is a new target for you. It seems so big but you want to do it. You want to see how far you can push yourself. It scares you. Everything seems to go faster then usual..

That's how I feel right now :)

( Source : Here )

Truth is ..

Life. No doubt that life has its ups and downs. I bet that every one of us have tasted the bitterness of life in whatever way life kicks you in the ass. However, how we deal with the problems make all the difference. In dealing with the problems, sometimes a good wake up call and clarity is what we need. So, I made up a list. The list consist of the things that I learned, accepted and dealt with, in order to have a more peaceful and happier life.

Nothing is permanent.

The thing we always forget about life is that it is NOT permanent. Everyone will have to face death. It is a destination that no one can escape. Like cathching a plane to a destination. Once you broad that plane, no other way but to arrive at the destination where you are suppose to land at. As Muslims, we believe that we are not just human on a spiritual journey, but we are merely spirits on a human journey. And eventually that human journey will end. And it's okay. Yes, it's heart breaking. But it will happen.  Accepting death is a way for you to acknowledge there is a greater power that somehow looks after you. The only story is how you die. And that is a whole other story.

I love you, you don't love me

In life, some people might not like you. And you might not like everyone in the world. And that's totally normal. Back then, I had a really hard time trying to accept this. I'd try hard to fix things up if one of my friends has an issue with me. But after trying for too long, I think that you can't force everyone or anyone to love you and like you. You just have to let time takes its course and let things go. If it's written in the stars that you guys are meant to be friends / partners / lovers, it will happen.

Fail, Fail and Fail

When I was in uni, we have this subject, Design, which is the most important subject that takes so much time, energy, sweat and tears for any architecture student. Every semester we'll see so many students failing this subject. I have seen some friends giving up and took up another course after they failed design. But some still soldier on even after they failed. I think that people should not be afraid of failure. Learn from your failures and move on to your next challenge. You failed once, learn from it and do better the next time. If you're not failing, you're not growing. We heard stories about how WD40 and the light bulb were invented. If they had given up after their first try, we'd never have all the inventions that makes our lives easier. 

Damn, that girl has everything!

Ahh...Envy. You're lying if you never felt this before. A girl you know with the perfect handbag, with her perfect hair, perfect skin, perfect perfect perfect life. You'd watch her from far wishing that you can have her life. But that's normal. Because in life other people with have better rezeki than you. And they will always have more than what you have. But that should not stop you from being grateful with what you have. You can't possibly get EVERYTHING you want right away. Work for it. Insyaallah, things will go your way. And if you still feel envious towards the perfect girl's shoes, think about how blessed you are to be able to buy shoes for your feet, when some people don't even have feet.

Some friends may not be BFF always

Friends. Wow. I can't imagine not having any. I don't have a lot. I can count them with my fingers. Including my toes lah. I figured that collecting a lot of friends or having 10000 friends on your Facebook list, means nothing if your friends bitch about you behind your back. Or spread rumours about you. Or tell other people that you talk in your sleep. So, it's okay if you have very few friends. I keep my friends close, the ones who stick by me during my darkest days. A friend stayed with me for almost two weeks in HUKM when my dad suffered a really horrible stroke attack. A couple of friends stayed up late at night to help me with my design during my final year just to make sure I'll graduate with them. Friends come and go. But real great friends stay with you forever.

Nobody can change your life except for yourself

Well, duh.

Malam Nisfu Syaaban

Masyaallah, tonight is such a beautiful night. The full moon illuminates the dark sky. Syahdu. And tonight is Malam Nisfu Syaaban. Malam Nisfu Syaaban is the 15th night in the month of Syaaban. Muslims believe that on Malam Nisfu Syaaban, all our deeds for the past year will be calculated and a brand new sheet is given to us by malaikat to calculate our deeds for the next year. A fresh start for all of us Muslims :)

And coincidentally, today is also my 1st year anniversary of working in the industry. I figured that my one year mark is a great time to reflect back on my progress and where I see myself in another year. So, I made a list. A list of all the things that need to be done by the time 2012 ends. Some items are do-able. Some are a little hard for me. 

The List

I hope for a better year for me. I mean, my year was fine. But not great yet. I need more improvement in my work, my financial and savings and also my life in general. I'm getting more comfortable with where I am now which is just NOT good. I am beyond grateful with the blessings I have. Alhamdullilah. But we must push ourselves to discover what are our limits and our potentials :) So, here's to a new beginning. And let's hope all the list will be fulfilled by December.

Random Act of Kindness

Was listening to HitzFM this morning and they were talking about Random Act of Kindness. It always feel so nice to be able to do something good for no reason and to be able to make someone's day. I used to do all that when I wasn't so 'involved' with myself. When I was in uni, I always took the time to donate to any charities, or pay the toll charges for the car behind me or pay for someone random's lunch. It makes me feel good to be able to help someone and not hoping for anything in return.

But now, since I have been earning  my own money, I noticed that I have been a little stingy (i prefer to call it 'more careful') with my money. Once i started earning, I finally understand how super hard it is to get money and not just ask from Mommy or Daddy anymore. So I became careful with where I spent my money. I'd buy something for myself every month. Pay the car. Fuel. Etc. And at the end of the month the cycle continues.

But I'm disappointed with myself for not doing more for sedekah. I can spend money to buy shoes, but I don't always spend money for charity. And the fact that i KNOW it will give me greater satisfaction to be able to do that compared to buying shoes that will feel great for 5 seconds and poof its gone!

I MUST DO ONE ACT OF KINDNESS, EVERYDAY.

Keep Calm, Keep Organize

Some time ago, I was really really bad at organizing my things. I always forgot where I put my keys/handphones/purse, I lost my handphone twice and I left my bank card at a costume shop because of my carelessness. Arrrrrrgggh! I'm mad at myself just thinking about what a scatterbrain I was. 

Though, I must add here. This trait must be hereditary! I swear my mom is just as bad as I was. Haha.  

But then a little incident sort of changed that. I have always known that I am a little careless. So there's this one time when I was on a holiday in London during winter 2009 with my family and also my boyfriend, Acap. We stayed in Croydon, London and we took a bus to go to Central London. So, when we were in the bus, there's this huge black guy, who looked pretty ghetto to me, and he stood behind me. And I don't know what the hell happened and how because it happened so fast (and yea, my handbag was open), but he managed to get my purse from my bag and hid it under his jacket! 

I was so glad that Acap saw what had happened and he shouted "That guys took her purse!" or something along that line. The huge guy immediately dropped my purse on the floor and ran out at the next stop. And before he went out he looked at my boyfriend and said "Fuck you!" but it sounded like "Fock ya!!". I was a little freaked out after that incident because that was the first time I was pick pocketed and my purse had a lotta cash and also my id. But after that, I started being really careful about the things I have. 

Even when I went travelling around Europe, I went there with my university and I don't have Acap there as my guardian angel, I locked ALL bags I have with me, even my small sling bag. I just became overly cautious and not just for my belongings but even my friends'. 

But the thing I notice about being careless is, it happens because you don't know where or what you have with you. I never noticed that my purse was pick pocketed because I couldn't remember if I had my purse with me or not on that particular day. 

So now, I started practising the habit of using a bag organizer. It was pretty hard at first because it is such a hassle to put things in compartments and making sure all the things are there. But now I cannot imagine not using one. My bag would be one super massive black hole without it! Every girl must've gone through and understand how hard it is to search for their hand phones in a bag that acts like the twin sister of Bermuda Triangle. But after I started using this, it is sooooo much easier. I always know what I have with me, where it is and it saves me a lot of time looking for things because I always know that small pocket on the right is for car keys and small pocket on the left is for gym locker and office keys. Simple! 

Bag organizer. Life changer. Cewahhh

I carry everything in my trusty bag organizer. 

(Clockwise from top: free reusable shopping bag, mini telekung, make up bag, MUJI bag organizer, Ted Baker purse, my phone, a notebook, name card holder)

Everything tucked in at their respective places! I love it like this. I'll take a minute everyday to keep it organized and clean. Hihi. I sound like a freak ;p

Bought this on Fashion Valet and excited to get it. Anything to help cut my time in half!