A Nightmare...

Today is the 9th Day of 2012 Dragon year. For the past 2 weeks, it has been a long nightmare for our family. My 24 years old niece is diagnosed with kidney problem and it is at a serious stage. We visited 3 specialist including Dr Clare Tan, the Consultant Nephrologist at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH). All 3 Specialist advise for kidney dialysis. The Specialist brought us to dialysis centre so we can chit-chat with the patients. We visited National Kidney Foundation (NKF) dialysis centre in Kuching as well. Specialist said, my niece can only survive with dialysis. It has been a very painful moment for everyone in the family, especially my niece and her parents. Normally, kidney failure patient needs 3 times dialysis a week, and about 4 hours for each session. Which means that about 12 hours a week. Each session will cost about RM200, have not include other fee and medicine involved. Based on the information from kidney dialysis patient at medical centre, they dialysis cost about RM4000 per month...

As at now, while waiting for the dialysis decision, my niece is taking medicine & vitamin supplement from SGH (packs and packs of them) and traditional chinese medicine (TCM) as well. She has kidney problem when she was about 4 years old. The traditional chinese medicine cure her at that moment. So, now my brother is going back to the TCM. Other than that, my brother also looking for other alternative such as medical body massage and yesterday met another TCM which has cured some kidney patients. We know it is not right to mix the medicine, but we have no choice...

I really hope and pray that my niece will no need to go through dialysis...I cannot stop from thinking of her condition... She is now in her final year at University Malaysia Terengganu. We had to stop her from finishing her final semester there...

If really need to go through dialysis, another concern is the cost involved. My niece is not covered by insurance. Unless she managed to be accepted to NKF dialysis centre, our family wont be able to cope with the huge medical expenses... even at NKF dialysis centre, the cost needed is roughly RM1K+++ (depend on condition).

If any of you had any information which can help my niece situation, please do let me know. I thank you in advance.

A Recommended Dentist In Kuching

Going to dentist is something I wish to avoid. I hate it but some how I still need them. In my whole life, I have been treated by 4 different dentist. The first 3 dentist didn't give me a good dentist visit experience. 

Recently, due to some issue with my front teeth, I went to C K Goh Dental Surgery. And after a thorough examination on my teeth condition and some advice by Dr Goh, I decided for 2 dental crown for my front teeth. He explained the whole process and the cost price in details. The whole process took 5 visits which is about 2 months. For my first 3 visits, I was very tense as I dislike the 'going to dentist experience'. But for the last 2 visits, there were much better experience and seems like the fear of going to dentist is gone. Total amount I paid for my 2 crowns is RM1445, inclusive of root canal treatment for one of my teeth. The money and time spent is really worth it. I got my front teeth back. And most importantly, now I know I have a reliable, experienced and professional dentist. My fear of dentist is also gone.

For all my visits, I do not need to wait as Dr Goh had arranged appointment for each of my visits. The dental surgery assistant will call and remind me for the appointment as well. But, during my visits, I saw some have to wait for hours because most of Dr Goh appointment is full. So, those who walk-in, will have to give priority to those who already made appointment earlier. If you wish to visit C K Goh Dental Surgery, do call them first to arrange for an appointment.

11 Employment Benefits That Give You Extra Cash and Save You Money

Being employed does not only meant you are getting income, but it gives your more cash and save you money too. Based on my experience and my readings, here are 11 employment benefits that can help you to either give you extra cash or save your money:

1) Employee Pension Fund (EFP) Contributions

Malaysian employer are required to contribute 12% of the monthly salary to each of their employees' EPF accounts. Employees are contributing 11% from their monthly salary. Some companies are kind enough to offer higher contribution for their employees. In long run, 12% of monthly salary can turn out to be quite a huge amount of money. 

2) Social Security Organization (Socso) Coverage

Malaysian employer also required to contribute to Sosco for each of their employee. Socso operates as a social insurance scheme provided by the Malaysia government to provide aid in financial guarantees and protection to employees and their families in the event of accidents resulting in disablement, death, or affliction with occupational diseases. The contribution is accordance to the salary range of the employer. One thing for sure, Socso is reducing the employee's burden in term of accident, disablement and treating occupational diseases.

3) Medical Benefit

Most companies do provide medical benefits for their staff. The benefit can be either through staff monthly claim by submitting official medical receipt or through panel doctors appointed by the employers for their staff. Most of the time, the medical benefit also cover the medical expenses for spouse and children as well.

4) Dental and Optical Benefit

Dental and optical care can turn out to be quite expensive for an employee. When these are subsidized by company, employee can save hundreds in a year. Of course, there will be a certain limit of claim for each year. Some employer extend the dental and optical benefit to their employee's dependent.

5) Group Insurance Coverage

For those corporate giant where they have hundreds or thousands of employees, usually they provide group insurance coverage to their employees. Insurance coverage includes life insurance, personal accident and medical card. The most saving part would be medical card because medical care in private hospital can be very expensive. Most insurance coverage also cover for employee's spouse and children.

6) Health Screening Package

It is important for employees to have health screening package, especially for those after middle age. General health screening package could start from hundreds to thousands of ringgit. By providing subsidized health screening package, this will greatly reduce the financial burden of an employee. Usually employer will set a limit of health screening package for each of their employee. 

7) Hire Purchase Benefit

Some large corporate especially financial institution usually offer lower hire purchase benefits for their employees, provided the hire purchase is from the employer itself. This could save quite a substantial amount of money. Win-win situation for both employer and employee.

8) Performance Bonus

Towards the end of a financial year, bonus is what most employee looking for. Bonus means additional cash. And some generous employers are giving away a few month bonuses.

9) Employee Share Option Scheme (ESOS)

Most public listed company offers ESOS to its employee. In a way, ESOS gives employees a feeling to own a portion of the company so that the employees will work harder. In return, when the share price increase, the   employee can opt to exercise the ESOS and gain money from the transaction.

10) Long Service Awards

It is common to have Long Service Awards for employees who work 5 years, 10 years and for the next subsequent 5 years. Usually there will be cash incentive and special gift for Long Service Awards.

11) Maternity benefits

Some employers are kind enough to support parents with maternity benefit such as paying for labour charges. Other than that, some also give maternity gift for mother and new born gift for baby.

Other than the above mentioned employee benefits, I believe there are other benefits too. Do feel free to add in and share with me. For those who are enjoying the above benefits, they should feel thankful for it. For those who has not enjoying the benefits, can always suggest to your employer in your coming year end appraisal.

Is It The Time To Top-Up Your Investment?

Based on my observation, recent unit trust price had dropped quite a lot. I am not sure what will happen in 1 week, 1 month or 6 months time. Maybe the price will drop further or maybe the price will pick up. No one knows.

Since I have some additional cash, so I took this opportunity to top-up some of my unit trust funds. But, I wont throw all my investment at one time. Some portion at a time. In case the price drop further, I still have extra cash for investment. In case the price pick up, I can save my extra cash for other purposes. And my top-ups are only for my long term investment fund.

What are the actions you've taken and what is your planning?

What To Do With Your Coins?

Due to the recent news about The Third Series of Malaysian Coins, my parents handed a huge bag of coins to my brother, asking my brother to exchange with cash! Because they worried the existing coins might not be acceptable after the new third series Malaysian coins which will be available in circulation early next year. A huge bag of coins come out to be a few hundred ringgits! 

Do you also have a lot of coins accumulated for years? Perhaps it's time to take them out and so something about it. Here are a few suggestions:

1) Bank-in the coins

I thought I can just walk in to the bank and exchange my coins with bank notes. But, it's not that easy. I need to have a saving account with the bank. I will need to leave the coins with the bank officer. They will calculate it when they are free and bank-in to my bank account. Some bank officer will call to inform the amount before bank-in, but some didn't. For my case, they took 3 working days before bank-in to my bank account. And the officer didn't call me. I am not so sure how much actually the coins as I didn't calculate it before handed over to the officer. Well, just have to trust them.

2) Exchange with business operator

They are quite a number of business operator who will need coins - supermarkets, grocery shops, school canteen operator... in short, any business who has a payment counter will need these coins. Just make sure you calculate the coins before send to them.

3) As a gift for your kids

I am sure your kids will be super happy if you top-up their piggy bank with your coins.

4) Bring them along when you do your shopping

You will make the life of the cashier easier if you give them coins every time you go shopping. I meant if your shopping is RM40.95, the cashier will be happy if you  handed her RM50.95. This makes her job easier. Keep coins in a small purse so that you can practice more often.

Hmmm.. other that the above, any more suggestions? Feel free to add on...

Gold Prices Soar!

A check on Public Bank Gold Investment Account price today shows the highest record (based on my observation since the past 3 years):

Local news and international news also reporting on record-high gold prices due to Standard & Poor's (S&P) downgrade on US credit ratings.

It is time to purchase more gold? I wish too. But the current price is too high. Or is it time to sell off for some extra cash? For me, not yet. How about you? Are you planning to exchange your gold for cash at this moment?

Malaysian IPTA/IPTS Student - 10 Ways To Earn Extra Money

I believe most of us who had attended university life wish that we can have some extra money other than the money from our study loan or the 'Father & Mother loan'. Maybe some of them are lucky to have rich parents to support all their needs and even can give them unlimited credit cards to spend on. Most of us are not that lucky.

Here I suggested 10 ways to earn extra money for IPTA @ IPTS students in Malaysia:

1) Work part-time at fast food restaurant, convenient store, boutiques...

Many students are practicing this at the moment. Usually, they get paid based on hourly rate. Try to ask for a more flexible working hours so that you can replace those hours where you have classes.

2) Giving one-to-one tuition to primary or secondary students

Some parents are willing to spend on one-to-one tuition for their children. One-to-one tuition is more comprehensive. Student and tutor will also be able to concentrate better. Most importantly, the time is more flexible compare to huge tuition classes. Tuition rate are varies. It also depends on both party. If you are lucky and you help your student to get significant good result, you might receive higher pay and will be hunted by other parents.

3) Take part in university research program

In higher lever of learning, there will be a lot of research program going on. For research, normally they will need temporarily staff to help to complete the research program. Other than getting the pay, students will also learn new things which might be useful for their future.

4) Write article and sell it 

If you have the writing skills, you can consider to sell your articles to local publisher or to the internet. If you have great interest in certain topics (for example beauty & grooming, relationship, teaching, gardening, cooking, current technology), someone out there might be willing to buy your article.

5) Get a job during semester break

My niece always practise this. She'll work full-time during her semester break at a local mall. I think she gained the trust from the employer. She told me she might do her industrial training at the local mall.

6) Selling your art skills 

If you are a good artist, you can consider to sell your artworks. If you have talent in song writing, perhaps can write lyrics or music. If your song become a hit records, you will have a good return. Or, you can teach music classes (piano, guitar, violin).

7) Selling your photography skills

I know a student who work part-time to take wedding photo. For your information, the cost of a professional wedding photographer is quite expensive. And most importantly, sometimes the photographer has been booked months or years ahead before the wedding. If you know any of your friend or relatives are getting married, try to offer your photography skills. Of course, you have to ensure you have the photography skills to impressed. If you have not, but you're interested, you can consider working part-time at local bridal centre to acquire the related photography skills.

8) Internet Marketing & Blogging

From my reading, some students really make a lot of money from Internet Marketing and blogging. Some even become millionaire before they even graduated from university. I wish can write more but I myself still learning on Internet Marketing. If you have access to internet, you'll find tonnes and tonnes on making money from Internet Marketing.

9) Become part-time MC or DJ

If you have the right voice quality, quality and have got the interest, you can consider as parat-time MC or DJ. 

10) Take part in Network Marketing Business

I know a friend who involved in direct selling product when I was at university. I think she earns quite a lot from selling the direct selling products. I can tell, she also have a busy schedule. The sister of my coursemate was an insurance agent while she still study in university. She really improved a lot after she joined the insurance agency. I believe she not only has the money now, but also a wide network connection.

My advice, there is no easy way to earn extra money (well, at least until now I have not found any easy way). One has to sacrifice her time and put a lot of effort to earn extra money. Just ensure that you are not doing anything illegal to get extra money.  It's not that difficult to earn money from the illegal way, but the scary part is the after-effect. It's not worth it. And most importantly, do not neglect your study while you work part-time.

All the best!