10 Financial Books in 2013

1. Wang Anda dan Islam - Ustaz Zaharuddin

2. Smart Women Finish Rich - David Bach

3. Fight for Your Money - David Bach

4. Your Money or Your Life - Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez

5. Teaching Your Kids About Money - K.C. Lau and Amy Sepagal

6. Cukup Wang Hati Tenang untuk Semua - Hajah Rohani Datuk Haji Mohd Shahir

7. Langsaikan Pinjaman Perumahan Anda dalam Tempoh 5 Tahun atau Kurang - Azizi Ali

8. Nice Girls Don't Get Rich: 75 Avoidable Mistakes Women Make with Money- Lois P. Frankel

9. The Savvy Woman's Guid to Financial Freedom- Susan Hayes

I thought I read 10 publications, it was only 9 books.

The selection of reading materials is based on this:
1. Islamic finance - personal not economic point of view
2. Based on my frequent visit to www.thesimpledollar.com
3. Different ideas on handling personal financial matters

1. Islamic finance - personal not economic point of view

My major source of information is the world wide web. Once one start reading, there are too much of information that a layman like me finds overwhelm.  The best way to tackle it for me through Islamic finance.  Insya-allah it provides me a base guide on which instrument to follow (investment, saving, spending and etc.) provided Allah s.w.t. could also grant pahala - amin.

Furthermore, most of the reading material focuses on economy and not on personal, finding the one that suit my desire is a bit of a challenge. I am still hoping to read more on this.

2. Based on my frequent visit to www.thesimpledollar.com

Currently, this is one of my top reading sites that I referred to. It provides a general understanding in finance covering all aspect of life without being biased. Most other sites tend to focus on their method of financial success. Its good, but not everyone are created equal - a method works for a man might not work for his friends. I am yet to discover the method which suits me, hence reading this site gives a blanket to all instruments.

3. Different ideas on handling personal financial matters

Similar to the www - books provide a method that is focusing one that the author successfully tested. Different writers, different methods, different point of view. As I am yet to find a method/s which tailored for me, having a wide reading materials gives insight to many financial tools is a great way.

So, for the new year, I wish to read more on item 1 (besides chic lit, parenting and biography) and more on local authors i.e. financial matters related to Malaysians.

PTPTN Study Loan

Since its launch on October 2012 I have been praying I would have saved enough to make full settlement and earn the 20% rebate offered. Alhamdulillah, I managed. I paid off in full earlier this month.

Reading The Simple Dollar by Mr. Trent Hamm helps in a way to find the courage to settle the debt. The 'Can I Really Afford This' lingers at the back of my mind. Even until now. The extra few zeros in case of emergency is no longer sitting in the bank account.

This encourage me to further settle my other debts including mortgage. Especially after reading few articles by Ustaz Zaharuddin.

Keadaan umat Islam menjadi memilukan apabila, aktiviti berhutang menjadi asas kehidupan masyarakat hari ini, ia mungkin tidak pelik bagi mereka yang tidak berkemampuan, tetapi ia telah menjadi kaedah dan teknik yang terbaik (sebagaimana didakwa) bagi mencapai keuntungan dan mengekalkan kekayaan sesebuah syarikat atau individu. Sila rujuk www.zaharuddin.com.

Maka lahirlah ramai individu yang berkemampuan untuk membuat pembayaran secara tunai, tetapi masih lagi suka berhutang dalam membeli kereta dan rumah. Hujah mereka mudah sahaja dalam hal ini, iaitu jika bayar tunai maka kita akan RUGI, RUGI dan RUGI. Inilah satu fenomena kurang sihat yang telah di anggap sihat oleh masyarakat hari ini.  Ia berpunca daripada kurangnya maklumat berkenaan bahaya hutang dalam keadaan berkemampuan. 

I considered to hold on my assets as investment tool. In actual fact I could sell it off to reduce the mortgages. Not to mention, refinancing has become another form of lifestyle tool to earn instant cash.

It really got me thinking hard. Am I being too attached to the things worldly possession Allah lent as trust and to test? Am I still going to behave according to the great Prophet guidance once being granted with more worldly possessions? Am I seeking more luxury while I do have enough and there are others who are barely making ends met?

Further in the article by the Ustaz,

Ya Allah, aku berlindung dari kekufuran dan hutang, Mendengar itu seseorang bertanya, " Apakah engkau menyamakan kekeufuran dengan hutang wahai Rasulullah ? ; " Benar " Jawab Rasulullah" ( Riwayat An-Nasaie, 2/316 ; Ahmad , 3/38 ; Al-Hakim berkata Sohih dan disepakati oleh Az-Zahabi; Menurut Albani : Dhoif )

Regardless one on debt due to one ability or otherwise to make the payment, one still in line with kufur if he/she are still in debt.

We are here in this world as servant, to perform every movement the way to please the master. We are at the period of end of the world. One of the biggest challenge being in this period is worldly possession. Unlike the previous ummah, the trials faced by them among other is in form of earth disaster which leads to starvation. We are being tested with having too much of all and yet still wanting more. 

As long as we are still hardworking, we should be grateful for the rezeki halal granted.

I am writing this merely to remind myself the purpose of my presence in this world own by Allah as his servant and at the same time, as a khalifah.

552sqft Flat

Alhamdulillah, the unit procured last year, 12 days away till it became 1 year old, finally settled. We totally outsource the renovation works. None by us. We did consider to do part of it by ourselves to reduce the cost but it seems to be a distant dream. We need to ensure minimal disturb to our monthly cash flow, hence outsourcing it would be the fastest way - the fastest being 1 year process not to mention a costly affair (T_T)

Let's have the before and after photo feast of each area starting from the Hall.

Thankfully the tiles are free BUT we had to add 136 pieces i.e. not similar to the free tiles colour scheme *sadis*

A hard lesson learnt definitely but the free 400+ pieces required 2 trips from the site and additional pieces will require another trip. Not to mention loading and unloading it to the 2nd floor of the property!

The cheap vinyl replaced with tiles makes the room looks bigger - green vs cream.

The sink replaced with counter top and new basin, this eats 15% of the total upgrading cost. 

A cleaned yard from any debris with a fresh coat of paint makes it look so much better.

I roamed through all the 'Before' picture but could not find any showing Bedroom 1. The door is closed - I don't remember hiding anything in that room except debris from the previous tenant which he removed after we request him to do so.

   

Only the 'After' shoots.

This picture do not do justice as the tiles are not shown. The location where the tiles are living 'harmoniously' despite their colour and background differences.

That's about it. Alhamdulillah its settled for the time being. We are eyeing another 2 properties at the moment. Which ever we might end up with, I pray that it would be the best decision made upon guidance from the Almighty. Amin.

The Arrival

Sila ke klang valley beekeeper, another blog created for the beekeeping purpose.

12 Rabiul Awal

We are living on this earth, which was created as a bridge to the afterlife. We are here only for a brief period compared to the eternity. Our place in the hereafter is uncertain, all depends on our performance in this world.

There are seven levels of heavens. Where will we be? I would be very lucky to enter the lowest of the seven heavens. Even if the prophet is on the highest level. How high will the highest level be? Even the earth and the sky distance are beyond our reach. The gap between the lowest heaven and the highest heaven is beyond our ability to imagine.

Currently I am residing approximately 5 hours away from Medina, where the great prophet is buried. If I am given the opportunity to perform Umrah or hajj, then probably that moment will be the moment I be the closest to the great prophet.

I am writing this partly because it has been in my mind since past 12 Rabiul Awal and only recently I managed to register my turn to perform hajj. So until 2059 (my turn to perform hajj, almost half a century till the day come) or if I ever given the chance to perform Umrah, currently - 5 hours away is probably the closest distance I will ever be with the great prophet.

An-Nahl : The Bee

Approximately 18 months after I read surah An-Nahl and was guided by Allah to procure deeper knowledge on the bee, we finally had the opportunity to physically start our step in the bee keeping.

Hubby attended a course on bee keeping last weekend conducted by Carambola Bee Farm.

An interesting venture which we are seriously considering at the moment.

Missing: Part 4

Tuesday (1 Muharam 1434 / 15 November 2012)

There are people who thought we have given up hope to find him. Well, everybody entitle to their opinion. As for us, we have searched high (that mid night mega search hubby went up Gasing Hill to accompany his FIL - my father) and low for Kareem.

As for us, we have searched until we are truly satisfied, based on guidance from Allah through reliable soruces, people who we trust. Whom helped without my parents' knowledge; they are the one who contacted my parents, providing information without being asked to. People who expect nothing in return except for having Kareem safely back home. Few even asked to meet Kareem when he has been found, the special boy who they wish to help. Helping Kareem tru guidance on how to manage the unseen which he could see.

For those who still wants to find Kareem, they insist my mother that Kareem is 'seen' being taken care off in a good condition. He is healthy and we should continue search for him. Well again, everbody entitle to their opinion. Some has limit on what the could see, Kareem is doing fine and well - that's it. For my mother he is well, fine, in good condition and being taken care off by Allah because he has reached the paradise. Why would we need to continue the hunt if he is well?

There are those who said he has passed on, yes that is true, passed on tru another life, the eternity. Apakah nasib kita di sana nanti? He is good and well, what about us? Paradise is no guarantee as we are not as special as he is. That's why they are reffered to as special, they are special, the ones who are premitted to enter paradise without questions being asked by Mungkar Nangkir, no waiting time in Alam Barzah for the world to end or go tru Mizan.

Well, Bazlina's sister was told by a man Kareem is well and he was taken away by riding a lorry. See? He got it all, the transportation that he enjoys. It it no guarantee that we would be flying to paradise in a Boeing, rocket or crawling.

While father had vision Kareem was riding a double-decker bus in the flash, I did mention in previous post that when he went missing before he took a ride on a bus. Yes he enjoy bus rides and other large vehicle, lorry, airplance, truck, etc. Well, a ride on a DOUBLE DECKER bus shows a DOUBLE happiness ain't it?

Maka, dia sudah lepas. Apakah pula nasib kita nanti?