Random II

Bismillahirahmanirahim...

Mode menulis kerana rindukan abah dan mama di rumah. Teringat akan sentiasa di pesan-pesan walau sekecil-kecil perkara cuma. Usah gusar duhai diri. Mungkin benar telahan saya kala masih menanti peluang pekerjaan. Saya sering berkata pada diri " Diri ini sedang diberi peluang yang lebih lama untuk bersama keluarga kerana mungkin pabila sudah memulakan tugasan, masa bersama keluarga terhad". Tinggal seminggu sahaja lagi (15/Nov) sebelum akan memulakan cuti sekolah yang panjang. Seminggu awal dari sekolah-sekolah lain :).

Di dalam kepala sudah direncanakan beberapa acara dan perkara yang perlu dilakukan. Bersama mama, sebagai 'financial consultant'...sudah diberi tahu akan perancangan untuk membeli lens dan speedlite baru untuk Encik Al- Haytham saya. Walaupun sudah bergaji sendiri, nasihat mama masih diperlukan untuk pengurusan kewangan. Dan, saya juga sudah berjanji pada diri dan mama, tidak mahu kredit kad. Untuk kegunaan majlis rasmi keluarga dan acara-acara di sekolah. Mentor fotografi ku pernah berpesan, jangan malu untuk belajar. Cari pengalaman, biasakan diri dengan keadaan, situsai. Ada rezeki kemudian hari, who knows ?

Alhamdulillah gaji bulan ketiga, dapat ku asingkan 25% ke akaun Tabung Haji dan akaun lagi satu. Kini tinggal kira-kira 50% dalam akaun gaji. Selamat juga tak jumpa mesin ATM ni kan? 25% lagi telah digunakan untuk membayar bil telefon, ubatan, keperluan harian, tempah baju dan beli tudung. Ok. Bukan saja-saja tau. Baju dan tudung ada yang hampir mencecah usia 3-5 tahun dan hari- hari pakai. Dah tiba masanya untuk...bertukar... ('',).

Rezeki...Alhamdulillah. Makan tengah hari dan minum petang sudah disediakan di sekolah. Duit sewa rumah, tak payah pening nak fikir. Alhamdulillah tumpang a family-friend (kawan mama). Orang mungkin kata, gaji yang aku peroleh sedikit. Mungkin aku boleh pergi cari kerja yang gaji RM 2000 keatas tapi kalau difikirkan kos dan masa untuk commuting, tempat tinggal etc...sekarang, Alhamdulillah. Dapat aku menunaikan solat dan ibadah dengan aman dan selesa. Tetapi, bila dah berkeluarga, itu cerita lain. Susu, pampers, baju, education...Insya Allah rezeki sudah ditentukan. Cuma perlu di usaha kan :).

Lagi...hmm...abah, nak gi kedai buku lagi boleh tak? Nak cari lagi buku khat kat kedai Arab macam hari tu. Jom pergi Kinokuniya. Tak dapat beli, jamu mata survey-survey pun dah puas ;).

Dan...lama rasanya tangan ini tidak mengacau tepung, sepah-sepah kan dapur sikit, jalan-jalan gi bakeri...resipi dah terkumpul dalam laptop. Masa untuk eksperimen. Lagi dan lagi...

Apa lagi...? Menjahit? Toing. Tengok la. Apa jadi.

Oh...Ahad ni Ihtifal sekolah. Tahniah anak-anak yang telah mencapai kejayaan. Buat yang lain, selamat meneruskan usaha dan perjuangan antum...

Hampir terlupa misi paling penting...gi JPJ on-road test kereta. Nanti mama marah. Aku yang risau. Pegang steering, tak toleh kiri kanan dah...sampai cikgu driving selalu kata "Slow la sikit...". Opss, Syifaa' nanti jangan tiru mama.

Allah Knows Best

Kerja punya cerita...

Bismillahirahmanirahim...

Its been 2 days that I feel really tired. These 2 days...10pm...is my sleeping time..usually, even when the clock strikes 12am, my eyes are still wide open. My table at the office? Alhamdulillah almost cleared. Have distributed all marked books. Next week will be their final examination and at the same time, have to make preparations for their Majlis Ihtifal-scheduled in the middle of November 2010.

On top of that, I am very lucky to have good and supportive colleagues. Nak gurau, buat lawak bila tengah stress, kongsi cerita dan tazkirah. Yesterday, I got 'kain ela' to make baju kurung (eh...kain untuk kain simpan buat tudung kawen ok tak? Macam cantik je. Jap...tapi its not black...buat jela baju kurung) from usrah members, keropok from the Standard Six Rombongan Crews to Terengganu (SSRCT) and a chocolate bar. Today? A nice and cute keychain, also from the SSRCT. Syukran jaziila...(",).

One important thing to remember when it comes to career life is about handling money. Wisely. Thanks a lot to mama for guiding me through this cruise. Made a pledge to myself: No credit card. Planning to buy something 'big'? Save. That day, made a pit-stop at an electrical item shop. Jenguk-jenguk. The price of refrigerator, the price of washing machine. Steam iron and toaster from my college life still good...for my own house in the future (uhu...cita-cita). Rumah asalkan boleh solat, rehat, makan dan minum, kongsi masa with beloved family... Alhamdulillah.

p/s: mencari-cari permata yang hilang...tadi an office mate asked me " Dah ada orang ke?". Me "Ada." I did'nt gave much attention to her words as I am busy focusing on my books. Slipped-of- the tounge?...kena tanya lecturer Cognitive dulu...korang tak sabar nak bagi hadiah eh (memang nak ketawa tapi busy sangat deh). Siapa nak bagi buku instead of perfumes and handbag angkat tangan?Duit ribu-riban pun saya tak nak. Mak cakap, life after that lagi penting.

Ayah...everytime I help him with a chore, he always say " Berkat anak ayah. Dapat suami soleh". Tq dad for the du'a.

(just ignore my jokes...)

Allah Knows Best

Welcoming a New Chapter in Life

Bismillahirahmanirahim...

Fuh2. Aha. Dusty page. 1 week over since I've updated this blog. But my life have not been that static. My real life is really interesting. Okay. At least I am up to something. Tired..sigh. On the 23rd of July 2010, I've been to assign to capture the memorable moments of IIUM Peers the 13 Batch Graduation dinner at Kunang-Kunang, Melati. Thanks a million to the crews for the hospitality. May Allah bless all of you and granted with strength to help people with the knowledge and skills obtained. Two days after that, which is on the 25th of July 2010, I was given the responsibility to capture the memorable shots of my cousin's engagement ceremony at Sri Kembangan, Serdang.

Another chapter of the story...

It is true that people always say that PENANTIAN ITU SUATU PENYEKSAAN. Even if the people that we are waiting for is late for a minute, we will start to look at our watch and probably call the persom to hurry. What about 4 months? Whoa...such a long period, isn't it. But personally, the 4 months is very precious as I've learnt a lot of things. Sewing, cooking, a little bit of gardening and the most important thing is spending time with my beloved parents...and cats. Ok kitty. Behave okay while I am away? Oyen, Panjang, Kopi, Lemon...

Attended the interview for the post of teacher at SRI Al- Amin Gombak...the place where I was tested to enter Standard One in 1994 before registering at SRI Al- Amin KL. What a memory. And now, 2010, am a teacher there. I was interviewed by 2 panelist- a teacher from the Examination & Evaluation Unit and the Vice Principle. Everything ran smoothly except it was quite hard for me to answer when they asked why did I choose Al- Amin Gombak when I can choose Al- Amin Bangi that is nearer to my home. The second hard (or rather 'cepucemas') is Bagaimana Dengan Rancangan Berumahtangga? Gulp... I just smiled when they asked this (kena tunggu org yang tahan saya byk ckp, puan. abah saya pun ckp macam tu). For the first question...ermm. Ok. Maybe find my own 'rumah sewa' or for the mean time, staying with a family-friend nearby would be the best choice.

I am not choosy when it come to career. But I say we did have to choose the best as to our knowledge. I could have choose a job that offered me around RM 2200- RM 2500. But I choose this job instead. What really triggered my interest is that, every month, they will put aside an amount of RM 50 for the Umrah/ Hajj fund. Teachers are also required to pay only RM 45 each month (lunch + tea break). Hmm..Alhamdulillah. Usually, each meal will cost us around RM 4-6 and every month (total cost around RM 300). Insya Allah...a good start for me to start saving.

But the most important thing to me when choosing a career is I want a work environment (bi'ah soleh) that I could practice my duties as a Muslimah (especially in terms of clothing & prayers). For a long term goals, it is for the sake of my family. My other half and kids in the future. I wish to bring up my kids on my own (tadika & sekolah lain cerita) but in terms of nursing and taking care of them. I did not wish to hire a 'bibik'. Why....

A little niece of mine during the engagement ceremony looked gloomy and sad. The 2 years old girl did not want to eat no matter how much we coaxed her. Why did this thing happened? Her maid @ bibik is away in Indonesia for a 2 months break. Its only 1 week and she had behaved in such a way. And her mother (my cousin's wife) looked so sad as her own daughter wouldn't listen to her and always think of Bibik.

Motherhood and wifey-hood is only moments away and some people might think that considering about whether to hire a maid or not to help with the household chores during your single days are too early. But as abah had always remind me "Nothing is too early. I even think about where to send my children (school-mainstream/ religious) before marriage".

A dream, huh?

Allah Knows Best.

Of money & dreams

(encik, ini saya cuba tulis dlm bi... sila jgn ketawa)

Bismillahirahmanirahim...

Few minutes ago I open my Sunsweet Pitted Prune tub coin box (oh...i just love making coin boxes out of any containers I found) to count how much I have deposited in there- a job that I left for ages!! Alhamdulillah...that is all I can say after finished counting. Even it is still not enough to cover the whole trip to Mecca (that would surely need thousands of tubs more- I guess), at least I've tried to start saving. The next step would be putting those little pieces of metals in my Tabung Haji account to allow rooms for new batches of coins.

Last month, mama brought me and my sister to register for our hajj trip to Mecca and the expected year for us is in the year 2032. Wow!!! What a long wait. Then, the first question that popped out of my mouth was "Ma, what if I want to go with my husband (and probably-kids)?''. Luckily that Tabung Haji allowed its contributors to make appeal.

Performing Hajj in Mecca is the 5th principle in the Pillars of Islam and going to Mecca is the dream of every Muslims. My parents went for umrah last January and I overlooked my mid-semester break dates. Nevermind. Maybe it is not yet my rizqi to go there yet. ('',).

Talking about money is a never ending story. Money is definitely needed for each and everything that we do- even to pay a visit to the washroom needs a minimum payment of 20 cents.

The most important thing about money is I guess the source- from where and how we obtain it. Islam do stresses on this matter as from money (especially to family breadwinners), we use it to buy foods, clothes to wear, fuel for our cars and etc. Food would be part of our flesh and blood, clothes is to cover our aurah and cars to take us to school and workplace.

Imagine if the money is not from a good source- such as money laundering, bribery, theft, and snatch theft. Then, we buy food to feed our kids using those money. A parent could not expect his/ her kids to have 100% good akhlaq or we ourselves to feel calm and serene in performing ibadah to The Creator as the bloods pumping from our heart is fed from haram sources. Nauzubillahmin zaliq.

Insya Allah when I've entered career world, I am targeting to put aside some of the income for few uses. Particularly to cover for my insurance funds, Tabung Haji, health and emergency account. When blessed with kids, I'm hoping to save for their milk and diapers (expensive ok), education and also health.

Allah knows best...

Mama to Amani Syifaa' (year 20xx)

Entry full of dreams...

Saving strategies

Here are some saving stratergies that I would like to share and me myself MUST TRY to put an effort to make it works. Savings for the future, Insya Allah...

a-put aside RM 1 everyday & deposit into bank account at end of month.

b-Laundry once a week (RM 2 x 4 weeks = RM 8)-instead of few times a week.

c-Use laundry liquids and softeners half a cap of the recommended amount. It’s actually more than sufficient!

d-Read newspapers at CSD or mahallah office. Saves around (RM1.50 x5 x4= RM 30)

e-Use computer for internet surfing at ITD @ computer lab. Saves around (RM2 x 4 weeks=RM 8). Type entries on laptop first and update on web/ blog once a week.

f-No fast foods (Each meal will cost around RM 10)

g-Lucky that I didn’t like shopping...except to bookshops (hehe).Tu je reti.

h-Lucky/ feel glad that I am not yet “attached”. Save money on phone bills, gifts, transport, and foods.

i-Lucky that I don’t have any cars yet. Save money on petrol, maintenance, etc.

j-Bring water for lunch/ dinner. Saves around ( RM 1 x 2 x 30= RM 60)

Total savings: RM 30+ RM8+ RM10+ RM60= RM 108.

College Saving Tips

Money Management

Now that you’re on your own, you might be tempted to spend money on all the things your parents wouldn’t let you have before. Go slow. If you play it smart, you can avoid the sort of money troubles that plague many young adults.

Join a credit union.
Don’t just sign up for a random bank giving away t-shirts or frisbees at registration. Track down a credit union in town, or do some research into online banks.
Don’t get a credit card unless you absolutely need one. Don’t be a sucker. Those guys sitting behind the sign-up table are not there to help you. They’re there to make money.

Avoid non-academic debt.
It might seem like a good idea to put that Xbox on a credit card, but it’s not. Focus on developing good money skills with cash. Worry about credit later.
Save and then splurge. If you decide you must have that Xbox, then save for it. Wait until you can pay cash.

Pay your bills on time.
Basic advice, but it’s surprising how many people lose track of things. If you pay bills as they arrive, you won’t have to worry about forgetting them.

Organization and Planning.
Some minimal organization will keep your finances in order. Each of these is an important adult financial skill.

Track your spending.
Use a notebook, or use Quicken if you have it. Good records will prevent you from getting overdrawn at the bank or charging more than your credit limit. This habit also allows you to detect spending patterns.

Make a budget.
It doesn’t have to be fancy. At the start of the month, estimate how much money you’ll receive and decide where needs to go. Remember: you don’t need to spend it all.

Save your receipts.
Put them in a shoebox under your bed if you must, but hold onto them. You’ll need to be able to compare them with statements at the end of the month. And some you’ll need to keep for several years.

Guard your vital stats.
Don’t give out your social security number or your credit card info except to known and trusted sources.

Campus Life

It seems like there are a hundred thing competing for your money. It’s hard to know what to do. Here are some smart ways to save money on campus.

Buy used textbooks.
You’re just going to sell them back at the end of the term. (Or end up wishing you had done so five years from now.) You don’t need new textbooks.

Skip spring break.
Forget the long road trips. You can have a lot of fun for cheap close to campus. (My college used to organize economical group trips; yours probably does, too.) You might be surprised at how fun it can be to stay on campus, too.

Live without a car.
Cars are expensive: gas, maintenance, insurance, registration, parking. Stick close to campus. Learn to use mass transit. Find a friend who has a car.

Don’t hang out with big spenders.
Some kids have parents with deep pockets. Other kids are well down the road to financial trouble. Hanging out with them can lead you to spend more than you can afford.

Take advantage of campus activities.
There’s always something to do. Attend free movie festivals. Pay a few bucks to see the local symphony every month. Support the sports teams. Attend lecture series. Get the most from your student ID!

Personal Life

Take care of yourself. Your mother isn’t around to remind you to brush your teeth. Nobody’s going to scold you for eating three bowls of Cap’n Crunch. Self-discipline is more important now than it ever has been in your life.

Go to class.
You’re in college to learn. Everyone skips now and then, but don’t make it a habit. What you learn and do now will have a profound impact on the rest of your life.

Get involved.
Staying busy staves off boredom. It also helps you build skills and form social networks that will last a lifetime. Try out for a play. Join the astronomy club. Write for the school paper. Find something that sounds fun to you and do it. Take risks!

Stay active.
A healthy body costs far less to maintain than an unhealthy body. You don’t have to do much to avoid gaining weight in college. A walk around campus each day will probably do it.

Eat healthy.
It’s possible to eat well on a small budget if you know what you’re doing.

Decision Making

Get in the habit of making smart choices now, and you’ll develop a pattern of behavior that will stand you in good stead the rest of your life.

Make smart choices.
You can do anything you want, but you can’t do everything you want. Decide what’s important to you, and pursue that. And remember to leave time for yourself. When you want to buy something, ask yourself “Do I need it?” If you think you do, then wait. Don’t buy on impulse. Write the object of your desire on a piece of paper and pin it to the wall. Look at it every day for a week. If, at the end of the week, you still think you need it, then consider purchasing it.

Making Money

I’ve saved the best for last. If you can master even one of these, you’ll have a head-start on your friends. Master all four, and you’ll be on the road to wealth. No kidding.Spend less than you earn. Don’t earn much? Then don’t spend much. If your spending and income are roughly even, you have two choices: earn more or spend less. When I was in college, I worked as many as four jobs at once. This gave me a lot of spending cash. (Unfortunately, I didn’t do a good job with the spend less part of the equation.)

Be an outstanding employee.
Good work habits can pay enormous dividends, leading to recommendations and contacts that you can use after you’re out of school. Several of my classmates turned work-study jobs into launching pads for future careers.

Start your own business.
Can you install a hard drive? Can you strip a computer of spyware? Can you perform minor car repairs? Do you have a pickup truck you could use to haul furniture? Are you a passable guitar player? Charge cheap rates and exceed expectations. Word will spread. When you’ve built up a customer base, you can raise your rates a little. This is an awesome way to make money.

.

Money matters

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim...kelmarin 23/Jan/2009...aku telah selamat sampai dirumah untuk cuti CNY. Yeah2 balik lagi (haha..mcm la rumah jauh benor). Tapi, ini lah hakikatnya. Balik rumah merupakan saat2 yang ditunggu2 (padahal last weekend baru je balik rumah lepas krisis air di UIA ). Bahagia...Alhamdulillah. Kali ini, cuti bawak Kakak Si Hamster skali. Si Oren tinggal (sian dia...maafkan aku Oren. Tangan tak muat.Gilir2).

Back to the story. Lepas Zohor, around 3pm asalnya mama kena attend meeting dgn pihak PJH(Putrajaya Holdings) tapi on d way, pihak sana call kata tak jadi. Mak hantar aku pi Alamanda & dia balik opis. Alhamdulillah tak jauh mana. Sampai je, aku pi Maxis Centre untuk bayar bill. Then pi MPH. Buat macam library pula. Baca buku free...hehe. Maaf manager. Kemudia pusing Alamanda. Well. Saje observe people. Macam2 ada... Ntah. Couples, softlan (paham x)...families...
Stop kejap kat Chameleon untuk beli some aksesori for dinner GG next week. As di amanahkan oleh mama, beli some grocerries. Pastu, duduk balik kat benches depan kedai kasut Step-in sambil tunggu mama amik.

Tu tell the truth, aku bukanya reti & suka sangat ber shopping( except when it comes to bookstore). Sebab tu aku akan spend masa yang agak lama dok perhati harga etc ( Tak caya tanya Syida mcm ne masa aku teman dia pi JJ). Ntah. Dah terbiasa dari kecik kot mama & abah belikan barang. Sekarang, kalau nak beli kasut and baju especially pun dengan mak. Quality control le tu...tapi thanks ma. Dengan ini, aku belajar untuk berjimat (even kadang terlebih keluar duit). Alhamdulillah elaun dari PAMA (Papa Mama Foundation hehe) dah di 'up'. Maknanya...mama suh saving lebih. ('',)