Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggled Past Year 2015

2015

2015

2015

2015

2015

day by day, it just passed... and now it is out of sight,

and again it is time to reflect on what we had thrive

 & how we managed to weather the storm and survived ...
Twist & turn, our fate took a roller coaster stride,
In good times, we put our feet up & enjoy the ride,
During worst times, we took a bite of (life) lesson and cry.
What I mean is GST, who chose 4/1/15 to say Hi!
Oh, dear. Our disposable income slowly slipped out of sight.

There is a saying that "Money comes like a turtle and goes like a rabbit" which literally

defines that the pace of our income growth is way slower than the inflation growth.

I wish our government knows... but unfortunately, they dont.
Yet, they try to out-smart the rest, by saying 6% GST implementation will make the price
drop low, but wriggling through the storm in 2015, has proven it to be a BIG NO-NO.
The price of basic needs sky-rocketed like no tomorrow, and another minister suggested
we should take a second job, which I did .... SO??

So...

1. Getting a second job. (Working at a pet shop - shelter)

Weekend will never be the same again for me... 

        No more potato couch habit, & no more friends & family outing.

• In return, I had gained some valuable soft skills & knowledge about animal care, customer service & what other deemed as trivial skills (fixing the broken pipes, mixing cements, unclogging a drain, & cooking food for the shelter animals)
• I had expanded my networking circle... (*I realised there are many people out there, who weather the bad economical storm, and yet they are willing to part with their money, to feed, castrate the strays & rescue the injured ones)
• Taking up a second job had drained my energy (*physically & mentally), as I have been working non-stop for 7 days a week... 
• With the meagre side income, at least it will cushion my weekly expenses.
• There is a saying goes "Its not how much you earn, it is how much your save"
• Since then, I self-learned about financial education and also feeling privilege to receive free guidance from a financial guru. 
• I learnt to live rich but frugally. 
• And I never look back since.

2. Pursuing the long term fulfillment

 

(a) Purchasing a new (*imported) car

Sorry to say, I dont support local products (*films, cars ...)

In pursuit of long term fulfillment wants, you need to make many small sacrifices to get what you want. So, every cent counts. I saved hard on my earnings, and I grabbed the opportunity to changed my old second-handed car, to a brand new Suzuki Alto.

It may just be a humble beginning, but its striking existence proven that if we strive to upgrade our life, We Can! and We Will... and if we don't, we will always be at the same old spot ---- Keep complaining about factors that we cant control, wishing & praying for miracle to happen. 

If your complains keeps growing, wont change our life for better, but EFFORTS will.

(b) Trip to South Korea

It is strange that no matter which country you are originated from, you will always dream that you will be able to visit a particular country, if you are given a chance.

As for me, I grew up when the Hallyu Wave started.

Since then, I had been harboring a dream that I will be able to land my feet on its majestic shore.

Opportunity came knocking, 2 years after planning for a 'Cousins Trip" which consisted of we, cousins who grew up together. Alright, lets move back in time to April 10, 2015

On this fateful day, a team of 5 consisted of (3 Malaysians & 2 Singaporeans) took our own respective flight and meet up at KLIA2, and thats where our backpacking adventure started.

It was my very first backpacking trip and I do have some regrets which I think I could do better if I were given a second chance.

Well, here's the catch.

Although travelling (*via backpacking) in a group was fun, but ...

1. Sometimes, we need to bite the bullet, when it comes to compromising each other's wants & needs

     - (*Toilet break) 

        A member of the group was ill, on the day we departed for Korea. Our adventure               was interrupted, as she constantly bothering us for a toilet break.

    - Difference of interests.

      While the group members from Singapore, had been on sight-seeing to Korea, this

      time, they chose to ignore our intention to visit places, and focus solely on food &             shopping haven. 

but overall (April 10, 2015 - April 19, 2015), it was a fun ride, and I wish I will be able to make up to the losses by joining a tour trip to Korea in future. 

3. Bonuses CUT in Income

To add salt to injury, the company I used to take pride of working hard for (*despite constant advises that I should learn to work smart) had decided to reward the filthy rich shareholders by further reducing the monetary benefits for their employees.

Yes, they do know the rule "In each decision you make, you cant please everyone!"

So, they chose to sacrifice the needs of the needy ones (*their employees)

They cut their employees bonuses, and further reduced their employees KPI (*Key Performance Index) who contributed towards the company's growth and lent a hand in company's event preparation... 

They heartlessly let the employees down, & hope that these people will feel motivated to continue to go extra miles for the company. 

Shakespears said "To be or not to be, that is a question" 

If we lose our momentum to go extra miles, we are putting our career in line.

If we do, the management team will think that it is ok to further cut down on those benefits. We, employees will accept it with open heart. We employees can still cope well without these extra monetary benefits. 

In a nutshell, intelligent people will diversify their financial portfolios and wont put all their eggs in one basket, but at the same time, learn to safeguard their keeps from schools of financial piranhas.

With this, I end on a high note that I managed to wiggle, wiggle, wiggled through 2015' with low and high tides, but now it is time to say Goodbye, and bid 2016, with a new sets of revolution to strive.