SM Magazine December 2014 by komstudio8

DECEMBER 2014

magazine

SaveMoney Christmas Editions

December 2014

DECEMBER 2014

WISH YOU E A W

Merry

Christmas 2015

DECEMBER 2014

CONTENTS 4 FINANCE • Money Resolutions to Make and Keep

5 SM CHRISTMAS EDITION • Best Credit Card to Have for Christmas Cashback • Top 5 Places to Get Your Christmas Turkey • Best Restaurants for a Traditional Christmas Dinner • DIY Christmas Gifts • Avoid Overspending This Christmas: Make a Budget! • Christmas Dinners Around the World • Gift for Women under RM100 • Gifts for Men under RM100 • Gifts for Children under RM100

19 JIMATCERMAT.MY • Aktiviti Murah yang Menyeronokkan Sewaktu Kekurangan Wang 1

DECEMBER

20 SAVEMONEY TRAVELLER

2014

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SaveMoney Christmas Editions

mber 2014

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• Taking on Lion City with RM1,000

22 SAVEMONEY TOP PRODUCT TABLES

Editor’s Note The malls have decked their halls because it’s that time of year again. Christmas has become extremely commercialised and everywhere, businesses hope to cash in on your holiday binge shopping. But don’t be bested! We’ve got some awesome tips to keep you from blowing too much cash in our holiday budgeting guide complete with a functional template. We also did the legwork to find you some awesome eateries for Christmas dinner; gifts below RM100 for the special people in your life; and a look at how one couple is spending Christmas on a budget in our partner RinggitPlus’ story “Our Budget Christmas”. But Christmas isn’t the only thing going on at the Year End; there’s also the New Year coming up so you’ll be wanting to make resolutions for a bigger and better 2015. If you haven’t included a resolution on money, now is the time! We’ve included some ideas on money resolutions you can make for a more financially fit 2015. Of course, beyond the frenzy of shopping, eating and just all out having a great time, we hope you remember the true meaning to the festivities: A time to spend reflecting on not only the religious aspect of Christmas but learning to love, appreciate and be grateful for the people and blessings in our lives. A Blessed Christmas to our Christian readers and happy holidays to all.

XOXO Diana Chai

Finance

DECEMBER 2014

Money Resolutions to Make and Keep

By Farrah Ana

he New Year is coming again and many of us are already brainstorming about what our resolutions for a bigger and better 2015 will be. But as exciting as it sounds to make big promises; it is also important that resolutions are made achievable.

Although there are many ways we can improve ourselves and our lives; few are more important than money. Whether you want to save it, make more of it or use it better; money makes the world go round and should be a part of your resolution list. It might sound scary and less fun that vowing to travel more but don’t worry, we understand and we’re on hand to help. Check out our list of money resolutions you can make to save more money and win the resolution stakes.

Reclaim the 555 ‘Ah Long’ Book This year; resolve to go retro with the teeny 555 book which you used to jot down the 80 sen your friend owed you for ais krim potong. It sounds orthodox but controlling your spending is the small leap to big success where budgeting is concerned. It’s time to stop doing imaginary calculations in your brain; jot down your spending (yes, even the little ones!) to make sure you don’t accidentally spend more than you intend to. By knowing the exact amount of money coming out of your pocket and the exact balance in your bank account keeps you in control and lets you know how much you can actually save. Of course, you don’t actually have to carry the notebook: your mobile is filled with useful apps to keep track of your spending!

Make it all About the BUDGET And we don’t mean the one made by Najib in October. We all make budgets but we rarely stick to them. If you are able to follow the budget that you, yourself planned; you are on the road to budgeting success. It’s not enough to make a pretty budget on paper – it’s more important to follow it through. But how? First and foremost, be realistic about how much money you own/earn and then be more realistic about what are really your needs versus your wants. Prioritise the critical and leave self-indulgence as the last item on your budget plan – something you can enjoy only after all the bills are paid and savings made.

Warren Buffett’s Wisdom –Emulate a Money Guru It doesn’t have to be Mr Buffett; whoever your favourite guru, take a leaf from their book. Many financial whizzes have books, guides and websites to help readers plan and budget. So instead of taking this journey alone; get a guide in the form of a financial guru whose plan you can turn into a step-by-step programme for a financially healthier 2015.

Try and Try Again Resolutions should ideally have a happy ending. But that isn’t always the case. In the event you do fail, don’t be so quick to abandon the whole plan altogether. Missed a month? There’s no harm simply restarting. In the end, we’re all learning so don’t be too hard on yourself if things don’t go as planned. We hope you try to take on one of these money resolutions next year for a financially fitter you. Happy New Year!

Feed the Piggy Bank Remember when you were a child and you got a piggy bank as a present? How excited you would get to put coins in it. Although, today the piggy bank is less a piggy bank and more of a bank; the concept remains the same. The more money you save, the less money you’ll spend and better off you are in situations of emergencies.

DECEMBER 2014

Christmas Edition

Best Credit Card to Have for Christmas Cashback

By Denise Chan hristmas spending can be quite costly. Having a credit card comes in handy. With a credit card, you earn rebates and reward points when you spend on gifts, Christmas dinner or flight tickets for a year-end getaway.

But not all cards are made equal. Here are some of our favourite for earning cashback this Christmas.

UOB Vox Visa Whether you shop in the mall or online, The UOB Vox holds a special place in the heart of every shopper. Internet shoppers get to enjoy a 5% cash rebates when they shop online and on other retail purchases, enjoy a 0.3% cash rebate. When you shop for Christmas, look out for the UOB Smart logo at retail outlets because you enjoy up to 10% rebate if you spend at these outlets within the UOB Smart Programme.

CitiBank Cashback Credit Card Time and money spent on gifts and groceries can be quite expensive during the festive season. What do you say to a cashback credit card with rebates all year round? The CitiBank Cashback credit card aims offers up to 5% cashback rates.

OCBC MasterCard Silver Hong Leong Mach Visa With offer up to 10% rebate, you can enjoy this cashback on a daily basis. It’s easy, there are 12 retail spending categories divided into 4 packages to choose from. All you’ve have to do is select one out of 4 packages and enjoy 10% cashback. However, don’t be hasty when deciding on a category because you will have to pay a small fee should you decide to change your selected categories. Do note though, that your cashback is capped at RM100 but there is no minimum spending to qualify.

If you want unlimited cashback on your festive spending, the OCBC Silver card is designed to make to make it happen. At 0.5% cashback rate, this card may not offer the most attractive rate in the world of credit card benefits but the rates are not capped. That means you get cashback as long as you’re spending.

HSBC Amanah Mpower Do you have a monthly spend of more than RM2,000 especially during the weekend? This might seem like a lot but taking into account grocery, fuel and eating out; it’s only RM500 a week. If you do reach this minimum spend, the HSBC Amanah Mpower credit card might be what you’re looking for. Enjoy up to 8% cashback if you spend more than RM2,000 a month, and even if you dont, you could still earn a good 5% cashback. With all the perks and rewards your credit card can offer, it’s hard not to get carried away with your spending. Just like overeating on Christmas roasts could give you heartburn, overspending on your credit card could burn a hole in your wallet. Everything in moderation, enjoy scrumptious meal this Christmas and enjoy those awesome rewards and privileges from your credit card.

DECEMBER 2014

Christmas Edition

Top 5 Places to Get Your Christmas Turkey By Denise Chan

hat would Christmas be without a turkey? But whilst some of you may be Martha Stewart Minis or Rachel Ray Replicas, there’s probably a whole lot of you who are unable to roast a turkey without making the kitchen appear like a disaster area. If cooking isn’t your thing; don’t worry! We’ve got just the short cut for you. Restaurants realise that many Malaysians would want a takeaway turkey to make their Christmas dinner memorable without the fuss of preparing it themselves. As such, they’re helping you get your perfectly roasted bird for a price. These are our picks for the top 5 turkey takeaway restaurants in the Klang Valley.

The Grumps What happens when you marry Italian and German cuisine? You get The Grumps. Whether for dine in or pick up, you can order a whole roast turkey by itself or alongside other roasted mains. Your turkey will come roasted with vegetable and herbs stuffing accompanied by turkey drippings and cranberry sauce for that added kick. The turkey offering comes in two sizes - 6.5kg for RM390 and 7kg for RM450. Turkey is available for the entire month. To place an order, call Grumps at 03-7873 6898.

La Carretas

Ben’s General Food Store

If you think you can’t have a traditionally cooked turkey at a Mexican restaurant, you haven’t been to La Carretas. The turkey is roasted with traditional chestnut stuffing, giblet Gravy, and Cranberry Sauce. It’s sold at RM350+ weight at 4kg. You also have the option to add on dishes such as leg of lamb, smoked salmon and grass-fed striploin.

Stay at home and enjoy a sumptuous Christmas meal with your loved ones. Ben’s General Food Store has prepared a list of sumptuous Christmas meals from starter, mains to deserts- available to order. Roast turkey with stuffing is selling at RM350. All festive orders must be placed at least 5 days in advance.

To place an order, you can call them at these numbers: 0342571668 (Ampang), 03 2093-0380 (Damansara) or 03-56373058 (Subang) or e-mail at reservations@lascarretas.com.

For further enquiries, call 03- 62092200 or head over to http://thebiggroup.co for more information.

Makan Kitchen The Makan Kitchen offers you the best range of cuisines from the east to west. Located at the 11th floor of the Intermark, Makan Kitchen will provide you the best turkey and have it deliver to your home. To add a finishing touch to your feast, Christmas desserts include the almond stollen, yule log cake and mince pie are also available. On top of that, you can get 10% discount off your roasted turkey if you order by the 10th of December. All orders must be placed 3 days in advance. For futher enquiries, call 03-21727272 or place your order at http:// flavoursbydoubletreekl.com

Acme Bar Coffee

Known for their distinct blend of Southern taste and Texan barbeque, Acme Bar Coffee (ABC) food dishes are anything but boring. Take their Smoked Whole Turkey for example. Roasted turkey with stuffings of forest mushrooms, chestnuts, and fresh herbs and dressed in forest berries, leaves and fruits. A delectable gravy of sautéed vegetables, and home-style orange cranberry marmalade is served with your finely cooked turkey. Priced at RM97 per kg, you have the option of eating it at ABC or takeaway and enjoy Christmas dinner in the comfort of your home. A deposit of RM250 is required for every order which must be made 3 days in advance. For further enquiries, please contact 03- 21622288 Happy feasting, dear readers!

DECEMBER 2014

Christmas Edition

Best Restaurants for a Traditional Christmas Dinner B By Denise Chan

esides the act of giving and receiving gifts, the Christmas meal is the other special part of the quintessential Christmas celebration. Be that as it may, if you’ve been slaving all year at a hot stove (or even if at your job!), the last thing you may want is to have to cook a big meal for so many people during the holidays.

We’ve decided to help you out. These restaurants boast some of the finest Christmas dinner offerings for the tired, overworked or those simply unable to cook!

Colonial Cafe Taking us back to the hotel’s heyday in 1932, the Colonial Cafe is located within the heritage building of The Majestic Hotel. If you want a change from the usual modern and hipster scene, the colonial cafe will brings you back to the glam and glitz of the early 1900’s. If you’re dining at the Colonial Cafe this Christmas, be prepared for a gastronomic adventure with a 5 – course meal starting with an Italian labeled wine and hot and cold starters. Main courses include a selection of either lamb or a glazed halibut fillet that ends with Christmas pudding and cookies. Price: RM250++ per person.

Victoria Station The station has been operating since 1989. With 25 years experience of sizzling steak and seafood, having your Christmas feast there could do no wrong. Their Christmas menu consist of 3-course meal including a cured smoked salmon and a lobster bisque. For the main, you still get to feast in traditionally roast turkey with chesnut stuffing and for the finishing touch, always leave room for Christmas mince pie and pudding. To enjoy all of that, this Christmas feast will cost you RM89.90++ per person.

Albion KL Located at Bukit Bintang, Albion offers a modern, British fine-dining experience at a reasonable price. Christmas dinner at the Albion is everything you’d expect from a British Christmas dinner; a main of either turkey, fish or vege pie; starters of duck, pork, cranberry and pistachio terrine, smoked salmon mousse and a delicious ending of Christmas pudding, parfait or a cheese platter. All sets come with sides of soup or sorbet and mince pies. For reservations, call 03-2141 9282. Price: RM150++ per person.

Top Hats

Top Hats might easily be mistaken for a hat-inspired restaurant or millinery. But make no mistake; you will get nothing but good food here. The Christmas set menu is worth checking out. Choose from a main of salmon, beef, lamb or turkey, which will be accompanied by a starter of asparagus soup, trio of lamb, calamari salad, and ended with double chocolate truffles and drinks. For reservations, call 03-21428611. Price: Turkey or salmon at RM180++; beef or lamb set priced at RM200++ per person.

Mezze Located at Jalan Kasah, Medan Damansara, this bistro lounge features the staple lounge atmosphere of dim lights and cosy, plush settings. But you don’t just go there for the sofas. Their Christmas eve dinner set is a thing to adored with four starter dishes of smoked ham, foie gras, pork sausage and roasted tomato soup. You then get to choose from three main dishes such as pan-fried Japanese seabream or roasted turkey roulade; two desert options featuring the traditional yule log cake and mix berry pavlova as well as a light opening of amuse bouche and ending of petite four. Mezze is great if you like mixture of traditional yet improvised Christmas meals. To make a booking, call 03-2095 0122. Price: RM165++ per person.

DECEMBER 2014

Christmas Edition

DIY Christmas Gifts W ho does not love receiving present? And when it comes to Christmas, the thought of presents certainly isn’t far away. But buying them for family members much removed may burn a hole in your wallet and you may be wondering: how much should you spend on Christmas gifts?

The very idea of Christmas gift-giving is based on concept of thought and love (as most gifts!) so why not save money this Christmas whilst still giving a really special gift to loved ones? One of the best ways to do that is through the DIY gift. With DIY gift ideas, you just need to know your forte, and the character of your recipient to make something truly memorable. There are a lot of ideas out there so we decided to break down the most popular DIY ideas to help you along.

Baked Yummies Baked food, as humble as it is, can be the ultimate way to someone’s heart. If you have the knack for baking; nothing could be simpler and sweeter a gift. How about a gift jar filled with chocolate chip cookies or maybe a box of rainbow coloured macaroons? The ingredients aren’t necessarily expensive (unless you burn a couple of batches, in which case, this is not the gift you should be attempting to make!) There are a lot of new recipes posted online and you just have to give it try.

Penchant for the Personalised DIY gifts can also be about transforming that plain item into something fancy and eye-catching. Be it sofa pillows, mugs or a lamp shade; creativity has no boundaries. There a lot of ideas out there for you to try and you might have to spend a little cash on the rhinestones or ribbons and the item you will be personalising but these come relatively cheaply and you don’t have to make the item fully from scratch. There are also many DIY gifts that can be done last minute with the help of technology. For example, the amazing photo of clouds that you shared on Instagram will make an awesome piece of wall decoration. Print it out and frame it. If you want to make it really unique, buy a basic frame and decorate it yourself for an additional personalised touch.

At Your Service Apart from physical things you can give, you can also give loved ones the gift of your time and service. The chore coupon book is one of the most popular DIY gifts. The coupons can be for doing the chores, massages, or just a ‘wild card’ that allows the recipient to give you a task. Decorate your coupon book for added glam and give the gift of yourself this Christmas. Christmas can be a trying time for our wallets and although DIY gifts can really help you save; they will require a bit more effort on your part. It will also defeat the purpose if you end up spending a lot on supplies! So plan your gift and only buy what you need. After all, it is about how you use your imagination to transform the basic idea into a fun gift.

By Farrah Ana

DECEMBER 2014

Christmas Edition

Avoid Overspending This Christmas: Make a Budget! By Rakesh Premakumaran

efore you know it, time passes by like a supersonic Santa Claus sleigh, and, voila! Christmas is here. Many have already began preparing for Christmas as you read this: planning the meals, the baking and gift buying. While it is a season of joy and merriment, some may be hampered by that dreaded word, when it comes to any festive season: budgeting! But using a budget could actually save you from overspending and starting the New Year in debt. Let us help you create a budget you can use to prepare yourself financially so that you can have a great time with your friends and relatives without worry.

Make a List and Check it Twice This is a fine rule that applies to any event, getting the list on paper (or on screen) and put in the estimates so that you can budget accordingly. What do you need to spend on: Gifts, food, decoration? Set a maximum spend amount for each and remind yourself not to go over it! Sometimes, even the most careful list-ers may miss an item or two so include a miscellaneous spend amount for all those little extras you may forget. Another way to help you keep your list all-inclusive is to check out other lists online for the usual Christmas spends. You can then compare yours to see if you’ve missed anything.

Try Alternatives

Make it Detailed

Be Realistic Whilst you’re making a budget, be realistic with the amounts and if you really cannot afford the true cost – find an alternative. For instance, if a turkey this year costs RM150 per bird; setting a budget of RM100 is foolhardy. Do your research and make a budget that is realistic and workable. In the same vein, don’t set an RM20 budget on gifts and then lament that nothing can be bought with it. If you are going to set a low amount (and there’s nothing wrong with that!) just understand what you will get for that amount to stave off any disappointment.

Can’t afford a turkey; why force yourself to have one? Whilst it’s supposedly a Christmas tradition in Western countries, it doesn’t have to be here. After all, a dry turkey is nothing compared to a saucy rendang and your guests might just agree. Serve what you can afford, not what you’d like to pretend you can. In the end, Christmas is about spending time with loved ones and you needed burn a hole in your wallet for that.

Making your budget as detailed as possible is the way to go for sure. Don’t just put a full figure for ‘gifts’ but break it down to the per person level. This means setting a budget for each person you need to buy a gift for. Of course, as with any budget, creating the maximum amounts is only the first step – the next is actually sticking to it!

Trim the Fat If it’s possible to do without extras, it might be worth considering to budget only for the essentials. Do you really need new decoration when last year’s are still usable? Do you need extra decoration bits like wreaths and candles? Strike these off your list if they are only adding unnecessary bulk to your budget.

DECEMBER 2014

Christmas Edition

6 7

Don’t Bust Your Savings You may be tempted this season to stick your fingers into your savings to make up for any shortfall but this isn’t the best way to go about things. Depleting your savings over a holiday is one of the worst things you could do for your finances. A small amount may be one thing but be careful not to go overboard.

With Good Budgeting Comes Real Seasonal Joy The propensity to overspend is ever-present during every holiday season. But you’ll be able to avoid the pitfalls if you plan well enough and stick to your budget. The last thing you want to do is start the 2015 on the wrong financial foot. But don’t despair – a great holiday is still possible even if you have limited funds. It’s just about knowing what counts.

The SaveMoney Budget Template Worried about overspending this Christmas? No sweat; use our handy cut-out and keep SaveMoney Template to Holiday budgeting! Item Description 1. Gifts Mom & Dad Spouse/partner Sister Friends Other 2. Food Main course (ie. turkey, lamb, etc) Side dishes Cakes and desserts Cookies and snacks Drinks Others 3. Decorations Tree Tree decoration House decoration (wreaths, nativity scenes, etc) Others 4. Holidays (if any) Transportation Accomodation Spending money Others 5. Holiday clothes Outfit for self Outfit for family Shoes for self Shoes for family Others 6. Household Cleaning services Cleaning aids/supplies Others 7. Miscellaneous spends a) b) c) Grand Total

Budgeted

Actual

Total

DECEMBER 2014

Christmas Edition

Christmas Dinners Around the World By Diana Chai

Ho ho ho! Christmas is just around the mistletoe’d corner and it’s time to enjoy the holiday feast, guilt-free. For those of you who celebrate Christmas (or even those who don’t!); a typical Christmas feast usually features roast turkey, smoked ham and fancy Christmas cakes. But then there will be that few of you who will sneak in a rendang; fried rice or soup dumplings, because hey, we’re Malaysians and we can enjoy the culinary joys of many worlds. Just like we add a bit of Malaysia to our Christmas feast; so do people in other countries! Christmas meals are interpreted differently across the world so as a little diversion; let us take you to 6 very different countries for a varied taste of Christmas!

India

Brazil

Curries are commonly found in every part of the world. In India, curry is a staple meal for most. Can you guess what they’ll be having during this festive season? With Portuguese influence, pork is cooked in curries and vindaloo (which contains wine and garlic) together with other curry dishes and sweet cakes.

Dinner in Brazil is served at midnight of Christmas eve. Their Christmas feast is unique and includes salted codfishballs as starters; smoke turkey with curdled pork blood; smoked ham; and kale salad. As part of the Brazillian food culture, don’t be surprised to see tropical fruits garnished on each dish, adding more vibrancy to the table.

Ethiopia Situated at the horn of Africa, Christmas in Ethiopia falls much later on 7th of January instead of the 25th of December. After a day of fasting on Christmas eve, they indulged on a meals placed on a large platters consisting of flavour-packed of meat and vegetarian dishes with injera bread (traditional Ethiopian bread). What’s in the platter? Small portions of Dorowat( Ethiopian spicy chicken stew); Mesir Wat (lentil stew), fresh salad and Ayib (fresh Ethiopian cheese) is placed on top of injera bread. For a finishing touch, homemade wine or beer is served.

Italy As a country rich in food and family culture, lunch on Christmas Day is the most important meal where family and relatives gather together feasting on cured meat garnished with olive and cheese, varieties of baked pasta dishes.

United Kingdom

Sweden

Traditionally, smoked goose was served during this festive season until smoked turkey became a more popular option. For starters, smoked salmon and dill sauce is served or the more popular pig’s in a blanket (sausage wrapped with bacon). With a sweet savoury taste, turkey slices are eaten with smoked ham, Brussels sprouts and roast potatoes with cranberry sauce. For dessert, fruit cakes and fruit mince pies wash the lot down. Or you could indulge in Victorian brandy-soaked pudding.

Chrismas dinner in Sweden is done in alla Smörgåsbord (buffet) style where variety of foods are served. Fish dishes are the focal point of a Swedish Christmas dinner. Quite often, lutfisk (aged dried fish) is complemented with creamy sauce. Pickled herring or cured salmon is included as one of the main dishes. Julskinka (smoked ham companied with mustard crust) and traditional Swedish meatballs are also on the menu. Desert time is also game time, where an almond is hidden underneath a rice cream pudding. Whoever finds it; gets a present.

DECEMBER 2014

Christmas Edition

Gift for Women under RM100 T

By Diana Chai

he ladies might have everything or want nothing at all. But there’s always a little something you can buy her to put a smile on her face. Whether she’s a home diva; party princess or girl at heart; we’ve got the picks for you. And best of all; they come at affordable prices. Everything on the list is below RM100 so go ahead and pick a gift for the special women in your life this Christmas.

Dessert Plate Diva, Kare Pretty in pink, this iconic Audrey Hepburn dessert plate makes a great gift for those who love decorative pieces or just simply anything pink! Though it’s a shame to place a chocolate pudding on the face of the one and only Ms Golightly; pretty kitchenware is meant to be used, no? Whether on a wooden plate rack or inside a glass cabinet, these plates are sure to be the centre of attention. Get 4 or just one – at RM25 a piece, you can’t go wrong.

RM25.00 each

2 RM59.00 each

Pyjamas set, Mark & Spencer, RM89.00 each The home is a sanctuary for the tired mind and body. After a long day at work, dressing up in cottony soft pyjamas ensures a good night sleep. At RM89, this pyjama sets comes with two options- a light blue short-sleeved top with floral printed pants in white; or a black 3/4 sleeve top with pink polka dot ribbon pants in black. These pyjama options may not look like it belongs to the Victoria’s Secret angel line of sleepwear, but you can be sure your lady is much more comfortable in these!

RM89.00 each

Frame Tressure, Kare, 15X10cm A photo frame may seem like a boring gift. But not when it looks like this! Embellished with stones, leaves and flowers, this eye-catching piece grabs the heart of the receiver or anyone who walks by it. Not to mention that, it looks stunning with or without a photograph. This creative piece could instantly bring more light and character to a room- one which the receiver will appreciate. Feeling cheeky? Stick your own photo in it to remind the recipient of the giver with the excellent taste!

DECEMBER 2014

Christmas Edition

Rose Floral Collection Weekender Giftset, Mark & Spencer When in doubt, go to Mark & Spencer where you can find a variety of gift options from clothes, and toiletries to food items. This lovely weekender bag from their toiletries section comes with all things roses, namely hand wash, hand and body lotion, a bar of soap and a bottle of body wash. Fragrances are not a one size fits all, so don’t worry if your lady isn’t the roses kind of girl. You can opt for magnolia, lavender or a slew of other fragrances that M&S has to offer.

RM89.00 each

iPhone 6 Phone Cover, RadioShacks For the girl in love with her phone; why not a useless casing to keep her new gadget comfy? Much like dressing up, the choice of phone case depends on individual preferences but a simple and clean design can do no wrong. What’s great about this phone cover is it works as a fold with a magnetic buckle which can be turn into a kickstand. It can also fold together to protect the screen from scratches.

RM99.00 each

Cupcake Stand, Robinson Does your lady enjoy a spot of baking (or even just cupcake eating)? This three-tiered stand will surely put a smile on her face if so. Earn yourself even more brownie points by buying her some cupcakes when you hand the gift over.

RM78.40 each

DECEMBER 2014

Christmas Edition

Gifts for Men under RM100 I

By Diana Chai

f you’ve ever thought that buying your man a gift proves challenging; we hear you! But, the one thing to remember about gifting to the male species is that utility is everything. Every received a jack for your car or a new set of bulbs from your man and thought; “how unromantic!” But in truth, it is actually a pretty romantic gesture in his mind because of how useful these things will be to you. Thinking ‘useful’ made all the difference when we set out to choose gifts for our list of under RM100. Here’s our choices!

Marvel Storage Box (set of 2) from Kare

For some men, growing older doesn’t mean being less interested in their childhood heroes. It just means they can finally afford to buy their own paraphernalia! This marvel storage box is sure to make any fan happy and keep their stuff tidy.

9.9 7 M R

Mixed Body Spray Giftset, Marks & Spencer

Is your guy the trendy metrosexual who loves looking (and smelling) his best? The body spray giftset is sure to win you brownie points. With a range of manly, musky scents; the gift is both useful for presenting his most dapper self forward but is also a treat if he enjoys mixing up his scent of choice!

There’s nothing quite like fishing and trekking for the adventurous man and you can bet the Victorinox pocket knife will find a way to be useful during one of his treks. As one of the most trusted brands in penknives; the Victorinox is both durable and lasting hence the slightly higher price point but you will be glad you spent the added amount for a good piece of Swiss engineering.

RM97

9 6 M

Victorinox Basic Knife

Dumbbell Assortment

For fitness junkies, there’s nothing quite like working up a sweat. Give your man his very own home gym starter kit with a pair of dumbbells. Depending on his fitness level you can choose from a range of different weights. Don’t know which? You might have to stalk him at his workout place!

Xiao-Mi Powerbank

Phone addicts everywhere would love the feeling of knowing they will never be away from a power source again. Does your man love updating his blog; checking out Instagram or playing countless hours of games? This is the gift to end all gifts. Even if he already has one; for the phone junkie – there is never such a thing as too many powerbanks!

RM60 for 2 x 5LBS or RM92 for 2 x 10LBS

RM99

DECEMBER 2014

Christmas Edition

Gifts for Children under RM100 G

one are the days when Victorian Children of Olde were happy for penny toys strung up on the tree like treats. Today, the flashier the better and some parents find themselves wanting to take personal loans just to buy gifts! Well, we feel your pain too so we did our darndest to scour the malls for presents below RM100.

3D Puzzle Packs, Toys R’ Us

The 3D puzzle is the evolution of the good old-fashion jigsaw. By choosing their favorite cartoon characters; this fun pastime will stimulate a child’s logical thinking and concentration as they build their picture. You have the option of a Disney Princesses or the Avenger set for the little boy or girl in your life.

It’s time to hide the iPad from the kids and bust out the board games. These fun interactive games need no introduction- Monopoly, Twister and Scrabble are great for brain stimulation and to have quality time with the children. Encourage your children to play with others and build their social skills instead of staring at a screen all day!

RM62.90 to RM99.90

RM64.95

Play Doh Sets

Board Games, Toys R’ Us

RM46.90 to RM79.90

Loom Band Set

RM49.90

Pet Gold Fish with a glass bowl and pellets

Keeping a pet comes with responsibility. If your child has been asking for a pet, you could surprise him/her with a pet fish this Christmas. Keeping an aquarium filled with fishes may require some effort to maintain, but a gold fish in a glass bowl is a perfect start.

RM46.90 to RM79.90

DECEMBER 2014

TESCO Delivers: Should You Buy Groceries Online? By Denise Chan

ife can be hectic. Working, parenting or just living your life. Sometimes, the last thing you want to do on your weekend is head to the mall and brave the crowds to grocery shop.

If only magical bags filled with fresh meats and vegetables would magically appear. While there’s no time to hunt for an Alladin lamp; the internet could be the easy way out. Tesco now provides online shopping so you can have your groceries delivered to your doorstep. So, whether you’re busy, tired or simply lounging at home for the weekend; a few clicks are all it takes to buy your groceries. If you aren’t entirely convinced with substituting your regular grocery rounds at the supermarket with online shopping, check out our guide on grocery shopping the old-fashioned way versus the web-addict’s way based on our personal experience with Tesco.

The Web-Addict’s Way: Grocery Online Shopping Just as e-commerce was invented to do, we decided to shop at Tesco online as it gives us the convenience to stock up on without needing to go to a physical store. During peak hours, getting into the mall can be quite a challenge especially when it appears the whole Klang Valley is looking to shop at the same place at the same time. However, to shop efficiently online requires a little planning. It’s not as simple as running out the door the minute you find you need something. You’ll need to book time slots and wait patiently for the delivery man. There’s no real effort after you click buy because the delivery man will do the lugging of the heavy rice bags and such for you. Once you’ve ordered, all there is left to do is catch up on first season of True Detective; or whatever you want really. In exchange for convenience, delivery costs will apply. Delivery costs range from free to RM10. The more you order; the less you pay. For large orders; you don’t even need to pay for delivery! But even if you are paying an RM6 or RM10 fee; think about all the parking fees, hassles and time you are saving yourself. It sounds like a good deal.

The Good-Old-Fashioned Way: At the Supermarket If you insist on the experience of ‘testing’ your produce or picking the perfect one; a trip to the supermarket would meet those needs. It’s also great if you need to get some ingredients super fast and can’t be waiting for a free delivery slot. But would you in turn be paying dearly for choosing to go through the extra effort of shopping for yourself? Heading to a mall in the first place will cost you in fuel (and with little subsidy now - it’s a bitter pill!). Let’s say, the distance between your home and the nearest grocery store is 11km. A full tank for most 40 litre capacity fuel tanks cost about RM90.40 to fill with RON 95 fuel. Depending on your engine capacity, most 1.3-1.6L engine vehicles can run for about 250-400km on a full tank of fuel. That gives you RM92/250= RM0.36 per km. And, when you drive 11km, back and forth: approximate RM7.92. Depending on which mall you go to and the length of time spent, the first hour will cost you around RM3RM4 in parking fees. Of course, getting all the items into your cart and to checkout is unlikely to take only an hour. You could be spending the first two hours grocery shopping and the next hour distracted by a shop’s window display and worse, end up spending more on things you didn’t intend to in the first place! Total cost of going to the nearby mall without traffic: RM7.92 (fuel costs)+ RM3 (First hour): RM10.92. Just imagine how much each trip is costing you during peak hours, if your home is further or worse; if you take longer and shop more? With all that said, are you ready to upgrade your shopping experience and convert to grocery shopping online? If you need a quick guide on online shopping; read on.

DECEMBER 2014

How to Shop Online? If you’re a regular at shopping sites, grocery shopping is a piece of cake. Say goodbye to long queues, crowded malls and markets; shopping online is easy and convenient. TESCO requires a one-time account opening where you can then save your details for easy tracking and ordering in future. Opening an account is easy-peasy and it helps remember your order history and updates for easy tracking.

All about Delivery A large part of the magic involved in online shopping has mainly to do with having the items delivered to your door. But because this is done via a delivery guy and an aptly painted van instead of a genie; you may be restricted by delivery times, areas and fees. These will differ based on where you live and the reach of the online store in question. When in doubt always look for these three things: • Where are the available delivery areas and is your home within it? • How much is the delivery fee and are you willing to pay it in order to gain this magical convenience? • At what time will the delivery guy pop by and does this fit into your schedule/need for groceries?

Delivery Fee Of course, there will be a delivery fee involved. Tesco charges between RM0- RM10 depending on the time slot you book and offer free delivery for large purchases over a set amount. You may think it’s a little much but if you consider the fuel you burn and parking fee spent to go grocery shopping yourself – it’s totally worth it. For more value for your money, spend more than RM100 on your groceries and have them deliver for free.

Time of Delivery Time is the biggest factor here. To enjoy the convenience of groceries delivered to your doorstep, be prepared to plan ahead. Most online delivery services encourage you to book ahead of time and we would too! Weekend slots are hard to come by because everybody wants them. With that said, if you can opt to have the items delivered to your office – it would allow you more slot options during non-peak times!

How Do I Make Payment? Payments are made when purchases are delivered. If you don’t like keeping cash at home; fret not, Tesco online only accepts Visa and MasterCard credit cards and debit card payment anyway. Prior to making payment, remember to inspect your order to make sure you are happy with your items. Tesco sometimes replaces items which aren’t in stock with reasonable substitutes but you’re welcome to turn these down if you aren’t happy. Also, you can turn down any other item if you aren’t 100% satisfied with the quality.

To Sum it Up You might think - nothing beats going to a store and actually looking at the produce you are buying but when you think about the price of petrol; the traffic jams; crowds and insane lack of parking; you really need to ask if it’s all worth trying to save RM10 off a delivery fee. Unless you truly enjoy the experience of jostling crowds; rounding parking lots for hours and lugging 10kg worth of groceries to your car; you should give online ordering a try. You might like it so much; you’ll never shop the conventional way again.

Lifestyle

DECEMBER 2014

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DECEMBER 2014

Haruskah Anda Mendapatkan Aktiviti Murah yang Menyeronokkan

Kad Kredit? Sewaktu Kekurangan Wang

Diterjemah oleh: Balkish Rosly nda teringin untuk membuat permohonan kad kredit, tapi risau akan mengalami masalah hutang By Farah yang banyak? Ramai menganggap bahawa berhutang ngatkah anda sesuatu berapa banyak wang yang dibelanjakan sewaktu Patutkah Saya Mendapatkan Kad Kredit merupakan yang tidak baik, telah tetapi sebenarnya keluar beriadah di bandar? Kita mudah terbawa-bawa apabila sedang (Walaupun risiko pemilikannya tinggi?) menikmati masakejatuhan yang menyeronokkan. atau penyebab seseorang. Sesudah segalanya berakhir, Seperti yang kami katakan di atas, kad kredit bukan punca masalah anda. Dengan anda akan mula berfikir, “Kemana semua duit saya telah pergi?”. sedikit disiplin, pemilikan kad kredit boleh memberi banyak manfaat kepada HUTANG YANG TIDAK TERURUS ialah punca sebenar masalah kita semua. Bilamana anda mengalami kesempitan wang, meluangkan masa di Ia boleh membantu anda mengawasi perbelanjaan bulanan, menolong anda. Hutang pada asasnya adalah sesuatu yang baik jika diuruskan dengan bijak. Tapi rumah kelihatan seperti satu-satunya perkara yang boleh dilakukan dimembuat bayaran sebelum gaji masuk, memberi pelbagai ganjaran dan anda jika kita tidak mengambil peduli tentang hal kewangan sendiri, maka kesemua juga boleh menolong anda menyimpan wang jika digunakan dengan bijak. hujung hutangminggu. ini akan bertukar menjadi hutang “buruk” (dan mimpi ngeri anda!).

Jadi, baca tips-tipstiada berikut untuk untuk mengelakkan diri anda daripada wang selain dari Namun, benarkah langsung pilihan lain sewaktu kekurangan terjebak ke dalam “hutangaktiviti kelilingdipinggang”! menghabiskan masa femonena tanpa sebarang rumah? Semestinya, tidak! Kami semua suka berseronok dan kami akan menunjukkan kepada anda caranya tanpa perlu memboros! Berikut merupakan aktiviti-aktiviti menyeronokkan yang boleh Peringatan Sebelumdiantara Memilih Kad Kredit dilakukan apabila anda kekurangan wang.

Tips

1 Piknik/BBQ

Kad kredit bukan pendapatan tambahan anda! Jadi jangan menambahkan perbelanjaan harian hanya kerana anda mempunyai kad kredit.

Apakah cara lebih baik untuk menghabiskan hujung minggu bersama-sama keluarga dan sahabat handai selain daripada aktiviti masak-memasak yang enak? Menganjurkan majlis BBQ merupakan cara terbaik untuk keluar Cuba untuk menggunakan kad kredit anda secara dari rutin makan di rumah. Ianya mungkin kedengaran mahal, tetapi tidak minima dan segera langsaikan bil kad kredit bulanan anda semestinya begitu. Sebuah kadar pemanggang pakai-buang boleh didapati pada untuk mengelakkan faedah berganda. harga kurang dari RM50 (anda boleh memilih untuk berkongsi bersama rakan) dan tidak semestinya perlu dibuang selepas digunakan. Banyak pembakar murah ini boleh digunakan sekurang-kurangnya 3-4 kali sebelum anda perlu membuangnya (atau bergantung kepada bagaimana anda menjaganya). Anda dengan hutang bulanan kad kredit anda. anda yang juga bolehBerhati-hati mengurangkan lagi kos dengan membuat ‘potluck’.Jika Semua gagal untuk membayar secara penuh setiap bulan, anda kena hadir boleh menyumbangkan bahan-bahan BBQ yang murah seperti sosej, membayar faedah 13% p.a. – 18% p.a. sebulan! burger dan lada benggala.

Konsep ‘potluck’ sesuai juga untuk idea berpiknik, boleh menjimatkan wang disamping masih dapat berkumpul bersama rakan-rakan. Pilih mana-mana Elakkan pembayaran lewat kerana ia mungkin mengakibatkan taman berdekatan pada pagi yangfaedah cerah rendah, kerana pembayaran waktu tengahari adalah kehilang tawaran kadar denda sangat panas di dan/atau Malaysia! menjejaskan Bawa tikar anda bersama! cara yang bagus penalti penilaian kredit Ianya dan permohonan untuk melepaskan dengan menikmati deruan angin selepas minggu kad kredittekanan anda dimasa hadapan. bekerja yang memenatkan. Jika tiada taman yang bagus di tempat tinggal anda, anda mungkin terpaksa memandu keluar namun tempat-tempat piknik serata Lembah Klang ini adalah berbaloi dengan usaha untuk anda. Tidak pasti kad kredit yang sesuai anda?

Ragu-ragu tentang jenis kad kredit yang mana harus anda pilih? Cuba kuiz kad kredit kami di bawah! Kami akan melakukan sebaik mungkin untuk mencadangkan kad kredit terbaik untuk anda:

Malam Wayang Gambar

Tiket wayang gambar mungkin tidak mahal tetapi bila ditambah harga sekotak bertih Soalan 1: jagung, minuman ringan, caj meletak kenderaan dan makanan luar, usaimampu tayanganmelangsaikan gambar dan anda bakal kad pokaikredit sebelum hari Adakah anda hutang gaji. Tidak dinafikan sepenuhnya setiapbahawa bulan? panggung wayang mempunyai sistem bunyi menakjubkan beserta skrin lebar berdefinasi tinggi. Bahagian terbaik Pergi ke Soalan 2 untuk mengetahui cara untuk mengurangkan YA menonton apabila di rumah? Boleh bermanja bersama yang tersayang; kadar bayaran faedah – dan seterusnya menjimatkan wang anda! makanan dan minuman tanpa had dari peti sejuk sendiri; dan anda boleh menonton selesaOleh sambil berpakaian rumah.melangsaikan hutang kad Tahniah! kerana anda mampu TIDAKdengan kredit setiap bulan, anda tidak perlu risau dengan kadar faedah yang dikenakan bank. Sebaliknya, anda patut mencari kad kredit yang boleh menawarkan ganjaran untuk perbelanjaan anda. Misalnya, jika anda seorang penggemar wayang, maka carilah kad kredit yang memberikan anda ganjaran di panggung wayang.

Membaca untuk Melebarkan Buah Fikiran

Jika anda tidak mempunyai sebarang rancangan untuk hari minggu, Soalan 2: duduk di rumah dan membaca boleh menjadi sebuah ideamelangsaikan yang baik. Tidak kirakad kredit sepenuhnya Adakah anda mampu hutang buku apa yang anda baca, membaca adalah cara setiap bulan? yang baik untuk berehat dan membina perspektif TIDAK baru. WalaupunCuba tidaksoalan ramai3.yang suka membaca, ianya tidaklah menyakitkan untuk dicuba. Terdapat Cari kad kredit yang mempunyai promosi faedah 0% dengan YA pelbagai buku untuk semua jenis minat dan anda tempoh yang lama! mungkin akan mendapati diri anda terjebak!

Memiliki Kad Kredit:

1. Ikut bajet bulanan dan pastikan anda langsaikan hutang kad kredit setiap bulan!

Jika anda menggunakan kad kredit untuk mendapat

2. pemindahan baki 0%, pastikan anda tidak terlepas bayaran Keluarkan Peluh! minima yang perlu dibayar sepanjang tempoh 0% itu.

Senaman adalah bagus untuk anda dan tidak semestinya melibatkan wang • Cuba membuka debit untuk bayaran minima (melainkan anda mahukan begitu!). akaun direct Berlari di sekitar kawasan kejiranan, setiap bulan. Dengan cara ini anda boleh mengelakkan mengikuti video Yoga atau senamrobik di YouTube atau bermain sukan lewatmenghabiskan bayaran / kehilang faedah 0% pilihan anda tidak penalti sepatutnya banyak duit.pembelian Sesetengah sukan memerlukan pelaburan awal seperti membeli bola keranjang • Pada saat anda membuat bayaran lewat, kurang atau raket tenis namun masa keseronokan yang diperolehi selepas daripada bayaran minima atau terlupa untuk membuat perbelanjaan tersebut adalah lebih dari berbaloi.

bayaran, anda akan terus hilang bonus kadar 0% dan akan dikenakan kadar faedah tertinggi untuk kad kredit jenis ini.

Untuk pelan pembayaran mudah 0% selama 12 atau 24 bulan 3. yang selalu digunakan untuk pembelian seperti telefon bimbit,

Belajar Fotografi /Memulakan Blog perkakas rumah, dan lain-lain, sentiasa membuat bayaran tepat Anda masa kini tidak lagi memerlukan kamera DSLR pada pada setiap bulan.

yang canggih; dengan bantuan telefon pintar

penambahbaikan dapat •dan JIka aplikasi tidak, anda akan kehilanganfoto, kadaranda 0% yang ditawarkan itu.

menghasilkan gambar yang cantik tanpa kos sebuah kamera mahal. Jadi, semadikan kenangan kredit yang boleh makanan memberikan ganjaran kepada setiap Pilih kad itu4. dengan mengambil gambar anda, perbelanjaan anda. orang yang tersayang, kucing belaan anda atau mungkin pokok-pokok dan awan (apa kisah, • Jika anda banyak berbelanja di tempat tertentu (contoh : anda Instagram penuh dengan gambar sebegitu!). selalu melancong / anda suka tengok wayang ), carilah kad Muatnaik ke blog anda, Instagram atau Facebook kredit yang memberikan ganjaran dan keuntungan mengikut untuk menarik orang ramai yang berkongsi minat perbelanjaan anda. sama dan berhubung secara maya.

Soalan 3:

Memasak Adakah anda mempunyai

disiplin untuk menukar kad untuk

mendapat kadar faedah 0%, selalunya Jadilah seorang chef di rumah anda. setiap 3 hingga 6 bulan? Memasak juga memberi kesan Cuba soalan 4. TIDAKboleh terapeutik dan merupakan kemahiran mendapatkan YAbagus Cuba yang untukuntuk dimiliki. Selain kad kredit yang memberi kadar faedah 0% paling lama. itu, tukar kad kredit anda dan daripada itu, ianya adalah mahal Selepas jika pindahan 0% (tempoh 0% selalunya 3 hingga makan di luardapatkan setiap masa. Jikabaki anda 6 bulan) untuk memindahkan tidak pernah memegang kuali memasak hutang anda ke kad yang baru tanpa dikenakan caj faedah langsung. seumur hidup anda, jangan risau; lebih baik lewat dari tidak langsung! Carilah resipi mudah di dalam talian dan cubalah. Walaupun kamu perlu mengeluarkan duit untuk bahan memasak; Soalan 4: ia selalunya tidaklah begitu mahal. Anda juga boleh menyahut cabaran Anda perlu menggunakan kredit peti namun tidak mampu membuat ‘Masak apa sahaja yang adakad di dalam sejuk’ untuk menggunakan bayaran penuh tidak mampu memohon kad baru setiap kali tempoh sepenuhnya bakidan makanan yang ada. promosi faedah 0% tamat?

Jangan dirianda andaadalah kerana andamemohon kesempitan Lebih Pilihan “menghukum” terbaik untuk diri untuk kad wang. kredit dengan kadarcuba faedah paling dan elakkan kad kredit 0% .Ini kerana baik, salah saturendah, dari aktiviti jimat yang menyeronokkan inisetelah pada tempoh 0% , kadar akan meningkat kadar rakanfaedah waktu dimana poketfaedah anda adalah lebih nipislebih dari berbanding biasa. Dapatkan palingdan rendah kad kredituntuk yang tersedia. rakan ahli keluarga turut serta yang boleh menjadi nilai tambah kepada keseronokan tersebut.

JimatCermat.my ialah laman penjimatan kewangan di Malaysia, kami sentiasa berusaha menyelidik cara-cara untuk anda menjimatkan wang tanpa mengubah cara hidup anda dan berjimat JimatCermat.my merupakan penjimatan kewangan di Malaysia yang boleh menolong anda menjimatkan sekurang-kurangnya RM1,000 setahun tanpa mengubah cara hidup anda! sekurang-kurangnya RM1,000laman setahun!

SaveMoney Traveller

DECEMBER 2014

Taking on Lion City with RM1,000 By Diana Chai

f you think RM1,000 is a lot of money for a trip to our Island neighbours; you must not have been to Singapore in recent months! At an exchange rate of RM2.60 to one Sing Dollar; the rate is almost that of Australia so you can be sure your money is going to run out pretty fast. But with a little bit of frugal; we managed to spend 3 days in Singapore with just RM1,000 per person. If you can guess; we didn’t get to ride the Eye of Singapore nor visit Universal studios; but we still got to see a whole lot of Lion City.

Day 1

A Budget Check-In and Hawker Food

Space and luxury isn’t something you can expect at our budget (or most budgets below RM700!) in Singapore by way of hotel rooms. Choosing a budget hotel in a good location, we ended up forking out $145 (RM377) per night; per room. Sharing the room helped ease the cost or else we’d be paying RM754 per person for the two nights! You could save more by opting for a hostel at $70 (RM182) per person but we wanted somewhere a little less dorm-like. The room may have been budget but it was clean and comfortable with an easy location within walking distance from an MRT station. Buying a Tourist Pass for the MRT gave us unlimited rides on the MRT, buses and select tour boats for a flat fee of $30 (RM78) per person making transport for our 3 day stay covered in one lump sum. If you stick to hawker food and the occasional treat; meals in Singapore shouldn’t cost you more than $6-8 (RM15.60- RM20.80) a serving with drinks at $2.50 (RM6.50). We managed to keep all our meals below $15 (RM39) each, per meal and this helped us keep within budget.

Day 2

A Budget Check-In and Hawker Food

Having been good, thrifty travellers on our first day, we opted to treat ourselves to the sights in Orchard Street (Christmas had already begun!), tasty macaroons at TWG and a nice dinner at a Club Street (Singapore’s version of Changkat, Bukit Bintang!) restaurant. Our unlimited pass made it possible for us to go everywhere without the need for cabs or rented vehicles helping us very much stay within budget. Macaroons at TWG cost $2 (RM5.20) each and we had a pot of tea ($9 or RM23.40) to simply experience TWG in its country of origin. Yes, despite TWG being available here; it’s much cheaper in Singapore even after factoring the exchange rate. Dinner at Club Street proved entertaining as the road was closed to accommodate al-fresco diners making the experience quite special. Although, considered the swankier part of the Island with expats and tourists a-plenty; the dinners were still manageable, costing $19-$25 (RM49.40-RM65) per person.

Day 3

Leisurely Strolls and the Airport Trek

Tired from days of walking and MRT rides, we decided on a cab to the airport on our last day. This meant no more eating nice or shopping. We spent most of the day in a quiet kopitiam with a $3 (RM7.80) breakfast and watched Singaporeans go about their merry ways. Taking a slow walk about Clark Quay, we eventually made our way to the hotel via taxi ($15 or RM39). On just RM1,000, you certainly won’t be able to do much shopping but if that isn’t what you want to do; Singapore on that amount is possible. If you opt for the hostel or hawker food all the way; you may be able to squeeze a ride on the Eye of Singapore ($30 or RM78) too.

Super Budget Traveller (per person; 3d 2n; twin sharing/hostel)

Budget (per person; 3d 2n; twin sharing/hostel)

Splurge! (per person; 3d 2n; twin sharing/hostel)

Hotel

$70 (RM182)

$140 (RM364)

$500 (RM1,300)

Food

$5 per meal x 9 (RM117)

$15 per meal x 9 (RM351) $30 per meal x 9 (RM702)

Transport

$12 Tourist Pass Limited (RM31.20)

$30 Tourist Pass Unlimited (RM78)

$10 per way cab x 10 (RM206)

Miscellaneous extras

$30 (RM78)

$50 (RM130)

$200 shopping (RM520)

Total

RM360.20

RM923

RM2,728

DECEMBER 2014

Our Budget Christmas Christmas is just three weeks away and like many young families in urban Malaysia, Louis and Lydia Tan (not their real names) have been hit hard by constant price increases whilst still holding onto stagnant salaries. “The malls are already filled with glorious decorations, beckoning us to spend money we don’t have!” Lydia chuckles. But the couple remains good-natured about the situation. “The presents may need to get smaller but spending time with our 6 year-old son, Jeremy and our extended family, enjoying the festive period is what is important. We’ll have our Christmas, albeit a budget one.” How did they do it? Taking a leaf from the Tan’s budget book; these are their tips to celebrating a budget Christmas.

Cheap

Deco Ideas

“The living room is in need of Christmas decoration, but typically, a Christmas tree and its decorations are sold separately and the total cost would be more than RM500. Luckily, we found a tree complete with decoration for less than RM200 by scouting deals. Jeremy and I also made many decorations and will be making more in the weeks to come. It’s a great way for me to spend time with him and get things done cheaply,” Lydia shares. The Tan’s tree and trimmings cost them approximately RM180. “When it’s lit up at night; no one can tell the difference between your RM200 tree and the RM10,000 one,” she quips. WHERE TO BUY? Christmas Tree (150cm) value pack priced at RM158.56 at SNJ Gift.

Cheap

Food Ideas

Christmas is not Christmas without the food! “My family isn’t big on turkey and spending RM180 for an uncooked bird seems the height of extravagance. I will be roasting chicken instead. Not only is it cheaper; my family will enjoy it more,” Louis, who is the chef extraordinaire in the family, tells us. With a recipe of rosemary marinated chicken and lemon stuffing; even we wanted to be a part of the Tan’s Christmas dinner. “We’ll have roast potatoes and vegetables as sides. My wife will also be making sweet biscuits and fruitcake to go with it all. We don’t expect to spend more than RM200 for the whole meal.” WHERE TO BUY? Hypermarkets will have many promos nearing the holidays so check the one nearest to you.

Cheap

Present Ideas

Gifts are some of the most taxing spends on a Chrismas budget. “The culture has become such that not only are we expected to give gifts; people scoff at gifts less than RM50. But we need to do what is best for our budget,” Louis laments. The Tans decided on small items for the extended family costing not more than RM20. For him and his wife and child; they decided to forego gifts in exchange for a family holiday later in the year. “Jeremy knows he won’t get a gift but instead we promised to take him to Port Dickson during the Chinese New Year holidays as his gift. He’s already excited and we are too. It’s a gift for all of us. We might buy him a small toy or book just so he can open something on Christmas day but that’s it.” How does a vacation save money? “Having the vacation scheduled in February means a bit more time for us to save up. Also, it being a collective gift means it’s just one spend for both my wife and I to share. You’ll also notice it’s just PD – not Bali!” WHERE TO BUY? Using your imagination is the best way to find gifts within your budget! Also, check dealsites and bulk buying options to save even more.

Credit Cards + Personal Loans + Home Loans + Car Loans + Insurance + Internet. This was brought you by Denise Chan from RinggitPlus.com. RinggitPlus compares credit cards, personal loans and home loans to help Malaysians get more for their money. Disclaimer: This article is for information only. Nothing in this article is an endorsement, recommendation or suggestion of any banking, monetary or financial institution, product, service or security, in any form whatsoever. It is not, and shall not be construed as, an offer (that is capable of being accepted) of any credit card, or a solicitation or invitation to purchase or otherwise deal with any credit card issuer. The reader must obtain independent and appropriate financial, legal and other advice before dealing with any credit card issuer. This article does not constitute financial, legal or other advice. The views expressed are the writer's own, and do not reflect or incorporate the views of any entity within the Ascension Lab or Saving Experts Sdn. Bhd entities. Nothing in this article binds or incorporates the views of any Entity, or creates legal relationships between the reader and any Entity.

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DECEMBER 2014