SM Magazine August 2014 by komstudio8

AUGUST 2014

magazine

AUGUST 2014

SaveMoney Green Edition

Change your Bulb, Save the world! How to Keep Your Home Cool without Air-Conditioning

4 Ways to Save on Air-Conditioning Costs Turn to page 15 for a 10% discount voucher at The Marathon Shop!

AUGUST 2014

years of freedom

Selamat Hari MERDEKA!

From:

AUGUST 2014

Contents & Editor’s Note

CONTENTS 4 FINANCE

Publisher Saving Plus Sdn. Bhd. Redberry City, Lot 2A, Jalan 13/2, 46200 Petaling Jaya Selangor D.E., Malaysia.

• A Full Guide to - Employees Provident Fund (EPF) in Malaysia

6 TECHNOLOGY

Editorial Hann Liew Balkish Rosly Eugene Chua Caitlyn Ng Diana Chai Joshua Ong Winnie Wu Nadia Asha Michelle Brohier Chester John

• 3 Ridiculously Expensive Apps

8 LIFESTYLE • The 6 Simple Inventions that Made Millions! • The Crazy Things People Do to Save Money!

Design Komalah Sithamparam Tag Teoh

11 SM GREEN EDITION • What are the Most Fuel Efficient Cars under RM100,000?

Advertising Lucas Ooi For more information on products and services, please feel free to contact us. • Click www.savemoney.my © Copyright. Saving Plus Sdn. Bhd. (Company No.977808-K) 2014. All right reserved.

• Change your Bulb, Save the world! • 4 Ways to Save on Air-Conditioning Costs • How to Keep Your Home Cool without Air-Conditioning

19 JIMATCERMAT.MY

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• Kos Kehilangan Dompet Anda

www.savemoney.my theeditor@savemoney.my

AUGUST 2014

magazine

AUGUST 2014

ey SaveMonion

SAVEMONEY TRAVELLER • Goes to Redang-Beach Resort

SAVEMONEY TOP PRODUCT TABLES

Green Ed

Editor’s Note r Bulb, Change you rld! Save the wo Your ep How to Ke without Home Cool ning Air-Conditio

Save on 4 Ways to ning Air-Conditio sts Co discount 15 for a 10% ! Turn to page thon Shop The Mara voucher at

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You’ve probably noticed that green is everywhere these days, from food, fashion, cars and technology. There’s no denying it - green is the way to go! And why not? Contrary to popular belief, embracing a greener lifestyle does not mean that we should start walking to work nor should we stop abusing the air-conditioner at home. Rather, little green steps that we make today will make an impact tomorrow. For example, laying off the plastic bag and invest in shopping bags instead, switching off the water tap while brushing your teeth and only use your air-conditioner during night time; Trivial steps and yet most choose not to do it. To honour Mother Earth, SaveMoney is going green throughout the month - and we have plenty of articles for you to feast your eyes on! To those eager to upgrade their current ride, why not decide on a car that is fuel efficient? Our writer list down the top fuel efficient car under RM100,000, so check the article out! One of the easiest way to conserve energy is by swtiching your light bulbs at home; yes, that’s right, it is that simple. Not only that, this simple switch will also reduce your electricity bill - head on to our “Go Green with Lightning to Lower Energy Costs” article to find out more. The truth is, every single step we take every day has an impact in the planet. But as an individual, you have the power to control your choices - so embrace a greener lifestyle today! Not only will you help Mother Earth (and the people in it) live another day, this concious decision will also improve your health, increase your bank account, and ultimately improve your overall quality of life.

Balkish Rosly

AUGUST 2014

Finance

A Full Guide to the

Employees Provident Fund (EPF) in Malaysia By Eugene Chua

ll employees in the private sector are mandated to contribute to the EPF for their retirement. In this guide, we will tell you everything you wanted to know about the EPF and what you can hope to expect upon retirement!

What is the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) / Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP)? The Employees Provident Fund Act 1991 (Act 452) provides retirement benefits for members of the EPF through management of their savings contributions. Unlike government pension, the EPF (also called the KWSP) is a social security institution which administers their members retirement fund using a defined contribution plan. On the other hand, government pension is a defined benefit retirement plan. The main difference is that with the EPF, your final payout is determined by the contributions (from both you and your employer) and the investment returns, but with a public pension the final payout is fixed and your pension becomes a liability to the Public Services Department.

What are the Employees / Employers Responsibilities? Registering for the EPF account is solely the employer’s responsibility. Once you start working, your employer will be required to complete Form KWSP 3 with your personal details and signature as stated in your National Identity Card. It is mandatory for your employer to start the registering process early; this is to ensure that your EPF contributions can be paid within the stipulated period. For example, if you are employed on the 1st of January, your employer should hustle up your registration process so that your salary for that particular month can be deducted and the sum paid to the EPF as the first contribution not later than 15th February. It is important to note that you only need to be registered as an EPF member once. Once you’ve gained a new employment elsewhere, you can just inform them of your existing EPF membership.

Who is Mandated to Contribute to the EPF? Can I Contribute Voluntarily? With a few exceptions, all individuals who work for a wage in the private sector (or in a non-pensionable role in the public sector) are required to make EPF contributions. They include: • Directors who receive wages; • Part time, temporary and probationary employees; • Employees are to contribute until the age of 75 years old if they are still working regardless whether they have or have not made the full withdrawal/part of it after attaining the age of 55 years old; • Employees who have withdrawn their savings under the Pensionable Employees and Optional Retirement Withdrawal, and work with employers other than the Federal or State Governments, or any statutory bodies or local authorities; • Employees who have previously made full withdrawal under the Incapacitation Withdrawal and have since recovered and are re-employed in any service.

Malaysian citizens If you are a domestic servant employed in a residential home and whose wages are paid by an individual (the house owner), you may opt to contribute by submitting a notice of election to contribute using Form KWSP 1 (MAJ). A copy of the form must be submitted to the EPF and another copy to the employer. If you are self-employed and opt to contribute voluntarily, you must first register as an EPF member by completing Form KWSP 3. Contributions can be made using Form KWSP 6A(1). The minimum contribution payment amount is RM50 and there is no maximum rate effective 1st January 2011.

Non-Malaysian citizens If you are a foreign worker who is employed and currently residing in Malaysia legally, you may submit a notice of election to contribute using Form KWSP 16B and register as an EPF member using Form KWSP 3. You must submit a copy of the Form KWSP 16B to the EPF and another copy to the employer.

AUGUST 2014

Finance

Types of Income Included for EPF Deductions

Payments not Liable for EPF Contribution:

In general, all payments which are meant to be wages are accountable in your monthly contribution amount calculation. These include:

• Service charges

• Salary • Payment for unutilised annual or medical leave • Bonus • Allowance (except travelling allowance) • Commision • Incentive • Arrears of wages • Wages for maternity leave

• Overtime payment • Rewards (in kind) • Retirement benefits • Retrenchment, temporary and lay-off termination benefits • Any travelling allowance or the value of any travelling concession • Payment in lieu of notice of termination of employment • Director’s fee

• Wages for study leave • Wages for half day leave • Other payments under services contract or otherwise

What is the Rate of Contribution to the EPF? Employees below 55 years of age: For employees earning below RM5,000, the portion of employee’s contribution is 11% of their monthly salary while the employer contributes 13%. For employees who receive wages/salary exceeding RM5,000 the employee’s contribution of 11% remains, while the employer’s contribution is 12%. Employees between 55 years and 75 years of age: For employees who receive wages of RM5,000 and below, the employer’s new share contribution rate is 6.5% (an increase of 0.5%). For employees who receive wages of more than RM5,000, the employer’s share contribution remains at 6% subject to the total of wage.

Voluntary Excess Contributions to the EPF If you or your employer intends to contribute at a rate which exceeds the Statutory Rate, either you or your employer may do so by giving a notice of your intention to the EPF. To do so, your employer is required to complete Form KWSP 17 (Employer) while you are required to complete Form KWSP 17A (Employee) . This new rate will be your new Statutory Rate. Upon receipt of the notification, your employer is required to comply with it. The EPF will instruct your employer to comply with the notice.

How are my contributions paid? Your employer must contribute part of your wages together with the employer’s share to the EPF according to the rates specified under the EPF Act 1991. To do this, your employer has to deduct part of your wages before they are paid to you. This deduction, together with the employer’s share, must reach the EPF before the 15th day of the following month. If your employer sends the contributions later than the specified date, your employer will be fined by the EPF. It is an offence under the EPF Act for your employer not to deduct your wages and not to remit the contributions to the EPF after deduction has been made on your wages.

For example, if your deductable wage was RM2,000 a month: Net amount to employee after EPF deduction: RM1,780 (ie. 100%-11% = 89% of deductable wage) Employee Contribution: RM220 (11% of deductable wage) Employer Contribution: RM260 (13% of deductable wage) Amount payable to EPF by employer: (RM220 + RM260) = RM480

AUGUST 2014

Finance

Some Features of the EPF Dividend

Your contributions in the EPF will accumulate and draw dividends every year. Thus, your savings will increase from year to year until you withdraw all of your savings upon retirement. The EPF act guarantees a minimum of 2.5% Dividend annually.

Tax Incentive Your share of contributions to the EPF is tax deductible up to RM6,000 (inclusive of life insurance premiums). In addition, the savings that you withdraw under the various withdrawal schemes are also exempted from income tax.

Retirement Benefit Your EPF savings are meant for your retirement. When you contribute 11% of your monthly pay to the EPF, your employer will contribute (at least) another 13% to your EPF savings. If you do not contribute, you do not get that additional retirement benefit provided by your employer.

Death And Incapacitation Benefit EPF also provides compensations should certain unfortunate events befall onto its Members. In this regard, the EPF provides Incapacitation Benefit to the member and Death Benefit payable to the member’s dependent. These benefits are additional payments for Incapacitation Withdrawal and Death Withdrawal as a compassionate gesture. The payments are made using EPF’s own income, and are not part of Member’s savings: An amount of RM5,000 is payable to you if you are eligible to withdraw all your savings on being incapacitated. The payment will be made to you after you have received the payment for withdrawal of your savings. This benefit amounting up to RM2,500 is payable to your dependent in the event of your death. This benefit will be paid to your dependent, subject to consideration by EPF.

What is the 1st Account and 2nd Account? Your EPF Account is where all your monthly contributions and that from your employer are credited into. Effective 1 January 2007, the Account is divided into two parts, namely Account I and Account II. Contributions received on your behalf from your employer will be credited into the two accounts according to the following percentages: Account I – 70% of monthly contribution Account II – 30% of monthly contribution These accounts are created for different purposes, and different types of withdrawals are applicable on each accounts:

Account I Savings in this account is meant to be used for your retirement, and it cannot be fully withdrawn before you reach the age of 55, become incapacitated, leave the country or pass away (payment will be made out to your nominee / heir). When you attain the age of 55, you may choose to either withdraw the full amount in a lump sum (including any balance in Account 2), a partial amount larger than RM2,000, or withdrawal into a monthly payment scheme to stagger your payments. You are allowed to invest part of the balance in Account 1 for your own investments at your own risk at any time in your life. This part is 20% of the excess between your Account 1 balance and a predetermined Basic Savings Level based on your current age. For example, the Basic Savings Level for a 30 year old is RM18,000, this means that you may withdraw 20% of the difference between your current Account 1 balance and RM18,000. If you had RM50,000 in your Account 1 balance, this would mean you can withdraw RM6,400 (this is 20% x [RM50,000-RM18,000]) to be invested in funds managed by Approved Fund Management Institutes.

Investment Allocation

Your monthly contributions are invested in a number of approved financial instruments to generate income. They include Malaysian Government Securities, Money Market Instruments, Loans & Bonds, Equity and Property.

Check EPF Account Balance You can check your EPF Account balance at various EPF kiosks located at some Public Bank and RHB Bank branches, as well as any EPF office across Malaysia. You can also check your EPF Account balance online at the KWSP website after obtaining an Activation PIN from the EPF kiosks or EPF office directly.

Account II Savings in this Account is meant to help you to make early preparations for a comfortable retirement. Full/partial withdrawals are allowed prior to the age of 55 for the purposes of: • Attaining the age of 50 years; • Owning a house – the down payment for your first house; • Settling the balance of your housing loan – first house; • Financing education for you and your children; • Medical expenses for you and your children

AUGUST 2014

Technology

3 Ridiculously

Expensive Apps

ruthfully, we at SaveMoney are a horde of proud pennypinchers. The word “affordable” gets us excited, and our diligent team of experts would step on cute kitties to uncover the latest promotion and personal finance news (joke!). When it comes to downloading applications on our smartphones, we scoff at the USD 0.99 price tag and scroll straight to the free sections. However, for the sake of our readers, we are willing to tread into the wonderful world of the (app) elites. Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, and budget aficionados, our latest endeavour exposes the most expensive apps available. So, get you heart pills ready because the prices might just shock you.

By Balkish Rosly

VIP Black by Ivip Ltd (price: USD999.99 / RM3,277.48)

It may be your proudest moment in life, but achieving level 500 (is there such a thing?) on the Candy Crush Saga will not garner you any special VIP treatments at prestigious hangout spots. Fortunately, we know an app that could give all that and more – if you don’t mind dropping some serious cash. For a mere price of USD999.99 or RM3,277.48, the VIP Black app from the Apple Store will be yours. This majestic app is similar to an invitation only credit card for the most affluent iPhone users. What’s in store for you, you ask? This app offers the money-bearer special treatment in certain venues that offered their partnership, such as Virgin Limited Edition, Mariinsky Theatre, and Gordon Ramsay Restaurants. But wait! Purchasing the app is not enough to elevate you to the VIP Black status. After downloading the app, you are required to prove that your account exceeds 1 million. After they have determined that you are indeed the cream of the crop, a personal consultant will personalise the app to fit your lifestyle. Please, refrain from asking us on how the app works because we have no clue…since we can’t afford it.

2. Water Globe by Ubiquitous Muffin (price: USD219.99 or RM719.04)

Want to mentally escape the hot and humid weather of this haze-affected country? Then, the Water Globe app is for you. Make no mistake, at USD219.99 or RM719.04, this app will not turn your gadget into an airconditioner or produce fake snow flake to fuel your escapism. Instead, the funky folks at Ubiquitous Muffin created an interactive screen toys in the form of snow globes. No sir, these are not ordinary snow globes you purchased from the Daiso shop for RM5! These babies are interactive, and users could dab on their screen to churn up the white snowflakes. During troubled times, this app could calm one’s mind with its virtual snowflakes.

Mobile Cam Viewer Enterprise Basic Version by mobiDEOS Inc (price: USD349.99 or RM1,146.57)

The next app with a hefty price tag is the Mobile Cam Viewer by mobiDEOS Inc. If you have gazillion houses, factories, or shops that are armed with cameras, then get on board and purchase this strangely cool app! The Mobile Cam Viewer app gets you access to all of your security cameras and allows you to control these devices from the palm of your hands. If you are a stalker and have installed a hidden camera at your poor target’s house, then this app could be useful to you too (although we are in no way encouraging this behaviour!). With this app, you could unleash the control freak in you and never feel the separation anxiety from your posh pad or office ever again. This pretty nifty app is priced at USD349.99 or RM1,146.57, and available exclusively for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users. Eager beavers, good news! There’s also a free version of this app available on its website. However, the free version is mostly a sneak peek of what you can expect from the app.

Lifestyle

AUGUST 2014

The 6 Simple Inventions that Made Millions! W

hen we talk about inventions, we usually envisage those brilliant ideas materialising into creations that awed the world. Think Asimo, the world’s most advanced humanoid robot or the invisible bicycle helmet, which is actually an airbag for cyclists. But that’s all the wacky techy stuff; what about the simple inventions that made such an impact on society that the world was never the same again?

Some of these on the list below turned out to be such mind-bogglingly easy ideas that we bet many people probably thought “Now why didn’t I think of that first?” when buying these inventions. Let’s check out how much money each one raked in for its creator.

By Caitlyn Ng

Post-it Notes Did you see the many similar hilarious but harmless pranks that some people came up with regarding Post-it Notes and cars? Or Post-it Notes and office cubicles? There are so many ways that one can use this ubiquitous product, apart from the ordinary office / university application. Created by Spencer Silver and Arthur Fry (a scientist and an engineer hired at 3M, a global innovation company) in 1968, the note that adheres and can be removed without damaging any surface became a major hit, with manufacturers 3M producing 50 billion each year and which now generates some $1 billion (about RM3 billion) annually. According to the inventors themselves, this was “a product nobody thought they needed until they did”. We wonder how life would be like without these sticky colourful squares!

Slinkys As a colleague remarked upon seeing pictures of these simple metal coils, “it brings me back to bygone childhood days!” and indeed, the Slinky was once a part of almost every household. This toy can trace its history back to 1943, when it was first invented by accident in the lab of Richard James, a naval engineer. He was experimenting on a set of tension springs and in a flash of clumsiness, he accidentally knocked one of the springs off a shelf, watched as it “walked” on its own and the rest is history. The toy instantly became a hit with more than 350 million being sold ever since and contributing to the approximately $20 million (about RM64 million) in revenue that its company makes. The name for the toy came when the creator’s wife was looking in the dictionary for one and saw that the meaning – sleek and graceful - describes the object’s movements well.

Snuggies According to The New York Times, this item is essentially a blanket with sleeves, allowing all the lazy people out there to reach for the remote control / read a book / make a sandwich without having to expose your arms to the cold ever again (not like Malaysians face this issue)! It was first heavily marketed in 2008, and one of its infomercials was mocked by celebrities, indirectly giving it free press coverage. Spawning a huge craze where more than 20 million units were sold – including a line for pampered pooches – the Snuggie was able to rake in more than $100 million (about RM321 million) in just three years after its launch. However, this product isn’t the first in the market; rather, the creators were inspired by an already existing product: the Slanket (created in 1998). It was only through aggressive marketing (and a better named product, perhaps) that the Snuggie was able to overtake the Slanket in sales.

AUGUST 2014

Lifestyle

Pet Rocks We kid you not. What may seem to be one of the strangest “inventions” of all time that earned millions, turns out to be not an invention at all but rather, a clever idea with lots of brilliant marketing. With a tagline of “Genuine Pedigreed Pet Rock” and coming with a humorous manual where the owners will never need to feed or clean up after these “perfect pets”, it’s no wonder that the owner – Gary Dahl – was able to sell a lot of this stony species in just six months after its debut in 1975. And it only costed a “mere” $3.95 (about RM13) in those days. All he had to do was purchase ordinary grey stones from a construction supplier, plop one on a bed of hay and voila, instant fad! By the time the fad ended in early 1976, approximately 1.5 million pet rocks had been sold. That’s over $25 million (RM80 million) after taking into consideration inflation adjustments!

Smiley Yes, you read that right. The uber popular smiley face that you see almost everywhere – be it in a text message, graffiti on the wall or even as scribbles on a toddler’s book – was first created by a man named Harvey Ball in 1963. He was commissioned to design something for his client, who wanted to ease the morale of employees after a merger. Receiving just $45 (about RM145) for his work, the idea to patent his design did not even cross the creator’s mind but in early 1970, two brothers (Bernard and Murray Spain) decided to take it one step further. They added the words “Have A Nice Day” to the image of a smiley face, trademarked both the words and the icon, and thus a fad was started. Between 1970 and 1972, they had managed to sell an estimated 50 million buttons and countless other products bearing the smileys. The Smiley Company makes more than $130 million (RM418.6 million) a year.

Rainbow Loom Here’s a surprise entry: a simple idea that then turned into a worldwide success, created by none other than a Malaysian who’s living in America! The idea for the Rainbow Loom was born when its creator, Ng Cheong Choon (a 45-year-old engineer from Perak), joined his daughters in making bracelets from rubber bands. He realised that a simple loom he had created out of a small wooden scrub board and pushpins was able to create a multitude of designs and sizes, thereby allowing the children hours of fun together. The Rainbow Loom became the first single toy in the US Toy Industry Association’s history to clinch four prestigious awards. Even though the family lives in Michigan, they are still proud to declare their roots every time someone asks them, and they are planning to ensure that the Rainbow Loom is launched in Malaysia as well. As of December 2013, it is reported that the toy had generated about $55 million (approximately RM177 million) in sales over the past year worldwide. Way to go, Mr Ng!

AUGUST 2014

Lifestyle

The Crazy Things People

Do to Save Money!

By Caitlyn Ng

here are plenty of people out there who would go to some incovenience so that they can cut back on their expenses and hopefully put away more cash for rainy days. Some of these measures include combining multiple shopping trips to save on the cost of petrol, using coupons cut-out from newspapers / magazines to buy items at a discount, or renting out that spare room in the house that has been used as a store room for all these years. While all of these are commendable (although, who likes the idea of opening up the privacy of one’s home to a complete stranger?), there are a few particular people out there who actually go to the extreme end of the money-saving method. Take a look at some of the bizarre things that people all over the world are willing to put themselves through in order to save more money! Disclaimer: We at SaveMoney do not condone these crazy acts, we’re just here to provide the reports of these people who have done all of the below, and lived to tell the tale!

Dumpster Diving For a less polite way of describing this practice, it is the art of sifting through garbage. People really do resort to this practice in order to get their hands on anything that is still in good condition (such as clothing and furniture) or to the more extreme end of the spectrum, food. The practice of foraging for discarded food is even termed “freeganism”, where it is defined as “the practice of reclaiming and eating food that has been discarded”. While many people will look upon this act with disgust, there are still quite a few people who swear by this practice. This is because many eateries and stores feel pressured to keep their pantries and shelves fully stocked at all times. What happens when it’s closing time? All of that food, no matter whether they were just freshly made an hour or so ago, will get thrown away. Food will also be binned if they happen to have cosmetic blemishes or expiry dates have arrived, regardless whether the food has actually gone bad or not. Freegans (as these people are called) would rather salvage the “free” bread from the trash than buy a loaf.

Going on a Starving Spree The title above says it all, but it’s definitely not something to be done, ever! Starving yourself by eating a whole lot less so that you can reduce the amount of food purchased is not only a crazy idea, but one that can also jeopardise your health. Sure, you may be able to save up to RM30 – RM40 per day if you were to only eat once or not at all on some days, but have you ever taken into consideration the long term effects of starvation? When you decide to deprive your body of caloric energy, important nutrients, and vitamin intake for a prolonged period of time, it may lead to organ damage and ultimately, to death. Another crazy thing that people do is consume instant noodles everyday, for up to months, just so that they can save money. Indeed, a 75g cup of instant noodles would only cost RM1.79 at the very least (that’s a mere RM5.37 a day for breakfast, lunch and dinner!), but these instant noodles come with side effects that may just make you rethink your decision to exist solely on this. High sodium consumption (the little packets of MSG flavourings) is linked to a higher risk of illnesses such as hypertension, heart disease, stroke and kidney damage.

Stock up on Condiments Knowing that certain fast food restaurants give out free packets of condiments such as tomato ketchup and chilli sauce for their customers, some people will resort to grabbing as many of these small packets as they can. Once they reach home, they will then empty out these packets into an empty bottle for that free refill! How many of those little packets does it take to fill a 397g bottle of Heinz tomato ketchup (cost: RM6.20) though? Assuming that each packet holds eight grams of ketchup, that would mean you would need a total of approximately fifty packets to fill that one bottle. Not such a hard task if you ask for ten packets each time you visit any fast food joint, you will have enough after just five trips!

Babysitting as a way to scrounge grub Babysitting is a practice that is popular in Western countries on account of how the busy parents need some time off to themselves. It may sound like a good idea for earning a little bit more pocket money, and thereby helping to ease some of your parents’ expenses. Take it to the next level however, and you will find that this idea does belong to this list of crazy things to do! What these babysitters would do is to head to the house and apart from watching over the kids, they would also be raiding the fridge for food and snacks. It’s a crazy idea because not only are you being paid to babysit; you’re cheapskate enough to help yourself to their groceries and other food. It’s like going to work and eating your boss’ lunch!

Extended Usage For the extreme thrift-lovers, disposable razors are seen are permanent razors, and disposable underwear becomes...well...let’s not go there. Let’s take a packet of disposable razors (much cheaper than the hi-tech ones) as an example; according to the instructions on the packet, it recommends that the blades be disposed of after each usage. However, how many people actually do that? In fact, if it weren’t for the word “disposable” razors, no one would pay any attention and continue using the blade anyway. The cheapest packet of five razors fromTesco will only cost you RM1.69 which may seem like a small sum but if you were to use one razor every time you need to shave (say once a week), that would set you back about RM17.58 a year. Comparatively, if you were really stingy, then that RM1.69 packet will be able to last you for an entire year! But you might find more razor burns to deal with than you’d like to! Coffee grounds / coffee beans seem to be another item that people are able to reuse. They would dry them out and then brew another pot with them. The second pot will be extremely watered down, but hey, all in the name of saving money! If you buy a 200g bag of ground coffee for RM20 and you drink coffee twice a day, that bag can last for approximately 22 days. Reuse the beans however, and that 200g bag will last you for 44 days, thereby cutting down on the cost of your cravings!

AUGUST 2014

SM Green Edition

Green Edition

What are the Most Fuel Efficient Cars under RM100,000?

By Joshua Ong

ith fuel subsidies dwindling; most of us are waking up to emptier coffers after fueling up at the station. What is the average cash strapped Malaysian to do? Opt for more fuel-efficient cars, of course!

One could look for an electric or hybrid car. These are great if you want to have a smaller carbon footprint on the environment and also cut the burden of fuel costs on your wallet at the same time. However, how many people can afford the hefty price tags that come with such cars? There will always be a price to pay for having significantly lesser fuel costs, but in the long-run, there’s no doubt that you will be able to save more. Identifying which is the most fuel efficient car is also another problem for the folks; there are many variables to be taken into consideration. What may be a cheap ride to one driver may not be for the other. So let’s stick to the basics: affordability (the majority of people who feels the pinch each time fuel prices go up are those who find the highest efficiency engines out of reach) and fuel efficiency (based on how many litres of fuel is needed to get 100 km). Here we present you with the top five fuel efficient cars that fit both categories rather well (prices are OTR only, excluding insurance)!

Mitsubishi Mirage Price: From RM60,198.65 Fuel Consumption: About 5.5 litres / 100 kilometres It’s a subcompact hatchback car, which means that it’s smaller than that of a compact car (so handy for squeezing your way into tight parking spaces!) but larger than a microcar (not very practical when driving in dangerous city conditions). With “cutesy” colours (Plasma Purple, Kiwi Green or Infrared, anyone?) that would delight any youthful driver or those young at heart, you can be sure that the Mitsubishi Mirage will win people over. This is especially so when they find out that this car is the highest in the rankings of “Non-Hybrid Vehicle” on the prestigious “Greenest Vehicles” list. You can also be sure that the quality of a Mirage is assured, with plenty of safety features available as standard, since this car is a global product where it is built and assembled at Mitsubishi’s Motors’ production plant in Thailand. The engine is a small 1.2 litre, something which many Malaysians will sniff at; but with the everincreasing fuel prices, it’s a good idea to start understanding why smaller engines are so popular in developed countries.

Honda Jazz CKD Price: RM72,665.50 Fuel Consumption: About 7.0 litres / 100 kilometres The tagline for this hatchback is “Small on the outside, Big on the inside” and indeed, the Honda Jazz is capable of giving you masses of space, despite its compact size. With seats that can be configured in 180 different ways to adapt to any kind of situation you’re in, from helping the children to move out or a visit to your neighbour’s for tea, nothing is impossible with such flexibility! Apart from that, the car is able to keep its passengers (and the things contained) within safe, having been given the highest safety award possible – 5 stars from Euro NCAP, the car safety performance assessment programme.

Green Edition

With a 1.5 litre engine that lets you achieve lower fuel consumption without compromising on the output, the Jazz will get you to where you want to go easily enough! This is the normal petrol version of the car; there is a hybrid version for this car but because it doesn’t really deliver significantly better fuel economy and has lower specifications with a higher price tag, therefore this model was chosen instead.

AUGUST 2014

SM Green Edition

Green Edition Toyota Vios Price: From RM73,200 Fuel Consumption: About 7.0 litres / 100 kilometres We’re now taking a look at one of the brand favourites of many Malaysians, no matter the age: the Toyota Vios. Previously, the older models looked a little on the bulky side but then come 2013, the car rolled out a new “third generation” model with many cosmetic improvements to appear sleeker and more appealing. Indeed, by looking at the roads, one can easily tell by the number of Vios seen that Malaysians do enjoy driving it. It’s not hard to see why too with a range of safety features to protect the passengers against any untoward incidents as well as the comfortable spaciousness to carry family or friends easily. The 1.5 litre engine that comes with the “Valve Timing with Intelligence (VVT-i)” should be enough to provide the power and strong acceleration needed to respond well whether you are on the city roads or the major highways. Although it is said that the Vios does not provide enough safety features (such as Electronic Stability Control), Malaysians seem to look past that point and see what a reliable and fantastic car this is!

Honda City Price: From RM83,573 Fuel Consumption: About 7.0 litres / 100 kilometres The Honda City is another favourite with Malaysians. With it’s sporty look and the number of these cars that you see on the road is a sure testament to it’s popularity! According to Honda, the rear passenger space is best-in-class and the passengers will be able to get more legroom as compared to other cars in the same segment. In addition, the rear seats can be folded down in a 60:40 split to extend the luggage area. The colours also seem to have been given names to match the new looks: Modern Steel Metallic, Alabaster Silver Metallic, Taffeta White, Crystal Black Pearl and Brilliant Sporty Blue Metallic. A 1.5 litre engine is under the hood that comes with the standard Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT). The newer 2014 model though, has an added feature for the model: the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) that provides less friction in the engine. Since everyone is jumping on the “go green” bandwagon, the new City is also equipped with the ECON mode that allows the driver to have improved fuel efficiency.

Toyota Prius C Price: From RM94,607 Fuel Consumption: About 4.5 litres / 100 kilometres We surprise you here with a little gem of car: a hybrid, no less! Surprised yet that the price is so within the RM100,000 budget? I am too, considering how the hype that surrounds these precious “earth friendly” cars don’t usually mention the steep prices as well. Did you know that the “C” in the name Prius C stands for “city”? Which means this car is perfect for city driving, seeing as how the traffic jams that hit us on a daily basis can be massive! The engine comes with the Hybrid Synergy Drives that allows for a smooth combination of a gasoline engine and an electric motor that works either independently or simultaneously, transforming your ride into a effortless one that also saves your fuel money in the process. In 2013, the Prius C was awarded with the “Best Sub-compact Hybrid for the Money” and indeed, priced much lower than its older sibling (the conventional Prius), means that it won’t hit your wallet hard and you get to reap the benefits of cruising past in a car that is rated as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) – that means fewer smog-forming emissions produced!

AUGUST 2014

SM Green Edition

Green Edition

Change your Bulb,

Save the world!

By Caitlyn Ng

ager to save world? No superhero cape is required for the job! As we are well-aware, non-renewable energy is being depleted at an alarming rate and would soon cease to exist. So what is a penny-pinching, non-scientist citizen to do to help mother earth? Easypeasy, just change your lightbulb!

Let there be Energy Saving Light! Shopping for a lightbulb is hardly earth-shattering nor it is fun, but your choice of bulb could actually save you more money in the long run. One of the tricks to secure a lower electricity bill (and save the world!) is by switching your bulb from the usual incandescent bulb to CFL bulbs. For those who don’t know, the old-school incandescent bulbs produce light by heating a wire to a high temperature until it glows. As a result, these lights require a lot of energy because more than 95 per cent of the electricity goes towards producing heat, which means that you burn a truckload of energy for a fraction of light. Needless to say, this type of bulb is not environmentally friendly, and it will burn a hole in your pocket. Due to this, companies and restaurants have made the switch to the better and much nicer (to mother nature, at least) Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL). CFL bulbs create light through an entirely different mechanism; the fluorescent gas inside the bulb produces ultraviolet light when electrified, and the lamp’s coating converts the ultraviolet light into visible light. Because of this, CFLs are between 67 percent and 80 percent more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs.

Incandescent Bulb

Fluorescent Bulb

Shocker! Did you know that watts do not tell how bright a light will be? Instead, light is measured using a form of units called “lumens”. When it comes to light bulbs, more lumens equals to brighter bulbs. Hypothetically speaking, a source of light needs to give 680 lumens per watt in order for it to be 100% efficient. The table below shows the amount of brightness in lumens that you can expect from both incandescent and CF bulbs: Incandescent Bulbs (watts)

Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (watts)

Lumens (Brightness)

8 - 12

400 - 500

13 - 18

650 - 900

75 - 100

18 - 22

1100 - 1750

100

23 - 30

1800+

150

30 - 55

2780

As can be seen, a CFL bulb is approximately 4 times more efficient than an incandescent bulb, which is why you can buy a 15-watt CFL bulb that is able to produce the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb. In addition, although CFL bulbs are initially more expensive, you save money in the long run because they last up to 10 times longer than their incandescent brothers. The bulb life of a 60-watt incandescent is about 1000 hours whereas a 15-watt CFL is about 10,000 hours. However, there is a slight drawback; CFL bulbs may take a few moments to reach its full brightness whilst incandescent reach its full brightness instantaneously. Hence, CFL is energy-saving whereas incandescent isn’t as it produces more heat than light and therefore, the heat is just wasted energy. For example, a normal light bulb that uses 60 watts for 1000 hours per year (about 3 hours a day) would give you 60kWh of power, which would cost about RM13.08 (based on 21.8 sen per kWh). On the other hand, with an energy saving light bulb that is a 15 watt CFL (which lasts much longer than the normal one), it would only come up to RM3.27, saving you RM9.81. And that’s just one bulb! You could actually be saving far more than that per year with ease, in addition to helping the environment. A great way to be socially responsible in anyone’s books.

To Calculate Your Electricity Bills According to the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water (KeTTHA), there is a handy table available to help one calculate the amount of money owed for electricity usage bills as below (with a minimum monthly charge of RM3.00): Domestic Tariff (kWh)

Current Rates (sen/kWh)

New 2014 Rates (sen/kWh)

For the first 200 kWh (1-200 kWh) per month

21.8

For the next 100 kWh (201-300 kWh) per month

33.4

For the next 100 kWh (301-400 kWh) per month

40.0

For the next 100 kWh (401-500 kWh) per month

40.2

For the next 100 kWh (501-600 kWh) per month

41.6

For the next 100 kWh (501-600 kWh) per month

42.6

For the next 100 kWh (601-700 kWh) per month

43.7

For the next 100 kWh (701-800 kWh) per month

45.3

For the next 100 kWh (701-800 kWh) per month

45.4

51.6

54.6 57.1

AUGUST 2014

SM Green Edition

Green Edition

The 6 Things a Marathon Runner I

Can’t Do Without

By Diana Chai

t’s a confession that must be made: very few of us (re: one) in the SaveMoney office can claim to be marathon runners. Sure, we like running a tab; running out of steam and even running water but running a marathon? Well… But that doesn’t mean we don’t know people who are avid runners. If you’ve thought getting sweaty with hundreds of strangers; inhaling RapidKL bus fumes and ducking before the pirated DVD seller smacks you with his binder of DVD covers in downtown Pudu/Chow Kit – then a KL marathon is for you! Jokes aside, avid marathon runners do attest to one thing – all you need is to run one marathon before you find yourself hooked. Despite how much the chafing hurts or how sore your muscles are post-marathon; there’s sweet sense of success in completing your first marathon. So if your running obsessed partner or friend has convinced you to start training to join your first marathon – let us give you the lowdown on what the running enthusiasts claim to be the six must have things in a serious runner’s kit.

The Top 6: Hydration Belt We are after all made up of 70% liquids so it is important to keep well hydrated during a run. But imagine trying to lug a water tumbler or hoping to find the refreshment stand at that very moment when you’re dying for a drink! The hydration belt is well, literally a belt where you can store a handy-sized water flask to whip out whenever you need. A good brand will not only store the flask but will be anti-bounce and anti-chafe so it doesn’t interfere with your running performance.

Brands: Nathan, FuelBelt Prices: RM139 – RM179 depending on model and brand.

Good Running Shoes Although the legend of Pheidippides (the original ‘marathon’ runner who supposedly ran 42km to deliver a message of victory over the Persians to the Athenians before collapsing and dying – really inspirational end to a marathon, we know) never mentioned the good type of running shoes he had; you’d want to take advantage of this modern contraption in hopes of not ending up as he did. Running shoes and good running shoes are NOT one and the same. A good pair of running shoes is made for the distance runner – taking into consideration the impact of prolonged running on the body. Admittedly, good running shoes are more expensive than regular trainers or sports shoes (think RM400 and up) but if you’re serious about running safely (yes, no permanent injury to back and legs) it is worth the investment.

Brands: Asics, Saucony and New Balance. Prices: RM400 and up.

Energy Gels Running for hours on end requires a fuel up to not only hydrate but to provide energy and replace lost nutrients burnt during the workout. But what you consume needs to help you go further and not slow you down so please don’t stop at a McDonalds on the way. Instead, carry a pack of ‘energy gel’. Don’t let the gel name fool you – you are supposed to eat it not rub all over yourself (although you’re welcome to try if you’re into that sort of thing). Energy gels contain electrolytes and complex carbohydrates to give you that added burst of energy. The gel-like consistency makes it easier to swallow and digest for faster effects. Some even contain antioxidants to fight muscle tissue damage.

Brands: GU Gel, Power Gel, Hammer Gel. Prices: RM6 – RM7.50

AUGUST 2014

SM Green Edition

Green Edition

Good Running Outfit Again, you may think your cotton T-shirt is light, breezy and comfortable enough for doing regular, everyday things like walking the dog, light training at the gym or watching more reruns of Game of Thrones so it should be good for a marathon right? Nope. When you’re running hours in a marathon, it won’t be long before that soft, fluffy cotton shirt starts chafing you like a chain-mail on bare skin (though, probably better to pretend you’re Jon Snow with) making you wish nudity wasn’t a civil offence in Malaysia. Prevent the need to streak. Get yourself a good runner’s outfit with compression technology. Compression technology basically works by applying varying amounts of pressure to different parts of the body as needed to prevent muscle strain, fatigue and improve circulation when running. The tight fit also prevents the muscles from vibrating too much which inevitably causes injury. It’s like the hug you need when you feel like expiring from exhaustion. A complete outfit would include professional, high performance socks that work as a protective layer between foot and shoe, controlling moisture and eliminating friction. For women, don’t forget to support the ‘girls’ with a well-fitted sports bra. More endowed women are at higher risk of experiencing chafing and burns without the right support so do trek down to your nearest sport store and let the professionals fit you with the right undergarment.

Brands: 2XU or Skins for garments; Injinji or Dry Max socks; Champion, Saucony or Athleta for bras. Prices: Compression attire from at RM199 to RM680 per piece. Sports bras from RM199.

GPS Watch Avoid the dreaded question of “are we there yet?” that is even more annoying when you’re tired, cranky, and asking it of yourself. GPS watches record distance, heart rate and even calories burnt which you can eagerly shove in a dieting friend’s face. More of a tool for really serious runners, the device can be linked to your PC to show you just how you are progressing on your running milestones via data points such as speed, time, distance and pace.

Brands: Garmin Prices: RM650 – RM1,550 (prices depend on functionality. Watches with heart rate

monitors cost over RM1,000).

Lubricant Not the same kind as your car or the stuff you use in the sack so keep the KY at home. Although, athletes using high-performance compression gear have argued they don’t need it but everyone’s skin is different so it’s better to be safe than suffering nipple burn. If you’ve practiced often enough, you’ll know where you are most likely to be burnt. Apply lubricant liberally in those areas to avoid nasty surprises on race day. Word on the runner’s street is that the groin, underarms, nipples and in between toes are the worst for burns as well as anywhere you have some kind of clothing seam such a belt or the waistband of shorts.

Brands: Mueller Runner’s Lube, Body Glide or if you’re really strapped for cash after the purchases above, some runners say Vaseline works too.

Prices: RM6 for Vaseline or RM35 and up for professional lubricant.

Ready to run (in a marathon; not the opposite direction)?

AUGUST 2014

SM Green Edition

Green Edition

4 Ways to Save on Air-Conditioning Costs By Joshua Ong

here’s no better way to escape the flaming grip of “El Nino” than to sit down on your favourite couch, turn on the air-conditioning and sip on a tall glass of iced lemonade. With scorching temperatures reaching the mid to high 30s in the Klang Valley, even the most thrifty of Malaysians have been forced to turn to their air-conditioning as a form of relief from the heat. Unfortunately, turning on the air-conditioning for long periods of time almost always means a spike in your monthly electricity bill. Thankfully though, we’ve devised 4 simple and virtually painless tips that can be easily employed to help you save on air-conditioning costs. So sit down, flick on your air-conditioning and read on!

Set the temperature between 23 to 25 Degrees Celsius

Unless you’re playing host to a polar bear cub or traveling Canadian, you don’t really need to set the air-conditioning temperature to 16 degrees. In fact, most Malaysians will generally feel the need to throw on a hoodie when the room temperature dips down to 16 degrees. So if you’re not hosting a parody party of Eminem’s 8 mile, then there is technically no logical need to set the temperature so low. Choosing to set the air-conditioning temperature between 23 to 25 degrees will not only help you save on your next electricity bill but will also earn you a thousand “thank yous” from the sinuses of everyone in the room.

Clean your filter at least once every 3 weeks

Air flowing within the Klang Valley isn’t exactly “Mount Kinabalu fresh”. With the entourage of dated Proton Sagas releasing puffy black exhaust into the Klang Valley, you can certainly be sure that your air-conditioning filter will take a beating everytime you turn it on. Cleaning your filter once every 3 weeks will not only rid your living environment of unnecessary pollutants but also save you money. When your air-condition filter is clogged up with dirt and dust, less air is able to flow through the unit’s cooling fans. Less air flow translates to a lower amount of cold air being produced which ultimately means that the unit as a whole has to work a lot harder to bring the room temperature down to your specified setting.

Seal up any gaps in the windows of your room

Cold air within a room is like a burglar in a jail cell, it wants to escape to the outside. When cold air leaves the room through gaps in windows, your air-conditioning processor has to work extra hard to cool down the warm air that just diffused in from the outside. All this movement of air makes for a great science lesson and an increase in your electrical bill. Fortunately, this circumstance is entirely preventable. Resealing the edges of your windows is extremely easy and can be done in a matter of minutes. All you need is a tube of silicon based industrial caulking. Apply the caulking to the gaps on the window like toothpaste on a toothbrush and you’re all set.

Avoid boiling water in an air-conditioned room

Who doesn’t love a pipping hot cup of tea in the late afternoon? But did you know that your beverage is also sabotaging your power bill? Boiling water (or cooking in general) in an air-conditioned room doesn’t just make the place smell like food, it also increases the temperature of the surrounding environment. What does this do to your air-conditioning? It forces the poor enslaved piece of machinery to kick itself into overdrive so it can cool down the room. Suffice to say, this means a higher power bill for you.

AUGUST 2014

SM Green Edition

Green Edition

How to Keep Your Home Cool without Air-Conditioning W

By Joshua Ong

ith scorching temperatures reaching the mid to high thirties in the Klang Valley, it appears that many Malaysians have been driven to their absolute wits end. Okay, maybe that was a little bit of an exaggeration. But how are most Malaysians escaping the heat?

Air conditioning? While air conditioning may be the most effective way of cooling down a hot room, turning on your “AC” will certainly not do your power bill any favours (unless you’ve been following our guide on 4 ways on how to save on air conditioning costs). But what if you don’t have an air-conditioning unit in your place of residence? Are you doomed to die a slow death from heat-induced dehydration? No! Interestingly enough, it is entirely possible to keep your room cool and decently comfortable without the use of air conditioning. So instead of calling Mitsubishi Electric and spending a couple thousand ringgit on a brand new air-conditioning unit, why not cool down your abode naturally (and cheaply)? How? Just follow the four steps below!

Step 1: Close the Curtains during the Day Leaving your curtains open throughout the day will create a greenhouse effect within your room. Before anyone starts rummaging through their bookshelf in search of a standard six science textbook, here’s the breakdown; sunlight can heat the air in a room by passing through transparent surfaces such as glass from your windows. The heated air remains and circulates throughout the room, thus creating a “circulating pocket of trapped hot air”. Unless “hot and steamy” is your ambience of choice, then leaving your curtains wide open during the day is a definite “no-no”. While you may not be able to savour the breathtaking view of the flora and fauna outside, you can at least be thankful that you won’t be sweating bullets while watching the latest episode of Game of Thrones on your couch.

Tip: Try not to close the curtains abruptly if you are alone with someone of the opposite sex as this may lead to the other person misunderstanding your “intentions” (especially if you close them with gusto in a rapid motion).

Step 2: Stop Using Incandescent Bulbs For those of you that got lost at the word “incandescent”, please stay with me. To put it simply, there are three types of light bulbs available for residential use in Malaysia; the LED (right), the CFL a.k.a “energy saving bulb” (middle) and the incandescent (left). Incandescent bulbs are the cheapest out of the three. Unfortunately, incandescent bulbs also give out the most heat and consume the most electricity. Understanding why an incandescent bulb heats up both your home and power bill is a matter of simple science. When you flick on the switch and the electric current runs through the filament (that wire thing inside the glass) of an incandescent bulb, the filament turns the electrical energy surging through it into heat (please don’t ask me to explain how). The heated filament turns white-hot, thus giving out both light and heat. In that sense, a lot of the energy used to power an incandescent bulb is actually wasted as heat, which coincidently also makes the room warmer. Why do you need a light bulb that gives out more heat than light? If you agree with the aforementioned statement, then you should probably switch your old incandescent bulbs to either a CFL or LED bulb. Unlike an incandescent bulb, both CFL and LED bulbs don’t give out as much heat, which means both a cooler room and power bill.

Cost of CFL lightbulb = RM7 each Cost of LED lightbulb = RM10 each Degree of Relief = 4/5 star shaped ice cubes

AUGUST 2014

SM Green Edition

Green Edition

Step 3: Strategically Position your Standing Fans The secret to maximising the capabilities of your standing fan lies with positioning. Always remember that a standing fan does nothing more than gush the air towards the direction you point it in. For that very reason, the location in which you place your standing fan can mean the difference between a cool room with air circulating throughout and a hot room with obstructed or non-existent air circulation. For the purpose of helping everyone achieve proper standing fan etiquette, we’ve devised two simple rules for all standing fan owners to follow.

Always position your fan at the corner of a room to ensure maximum coverage. Do not place a standing fan in the middle of a room, unless you want to blow air towards….the walls.

Always tilt your fan upwards the ceiling to facilitate movement of air. The last thing you want to have in your room is wind-tunnel like air at eye level and stale hot air near the ceiling. Your goal should be to create an even flow of circulating air throughout the room.

Cost of curtains (if you shamelessly don’t have any in your house) = RM40 per window (84 inch long curtains) Degree of Relief = 3/5 star shaped ice cubes

Step 4: Make your own Natural Air Conditioning When all else fails and you’re covered in sweat like a background dancer from a J-Lo music video, you could always resort to making your air conditioning. All apologies to air-con manufacturers but one does not need to fork out thousands of ringgit for a whiff of cold refreshing air. In fact, all you need to create your very own makeshift air-conditioning unit is a freezer, fan and a few empty water bottles. Start by filling up the bottles with water and storing them in the freezer for a couple hours. After all the water has frozen, take the bottles out of the freezer and put each bottle in front of every standing fan in your house (just like the picture). Turn the dial to high and enjoy the crisp cold air (just like the Swiss Alps). Of course, doing this for long periods of time will leave you with very wet floors so if you have parquet or carpeted flooring – avoid trying this trick there. Either way, you’ll still need a few towels and a mop job when it’s done.

Cost of water bottle filled with tap water = RM2 per bottle (if you actually went out to buy mineral water from the neighborhood 7-11) or RM0 (if you nabbed a few from the neighborhood recycling bin). Degree of Relief = 5/5 star shaped ice cubes

AUGUST 2014

OCTOBER 2013 Jimat Cermat

Haruskah Anda Mendapatkan Kos Kehilangan Dompet Anda

Kad Kredit? Mana pula dompet saya ni?! Aishh!

Diterjemah oleh: Balkish Rosly nda teringin untuk membuat permohonan kad kredit, tapi risau akan mengalami masalah hutang Terjemahan: Nadia Asha yang banyak? Ramai menganggap bahawa berhutang merupakan sesuatu yang tidak baik, tetapi sebenarnya Patutkah Saya Mendapatkan Kad Kredit ehilangan dompet akan menyukarkan anda, terutama sekali jika dompet (Walaupun risiko pemilikannya tinggi?) itupenyebab dipenuhi kejatuhan dengan wang tunai dan dokumen penting yang lain. Malah, jika atau seseorang. Seperti yang kami katakan di atas, kad kredit bukan punca masalah anda. Dengan memandu tanpa wang tunai, kad bank, atau kad pengenalan adalah sama situasinya sedikit disiplin, pemilikan kad kredit boleh memberi banyak manfaat kepada HUTANG tidak YANG berpakaian TIDAK TERURUS masalah kita semua. sahaja ya!). dengan di ialah tepi punca jalan sebenar (sebagai perbandingan

anda. Ia boleh membantu anda mengawasi perbelanjaan bulanan, menolong Hutang pada asasnya adalah sesuatu yang baik jika diuruskan dengan bijak. Tapi anda membuat bayaran sebelum gaji masuk, memberi pelbagai ganjaran dan jika kita tidak mengambil peduli tentang hal kewangan sendiri, maka kesemua Tetapi apa harga sebenarnya yang anda perlu bayar untuk dompet yang hilang? Apabila seseorang kehilangan juga boleh menolong anda menyimpan wang jika digunakan dengan bijak. hutang ini akan bertukar hutang “buruk” (dan mimpi ngeri anda!). dompet atau beg tanganmenjadi yang mengandungi semua dokumentasi penting, banyak perkara yang perlu dilakukan. Kad-kad bank perlu disekat, kad pengenalan dan lesen perlu dilaporkan dan diganti (tentunya Jadi, baca tips-tips berikut mengelakkan andalupa daripada dikenakan bayaran), IC danuntuk lesen untuk juga perlu dilaporka.diri Jangan trauma kehilangan wang dan kehilangan terjebak ke dalam femonena “hutang keliling pinggang”! dompet berjenama yang mahal! Memiliki

Peringatan Sebelum Memilih Kad Kredit

Kos Kehilangan Dompet anda

Kad terdapat kredit bukan tambahan Jadidipenuhi jangan Apa yang dalampendapatan dompet anda? Biasanya anda! dompet menambahkan harian hanya lesen kerana anda dengan perkara-perkaraperbelanjaan seperti ini: Kad Pengenalan, memandu, mempunyai kad kredit. kad debit, kad kredit, kad keahlian, wang tunai, dan sudah tentu resit dan gambar teman wanita / teman lelaki selain sampah sarap lama di dalamnya. Adakah anda mengira kos yang terpaksa ditanggung untuk menggantikan semua barang-barang tersebut? Di sini, kami senaraikan kos penggantian yang akan anda tanggung! Cuba untuk menggunakan kad kredit anda secara

minima dan segera langsaikan bil kad kredit bulanan anda untuk mengelakkan kadar faedah berganda.

Kad Pengenalan

Langkah pertama adalah untuk ke cawangan Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara yang berhampiran. Hal ini kerana JPJ dan pihak bank memerlukan bukti pengenalan penggantian kad. Tetapi itu, anda perlu Berhati-hati untuk dengan hutang bulanan kad sebelum kredit anda. Jika anda segeragagal pergiuntuk ke balai polis untuk membuat laporan. membayar secara penuh setiap bulan, anda kena membayar faedah 13% p.a. – 18% p.a. sebulan! Laporan polis sebenarnya boleh menjimatkan wang anda kerana beberapa institusi kerajaan dan bank-bank bersedia untuk mengecualikan yuran penggantian jika anda telah membuat laporan polis. Elakkan Oh, tetapi laporan ini bukan rakyat sekalian! Mereka pembayaran lewat percuma kerana iayamungkin mengakibatkan akan mengenakan caj sebanyak bagi setiap laporan. denda kehilang tawaran kadar RM1/RM2 faedah rendah, pembayaran

3 4

penalti dan/atau menjejaskan penilaian kredit dan permohonan Untukkad pengetahuan kredit anda anda, dimasapenggantian hadapan. kad pengenalan agak mahal. Senarai di bawah merupakan yuran yang disenaraikan di laman web JPN:

Tidak pasti kad kredit yang sesuai untuk anda? Caj Penggantian Disebabkan Kehilangan 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 1) bagi kehilangan kali Pertama: RM110.00 kad kredit terbaik untuk anda: 2) bagi kehilangan kali ke-2: RM210.00

Soalan 1: 3) bagi kehilangan kali ke-3-5: RM310.00

Adakah anda mampu melangsaikan hutang kad kredit sepenuhnya setiap bulan? Walau bagaimanapun, mangsa ragut, mengetahui rompakan atau hanya Pergi ke Soalan 2 untuk caratragedi untuk lain mengurangkan YA perlu membayar denda RM10 untuk kad pengenalan mereka. kadaryuran bayaran faedah – dan seterusnya menjimatkan wang anda! Caranya hanya dengan membuat laporan polis! TIDAK Tahniah! Oleh kerana anda mampu melangsaikan hutang kad kredit setiap bulan, anda tidak perlu risau dengan kadar faedah yang dikenakan bank. Sebaliknya, anda patut mencari kad kredit Lesen JPJ yang boleh menawarkan ganjaran untuk perbelanjaan anda. Misalnya, jika anda seorang penggemar wayang, maka carilah Bukan sahaja anda perlu menghadapi kad kredit yang memberikan anda ganjaran di panggung wayang. kehilangan dompet berharga anda, tetapi anda juga terpaksa beratur panjang di pejabat JPJ! Kos penalti bagi kehilangan lesen adalah Soalan 2: yuran akan dikecualikan jika RM20, tetapi anda berjaya membuat laporan polishutang yang kad kredit sepenuhnya Adakah anda mampu melangsaikan sah, bulan? yang menyatakan bahawa anda seorang setiap mangsa ragut atau rompakan. Juga, JPJ memerlukan gambar berukuran Cuba soalan 3. TIDAK pasport jadi anda perlu mengeluarkan tambahan RM10 – RM12 untuk gambar anda diambil. Jangan lupa untuk membawa pengenalan Cari kad kredit yang mempunyai promosikad faedah 0% dengan YA sementara atau baru anda! tempoh yang lama!

Tips

Kad Kredit:

1. Ikut bajet bulanan dan pastikan anda langsaikan

hutang kad kredit setiap bulan! Kad Debit 1.

Biasanya seseorang akan menyimpan kad debit dalam dompet mereka, anda menggunakan kad kredit untuk mendapat maka mendapatkan kad baru merupakan agenda anda seterusnya. 2. Jika pemindahan baki 0%, pastikan anda tidak terlepas bayaran Kebanyakan bank akan mengenakan bayaran penggantian (sebagai minima yang perlu dibayar sepanjang tempoh 0% itu. contoh, Maybank mengenkan caj RM12 bagi setiap kad), tetapi anda boleh meminta mereka untuk memotong jumlah bayaran secara langsung • Cuba membuka akaun direct debit untuk bayaran minima daripada akaun anda. setiap bulan. Dengan cara ini anda boleh mengelakkan penalti lewat bayaran / kehilang faedah pembelian 0% Sekali lagi, bank memerlukan kad pengenalan anda untuk memproses kad baru, jadi pastikan kad pengenalan sentiasa ada dengan anda pada • Pada saat anda membuat bayaran lewat, kurang setiap masa. daripada bayaran minima atau terlupa untuk membuat 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 Kad selaluKredit digunakan untuk pembelian seperti telefon bimbit,

perkakas rumah, lain-lain, bayaran tepatkad baru Bagi kad kreditdan yang telah sentiasa berjaya membuat disekat, mendapatkan pada masa pada Apa setiap bulan. mudah sahaja. yang anda perlu lakukan adalah pergi segera ke bank dan hanya meminta untuk membuat penggantian kad! Caj selalunya • JIka tidak, anda akan kehilangan kadar 0%laporan yang ditawarkan itu. contoh, dikecualikan jika anda sudah membuat polis. Sebagai Standard Chartered akan menggantikan kad kredit yang disekat secara percuma, dengan hanya menghubungi mereka dari rumah anda. Bankkad kredit yangBank boleh memberikan ganjaran kepada setiap 4. Pilih bank lain seperti Alliance mengenakan bayaran penggantian, tetapi perbelanjaan anda. akan dikecualikan jika anda sudah membuat laporan polis. • Jika anda banyak berbelanja di tempat tertentu (contoh : anda selalu melancong / anda suka tengok wayang ), carilah kad kredit yang memberikan ganjaran dan keuntungan mengikut perbelanjaan anda.

Kehilangan Wang tunai dan Kos Dompet

Soalan 3: Mengira kerugian

anda tidak akan lengkap jika tidak termasuk kos dompet sebenar dan wang tunai di dalamnya! Lebih sedih lagi jika Adakah anda mempunyai disiplin untuk menukar kad untuk dompet itu mempunyai nilai sentimental terhadap pemilik. mendapat kadar faedah 0%, selalunya setiap 3 hingga 6 bulan?

TIDAK Cuba soalan 4. Cuba untuk mendapatkan kad kredit yang memberi kadar YA Masa berharga banyak faedah 0% paling lama. Selepas itu, tukar kad kredit anda dan dapatkan pindahan baki 0% (tempoh 0% selalunya 3 hingga dibazirkan 6 bulan) untuk memindahkan hutang anda ke kad yang baru

dikenakan faedah langsung. Masa yangtanpa digunakan untukcajmenggantikan dokumen dan kad-kad yang telah hilang juga perlu dikira. Malangnya bagi kita, masa Soalan adalah 4: satu perkara dalam hidup yang tidak boleh ditukar ganti. sentiasa Anda perlu menggunakan kad Jadi, kredit namun tidak mampu membuat berwaspada padatidak setiap masa dan sentiasakad baru setiap kali tempoh bayaran penuh dan mampu memohon masukkan dompet anda dengan selamat promosi faedah 0% tamat? dalam beg atau poket seluar anda! Pilihan terbaik untuk diri anda adalah untuk memohon kad kredit dengan kadar faedah paling rendah, dan elakkan kad kredit 0% .Ini kerana setelah tempoh 0% , kadar faedah akan meningkat lebih berbanding kadar faedah paling rendah kad kredit yang tersedia.

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

AUGUST 2014

SaveMoney Traveller

The SaveMoney Traveller Goes to...

Redang Beach Resort T

By Eugene Chia

Food

his month, we’re off to Pulau Redang! This island is the biggest of an archipelago of 9 islands about 76km off the east coast of Malaysia. Well known for its crystal clear waters and vibrant marine life, it certainly is a must visit for those who love to dive or snorkle.

This is where it gets epic. We were provided with 4 meals a day: breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner. Most of these meals were served buffet style and mainly consisted of local food.

Our trip to Redang Beach Resort would prove to be one of the most enjoyable holiday trips we’ve had in a while - and at RM664 per person for a 4 day, 3 night stay, it probably makes it the most value-for-money one as well!

The Beach

The best part was dinner. On alternate nights, the resort would have a barbeque where you were allowed to grill your own food!

The water surrounding Redang Beach Resort was so pristine, crystal clear, and filled with little fishes – we were literally swimming with the fishes! As for night activities, the resort would hold a mini beach party on alternate nights from 9pm to 12am.

Travelling there… the Save Money way!

Snorkeling

Being the SaveMoney travellers that we were, we booked a return trip to the Sultan Mahmud Airport in Terengganu at RM181 per person and took a free ferry ride over to the island. The entire journey took about 3 hours (about 50 minutes to the airport, 15 minutes to get to the jetty, 15 minutes waiting for the ferry and a 1 hour 30 minute ferry ride to Redang Beach Resort). In total, we spent about RM181 for a total journey time of about 6 hours (heading to Redang and back).

Rental for snorkeling gear was RM30 per person for the entire duration of our stay (meaning that you take the gear back to your room until you leave). This included a snorkeling mask and a life jacket. Quality of the gear wasn’t the best, but this is expected due to the sheer amount of use on a daily basis. Snorkeling trips were held twice a day, every day at 9am and 2pm - free of charge. You would be taken to a different spot each trip. We were taken to the Redang Marine Park in the morning and to another location, further out in the afternoon, where the water was deeper.

Alternatively, choosing to fly straight to Pulau Redang via Berjaya Air would take you about 1 hour 10 minutes, but will cost you a whopping RM988 for a return trip! This would translate into RM988 for a total journey time of about 2 hours 20 minutes.

Water visibility was excellent, the staff are well-trained, and you get to see a large assortment of marine life – from fishes of all shapes and sizes to sea cucumbers, turtles and even underwater eels!

We figured paying an extra RM807 wasn’t worth the 3 hours and 40 minutes “saved”.

Going Home

Okay, technically, we could have saved even more money by taking the bus to Terengganu and then the ferry over to the island, but 6 hours on a bus!?

Unfortunately for us, the trip back to Terengganu by ferry was one of the more unpleasant experiences of the trip. Thanks to a malfunctioning air-conditioning system and a very full ferry, the ride back was a very hot, stuffy and a nauseated one.

Redang Beach Resort

Once we arrived at the jetty, we boarded a bus which stopped by China Town so we could have lunch before continuing to the airport.

Upon arriving at the jetty, we were picked up, much to our amusement, by a tractor! We travelled a short distance through narrow roads surrounded by thick jungle, across the beach and finally to the lobby of the resort where we checked in.

All in all, I certainly feel that we got our money’s worth (and them some) from this trip and would strongly recommend anybody to give it a try the next time the visit Pulau Redang.

Accomodation We booked a standard room, which came equipped with two beds (1 King Sized, 1 Single), a safe, balcony, toilet and of course air conditioning. There wasn’t a TV or clock but honestly, it was really just a place for us to sleep - most of our time would be spent outdoors. Ultimately, the most important for us was that the room was clean and the toilet was working properly.

Transportation Meals

Includes: - Two way ferry transfer (Syahbandar Jetty to Redand Island and back) - 4D 3N Accomodation in a Standard Triple Room - 16 Meals ( 4 Breakfast, 4 Lunch, 4 Tea Breaks, 2 BBQ Dinners, 2 Buffet Dinners)

Includes: - Return trip (Depart from Subang Airport via FireFly, Return to KLIA2 via AirAsia) Package: RM694

Mid-Range**

Splurge***

RM160– RM200

RM988 – RM1,100

RM40 - RM60

RM627

RM664

RM844

Air Fare (return/pax) Accommodation 3D 2N

Package: RM694

- 6 Snorkeling Trips - Rental of Snorkeling Gear

Perhaps the one downside was the lack of Wi-Fi service provided throughout the resort, with the exception of the lobby. Using your phone’s data service wouldn’t do much good either since network coverage was pretty much nonexistent in this charming island.

SaveMoney Budget*

AirFare: RM181

Free

Snorkelling Gear

RM30

Total for 4D 3N

RM640- RM660

RM854 - RM894

RM1,862- RM1,974

*Budget Traveller: Assuming he/she chooses to travel to Syahbandar Jetty in Terengganu by bus and chooses the cheapest 3D2N package + 1 day extension offered by the resort. **Mid- Range Traveller: Assuming he/she chooses to fly to the Sultan Mahmud Airport in Terengganu and chooses the Triple Room 3D2N package + 1 day extension. ***Spurge Traveller: Assuming he/she chooses to fly by Berjaya Air directly to Redang Island and chooses the Triple Deluxe Room 3D2N package + 1 day extension.

AUGUST 2014

How To Make A Complaint Against A Financial Institution? Got beef with a bank or Attempt to settle your insurance company that problem with the institution The first step you must attempt is to resolve your can't be resolved? Don't problems directly with the institution - try to talk and discuss with the person-in-charge or department. sit around and sulk, get If you feel that your complaint has not been resolved fully or in a satisfactory manner, you can proceed to make a oﬀ your behind and formal complaint to the Complaint Unit of your institution via email or fax. The Complaint unit is a department make a complaint to established by each institution to handle all complaints and feedback brought forward by customers. these departments! They will take about two weeks to investigate further and Unhappy with a bank or other ﬁnancial institution? Want to file a complaint against a financial institution but don't know how? First of all, you should know that you absolutely have the right to lodge a complaint if you are not satisfied or cannot come to a mutual understanding with banks and insurance companies regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM). For example: Mr. Wang discovered in his latest current account statement that there was a cash out of RM5,000 via cheque numbered 23456. Upon checking his cheque book, he found a few cheques missing and one of them was this exact cheque. After an investigation by the police, it was found that his signature was forged and that the culprit produced a fake identity card with a fake MyKad number when cashing out at the bank, but the bank refuses to return Mr. Wang's money. Shouldn't the bank officer have noticed this and called Mr. Wang to verify the transaction? - Here is a situation that can be disputed! Let us take this opportunity to protect your right as a consumer, so you don't get the run-around.

review your complaint. If they anticipate that your complaint would take longer than two weeks to be resolved, a representative will update you on the progress accordingly. No matter how small the problem, your institution should be responsible to solve it.

Still not happy? Refer your complaint to the FMB Not to worry! You can still defend your rights with the Financial Mediation Bureau (FMB). FMB is an independent organisation that mediates disputes between the public and financial institutions. Prepare the final decision letter from your institution and submit the letter to FMB within 6 months of the date it was issued to you. Once you have submitted your documentation, the FMB will review your complaint and may meet with you or together with your institution and will make a decision on your case after looking at the law, industry rules and practices of the issues at hand. Their services are completely free, but bear in mind that there is a limit to the amount that you can claim: Banking/Financial complaint

What do you need to do before you can ﬁle a complaint? Identify your problem first before you make a complaint to your institution. If you think the financial institution has been unfair or misleading, discriminated against you, or violated any company policy, you may file your complaint against them. Don't forget to keep a copy for yourself!

• RM100,000 (excluding fraud cases relating to payment services, credit cards, charge cards, ATM cards, and cheques for which the limit will not exceed RM25,000) Insurance/Takaful complaint • RM200,000 (Motor and Fire Insurance/Takaful) • RM100,000 (Others) • RM5,000 (3rd party property damage)

Alternatively, there's also BNM Here's another option for you to file your complaint. If your complaint does not fall within in the scope of the FMB, you may refer your complaint directly to Bank Negara Malaysia through BNMLINK and BNMTELELINK. These departments represent BNM's important points of contact to facilitate prompt and efficient response to members of the public on matters related to the financial sector. BNMTELELINK can be reached via mail, e-mail, fax or phone. In addition to this, you can also visit the BNMLINK if you wish to discuss your problems in person as they also provide face to face services to walk-in customers.

FMB and BNM weren't helpful. What do you do now? If you are not satisfied with the decisions of FMB or BNM, you may seek legal advice on taking legal action to resolve your problem.

Malaysia's No.1 Money Supermarket This was brought you by Wani Atiqah 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.

AUGUST 2014

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