Doesn’t this sounds like a familiar environment today?……..

It is the month of August, on the shores of the Black Sea.  It is raining, and the little town looks totally deserted.  It is tough times, everybody is in debt, and everybody lives on credit.

Suddenly, a rich tourist comes to town.

He enters the only hotel, lays a 100 Euro note on the reception counter, and goes to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to choose one.

The hotel proprietor takes the 100 Euro note and runs to pay his debt to the butcher.

The butcher takes the 100 Euro note, and runs to pay his debt to the pig grower.

The pig grower takes the 100 Euro note, and runs to pay his debt to the supplier of his feed and fuel.

The supplier of feed and fuel takes the 100 Euro note and runs to pay his debt to the town’s prostitute that in these hard times, gave her “services” on credit.

The hooker runs to the hotel, and pays off her debt with the 100 Euro note to the hotel proprietor to pay for the rooms that she rented when she brought her clients there.

The hotel proprietor then lays the 100 Euro note back on the counter so that the rich tourist will not suspect anything.

At that moment, the tourist comes down after inspecting the rooms, and takes his 100 Euro note, after saying that he did not like any of the rooms, and leaves town.

No one earned anything. However, the whole town is now without debt, and looks to the future with a lot of optimism…..

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the United States Government is doing business today.

Wow, this sounds simple enough!!

Basically, it just means that when recession hits, one should not stop spending, in fact, everyone should be spending, spending, spending in order to allow the cash to flow.

No one should be guilty of putting the brakes on this “cash flow” machinery………

I was watching an interview of the Australian champion “butterfly” swimmer who won USD1 million in a swimming championship and was asked by the interviewer what she did with the money she won.  She said she heard that “Cash is King” so her money is still tucked safe in her saving account!

Is that what you are doing as well?  I guess with the madness in the world now and whichever corner of the world you are in, it does seem not safe to put your cash anywhere, even in the bank.  What a predicament nowadays for people with plenty of cash!!  It does seems like there is no where to go; definitely not safe under your mattress!

Let truth be told, it is definitely better to still have cash than a whole portfolio of investments that is worth a quarter of what you have invested. But, nevertheless, take to heart that you are not the only one in this dismay situation, even the best investors, people like our investment guru Warren Buffet have lost money in their investments, have made a bad judgment to the “what will be in the future” prediction.  So hang in there, I believe that time cannot get any much worst if not better.

Meantime,  people with hard cash should make some good, safe and sure-win investments to earn some profits while waiting for the good and better times.  A lot of people will just take the easy way out by putting cash in FDs, it is, no doubt, a good, safe and sure-win investment but definitely not earning your cash’s worth…. so think about it and make a harder effort to source for better “sure-win” ways….

This has been circulating on the net for a while now but I just read it. Whether its true or not I find some of the points worth repeating to those who wish to read and learn. If you do not read it too seriously, it might just lighten your day! Have fun listening to the world’s richest man…….

continue reading "Rules of Life by Bill Gates"

“Majority neglect retirement plan”; an article in The Star reads on 14 March 2008. Most of Malaysian have not prepared for retirement while those who have only started after age 40.

If you want to retire comfortably, it is definitely too late to start planning at age 40 not to mention wanting to retire rich and young. I asked myself “Why do we do that?” Merely because we are too busy with our daily life and kept putting off planning for our retirement because the word “retirement” sounds too far away?

continue reading "Retirement Timeline"

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.



Robert Frost, from ‘The Road Not Taken’

At times, when we come to the crossroads of our lives, where we turn is what we will make out of our lives therefore it is important that we make the right choice. Most people will not take the road less traveled due to the fear of the unknown.

continue reading "Rich Dad’s Words of Wisdom"

Watch this — Building Life

I watch this slide-show by an anonymous writer and I find it to be true to life. Whatever we choose to do in our life, we need to do it with our heart, otherwise, we will end up like this excellent carpenter with immaculate carpenter skill but who built his own house shoddily.

Remember, your life is yours to live. You don’t live it for your parents, your spouse or even for your children. Evidently how you live and die rest fully upon yourself in your own two hands.

Be a master builder of your own life and allow the next generation to emulate your good example by living a healthy, wealthy and happy life. Take care of your own health, work hard to build your financial wealth and while doing both stay happy.

December is the time of the year where people make resolutions to be better for the next year. The Christmas and New Year festivities allow us to spend relaxing time with our family and friends, reflect on the past year’s achievements and shortfalls and shout out our resolutions for the new year.

Yes, the usual resolutions are to lose that extra 10 kg you have gained over the year or to stop smoking or even to be a better person by promising yourself to do a few good deeds a day; give up your seat in public transportation to the elderly, disabled and pregnant etc etc. All these are fine and good but let us change the theme for this year’s resolution.

How about setting a goal to retire young and rich? It is a lifetime goal and if you have set this goal then your next 5 years’ resolutions will be set for you. In fact, your new year resolutions are set for life as you now have a life long direction. Here are 5 I can think of on top of my head; maybe you have more to share……

continue reading "“Retire Young & Rich” – Next New Year Resolution theme"

Today is Sunday, I woke up ready to have a lazy day but when scanning news online, I had headline like this “1,600 turn to Bank Negara’s AKPK unit every month” screaming at me. This is alarming for a small country like Malaysia.

These 1,600 individuals turn to the Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK) for help to manage their debts. What about those who are also in debts but are not aware yet and also there are those already in debts and trying to clear them on their own to save their pride. I am appalled by just thinking about it.

As reported by Rashvinjeet S Bedi, the number seeking help monthly has tripled since the agency was set up 18 months ago. And I am sure it will continue to rise if nothing is done to educate these people about how to handle their personal finances.

continue reading "Financial Literacy - your insurance to living"

Success is as predictable as the sun will rise in the east and will then set in the west everyday, 365 days a year. Success is not simply being in the right place at the right time. Success is not meeting one rich person who will help you out. Success is also not a matter of just good luck.

Success will only happen to you if you want it to. You have to work for it. You will have to learn all the success principles and guides given by all the “gurus” of the world and by putting into practice all you have learned you will then be moving to the front line of your life. Once you have attained those principles, you will have an incredible advantage over people who do not yet know or is willing to learn and put such techniques and strategies into practice. You will have the winning edge for the rest of your life and career.

continue reading "Success is Predictable"

Do you sometimes ever wonder “how on earth can people do what they do” even when there was failure upon failure. What motivates them? How do they go on and on? How? And you want to know. I think, basically, all you have to do is find your very own motivational trigger….

Watch this slide which a friend sent me in one of those all famous “Forward mail” :-

continue reading "My Motivational Trigger"