Toyota Prius Hybrid Car - My Next Aim ?

The recent announcement of Budget 2012 has seen the Government extending the examption on the import duties and excise duty to a whopping 100% and will remain until 31 Dec 2013. The previous year was also 100% examption on import duties and 100% on excise duties. And the price for the Toyota Prius was lowered from RM175K to RM135K, slightly higher than in Langkawi due to the 10% sales tax.

I thought previous year was only 50% examption, and this year was total 100% examption and I should be expecting the Prius to drop to around RM100K. Looks like I mislead myself this time. Huhuhu, no new car for me, I guess. RM135K is too much of a sum to pay....

Bye bye Prius...  :(

1/2 Month Bonus For Civil Servants

Well, this certainly is a good news to us... Half a month bonus with minimum payout of RM500. It certainly has been a long time since we enjoyed bonus.

Um, I wonder if there will be another half a month bonus in December ? I sure am crossing my fingers...

Cost of Living Increase .... Again ....

Yeah, that's true. Ironic is, I only got to know about it this morning - after listening to the news from radio. Talk about slow, I am slow. Wonder what was I doing last night ? Ummm, oh yeah, becoming a chauffer to my sister. Lucky her.

So, petrol Ron95 has increased another 5 cents. And PM says it is still cheaper than most countries. Well, no argument on that, but looks like my budget increase another RM1.45. Seems significant yeah, but a month, it will be an additional of RM 5.80 and a year is about RM 69.60. My yearly increment is only RM 95, so it means from additional RM95 to spend, I now only have additional RM25.40 to spend in a year. Wow... Looks like goods are getting more expensive, but pay still remains the same.

Haiya.. What a miserable day it is.

Increase of Toll Rates ???

I was elated when one of the toll on NPE was abolished - which means I dun have to pay additional RM 1.60 if I wanna go to KL.

Today, the Works Minister announced that there will be an increase of toll for 5 highways.

Wow, I mean, I felt that I am being cheated. First, you announced the goodies, and let the people be happy for few days, then you take away our happiness by your second announcement.

I dunno if this is a smart way to go. You readers decide yourself. I wonder if this will affect the popularity of the current government.....

Holiday Mood

I must still be on holiday mood .... Nothing much interesting nowadays, not even politics interest me anymore. To me, it is just playacting by people who worries whether they have enough power or not.

We, the normal living people, is struggling daily to make decent living. With house and baby coming hand-in-hand, I am now beginning to wish that I will win in contests that offer cash as prize .... Blink, blink .... $$$$$$. Or maybe I should start buying lottery numbers - nah, it will be a waste of money. Probability of me to "kena" any number is extremely low.

I guess I need to ikat my perut (not that I can ikat much pun, with the baby growing inside me... hehehe ... wishful thinking, you may say) so that I can save up enough money ... But I trust in my Lord - He will provide all that I ever need (I also wish for a normal delivery on my expected delivery date which is 2 Jan 2009).

I have another 12 weeks to go - approx. 3 more months... Wish me luck !

Debt-Free

Today, I am one step closer to being debt-free.

Why ?

I just settled my car loan in full ... **sob**sob**

There goes all my money (not all, I still have 1, 2 ringgit left)

I still need to pay for other stuff - house reno, lawyer fees, baby's need ...

Aiyo yo .. looks like I am still burdened with debts.

Can money grow on a tree ?

Car Broke Down !

Just imagine on jam-packed Sunday afternoon, cars are basically bumper-to-bumper scenario, your car's cluth suddenly failed you and you are stuck, right in the middle of the 3 lanes !

Scary ?

Yup, that was what happened to me last Sunday ! The clutch suddenly gave some scary sound, and poops, it went dead. I was unable to engage into any gear at all, thus had to leave the car's hazard lights on immediately. I was thankful that no car came and honk me, or worse, bang me from behind as it was very jam that day.

Having 4 ladies in the car makes it even more difficult to move the car away to the emergency lane though I know that should be the thing to do while awaiting for two truck to arrive. Unless I was not pregnant, I could probably do that. But since I am pregnant, I decided to sit in the car (in the middle lane) while awaiting for some kind hearted stranger to assists us.

God was kind to us, He gave us 2 angels to help us pushed the car to the emergency lane. God bless these to Malay samaritans. Finally, we are out of danger. So, we waited patiently for the truck to come Meanwhile, made some changes to the plan whereby asked my mum and sis to take a cab to Mid Valley and later we (me and syg) will come and pick them up at Mid Valley.

So, now everything went according to plan B. Truck came and mum took a cab, me followed back to service centre, and there, upon seeing the familiar Kembara parked by the road side, and my syg waiting for me, you got to imagine the amount of relief that I felt at that time. Syg came immediately from church meeting (which I escaped coz need to bring Mum to Mid Valley to get new pinafore for my youngest sis). I was so thankful to God for keeping all of us safe from any harm.

Talked to Mr Teoh about the incident and was rather sad that should the worse case scenario happen (have to change the entire clutch pad), the cost will be around RM500. And that was excluding the towing service, which amounted to RM150. Well, things happened and nothing much can be done about it. After all, there is a need to spend this money - is for our safety after all.

Then , I made a prayer - I actually did. I asked God to have mercy on us, coz money is certainly very tight for us now. Whats more with the baby coming and the purchase of the house. God does listen to our prayers. A thorough check on the car revealed that only the clutch cable and some minor repairs need to be done. So, all in all, I spent RM185 for it.

Thank you God - for listening to our prayer, for keeping us safe from harm.

I love you, Jesus !

No Credit Card at Petrol Station ?

**Updated Post:

Looks like Petronas is giving assuarance that vehicle owners can still use their credit cards to pay for petrol. What about Shell, Esso and other petrol kiosks ? Are you doind the same thing also ?


**Previous Post:

This is the latest situation in Malaysia.

Now, petrol kiosk owners are saying that unless Government increase their profit margins, they will not allowed usage of credit cards at the petrol station.

So, in the end, because of global price increase on oil, the consumers are the one ended suffering. Just imagine everytime we need to pump petrol, we need to pay cash. And if "hujung bulan" already, we should all switch to using bicycles to work. In fact, we should even start using it now so that we will have enough money to spend on rice, meat, vege, etc .... And it doesn't do any good to withdraw money from the ATM machines - we might be rob, if the robbers havent carted away the ATM machine first.

What is becoming of the world today ? Is it a mission to destroy human population ?

Frustrated

Damn the person who made the announcement yesterday evening. 78 cents of increase in the petrol is toooooooo much la.. Is he really that stupid ?

How do you think people like us live ? Every cent is accounted for, k. Not like you, everything also the Rakyat pay for you. Your house, your trip to Australia, your clothes, your allowences... Damn it..

You mentioned the subsidy will be channelled to food instead. I just like to see how you do that. Increase in petrol means increase in transportation fees. Increase in transportation means increase of price of goods. So how you gonna control ? Stupid man, never think the consequences. You think by giving us money annually can help to reduce our problem is it ?

This is definately the case of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. It is unethical and socially unjust.

One does wonder, a country like us, who has petroleum resources, should not be facing such an increase in petrol. Yeah, it is still cheaper than our neighbouring country, but one does wonder - how much do we earn compared to our neighbour ?

What a frustrating morn to begin with !

Really dumb**s !

Cost Of Living

I am really feeling the pinch now.

Everything seems to went up - vege, meat, rice, even household items... Gosh **** How to survive la like this ?

Gaji bila mo naik ?????? Bonus bila mo dapat ????????