Here's how much FREE will cost you

Who doesn't like free things, right?  Free vacation, free medical coverage, free lunch.  Well, believe it or not there are many people who would be begging you to take this free offers, if only you promise you'll let go of your calculators, and switch off your brain.

Here's my story and I'm sure its yours too.  OK, so I received this phone call from a telemarketer, who's promoting a health package for credit card users from bank ABC (haven't we all?).  I usually would just end the conversation politely saying I'm not interested, I've got all the coverage I need, thank you. 

But this time, I chose to listen, as I happen to have sometime to kill.  So, this telemarketer said that ABC company is offering FREE health coverage, hospitalisation and all the works.  It's FREE, ok, so I don't have to pay anything.  So, I listened on, waiting for the catch.  Now, here's the catch...I will get these free medical coverage if I start a savings programme of about RM200 a month.  The money is all mine, and at the end of 15 years, I will be able to withdraw all the money back.  All RM36,000 of it, he said. (RM200 x 12 months x 15 years)  Even if I had claimed any converage within that period of 15 years, my money will still be intact.  So, do I believe that they will be so kind as to give me all my money back and provide me with free health coverage?  Of course, they will.  It makes perfect business sense to them.  And here's why:  (Time to bring out that calculator!)

Say for example, you put in the same amount to your own unit trust investment account, let's say ASB.  ASB provides on average about 8% return every year and it is compounding every year.  At the end of the 15th year, you will actually get about RM65,000 in your investment account, instead of RM36,000 that the ABC company would be so happy to return to you.  In other words, your RM36,000 has  generated  RM29,000 profit for you in the period of 15 years.

So....by putting the money into ABC company's savings programme,  you will get back your RM36,000 after 15 years, and the ABC company will have made RM29,000 or more (depending on where they invest the money) for themselves.  So, in layman terms, you are NOT getting FREE health coverage, it is company ABC, that will be getting FREE money from your so-called savings. 

So, I said thank you but NO thank you, I do not intend to give you my money.   It's true what they say...if you do not know what to do with your money....there are tonnes of people who know exactly what to do with the money (Actually, I'm the one who said that in my book, from Deadbroke to Cash Rich).  So, before you say yes to any FREE deals or "you-can-get-all-your-money-back" deals...just pull out your calculator and switch on your brain.

Bagel from Wisconsin

I have been looking for bagels in Malaysia for 16 years, ever since I come home after my graduation from UW-Madison in US.  I missed the crisp outside and chewy inside of a toasted bagel.  Suddenly yesterday, I found them in the frozen section of Cold Storage.  For 16 years, I have always been eyeing the bakery sections and it had never occured to me that I should look at the frozen section.  Yesterday I did.  The voice inside me said, "Hey. why don't  you check out the frozen section..you may never know.." I obeyed, and voila!  Bagels...!! And believe it or not, these bagels come from University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin.  Wow!  Maybe it has been waiting for me to find it for 16 years...!  But I have never really shopped in Cold Storage, I mean too high class, right?  Anyway so, it reinforces the notion that when you step out from your comfort zone once in a while, and do something different for a change, you may find things you never have before and see things in a whole new way. And hey, it always pays to listen to the voice inside you.  Hooray to the simple pleasures of life!

Me in Herworld

I am so happy and delighted to be featured in the HerWorld magazine July 2011, as an author for my money management book, from Deadbroke to Cash Rich.  Coincidentally, July is my birthday month...so what a wonderful brithday present.  Of course, there's no such thing as coincidentally....it is all Allah's Plan and Allah's Love and Mercy.  Thank you, God the Creator of the Universe!

This is a piece of cake, literally!



This is Cake Boss, Buddy Valastro with his creation the life size Nascar cake.  Cake Boss and Cake Off on TLC is my favourite past time while folding the clothes during weekends.  I love that these guys stretch what we previously define as cake -- in terms of design, size, ingredients and functionality.  The only problem is of course, watching these programs makes me hungry! Oh, well...

So, What's Our Excuse?

Yup!  You're seeing right.  This nice looking young man has no arms, no legs and yet he is living a wonderful life.  If you search him on youtube, you can see videos of him swimming, driving his own boat and mmm...surfing.  Yes...surfing!!  Nick Vujicic, is a professional motivator and speaker from Australia.  I was astounded when I saw his book on the shelves at Kinokuniya.  The first thought which ran through my mind was, "So, what is MY excuse?!"  I have so much that I want to accomplish and yet so many excuses as to why it can't be done.  I have so much fear as to how things will turn out -- given the profession cross-road that I'm facing in my life right now. Actually I've decided which road to take.  And seeing this guy, and reading his book, just says to me that right here, right now, I am not entitled to any excuses whatsoever.  You just go for it, girl!

Let me share a quote from his backcover:  "I do believe that my life has no limits.  I want you to feel the same way about your life, no matter what your challanges may be.  As we begin our journey together, please take a moment to think about any limitations you've placed on your life or that you've allowed others to place on it.  Now think about what it would be like to be free of those limitations.  What would your life be if anything were possible?" (By, Nick Vujicic, Life Without Limits)