5 Tips To Stop Yourself From Overspending This Ramadan

It may be ironic, or even pushed by commerce, but spending tends to be on the rise during the Ramadan month (ninth in Muslim calendar) where Muslims are told to keep things to bare minimum, and fast during the day time (with times allocated region-wise). Overall, it is believed that the month teaches patience, modesty, and spirituality among Muslim. There are even those who are not of the Islamic faith who also practises fasting to accompany their Muslim friends during this period. Not to mention, plenty of other religions that also practise fasting of some sort, such as Lent for the Christians, or Virutham for the Hindus.

The Islamic calendar is based on lunar cycles, so it retrogresses about two weeks backwards every year. What used to be the fasting month a few years ago may not be the same today and therefore, it is important to be alert and keep that in mind when you are saving up for the festive season and plan your budget for that vital period of time.

Here are some pointers on planning a thrifty Ramadan this year, where sometimes consumerism can be overwhelming at times.

1. Moderation is healthy physically and financially

We have all heard it before; folks actually tend to put on weight during puasa period, no matter which religion they are in, simply because they tend to over-compensate their stomach’s need after abstaining from eating and drinking for hours. As for the Ramadan, we are all very inclined to spend the most at the bazaars available everywhere throughout the month.

There are choices of dishes in various stalls that you can choose from. You can plan wisely on what you need to avoid wastage later. In the excitement, you may not remember how much you have spent on one evening alone.

Before you hit the bazaar, set a budget. If you are buying food for iftar for yourself, limit your spending to under RM15, if possible, less. You can also just bring RM15 with you to avoid breaking your budget. There is always a tendency to spend more when you are hungry. All the same, keep an eye on your wallet or purse.

2. Set out the blueprint

During this holly month, it is good to have a financial blueprint set out so that you do not overspend. Remember your financial commitments don’t stop for the fasting month. It’s easy to be swayed to spend more with all the buffets and sales so it’s good to prepare a plan before you start so you know how much you can and cannot afford.

As mentioned, spending tends to go up during this time and it is important that you balance your budget well, considering Hari Raya is coming right after, where spending may go over the roof (sometimes literally if you consider the fireworks).

Cut back on other expenses during the month to accommodate other expenses. One place you can cut down on is entertainment. For example, make fewer trips to the cinema during this period. Ensure your spending does not skyrocket.

Fasting is a great opportunity to keep you aground and assess your financial situation as you prepare for the day of festivity. Always be prudent, and use Ramadan month as a good platform to practice your financial acumen.

3. Shop one at a time

No matter which nationality you are or which race or religion you belong to, gluttony is a very human trait that we sometimes can’t avoid. Whether you are a Muslim or not, the Ramadan bazaar is a prime example where one’s heart just stops (not yet clogged by cholesterol hopefully) admiring array of dishes, drinks and desserts. That’s triple delight for you; and if you are not careful, triple bypass.

Spending is unavoidable in preparation for Raya. However, if you are shopping for new clothes, you can start buying or commissioning your tailor to make them in advance, to take advantage of sale seasons throughout the year. Instead of squeezing all your expenditures into one month, spread out your expenses over a few months so you won’t be overwhelmed.

Take it easy and remember the original intent of fasting in the first place. This is a month for you to keep a check on your physical and monetary health.

4. Avoid lavish buka puasa events

This particular point may be disagreed by those in the sales or public relations department, but there’s no doubt about it, these can get expensive. Keep in mind that even though you feel hungry, you’ll find it hard to eat enough to make the expenditure worthwhile since your body is actually able to eat less after a long period of fasting.

If you can’t live without a buffet for buka puasa, plan in advance, and limit how many times you patron a hotel or restaurants for buffets during this period.

Hotels and restaurants may offer good deals, but when it comes to mass consumption, they are still big expenses compared to quiet meals at home to break the fast with your family and friends.

5. Continue saving for rainy days

Whatever you spend on during this month and the upcoming festive days, make sure you keep your saving activities running (common wisdom says put aside a minimum of 10% of your salary for this purpose).

In fact, you may have already a separate saving that you intent to use to splurge during this once-a-year event, which is fine, but do not forget that life moves on after the festive season and you’ll need your savings prepared for whatever may come.

It is a time to save your energy; keep your mind at peace, and to resist urges to keep your spending as modest as possible.

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It's Time For Your Mid-year Financial Detox To Get Your Right Back On Track!

This Financial Detox May Just Save Your Life

Most people live a precarious existence as they battle with debts, overspending, and their inability to manage their cash flow. With credit cards easily available to everyone, even those who may be struggling with their student debt, car loan, or even mortgage, could easily make one wrong move, sending their finances spiralling out of control.

Everyone has made their fair share of bad financial decisions that they may still have to deal with. We always know when we have made a financial boo-boo. It’s like being jolted awake after a nightmare – the difference is, the nightmare has become your reality!

It seemed like a good idea at the time, but in the harsh light of day, you will be beating yourself up over that temporary lapse of judgement. If you’ve been in this situation and want to take control of your financial health, it might be time for a financial detox.

Even if you generally manage your finances well, you should still think about going on a financial detox. Like a body detox, it should be done once in a while – it’s just like pressing a reset button, or rebooting your computer after having run it for months.

When it comes to a body detox, some people fast for days, or only eat certain food for a period. They would abstain from things that are toxic – such as smoking, drinking and even eating processed food and drinks. No fast food or soft drinks!

Similar to that, financial detox requires you to change your lifestyle for a period, which may include doing some things you don’t usually do, but should, and abstaining from certain financial moves that you make all too often.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to kick-start your detox:

1. Set a period

Usually people do this at the beginning of the year when their New Year resolutions are still fresh. However, it is advisable to do this at least twice a year – January (to recover from your year-end expenses) and July (a mid-year reboot). Do it for a month, and perhaps some of the good habits set will be cultivated thereafter.

2. Lay down a special budget

As you will be managing your finances differently on your detox month, you need to come up with a different budget. Write down your monthly income, and deduct all your monthly commitments, such as your mortgage repayment, car repayment, and other bills that you will need to pay. This is important, as failing to do so, you will be incurring additional interest charges, defeating the purpose of your detox.

3. Plan your expenses

The spending of the balance you get after deducting all your financial commitments must be planned to the T. Do not make any impromptu purchases. Your spending should only be for necessities, such as food and petrol for your car or bus fare, and definitely not getting a new pair of shoes.

4. Cut down your spending drastically

Even if you are allowed to spend on food, you need to change the pattern you spend. Instead of eating out at the restaurant, make your own breakfast, lunch and dinner from home. When you see how much you have saved by not eating out by the end of the month, you may just continue with this routine! Avoid shopping malls or online shops throughout your detox period.

5. Put away your credit or debit card

These payment tools though convenient and if used correctly, can bring you heaps of rewards, during this period, it is best to put them away. Spending with cash always leaves you feeling more accountable. It is far harder, emotionally, to hand over RM50 notes compared to swiping a credit card.

6. Give yourself a weekly allowance

Remember how you make do with your weekly allowance when you were in school? Go back to that mentality. The best way is to withdraw a set amount of money (based on your strict budget on point #2) for the whole week and make sure you only stick to that amount.

7. Reward yourself

Going cold turkey may work for some people, but others may rebel outrageously after the detox period. If you find yourself splurging on an expensive dinner right after your detox, going cold turkey is definitely not your style. Therefore, having a non-detox day once a week may be more effective. Go out for lunch on this day! But don’t go crazy. Remember moderation is the key.

8. Monitor your progress

At the end of each day jot down what you have spent on and rate it as either a ‘want’ or a ‘need’ item and keep a running tally of how much money you have left. For example, buying a gourmet sandwich for lunch on your non-detox day should be rated as ‘want,’ as you could have easily eaten something cheaper.

9. View your results

At the end of your detox period, assess your spending habits between ‘wants’ and ‘needs’. Are you happy with the results? If more than 30% of your spending is on ‘want’ items then you need to review your spending pattern and behaviour. Something has to change. Also compare your spending to your normal pre-detox expenses. The results should speak for themselves.

10. Keep some habits

After reviewing your results, you may be spurred to start making these changes permanent. Maybe you may enjoy making your own healthier lunches to work, and you can start doing them more often. Perhaps the weekly allowance step works for you, and you can continue to do that to keep your finances in check.

Bonus step

While doing your financial detox, liquidise your assets. This is especially helpful for people who are detoxing to save up a big amount of money. Assets here do not just refer to big items like your house or car, but also items that you might have bought on a whim, which you may not need. For example, if you have recently bought a tablet (because there was a discount), when you already have one, then you can always sell one of them through some of the preloved Facebook groups. It’s perfect time for a spring cleaning!

Living from paycheck to paycheck can be depressing, especially if you would like to achieve some of the financial milestones you have set for yourself (buying your first home, changing your car to a better one, or even going on your first overseas holiday).

If you find yourself missing some of your payments (especially the high interest debts like credit card), or is trying to save up for something (down payment for your first home or a well-deserved holiday), then you are in need of a financial detox badly.

A spending detox doesn’t just get your finances under control, it also helps to guarantee a positive financial future. Continuing with your current lifestyle that does nothing for your finances may be putting your finances at risk!

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4 Uncommon But Ridiculously High-Paying Jobs

Have you heard of these jobs before? The amount of money you can earn from these job titles will blow your mind!

Have you been thinking about switching your career to something that’s a tad more exciting and pays better? Perhaps it’s time you consider these slightly less common, but handsomely rewarding jobs as a career path!

Voice-Over Artist

Do you frequently get compliments from your friends and family on how well you mimic other people’s voices? Or do you receive lots of comments on how good your voice sounds when you speak or sing?

Why not turn that innate talent of yours to a money-making side or even full-time job? It may sound easy, but it’s anything but. It requires talent (which isn’t something everyone has) and a willingness to work hard to build a good reputation in the industry.

According to The Voice Guild, an average voice-over artist would earn RM15 to RM30 per second for a commercial, but exceptional voice-over artists can rake in the dough as product ambassadors to. Farit Ismeth Emir is one of the veterans who earn more than RM15,000 a month from a single brand. His iconic ‘Gaya, Mutu, Keunggulan’ voice commercial for Dunhill back in the 80s shot his career into the limelight and has put him among the highest paying voice-over artist oh his time.

The job title may not sound as prestigious as, say, a doctor or a lawyer, but it’s by no means a low-paying job – once you’ve built your reputation. If you’re interested in this line of work, you can look for voice-over courses online. If you’re not sure on how to market yourself as a voice-over artist, you can contact The Voice Guild here, and find out how you can list yourself as one of their talents.

Offshore Cook

Yes, those in the Royal Navy, cruise ships, and oil vessels need to eat too. If you think that gourmet restaurants on land serve the best food, think again! The most delectable food is served out there in the oceanic wilderness and this, of course, requires some degree of culinary skill.

Although cooking may sound like a simple enough task, not many cooks can stomach the weeks and months of living and working on a vessel, particularly those who do not see land for months on end. This job also requires you to get a multitude of vaccinations, a valid passport (these vessels travel across the oceans and often require work visas), offshore training certificates, and offshore medical certificates on top of the exceptional catering skills you’re expected to have.

For these reasons, offshore chefs often get paid insane amounts money depending on their experience and the type of vessel they work for. Seasoned offshore cooks can easily make well over RM18,800 a month – not including allowances. If you like the thrill of working in the open sea and loves adventures, start taking culinary courses and learn the ropes of being an offshore chef today!

Certified Ethical Hacker

Hackers aren’t all criminals or the hooded villains as you see in the movies. Certified ethical hacker is an actual job title that pays surprisingly well. In 2016, the Pentagon launched the ‘Hack the Pentagon’ programme, a programme that challenged hundreds and thousands of the ‘white hat hackers’ in America to break into their cybersecurity systems. The offered bug bounty was USD150,000, as well as recognition for the winner’s work.

Of course, not all governments would offer a lucrative reward for successfully breaking into their cybersecurity. Companies and internet giants such as Google hire hackers to find any bugs and vulnerabilities in their systems to better protect their database. Similarly, financial institutions including banks and insurance companies hire expert certified ethical hackers to test their cybersecurity systems as their businesses thrive on sensitive information.

The average salary varies from one job scope to another, but owing to the complex nature of the job, Certified Ethical Hackers are paid an average of USD86,053 per year! This salary range is, of course, applicable to the professionals and highly skilled hackers who practice their trade all over the world, but with the right mindset and knowledge, you can earn just as much as they do!

Oil Rig Dive Technician

The multi-billion-dollar oil and gas industry is one of the most lucrative industries out there in the working landscape. Harvesting petroleum and natural gases don't come cheap though, what with the drilling taking place deep underground. And of course, someone has got to lay down these pipes in the deep blue sea.

Oil rig dive technicians spend hours underwater to ensure everything is in order because any leakage can cause catastrophic water pollution like the BP oil spill back in 2010. These technicians are put through gruelling tasks that will challenge both physical and mental strength due to the environment in which their job operates.

This job is incredibly dangerous, but that is why oil rig divers are compensated generously by their employers. According to global statistics, an oil rig diver earns an average salary of USD54,340 annually – which puts it in a six-figure salary bracket in Ringgit Malaysia. To qualify for this job, you’ll need a degree in offshore engineering as well as various other certifications. You’ll also need to be a certified commercial diver. Think you’re up for the challenge?

Rethinking Your Career Yet?

But these are just some of the many career options out there that pay extremely well, although they do require arduous work, persistence, and exceptional mental discipline. It sounds hard, but if you’ve got what it takes, perhaps it’s something you can consider for yourself or recommend to your thrill-seeking friends?

Would you consider switching your career to any one of the listed jobs? Are there any other uncommon but well-paying jobs you wish you could do to earn more money? Tell us your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below!

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