Financial tips for students studying overseas

As international student on a tight budget and being far from home, students overseas need an armoury of good advice on how to better manage their small budgets and making them last for the week or month, especially in cities where cost of living may be high.

Furthermore, parents or guardians are far away and may be hard to reach so as a student, managing your finances is very much a part of learning how to be more independent.



Search for a good bank
Before deciding on which bank you would like to open an account with, conduct some research on whether they charge any fees for any of their services. For example fees for using the ATM or monthly charges for the account that they are opening.

Open a Savings Account
Be sure to deposit a certain amount of money to your savings account either weekly or on a monthly basis and try making sure that you avoid withdrawing from it for any unnecessary spending. These funds are crucial for a rainy day.

Withdraw once or twice a week only
Instead of going to the ATM daily, try practicing to withdraw only a certain amount once or twice a week or if possible in a month. Try to keep from using your ATM/Debit card and spend with what you have at the moment.

Keep a budget/financial log
Keep and record your spending. This way you can always be aware of your budget and be sure that you stick to it!

Ask for student discounts
When making a purchase, remember to ask if they have student discounts and preferably to make it a choice to shop in stores that do offer these discounts.

Find out if your University provides scholarships
Some universities and colleges provide scholarships and beneficences for the students. Find out if you are eligible and apply for it. Also, find out if there are any ways for you to pay cheaper tuition fees or accommodation fees. That way it could save you a lot of money.

Pack a lunch
Instead of eating out every time you feel like eating, why not pack a lunch and learn how to prepare low-cost meals such as pasta.

Buy generic brand products
When going grocery shopping, buying generic brand items are much cheaper compared to the other brands that are out there. Make sure to check that they both have the same ingredients, so it’s almost like buying the same thing; only cheaper.

Get coupons
Coupons usually give out discounts or promotions. Try to get these and you’ll be saving more than you think.

Enjoy free activities provided
There are some universities as well as colleges that provide entertainment and activities for the students. Join and participate in these events and that way you can save money from spending on entertainment like movies and such.

Share expenses with housemates
When living with other people, it is a good idea to share the household expenses. It is a lot cheaper this way rather than having everyone to pay for each other’s own things because sharing the expenses means that you will be dividing the costs between each other.

Use e-mails or text messages
Instead of long distance phone calls, try using email or text
messages instead.

There are also various cheaper ways or methods that are free to communicate with family members of friends via the Internet such as by MSN or Skype.

Buy used books
Rather than buying new text or reference books that may be expensive, get great deals on second-hand ones from senior students. By the end of the semester, you could always resell them and get part of your cost back.

Search for discounted rates when travelling
Before deciding on which means of transport to take, look for cheaper options first. Whether by airplane, train or bus, you can sometimes find cheaper deals on different airlines or operators.

Shop at factory outlets
When buying clothes, a good option would be buying at the factory outlet where the products are of the same quality as the retail ones but prices are way cheaper.

Avoid buying “dry clean only” clothes
It is better to avoid buying “dry clean only” clothes as it would mean that you would have to pay extra for dry cleaning when you need to do it. Dry cleaning can be pricey, so avoiding this method of cleaning will save you some money.

Borrow instead of buying
During special occasions, such as gatherings/parties, it is a good idea to borrow an outfit from a friend rather than buying them. Buying them might be expensive and you might even never wear them again, which is a waste.

Make your own gifts
Instead of buying gifts, try making them instead. You could bake some muffins or knit a sweater, either ways this would save you a lot more than having to buy an expensive gift at the shops.

DRINK WATER ON EMPTY STOMACH

Today, being the first day of Ramadan 1430H and a public holiday, I had nothing much to do, apart from looking at some tender proposals and designing some security projects. Though not a working day, I stay in the office to do all this and just go out to Masjid Jubliee Perak for Dzuhor and Masjid Bunut for Asar. The time fly so fast and I did not notice that I am undergoing a fasting ritual.

Observing Fasting, water is the main thing that come to mind. And I put something of water into this blog to share. It is about drinking water when you wake up in the morning. I practise this (definetely not during Ramadan!!!) and seem effective to control my asthmatic problem. To date I think I had not gone a single Nebuliser mediacation in RIPAS for almost a year since I last practise this. Before that I had to undergo this type of medication practise almost once ever month. Thanks God.

It is popular practise in Japan today to drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have proven its value. For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been found successful by a Japanese medical society as a 100% cure for the following diseases:
Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney and urine diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhoea, piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat diseases.

I think it is something we all should give attention to and it is one of the cheapest mean to keep out those diseases at bay. It worth a try!

Mencari Keberkatan Rezeki

Islam menuntut umatnya supaya bekerja dan berusaha untuk bebas daripada belenggu kemiskinan. Peringatan itu maha penting kerana kemiskinan sebenarnya boleh menggelincirkan iman seseorang.

Bagi seseorang yang lemah imannya akan sanggup menggadaikan akidahnya dengan melakukan pekerjaan yang terlarang serta menuturkan kata2 yang menolak kebesaran Allah seperti menafikan keadilan Allah dan sebagainya.

Manusia digalakkan mencari kerja yang halal, yang sekaligus menjadi ibadat selagi dilakukan dengan niat yang baik dan tidak melanggar hukum-Nya.

Rezeki yang berkat adalah rezeki yang dicari dengan titik peluh sendiri, bukan dengan cara menunggu pemberian orang lain seperti meminta sedekah, derma dan sebagainya. Apatah lagi jika tubuh badan masih sihat dan kuat. Perbuatan meminta2 sebegitu amat dilarang keras oleh Islam kerana ia merupakan perbuatan yang memalukan dan menghina Islam itu sendiri.

Malah Rasulullah sendiri memberikan peringatan mengenai perbuatan ini melalui sabdanya,
"Seseorang yang terbiasa dengan meminta-minta, dia akan datang pada hari kiamat tanpa secebis daging pun di wajahnya." (Riwayat Bukhari & Muslim)

The Art of Being Well

Emotions and feelings that are hidden, repressed, end in illnesses as: gastritis, ulcer, lumbar pains, spinal. With time, the repression of the feelings degenerates to the cancer. Then, we go to a confidante, to share our intimacy, ours "secret", our errors! The dialogue, the speech, the word, is a powerful remedy and an excellent therapy!

The undecided person remains in doubt, in anxiety, in anguish. Indecision accumulates problems, worries and aggressions. Human history is made of decisions. To decide is precisely to know to renounce, to know to lose advantages and values to win others. The undecided people are victims of gastric ailments, nervous pains and problems of the skin.

Negative people do not find solutions and they enlarge problems. They prefer lamentation, gossip, pessimism. It is better to light a match that to regret the darkness. A bee is small, but produces one of the sweetest things that exist. We are what we think. The negative thought generates negative energy that is transformed into illness.

Who hides reality, pretends, poses and always wants to give the impression of being well. He wants to be seen as perfect, easy-going, etc, but is accumulating tons of weight. A bronze statue with feet of clay

There is nothing worse for the health than to live on appearances and façades. These are people with a lot of varnish and little root. Their destiny is the pharmacy, the hospital and pain.

The refusal of acceptance and the absence of self-esteem, make us alienate ourselves.
Being at one with ourselves is the core of a healthy life. They, who do not accept this, become envious, jealous, imitators, ultra-competitive, destructive. Be accepted, accept that you are accepted, and accept the criticisms. It is wisdom, good sense and therapy.

Who does not trust, does not communicate, is not opened, is not related, does not create deep and stable relations, and does not know to do true friendships. Without confidence, there is not relationship. Distrust is a lack of faith in you and in faith itself.

Good humour, laughter, rest and happiness. These replenish health and bring long life.
The happy person has the gift to improve the environment wherever they live. “Good humour saves us from the hands of the doctor". Happiness is health and therapy.

KEARAH KEJAYAAN : MINDA

"KAMU PASTI BOLEH SEKIRANYA KAMU FIKIR BOLEH"

Dalam mencapai sesuatu kejayaan, penguasaan minda merupakan perkara yang paling utama. Maksud penguasaan disini adalah mengenali dan memahami apa yang kita mahu dan apa yang kita boleh lakukan. Dalam minda kita, wujud banyak perkara yang logik dan tak logik. Jadi kita beri perhatian kepada yang logik atau rasional. Satu idea yang boleh di realisasikan, idea yang boleh diterima oleh semua.

Dalam kita berusaha untuk mengutarakan idea kita itu dan seterusnya menjadikannya, kerjasama atau persefahaman dalam pemikiran terlebih dahulu diperolehi. Selalunya kita mengharapkan apa yang kita rencanakan itu diterima bulat-bulat. Harus diingat dalam 10 pasti ada seorang dua yang akan tidak setuju. Kita harus lihat apa yang mereka inginkan dan harus membincangkan idea-idea itu bersama. Kalau boleh digabungkan,gabungkan supaya menjadi lebih baik. Oleh itu, kita harus terlebih dahulu memberi kerjasama, barulah mudah untuk mendapat kerjasama.

Kelemahan kita sebagai manusia bermula dari dalam diri kita sendiri antaranya kurang toleransi, dengki, cemburu, ego dan kurang sabar. Itu antara yang pasti namun masih ada lagi. Kelemahan ini mesti terlebih dahulu diatasi ataupun dikuasai barulah mudah untuk kita bergerak kehadapan, kearah kejayaan.

BILA TUHAN BICARA TIDAK

Manusia jarang menyatakan, “Ya, aku terima ini sebagai yang terbaik untuk aku. Aku harus terima.”

Yang selalu didengar mungkin bunyi-bunyi seperti ini, “Kenapa mesti berlaku pada aku. Aku dah buat yang terbaik. Perkara ini memang tak patut ditimpa pada aku!”

Kita mungkin jarang menyatakan ungkapan seperti ini. Namun, di dalam keadaan yang tanpa disedari kita mungkin juga akan bertindak sedemikian rupa, di kala emosi dan tekanan gagal untuk dikawal. Ini adalah lumrah bagi sesiapa sahaja yang bergelar dan mempunyai status seorang manusia, termasuk saya. Sudah nama pun manusia. Makhluk yang penuh dengan cabaran dan kepelbagaian rencam dalam hidup.

Bila tuhan berikan sesuatu kepada kita, mengapa mesti mengeluh? Kenapa hendak marah-marah? Bukankah itu semua telah ditentukan untuk kita. Anggap sahajalah ia sebagai hadiah yang teristimewa dari Yang Maha Pencipta untuk sekalian hambaNya. Bukankah itu lebih baik?
Tatkala ditimpa musibah, cuba fikirkan satu perkara. Adakah diri kita sahaja yang ditimpa masalah itu? Cuba lihat kiri, kanan, depan dan belakang. Pandang jauh sedikit ke tempat-tempat lain. Cuba selak pula halaman-halaman media massa di mana-mana sahaja. Adakah kita berseorangan?

Carilah merata tempat sekali pun, pasti ada manusia yang sedang ditimpa duka, derita, dan nestapa. Malah mungkin sesuatu yang lebih teruk dari apa yang kita alami sendiri. Justeru mengapa mahu bersedih?

Pastikah bahawa setiap yang manis itu bakal mendatangkan bahagia kepada kita suatu masa nanti? Yakinkah juga bahawa setiap yang pahit itu akan menghadirkan duka kepada kita? Semua itu bukankah telah disusun atur dengan cukup sempurna olehNya. Terima sahajalah. Pasti ada baiknya untuk kita yang bernama hamba. Tak guna cuba-cuba untuk melawan kehendakNya.

Sedarkah kita tatkala mulut bebicara, hati mengeluh dan fikiran menyesal atas segala yang siap tertimpa untuk kita, tatkala itu kita sebenarnya sedang cuba melawan aturanNya. Bersedih tidak salah. Itu lumrah. Yang salah ialah berlebih-lebih dan tidak cuba untuk menghilangkan kesedihan itu.

Bila kita marah pada setiap ketentuan itu, percayalah bahawa anda sebenarnya sedang marah pada Dia. Siapakah kita mahu melawan kehendakNya? Bila Tuhan bicara tidak, bermakna tidaklah ia. Terimalah seadanya. Mungkin itu memang terbaik untuk kita.

Terimalah apa-apa yang Aku kurniakan kepadamu,dan jadikanlah dirimu daripada kalangan orang yang bersyukur. (Surah Al-A’raf – ayat 144)

"A Monolog with God"

I asked God to take away my habit.
God said, No. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked God to make all handicapped people whole.
God said, No. Their spirits are whole, their bodies are only temporary

I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, No. Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is learned.

I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, No. I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you to find.

I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, No. You must grow on your own! , but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, No. I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.

I ask God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.
God said... Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.
And I started to think that all these days I had been blessed with the love by my Ladies, Sons, Daughters and even Friends.
So THANKS God....

"To the world you might be one person, but to one person you just might be the world"

"Even the word 'IMPOSSIBLE' can be 'I M POSSIBLE'

It had been long since I last blogged. I think it's the time factor and workload that did not allows me to do so.

Well.... things are a bit slack now and business seem to be a bit slower than expected. I supposed it is due to the end of Government's FY. Presumably, business should be on tract again once the new FY budget is announced. Or am I just a bit optimistic about it.