Shah's thoughts

gemini read for today

The Bottom Line

Put together a budget that's a little bit painful -- add some bulk to your savings.

In Detail

All the stimulation you've been adding to your life has been great, but the cost of those experiences is adding up to create quite a sum total on your credit card statement! It's time to add some more bulk to your rapidly dwindling rainy day fund! Put together a budget that's a little bit painful -- force yourself to go without a few indulgences for a while, and you might be able to enjoy a much bigger one later. Delayed gratification isn't always fun, but it is always worth it.

-> kena carik pigibeng balik la..

last night, there was an article: hungrier stomach for fuller fuel tank. which correctly identifies the picture of what we people shall have to endure..

i know that i could be so deep sometimes, talking about this political, social and economic stuff. and for once, i want to avoid writing too much on it.

otherwise, you'll find my words too sharp to bear besides of the OSA stamp upon my service records.

oh, well. may God save us all-

what i did on my sunday break this week

last sunday, i spent most of it with kak, hanging around home no.7, doing almost nothing in particular.

waking up early ( from usual typical lazy sunday morning ) when i heard kak's tinkering in the kitchen. dia masak nasi rupanya. pasal semalam dia tak makan apa, roti sy dah abis. bila dia tahu cili api pun abis, terus dia abandon her breakfast making.

even though i prepared scrumptious nasi goreng sotong yang presentable, dia tak makan. instead, kak menghabiskan tempura nuggets n keropok instant.

after a very delightful brunch that i took extra time to decorate nicely a la the naked chef,  i have a short nap. kak pun sama.. dia sibuk membelek hot mags yang lama2.. bosan tapi malas nk merayap ke alamanda. kak tak ajak, ida lagi la..

sekarang ni observing deficit-handling measures stringently. calculating, not to the extent of penny-pinching (a bit, actually), but i'm exercising economy control. tempat2 menarik seperti alamanda, mines, tesco, giant ioi dsb perlulah dielakkan. i noticed that i've the tendency to splurge whenever i go to hypermarket. bak kata2 sinis:

lelaki membayar RM20 untuk barang keperluan bernilai RM10

perempuan bayar RM10 untuk barang yg tak diperlukan bernilai RM20

so, i am still in the process of abstaining myself. of learning to control the limited power of my CC. so far, i've noticed a distinct improvement. alhamdulillah.

but, kesannya, almost not enough instant food around home no.7.. no maggi, no roti, no cili api, no meat, no fish, no prawns, no sotong.. no, no, no. balik2 makan instant mashed potato yg masih berbaki. tupun nasib baik ada lagi stok2 yg enak dan boleh dimakan :p

perhaps in a bit, i'll try to spend more, despite the deficit n inflation. otherwise, mcm kerajaan jugak, kalu simpan duit je tanpa perbelanjaan pembangunan, ekonomi jadi lesu.

huhu.. tetiba cakap pasal ekonomi negara plak.

anyway, after taking my nap, i finished a rather tasteless read. bosan gila. dah la type-set novel tu kurang sesuai, jalan citer pun macam kureng je. i mean, these days, the more i read, the more predictable the lines became. i need something new. like JQ's books, they are full of surprises, intrigues, clever lines & quips. cuma, last time pegi cm, all are already taken. rasa disappointed plak. next time, hopefully nomore duds.

yesterday was worth mentioning that i settled the most of the laundry and did some melipat baju, an activity that i truly detest! then, by 7, i ironed the baju kurungs for this week.

by 745, supposed dah kua tapi kak plak terhegeh-hegeh. agaknya dia reluctant utk sampai umah kawan dia awal sangat. but what to do? i have an appointment at 830, ok! kat pj plak tu!

by 815 kitorang gerak, as kak was driving, dia pi singgah kat petronas p9d tu. kebetulan plak husband-nyer di kk menalipon. aduhai... sambil dia memilih makanan, sambil bergelak-ketawa dan bercinta-cintaan. bikin my temper broiling hot saja!

last2, 10 minit tak sudah2 lagi memilih makanan, ida kua masuk kedai mesra tu, trying my best not to throw a tantrum in public, and levelly informed her that i have an appointment by 830. baru dia cepat2 sikit. marah!

masa drive, silent ensued. memang takde mood bcos this time i've done my best to get ready early. my trainer dah sound sebelum ni, kenapa selalu lambat appointment? i mean, i don't like giving excuses. sometimes i need to resort to white lies sedangkan i needn't do that. time is always an issue. bab membawa rasa dengan salimah pun pasal masa. i really DETEST those who make light of MY time.

bosan.

anyway, i found out that working out with rage inside made me a better trainee. rasa lega dapat hilangkan rasa marah by venting the frustrations on the thread mills. i mean, i felt less inclined to be vocal of my rage n annoyance. instead, i transformed it into the energy to jog non-stop for 15 mins without having the need to slow the pace. mind u, i was terribly enraged.

by 10.30 siap. set further appointments. then off to mandi hot shower, nikmatnya! added with the luxurious Ralph Lauren Romance Shower Creme, rasa energised.

singgah mcD for a small french fries n minkus fave apple pie. i don't know why but i've been hankering for McD's frenchies since last week. not even kfc or other fastfoods can match such hankering..

btw, i totally disliked the looks the guys gave as i walked to the mcD outlet. okay la, my blood red body-hugging top left nothing much to imagination. my suede capri pants compliment the casual look, though, sobering the effect of over expose. yet, i felt it was too much even for a tudung clad girl. i shouldn't do that again, i promise.

after having supper of frenchies n banana-filled pie, i dropped by at minkus' house. passing her facial wash, nasi goreng n her fave apple pie, i drove off.

reached home nearly by 12. hujan lebat sepanjang jalan. tried to sleep but maid in manhattan was too much too resist, weird huh? i don't know why i watched sampai abis, given that i know the movie was a dud.

after that, grey's rerun. tengok jugak sambil menyemak paper hari ahad. memandangkan dah almost 230 am, paksa gak diri utk tido...

all in all, it was a restive, though rather tepid sunday break..

happy blogging (^^,)t

dengan keadaan yang huru-hara sikit di peringkat atas, kami pegawai bawahan masih terasa selesa..

hmm.. seperti biasa, cliche' mungkin, it's the quiet before the raging storm, perhaps?

apa-apalah.. tapi hari ni ida happy sikit. alhamdulillah, duit claim yang lepas2 dah masuk. tapi yang ida pelik sikit, masuk untuk apa? adakah claim baju songket RM 650 tu masuk lebih awal sebelum ida sempat claim? bleh ker camtu?

apapun, bersyukur dan berlapang dada pasal sempat settle CC for this month. from now on, i must apply yamin's good governance with regards to CC payments. bayar terus bila guna. that way, sooner or later, the bills shall be cleared.

em, keadaan mula hectic. domino sudah mula jatuh satu persatu nampaknya. for the moment, besides of e-susun, i have no particular portfolio yet. this friday will undergo an emcee audition. something to dabble into. hopefully i've gained something worthwhile from my old place. kalu ikutkan, memang nak amik kursus pengacaraan secara profesional. bleh la buat kerja sambilan, kan?

em, talking about kerja sambilan, i am interested in taking up a part time job as a movie translator. mana nak apply ek? crappy movie translation at the cinemas always bug and annoy me. masih ingat translation Miranda Seperti Paderi, kawan-kawan? it is supposed to be Miranda Priestly as of in the Devil Wears Prada. tapi some nimwits just translate it oh-so-freely.. sukatimakbapakdia je kan?

anyway.. given to the fact that i am not tied down to any MJM works yet, i do enjoy blogging and re-editing the misaligned posts..

with free time that is running its course shortly, i shall make use of it by blogging on happy thoughts. jix had been put on hold. with my hp still mutely comatose, the pix of home no.7 shall wait longer to be introduced to you people out there.

have faith. maybe my good luck for today shall produce much more happy tidings, insya Allah.

wm, tak sabar nak inform ayin of the good news ^o^

making use of the opportunity given

ayin is staying with me until saturday morning. horay!!

but in a part, felt a bit frustrated pasal tak dapat bawa dia jalan-jalan jauh sikit. asyik lepak umah je. nasib baik every morning sempat masak something untuk dia makan whilst i'm away.

it's a matter of budget burst. otherwise i'd feel much livelier having him around. everything these days seems to cost a bit of money, don't you think so too? i mean, even hanging around at mamak stalls will cost you RM20 inclusive of transportation cost.

as a solution, before scourging to hentian kajang for his bus ticket last night, we had our simple dinner first at home. cukuplah sekadar rasa kenyang. at these dire times, baru perasan yang yours truly ni ada jugak bakat kakajie in trimming the budget, huhu...

all in all, i'm becoming more resolute with my financial management. it comes to a point where i couldn't ignore it anymore. perhaps as i'm venturing forth in the maturity section, i thought much of it in a much soberer attitude.

true, life is not as extravagant as in Bahagian Istiadat. yet i am thankful of the humbling opportunity for me to much grow up and experience life as it is: humbling.

it's not that i'm going to become an Auntie Scrooge anytime soon. it's just that i will take much consideration of my financial budget.

perhaps bulan ni skimmed because i traveled home by MAS for the election, i spent a bit (huh!) on comfort materials (warmer coat, comforter, spring mattress etc), covered RM 800 for quarters alone dan macam - macam lagi la.

sape la nak contribute tabung duit utk ida simpan duit banyak sikit. mintak dengan yamin pun menarik gak, tapi rasa nk mintak dengan isi-isi tabung tu sekali, hahahahah..

apapun, it's a matter of self-discipline. of being stern with yourself and pre-planning.

this month's pay pun rasa akan terjejas jugak, another RM 800 for quarters alone. what with IKEA being on sale, i sure need that RM 80 throw for home no.7's sofa!!! and i sure need to replenish the depleting resources in the fridge. just essentials la, nothing major.

i promise, my VISA and its delectable frens, MC and AMEX, shall be tucked safely home for a while. maybe until next year :(

apapun, hidup mesti terus, kan? em, agak2 hono RM 2k tu dapat tak untuk kakitangan awam after keputusan PRU 12 yang mengujatkan semua orang ni ek? is Mr. Gov punitive or placating, i wonder?

hopefully placating. then, i'll have the opportunity to bounce back into grace. hopefully.

co-habitation: the next step of maturity, perhaps?

what co - habitation means to me: sharing a place to stay with someone.

after suffering a torrential tsunami in terms of my financial matters this month, i opened myself on ways to trim my budget and decisively carve a way for better financial management. somehow, besides of giving up the ultimate controlling power of my domain, i decided that i could get use to another fellow being. even though a big part of me somehow reluctant of the privacy breach, i decided that i will learn to tolerate, to endure and to compensate.

i admit, i am rather hostile to personal privacy sharing. physical exposure is a bit too much for me. yet, i have to coach myself to learn to share. besides, the company shared will be a chicken soup to my soul. other than mopping around alone on weekends and at normal nights, i'll have someone tolerable to live with.

after all, we both have been alone on our own for quite sometimes. sharing a place together, hopefully, shall be a fresh air for a change.

em, home no.7 shall start its rearranging tonight. with dear ayin at home, at least, i'll have extra pair of hands.. besides, ayin is self-acclaimed interior designer, he'll know what's needed to be done (^^,)t

yup. i think everything shall be much better after this. i won't be too alone anymore, insya Allah.

Kak Asidah,

home no.7 shall welcome you this 15th..

and for less than two months, m&d's room will be my temporary room.. a rather wise move now that the mattress were already delivered yesterday :p

cooking for breakfast at work

minus the pix of my bfast today, though :(

this morning terlewat satu minit for work after spending almost 10 mins preparing kuetiaw soup for breakfast at office..

next time, i'll make sure the soup is ready and left to stew overnight. bila pagi senang je la kalu nk campak2 main ingredients.

hmm :)

i'm learning to manage my home management just like mak used to do before when she was still working.

sebelum tido mesti dia dah siapkan the ingredients dulu: kuah nasi lemak, kuah kacang nasi kapit, pes nasi goreng etc bangun pagi before mandi, tanak nasi lemak, goreng mi dll~

once ida or kakjie dah siap for school, we'll take over to prepare the sidelines: keropok, potong nasi kapit etc

sigh, i really love being domesticated at home no.7 :) moreover, it saves the budget for food tremendously.

do compare:

homemade brunch -> kuetiaw soup:

quarter of kuetiaw ~ 25 sen

quarter of sup siam adabi paste ~ 20 sen

few dried taufu ~ 10 sen

sawi leaves ~ 10 sen

bits of dried prawns ~ 5 sen

an egg ~ 30 sen

2pcs of chilli ~ 5 sen

total cost ~ RM 1.05

compared to nasi lemak or nasi goreng bought at the cafe, i might have to fork out RM 2 perday, just for breakfast.

so there, i think home cooking is essential and budget saving. i might have to plan the menu ahead, though. otherwise, i might be bored having to prepare the similar menus everyday. variety does work wonders :)

here are the summary points:

1. plan the menu ahead. variety is important!
2. stock up the fridge with essential ingredients, almost like a wish list, if i may say so:
   • chicken bits
   • daging kisar
   • bawang kisar
   • cili
   • pes sup
   • sayur hijau
   • cili kisar
   • mi/ bihun/ kuetiaw
   • udang/ sotong
   • garlic butter
   • peanut butter
   • anchovies
   • spaggetti sauce
   • mushroom
   • garam/ gula/ kiub ayam
3. prepare the important ingredients overnight
4. get the tupperware clean & ready overnight
5. wake up early! 7.25 is the latest time i have to leave home no.7  >:(

i think those are the notes i have to execute shall i wish for myself to be fully organized. after all, the OCD people do have their life planned to the miniscule details, right?

oohh.. i love cooking!