Kakeng talks $$

Alas, I've got a paid web project. What I didn't like about it was they expect me to fill the site up with contents as well.

So actually this is getting paid for doing someone's course assignment. Not the most ethical thing to do, but it's hard to say "No" to a friend. And being friends, it's hard to discuss about the payment. *sigh*

Another friend asked if I'm interested to invest in Forex. Sceptical but eager to know more, I set up an appoinment with her. There is another reason other than curiosity. The current inflation rate is still higher than the interest rate despite the recent raise by Bank Negara, so any $$ in cash deposit is in reality losing its value. If I can find a relatively safe investment vehicle that would beat inflation, that's where the money ought to go. Not that I have much $$ though...

Talking about personal finance, I think the Ministry of Education really should introduce this subject into the secondary school curriculum. If something as taboo as the subject of sex (to most older Malaysians anyway) would finally be taught this year, why not personal finance? And Basic Economics should be made compulsory. Falsafah Pendidikan Negara (loosely translated as National Education Policy) stresses the importance of producing well-rounded Malaysians, but no well-rounded Malaysian will be produced if something as important and fundamental as managing one's finance is not taught at school. Teaching us to put $$ into our piggy banks is no longer sufficient. We need to know much more.

It is very apparent that we are lame in managing our $$. I've heard numerous times about high school graduates buying their first car just a few months into their job. Bad decision. Why? Because a car loses its value with time and incurs further spending in the form of petrol, insurance, highway tolls, parking fees, maintainance, etc. Not fogetting to mention that fuel cost will continue to rise as government cuts back on subsidy. The best wonder a car can do is to get us a date with the girls. Do the maths...

For anyone I managed to hype up to learn about personal finance, Millionaires are from Another Planet by Azizi Ali is a good start. I'll end here. As with most Malaysians, I don't like to talk about $$. It makes me look like a big fat bald greedy guy with reflection of $$ in his eyes.