Subject: Shocking reasons why Malaysians are living beyond their means

I'm going to be touching on a touchy subject today. Not because I suddenly feel like an expert but because it bothers me - ALOT.

We live in a greedy little world--
that teaches every little boy and girl
To earn as much as they can possibly--
then turn around and
Spend it foolishly
We've created us a credit card mess
We spend the money that we don't possess
Our religion is to go and blow it all
So it's shoppin' every Sunday at the mall

- Shania Twain, Ka-Ching

Meowjesty frequently sends me articles touching on 'how people handle their finance and why people end up bankrupt'. Not exactly everyone's favourite subject. I enjoy reading them but it usually leaves me with a sense of frustration.

I don't consider myself the brightest person around and I have almost no willpower. There is NO such things as me sitting there looking at someone person eating - diet or not. I'll be helping the person polish off the delicious cake/ pie/ whatever but at the very least, I am living a debt free life with healthy account and some investments on the side.

I don't buy things I cannot afford. I do not spend future money. Yes I can afford to get a couple of Hermes Birkins on my own with cash and then what, eat grass flavoured grass for the next few months? I don't think so!

PETALING JAYA: Shopaholics and poor management of personal finances -

these best describe a good number of Malaysian consumers.

On average, 41 are declared bankrupt every day, mostly due to credit

card debts, while every weekend, about five million throng the 300-odd

shopping complexes in the country.

Fomca discovered that many of those declared bankrupt due to credit

card debts were below 40 years old.

"And they do not care about the consequences," said Fomca chief

executive officer Datuk Paul Selvaraj.

"In one of our surveys, we were shocked that many children did not

even know where money came from," he said, adding that most replied

"the ATM (automated teller machine).

"And, they do not believe that their parents have to work to earn

money," Selvaraj added.

Low said while some people shopped, claiming it to be therapeutic,

"the truth is, it is not necessarily based on need".

See said handling personal finances was something the young had to go

through themselves to gain experience.

Some 60% of young consumers were already in debt, Fomca said at a

separate function here yesterday.

"And, 72% of young adults have no retirement plans."

Nobody likes to read anything that long so basically the whole gist of is it that;

1) An unhealthy amount of kids thinks money either comes from the sky or grow on money trees. (If you have a kid like that, smack them, or better yet smack yourself for not teaching them)
2) We all shop too much.
3) We buy things we cannot afford (Hellooooooo Chanel!)
4) Youngsters don't think much about being bankrupt.

Marrying someone rich is ideal but according to Meowjesty, the rich unfortunately make up a small percentage of the population. You had better look like Ziana Zain (I have no idea why he said her) if you want to snag a rich person.

First off, some girls (kindly note the word 'some') are spending tons of money on cosmetics. I have read of some that frequently finish their monthly pay on skincare or cosmetics that even I can't afford. Worst, it doesn't happen once in a blue moon when we feel like treating ourselves but rather every month. Do they have savings?

Q: Why do you care how I spend my money? You ain't my mom!
A: It's not my job to control your spending but having some self awareness helps to keep you away from debt that might eventually burden the people you love. (People who financially burden their loved one with their uncontrollable spending have the same status of a cockroach in my eyes. Hah!)

Say YOLO and I'll smack ya :D

It's none of my business what you buy or how you spend your money but if you keep thinking that your parents will bail you out anytime, your thinking will be the reason for your down fall.

What happens when you decide that you can't pay off your debts? Declare bankrupt? What happens when you become a bankrupt in Malaysia?

1) Give up all your belongings and assets
2) Not allowed to open bank account without approval from Director General of Insolvency (DGI)
3) Not allowed to travel overseas. DGI will hold on to your passport.
4) Not allowed to do any business or become a company director or management.
5) A certain percentage of your monthly income goes to the DGI to pay your debt off.

To sum it it simply;

NO honeymoons to Paris! Or anywhere out of Malaysia to be exact. Not that it is the end of the world but don't we all have dreams of going somewhere romantic for our honeymoon? Not to mention the cheap Chanels and LVs waiting for us there!
Sacre Bleu!!

The way to stay out of being in a debt is easy.

1) Spend cash. I personally find it easier to keep track off. If the money in my wallet finishes. I am done for the month.
2) Spend within your means. If you are buying that LV you saw just to show off, you need to go to the nearest wall and bang against it 3 times. If the urge remains, bang it a further 3 times.
3) Save at tleast 30% of your pay.

Like Warren Buffett once said, If you buy the things you don't need, you'll soon sell the things you do.