My dream house

Going through pictures of designs for my dream house. .

I have saved these pictures in my laptop since we bought this apartment. Sayang pulak nak rent out after looking at all these. I haven't got round to furnish it yet because we have moving to different places so many times last year. A few extra bucks would've transform it to any of the above. Ah sayangnyer!

Trying times

Since coming home to Malaysia, I didn't manage to save at all from my monthly salary. True story. 

In fact, I've never felt this 'poor' in my entire life-financially I mean. Ok. Of course I am thankful that we are living in a peaceful country, eating good food and having a roof over our heads (syukurlah Malaysia masih aman).

However, the cost of living in the city nowadays is beyond ridiculous. I don't know how people manage because I find it extremely hard to do so. Our loans are increasing and there's always a balance in my credit cards account (and they are hefty amounts). I mean, that's my way of surviving, making more debts every months. 

In the end, I'm left with zero saving, overdue credit card payment..and a headache.

So, yesterday for the first time I've decided to go through our monthly expenses and find out where we went wrong.

Expenses (pre-GST if I may add):

1. house loan                                                           rm2000

2. house maintanence                                              rm220

3. maid                                                                    rm600

4. bills (astro, eletricity, mobile, internet,etc)        rm650

5. groceries                                                             rm1000

6. Mia's school                                                       rm300

7. petrol                                                                  rm500

8. tol                                                                       rm200

9. car loan (myvi)                                                  rm500

10. house rent in Bentong                                     rm700

11. parking                                                            rm170

12. water filter                                                      rm110

13. personal insurance                                          rm530

Total expenses: rm7580!

That does not include monthly incentives to my parents (sometimes I fail this because I ran out early. OMG I feel so guilty), daily lunch expenses and of course eating-out. 

Sometimes, things are not always smooth sailing..unexpected expenses will pops out- broken gadgets/appliances/car that needed fixing, car insurance/tax, etc.

So what's left for shopping and savings? Not much I'm telling you.

I'm looking to cut down as many expenses as possible, but actually there's not much that can go. Ok, maybe we can live off astro, cut down a bit on groceries.. but that is it. Unless we give up the house for rent (that's about r1800 something), we will continue to be in a deep bottomless pit. I threw out the idea to dear husband last night (renting out the apartment), and I know he's a bit reluctant to do so. This means that he will have to commute daily to work (nearly one and a half hour's drive per trip) and we will no longer have our sanctuary in KL. This apartment is our dream house, our happy place...(not to mention we have spent around 20k on renovations and appliances last year for it)

Of course, we may not want too, but that's our only option at the moment. 

Urghh..I woke up feeling low this morning. I'm worried about the future...

Oh yeah, the laptop broke down this morning too, just to add to our misery..

Wishlist for 2015 (the one that I shouldn't have)

For 2015, I've decided to make it short since this is the year that I'm determined to save (so was last year and the year before and the one before that. Sigh)

2015 is also the year I planned to send both of my parents off to Umrah, Insyaallah. So, in actual fact I shouldn't be having this list at all. But since I already got my bag of the year (or at least I hope so), maybe we can squeeze in a couple of items before 2016 (2016 is my year of being more stable financially I hope)

2 key items I'm wanting this year..

1. Hermes Clic Clac

2. Salvatore Ferragamo shoes

Here's hoping..

SAHM

I never thought I would seriously consider this option one day. I suppose life is never what you expected it to be. 2 months into being a mother of two, I realised that I may not have it covered as I thought.

We recently hire a maid from Indonesia and mistakenly thought that it would solve our problems. Well in actual fact, it brings in a lot of other problems.

She's constantly on the phone, talking to her 'child' as she claimed.

Today I took some time on the net, sorting out bills and searching for house to rent for our upcoming move to Bentong. When I got out of the room, I happen to find my eldest crying by herself in the hall. Our maid had left her outside whilst she and the baby was in her room and she was talking on the phone!

Not only that, my daughter claimed that the maid had hit her! Now my 5 year-old is one with many tricks since the new arrival of her sister, but I can't imagine her making up stories such as this. So I confronted her, and she of course strongly denied doing so. There was no marks or bruises, so I have to let the matter rest (for now).

Deep inside, I was panicking. This is not working! What in the world should I do?

Of course, I can install CCTV all over the house, but will it be enough?

What's more with the husband working away from Bentong, it would be impossible to commute daily. Both of us will be extremely busy once I start working, so who will be looking after the children?

All of my plans are shattered, broken.

Career vs the safety and wellbeing of my children..it was so obvious what's the right thing to do- QUIT!

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