CREDIT CARD!! CREDIT CARD!! THE DON'TS OF IT!!

Credit card...convenient or burden? My personal experience...BOTH!! Haha....call it anything, the sole description of credit card...still...a credit line facility obtained from financial institution or I would categorized it as personal loan. Well, we apply, approved by the respective bank and tadaaaa!!! The next thing you know....month end statement stating the amount we owe to the bank or in simple verb...DEBT. How to survive this? I'm going to share with you a few tips that maybe many of us knew it...only...you completely forgot about it!!


1. Don't make only the minimum payments- This stretches out your payment and, thanks to the interest, significantly increases your overall cost. Put effort on paying an extra RM50 or more and trust me, you'll save a lot throughout the year!

2. Don't carry too many cards- Multiple cards make it easier to rack up debt because it's harder to keep track of your spending. Having lots of cards isn't necessarily bad for your credit, but misusing them is. So limit your plastic to two cards that you manage carefully rather than having 10 cards in your purse or wallet (unless you intend to show off your debts...haha!!).

3. Don't miss payment due dates- Not only will you be hit with a late fee-as high as 5% of the outstanding balance on some cards-but your interest rate could also jump. Sign up for online banking or pay over the phone if you're up against the deadline. (You may pay a processing fee, but it will probably be less than the late fee and the possible interest-rate hike).

4. Don't take cash advances- These advances generally comes with sky-high interest rates and service fees, making them a far too expensive way to get cash. Avoid at all costs!!

NEVER MENTION THIS 5 THINGS TO YOUR INSURER

Insurance have been around since 3rd and 2nd millenia BC. The practise was started by Chinese and Babylonian during that respective period. Now, insurance have expanded so huge that it became one of the compulsory need for every single living person in this world. In fact, it has been recognised as one of the best and safe investment tool. But, I'm not going to share about the history of insurance...I'm sure if I do so, I could come out with a book probably titled 'Insurance In History'? Haha...

Often we heard people say, "Lodge report so that we could claim the insurance" everytime there's a car accident, burned houses, hospitalised, theft and other inadvertent incidents...well...we could just call it accidents...hehe...but, do we know what to say to our insurer? Or should I say NOT TO SAY to our insurer?

1. "I Think...."

Never begin a statement regarding a claim with these words. If you aren't sure, don't guess. What you say could cause your claim to be delayed or denied. And if you're wrong -- let's say, you report driving at 30 miles per hour before an accident but police later prove you were going 50 -- it could hurt your credibility.

Particularly beware of speculating on blame or causation. For example, if you suggest that a water leak is due to a construction defect, you could give the insurer an out if that's a policy exclusion.

Stick to the facts. Should the insurance rep ask you a question you can't answer, simply say, "I don't know". If the person is taking a written or recorded statement, ask for a transcript to review for misstatements.

2. "I Got Whiplash"

Fraud costs auto insurers up to $6.8 billion a year, reports the Insurance Research Council. And suing for damages caused by whiplash is a fraudster favorite ("Oh, my neck!"). Merely mentioning the term is likely to get your claim flagged for further investigation.

Whiplash is a specific diagnosis. If a doctor says that you have it, then you should report it as such. Other wise, if you feel neck pain, just refer to it that way.

3. "It's An Experimental Treatment"

Truly experimental or investigational medical procedures are typically not eligible for health insurance coverage. So if a doctor tells you he wants to experiment with a treatment, don't represent it using those words. In medical terms it may not actually be experimental or investigational. If it's proven effective, your doctor deems it medically necessary, and it's not an exclusion, it should be covered. Verify with your doctor that it meets the above litmus tests before going to the insurer.

4. "My Basement Flooded"

With homeowners insurance, "flood" is a red flag. The word refers to an act of weather or an overflow from a nearby body of water and a standard homeowners policy doesn't cover it. You'd need flood insurance.

So don't use the f-word if your basement is knee-deep in water because of a burst pipe. Damages from such an incident should be covered by a homeowners policy. But calling it a "flood" could muddy the waters, so to speak.

5. "Just Send Me A Cheque"

When filing a home or auto claim, don't emphasize that you're just looking for the cash.

If you were to say, 'I don't care about the roof leak, I just need the money..' that admission could slow things to a halt. Technically, you're supposed to use the payout to make the repair for which you filed. While it's true that most insurance companies aren't going to check up on you, you'll certainly raise the fraud unit's suspicions if you imply that you won't. And then you might lose out on the money altogether.

THE A-Z GUIDE TO LIVING WELL

MSN Life & Style gives you an alphabetical run down of the things that we need to do to stay in good health.
The World Health Organisation reported an approximation of one billion adults and 22 million children under five who are drastically overweight, while an astounding four million people a year die from the occurrence of diabetes and connected illnesses.
By opting for a healthy lifestyle that incorporates exercise, a healthy diet with the necessary nutrition, an awareness of general health and wellbeing, your chances of developing such illnesses will not only be significantly reduced, but you will feel a lot better as well. >Read more....

7 Secrets Your Body's Trying To Tell You

Do you ever felt that your body is talking to you? Or maybe it's the other way around? I'm used to seeing people talking to themselves, especially when they're facing themselves in the mirror. Well, believe it or not, your body is trying to tell you something! How? Read on and be suprised! Don't startle though...hehe.

1. Finger length
Women whose index fingers are shorter than their ring fingers may be twice as prone to osteoarthritis in the knees, found British researchers. Those with this predominately male characteristic tend to have lower levels of estrogen, which may also play a role in the development of osteoarthritis, say researchers.

Take this precaution: Strengthen the muscles surrounding your knees. While sitting, straighten each leg parallel to the floor 10 times; hold each rep for 5 to 10 seconds.

2. Leg length
If your legs are on the stocky side, you may need to take better care of your liver. In a 2008 study, British researchers found that women with legs between 20 and 29 inches long tended to have higher levels of four enzymes that indicate liver disease. Factors such as childhood nutrition may influence not only growth patterns but also liver development well into adulthood, say researchers.

Take this precaution: Avoid exposure to toxins your liver has to process, which will keep it healthier, longer. Wear a mask and gloves while cleaning or working with any type of harsh chemical. Limit alcohol intake to one 5-ounce glass of wine or 12-ounce bottle of beer daily. Or better, drink lots and lots of plain water!

3. Sense of smell
Older adults who couldn’t identify the scent of bananas, lemons, cinnamon, or other items were 5 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease within 4 years, according to a 2008 study. The researchers believe that the area of the brain responsible for olfactory function may be one of the first impacted by Parkinson’s disease—somewhere between 2 and 7 years prior to diagnosis.

Take this precaution: Pop a fish oil supplement. Omega-3 fatty acids can boost your brain’s resistance to MPTP, a toxic compound responsible for Parkinson’s.

4. Arm length
Have a hard time touching your toes (even though you're flexible)? Women with the shortest arm spans were 1.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those with longer reaches, found a recent study. (Find yours by spreading your arms parallel to the floor and having someone measure fingertips to fingertips; the shortest spans were less than 60 inches.) Nutritional or other deficits during the critical growing years, possibly responsible for shorter arms, may also predispose a person to cognitive decline later in life, say Tufts University researchers.

Take this precaution: Put your appendages to good use with a hobby such as painting or pottery. A 5-year study from the Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Rush University Medical Center found that adults who spent the most time engaged in stimulating leisure activities were more than 2.5 times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those who spent less time challenging their brains.

5. Earlobe crease
Linear wrinkles in one or both lobes may predict future cardiovascular events (heart attack, bypass surgery, or cardiac death). A crease on one lobe raises the risk by 33%; a crease on both lobes increases it by 77%, even after adjusting for other known risk factors. Though experts aren’t exactly sure, they suspect a loss of elastic fibers may cause both the crease and the hardening of arteries.

Take this precaution: Keep your heart healthy in other ways: Slim down, and exercise regularly, which can lower your cholesterol and blood pressure.

6. Jeans size
Adults who have larger abdomens in their 40s are up to 3.6 times as likely to develop dementia in their 70s, even if they weren’t overweight, according to a study published in the journal Neurology. One possible reason for the link is that, compared with subcutaneous fat (the noticeable fat that lies just below the skin), visceral fat (the dangerous fat that surrounds the organs) secretes more of the inflammatory hormones that are associated with cognitive decline.

Take this precaution: Eat a portion-controlled Mediterranean-style diet. Research shows that the monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) in foods such as olives, nuts, seeds, avocado, and dark chocolate prevent the accumulation of visceral fat.

7. Calf size
Though it sounds counterintuitive, a French study found that women with small calves (13 inches or less around) tended to develop more carotid plaques, a known risk factor for stroke. The subcutaneous fat in larger calves may pull fatty acids from the bloodstream and store them where they are less of a risk factor, say researchers.

Take this precaution: No need to bulk up your legs, but sip green tea to stay heart healthy. In a study of more than 40,500 Japanese men and women, those who drank five or more cups of green tea every day had the lowest risk of dying of heart disease and stroke.

So? What are you waiting for? Start to live healthy!!

F1: BMW-Sauber sold to Swiss firm

Thumbs up BMW-Sauber Team!! Despite the global economic downturn, it doesn't stop this 'speed demons' from continuing their passion in motor racing.Being bought by Qadback Investments Ltd with the selling price of around E80 million (RM460 million), imagine the efforts that they've put in to keep their team alive. The agreement have been signed and it is confirmed this team still exist! But then arise another worry, there's only one more spot left for next F1 season! The 13th spot has been given to Lotus Malaysia Team...well...congratulation, hopefully you guys choose the right driver...seriously! (no offense Alex!)

Who'll be driving for BMW Sauber? Are they going to keep Heidfeld and Kubica? Well, this is racing...full of surprises..after all, it is one of the greatest motorsport event in the world!

BMW-Sauber, keep up the good work and I wish the best for you guys....though...not really your fan...hahaha...cheers!!

FUNGAL SARDINE EXPERIENCE

Disgusting or surprising? I say both. First time in my life consuming this canned food, it's really shocking to find this....one of the well known and leading brand...'The Fungus'...haha. It's there in both can of sardines the moment I opened it. Expiry? How does year 2012 sounds? Still a long a way to go. What went wrong? My guess only God knows. If people were to say maybe it's because of the place I've stored this two particular cans...hmm...I've had the same brand of sardines and stored in the same place all this years without any fungal problem. Besides that, I can't seem to find any customer support or helpline on the can itself in order to rectify the matter!

My guess, maybe, the QC of the company missed this two out. Human error, it happens once a while. Lesson of the day? WATCH WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO CONSUME!! Doesn't mean that you're having the most branded canned food or any well known for high quality food then you don't have to take a peek of what's inside!!

What is Non Farm Payroll Report?

Of all the world monthly economic reports, the monthly U.S. Non Farm Report (NFP) is the most highly anticipated and has the most dramatic impact on the currency market.
The report, which is released on the first Friday of each month and states the previous month's numbers, provides detailed industry data on employment, hours and earnings of workers on nonfarm payrolls. These numbers are the best way to gauge the current state of the US market as well as the direction that the economy is heading.
What's more, the employment numbers provided by the report are used by the Fed to shape their interest rate policies. The health of the U.S. economy and interest rates translate to the strength or weakness of the U.S. dollar.

Risks Associated with Trading Off-Exchange Retail Foreign Currency During Economic News Announcements

As with all major economic releases, there could be significant price volatility with this announcement. Currency spreads will typically widen just before the release and will remain wide for a few minutes after. If the announcement is a shock to the consensus estimate, the price of the currency pair could gap significantly. For example, the price on the EURUSD trading at 1.2820 - 1.2822 just before release could gap up 60 pips to 1.2880 - 1.2882, without any available prices available between the price of 1.2820 and 1.2882. A Buy Stop placed before the announcement at 1.2830 would turn into a Market Order and would be filled at the prevailing price 1.2882. The same would be true with a Sell Stop.

Approximately four years ago we saw a gap of approximately 200 pips on the GBPUSD on a Non-Farm Payroll announcement. While this is an extreme example, it nevertheless is a possibility with trading during economic announcements. Consequently, plan on the spreads widening and, if you are trading with a Buy or a Sell Stop entry order, do not anticipate being filled at your entry price. You will be filled at the prevailing market price after the release, which could be significantly different from your desired price of your entry order.

Therefore, keep close with this report everytime you trade....viewing from how much impact it could affect to our currency trading everytime it makes a move!!