Malaysia Money Matters

It's a Malaysian dream to own a property - our culture is not geared towards renting long-term. Renting is considered something you do either as a student / newly working / a temporary solution if you're prone to being transferred - but in the long run, conventional wisdom is to bite the bullet and buy at least ONE property for your permanent residence. So the conundrum lies in the wherewithal for the deposit and attendant costs. To some, the need is urgent and saving up takes too long - so what are your options? The fastest but most expensive: Credit Card cash advance - that baby will hit you with an 18% p.a. interest rate the moment the cash comes out of the ATM. Do Not Use This Method. Please. Even though it pays my salary. The slightly less fast, also kinda expensive but sort-of bearable: Personal Loan - you can take a bigger amount, take a longer time to pay it off and you have that lump sum to help secure the property you want to buy. Only use this method ...

Am thinking of offering pro-bono financial advisory services to certain vulnerable segments of society here in Malaysia. Something along the lines of say, young LGBT Malaysians - especially the transgender community. I have a few transgender friends and a couple of them are doing well financially but the rest seem to struggle somewhat. Perhaps I can help but it's a sensitive subject to broach. Anyway, if any of you youngsters out there need someone to give some advice on how to get ahead financially - maybe Uncle here can help you or at least listen to you. Just drop a comment below and we'll take it from there. :)

A new development that is on the site of the old Century Paradise Country Club (more recently known as KK Club) in Taman Melawati. I noticed it this morning as I drove past, not having been in the area for some time - so naturally, checked out their website. The design and concept of this development is rather interesting - they have a range of sizes from 450 sf up to 2,000 sf - and 10 different layouts. What I like about the layout designs is that there are duplex options / iterations - i.e. the 450 sf studio is the basic unit, then you'd have a duplex design which follows the studio layout but doubling it. It's a personal bias of mine, I do like duplexes because it gives you the feeling like you're living in a house. AND I believe - looking at the floor plan - that the living room ceiling will be double the height in the duplexes; thus creating a very spacious feel that is missing in the standard 1-floor condo unit in Malaysia. Price is starting from RM684 per...