It wasn’t life-changing money.
No new gadget, no flight ticket, not even enough to pay half
my utility bill.
But that RM50?
It meant something.
I earned it from a quick translation gig. Just 400 words. No
fanfare. No viral “Look how I made money online” thread. Just quiet work — and
a quiet win. And sometimes, that’s the kind of win that matters most.
(Thanks to the Hidden Hands of Bursa Malaysia)
It all started with a candlestick.
Well, a few green ones actually — tall, convincing, full-bodied, backed by volume. It looked like a textbook breakout. It had all the markings of a “winner.” And in that moment, I thought to myself, “This one’s going to moon.”
Spoiler alert: it didn’t.
In fact, that trade ended up being one of the biggest tuition fees I’ve ever paid on Bursa Malaysia.
And looking back, I’m not even
mad anymore. Just wiser. And maybe a bit humbled — which is never a bad thing
when you’re dealing with a market that doesn’t care about your dreams, only
your discipline.
Here’s the full story of my bad investment — and what I
learned when I finally stopped blaming the chart and started looking inward.
(And What I’ll Do Differently Next Time)
It started with a bang. Not metaphorically, but literally — a strange sound coming from my car engine that turned into a four-digit repair bill.
And as if that wasn’t enough, our electricity bill came in looking
like we were running a secret durian freezer business. That was the moment I
realized: this month’s budget just got hijacked.
We’ve all been there — that one month where everything hits at once.
But instead of spiraling or swiping without thinking, I decided to sit
down, be honest with myself, and face the music. Here's how I navigated that
storm, what worked, what didn’t, and what I’d do differently next time.
Guess what?
My inner finance nerd is doing a victory lap around my
brain. ASNB just dropped the big news: 5.25 cents per unit dividend for ASB in 2023. That's a bump from past years, like an extra scoop of whipped cream on your
favorite latte.
Imagine 10 million Malaysians, me and maybe you included, high-fiving each other right now.
That's how many of us are feeling the sunshine of this higher dividend. It's a sweet reward for our steady saving and investing in ASB, like watching a tiny seed blossom into a beautiful flower.
The question of whether "Rich Dad Poor Dad" was solely written by Robert Kiyosaki is a fascinating one, and it touches on broader issues within the publishing industry, particularly in the realm of personal finance and self-help literature (as mentioned in a recent Kiyosaki's clash).
I've seen my fair share of feuds in the investment world. However, few have been as intriguing as the recent beef between Robert Kiyosaki, the mind behind "Rich Dad Poor Dad," and Grant Cardone, the real estate mogul. This disagreement sheds light on contrasting investment philosophies and offers key takeaways for the astute investor.
As a fellow young professional, I understand the allure of Robert Kiyosaki's provocative statement: "Debt is money." It's easy to get caught up in the exhilarating prospect of leveraging debt to acquire assets and build wealth (check out a recent beef between him and Grant Cardone).
Fresh out of college and diving headfirst into the professional world, I'm finally starting to feel the sweet sting of financial independence. My monthly paycheck falls somewhere between RM4k and RM5k, which, while not exactly magnanimous, feels like a small fortune compared to my student ramen days.
Naturally, the question of investing has been swirling in my head – and the world of crypto is impossible to ignore.
But before I dive in headfirst, I've been doing my due diligence.
And that's how I found myself staring at two contrasting investment
philosophies: the legendary Warren Buffett and the controversial Robert
Kiyosaki.
So, eMADANI, huh?
This government initiative has been all over the news lately, promising RM100 e-wallet credit to eligible Malaysians. As someone who didn't qualify, I can't help but have a few thoughts swirling around in my head.
Remember that clunky old flip phone you used to have? Yeah, it made calls, but could you imagine trying to scroll Instagram on it? That's kinda how traditional banking feels right now. GXBank just stormed onto the scene like a sleek new smartphone, and everyone's buzzing about what it means for the future of our wallets.
So, GXBank launched in September, the first licensed digital bank in Malaysia. Think no stuffy branches, no endless paperwork, just banking at your fingertips. It's like your favorite online shopping app, but for money.
Remember the childhood fable of the ant and the grasshopper?
While the grasshopper indulged in fleeting pleasures, the ant diligently stored away its provisions, ensuring its well-being when winter arrived. As adults, we often find ourselves mirroring these behaviors. We save diligently, setting aside a portion of our income for future needs.
But what if there was more to financial security than simply saving? What if we could actively cultivate a growth mindset, where our money works for us, helping us achieve our long-term goals?
