A Homemaker’s Diary

Online shopping can be convenient and most of the time, easy. I personally enjoy shopping online more than going out to shop at the normal stores nowadays. However like anything else, there are a few Malaysia online shopping tips we need to consider before we start dipping with the benefits of online shopping.

Should I tell you to buy only things that you can pay for? No. But it’s easy to lose your head and ruin your budget. Before you start shopping online, write the maximum amount that you can actually afford to spend. Stick to it and do not exceed it. Make a note on a Post-it, stick it to your laptop screen as a reminder. Pay attention to the shipping costs too!

Buy only from trusted websites or online boutiques with the highest rating. This is because you only do business with those who can trust.

Before you start buying, consider to check on the return policy. Usually most online shopping websites in Malaysia have a written return policy that offer a 100% refund within 30 days of purchase.

When buying products of expensive brands urge yourself to verify the authenticity. If you’ve had your eyes on a branded dress that retails for RM1500 and you find it online for half that amount, make ways to check whether the dress is fake or not

On the internet, plastic is king. Paying with your credit card or debit card means you can secure a refund if you need one. This would help to ease the dispute that might erupt later.

I stumbled upon a book online titled Living Rich by Spending Smart and it prompts me to think what we can do in our daily life to save more. With the current economic situation, (the fuel price hike, rising cost of food and raw materials), it is best that we check our daily spending habit and see whether we could cut back on certain expenses to save more for rainy days.

Of course certain things that you need, like medication, food, clothing and even eyeglasses for those who need them to stay focus and see the world clearly, you can’t compromise but you can still save by looking for cheaper alternatives.

Buying stuffs online rather than go out to the mall could help reduce the usage of fuel, save your toll expense, cut back on parking rate and even reduce the possibility of buying more items that you don’t really need. I like this part in the book that says don’t touch the merchandise. Research shows that people are more likely to buy an item if they can touch it and envision it as their own.

So if you are planning on buying items for seasonal festive like the coming Christmas, you should start planning your budget earlier as it is proven that last minute buying could lead to massive overspending and unwise decision.

I’m done thinking whether to make raya cookies for this year or just to buy..in the end I decided to just buy from the usual seller, my senior from school. At least I know how the cookies taste like so it will save me from the embarrassment – kuih raya tak sedap pon, rupa je cantik, rasa hampeh..bla bla..These days the 50pcs cookies usually cost around RM23-27, but when you calculate all other hidden cost – time, energy, effort spent doing the cookies, I think it is not worth it to make my own raya cookies.

If I were to make my own kuih raya perhaps it will be cornflake madu as it is the easiest and doesn’t test my skill with the dough. Not that Hubby is so fond of eating raya cookies, it’s just an obligation to have some for the celebration and perhaps for Hubby to bring to his office later.

And if I feel like it maybe I can bake a moist choc cake for Hubby to bring to whatever Raya pot luck the office might hold after the festive season. So do you think 5 types of raya cookies will be enough? heh!

*This post is written for The Thrifty Scot.*

If you are lazy like me, than having online banking at the click of your mouse is great.

Gone are the days when I have to put on decent clothes, drive to the nearest bank branch, take a number and wait to be called to the banking counter to do my transactions.

However mind you, that even with all the automated process doing the transaction online, it is not free without any bank charges.

(I know a local bank which charge 50cents if you do more than 3 transactions per month with less than the allowable minimum balance in your account, yes, in your account as if the money is theirs..huhu!)

Remember the minimal charges they charged you whenever you have late payment on your credit card statement.

Well, something like that.

Even though it’s not really your fault since it’s a long public holiday and the check you post could not arrive on time or maybe the statement arrive late at your home address.

What about the cost you have to bear for having current accounts?

The one that I have is so called Premier that charge me $5 per month as monthly fee.

I have been planning to close that account but with so many obligation and standing instruction tied to that particular account, I have no choice but to bear with the monthly fee.

Imagine how much I could save with $5 every month for how many years – 4-5 years now?

And if you somehow have to open saving accounts, apart from the one that you already have, check out the rate they give on AER (Annual Equivalent Rate).

Perhaps it’s time that we become less ignorant consumers. After all it’s our hard earned money that we put into that piggy bank of theirs.

*This post is written for MungoMoney*

Have you heard about cheap credit cards? However on my side of the world, I think there is yet such thing as cheap credit cards. So if you are somewhere in the UK, check out this site which caters to UK Credit Cards and loans.

I think what they mean by cheap credit cards are those cards that offer extremely low interest rates, attractive cash back programs and other incentives such as airline miles.

Perhaps you have heard about cards that offer 6 to 12 months 0% interest free on your purchase. These are the examples of cheap credit cards.

And then there are credit cards that are offered by grocery store credit card lenders such as Sainsbury’s Supermarket.

One thing I like about the site is that you can vote for credit cards that you like.

At the moment, the Amazon UK credit card has got 3 out of 5 star by having 23 reviews from people who came and voted.

Oh, if you are book lovers, this is your chance to get loyalty points at Amazon.co.uk while saving on 0% interest on balance transfers for 9 months.

However words of reminder, check out the secret of credit card management before you blame me later for your piles of debt.