Student Investment.

Speaking as a person and student. I admit that I feel uncomfortable whenever I think about my future. Since the economy is not doing well now in Malaysia, I thought to find some insurance for my future and start researching about safe investment that student can afford if they planned their money wisely.

I can say that every advertisement that I saw were tempting and to see my friends enjoying their PTPTN (loan) money on enjoyment such as gadgets, sports, and others. This make me wonder I am the one who think that is such a waste of money. This still will not calming my thought on uncertain future.

I start my research with savings, since I heard that Tabung Haji and PMB giving huge dividend to their account holder. Then I search on other kind of investment and found out that it was not following on Islamic principles. Lastly, I ask my friends about gold and found out gold is very safety investment since its value never go down. Now in Malaysia, we got Ar-rahnu in Bank Rakyat, Bank Muamalat and others.

Below is the explanation via loanstreet.com.my

Ar Rahnu – Islamic Pawn broking in Malaysia

Ar Rahnu, also known as Ar Rahn, is Islamic pawn broking for short-term collateralized borrowing. The development of Ar Rahnu in Malaysia provides an alternative pawn broking service for borrowers, which is in accordance to Shari’ah principles.

Ar Rahnu is based on these Islamic concepts:

1. Qardhul Hasan – The borrower is required to pay only the amount borrowed
2. Ar Rahnu and Al-Wadi’ah – The borrower is required to place a valuable asset as collateral to get a loan and to ensure repayment (like a mortgage housing loan)
3. Al-Ujrah – The lender is allowed to charge a fee for safekeeping of the pawned items

Mechanics ofnAr Rahnu in Malaysia

In Malaysia, Ar Rahnu is a relatively new micro credit instrument. Only gold and jewelry made of gold can be pawned. It is available to both locals and foreigners, Muslims and Non-Muslims alike, Loan tenures range from 1-6 months. Borrowers have a choice either to repay either via lump sum or by monthly installments. Generally, the margin of finance is from a minimum of RM100 up to 60-70% of the value of the gold.

In the event the borrower cannot repay the loan, it is possible to be granted extensions of up to 3 months. If the borrowers are still unable to repay the loan, the pawned item will be auctioned off and any surplus less outstanding amount and charges would be returned to the borrower.

Ar Rahnu is free from any riba and gharar element. Borrowers only need pay the principal plus a safekeeping fee as agreed in the agreement during the maturity date.

Where to get Ar Rahnu facilities in Malaysia?

In Malaysia, there are two types of agents that offer Ar Rahnu facilities:

Banks / DFI	Non Banks
RHB CIMB Bank Rakyat Bank Islam Agrobank Bank Muamalat	Pos Malaysia YBU-YaPEIM Public Gold Ar-Rahnu X’change

Advantages of Ar Rahnu

Compared against conventional pawn shops and unsecured personal loans, Ar Rahnu has certain advantages:

1. No interest (riba) involved
   • Interest (riba) is prohibited in Islam.Only safekeeping fees as agreed will be charged on the pledged item.
2. Pawned items will be in the same condition as before
   • When items are redeemed, there will be no problems such as shorter or lighter gold chains, which can sometimes happen with conventional pawn brokers
3. Notice of Auction
   • If the borrower is unable to repay the debt, they will be notified of the charges and about the forced sale
4. Surplus will be returned
   • If the sales price exceeds the remaining debt, the excess will be returned
5. Reasonable pawn value
   • Although the Pawnbroker Act 1972 did not fix the par value or criteria to appraise the pawned item, one can still expect a reasonable pawn value from institutionalized pawn brokers

Is it Good to be Great?

We have seen some of billionaire donating their money to the poor African nation. If you use Microsoft, you might be familiar with Bill Gates. He was ranked first again according to Forbes magazine 2015 edition.

       
           We probably would say "it easy for him to donate to others since he is wealthy and his money won't go any where". My point here is not about how good his achievements or wealth, it is about struggling and disciplinary towards his journey to become this wealthy. So, what if you were not fortunate enough to have empire like him?. You still can share your happiness either on monetary terms or perhaps with just a smile and recognition..

            Now, back to the topic "it is good to be great?". Please ask your self. If a university drop out like him can achieve this stage, what is the thing that holding you from being kind and loving to others?.

UUM Varsity Mall is Upgrading

Hi guys,

 look what I found. I going to share some of my thought on the varsity mall upgrades which is very interesting. Since i'm a new student here and if you are lazy like me you will never go out from this campus. Although, it is also related to my finance. Lol. Here some of the pictures before it close down for upgrading.

Below is full news article from : http://www.uum.edu.my/index.php/en/news/111-other-news/1223-varsity-mall-to-get-new-look-with-a-touch-of-the-latest-trend

UUM ONLINE: Kuala Lumpur, May 22 - Varsity Mall is set to enhance the image of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) as the pioneer in providing a modern student mall when its upgrading is completed early next year.

With regard to this, UUM has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Magna Hartamas Sdn Bhd, a company owned by an alumnus of UUM, to build and manage the Varsity Mall.

UUM was represented by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dato' Wira Dr. Mohamed Mustafa Ishak, while Magna Hartamas was represented by its Managing Director, Mr. Mohd Nizam Morad.

The MoA signing ceremony was held at the Hotel Seri Pacific, recently.

In his speech, the Vice-Chancellor said that the project was in line with the Ministry’s intention of applying the values ​​of entrepreneurship amongst students by developing and upgrading the existing on-campus business complexes.

"This coincides with the desire of UUM to become an essential stopover destination. A modern, self-contained, Varsity Mall will certainly accrue added value in the eyes of local and foreign tourists.

"The existing building will be transformed into two blocks, thus facilitating the increase in the number of business lots from the present 44 to 82. This would afford more students the opportunity of doing business on the premises under the student entrepreneurship programme," he said.

He added that, with the signing of the MoA, UUM had moved a step further forward in the provision of modern infrastructure for the needs of the students with the contribution of the UUM alumni in helping implement the Varsity Mall project.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Magna Hartamas, Mr. Mohd Nizam Morad, said that the Varsity Mall project was an effort towards transforming the present Mall with enhancements in a bid to accommodate the increasing number of students whilst modernising the existing facilities and services.

According to him, the upgrading work encompassed three main elements, namely the design of the roof, the full air-conditioning of the building, and the green building concept, which would provide returns in the form of comfort and satisfaction to those visiting Varsity Mall.

"The upgrading project, which entails a cost of nearly MYR8 million for work that covers renovating, upgrading, managing, and maintaining the Varsity Mall, will commence, by the latest, in August.

"This project will provide all round benefits in that the university management will acquire an asset embodying the trend of the times, the campus community will have an on-campus shopping complex on par with off-campus shopping complexes, and more entrepreneurs will have a platform from which to expand their businesses," he said.

Among those present at the MoA signing ceremony were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdul Malek Abdul Karim; the Director of Magna Hartamas Sdn Bhd, Mr. Aznan Rizal Mohd Shafri, and senior officers of UUM and Magna Hartamas.

UUM Final Exam answers on Principles of Economics BEEB1013 (Un-official)

Hi guys,

This is the answer that you are probably looking for if you are UUM students. Anyways, it only help me a little since the question that i was taken is very different than this three. You can use it if you want.

Free to think

Slavery.

Freedom is the right for every living thing in this world. Freedom to breath,drink,eat,and also the freedom to move around the globe. Since we were no longer living in the past era and to be precise, in the period of Slave Era.

Now we have constitution and civil laws to protect each and every person in particular country. Did we really live the way that we really want? Did slavery already ended? This video might can refresh your mindset into bigger perspectives. Please enjoy it.

Click here for link

How is the video? The style that we live is great right? We can eat as much as we want. With only one click we can get any item that we want without moving our leg. With only one click we can reach to any part of the world using internet. But the thing is, all of that make us become lazy and not thinking further than we suppose to think. What does make us different than the people in Slavery Era? Did our cloth make us different? Just think of it, think of what we can contribute to this world.

Admin Lazy

Live Your Life

Muslim or not we all will die sooner or later. I discovered this video a while back when i was studying at Universiti Teknonogi MARA to get my Diploma in Public Administration. This video really teach me about how precious time can be to the dead, while the people who actually lives do not appreciate their life at all. Wasting time and energy on something beneficial to them.


I'm a muslim and a proud one. Religions always taught it's follower to do good deeds, as times passed by we'll grow old and start to looks back about what we are doing wrong when we was younger. Please watch this very good video to remind us and to put us on the right path.

                                                             Click here to get the link



Remember my friend, the time when we are still with our precious family. Once, we or them gone forever there is no second chance. This is the best time to change. To really live in our life.


Admin Mirza



                                               

Are you prepared For Your College Life?

Prepare financially for college

Savings

Think about your future.

 It's never too late to start saving for college, but the earlier you start, the better. You'll thank yourself for it later, when every dollar you save now reduces your student loan debt after graduation. You probably can set aside a specific amount every pay period to build a college fund- but it takes some good planning and self control.

The cost of college

College expenses vary depending on the type of college (public or private, in-state or out-ofstate), the number of courses, your major, and personal lifestyle. Costs can include tuition and fees, room and board, allowance for books, supplies, transportation, and other expenses.

a)      Fees added on to your tuition bill include services such as the health center, library, and student activities. 

b)      Room and board costs can be for on-campus or off-campus housing. It can include meals at the college cafeteria, at a restaurant, or prepared on your own. In off-campus apartments, students can often pay to have meals in the college cafeteria. Living at home and commuting to campus is usually the least expensive option (though you need to consider the cost of fuel, parking, or public transportation).

c)       You also will need to buy textbooks, supplies, calculators, etc. -- whatever you need to complete your courses. You also may need to purchase a computer. (Don't forget the expense of necessary software and applications.) 

d)      Personal expenses can include laundry, clothing, recreation, medical care, insurance, etc. If you plan to travel home often, don't forget to add any transportation expenses.

Other expenses to consider: 

Ø  Utilities (gas and electric) if you're living off campus

Ø   Phone bills (yes, that includes your cell phone)

Ø   Furniture/bedding· 

Ø  Car payments· 

Ø  Car licensing fees· 

Ø  Toiletries/personal care items·

Ø   Clothing (including cleaning costs)· 

Ø  Doctor/dentist visits· 

Ø  Insurance (car, medical, and life)·

Ø   Entertainment·

Ø   Gym memberships·

Ø  Internet access and cable TV·

Ø    Emergency funds·

Financial aid Solution

Yes, college can be expensive, but costs vary and financial aid can make even an expensive college affordable. There are three main types of financial assistance available to qualified students:

Ø  Grants and scholarships

Ø  loans

Ø  work-study

Financial aid can come from federal, state, local, and private sources. Most "free" aid (grants or scholarships) are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis; so apply early. Remember: During your senior year of high school and every year during college, complete all necessary financial aid forms to ensure you get your financial aid.

Making Business in College?

The Role Model Mark Zuckerberg.

1. Build your business around what you know. 

Instead of venturing off into uncharted territory, make sure that you build your business around your skills and knowledge. The less you have to rely on outside sources the better. When your business is built around your own personal expertise you can eliminate consultants and outside assistance.
Also, having that knowledge is sometimes all that is needed to successfully take the plunge into entrepreneurship.

2. Tell everyone you know what you are doing.

 Inform your family, friends, business contacts and past colleagues about your new business. Call, send emails and make your new venture known on your social-media profiles. Your friends and family members can help you spread the word, and past business contacts can introduce your brand to their professional contacts as well. This type of grassroots marketing can help introduce your company to a much larger audience.

3. Avoid unnecessary expenses. 

You are going to have plenty of expenses, and there are some that just can’t be avoided. What you can avoid though is overspending. Take something as simple as business cards. You could drop $1,000 on 500 metal business cards that give off the “cool” factor, or you could spend $10 on 500 traditional business cards. Being frugal in the beginning can be the difference between success and a failed business.

4. Don’t get buried in credit card debt. 

There is a smart way and a suicidal way to use credit when starting a business. New computers, office furniture, phones and supplies can all quickly add up. Instead of purchasing everything at once and throwing it all on a credit card, use your company’s revenue to finance your expenses. Eliminating the stress and burden of debt will greatly increase the chances of creating a successful business. 

5. Make sure your receivables policy won’t sink you. 

If your business is a retail operation then this isn’t going to apply, but if you are providing services such as consulting or products to retailers you need to make sure that your payment policy is well thought out. Can you remain above water with net-15 or net-30 terms? Don’t base your receivables on what you think your customers will want. Base them on what is going to make your business operate successfully.

6. Build up sweat equity. 

When making your business, you need to worked around the clock, handling every aspect of the business as well as the marketing and growth. All of the hard work and long days that you put in isn’t for nothing. You are building a brand and your hard work is essentially increasing the value of your business. Your sweat equity will come into play if you ever decide to sell off a piece of your company or take on a partner.

7. Take advantage of free advertising and marketing. 

There are several ways to generate a buzz for your business without breaking the bank. Social media is a great way to gain exposure and interact with potential customers. You can also reach out to local media and offer your expertise.Make as many local media contacts as you can and be extremely responsive with their requests. This can lead to them to branding you as the local authority, generating plenty of free press for your business. 

8. Get ready to hustle.

 Hard work is an absolute necessity, but when you are starting a business with little to no capital then you must be prepared to dedicate everything you have into making the business a success. This might mean cold calling, handling customer support, dealing with billing and accounting, and every other working part of your business. You will wear many hats and it will require the majority of your time and energy if you are to make it.Don’t let limited capital prevent you from taking a great idea and running with it. Will it be difficult and will you have some stressful situations? Of course, but that is part of entrepreneurship.

Admin Mirza.

Cc: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/23696

x

Time Management.

Time Management. 

Have you ever wonder why i'm not like the richest man in the world or why i'm not being productive today?. One of the key reason is about how you manage your time.

The following are the three simple step that you can follow to improve your quality in your daily life:

STEP 1 (5 Minutes) Set Plan for Day.

 Before turning on your computer, sit down with a blank piece of paper and decide what will make this day highly successful. What can you realistically accomplish that will further your goals and allow you to leave at the end of the day feeling like you’ve been productive and successful? Write those things down.

Now, most importantly, take your calendar and schedule those things into time slots, placing the hardest and most important items at the beginning of the day. And by the beginning of the day I mean, if possible, before even checking your email. If your entire list does not fit into your calendar, reprioritize your list. There is tremendous power in deciding when and where you are going to do something.

In their book The Power of Full Engagement, Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz describe a study in which a group of women agreed to do a breast self-exam during a period of 30 days. 100% of those who said where and when they were going to do it completed the exam. Only 53% of the others did.

In another study, drug addicts in withdrawal (can you find a more stressed-out population?) agreed to write an essay before 5 p.m. on a certain day. 80% of those who said when and where they would write the essay completed it. None of the others did.

If you want to get something done, decide when and where you’re going to do it. Otherwise, take it off your list.

STEP 2 (1 minute every hour) Refocus. 

Set your watch, phone, or computer to ring every hour. When it rings, take a deep breath, look at your list and ask yourself if you spent your last hour productively. Then look at your calendar and deliberately recommit to how you are going to use the next hour. Manage your day hour by hour. Don’t let the hours manage you.

STEP 3 (5 minutes) Review.

 Shut off your computer and review your day. What worked? Where did you focus? Where did you get distracted? What did you learn that will help you be more productive tomorrow?

The power of rituals is their predictability. You do the same thing in the same way over and over again. And so the outcome of a ritual is predictable too. If you choose your focus deliberately and wisely and consistently remind yourself of that focus, you will stay focused. It’s simple.

This particular ritual may not help you swim the English Channel while towing a cruise ship with your hands tied together. But it may just help you leave the office feeling productive and successful.

Admin Mirza.

Cc. https://hbr.org/2009/07/an-18minute-plan-for-managing.html