Gold Investment

I bought G.O.L.D. No, I don't like gold jewellery in particular. (However, I love diamonds!!..** Diamonds are girls' bestfriend***, remember?). I'm talking about gold investment saving passbook account... There are always demands for gold. A friend of mine invested in gold saving account at RM77 per gram in 2007. Today's gold is sold at RM116.21 per gram. Good investment for her, eh???...

My research reveals that once recession sets in, the value of commodities will shoot up... Gold is one of them. Recession has yet to step foot in Malaysia, but it's going to be soon. The price of gold is already high now, the question, is it going to be higher any time soon? When is a good time to invest in gold? There are five good reasons to invest in gold. In Malaysia, so far I know we can open a gold investment saving passbook account only at Public Bank and Maybank.

Trying Times

Last night my hub's best friend called him to inform that he will be retrenced by his multinational company in Shah Alam. The last day would be end of February. The news came as a shock to us... and he himself could not believed it was happening. Before the company announced the closing of its operation, they have offered VSS 3 times since October last year.

The key for this trying period, is that we still need to spend...wisely. But we think that when there's limited cash, there's no way we can spend. But by stop spending, there won't be buy and sell activities. When there is no demand, the supply will also stop. Therefore workers will be put to retrenchment.... This is the chain reaction thingy. A good company should absorb their losses during this hard time as much as they enjoy their profits during the good times.

That's why people, we should save when we got cash, (***and spend it when we don't??? Hmmmm**)!!!

To my hub's bestfriend, we know that you'll make it through. There's a silver lining in every sky.

Are we in economic crisis?

YES!!! But, I don't feel the pinch yet. That's because I'm quite secured working in a public sector. Last night, there was an interview with Datuk Dr. Subramaniam, the Minister of Human Resource regarding MTUC's prediction that 200,000 workers will be retrenced, compare with 85,000 retrenced during 1985's recession. This number worries me because my husband being the breadwinner could be in this number. However, Dr. Subramaniam mentioned that there are 2.2 million foreign workers in our country. Therefore, if we send all the foreign workers back to their countries, we have enough pool of works for locals. Those retrenced can take over construction works, restaurants, etc. I hope to get a local maid plak..hahahaaa. Kalau dah terdesak, mesti ada yang sanggup keje as a maid.

Anyway, experts believed that cash flow would dry up from July onwards, and people should be careful to keep their money and not invest in dubious scheme. The years 2009 and 2012 will be bad and the economy would only bounce back in 2013.

My hub always remind me to be prudent in our spending, especially mine. (**Nana, now you know why I can't buy gaucho now**). I can't imagine to wait until 2013..that's 4 years !!! Restraining myself from indulgence!!!.. But I must be thankful that my hub is still working and I have a secured job. The 1997 economic downturn only involved Asia, but this time it involves WORLWIDE!!! This is how serious our situation is:-

• Sony announced its lost in 14 years
• Toyota and Honda may incur loss
• Citibank US laid off its workers
• Western Digital, Sarawak ceased its operation - 1,500 workers were laid off
• Sidel Malaysia closed its manufacturing plant - affected about 100 workers
• NEC laid off 200 operators and offered VSS to all levels of workers
• Panasonic offered its workers VSS

Mind you the above facts are known to me. The fact that I'm not an economist makes me ignorant of the current economic crisis. I pray for the best to us all.

Economic Downturn - Can it be THAT Serious???

I don't feel the current global economic downturn affecting me directly. But I realize that goods prices have gone up. Last night my hubby told me that about 200 workers at his place were laid off Monday. He works in a manufacturing sector. The good news is those retrenced were contract workers. For the executive and management levels, the company is offering VRS. And for January and February, workers are forced taking annual leave. This will affect the workers, in which if the economy is not getting any better, they will have to go with unpaid leave....

Here's what actually happenned:- there are people who are stealing cash. Many transactions were on papers and when the cash is needed, there's no more. Up to this point I can understand...Hey, I'm not an economist...Make me understand the whole scenario....


No more expensive treat...**sob..sob**. Have to forget on adding new selection of handbags like this one--->

If my hubby decides to go for VRS, here's the amount he'll be getting:-

RMxxxx (basic salary) X 11 (years of working) X 1.25 (compensation rate) = not even RM100,000.

Note that the compensation rate is the highest the company offered so far.. (to indicate how serious they are).

If VRS, nak keje apa plak lepas nih???