image from deviantart.com

So okay, you just REFUSE to exercise because you absolutely hate it. You’re not alone. But that doesn’t mean you are disgustingly unhealthy (although I feel that way sometimes).

Today, I have with me an article to share with you on 8 Simple Ways to Detox Your Body. For those who hope to slim down, please note that this is NOT the method which will magically make you lose weight, even if you follow every step in the article.

Detox, or detoxification, is simply a way to cleanse your internal systems from all those toxins due to the environment we are being exposed to, the processed food we consume, etc. So, in my own interpretation, it’s like getting our systems back to normal. Clean and normal. (Who likes to be dirty, right?)

So if you want to lose weight, get that body moving la!

image from deviantart.com

How many of you keep telling yourself any one (or more) of the following?

Cannot spend anymore!
Must start saving.
I’m going to bring my own lunch, so that can save money on food.
I’m going straight home after work.

Whether you are saving for that new dress/accessory, the newest make up line in town, a wedding, gift, or WHATEVER it may be…. I will be sharing a some tips with you on saving money! (Hope you have not splurged 4 days ago yet, this will be a good start!)

1. What is your goal?
Decide on your goal. Be it long-term or short-term. Short-term saving goals (buying that shoe next month) may be easier to reach than long-term ones (getting married!). So, plan! How to? Write all your short-term and long-term goals down, so that you won’t forget what you are saving for (and ‘accidentally’ splurge on something else.)

2. Wants vs Needs
Know your wants. Know your needs. Write down a special list on the things that you want, but you don’t need. That way, the next time you see that thing, you know you don’t need to buy it.

3. Bad Habit, Must Go!
Drop all bad habits that involve spending. They can be such like smoking (Do you know how much per pack costs? I still don’t know how heavy smokers can simply ignore the eerie pictures on each pack. Eeei.), excessive eating (especially at restaurants), less dating (In Islamic context, it’s haraam. In financial context, the more you two go on dates, the more money you spend on each other!). So, DROP IT LIKE A BAD HABIT!

4. Refrain from using Credit Cards
Credit cards often make us spend more than what we can afford. Yes, they do come with rebates/rewards when you’ve charged up to a certain amount, or on certain days. If you haven’t got one and have been contemplating about it, FORGET IT. But for those who currently own one, try not to use it. Instead, try to pay via CASH. This will constantly keep you aware of how much you actually have.

5. Look to your friends.
If you know you have friends who manage their money well, they are the ones whom you should spend TIME (not money) with. Ask them for saving tips, observe their spending habits, and find out how they manage their money. These people usually have great ideas on how to reduce costs (i.e. always look out for coupons, buy bulk during sales) and this is THE TIME to learn from them.

If all the above are ‘religiously’ practised, by the end of 2012, you will find yourself with plenty of savings, and your goals will be realized. InsyaAllah. No more strapped for cash!

HAPPY SAVING TO US!

(Thank you to Majalah Nur for the great tips!)

Nine Ways to To Feel Good

~I FEEL GOOD! *TEH NEH NEH NEH NEH NEH NET*
I KNEW THAT I WOULD NOW *TEH NEH NEH NEH NEH NEH NET*
SO GOOD! *JENG JENG*
SO GOOD! *JENG JENG*
THAT I GOT YOU! OWW!~

image from deviantart.com

Last weekend, my auntie and uncle from JB made a pit stop at my place for Zohor. So while waiting for my uncle, I chatted with my auntie for a while, and found out that the wedding reception they just attended was between a 68 year old man, and a 60 year old lady.

You saw the ages right. My mouth was wide open when my auntie told me their ages, but what followed after that was a story I thought would happen only in the movies.

When they were young, they were in love, but was separated due to an arranged marriage at the lady’s end. Sadly, little did she know that her husband was bad-tempered and violent, which led to a highly abusive marriage. She finally mustered the courage and headed for divorce and told herself to never marry again.

The man married too eventually, but his wife died of old age.

Fate brought these two people together one day in 2011, at a place you would never expect – Negeri Sembilan. And the rest, is history.

MasyaAllah. I pray for their happiness, may God prolong their lives, so that they may experience true love for as long as they shall live.

image from deviantart.com

Another article-sharing from Yahoo SG, which was featured a few days ago too. This one which most of us can pretty much relate to.

I’m a strong believer of “quit your job if you aren’t happy”, after I resigned from my first full-time job. Our main motivation to work is to earn money, but you’ll be spending about 1/3 of every single day being at work. And if you aren’t happy with your job, it will affect your own personal life, and then, the people around you.

I am speaking and sharing from my own experiences after working in three different lines (coming to the fourth), and in three different working organizations and environments. I am not saying your job must not be stressful in order to be happy, but if there’s nothing wrong with the boss, people and environment, I say you just need to learn how to manage that stress; and you will be fine.

InsyaAllah. Stay happy!

image from yahoo SG

In the spirit of the new year, I would like to share an article with you. It was featured in the Yahoo Singapore a few days ago, and this is definitely something which is not an impossible feat. The question is, “If I haven’t been healthy for the past years, do I want to stay that way for the rest of my life?”

Let me answer that for you. NO!

Wait no more, and read the article here. May the tips be useful for us.

TO A HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER US!

To wrap it up, 2011 has been an amazing year, and below pretty much sums up what I’ve learned during the year.

• Let all the bad memories be bygones, and etch the good ones in our minds.
• Forgive those who have hurt us, and forget those who aren’t worth our time. The reason simply being: Staying angry requires way too much energy. WASTED energy.
• Fight for what we strongly believe in.
• Cherish our parents, and consult them when making any major decisions. And make the decision, with your parents’ blessings.
• For a healthier mind, always have positive thoughts.
• If you don’t try, you will never know.
• If you seek God with the purest intentions, He will always be with you.

I’ve realized that my yearly resolutions never gets fulfilled, so I am just going to work towards one goal for 2012 (and beyond): TO BE HEALTHIER AND STRONGER. SPIRITUALLY, MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY.

With that, allow me to wish you a Happy 2012, may all that happened in the past be our experiences to prepare us for what’s to come in the future. BRING IT ON!

The next day, I started my new job. I am still working for the same boss, but no longer doing accounting (note: amend “About Me” page). My jobscope is completely different now, involving tonnes of documentation and scheduling and coordination (and tiny bit of accounting knowledge).

Prior to this career change (months ago), I consulted other people for their opinion. I was really unsure if I could handle a different job scope that has little to do with numbers, and I was unsure how fast I’d get another accounting job if I were to resign.

While some feel that it may be risky, most told me to gain confidence and go with it. I’m still young and have been given this rare opportunity (any boss don’t usually offer). Like the saying goes“You’ll never know if you don’t try.” Strange, for I’m usually the type who is up for anything new/unusual (but still safe), but why was I hesitating when it came to this?

So after much careful consideration, I made the decision to try and learn something new.

It’s been two weeks now, and I sure do miss accounting (and my nice clients), but I hope this isn’t goodbye and so long.

This brings me to my next concern; my studies. Now that I’m no longer doing accounting (for perhaps the next 2 to 3 years), how relevant is my pursue in accounting degree now.

If I were to stop, it’s kinda wasted, after all that money spent for the last three semesters. On the other hand, if I were to continue, it’s going to be a struggle, MORE struggling now that a wedding is on the way.

That is something I need to think about, and decide on. FAST.

In the meantime, I look forward to the new experiences to come and new knowledge gained.

ربي يسر ولا تعسر ,ربي تمم بالخير

“O my Lord, make things easier for me, do not make things difficult for me. O My Lord, let my affairs end with goodness. O my Lord, increase my knowledge and grant me understanding.”

Amin.

She’s not hinting us to get out of my parents’ flat after marriage, (else I’d resorted to buying a 6-man tent and have our own beach side “home”. LOL.), but having a flat is the most basic asset an adult (at a reasonable age with reasonable income) should have. Or at least that’s how I interpret it.

In any case, Tok and I have always talked about having our own home, it’s just that we didn’t know when yet. But last month, HDB launched another round of BTO and we applied for one in Punggol.

Alhamdulillah, we have been called for selection of flats scheduled at the end of this month.

Though my dream of living in Hougang did not come true (sorry Zakiah, you need to cancel the welcome party for me), I am still thankful that it’s one of our baby steps into calling something ‘our own’.

One of the many advices that our parents unselfishly gave us was, BUY A HOUSE THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE YOU TO TOP UP CASH TO YOUR MONTHLY PAYMENT. Though the 4-room premium flat seemed tempting, we settled down with a cosy 3-room premium flat. After all, a big house doesn’t guarantee happiness, right?

Dear Punggol Waterway Ridges, I look forward to owning you when the time comes. I will have a kitchen like the one I watched on “Fresh with Anna Olson”. *dreams*

image from HDB.gov.sg