Great Deal on New or Used Car

Have you ever thought of buying car online? I know it is kind of irritating when going car show room and meeting car salesman. because you cant get to choose on what you want to see or hear.
For example if you want to buy Peugeot 308 or Peugeot 107 and you go to any Peugeot Dealer; they will tell you on what they want you hear and see. Most importantly when buying a car, you first need to know what do you really want, in other word functional specification. Example: you want to buy brand new or used Peugeot 308 i.e: the suspension, horse power, mileage, maintenance, warranty etc. It's like you doing your own groceries shopping. Once you list everything on what you need, then you can find any Peugeot Dealer that is nearest to your place.



Sound simple? Here is the website that you can do the above: http://www.perrys.co.uk/
Best part of it, you've got the opportunity to compare price and get better deal online. Who knows, from the comparison price and you go and visit the dealer, you might get another discount. As you can see, you can just click at the icon for favorite car like Ford, Chevrolet, Citroen etc. Though you can find another car at the filtration or selection, i would think it would be much better if the website can put a shortcut icon just like the rest. On the other hand, they have a very limited new car info. i.e: If I wanted to buy a brand new Honda or Merce, i couldnt find it and I can only find used Honda. Does that mean new honda or Merce is not worth to buy it? I don't know the reason behind it. Probably they have some sort like agreement.

Another thing that i like about it is that, it is considered one stop portal for car. Everything you need when buying a car is there. They give you information about the finance, insurance and srappage scheme. On the other hand, the portal is only for UK resident. Not applicable for those who live outside of UK

Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat 2009

Our Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Najib has announced the mini budget of RM60billion earlier to stimulus the economy. One of the programme in this budget is the Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat 2009 (Islamic Bond). The objective of this bond is to give a chance to people to earn some income during this economy crisis period, where most of the people not dare to invest in equity.

This bond is opened for all Malaysian above 21 year old, and the minimum investment is RM1,000, while the maximum investment is RM50,000 per investor. The bond will be launched at 14 May 2009, but the offer period is from 14 April 2009 to 13 May 2009. The agent for this offer will be all the commercial banks, including Bank Islam, Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN), and Bank Pertanian Malaysia. Commercial banks are banks like Maybank, Public Bank, CIMB Bank, EON Bank, Ambank, RHB Bank and so forth.

The maturity period of this bond is 3 years from the issue date. Interest will be paid out quarterly with 5% interest per annum. This means that if you invest RM1,000 into it, you will receive RM12.50 every quarter, until the bond is matured after 3 years. After 3 years, you will get back your initial investment, which is RM1,000. So, in total you will receive RM150 of interest during these 3 years.

For more detailed, you can refer to the Bank Negara website:
Feature: http://www.bnm.gov.my/index.php?ch=226&pg=731&ac=672
FAQ: http://www.bnm.gov.my/index.php?ch=226&pg=731&ac=674

Personally thinking, this bond is suitable for those who not able to take risk at all. At this time, bond with 5% is really not bad, as the Fixed Deposits interest rate now is only 2.5% per annum. However, during this economy crisis, stocks market has dropped quite a lot, and most of the stocks now are at fair value level, and some even are undervalued. For those who can bear the risk and looking for higher return, should consider to invest in equity instead of this bond.

How to save on tax in Malaysia??

Yo guys! April is tax payer month in Malaysia. Here some tips on how to save or escape from paying tax and benefit to your self. Instead of paying to the government (a.k.a IRB @ LHDN - Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri), it would be much better you pay to yourself or for your families/children because you work hard all year from 8 to 5 (or more). This is only applicable for individual. If you owned a company, consult with your tax advisor.

• Save for your children's education with Skim Pendidikan Nasional (Up to RM3,000 in tax relief)
• Ask your employer to increase your EPF contribution in lieu of income (up to RM6,000 tax relief - shared with life insurance)
• Change your cash remuneration to cash reimbursement (for benefit-in-kinds that are not entitled to tax exemption)
• Ask for a company car (part of remuneration repackaging)
• Make charitable contributions (individuals get rebates of up 7% of their aggregate income)
• Take up postgraduate studies (tax relief of up to RM5,000)
• Read, read, read (tax relief of up to RM1,000 for reading material purchases)
• Get Sporty (tax relief of up to RM300 for purchase of sports equipment)
• Buy life insurance (tax relief of up to RM6,000 - shared with your EPF contribution)
• Take up a medical insurance shared together with education policy (tax relief of up to RM5,000)
• Pay your parents' medical bills (tax relief of up to RM5,000)
  
• Do a medical check up (tax relief of up to RM500 for yourself, spouse or children) and medical bills for serious illnesses tax relief of up to RM5000 (combined with medical check up should not exceed RM5,000)
  
• Pay zakat for muslim (rebate of up to 2.5% of your aggregate income)
• Buy a computer (tax relief of up to RM3,000 every 3 years)
• Buy propery at or below RM250,000 (50% stamp duty exemption, extended to loan agreements under budget 2009)
• Buy similar property (if similar properties are group together, you can reduce the taxable profit made from one property with the loss, if any, incurred from the others)

(Excerpt from Personal Money April 2009 issues)

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