Money is Important but not Everything

Money is important but not everything. It can buy you comfort but not health, even though you can buy supplements and vitamins to prolong your life. It is a tool to exchange for food, clothing, transport and the like. With more money, you can live more comfortably during your retirement years and hopefully stretch the money to a lifetime. Everyone works hard for a golden retirement and not a woeful one where one has to beg in the streets like a vagrant. You want to be surrounded by loved ones and money can buy their love and loyalty. Marriages break down and divorces happen all due to money problems and financial difficulties. But once the breadwinner starts to earn more money, then the wife may reconsider reconciling with her spouse. Hence, money speaks louder than relationships.

US Average Household Economy

Just read in a magazine that more than half of average American household could not raise US2,000 in a month from loans, credit cards, etc. And an average household has around USD35,000 in their retirement fund, leaving them with only USD100 to spend per month for as long as possible. I thought Malaysia was bad, but looks like the grass is also not greener on the other side. People are struggling with survival and everyday issues like putting food on the table. There is a lot of unemployment but one is lucky in the US as he or she gets to claim unemployment benefits unlike here in Asia. And if you are disabled and cannot work, you get disability benefits from the goverment of USD 2,200.00! In Malaysia, you get RM 350 if you are working and RM 300 if you are not working as an OKU or disabled. One can barely survive with this amount taking into account the high costs of living.

Lunch at Boston Restaurant, Penang

Above is a snap shot of Boston Restaurant menu. Boston Restaurant is located on the ground floor of Penang Times Square just opposite to Bread King and Roti Bakar. Yesterday, this place was closed for a special function catered to tourists that come in loads of busses where they dined here due to its many choices of local foods at affordable prices. Staying in this condominium has it advantages; there are many restaurants to choose from and one will be spoilt for choice.

On the left side was my order of cold dragon fruit juice without sugar and less ice, while on the right side was my partner's order of hot coffee with milk. The dragon fruit juice was thick and concentrated, to my delight. It is priced affordably too and not too pricey.

Above was my order of nasi lemak in a weaved basket or 'dulang' and layered with banana leaves. It comes with curry chicken of 2 pieces and a half potato. On the sides were stripes of cucumber, hidden fried anchovies and sambal with fragrant rice. I asked for another free helping of more sambal and the waiter politely obliged. That was my lunch for today.

My partner had fish fillet with cheese baked rice in mushroom sauce. There are 4 types of sauces to choose from; but I think mushroom sauce is the most delicious of them all. Since I forgot to snap a photo of the actual meal, this was taken straight from the menu which I asked for a second time.

Contact Me

I am Dianne, a part-time blogger with interests in photos and blogging. I work full time as an IT executive for a local Penang company since returning home from 12 years of studying and working in Singapore. For advertorial purposes, you may contact me at diana.tan(at)gmail.com

Please note that this blog accepts sponsored posts where the opinion of the blogger is neutral and unbiased. In order to continue blogging, remuneration is required to maintain this blog, and therefore the advertisements come in. In my free time, I love window-shopping or just reading a good magazine in bed. Daily newspapers are a must unless I am on holidays overseas which is now rare.

In the meantime, enjoy that posts that I have here.

Found Online Revenue

I found a blogging or rather writing opportunity online and had already written 9 articles for USD 5 per article of 250 words minimum and 3 photos. For charity, I will donate USD 1 per article to any establishment of my choice like Doctors without Borders, National Kidney Foundation, orphanages and other charities. My second sister in UK just ran 5km to raise funds for cancer research by getting herself muddy, having to climb ropes and slide down an inflated giant slide for the fun of it while doing some charitable work. She also used Facebook to raise the cancer research funds and managed to collect Great Britain Pounds of 300 together with her course mates.

Got paid yesterday and earlier

I have written 5 articles for Eastasy already and got paid by them. I have chosen 20% of the post of USD 5 to be donated to various charities like National Kidney Foundation, Doctors without Borders, and orphanages. It is doing a blogging social responsibility for a win-win basis for both writers and charities. You get paid while donating a portion of your earnings to the needy. You can write as and when you like and there must be a minimum of 150 words with 3 photos that do not infringe on the copy right. Sometimes, I submit 4 photos with at least 200 words for my article. It is based on food and drink, culture, travel, and more in Asian countries. Eastasy started in Singapore to serve the readers looking for traveling tips and the needy.

Working in Home Office

It has always been my dream to work in a home office where you call the shots indirectly and getting EPF with SOCSO benefits plus medical benefits. I can can take leave anytime as well and take power naps in between work during the afternoons. In the morning, I get to read The Star newspapers and catch up on the latest news. It is very sad that the Deputy Public Prosecutor was murdered days ago. Kevin Morais must have had enemies in his line of work and rumours have it that an army medical doctor hired the killers to have Kevin murdered since he was the prosecutor for the $700,000 cheating case against the doc which is still pending. I pray that perpectual light will shine upon his soul and may he be in a better place. Kevin graduated in Law from the UK, single and literally married to his job. His government Perdana car was torched and left in a deserted area.

I guess, I am lucky to work in a protected environment where there are no enemies and less risks of meeting such people. I only deal with my boss who happens to be my soul mate and we work well as a team for a win-win basis. He arranges all the logistics, pays the workers their daily wages while I sign the cheques and work by the computer.