2012 In Review

Let's celebrate the last day of year 2012. The problems will continue to haunt us in the year of 2013 or even 2014. A "RESET" is a must and God knows when?

This is Priceless

Private Retirement Scheme (PRS)

PRS is a defined contribution pension scheme which allows people (or their employers) to voluntarily contribute into an investment vehicle for the purposes of building up their retirement income.

As of 21st of December 2012, price of each Public mutual fund quoted from http://www.publicmutual.com.my/application/fund/prsfundprice.aspx as follows:

Public Mutual Private Retirement Scheme (PRS) Latest Fund Prices

Date Fund Fund Abbreviation NAV Chg Chg % 24/12/2012 PUBLIC MUTUAL PRS CONSERVATIVE FUND PRS-CVF 0.2501 0.0000 0.00% 21/12/2012 PUBLIC MUTUAL PRS GROWTH FUND PRS-GRF 0.2501 0.0000 0.00% 24/12/2012 PUBLIC MUTUAL PRS ISLAMIC CONSERVATIVE FUND PRS-ICVF 0.2501 0.0000 0.00% 21/12/2012 PUBLIC MUTUAL PRS ISLAMIC GROWTH FUND PRS-IGRF 0.2501 0.0000 0.00% 21/12/2012 PUBLIC MUTUAL PRS ISLAMIC MODERATE FUND PRS-IMDF 0.2501 0.0000 0.00% 21/12/2012 PUBLIC MUTUAL PRS MODERATE FUND PRS-MDF 0.2501 0.0000 0.00%

I reckon that this scheme is suitable for those who want more security during retirement at the same time can enjoy the tax relief of RM3000 a year. Let's monitor the price, when it dips below 0.20 for any funds, it is definitely a good buy! Let's pray...

Money Well Spent

I visited PekanSari today, I was amazed that my RM 10 enabled me to buy fruits more than sufficient to enjoy. I am saying real "shiok".

"Manggis Master" has pointing end unlike normal mangosteen.  The flesh contains more fibre than the normal one. They are sweeter and juicer too. It costs 25sen for a big one. I mean tangerine big!

"Pisang Pinang" is edible when it unripe. Just peel off a layer of skin and eat it like a fresh cucumber (full of starch). Local said it is good for slimming because it makes you fell fuller. It costs RM 1 a bundle.

"Limau nipis kampung" is really big.The one on the right is the usual stuff I  get from most of the pasar in KL. However, the one on the left is really unbelievable. Local said their plants were without fertilizer, all the sweetness and big in size were due to the good soil they have! It costs 23sen a piece.

See, Money well spent.

What Money Can’t Buy, Michael J. Sandel

In recent decades, market values have crowded out nonmarket norms in almost every aspect of life—medicine, education, government, law, art, sports, even family life and personal relations. Without quite realizing it, Michael J. Sandel argues, we have drifted from having a market economy to being a market society. Is this where we want to be? He takes on one of the biggest ethical questions of our time: Is there something wrong with a world in which everything is for sale? 

A market economy is a tool—a valuable and effective tool—for organizing productive activity. 
A market society is a way of life in which market values seep into every aspect of human endeavor. It’s a place where social relations are made over in the image of the market.

It enlightens me when I came across this statement from the book "Putting a price on the good things in life can corrupt them. That’s because markets don’t only allocate goods; they express and promote certain attitudes toward the goods being exchanged."  Yes... markets will finally distort the real meaning of "a thing" when the price tag on it either go to extremely high side or low side in market society.  People who by no choice live with it (e.g. medicine, education, government, law etc)  shall be badly affected. For instance, too low the price on medicine will stop R&D to develop new drugs and its subsequent activities; on the other hand, too high the price on medicine will prevent poor people from needing it)

Thus, Michael J. Sandel should say in his title : What Money shouldn't buy? instead.

This year auspicious day

Today I'm living through three quarter of the auspicious day 12.12.12

I ponder for a while and decided to find out more about it.

Let say, 1+2+1+2+1+2 = 9; ah ah........ Number 9

Fire element corresponds to number 9 in five elements numerology.

FIRE Ascending qi like flames, reaching out for fuel. Colours, as you would expect are red, pink, peach, although colours that have warmth to them are also considered fire. Shapes are triangular.

Walau eh.. when i google (flames, red, triangle) I ended up with the website: http://ascendingstarseed.wordpress.com/

...

What is Money?

1. Store of Value

2. Medium of Exchange 

3. Unit of account

"Money is the claim on human labour" by Chris Martenson

In my opinion, Money is not yours if you don't spend it on you.  And how to spend it on you wisely is another $1million question.

November US Mint Gold Eagle Sales Most in 14 Years

               Gold American Eagle coin sales (in ounces)
  Nov. 2012                     131,000
  Nov. 2011                      41,000
  Nov. 2010                     112,000
  Nov. 2009                     124,000
  Nov. 2008                     116,500
  Nov. 2007                      41,000
            Gold American Eagle coin sales (in ounces)
 Jan. 2012                   127,000
 February                     21,000
   March                      62,500
   April                      20,000
    May                       53,000
   June                       60,000
   July                       30,500
  August                      39,500
 September                    68,500
  October                     59,000
 November                    131,000

On 3rd of December, USA mint announced a huge increase in gold eagle sales, triple from one year ago at 131,000 oz.(November), most in 14 years.
In October, the mint reported 50,000 oz of gold sold, so all of a sudden demand picked up quite dramatically.  I also wonder why?

Btw, I have never come across gold eagle on sale in Malaysia; gold buffalo yes but not gold eagle? ...

Na Na Song

When I am feeling down, I listen to NaNa

Coffee $50 a cup. Anyone?

Black Ivory Coffee 

• Price?" $50 a cup.  $1,100 per kilogram ($500 per pound)
• Founder?: Blake Dinkin Canadian
• Origin?: mountains where Thailand meets Laos and Myanmar
• Why pricey?: Very smooth w/o bitterness, natural fermentation process 15-30hrs. with other ingredients (yek!)  

Full article:
http://lubbockonline.com/business/2012-12-09/coffee-elephants-gut-fills-50-cup#.UMRSTuTYcl8

To compare with Civet Coffee (Kopi Luwak)

• Price?" $30-$80 a cup.  $300 per pound find out more from:
•  http://goseasia.about.com/od/indonesianculturepeople/a/civet_coffee_kopi_luwak.htm

Animal Welfare is questionable? 

Survivor Investing Part I

Background to start Survivor investing:

1. Low profile investment/items but popular among specified group of investors, hobbyist, collectors(inheritors) or hoarders.
2. Low supply or limited supply in quantity preferably with intrinsic value.
3. Common themes which can be combined into goal of having the items among the specified groups.

What say you? Are these the reasons you start collecting?

1981 4th Malaysia Plan RM20 Silver & RM500 Gold

These coins are legal tender in Malaysia.

4th Malaysia Plan. 1981
Tun Hussein Onn Gold BU coin.
Face value: RM500
Purity:0.900 Gold
Weight: 10.26g

Tun Hussein Onn Silver Proof coin. (with certificate, in box)
Face Value: RM20
Purity:0.500 Silver
Weight: 16.85g

• These 1981 coins are the 2nd time ( first was 1980) where the Malaysian government allowed Franklin Mint of United States to mint on its behalf;
• The coins are to commemorate the 4th Malaysia Plan hence bearing  the potrait of Tun Hussein Onn.
• 20 Ringgits Silver 0.500 fine(Proof) – 5,000 pieces
• 500 Ringgit Gold 0.900 fine (BU) – 20,000 pieces (10.26gm)

For Sale
Price:  1000 USD
Contact: virtualwork20@gmail.com

1992 Malaysian WWF Proof Commemorative Coin Set

These coins are legal tender in Malaysia.

For 5 ringgit proof coin:

Composition: copper(84%),zinc(12%) & tin (4%) 

Diameter:26mm; Weight:10.4g and thickness:2.8mm

For 25 ringgit proof coin:

Composition:silver(92.5%) & copper(7.5%)

Diameter:35.7mm:Weight:21.7g and thickness:2.7mm

For 250 ringgit proof coin:

Composition:Gold(90%),silver(6%) and copper(4%)

Diameter:22.0mm;Weight:8.6g and thickness:1.8mm

For Sale
Price:  1000 USD SOLD
Contact: virtualwork20@gmail.com