How To Save Money

request from anas.

this time I'll explain things more detailed than in my tweets.

first of all, u need two plans; first the Main Plan, and then the Contingency Plan. the main plan is, structure your finances and set a goal of how much money u want to save.  For short-term goals, this is easy. If you want to buy a video game, find out how much it costs; if you want to buy a house, determine how much of a down payment you’ll need. For long-term goals, such as retirement, you’ll need to do a lot more planning (which i wont mention how here, because i myself dont know the methods)  Anyway, the amount of money u want to save must equal to the price of ur goal. eg, u want to buy a 500 bucks suit, then your goal must be 500 


.

next, establish a time-frame. eg: I want to buy original FIFA 13 in 2 months, etc.





 and then divide the amount of money u have into into 3 categories: 

first, the NECESSITIES category. this is the ABSOLUTE category. it means that this expenses are constant every month. eg: house rent. so if your income per month is 100 bucks, and your rent is 20 bucks, then so be it. this category can never be altered.

then, the FLEXIBLE category. this category is for things that differs in terms of price range every month. eg: price of food u eat. this month u went to Victoria Station, so ur food expenses just went off the roof. last month u just ate at Taco Bell, so your food expenses are much less. get it?

and lastly, the most important of all, the UNCERTAIN category. which involves the BALANCE u have left after NECESSITIES and FLEXIBLES. once you have made a financial plan of how your money flows,u must adjust your lifestyle in the way of benefiting the BALANCE u have. 

things that u can do; eat cheaper meals (maggi), no watching movies/bowling/karaoke, etc etc. 

set a target, eg: this month my bank balance must be 100 bucks. once u get a hold of this methods, it is just a matter of time until u'll reach ur goal target. 

this, of course, depend on ur earnings too. 



and the MOST IMPORTANT PART ABOVE ALL this is, keeping a RECORD of your expenses. really, most people tend to overlook this criteria, when actually it is most vital that u have a notebook of your expenses. 




next, TRIM your expenses. this involves the UNCERTAIN category i mentioned earlier which involves unnecessary things such as movies, snacks, and late night phone calls. (oops) :p





that was just the Main Plan. i havent talked about the Contingency Plan yet lol. 

the CONTINGENCY PLAN is what you have to do when things dont go the way u want, which, to me, happens all the bloody time. the contingency plan is all about making critical financial restrictions.when u dont have enough balance,u must find a way to reach the goal. this includes selling clothes u rarely wear to your friends. yep. thats why its called contingency plan. more like SOS. there's many things that u can do in ur contingency plan, i usually go with selling things and kutip hutang lama. when you are structuring your Main Plan, be sure to construct the Contingency Plan as well, eg: if i dont get this amount of money, then i must ________________________. dont make last minute Contingency Plans. it will usually result in worse outcomes.

but even if your Contingency Plan doesnt get u to your goal, dont give up. keep on doing it. its always really hard during the 1st few months. which comes to the last point,

dont get discouraged and don't give up..you may be surprised how much money you can put away for something far more enjoyable than what you could buy with short term savings.good things often take time.

but this are my amateur methods that can only save not so large sum of money. if you're planning to buy a ferrari or something, u might want to come up with something better. haha.

Thats all. hope this helps. well, at least, it helped me so many times before. i bought jerseys, shoes, designer clothes, all through this method. hope it can help u as well.





-Ariff Alyahya

The Last Sermon of Prophet Muhammad SAW [FULL]

Prophet Muhammad’s SAW Farewell Sermon.

Kuliah Terakhir Rasulullah SAW.[TEKS PENUH]

9 DzulHijjah 10 AH (9 March 632) at Mount Arafat

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) undertook his farewell pilgrimage in the year 10 A.H. His farewell pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the most significant historical events in the minds of Muslims, for it was the first and last pilgrimage made by Prophet Muhammad, as well as being the model for performing the fifth pillar of Islam, the Haji.

Prophet Muhammad’s final sermon was delivered during the Haji of the year 632 C.E., the ninth day of Dzul Hijjah, the 12th month of the lunar year, at Arafat, the most blessed day of the year. There were countless Muslims present with the Prophet SAW during his last pilgrimage when he delivered his last Sermon.

Even today the Last Sermon of Prophet Muhammad SAW is passed to every Muslim in every corner of the word through all possible means of communication. Muslims are reminded about it in mosques and in lectures. Indeed the meanings found in this sermon are indeed astounding, touching upon some of the most important rights Allah has over humanity, and humanity has over each other. Though the Prophet’s soul SAW has left this world, his words are still living in our hearts.

After praising and thanking Allah, Prophet Muhammad SAW said:

“O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and TAKE THESE WORDS TO THOSE WHO COULD NOT BE PRESENT HERE TODAY.

O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. ALLAH has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. Allah has Judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib (Prophet’s uncle) shall henceforth be waived…

Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah’s trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.

O People, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.

All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.

Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the QURAN and my example, the SUNNAH and if you follow these you will never go astray.
All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people”.

-Ariff Alyahya

Re-orienting the Muslim Mind .

The root of the Muslims’ dilemma today boils down to the problem of knowledge.

This primarily entails ignorance, misunderstanding, misgivings and confusions about religion.

Ikim’s Director-General Datuk Nik Mustapha Nik Hasan said: 

“Islam is perhaps the world’s most misunderstood religion. Islam and Muslims have been associated with extremism, terrorism, backwardness and all sorts of negativities one can imagine.”

He continued that from the overwhelming prejudices, biases and ill treatment from the primarily Western culture and media, it is extremely difficult for the Muslims to restore, let alone command, the honour and respect they once enjoyed in history.

The current predicaments suffered by Muslims worldwide “are due to their own doings and attitudes of not actually living up to the standards prescribed by Islam. They seem to have failed to appreciate the real issues or principles of truth and wisdom in religion, lose interest in knowledge and give priority to petty things.”

Ignorance thus takes place, confusions arise to new heights, resulting in disunity, corruption, economic downfall, military incapacitation, increasing criminal rate, ethical crisis – almost everything negative about a decent civilisation. Consequently, Muslims now lag far behind other cultures.

I cannot but agree with the foregoing statements. Generally, a considerable number of Muslims do not sufficiently understand their religion.

As a result, we internally fail to practise Islam properly, and externally, become exposed to the ways of thinking, ideologies, philosophies and lifestyles coming from alien cultures and civilisations.

The lack of religious understanding makes it easier for weak Muslims to be influenced by those foreign world views and way of life.

Not knowing that we run counter to Islam, we adopt those ideas and behaviours and spread them to fellow Muslims consciously or unconsciously, among others, through our decisions and policy-making.

Therefore, the problems of the Muslims are two-fold: Internal and external. Both are equally destructive, and need to be handled with wisdom, i.e. knowledge.

To improve the aforementioned Muslims’ situation, our educational systems need to be reviewed and revamped to inculcate right values to produce a more prepared Muslim generations intellectually and spiritually.

This bodes well with the very raison d’etre of Ikim itself. It was again reiterated by its Director-General that “the 20th anniversary of Ikim in general, and the international conference in particular, will mark a new chapter in Ikim’s endeavours to reinstate the importance of knowledge and education, and to disseminate a better understanding of Islam to both Muslims and non-Muslims, and in the process, build bridges between the two target groups.”

With the introduction of the new Ikim tagline “Understand Islam Build Civilization”, Datuk Nik Mustapha states that the institute aspires to stress to Muslims that it is extremely important for us to first and foremost understand our own religion if we are really serious about coming out from the current plights and dilemmas.

This has to happen across the board in every discipline of knowledge and at every level of the ummah.

Muslims are to come back and adhere genuinely to their two most important references, the Holy Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet, with proper understanding guided by the wisdom of reliable and authoritative ummah.

-Ariff Alyahya

Home is where the heart aches, blue is the colour.

The moment had finally arrived! It had not looked like coming but it was here at last. Home field advantage they said. Who would have thought. A few months ago, people have written us off from even escaping the UCL group stage. Yet again and again, the team spirit and unbelievable character showed no signs of defeat as they face waves of impossible tasks against Napoli, Benfica, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich at home. 

RDM's tactics had frustration in mind for Bayern. The selection of Ryan Bertrand will go down as a masterstroke I think, the young man as a hero, for a selfless 73 minutes of running the channel that would prevent Philipp Lahm getting forward down Bayern's right flank.

Di Matteo was never an Avram Grant, his Chelsea playing career had seen to that. He now has something to prove he is not a Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti or Guus Hiddink. He has something over them now; he has achieved his boss' heart's desire. Fifteen months ago, he was sacked by West Bromwich Albion. Now, whatever happens with Chelsea, he is able to be considered a candidate for the elite.

The rhythms of Abramovich, where almost every season sees a new man brought in to bring him his prize, have been disrupted by the achievement of his ultimate goal. Chelsea are champions of Europe.

Football and life are unpredictable at times and crazy. I don't think I could have predicted what's happened over the last three months at the club, it's been very difficult but to finish like this is an incredible achievement. When they scored there wasn't much time left but the heart and passion they've shown in the competition has been immense. To be able to equalise and go into extra-time was a good feeling. Preparation for the game was difficult with suspensions and injuries, it wasn't ideal for a Champions League Final but the desire and motivation has shown again last night.

It was a historical night for the club in more ways than one, and one that will live long in the memory. Not only did we lift a trophy that has, up to now, eluded us, but by doing so we became the first London club to be crowned kings of Europe.

Throw in the fact that the victory ensures we will be participating in the tournament next season at the expense of Tottenham Hotspur, and it will probably go down as the greatest night in the club's long, illustrious history.

In more than a decade I've been supporting Chelsea, from the era of Gianfranco Zola, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, to Hernan Crespo and Andrei Shevchenko, I've never been happier and proud of our achievement. Against all the odds, against all the critics, against all the things people said, Chelsea prevailed and held grounds to become the Best Team in Europe.

Drama and controversy are seldom in short supply at Stamford Bridge, but even by our own standards this has been the most eventful of seasons. One that, for a while at least, appeared to be going nowhere, has ended on the biggest high imaginable in club football, and it might just take a while for it all to sink in.

Anyway, Drogba, if reports are to be believed, may well have won us the Champions League with his very last kick for the club, and Di Matteo paid tribute to the Ivorian, among others, who has now scored nine goals in nine cup finals for the Blues, a truly remarkable record.

They never give up until the end. This team is amazing. It was written, I think, a long time ago. I want to dedicate this cup to all the managers we've had before, all the players who have played there. I thought the lads were tremendous last night, they really dug in and showed that spirit that they have showed in the previous games.


And a special praise for Petr Cech, you fucking legend! He faced six penalties and six times he went the right way, four times he touched the ball, three times he saved it. Cech is by far the best keeper in the world as far as I'm concerned.


Bayern won 7 out of 7 home games in UCL, conceded only six goals, scoring fourteen.
chelsea, on the other hand, won ONLY one out of 6 games away in UCL. Written off, unloved, unfancied against supposedly superior opponents in each round, they have battled their way to primacy, embracing drama along the way.


This is the best season-ending finale a fan could ever imagine. Winning the FA Cup, the UCL, and qualifying for next year's too. It's kinda sad for Spurs I must say but oh well who cares haha!


This is my season-ending post. Gonna miss Chelsea football. Looking forward to Germany's win in EURO. Hoping for more seasons like this. Cheers~!


-Ariff Alyahya

Champions of Europe