What goes out, always comes back

The thing about money is that people have the concept wrong all the time. Is it about accumulating as much wealth as possible when you’re young, then spend it when you’re old? Nahh…

Here are some principles of success when it comes to money:

Don’t aim to be the richest man in the grave!

What is the point of working so hard, sacrificing time with family and your health just for extra dollars? I’ve seen so many retirees who are cash rich, but end up giving a bulk of the hard earned money away to hospitals in the end. I’ve seen families broken up just because the children fight with each other over their parent’s money.

Of course I’m not asking you to spend what you have with no savings – that’s just silly. Work smart and make sure you’re optimizing your income. Pay your bills on time, have the necessary savings and use the remaining for something else..

Always make the world a better place!

One of the most important things I’ve learn over the years is to always look for opportunities to make the world a better place. The easiest way to do it is by donating your money. The amount doesn’t matter! If all you can afford to donate is RM5.00 then so be it. That is enough to help some kids buy new stationeries for school, or extra chicken for their dinner. Never underestimate the amount you can donate.

When you donate, you must donate to a cause that inspires you. The counterintuitive thing about the universe is that what you donate will always come back, and usually multiple times. A portion of the income from my business is always directed to various charity organizations and NGOs around the country.

Everytime you sign up a program from me or buying my book, you are helping the blind people in St Nicholas home in Penang to upskill so that they can make a living for themselves.

You are also helping hardcore poor kids to continue their education and have proper meals with Dignity for Children Foundation in Kuala Lumpur:

A good tip when you decide to donate money to organizations is that you should always check with the income tax department. This is to prevent yourself from donating precious money to scammers. Also, your donation will always be eligible for tax deduction so that’s a bonus. Link to check from LHDN is here.

It doesn’t hurt to be nice!

Sometimes, you just have to use your own gut feel and common sense. For example, I was on a short holiday at beautiful Kundasang, Sabah just recently. It is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to in Malaysia and I was completely in awe of the scenary, weather and the warm people there.

The hotel we stayed in is a small establishment and most of the employees are the local natives. If you don’t know yet, people who work in hotels such as the cleaners, receptionist and cafe staff don’t make a lot of money. What you can do is to share a bit of your money with them because that will make their day.

Upon checking out, I place a small appreciation under my pillow for the cleaning staff:

RM50 could mean buying extra chicken for her family that month, or finally replacing the torn schoolbag her daughter is using everyday, or maybe finally they can go to town and watch a movie together. Whatever it is, your little help goes a long way. If you do that regularly, the universe will bless you in return, usually more in value.

When I returned to Penang, I have a new Personal Executive Coaching client signing up with me! That’s why I’m such a strong believer in this idea.

Always spend some money to have fun!

Nowadays many people are too stressed out with their lifes – kids, job, responsibilities, bills to pay and the list goes on. Oftenly, I ask my students:

“When was the last time you had fun?”

Usually the answer is they don’t even remember. This is why many people are living a stressful life, with their cortisol levels through the roof and their GABA neurotransmitters at all time low.

Hey, chill out. One of the best ways to really reduce stress and recharge yourself is to go and have some fun! It doesn’t have to be a fun that has an objective to complete. Just something that you would do when you were a kid. It can be taking a short trip to some place you’ve always wanted to go. Maybe a cruise. Staying at a resort in Langkawi or even checking in the 5-star hotel you’ve always wanted to stay in for the longest time.

Of course you’ll need money for having fun, so a good tip I can leave you with is that every month when you do your budget, leave 5-10% (according to your affordability) and save it as “Fun Money”. Once you’ve collected enough, spend it without feeling guilty. You deserve the best too!