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What staying at home has taught me about my spending habits and spending prudently

April 6, 2020 Paris B 7 Comments

Being ‘forced’ to stay indoors has its perks. It’s allowed me to spend a little time being introspective, and getting my thoughts and affairs in order.

As I shared with you before this, one of the challenges I’m facing during this troubled time is worry. Worry about how the world will change after this, how our social interactions will change, and more practically, how we will all be impacted by the declining economy.

The reality is that businesses are already feeling the effects of this forced shut down. Some people have already lost their jobs, or are told to take leave without pay. Others are feeling grateful they still have a job and a pay cheque at the end of the month.

If you belong in the latter category, be thankful for what you have. But also, consider this your wake up call, to set in place a more careful and prudent financial habit. As much as we don’t like admitting it, money does make the world a more comfortable and happier place.

Here are some things I’ve observed about my spending habits at this time, and how it may help you be more aware about your own 🙂

5 Things I Love Vol. 7: Mad as a March hare

April 2, 2020 Paris B 4 Comments

Hi Friends!

March 2020 just went all to pieces didn’t it? In fact, 2020 is, in the current trending parlance, ‘cancelled’.

The whole world has practically shut down, forcing most people to stay at home. Some are facing more challenges than others, and most are having to adapt to working from home.

I know we’re all facing difficulties dealing with this sudden change in our life and lifestyles. So, let’s think of some lighter things – think of 5 things you love or that made you happy or smile in the past month.

These are my 5 Things I love for March 2020 🙂

Help! All this handwashing is drying out my hands : 4 hand creams I’m using

March 24, 2020 Paris B 7 Comments

I said in my last post that I would keep calm and carry on blogging. And I intend to do so. But if I’m to be honest, my heart isn’t quite in it right now, purely because it appears so frivolous.

Yet, I have received a few kind messages from you that that bit of frivolity is what we need right now. A little bit of escapism from the mad mad world out there!

As much as I want to maintain a sense of normalcy in our life, the fact is nothing is normal, and if I’m to be honest, I do not want this to be the new normal. What is normal is for us to be able to move around freely, without that constant dread of meeting an infected person, and to shy away from people like they’re bearing the plague. That isn’t normal.

What is normal is meeting family and friends, holding them, hugging and kissing them, sitting down for a meal or a drink, being able to enjoy each other’s company. That’s normal.

But we keep our distance, and we stay home, and we try to ‘Flatten the Curve’, and one thing we’ve been cautioned over and over during this period, is to WASH OUR HANDS. And I don’t know about you, but my hands are washed raw. So, here’s some things that helped me.

Keep calm and Keep your distance – Together we can weather this storm

March 19, 2020 Paris B 6 Comments

Hi Friends,

It’s a trying time for us all, isn’t it?

Here in Malaysia, our Government has issued a Restricted Movement Order to be in effect for about 2 weeks or maybe more depending on what happens. It effectively forces us all to stay home and reduce movement and social contact. Schools and non-essential businesses are forced to close, and most people are working from home wherever possible.

Globally, I’m seeing this being implemented in varying stages. For the most part, people are advised to stay home, so we reduce physical contact, thereby reducing the chance of the virus spreading.

It is a very trying time, and I understand how people can and will struggle, even if it does seem rather novel and exciting at first. Unless you live in a war-torn state, few of us would have experienced this sort of restriction of movement.

Here’s a few things I can suggest you can do, to maintain your mental health, because we might be in this for the long term.

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