Hi Calow1,

1) you can pay until 35 years. Previously is 40 years, since gov clamp down on property sector a year ago. It is bcoming 35 years and I very sure is around rm1800 (My current BLR-2.4= 4.2% before BNM increase 0.5%). To buy a house you need to slowly upgrade not straight go and buy the most expensive of all. Condo will cause you around RM300k - Rm400k. I guess you need to shop around.

2) Yeah. should b.

3) For me yes. RM600 for my entire household (5 people to be exact; mayb you can call me cheapskate). I do shop around, just keep out of Milo & Nestle (they cost ridiculously expensive, I can buy 1 pack of 10kg rice for every Milo I did not buy). Being doing this for years. Of course not including electric, water bill & internet.

Quality definitely is not improving. I guess everywhere is the same, Singaporean, Indonesian, Philippines, China everyone are complaining about cost of living. That's why you need to be smart in managing money.

Yeah Peter Lee is right. Even earning less you can also survive. Most family are earning ~RM3000. Getting a motorcycle, apartment n lower insurance and you still have more to save. It is all about lifestyle.

Dear Calow1,

If every household are able to budget accordingly, the living expenses is much lower than what have you calculated.

Similar to your example, below is how will I spend it (this is according to my monthly budget and I have extra for investment; been doing this for 4 years now);

House loan instalment - RM1,800 (This is the correct amount you need to pay bank for RM400,000 loan without downpayment)

Car loan - RM800 (Please get a Myvi if you cannot afford VIOS, the amount RM800 include maintenance, road tax, car insurance if you can budget; husband and wife shall find a job that are convenient for both not one north and one south)

Petrol - RM600 (More or less this amount, include tol)

Personal insurance - RM300 (Should get a lower insurance according to your ability not the highest of all insurance, for 2 persons)

Food - RM500 (You shall eat in not eat out. I have been supporting my family of 5 people with <RM600/month and having extra for entertaiment)

EPF deductions - RM600

Total Outflows - RM4,600

Money left to invest - RM1300. No offence but, If you consider to make baby, make sure you can afford it.

The higher one salary the higher one expenses. Always remember expenses will always match your salary no matter how much you earn unless you know how to budget.

got it today. very slow indeed. thx for the reply

anyone receive the dividend yet? why they havent bank in the dividend yet? Please advice.