Start saving for your future

SET aside some money for yourself first when you get your pay cheque, that is the advice given by a chartered financial consultant so that you can retire as a millionaire.

K.H. Tan said the idea of “paying yourself first” was good and should start early in one's working life.

“Paying yourself first means before you settle the bills or spoil yourself on designer coffees, you set money aside for yourself. Now this isn't cash to splurge but cash to save for the future,” he said.

Tan, 38, added that many young executives who had attended his financial seminars felt it difficult to set money aside for themselves.

“Salary adjustments, increments and bonuses are earned. No matter how much you earn, you must force yourself to set aside an amount for retirement. If you don't do it, nobody else will,” he said at his recent I Can Be a Millionaire seminar.

However, Tan said: “Human nature makes it difficult as people think they don't have enough to pay themselves first because there's always something to spend the annual salary increase on.
“We advice many to start on a small sum instead of a ambitious sum.

“As income grows, increase the savings and to make the pay your self first effective, the process has to be automatic. Apply for an automatic bank transfer to take effect each time your income is credited to your account,” he added.

Tan's business partner P. Utama Raj strongly believes in the pay yourself idea and suggest that young executives request their employers transfer a fixed percentage of their income from their monthly pay to an investment portfolio.

“By doing so, the process becomes automatic and it makes it easier to hit that million ringgit mark due to the consistent monthly deposits and power of compounding interest,” he said.

Raj, 35, added that young executives must avoid incurring credit- card debts and spend wisely.
“One good approach to spend wisely is to use cash whenever possible.

“Being discipline does not mean a lack of a social life or depriving oneself of every shopping urge.

“We must keep our spending habits within reason thus exercising delayed gratification,” he said.

MILK Run 2008

In supporting of Creating a meaningful day out for under-privilege children.

Make it a meaningful day for 800 under-privileged children from selected homes.

For each participation, Kenny Rogers ROASTERS will bring in one under-privilege child to join in.

~ Date: Saturday, 5 July 2008

~ Time: 8.00am

~ Venue: Desa WaterPark, Kuala Lumpur.

~ Participants are required to run a designated route with a cone containing an egg. If the egg drops, the participants are discontinued from the race.

~ The race is open to all participants aged 7 & above.

~ For more details, please download the entry form now!

Run to bring smiles to kids

PEALS of laughter filled the air as 80 children from Sunbeams home welcomed the team from Kenny Rogers Roasters into their home.

The home is one of several that will take part in the Roasters Chicken Run on July 5.

“For the past three years, we have organised a charity run called the Roasters Chicken Run and succeeded in raising more than RM100,000 that benefited Tabung Kebajikan Pesakit HUKM, the Paediatric Unit HUKM (Oncology) and Unit Tutur, a centre that helps deaf children,” said Berjaya Roasters (M) Sdn Bhd general manager Lee Siew Weng.

“This year, we want to continue to contribute to young children in need, so with the help of the public who take part in the run, we will have the opportunity to gather as many as 800 children to join in the Roasters Chicken Run for a splashing good day,” he added.

Yayasan Sunbeams Home was founded in 1995 by Pastor Alvin and Lucy Tan to care and provide for orphaned, abused and neglected children.

Since then, it has expanded and now cares for senior citizens and the disabled, too.

The founders have also implemented the Youth Work project, under which they take in youths who are not schooling to keep them out of trouble, as well as children’s day care services, which is extended to lower-income single parents and families.

The home spends an average of RM60,000 a month on provisions, essential home items and education.

“We are always glad when an organisation comes forward to lend a hand.

“We try to provide all the children with a normal upbringing whereby they receive a proper education and have a clean place to live,” said Alvin.

With every entry received, Kenny Rogers Roasters will bring a child to attend the run and enjoy a splashing good day.

Forms are available at all Kenny Rogers Roasters restaurants, or download it from http://www.krr.com.my/.

Remember, with more entries, there will more children with smiles!

The Roasters Chicken Run 2008 will be held at Desa Water Park on July 5, starting at 8am.
The run will cover the area surrounding the park.

Participants can definitely look forward to a splashing good time with family and friends, too.

Larian Olimpik

Healthier Lifestyle With Jacob's Walk Of Life 2008

Jacob's Walk of Life is back, this time with a spanking-brand new purpose. Themed 'Healthy Living, Healthier Future', the 2008 edition of this annual event is set to improve your lifestyle with the idea that change, no matter how small will play a big impact over time. Our campaign will culminate in a public walk at Taman Pertanian Bukit Cahaya Seri Alam, Shah Alam on July 6 2008 and is expected to attract close to 5,000 participants.

Jacob’s Walk of Life 2008 will be supported by co-sponsors Fitness First, Anlene, Spritzer, Protex Antibacterial Wash, Mizuno and venue sponsor Taman Pertanian Seri Cahaya in Shah Alam. This event is made for the family so bring along everyone you know and together, join in the fun. That's not all - meet Fara Fauzana, Faizal Ismail, Jack Lim and Gan Mei Yan who will all be there to get themselves sweating for a healthy cause. Malaysian Idol's Dina will also be there to entertain you with her power pack vocals as a big thank you for helping create a healthier Malaysia.

Don't miss out on the fun. Book your place now and sample a spread of the goodness of Jacob's wholesome biscuits. We're excited and we can't wait. See you there, Malaysia!

Date : 6 July 2008 (Sunday)
Venue : Taman Pertanian Malaysia, Bukit CahayaSeri Alam, Shah Alam
Link : http://www.jacobs.com.my/

AVON WALK

AVON Cosmetics Malaysia will be joining over 50 countries in the fourth annual Avon Walk Around the World for Breast Cancer (WAWBC).

The walk is a worldwide series of events that will mobilise thousands of people in a shared commitment to end breast cancer and break barriers to quality care.

Although Avon Cosmetics Malaysia has conducted various fundraising events in conjunction with the previous WAWBC, this is the first time it will be holding the Avon Walk in Malaysia.

Reebok is the official footwear and apparel sponsor for the 2008 Avon Walk Around the World for Breast Cancer event.

“As part of Avon’s Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer programme, WAWBC aims to raise funds and create awareness for the breast cancer cause,” said Avon Malaysia head of marketing Sahara Noon at a press conference on the event recently.

Avon Walk is scheduled to be held at Dataran Merdeka on Aug 10.

The non-competitive but fun and meaningful walk is open to the public at a minimum fee of RM20 per entry.

Besides receiving an exclusive Reebok T-shirt worth RM90 and an Avon goodie bag worth RM50, participants can also look forward to a lot of activities, games and entertainment by celebrities.

To add meaning to the event, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry will also extend complimentary health screening to the public during the event.

“Breast cancer is not just women’s issue, as every man has either a mother, wife, sister, daughter or friend; and there is no way of telling the effects this devastating disease will have on him,” said Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, the spokeman for event during the press conference.

“So, I hope to play my role in maximising awareness on the early detection of breast cancer,” he added.

Reebok will “activate” the walk by offering its Spring-Summer 2008 “Pink Ribbon Collection” products at 35 Reebok retail outlets in Malaysia from July 1.

These products include exclusive footwear, apparel, and accessories.

All nett proceeds will be channeled to Pride Foundation (Pink Ribbon Deeds).

Pride is a charity body that aims to enhance awareness effort and improve accessibility to treatments and care of breast cancer at all levels of society.

Entry forms to the charity walk will be available at all Avon Beauty Boutiques in the Klang Valley, Reebok retail outlets and Pride headquarters starting July 1.

For details, call the Avon Head Office at 03-7965 7100

Raising funds for marathon

The state govern-ment is collecting funds for the Pe-nang Bridge marathon as it is confident that it will get the nod from Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd (PBSB) to run the event.

State Tourism, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang said he did not foresee any reason for PBSB to stop the state from taking over the event.

“The Public Works Department (JKR) and the Tourism Ministry have agreed with us and we are currently waiting for PBSB to give us the green light,” he said.

Law was speaking at a press conference to announce A Cultural Charity Night with Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas.

The dinner will be held in conjunction with Abdul Rahman's birthday at at Penang International Sports Arena (PISA) in Relau at 7.30pm on July 9.

He said the function was to raise funds for the TYT Disaster Relief Fund, charity organisations, the 6th International Dragon Boat Federation Club Crew World Championship, which the state was hosting from July 31 to Aug 4, and the Penang Bridge marathon.

Those keen to buy the RM30 tickets can contact Lina at 04-6505136, DAP headquarter at 04-2288482 or Jeffery from PISA at 04-6451934.

Penang Govt to take over bridge marathon

The state government is planning to take over the organising of the Penang Bridge Marathon this year following its cancellation by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM).

State Tourism, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang said the state had sought permission from the LLM to hold the event.

"We have yet to fix the date as we need to liaise with the International Marathon Council first so that it won't clash with other events," he said Friday.

Malaysian Highway Authority director-general Datuk Mohamad Razali Othman had on May 11 announced that the run was cancelled due to financial and manpower constraints.

A week later, Law told reporters that Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said expressed her disappointment with the cancellation of the event, as it had been successful in attracting both local and foreign participants in past years.

Law was speaking at a press conference to announce the sponsorship of A Cultural Charity Night with Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas in conjunction with the governor's birthday.

He said E&O Penang and Hunza Properties (Penang) Sdn Bhd were each sponsoring RM300,000 for the event, organised by Taglink Group.

He said the state hoped to raise RM2mil in aid of the TYT Disaster Relief Fund, several charity organisations, the 6th International Dragon Boat Federation Club Crew World Championship (IDBF CCWC) to be held in the state from July 31 to Aug 4, and the Penang Bridge Marathon.

For details on the dinner, call 04-538 1110