Do We Need Medical Insurance?

Chinese New Year is around the corner, I believe most of the Chinese are getting ready their mood to enter ‘rooster’ year.

Unfortunately, one of my best friends who needs to bring his wife to fly to capital for a medical checkup this afternoon, where the local doctor suspected his wife has a lung issue upon inspection. It can be lung cancer, the worst case. His wife is not able to buy any medical insurance because she had a breast tumor 15 years ago.

Anyway, if affordable and possible, it is wiser to get a medical insurance. No doubt the insurance company is making big money from your policy. From the look at it, at least 50-60% of your installment will be used to pay up the agent’s commissions, ground staff wages, taxes, processing fees, etc. The rests I suspect they will used for investment diversification in hope to get higher return.

Remember we always hear insurance agent said, you will get XXX% return upon XX years? Or you do not have to pay the installment after XX years, the endowment itself it will be to sustain? Yes, it is possible, but chances are getting lower and lower in the near future. Why? Because the investment return is getting averagely lower from the market. Just look at mutual funds & KLCI index return, then you know what I talk about.

Anyway, why we need to insure with medical insurance? There’s a few benefits of doing so, even though we reluctant to let insurance company take our hard earn money every month and year.

1.       General hospital? – Yes, you can still go to general hospital, but free stuff is not always what you expected. I remembered my father did his heart bypass twice, he has to make appointments and queue, for months. In fact, his situation is not able to wait further, but he has no choice because there are just too many patients quieting for their appointment. So the alternative will be private hospital, which can serve you almost immediately, depending on which hospital you are visiting. Then it come to cost.

2. Medical treatment expenses – A medical operation will cost how much nowadays? For my father’s CAGB case, it costs around RM25K-35K. It’s not a small amount. The rich is not going to pay for it using their own savings, then what do they use?

3. Emergency funding – Most of the medical treatments are drop by suddenly, just like my best friend’s case. He is ready to spend tens of thousands of dollars for inspection and treatment if necessary. If one has not enough savings then how? Where to find the emergency fund at this last minute? General hospital is the only hope? 

4. Peace of mind – Once you got the medical insured, you can have a peace of mind. Because if anything happen to you, at least most of the expenses will be covered by the insurance company (provided you buy the right plan).

I’m not an insurance agent, but my experience tells me that it is wiser to get one which suit your affordability and need, the earlier the better. Once you exceed 35 years old, it is getting very expensive, because the risk of hitting the treatment and medical costs in the future are comparatively higher.

For which medical plan to get, do consult the right agent. Please make sure the agent is experience and helpful, not those just want to get commission and then disappear. Please avoid pretty young lady or part-time agent, they cannot help much, trust me. If you do, please make sure they introduce their 

manager to you. And please do not be greedy, subscribe the plan that you can afford to pay. The insurance agent may try to up sell what you need!

Happy Rooster Year, folks!

Savings during Hard Time?

Under the current high inflation and global economy recession, do you find it is extremely difficult to have savings?

Over the past 7 to 8 years, inflation has eroded the value of the country's currency, including currency exchange with USD, booming of property prices, introduction of GST from the Government, removal of Government subsidies such as petrol, cooking oil, sugar, etc. 

Basically a plate of kolomee in my hometown has shot up from RM4.00 in 2008 to RM7.50 today. That means whatever cash I have in hand and bank account has drastically drop almost 50% in value during these 7-8 years, about 6-7% inflation per year. The inflation seems like started to slow down since last year, but it is just temporary from my point of view.

So in such situation, does it means it is still worth to do savings? In my opinion, I think savings is indispensable. Why? Everything need money. Yes, money is inflated and drop drastically in value, might as well use them now instead of 5-7 years later, right? But what's the point of spending money on unnecessary stuffs? The money is hard earn from our monthly pay check, this is why we need more savings. But is it by tighten our belts further? Or how?

The world is changing, including the way to make more money and savings. We need to be creative and innovative with the fast pace of everyone is trying to move forward. I myself is very stingy in person, but I feel the pain of saving very less nowadays, due to inflation and lower income comparing to the good times. I have done my best to save as much as I can during the good day. Now are the bad days where I have very less income and I can tell you I have no savings over the past 1.5 years! So I chose to be generous since a couple of months ago. 

Due to the high cost living nowadays, my savings are depleted quite fast. The only resolution I thought is to look for more income. That is why I started my own business early last year. I failed 2 times miserably but I still wake up and tried the 3rd time early this year. 

What I'm trying to share is, savings is not enough. To leverage on your money is the only way to go, either through investment, doing business, part time, get commission via sales, etc. Many people would like to stay in comfortable zone by just want to try something easy. Imagine this easy ways you and I can try easily, how much do you think the return is? Another example is ponzy scheme. If the investment return is so high and good, why is your turn? All they need is just your money. Think twice. 

There's no free lunch in this world. If you want to achieve something extraordinary, you really need to work extra hard and solve a lot of problems to get through it. 

Have a nice weekend, folks.

A Pain For Malaysian Parents?

The strengthening Ringgit Malaysia is not doing Malaysian parents with children in Australia any favor. Although the ringgit was at RM2.95 against US$1 recently, it stood at RM3.22 against A$1.

Teacher Carey Lee, 54, now had to fork out around RM20,000 more a year compared to 2009 when the exchange rate was 2.9. She said she might consider bringing her son back to Malaysia if he did not do well. Lee is paying around RM100,000 a year for his studies there.

Banker David Chan, 54, said there was little Malaysian parents could do. “It's painful that things cost the same on a dollar-to-dollar basis. For example, a plate of noodles costing RM5 is also A$5 there. That's RM16 after conversion,” he said, adding that his son still had four years to go in Adelaide.

Accountant Thomas Wong said he was amazed that the Australian economy was still strong despite the massive floods and fires there. He said his son's school fees had jumped from RM28,000 per term to RM32,000 in the 18 months he was there.

Writer P. Steven, 43, said his burden was eased slightly after his daughter got a partial scholarship this year. “She also moved out of the campus residence to a house. That's cheaper. She also uses a bicycle to get to campus,” he said, adding that the exchange rate was a continuous worry.

It was reported last month that there are some 23,000 Malaysian students in Australia.

With the sky-high tuition fees and expenses because of currency exchange, I was wondering why many parents still sending their children to Australia as there are already so many Universities and colleges in Malaysia itself. 

If quality is the major concern, perhaps it is very true. I would also rather send my children to Australia or United Kingdom if I'm afford to do so. But I'm not afford to, and money value we are earning is getting smaller and smaller. 

With limited income, high inflation and started to invest late, it's really no point to force myself to bear for the sky-high children oversea education fund while taking care of my retirement fund. To me, I would support local study, it's not the same quality but at least it is affordable. 

Ultimately, the career success and earn money are not all about quality, but it's rely on individual effort. 

All the best, parents.

Something about Property Investment

Have you buy a house or starting to involve in property investment? From what I look at it in details, I really have to change my mind about property investment.

Previously, I thought I've to think like an abnormal people. If everyone going for property and the price keep increasing until sky high, I should keep away from it. I learned this theory from stock market. This is very true, because stock is affordable and easily can buy and sell perhaps within minutes, and you can do it alone. Unlike property, it takes time for us to do the transaction of buying and selling, and you also need some team members such as realtor, lawyer and banker.

Property investment gives a steady income and low risk profile for most investors.

Further more, stock market investment require high rational thinking, and it's risky. Property investment is a lot simpler. Imagine when there is economy recession, which investment will be more sensitive? Why we need to opt for the difficult one? In conclusion, my analysis was wrong, I shouldn't treat all investments the same. The property is already sky high, and it keeps rising. City land is getting less and lessor, pricing will be getting high and higher definitely. I'm so regret that I don't invest it when I was younger.

From historical analysis, property will only slump when there is recession. Oh yes, we just have a global recession, didn't we? But unfortunately, despite the materials cost dropped over 100%, the housing price remain unchanged, and it begins to rise like a rocket. The only benefit is the lower loan rate. It's a different situation in our country here. So I don't anticipate the property price will drop in a reasonable way in short or mid-term.

Stock market return can be higher, but it's volatile and require high rational thinking.

Anyway, let me just share with you a few tips I learned from experts, and perhaps we can take them as advice to do property investment.
(1) Start early. The younger you start, the earlier you benefits from the market value promotion. None of the investment channel is as stable, high return and low risk as than property.
(2) Cut your spending and turn it into installment. The old says, work hard now and enjoy later.
(3) Don't go for luxury property like a bungalow, it's more difficult to find a rich tenant and the rental won't be high as well.
(4) Don't go for low-cost property like very small apartment. Your tenant might not afford to pay the rental most of the time, more risk for you.
(5) New housing perhaps has better quality of materials and structure, but not all of them suitable for your/tenant living.
(6) If you have steady income and you are affordable, suggest to look for a suitable property for investment.

If you want to learn more about property investment, do read up experts recommendation.

If you are free, kindly visit a local blogger, CK Wong who blogging about local property investment. His analysis for local property is interesting. Do check it out.

Happy investing.

Top Saving Tips at Grocery Store

Hi folks. Sorry for my late post, as I'm extremely busy to prepare for Chinese New Year (CNY) this week. I believe next week will be totally no post for me, as CNY goes by.

I think I've no posted money saving tips for long. So I would like to take this opportunity to contribute what i know to you. Today, I will discuss about top 7 tips on saving at supermarket. It's not a cool topic as it has been discussed many times else where. Anyway, perhaps you can use them as a reference.

When it comes to shopping, we are bound to temptations most of the time.

Top 7 - Make a list
The list will be your grocery needs. Be discipline and stick to the list you made. We don't want to spend extra or unnecessary on grocery. If a grocery item like eggs costs $3, but if you spend more than that every time, you are wasting your money.

Top 6 - Compare unit price
Purchase in-bulk doesn't mean cost effective, but bulk item is cheaper sometimes. It depends. So make sure you bring a calculator along to make the comparison easier.

Top 5 - Discard brand loyalties
Does it really matter for brand loyalties? Well, I would say experiment tells the truth. You may go with those item on sale with lowest unit price. If it is disappointed, you may return to your regular brand, it's not a big deal.

Top 4 - Choose generic
Perhaps you also can try the generic or store brand, they are generally cheaper than other brand. If they are more or less the same quality as the branded one, why don't we make a wiser deicision?

Expert advises us not to use trolley, as it will tempts as to buy more, for convenient purpose.

Top 3 - Make one large trip instead of several small ones
This is almost the same as refill your fuel. Every time you visit the grocery store, it is another chance to increase your spending. By reducing the frequency of your trips, you'll also saving money on overhead such as fuel and time.

Top 2 - Apply a grocery price book
A grocery price book is an ongoing list of the items you most commonly purchase. This list allows you to keep track of price cycles, and plan your shopping trips for maximum savings.

Top 1 - Apply membership card
Most of the hypermarkets offer membership cards, which allow you to redeem points or cash rebates. Make use of them wisely if you visit the same hypermarket most of the time, it'll definitely benefits us. Some hypermarket also works with credit card to offer 1-2% cash rebates for the customers, which is worth to apply as well.

Citibank is now working with Giant by offering 2% rebate to the Giant customers.

That's all about the top 7 saving tips at grocery store I concluded. Enjoy savings and have a nice weekend ahead. ;)

What Bill to Pay First and Way to Save

Still remember I posted a poll previously on what bill we normally pay first? There were 15 people took the vote and the final poll result is stated below.

Apparently most of us pay Streamyx bill first because Internet access is already important to us, become part of our life perhaps. The result also show no one is willing to pay DBKK assessment fee first, perhaps the bill comes only once a year.

We aware that credit card charging us 15-18% interests rate and also possible late payment charge of 1%, if we don't pay our credit card bill on time. So we as a debtors will trying to pay it on time to avoid penalty charges. It goes the same for some other bills. Perhaps you have know about this, I just want to share with you about bill payment and penalty, and perhaps some savings you can do from these bills.

Credit card interest is killing.

1. DBKK
If you delay your payment, they will charge you penalty, and also 'notification' fee. Notification fee? Don't you think it should be free? I, or should say my dad, haven't pay my house tax for about 13 years. The fees suppose to be RM1,201.20. But I'm charged in the total of RM1,541.02, with the BAYATAN PEMBERITAHU RM65 and FAEDAH RM182.42. Hmmm, I wonder whether I should go and complaint abt RM65 additiona charges.

Why DBKK use my money to put a fish here? -.-

Hey, 13 years but nothing happen, it is suppose to be the same as DBKK parking bill that people are not paying for them? Aren't they take any action for it? I'm not sure whether I should clear these bills, or just leave it until I die. I heard some people said can take the bill to DBKK and ask for 'discount', what do you think?


2. Telekom Malaysia
This is a little bit ridiculous. apart from usage charges, we also need to pay monthly charges of RM29 and 5% government tax. So if you don't make any call, you also need to pay RM30.45 monthly. If you using hand phone to make call regularly, then this bill is definitely it is not worth for you. I know some of us just remain the fixed line for Streamyx only.

Why Malaysian don't use Skype phone?

I have a suggestion to cut your phone bill dramatically. If you don't plan to make any call from your house phone, perhaps you can change the fixed line plan to prepaid. You only require to pay a lump sum of transfer plan fees (around RM80) and an initial prepaid fees of RM20, and you can receive call forever without paying a single cent, where your Streamyx line is still ongoing. If you opt for this, you can save at least RM30.45 every month. As for me, I still reserve my phone line because it is not worth in my case, as my mum did a lot of local call monthly.

In the other hand, if you don't pay your phone bill for 2-3 months, your phone line is still remain, without any penalty.


3. Electricity & Water
For water bill, it's relatively okay, as the bill comes around every 3 months and it's not as expensive as electricity.

We feel bad that electricity tariff is being adjusted again, but that's reality perhaps we have to force ourselves to move back to our traditional living style, avoid using air-con and heater. If we still want to continue to enjoy, we have to get more income to cover it. Electricity tariff is calculated based on unit of KWH you used. The more you consume, the more expensive you pay. I don't have air-con at home, only heater, and my average monthly bill is about RM80 with about 360kwh for 4 people, quite expensive.

Ohm: You force me to do this, TNB!

I have tried to NOT to pay the electricity for 3 months and water bill for 9 months, and nothing happen, no cut off and no penalty given. Kind enough.

I will post on how to save your electricity bill in details on my next post.


4. Astro
I believe majority of the middle and upper class people in Malaysia has Astro at home. Astro is not expensive, if you subscribe the basic package of RM37.95 per month. But it already 'tells' you it's a basic package. Basically it's a empty shell for me.

It may be suffer as you have to pay a lot more if you subscribing 'interesting' channel packages, like Dynasty and Movie. You even pay more if you subscribing latest movie or 'Astro On Demand' package. It costs me RM99 a month for subscribing Basic + Dynasty package, but I don't even watch it at all. I have no way to save on this as my mum is watching Wah Lai Toi everyday. That's pretty okay, we love our mums.

Youngster: Why Astro On Demand? I used torrent download what.

Some suggestions from others to cut down your Astro bill.
a) Some experts suggest you to watch YouTube or e-TV instead of Astro.
b) Some youngsters also suggest to download drama/movie from p2p, easily.
c) Some suggest to share the same dish with your neightbor, with an additional decoder.
c) To make it extreme, some people even invest and do illegal adjustments on their Astro machine, and they able to watch full package. You know, I know. I won't share how-to adjustment to help you to save on Astro bill here, it's illegal.

Anyway, I suggest you pay your Astro bill on time. There will be late payment charge of RM10 monthly once it is overdue (30 days), even after a day. It's not worth if you still consider to continue to watch Astro. Astro will also terminating your service if you are not making your payment after 2 months. I, or should say my dad, had tried it many times. It's kinda stupid of paying RM20 extra for service reconnection, and the late payment charge of RM10 accumulated by every month.

Since Astro is the money sucker for us, you can do auto bill payment via bank SI or credit card. It is wise to do so to avoid late payment charge and you are eligible to earn credit card points, and Bonus Link if you pay 3/6/12 months in advance.


5. Streamyx
Streamyx voted as top bill people would pay for it, apart from credit card. Your Internet service will be terminated if you don't pay your bill more than 2 months within the period given. Even though, I still normally delay 1 month to pay my Streamyx bill, no penalty.

Streamyx offering many packages like Streamyx 512kbps, 1Mbps till 4Mbps, with or without modem. The cheapest is Streamyx 384kbps , comes with 10 hours and 5 cents per minute for additional usage, it's RM20 per month. Not worth it if you spend more than 20 minutes in average to online daily.

To save more, perhaps you can go for Streamyx 512kbps RM77 with modem. It's enough for surfing/blogging/chatting for 1-4 persons. That's the best package I found so far, as the modem provided by TM is life-time warranty. You won't have to pay extra if the modem you bought is malfunction and out of warranty. For wireless modem router, you have to purchase yourself. You can opt for Streamyx 512kbps RM44 with 60 hours, 1 cent per minute for additional usage. Worth it if you online less than 60 minutes in average daily.

One of Streamyx latest package

To save even more, you can share the package with your neighbors or house mates, then the bill is divided. Make sure they pay you or pay the bill! You can also apply and become a Streamyx agent. It's easy to apply and free! You just need to online and enter the necessary information for your customer, done and you will get commissions of what package your customer subscribed. For example, you will get RM77 for a RM77 package. Cool?


Can I say this latest package is cheating marketing purposes only?

That's why you see many youngsters running around and ask you whether you want to subscribe Streamyx package, especially during PC fair. You may be not interested to be an agent and think that too many agents are around and most of us already subscribe? Not really, there is always many strategies to do business. They can ask you to re-subscribe to a new/better package, just like your mobile phone. Sometimes it's worth, sometimes don't, you can justify it easily.

When you see PC Fair, you see Streamyx booth.

Another of my favorite strategies is to hire pretty boys and girls as promoters to promote the package, I love it and I use to entertain the pretty promoter as I'm a friendly person. So use the right strategy is very important la.


6. Newspapers
My family is subscribing daily local chinese newspaper delivery. The newspaper man always come to my house and collect the payment On Time, so I expect their newspaper delivery time also On Time. It's about RM46 per month, and they going to make it RM52 next month due to fuel price hiked. Anyway, if you watch The Star, you can subscribe e-Star newspaper via Bluehyppo, you can save up to 50% per month. To save to the maximum, just watch news from The Star web site la. I used to do that every morning before I go office.

Angmoh: The Star? Is this da one?

To maximize your savings, you can pay your bills above via online banking. It is the best if you use your credit card with cash rebate to pay them. You are not only able to get cash rebate / reward point from credit card payment, but you also enjoying about 20-30 days of grace period to repay it to the bank!

18 Tips on Saving your Petrol

Petrol is very expensive everywhere now, even in a petrol-rich country like Malaysia! It's fact and life goes on, we are forcing to accept it. So have you plan how to cover your additional petrol expenses?

Plan to sell leg and hand to exchange for petrol?

I'm currently using a Wira 1.3cc Manual. My petrol spending is about in average of RM160-200 monthly with the previous petrol price. I will spend extra about RM350 per year after RM625 rebate. Why I need to pay extra for that if I have tips to cut them off?

Dont worry, I have a quick tip for you here, especially for Sarawakian and Sabahan.
Brunei current petrol price is B$0.53 per litre (Diesel B$0.31) and it hasn't been revised since 5 years back, because the government is kind and love their citizens. After convert it's only about RM1.25. Extremely cheap? Not only that, vehicle and road tax there is also very cheap, with B$18,000 you can get your lovely Toyota VIOS drive home. You get higher pay after converted, no toll, no government tax, no personal income tax, no service tax, less barbarians, rice & cooking oil is fully subsidize, etc & etc. Brunei dollar is attached with Singapore dollar, and it is keep rising over the last 10 years, and now the rate is about B$1 to RM2.36! So don't wait anymore, pack your luggage now and migrate to Brunei to work or become a boss, so you will not suffer anymore.

I was just kidding. You won't do that right?
Unfortunately I'll be doing that very soon, but perhaps it's for temporary only. So don't envy me please.

Back to my topic, I'm trying to share 18 tips of how to save your petrol. I introduced tip #2 to my colleagues and all of them opted for it after the announcement, including their spouse. It seemed not many people are knowing about this. Unfortunately, none of them thank me for doing so, but surprisingly some of them thanked another colleague who contacted the card agent instead. It's relatively okay for me, sometimes we did really forget to thank the right person.

After a thought, I decided to write this post as I think the tips below may helps you. Please kindly take a look.

1. Go for Petrol RON92
After price hike, the new petrol price is listed as below:
Petrol RON97 - RM2.70 (RM2.68 for East Msia)
Petrol RON92 - RM2.66

RON92, 95, 97

You can use Research Octane Number (RON) your car is tuned for, by checking your car manual’s fuel section. Most of the cars are tuned for RON92, except luxury cars. Furthermore, using RON97 won't increase vehicle mileage and power if the car is not tuned for that octane level. If you opt for RON92, you are able to save 2-4 cents (0.75-1.48%) per liter, without any change in performance. And you will able to save RM88.80 a year if you spend in average of RM500 petrol a month.

2. Get a Credit Card with Cash Rebate
There are a few banks offer cash rebate when you spend at any outlets, especially on petrol station. If you are using CIMB Petronas, UOB One or Citibank credit card, you will enjoy about 2-5% monthly cash rebate on your petrol expenses. If you calculate 2% rebate based on spending in an average of RM500 petrol a month, you will save about RM120 a year.
For credit card selection in details, you can refer to my previous post.

Cash Rebate Credit Card

3. Get a Fuel Efficient Car
You are paying a lot more if you driving a high CC car and it's not fuel efficient. It's worth and try to change a fuel efficient or lower CC car for long term saving (not for rich guy to do so). So which type of car is consider fuel efficient? I believe some experts have done their homeworks. One of the reference web site listed 25 cars that officially achieve at least 16.74km per liter on a highway. Well, you'll see only very few of them are Malaysian made cars, it's relatively okay.

I've read a Taiwanese vehicle magazine last year, with the comparison of the hot economy cars, Honda Civic is the most fuel efficient car. Perhaps you can try it as well. Toyota VIOS is pretty okay too. But the only mistake is, both of them are selling with automatic gear in Malaysia.

Another good thing is, if your car is under 2,000cc, you're also entitle to get a cash rebate of RM625 a year from gov. So with the combination of #1 + #2 + RM625, you can save about RM833.80 per year! Meaning you can enjoy pump up to RM171 per month, without having to pay more with the new petrol price. But, for diesel car, I can only shake my head.

4. Obtain Last Drops
There is still a little flow of petrol after the petrol pump reached what you paid for. So don't let the worker pump the petrol for you, just pump it yourself for the sack of petrol saving. When you take your hand off the lever, give the pump quite a few seconds to let all the petrol flow out, you can even turn the lever around to get every last drop. I used to do that, it's really quite a few drops, especially diesel. This will ensure you get all petrol you pay for, and also stop it to splash to your car or clothes when put the nozzle back.

5. Right Time to Pump
It is advisable to pump your petrol under cold temperature, either in the morning or evening. This is because Petrololine becomes denser in colder temperatures. Petrol pumps measure the volume of fuel you pump, not the actual density. If you fill up your petrol tank in the coolest condition, you will get better petrol price economy. I started to practice about this for a couple of months, and seems it makes a slight difference.

6. General Driving
Perhaps you already know, the way you drive affects how often you have to fill up. You can take note of the followings:

a) Avoid high speed - If you manage to cut your average speed from 110km to around 80km, you will save about 25% petrol consumption, especially auto. You can try. I normally maintain my speed at 70km with 5th gear rolling.

b) Smooth driving - Avoid sudden acceleration or brake, plan for your traffic ahead.

c) Use the right gear - No one is rolling 3rd gear with 90km on the highway, that's pain.

d) Close your window - Close them will allow your car be more aerodynamic, if you insist open , it will causes significant drag which increases fuel consumption.

7. Maintain Your Tyres
Tyres might costing more petrol consumption if you are not maintaining them.

a) Pump tyres - Under inflated tyres increase resistance to your car, and it burns more petrol for your car to move. Check your car manual or driver's glove compartment door for recommended pressure. It's free and it able to instantly improve your fuel consumption. Anyway, pressures should be checked cold, as there is an increase when the tyre has warmed up after being driven.

b) Use thinner tyres - Thicker tyres have more resistance and more fuel consumption. Fitting thinner tyres will improve your fuel consumption. If possible, don't change your car's factory default tyres size, or else you can just get advise from the garage. I never change my rim and tyre size of my car, perhaps i'm stingy on them, haha.

8. Wheel Alignment
If your discover your car tyres appear to be unevenly worn, or your car steeling is not balance when you driving, most probably the wheels need to be realigned. Improper alignment affects the handling of your car and again, increases fuel consumption. It shouldn't be expensive for normal car and the range is about RM25-45 depends on area.

Make sure the mechanic adjust them down to 0.00-0.01 for best practice.

It is advisable to check it every 4 months or 10,000km. But it also depends on how you use your car. i.e. frequent outstation, see hole hit hole etc. I hit about 10 holes a week in average, due to the poor road condition around my living place.

9. Car Maintenance
Know how to maintain your car is always important and sometimes it's just not about fuel saving.

a) Motor oil - Using clean oil can reduces the wear caused by friction of moving engine parts, helps to improve fuel consumption. Your motor oil should be keep track and changed on time, based on usage or period. Ideally should be change every 4,500km or every 5-6 months. It can last longer if you using semi or full-synthetic oil. You can even service yourself by saving labour fee of RM6-10, and motor oil & oil filter of RM10-30, as it is very easy to do so. If possible, stick to your car brand motor oil to avoid performance issue.

b) Air filter - Clogged air filter did increase fuel consumption by restricting airflow to the engine and it should be cleaned or replaced when necessary. Normal air filter won't be expensive. Cleaned air filters able to increase fuel consumption by up to 10%.

Air filter

10. No Air-con
We used to enjoy air-conditioning before this. But it does increase our petrol consumption, by as much as 10%! When the weather is cool or perhaps we only can practice it between 6pm - 7am, you can try to have the fans on cool, instead of having the air-con on, or turn the window down slightly. If you still feel warm, then just on the air-con!

11. Make your Car Lose Weight
Is your sport shoes, water bottles, shirts, underwears, magazines & books, rubbishes are still left inside your car? How about roof rack and kits?

The heavier your car is, the more fuel it consumes. So please slim it down today and start to save some bucks. Hey, if you try to remove your audio system is still consider okay, please don't remove your spare tyre and car back seats, people will laugh at you later.

Hey, what if, may be put off some weights from you will helps too? Just kidding.

12. Try Fuel Booster
Most of the fuel booster claimed that they able to save your petrol consumption aggressively, like VNET claimed it can save up to 25%, where 88db just claimed that it able to save petrol. May be they are hot cake, but I don't know because I never try it. I asked one of my ex-colleagues, he said no difference after using it (local x-brand). If you have tried any and confirm it is efficient, please kindly recommend to us here.
Please make sure you are not the one sell fuel booster!

13. Avoid Engine Idle
Idling your engine more than a minute consumes much more fuel than restarting the engine. So you can try minimizing petrol wasted in idling by stopping the engine first, if you plan to stay more than a minute.

14. Reduce Trips to Petrol Station
You can try reduce your trip to petrol station, by pumping full tank every time you visit it. It's worth because you won't waste your petrol and time to wait and park at the pump, and restart your engine. You can calculate the extra miles you spend and drive in and out from the petrol station.

Your should also keep a small notebook and pen in your car, to record your petrol purchases and mileage between filling up. If you get in the habit of know exactly how much you spend on petrol, you'll become more conscious of how much you are spending.

15. Make Payment Online
With the advent of the Internet banking launched by most of the banks, you can pay almost all your bills, credit card and do bank transfer online. Even online stock market and unit trust investment are available now. This wonderful system does save us a lot of petrol, energy and time, and it's free! So we should make fully use of it. :)

Except that if you want to withdraw your money, or someone owe you money who doesn't want to bank in to your account.

16. Take Wiser Route
Avoid rough, longer, many traffic lights and traffic jam roads. Listen to radio before you go out (not applicable to Sarawakian & Sabahan). Take the wise route to save your petrol.

17. Other Alternatives
You may look for other alternatives when you unable to save much on your car.

a) You may try car pool with your colleagues living within the same housing area, brother and sister etc. It saves a lot.

b) Switch to public transport like commuter, LRT or bus. But I think you don't use to it right. Government should invest more on public transport to make it better and integrated.

c) Motorbike might able to save much, but it has it's level of danger, and Malaysia weather is hot, not worth it yet. It goes the same to bicycle.

18. Stay at Home
Cut down your social life and entertainment outside.
Start a blog now and spend some time to manage it, like me xp.
Or you can do something else at home, like watching TV, listening to radio, play video/online/computer games, read newspaper/magazines/books/blogs, surfing, make loves, educate your children, care about your parents/grandparents, play with your pets, cleanup your house/car, do works leftover from office, exercise, resting etc etc. There's too many of them you can do at home.
It sounds pain for some of us, don't worry, actually we can get more income to cover the hiked fuel price. This sound more simple right.

That's about it. Hope it helps and works for you.
Do recommend if you have any good idea for us.