The long school holiday has come to an end. Ee did his last-minute packing yesterday. He just got back from Umrah with his dad. I couldn’t take leave due to ‘kepentingan perkhidmatan’. So, maybe next time. They went to Turkey after Umrah and enjoyed the snow.
At KPPN, his fees are RM2095 with an additional RM100 for PIBG. Mr Husband and Ee departed early this morning because they did not want to be caught up in traffic. This year, he has different dormmates. I just hope they get along. One of his dormmates brought a cat plushie. That’s cute. So, I think Ee will be fine. Ee was the second student to arrive at the dorm. Hence, he gets to choose his bed and table. Mr Husband helped him with the luggage and the carpet in the room. Then, they left for an early lunch.
As usual, my advice to Ee is ‘jangan lupa hantar buku outing’ and ‘minum air putih’.
Khatam Quran, meaning the completion of the recitation of the Holy Quran, is a significant milestone for many Muslims. This act signifies not just the finishing of the Quran but also a spiritual journey filled with reflection and devotion. Many aim to complete the Quran during the month of Ramadan, engaging in daily recitation to deepen their connection with Allah and to gain a better understanding of Islamic teachings. The completion is often met with joy and gratitude, as it represents a personal achievement in one’s spiritual growth.
The celebration of the Khatam Quran typically includes communal gatherings, where family and friends come together to honour this sacred accomplishment. These gatherings often involve collective prayers, the recitation of verses, and heartfelt supplications, known as du’as, during which individuals seek blessings and guidance. Additionally, it is common to perform acts of charity, embodying the values of generosity and community spirit that are emphasised in Islam. Through such celebrations, Khatam Quran not only strengthens individual faith but also fosters a sense of unity and shared purpose within the community.
Haneem had her ceremony recently. It was planned by Mr Husband and his side of the family. Haneem said she was nervous but braved on. She has been practising her recitations with her cousin, who also Khatam Quran for the past few weeks during the school holidays.
On the day itself, both of them recited the Quran in front of the imam. Then, everyone had a meal. My MIL ordered some catering. Mr Husband and his siblings prepared the goodie bag. Haneem and her cousin received monetary gifts from guests. It is not compulsory but the kids obviously loved them. Haneem received RM230 in total and requested all of it to be placed inside her Tabung Haji account. Bless her heart.
People decide to resign early for various reasons. Maybe you could tell me why.
I think for me, it’s simply that I do not want to chase or achieve everything. I am content with having less of the stress I am facing right now. I do not have to care about everybody. I do not need to give advice to people who wouldn’t listen. I am prepared to eat less. I can buy fewer clothes, fewer books, and less store-bought coffee. Above all, I just want to keep myself busy by caring for my house, my family and my well-being. On second thought, maybe I am just not into primary care. I remember wanting to study psychology because it keeps my stress at bay work-wise. Now that I have completed my Final Year Project (FYP), I have more time to read and consolidate my knowledge in psychology.
Having the aim of an early retirement in mind, I need to keep my finances in check—just enough to keep me afloat until I receive my pension funds. At the same time, I’m learning to live and enjoy life beneath my means. That means less browsing on Shopee. More importantly, I am aiming to shrink my liabilities percentage. It seems that the general advice is to have a percentage between 30% to 35%. After the full settlement of my car loan, the percentage stands at 32%. I decided to take it one step further by terminating my ASBF loan.
No doubt I have reaped the benefits of securing a handsome amount of dividends over the past 12 years with the loan. However, considering a bigger goal in mind to settle my housing loan, I believe terminating my ASBF is a considerable option. After all, I will still be getting my Surrender Value (SV). I could use that SV money to pay the principal of my mortgage. If my calculation is correct and I am still alive by then, I should be able to clear my house loan by 2027.
Terminating my ASBF was easy. All I had to do was walk into my nearest banking branch with my MyKad. There were a few forms to fill in but the process was pretty straightforward. Now it’s the waiting game. Let’s keep ourselves posted on how long it will take for my SV money to be wired into my account.
My daughter is fine. She is not bored. She can survive without having her mobile phone at her grandmother’s house. Stop imposing your own boredom and lack of enthusiasm to connect with other people on her.
It takes effort to build and maintain a meaningful relationship. The moment you decide that the connection is not worth your time, that is when the bridge crumbles and falls down.
I am blessed to have a younger sister that is always in a high spirit to keep everyone in the loop. Otherwise, we’d be one of those families that only meet during Raya. Or a death in the family.
Minci Moss 