JoUrNaLKu.com

Some of my graduates friends from local university with bachelor’s degree tends to get their first job with the basic RM1800. Some might lucky to get as much as RM2800 and above. The above question was asked by one of my friend who, at last, got his first job with the basic RM2000 (minus KWSP = approx RM1800) at Kuala Lumpur. I am sure he is in doubt whether this is too cheap for a graduate, but please my friends (and also some reader’s out there ended up here), be grateful and see this as an opportunity for you to gain experience as you grow up through your career path. There are a lot of people that still doesn’t got/lost their job in this economic downturn era.

So I answered his question based on my experienced, yup, faithfully. This actually might helped him to get an idea for his spending/budgeting. Money is about how actually you manage it - spending and saving.

Here it goes:

1. Room Rent (+ Electricity + Water + Internet + Guard) = RM250 (max)

This is an approximation only. I live in a flat at Damansara and share the house with my friends. This situation maybe different for those who has own family. We, bachelors, share the house rent (it is RM500) and everything related to it. The payout may vary and based on monthly bill but the maximum bill as stated above.

2. Telephone Bill = RM100

I am using maxis phoneline with RM50 as monthly commitment and also I have one family line assigned to my mom and that cost only RM30. So every months bill will be approximately RM100.

3. Insurance = RM100

I also signup for one insurance plan that is Takaful Ikhlas Family with RM100 for monthly commitment. So every month the amount need to pay is fixed one hundred ringgit.

4. PTPTN loan = RM50

Yup, I know this is quiet cheap. Don’t forget to pay what you owe dear. Supposed to be at least RM100 per months, but this is considerable as you are still new and just get your first work. As long as you pay them continously, I think they will have no problem with that. (Actually I was a JPA scholarship holder, and owe PTPTN approximately RM6000 only.)

5. Money for your family = RM200

Thanks to your mom and dad for their effort to give you better education and better life. Although this is not compulsory, but please, send them some money. Show them that you appreciate them very much and this is not about how much money you can give actually. Yup, seriously this is about what the muslims called ‘barakah’ or ‘berkat’ in Malay, (or fortune in English?). (P/S:Thank you mom and dad..)

6. Your saving = RM200

Now it is time for you to think for your own saving. Start with something small and ended up with something big.. I would suggest you save minimum 10% of your salary every months. Although you already have SOCSO or KWSP and Insurance, you still need to save something for your future. This is your own saving. Think of the moment someday something might happen and you already have some money to cover it.

7. Spending time = Let see, RM1800 - RM900(total above)…

You got RM900 to spend for the months. Hehe.. Lucky to be single rite. Well that is from me. (You might want to add up some more e.g. you have installment plan for your motorcycle for RM200.) Remember, this include your daily meals, daily transportation, and monthly leisure n development. I called it ‘monthly leisure and development’ because there might be something you want to buy for each months. Whether it is new shirts, new furniture, hanging out with your friends, vehicle road tax, repair and service for anything, and have a vacation somewhere.

So guys, relax, just gain your experience to filled up your resumes, and enjoy living in Kuala Lumpur! Ah.. also don’t forget to PRAY 5 times a day! Thanks to Him for giving the ‘rezeki’ for us. May we got His blessing.