Money crunch - Making Every Ringgit Count - Part 1

"Our moral economy went bankrupt long before our financial one..." ~ Steve Maraboli

In the name of Allah s.w.t., the Benevolent, the Most Merciful.

Hello readers.

This a reader requested post. A reader was asking me how I made the best value out of every ringgit I spend due to the ringgit crunch this year. She has been requesting for this post since June, and I am so sorry it took me so long to write this post up.

Anyway, this post is about how I get most value out of my ringgit personally. This is not a budgeting post, but more of like, you are spending anyway, so why not choose places where you can get perks out of what you are ordinarily spending anyways right? Something like that.

Okay so here goes.

1. Petrol pump cards

This is a must for me. Oil is something we must always buy anyway. So we might as well frequent petrol stations that give us perks for filing up our tanks there. 

Petronas :- Get the Mesra card, redeem the points for exciting stuff, even fuel.

Shell : - Shell uses the bonuslink card, which I just totally love! It offers tons of goods that you can redeem. And Shell has ongoing promotions at every station in respect of products. How do you check what's on offer? You just look out for signs. For instance, right now there is an offer to buy 2 bottles of any Seasons Tea beverage for RM4.00 only. 

BHP :- You collect points and redeem them with items from the petrol pump shop as well.

I have yet to have the Caltex or Petron pump cards, so if anyone can share the perks of having these cards in this post as well, that will be great. Sharing is caring.

2. Apps 

  

I have a few apps on my phone which I love that ultimately gives me a bang for my buck (*if you know what I mean* wink wink).

Manis - This app is awesome. What you do is simply this. Simply buy stuff that you would normally buy anyway. Keep the receipt. Check in the app on whether the shop you spent money at is listed. Click on the shop. Snap a photo of the receipt, and sit  back while the money you spent are converted into Manis points!

See, those are my manis points. The points can be redeemed in a variety of ways which includes even Zalora vouchers. Major value for money you will normally spend anyway! Yeay! The app is available on both the Apple store and Google Playstore

Nando's App - Airiel loves Nando's and I make a point of having a mother son lunch date with him every weekend here. Nando's have come up with an app where you get perks for every meal you buy. Just flash the app where your membership number is shown to get the points.

See, this is my membership page. I am already entitled to a quarter chicken! weheeee. I get free chickens by buying chickens which I would normally buy anyway yeay! The app is available for both the Apple store and Google Playstore.

CIMB Deals - Who has a CIMB account? If you guys do then go download the CIMB deals app. It offers a variety of discounts on selected stores and also vouchers for stuff (kind of like groupon but cheaper).

Currently there are rebates if you shop in Isetan and Melium outlet discounts as well. The app is available on both the Apple store and Google Playstore

RHB Lifestyle - This is by far my most favourite app by any bank I am a customer in. Not only does it have privileges where you get discounts at chosen places, there is also a coupon section where you can get deals for as cheap as RM1.00 (no joke). Check up on the app frequently because the 1 ringgit deals sell out quick. Just choose the coupon you want to buy and it will be deducted from your RHB account/card automatically,

The app is available both on the Apple store and Google Playstore

MOLTI - This app is pretty new and is only limited to 2 malls at the moment. The app will list malls participating and the retailers in on it as well.

The deal going on at Citta Mall at the moment is so beneficial to me. I go there everyday to buy my daily coffee fix and for Molti members, Dr. Cafe gives a 13% discount on all purchases from the store. Value for what I buy daily, yeay! The app is available on both the Apple store and Google Playstore

Smart Shopper - This is app is awesome because it makes a comparison for the prices of goods and showcases where you can find the lowest price for a particular product you intend on buying.

You can also contribute to the smart shopper community by putting in the price of a particular product and where you bought it.

This can eventually help you plan your shopping trip. You can head out to the location where you can find the best price of stuff.  The app is available on both the Apple store and Google Playstore

MyKad Smart Shopper - I did not know this app until recently. Apparently you get discounts and points at participating outlets just by flashing your IC.

Enable your location services to find places that participate. Flash your IC when you are there. Get offers like for instance, this Qnails & Waxing salon offers 5% discounts on treatments. And on top of your discount you get points for every ringgit you spend. The points can be redeemed for products offered by Mykad Smart Shopper. Register as a member here.The app is also available on both the Apple store and Google Playstore.

Alright readers/friends, this is the end of Part 1. Will continue on other exciting ways in which we can get more value for every ringgit spent.

If you guys are aware of any other applications in addition to the above, please let me know so I can share it for the benefit of everyone.

Much love from Airiel and I.

Peace and love to everyone.

Weekie - Ambassador Row Hotel Suites by Lanson Place

"She wasn't where she had been. She wasn't where she was going, but she was on her way..." ~ Jodi Hills

Another travel update which is long overdue actually.

One of my weekie trips before Bali.

The family chose Ambassador Row Hotel Suites by Lanson Place.

Such a huge kitchenette..

Nice seating area..

A nice flat screen in the living/seating area.

My comfy bed

Another tv in the bedroom

 The nice spacious bathroom, toiletries and the shower...

Pros:-

1. Location close to KLCC and can walk to nearby restaurants;;

2. Rooms were huge and spacious

3. Wifi was exceptionally fast

Cons:-

1. Check in and out is the slowest ever!. Took me hours and hours to check in for 5 rooms. Only 2 personnel on hand

2. Breakfast was abysmal. Food choices are extremely limited. By the time I reached downstairs,  the nasi lemak was finished and it was unfortunately never replenished.

I made my booking through agoda and my review is in there somewhere.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Much love from Airiel and I.

Peace and love to everyone.

Villa Rhonda, Seminyak

"Every step begins a journey, and this one is for us.." ~ Erin Hunter

In the name of Allah, the Benevolent, the Most Merciful...

I am updating you guys on where I stayed this time in Bali.

It was still in the same area, Seminyak as well just like last year, but we decided to go for a different villa.

We stayed at Villa Rhonda.

The awesome pool which I would hang out by if I wasn't out sightseeing. This includes night time until early morning (yes, I am nuts like that)

This romantic daybed. It was creaky so I did not sit on it much (a LOT of action must have happened on this daybed if you know what I mean)

 This awesome metal old suitcases were used as cabinet space in the bathroom. Such a cool concept

The entrance door to my villa

An open concept, the living area, dining table and kitchen was situated outside and had an awesome flat screen 

Cabinet area in the living area

 

This is the main bedroom with an attached bathroom. My room of course. 

My cabinet area in my room

 The funky dining table

Outside living area

The awesome living room table. Cut from a single tree

 

The master bedroom comes with a jacuzzi which I didn't use much because I was hanging out by the pool so much

This is the 2nd bathroom with an open concept. No roof and the shower and sink was outside

What a view  during sunset...

Yoga practising spot...beautiful

 This is what the villa looks like...

This villa has 3 rooms but Airiel's Bonda and I only occupied 2. There was another loft room which we never bothered going up to because we were too lazy to take the stairs up. I also wanted to take pictures of the 2nd bedroom but Airiel's bonda made a mess of the place before I could take pics. Cehh

I made the reservation by way of booking.com and my review of the place is somewhere there.

We had a housekeeper Kadek who made breakfast for us and took care of the place. She was awesome.

Note that for most Bali villas, although you make a booking using a website, they dont take credit card payments but would ask you payment in cash.

I loved the villa and the area, nice and quiet.

The link to Villa Rhonda in booking.com is here.

Until the next update!

Much love from Airiel and I. 

Peace and love to everyone.