Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by davewave

Living with one salary

davewave — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 16:28:10 +0800

Dear Spouses,

Are one of you a stay-at-home parent or spouse?
When both of you decided on this, what were the most important changes to your lives?
What was the biggest challenge? Was it finance?

(For me and my wife, currently our biggest challenge may be finance. No, she has to stay-at-home: many reasons. If you could give advice on how you managed your finances, I would really appreciate it too.)

Thank you, kind people.

Note: I apologise if you send me a post and I don't reply immediately. But I shall certainly reply when I can. I may see your post only tonight or tomorrow. I'm very sorry. Thank you so much.

Sole breadwinner: what insurance necessary?

davewave — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 16:20:58 +0800

We are a family of two. Children may be coming soon.
After considering many things, we decided that it was best for one to stay at home, at least for a while, due to personal circumstances.
Debts are fortunately limited - only PTPTN and car loan. But salary is also(in tandem with decision) a bit more limited than before.
Fixed expenses only include the basics - phone, internet, rent (gave up on buying).
Our insurance premiums seem to be our largest expense.

I'm thinking maybe cut down to cheaper insurance. Like maybe cut car insurance.
But.. should we cut insurance for the stay-at-home spouse?
Or maybe there is a plan that is cheaper?
I suddenly realise this is too much uncharted territory.
Taken money too much for granted I guess.

Thank you so much for your kind advice.

Note: May be online only in another day's time. Apologies for the inconvenience.

Networking & Events for Entrepreneurs

davewave — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 14:28:05 +0800

Dear Forum-ers,
Have you heard of an active organisation for helping entrepreneurs succeed?
Are there Angel Investors organising such meetups?
How do I access these groups?
Thank you.

What gives the best Broadband in Msia?

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 07:30:00 +0800

What gives the best Broadband in Msia?

davewave — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 16:29:58 +0800

Hi,
I got Unify before and it was the fastest without a limit (I think?). Now I think they've put up a limit over downloads. So that's left me thinking about what next - Streamyx?
What do you think?

Brushing up WebDesign skills

davewave — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 16:20:35 +0800

Hi,
If I'd like to be a better designer. I've only done basic HTML, PHP, Javascript.
Then Python has been my analytical tool (not sure if it works for web design).
I want to design better websites.

Should I get a job with a web-design company?
Or should I go for classes and internships?
Do projects for free?

Would you have any suggestions as for what may be best?

Anyone heard of Python or R?

davewave — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 15:54:33 +0800

Looked the Data business up and saw that Python and R are pretty much the lingua franca.
But... Do we do this in Malaysia?
Is there a market for Python or R skills in Malaysia?

Forum for writers?

davewave — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 17:05:21 +0800

Dear LowYat,

I've browsed through but can't seem to find one. Do they exist? Thanks.

Work in KL city, but want quiet home

davewave — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 16:53:36 +0800

Hi, I've been looking for a place to rent that's away from KL city, but still relatively accessible by either car or train. What areas may be best? Been in Serdang, still looking.
Just want to have a less 'city feel' everytime get home.

Individual wealth preservation(protecting value)

davewave — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 18:19:09 +0800

~2008 Ringgit was high. It was pretty cool. Went to UK at a fraction of the cost of what it used to be. Cheap developed markets investments. Warren Buffet ruled.
~ now: Ringgit low. Suffer. Income not likely to increase(?). Overseas trip cost more. Bleak near future(?).

What to do? Is transferring investments overseas the best thing to do? Save more? Any threads already discussing?
Looks like economic depression for a pretty long period to me.

Help!- Autocount what?

davewave — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 14:43:29 +0800

Hi, not sure if this is the right forum... sorry if it's a bit out-of-topic.

Recently bumped into an accounting software: AutoCount. Their website: http://www.autocountsoft.com/

Their site forum's dead. Can't seem to find much technical support online.
Got me curious. Are they popular, or really unpopular? Advisable to use?

Thanks..

C or C++?

davewave — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 21:14:14 +0800

I've been learning C programming lately. So I thought to look up forum.lowyat and see if there would be a forum for that.
But seems that it's C++ here. Made me think... Is it because we should be learning C++ before it gets useful?

Free investment analysis data/screens

davewave — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 21:11:07 +0800

In Google Finance, there's something called a Stock Screener. It filters out the entire NYSE either by market cap, NTA, PE, 52-week low/change, etc.
Do we have something similar for Bursa?
Only know that Yahoo has got downloadable .csv, but sometimes with bad prices (not usable).
OSK used to have research links with stock screening, not sure if they still do that.
What (affordable, easy-to-use) sources might there be for the everyday personal investor?

Tenant practices in Penang

davewave — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 02:33:17 +0800

Thinking about what happens when a property is rented in Penang. Is there a contract? What deposits are taken? If condo, are separate deposits taken for maintenance, car park, etc.?

seeking to rent Penang, SMJK ChungHwa

davewave — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 18:33:24 +0800

Couple moving to Penang, and looking for (preferably) convenience to SMJK ChungHwa.
Seeking to rent for <RM700 (reasonable?). Will consider alternatives.
Heard rent could be expensive, will consider flat.

Insurance for Childbirth?

davewave — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 00:26:54 +0800

Come to think of it, does insurance cover the medical expenses for childbirth?

Data Science, Data Art, whatever you call it

davewave — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 00:20:19 +0800

Seems that the stuff that some call data science is pretty big overseas. Many call them data scientists.
What about us? Do we have any?

Seeking moving services

davewave — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 18:36:39 +0800

Hi,
I'm looking for movers to help get stuff from my JB house to Penang (island).
Everything's in one room, probably fill up the back of a small truck.
Saw some online, but wondering if they are the best choice? - CHL, Crown.
Thanks so very much.

Surviving with one income

davewave — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 18:32:16 +0800

Dear Parents,
I think I speak for all if I say that we want the best for our children.
So we are considering having one of us stay at home for the children.
I think it'd be great for all of us.
But with all the economic troubles that seems to go round the world, will one income be sufficient for a family?
PS: we are yet to have our first child, but are trying to anticipate the many issues that could come with it.
Thanks so very much.

Highest %return investment possible for Malaysians

davewave — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 18:36:35 +0800

Hi! I'm not a big-time investor, but have been studying the topic with a lot of interest.
It's been bothering me for a while: what is the highest sustainable rate of return for Malaysians?
I think we get on average:
FD ~ 3% p.a.
REITS ~ 6%
Mutual Funds ~ 6-10%

...but it is said people like Warren Buffet get ~20%p.a.
Does it mean, just invest in USA?
Thanks~