Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by Syracuse

Investment options for newbie mini-investors

Syracuse — Mon, 03 May 2021 14:48:26 +0800

Hi all,

I have a small amount of money (say, RM20000) that I've been keeping in fixed deposit account for many years. While FD are essentially risk-free, with OPR being at all-time-low, I'm keen to seek for alternative investment avenues that offer better potential return (with reasonable investment risks). I don't think I'll need this amount of money in near future (say, next 5 years), so I'm ready to "set-and-forget" this amount of money. The only thing holding me back so far is my lack of familiarity / experience in investment.

Unlike the pros and sifus on Lowyat, I'm a newbie in investment, with very minimal knowledge on investment / stock market, and I don't think I'll be able to dedicate large amount of time to study the current market trends to help me make decisions on investment. Are robo-advisors like Stashaway good options for me to look into, or are there better alternative I should explore?

Doctor: "Ikut Suka Hati Mak Bapak Dia"

Syracuse — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 13:59:56 +0800

Image taken from Facebook, posted by user "Sam" earlier today.

Context: The user claimed that this was written by a doctor in Kulai. A elderly patient went for follow up one day earlier than scheduled.

"TCA 4/12" probably means the next check up is 4 months later, but the doctor wrote "date ikut suka hati mak bapak dia" in the record.

Not blaming either party here, but things like this can turn sour if left unaddressed.

How do you start your workouts in gyms?

Syracuse — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 15:26:08 +0800

Hi all,

25 year old male here, aiming just to be slightly more active, and slightly less (skinny)fat. I've been working out at home with some basic bodyweight exercises (which I sometimes do half-heartedly).

I have recently been advised to start considering to go to gyms nearby. I don't really have a gym partner, so I'm quite hesitant to go to a commercial gym to use the equipment there. Having never been to a gym before, I don't even know what to expect, or what to do in a gym. Do you usually work out alone and ignore everyone else? Do you ask strangers for help as spotters? Do you give / take advice from other gym users?
How do you usually begin the gym session? Enter the gym door and head directly towards the treadmill / weights? Do you need to shower first or something? (I used to participate in competitive swimming before, and we must shower before entering pools) Where do you keep your belongings? What do you usually wear, and what do you usually carry with you? Towel? Phone / MP3? Water? Food? Cash?

How long so you spend in the gym? How long do you spend on each workout? Do you follow any workout regimen? What happens if someone is occupying the machine you wanted to use, or if you are using a machine someone is waiting for? Is there a "booking" or "reservation" system for gym equipment? When you decide you are done for the day, do you usually shower before you leave? How awkward is it to use the shower? (My experiences with showers in swimming pools are either very good, with private stalls for people to shower separately; or downright horrible with showerheads placed in open places where everything is in your direct line of sight, including the old "uncle" who is blow-drying his balls)

I'm a little anxious around strangers, so that makes me a lot more uncomfortable going to gyms, but I've been thinking I should attempt to overcome this. Sorry for the barrage of questions - I just have no idea how people usually go to gyms, and I think I should start getting myself familiarized with gyms now, and I hope I won't stick out like a sore thumb as a complete newbie in a gym when I finally go to a gym for the first time.