Bankin’ on Your Phone: Is GXBank the Future of Malaysian Finance?

Hello Grasshoppa, In 2022, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) unleashed five digital bank licenses like hungry tigers into the financial jungle. One of those tigers, GXBank, just roared to life last September, and let me tell you, it’s gonna change the game. I have recently seen the news on the launch & after seeing it multiple […]

Navigating Investment Waters: A Comprehensive Guide to Building a Diversified Portfolio

Hello Grasshoppa, In the ever-evolving landscape of financial markets, successful investors are those who strategically navigate the complexities of investment options. Building a diversified portfolio is a key principle for achieving long-term financial goals while mitigating risk. In this article, we will explore the importance of diversification and provide practical insights on how to construct […]

Exploring New Horizons, Cultures, and BJJ Adventures

Hello Grasshoppa, One of my life goals is to travel the world and explore new countries. In 2023, I managed to visit two new countries, a departure from my usual travel routine of returning to Thailand annually for my comfort zone trip. Despite revisiting Thailand in 2023, I made a personal commitment to explore countries […]

The Psychology of Spending: Why We Buy What We Don’t Need

Hello Grasshoppa, Have you ever splurged on something & wondered later, “Why did I buy this?” It turns out that our spending habits are deeply tied to psychology—driven by emotions, marketing tricks, & societal norms. Let me walk you through how these forces work & how to take control of your spending. 1. Emotional Spending […]

2023 In Review & Aspirations For 2024

Hello Grasshoppa, 2023 has passed, and now we find ourselves at the beginning of 2024, where many of us are setting our New Year resolutions. It’s always good to have resolutions, but sticking to them is more important to ensure we can achieve what we’ve planned. There’s something I often share with my loved ones […]

9 Ways To Take Control Of Your Finances Immediately

Hello Grasshoppa, I often hear people talking about how hard it is to take control of their finances as they don’t know where to begin. Handling their finances can be too complicated which leads to multiple rash decisions made by them which can be right or wrong. For some, they drown themselves in debt & […]

Navigating Malaysia’s Retirement Dilemma and Building a Secure Future

Hello Grasshoppa, Recently, the Malaysian government has stated that Malaysians need to have at least RM240,000 in savings when they reach 55 years old. This will allow them to have RM1,000 for the next 20 years until age 75 based on the average Malaysian lifespan. Based on that article, Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim has also stated […]

Why I Prefer Online Shopping Over In-Store Purchases

Hello Grasshoppa, As I examine my recent shopping patterns, I’ve noticed a gradual shift from in-store shopping to online shopping over the years. I can’t recall my last local in-store purchase because, for local shopping, I have completely transitioned to online channels. I only resort to in-store purchases when I’m traveling. When I began to […]

Status & Wealth. Which Is More Important?

Hello Grasshoppa, I recently came across a social media post discussing the difference between Status Symbols and Wealth Symbols. This post prompted me to reflect on today’s society and the significance these symbols hold for many people. I also took the opportunity to introspect about my lifestyle. Below, I’ll explain what each set of symbols […]

My Take On The Current State Of Digital Payments In Malaysia

Hello Grasshoppa, We are currently living in a state where the majority of our payments are made through e-wallets, particularly the Touch’nGo (TNG) e-wallet. Even when we dine at hawker stalls, we can easily pay for our meals using TNG. I can’t remember the last time I withdrew cash from my bank account; however, there […]