Gratitude52 Week #4: Raving About Real Estate

When I was 25, I bought the house that I grew up in from my parents. It was probably the scariest thing I ever did. I remember the loan officer looking quite amused because I read every.single.word in the loan agreement before I even signed a single page. He said that he had never seen a customer do that in his entire career. Little did he know that I was scared shitless that I would be signing my life away with this purchase.

I bought it partly to reduce the burden of paying two mortgages on my parents (they already moved to a new place at that time), and also because I thought I was ready to settle down and start a family. It was also because I didn't know any other reliable method to invest what little money I had. I still don't.

Turns out, Life had other plans for me. The long-term relationship I was in had died, while I was stuck with a house I bought for a life that I didn't even have. Hmmm.

It isn't easy owning a property on a single income, particularly when your income is just a bag of peanuts. My hometown had and still has lower than the national salary average, so I didn't make much at that time. Being an impressionable young adult, I did feel envious of friends who could go shopping and travelling while I had to set aside a third of my income for my mortgage installments.  

Fast forward to five years later, the same group of friends I had envied before are now complaining about how they can't afford houses these days.

Do I feel smug? Slightly. I am, after all, just a human being.

But I do want to be grateful that I had the opportunity to purchase a house that I could afford, albeit barely, and that the opportunity proved to be a wise decision. I was fortunate that my parents didn't care much about profits when they sold the house to me. I was also unbelievably lucky that the bank approved my home loan, despite me being young and unmarried.

The area where my house is located is booming now, with new roads and townships built nearby, and if I were to sell it today, I could probably net a little profit. My house is my nest egg, for times when I need a lot of money (e.g. start a business or continue my studies). I wouldn't recommend selling your house to finance your wedding though. A wedding is not an investment. Your marriage is.

Most people think of properties as a way to invest, but not many realise that owning a property will cost you more than just paying off the loan installments. You'll need to pay local property tax every year, and you also need to pay to maintain the house in a good condition. Electrical wirings have to be checked and/or replaced every ten years, for example. But it is worth it, especially if you can double or even triple your initial investment in just a few years' time.

Interest rates are low right now compared to five years before, at least in my bank. My loan has 4.75% interest (BLR was 6.75% at the time of the purchase) while these days, most banks offer 4.2% (current BLR is 6.6%). 

So if you're asking my opinion about the right time to buy, the time is NOW.

The Geek Goddess

P/S: Please consult your financial consultants or institutions before investing in anything. This post only serves as an opinion piece and cannot be used to support your decision to invest. I will not be held liable for any losses you may incur after reading this blog.

(Review) Stuff I Swear By: Collagen Supplement

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Yes, kittens, here's yet another Stuff I Swear By post.

When I started uni, I had the worst acne known to men (ok I'm obviously exaggerating here but it was horrendous!) and my mum marched me down to a skin specialist for a prescription of antibiotics, retin-A gel, and a liquid cleanser. 

Three years later, I graduated with much less acne but the scars remain. When I started working, I stopped my acne treatment regimen because I hate swallowing pills, I was lazy and the liquid cleanser dried out my hands. Frequent work travels also made it quite hard to stick to the routine.

A home beautician I once met told me I only need a facial scrub to get rid of the scars. Maybe she uses an industrial grade one because the ones I've bought from drug stores did nothing for me.

The worst thing is, I used to cover the scars with two layers of foundation every single day. Needless to say, my thick foundation resulted in clogged pores and yeah, you guessed it...MORE ACNE.

So when my old friend Vivi, a medical scientist, shared that her V&N Pure Marine Collagen Powder could help with acne scars, I bought a bottle immediately!

V&N Pure Marine Collagen Powder

As for usage, Vivi recommended that I sprinkle it in cold drinks and also use it as my moisturiser. 

In just two months, I noticed less hair fall and a fairer, smoother skin (I have two comparison photos in my phone, but I am too shy to show my mugshot here hahaha). 

The most wonderful thing about this powder is that it really mattifies my oily skin. I kid you not. During my pre-collagen days, my foundation would start to rub off around 10 am, even when I stayed indoors. With this powder, my foundation stayed on until around 4 pm, provided I don't go out in the hot sun and sweat buckets.

Since it helps with joint pains, I decided to buy a bottle for my mum. She said that it reduces her joint pains, so much so that she no longer takes glucosamine and chrondoitin supplements from the pharmacy.

There are so many collagen supplements sold in the market, but I believe in V&N Pure Marine Collagen Powder for three reasons:

• Vivi had acne problems before but her skin is smooth now
• As a medical scientist, she did her due diligence before deciding to sell this product
• At RM60 per bottle, it is a great value for money as a bottle can last you for a month

However, this product only works IF you are willing to invest the time and effort to consume and apply it. 

For consumption, you will need to sprinkle the powder in a flavoured cold drink. I say flavoured as the powder has a fishy smell that you need to mask, or you won't be able to stomach it. I usually use Sunquick fruit juice concentrate.

As for facial application, you will need to dilute a pinch of the powder on your palm before you can use it. A pinch is enough as too much powder will result in a powdery residue on your face when it has dried off. If you use too much your face will smell fishy as well (you can say goodbye to ever being kissed by your kid or your partner if this happens hahaha).

Anyway, if you're interested to purchase V&N Pure Marine Collagen Powder, just head on over to Vivi's blog or send her an e-mail to order now!

The Geek Goddess

(Review) Stuff I Swear By: Facial Moisturiser

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My face is super oily, perhaps because my daily diet usually includes at least one fried dish (typical Malaysian trait, tsk tsk).

I don't know about you, but for me it's been pretty hard find an affordable moisturiser for oily skin that absorbs easily, and does not feel sticky on your face. 

Which brings me to the next item in the Stuff I Swear By series: my favourite moisturiser.

Follow Me Oil Control + Whitening Mattifying Moisturiser

A few years ago, Mrs Plain Jane and I entered a Follow Me contest online and won a few Follow Me products. One of them is the Oil Control + Whitening Mattifying Moisturiser.

It has a gel-like consistency and absorbs easily. The first time I used it, I remember feeling so relieved that it didn't feel sticky like a lot of oil control moisturisers that I have tried before. As for its whitening properties, my face did get slightly fairer and I had to switch my foundation shade to one shade lighter.

Unfortunately it did nothing to mattify my oily skin. Nada. 

But all is not lost. I did eventually find something that really helped to control my oiliness. Stay tuned for my next Stuff I Swear By series to find out!

The Geek Goddess