Spend Smart during Hari Raya

For every festive season such as hari raya, I always worries financially. I have a mindset that a lot of money will be spent during hari raya. I guess living in a society and environment where people tend to throw away their money for the sake of celebrating holidays, tend to set my mind to follow.

This year hari raya is particularly special because this is the first hari raya that I am very much embedded with my microfinancing budget practice. Worring that I might overspend during this time, I set up a special budget for hari raya at the start up of Ramadan which 1 month ahead.

I set a budget of $400 for any hari raya expenditure. Looking at my current money flow, this $400 is something that I will be able to manage and will not be burdening me after hari raya.

Extra money for hari raya
My first spending is to join an affiliate that makes money for selling e-book. This is not really within my plan, but the affiliate scheme is so interesting since it is a quick way to make some money within the month of Ramadan. It only take me less than 15% of my hari raya budget, so it is something that I believe to be manageable. Joining the affiliate and proceed to promote the business through my blog and online advertisement was my activity during the 1 month countdown before hari raya.

I do not expect much on this extra money business. But, I managed to get $50 out of the 1 month business. Since I do not expect the money, I end up took the extra money and give it away at the mosque during the raya prayer.

Home make-over
A lot of people would spend buying new furniture, new curtain, new carpet and so on for their home. I think people believe that since they got visitors that come by their house once a year during hari raya, they will noticed that old furniture from last year hari raya. I find it strange that people have high tendency of thinking that people come to visit them to comment about their house and that old furniture they are still keeping.

I do not see why I should be spending hack of money just to impress others. It is my money, so why should I use it to care about other people view of my home. Of course, I like to have a new outlook of my house that look refreshed and clean so that my visitors will feel most comfortable. Arming myself with the idea that I can change the outlook of my home without spending a dime, I start to clean up 2 weeks before hari raya.

Things that I did to have a refreshing outlook in house:

• Re-arrange furniture to give an impression of something in my house was changed.
• Shift around the furniture to give more empty space. This will give an impression that my room is larger that it actually is.
• Wipe up any surface squeaky clean from dust. Since my furniture consists a lot of chrome and glass, having a dust-clean environment give it a very shiny outlook.
• Wash curtains and cushion cover. I also rotate the curtain between rooms so that each room seems to have a change on the curtain color.
• Re-arrange all the small ornament on cabinet top.
• Vacuum all over the house. Not to forget to clean the ceiling fan (the fan tend to attract dust the most) and spider web on the ceiling.
• Polish all windows.
• Mop all over my mosaic floor.
• Change air freshener to the latest aromatherapy one (this is the only thing that I actually have to spend money on)

It took me 1 week to get the whole thing done. I guess that is the period for 1 lazy person to actually have their house clean like mine. Hehe. Then, on the last week of hari raya, I give the floor another quick vacuum and mop, for the final buff. After I am done, fully satisfied with the fresh outlook and the money that I manage to avoid from using to get that fresh look.


Self make-over
Everybody also like to give themselves a new look. I think if we can strip our skin off and change to new one, we might do so during festive seasons. During previous years, preparing for hari raya means spending time in spa and saloon for facial, hair treatment, hair coloring or highlight and hair straightening. Also, I will be going shopping for new clothes, new baju kurung and new shoes. I tend to even shop for 1 set of clothing for 1st day of raya, another set for 2nd day of raya and another whole set for 3rd day of raya. Kinda funny to think that I would spend all those money just to look good when actually during hari raya, everybody tend to look their best but no one cares how others is actually look like.

I like to join the race with everybody else to look their best during hari raya. But I do not want to spend on clothing. So, I took out all my baju melayu from the past years. I tried to combine the outlook of different color on the baju melayu with different set of old samping. Then, I try to find the size that compliments my body size the best. Since my body tends to grow and shrink by years, some of the clothes are too big or too small. I finally chose 2 set of baju melayu with samping that can make me look good for the 1st day and 2nd day of raya.

I also took out my wardbrobe for my casual clothes during hari raya. To give the clothes a new look, I combined them with different pants, top in jackets, combine shirts with sleeveless, body fit clothes and some fresh white color with darker winter color. I tried all combination on myself and determine which style to wear during different day of hari raya. I also prepare some extra clothing just in case I spilled myself with rendang during making myself full with hari raya meal.

I also make my own facial. Wearing mask, face treatment, tweaking brows and face whitening well early during Ramadan. Repairing your skin is not something that can be done one night before raya. I started early so that my face look renewed during raya. Best still, everything was done at home, no need to spend on expensive spa care.

I also cut short my hair at Indian barber for only $7. Then, 1 week before raya, I tried to create new hair do at home that I can do anytime during raya. That means, to work it only with wax and gel, no hair dryer or comb. Strangely, after a few try, I managed to do spike hair (something that I never manage to do before from my wavy curly hair), giving me even a new look that never seen before.

Kuih raya
My whole spending of kuih raya was less than $100. I tend to grab a lot of keropok, tits-bits, rempeyek, tumpi, kerepek and kacang which normally cheaper but in bigger volume. Top up with a little variety of color and taste of kuih raya. Once put them into its container, I managed go fill up my tables with variety of kuih raya with a minimum spending.

Car and transportation
Another spending that I put in for hari raya preparation is on my car. Spend only $7 for a full car wash. Normally I tend to wash my cash myself, but since it is only $7, I got a team of cash washer to do it for me.

Luckily that my car maintenance is still not due for 2000km, so I do not have to spend anything on the maintenance. But if it is due, car maintenance is something that I will not think twice to spend money on, since it is for my own safety.

Even though I did not have to send my car for maintenance, the basic checklist still was done. That is including inflating my tire to the correct pressure, check my oil engine and check the coolant level. These simple checks can be done ourselves at home.

I also get myself ready with $50 value of Touch n Go so that during the hectic traffic of hari raya, I do not have wait too long queue to pay the toll. Furthermore, since the Touch n Go value can be use during any other time, the money spend there is not lost after hari raya.

Duit Raya
Duit raya is consider sedekah or charity. But some people tend to purposely put extra money for duit raya because they do not want other to think that they are a cheap person for giving a small amount of duit raya.

Since it is sedekah, any amount is alright. Give away duit raya for charity instead of for showing off. My duit raya give away budget is only around $250. I even calculated up front how much money to give those people I have plan to give duit raya. Having a budget, at least, it helps us not to over spend on duit raya. Even though it is good to give others duit raya, try not to overdo it until it burden your own budget.

So, those are my actual personal experiences during this 2009 hari raya. I started to work during on the 4th of hari raya but I am very much satisfied during the month of Ramadan and the 3 days of hari raya celebration which I manage to celebrate the festive season and at the same time, keep it within my own set budget.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Muslim a Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir Batin. Wish that everyone is safe and enjoying themselves during this festive season

Money Saving Tips

Here is one secret of successful saving: Do it! As long as you do not start today, you will never grow the habit of putting money aside for your future needs.

Put away a small amount each month. Better still, set up a standing instruction for automatic deduction so you don't have to think about it. Put the money into a savings account that rewards you with higher returns – you can check the list that I have put here on savings account.

You may consider these steps, develop the saving habit and you will soon see the pay-off. You'll see the benefit of saving as you watch your bank balance grow.

As your savings grow, you'll soon find that you may not need to use your credit card so often. In long term, you may even be able to achieve more substantial goals, such as having a deposit for your dream house.

Have a small amount deducted from your salary and deposit it directly into another saving account. As time past, your savings will grow automatically without you having to do a thing.

Why save?
In the short-term, having savings will free you from the stress of living from one payday to the next. Having some money set aside helps you deal with large bills or unexpected expenses. If you use your savings rather than borrowing money, you do not have to worry about repaying the sum you borrowed and any additional fees. On top of this your savings account may also earn a return for you. Saving for big expenses instead of using a credit card has dual benefits – you see your savings grow and you don't pay anything on the credit card.

As your savings continue to grow, you’ll be able to think beyond day-to-day expenses and would afford you larger things, like a holiday, a new i-pod or a car, without going into debt.

Set yourself a goal by setting up a standing instruction for an automatic deduction from your salary account, sit back and watch your savings grow.


How to get started? It’s as simple as 1, 2, 3 ....

No. 1 :  Set goals and determine your budget
Use your goals to motivate you. You can save for your next holiday, your wedding, a dream house or even for your retirement.

Break them down to short, medium and long-term goals.

In the medium-term, you can save larger amounts for things like a deposit for a house. As for long term, you may achieve your goal and have better options to retire. If you opt to have an option of early retirement, you may consider allocating a portion of your savings in investments that enable your fund to grow.

You can start saving now even if you haven't had time to work out a budget. Just pick a small amount to set aside from your salary each month. Some people choose a set percentage of their salary - say 5% or 10%. Others save a standard amount such as $30 or $50. It doesn't matter if you start small. The aim is to get into the saving habit now.

Request for your salary to be automatically credited into your savings account each month. This takes the work out of saving as you won't have to remember to put the money away.

A budget can help you to plan for your saving and expenses. Aim for specific goals. In the early days, keep your plan simple. For example, you may plan to have sufficient amount to pay for the big bills you get every quarter. Or you could plan for a longer term which will save you enough over a year to pay for a holiday. Use a budget to help you plan ahead.

No. 2 - Keep track of your spending
Keeping a spending record is the best way to establish your budget. Carry a notebook in which you record all your expenditure – every item, no matter how small. You’ll be surprised to find out where the money goes... cut down on the latte or cappuccino factor! Small amounts of money you spend on posh coffee or cigarettes can add up to thousands of ringgit a year. Cut back and put this money into your savings account and watch your money grow.

Check bills and keep receipts. Studies estimate that, on average, every fifth bill from the supermarket contains inaccuracies. So check every bill you get, from your mobile phone service provider to your electricity bill.

Avoid the “sale” mentality. Buying something for $100 which has a 50% tag doesn’t necessarily save you money if you don’t really need it. The point is, buy only what you need, not what you want or not what you think you can afford.

No. 3 - Where to save?
Typical savings products include savings accounts, special purpose accounts and term deposit accounts.

Savings accounts

• Allows withdrawals whenever you need to (may be subject to daily limits)
• Rates may vary
• May offer benefits (eg higher rates, reduced fees) if the balance stays above a minimum amount
• Can be useful for day-to-day transactions and short-term saving (eg for utility bills)

Fixed deposit accounts/general investment accounts

• You can't withdraw the money until the maturity of the term which ranges from 30 days to 5 years
• Higher rates than transaction accounts and the rate in fixed deposit accounts is fixed for the duration of the term. Profit is a potentially higher rate for the stipulated tenure
• Can be useful if you've saved a bit of money that you want to keep for a future goal - a term deposit account will prevent you dipping into the money sooner than you had planned and will pay more returns than a savings account

TuneTalk Prepaid Lauched

New mobile prepaid service provider was launched in Malaysia recently, TuneTalk. Trying to compete with our current Hotlink, Celcom and DiGi, TuneTalk introduce a low flat rate for call at only 22 sen per minutes and 5 sen per SMS.

They coupled their service with some basic Value-added services including Call Waiting, CLIP (Caller Line Identification Presentation), Multi Party Conferencing, Voicemail and International Direct Dial and SMS.

However, in the midst of other service providers fighting for EDGE and 3G coverage, sadly TuneTalk do not provide any service for data (not even GPRS) and thus, no MMS available too.

To cover up these disadvantages, TuneTalk offers something different from others by providing a chance to win RM200 Air-asia e-gift voucher to daily top ten spenders, free RM100,000 Personal Accident Insurance coverage and service to change your TuneTalk number anytime without having to change your SIM card.

I have updated my Simulation for Mobile Service Provider excel file with TuneTalk rate. Go ahead and simulate your current call and SMS style and see if TuneTalk is a better option for you.

KWSP Online

Perancangan persaraan amat penting untuk kita semua. Kita perlu prihatin bahawa dalam tempoh bersara, kita perlu mempunyai simpanan yang cukup untuk belanja bulanan dan juga menanggung kos perubatan kita.

Di Malaysia, kita banyak bergantung kepada Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) untuk menjamin simpanan hari tua kita. Terutamanya bagi pekerja swasta yang biasanya tiada sumbangan pencen dari majikan, KWSP mungkin satu-satunya harapan untuk menjamin tempoh persaraan kita.

Oleh sebab ini, penting juga untuk kita memantau aktiviti akaun KWSP kita. Pastikan sumbangan bulanan kita dan juga sumbangan dari majikan dimasukkan dengan betul ke dalam akaun kita. Kita juga perlu prihatin sama ada baki akaun KWSP kita cukup atau tidak untuk menampung hidup selepas bersara.

Cara paling mudah untuk memeriksa aktiviti akaun KWSP kita ialah dengan memeriksa secara online melalui i-Account. Melalui i-Account, kita dapat:

1. Melihat penyata tahun lepas
2. Melihat penyata terkini – dikemaskinikan pada aktiviti yang terbaru
3. Mencetak penyata KWSP – Hasil cetakan berformat sama seperti penyata dari majikan atau dari kaunter KWSP, jadi boleh digunakan sebagai dokumen rasmi
4. Mengemaskini profil termasuk alamat surat-menyurat, nombor telefon dan alamat e-mail.
5. Memaparkan jumlah kelayakan pengeluaran mengikut situasi-situasi yang berkenaan.

Untuk memohon i-Akaun KWSP, ikutilah langkah-langkah berikut.

Memohon i-Akaun di website KWSP

1. Lawati website rasmi KWSP di http://www.kwsp.gov.my
2. Klik pada menu “i-Akaun”
   
   
   
3. Klik pada “Register Your Member i-Akaun”
   
   
   
4. Klik pada “Register as Member”
   
   
   
5. Masukkan nombor ahli KWSP dan nombor kad pengenalan anda.
   
   
   
6. Masukkan kod seperti yang terpapar dan klik pada “Daftar”
   
   
   
7. Selesai
   
   
   

Selepas mendaftar i-Akaun, anda perlu mendapatkan “kod pengaktifan” untuk mengaktifkan i-Akaun anda. Walau bagaimanapun, ini tidak dapat dilakukan secara online. Terpaksa melawat kaunter KWSP atau kiosk KWSP yang berhampiran.

Dapatkan “kod pengaktifan” i-Akaun
Untuk mendapatkan kod pengaktifan, lawati pejabat KWSP berhampiran dan minta kod pengaktifan di kaunter. Tapi, jika anda tidak mahu menunggu lama menunggu giliran ke kaunter, dapatkan sahaja kod pengaktifan di kiosk KWSP.

Mesin Kiosk KWSP
1) Kenalpasti kedudukan mesin kiosk KWSP yang berhampiran anda di Kiosk List.
2) Di kiosk, tekan pada “dapatkan kod pengaktifan”.
3) Masukkan MyKad anda
4) Apabila diarahkan, letakkan ibu jari kanan pada sensor untuk proses kenalpasti.
5) Masukkan 6 digit kod pengaktifan.
6) Selesai

Anda juga boleh melihat tutorial asal dari KWSP di sini.

Langkah terakhir ialah untuk mengaktifkan i-Akaun anda menggunakan kos pengaktifan.

Aktifkan i-Akaun dengan kod pengaktifan

1. Lawati website KWSP dan klik pada “first time login”
   
   
   
2. Klik pada “I agree to activate i-Akaun only” check box.
3. Masukkan nombor kad pengenalan.
4. Masukkan 6 digit kod pengaktifan anda.
   
   
   
5. Klik pada butang “Activate” untuk diproses.
6. Masukkan maklumat anda seperti yang diperlukan dalam borang yang dipaparkan.
   
   
   
7. Klik “Submit”
8. Selesai

Untuk login ke i-Akaun anda, klik pada “Login ke i-Akaun” dari laman utama, masukkan User ID dan password. Kini anda boleh memantau akaun KWSP anda pada bila-bila masa sahaja.

Online your EPF

Retirement planning is crucial for everyone. Having a secure retirement plan is important to ensure our golden age will be well managed, not only to handle monthly expenses but also to maintain our medical expenses during old age.

If in United States, 401(K) plan and IRA is one of the important pension plan. Here in Malaysia, we rely a lot on Employees Provident Fund (EPF) or Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP). For employee in private sector, not having any pension plan from employer, EPF become very crucial to support our retirement age.

It is good to also pay attention to our EPF account. It is to ensure that our monthly contribution and employer contribution is correctly deposit to our account. Having to know the account balance, we can also understand if the EPF balance alone would be enough to support our retirement period or not.

The easiest and hassle-free way to maintain your EPF account is by signing up for the i-Account to view your EPF account online. Some of the features that you can do through your i-Account are:

1. View last year statement
2. View current statement – updated to the latest activity
3. Print EPF statement – The printout is exactly as the statement we got from our employer or through EPF counter, so the printout is valid to be use as official document.
4. Update profile including address, phone number and email address.
5. Automatic calculate the amount that your able to request for withdrawal depends on the allowed situation.

To apply for EPF i-Account, just follow these simple steps below.


Apply an online i-Account on KWSP website

1. Visit KWSP website http://www.kwsp.gov.my
2. Click the “I-Account" image
   
   
   
3. Click “Register Your Member i-Akaun”
   
   
   
4. Click “Register as Member”
   
   
   
5. Key in EPF number and IC number
   
   
   
6. Key in the code show in image and click “Register” button
   
   
   
7. Done
   
   
   

Once you have register for i-Account, now you have to generate the “activation code” to activate your account. However, this cannot be done online. You have to make a quick visit to any nearby EPF counter or EPF kiosk.

Generate i-Account “activation code”

To generate the activation code, visit the EPF counter and ask for the activation code. You will be asked for your identification card. But if you do not like the hassle of waiting for your queue to go to the counter, you can collect the code from the EPF kiosk.

EPF Kiosks machine

1. Locate all available KWSP Kiosks machine at Kiosk list.
   
2. Access the system and click the “collect activation code”.
3. Insert our identity card
4. When instructed by the system, place your right thumb thumbprint on the sensor for validation process.
5. Press 6 digits as our activation code.
6. Done.

You can also access further tutorial on how to use the kiosk through EPF official website here.

The final step will be activate our Online EPF account with our activation code.

Activate the i-Account with the activation code

1. Visit EPF website, click the “first time login”
   
   
   
2. Click “I agree to activate i-Akaun only” check box.
3. Fill in your IC Number
4. Fill in the Activation code Text box with the 6 digits “activation code” that you have generated.
   
   
   
5. Click Activate button to process.
6. Fill in all you user’s profile in the form.
   
   
   
7. Click Submit.
8. Done

To login into your i-Account, click “Login Into i-Account” from the main page, key in your User ID and password. Now you can view your EPF account online anytime.

Buffet Ramadan di Malaysia

Sudah masuk minggu kedua kita menjalani ibadah puasa di bulan Ramadan 1430 bersamaan September 2009. Mungkin ramai dah puas menyerbu bazaar-bazaar Ramadan di sekitar kawasan perumahan masing-masing. Tidak kurang juga yang puas mencuba pelbagai resepi masakan berbuka di rumah.

Saya terfikir untuk mengajak beberapa rakan untuk pergi berbuka puasa secara buffet di hotel. Sesekali bertukar selera, mencuba makanan di hotel pula. Tetapi ini bukan bermaksud kita boros ye. Dengan melakukan sedikit survey, tentunya ada hidangan buffet di hotel-hotel berhampiran yang bersesuaian dengan budget masing-masing.

Hasil survey untuk buffet Ramadan, rujukan dari www.701panduan.com, saya paparkan di bawah senarai buffet berbuka puasa di hotel-hotel di Malaysia.

State	City	Restaurant	Pricing
Johor	Johor Bahru	Good Hope Hotel Skudai-Johor Bahru	RM 29++ per adult, RM 14++ per child
Johor	Johor Bahru	Tropical Inn	Bookings made between now to 22nd August: RM 30++ per adult, RM 20++ per child Bookings made after 22 August: RM 35++ per adult, RM 20++ per child
Johor	Johor Bahru	The Embassy Hotel & Service Apartment	RM 30++ per adult, half price for children
Johor	Johor Bahru	Hotel Katerina	RM 35++ per adult, RM 25++ per child
Johor	Johor Bahru	Grand Continental Hotel	RM 40++ per adult, RM 25++ per child
Johor	Johor Bahru	Dorsett Johor Hotel	RM 45++ per adult, RM 20++ per child
Johor	Johor Bahru	M Suites Hotel Johor Bahru	RM 60++ per adult, RM 28++ per child
Johor	Johor Bahru	The Zon Regency Hotel By The Sea	RM 60++ per adult, RM 30++ per child
Johor	Johor Bahru	Mutiara Johor Bahru	RM 60++ per adult, RM 35++ per child
Kedah	Sungai Petani	Harvard Suasana Hotel	RM 25++ per adult, RM 15++ per child
Kedah	Pulau Langkawi	Grand Continental Pulau Langkawi	RM 30++ per adult, RM 25++ per child
Kedah	Sungai Petani	Swiss Inn Sungai Petani	RM 38++ per adult, RM 20++ per child
Kedah	Pulau Langkawi	The City Bayview Hotel	RM 48++ per adult, half price for children
Kedah	Pulau Langkawi	Awana Porto Malai Resort Pulau Langkawi	RM 48++ per adult, RM 34++ per child
Kedah	Pulau Langkawi	Sheraton Pulau Langkawi Beach Resort	RM 108.90++ per adult, half price for children
Kelantan	Kota Bharu	Renaissance Kota Bharu Palm Terrace	RM 58++ per adult, half price for children
Kelantan	Kota Bharu	Renaissance Kota Bharu Dynasty	RM 299 per table (10 pax)
Kuala Lumpur	Jalan Kampung Attap	Midah Hotel	RM 38++ per adult, RM 28++ per child
Kuala Lumpur	Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock	Ancasa Hotel & Spa Kuala Lumpur	Bookings made online prior to 15 Aug 09: Special rate of RM 39++ per adult, RM 32++ per child
Kuala Lumpur	Jalan Bukit Bintang	Hotel Capitol	RM 48++ per adult, RM 24++ per child Room service Sahur (23 August 09 - 19 September 09 from 3.30am - 5.30am): RM 18++ per pax
Kuala Lumpur	The Curve, Mutiara Damansara	The Apartment @ The Curve	RM 49++ per adult, RM 19++ per child 10+1: 1 complimentary buffet every 10 pax
Kuala Lumpur	Taman Maluri	Hotel Maluri	RM53++ per adult, RM37++ per child
Kuala Lumpur	Jalan Klang Lama	Pearl International Hotel	RM 58 ++ per adult, RM 30++ per childSpecial Early Bird discount: 30% during 21 August 09 - 31 August 09 (except 25 August 09 - 27 August 09) Early Bird Promotion vouchers: RM 500nett per booklet of 10 Special discounts up to 60% for selected credit cards Book online and be eligible for up to 30% discount
Kuala Lumpur	Starhill Gallery	Enak KL	RM 60++ per pax
Kuala Lumpur	Jalan Binjai	PNB Darby Park Executive Suites PNB Darby Café	RM 65++ per adult, RM 35++ per child
Kuala Lumpur	Mid Valley City	Cititel Mid Valley	RM 65++ per adult, RM 32.50++ per child
Kuala Lumpur	Mid Valley City	Boulevard Hotel	RM 75++ per adult, RM 35++ per child
Kuala Lumpur	Jalan Imbi	Berjaya Times Square Hotel	RM 78++ per adult, RM 42++ per child 5+1 Promotion: For every 5 pax, get 1 pax free Private functions: Min 50 pax
Kuala Lumpur	Jalan Ampang	Corus Hotel	RM 79++ per adult, RM 50++ per child Early Bird Special: Bookings made for 22nd to 31st August will enjoy a special rate of RM 50++ per adult
Kuala Lumpur	Bangi	Equatorial Hotel	RM 82++ per adult, RM 38 ++ per child 1Malaysia Merdeka Special (22 August 09 - 31 August 09): 20% off buffet price 10% off for pre-payments (1 September 09 - 17 September 09): min 24hours prior to dining
Kuala Lumpur	Jalan Conlay	Prince Hotel & Residences	RM 88++per pax
Kuala Lumpur	Jalan Binjai	PNB Darby Park Executive Suites 39 Restaurant	RM 89++ per adult, RM 59++ per child
Kuala Lumpur	KL Sentral	Hilton Kuala Lumpur	Weekdays: RM 98++ per adult, half price for children Weekends: RM 88++ per person, half price for children
Kuala Lumpur	Bangsar Baru	Bangsar Seafood Garden Restaurant	RM 498 - RM 898 (10 pax) Free 1 kg of Bangsar Seafood Garden's Signature Crabs
Melaka	Air Keroh	Air Keroh D Village Resort	RM 29++ per adult, RM 19++ per child
Melaka	Jalan Tun Sri Lanang	Hotel Grand Continental	Early bird special (bookings made prior to start of Ramadan): RM 30++ per adult, RM 20++ per child During Ramadan: RM 35++ per adult, RM 25++ per child
Melaka	Plaza Mahkota	Seri Costa Hotel & Resort	RM 35++ per adult, RM 25++ per child
Melaka	Bukit Baru	Straits Meridian Hotel	RM 36++ per adult, half price for children
Melaka	Jalan Hang Tuah	The Golden Legacy	RM 38++ per adult, RM 25++ per child
Melaka	Jalan Tun Cheng Lock	Hotel Puri Melaka	RM 40++ per adult, half price for children
Melaka	Jalan Bendahara	The City Bayview Hotel	RM 48++ per adult, RM 35++ per child 5+1 Promotion: Complimentary buffet for 1 pax for every 5 pax
Melaka	Jalan Merdeka	Mahkota Hotel	RM 50++ per adult, RM 32++ per child
Melaka	Alor Gajah	A Famosa Resort	RM 55++ per adult, RM 38++ per child
Melaka	Jalan Bendahara	Renaissance Melaka Hotel	RM 60++ per adult, RM 35++ per child 5+1 Promotion: Buy 5 buffet vouchers and get 1 free (Purchases prior to 15 July are entitled to an additional 15% discount)
Negeri Sembilan	Seremban	Klana Resort Seremban	RM 48++ per adult, RM 26++ per child 10+ 1 Promotion: 1 complimentary buffet per 10 pax Purchase limited Special Buka Puasa vouchers for 15% discount on normal rates
Negeri Sembilan	Port Dickson	Avillion	22 August to end of school holidays: Mongolian BBQ buffet for RM 78++ per adult, RM 30++ per child After school holidays: Ramadhan Set (min 2 pax) RM 45++ per pax
Pahang	Cameron Highlands	Hotel Casa de la Rosa Cameron Highlands	RM 30++ per pax
Pahang	Cherating	Holiday Villa Cherating	RM 45++ per adult, RM 22++ per child
Pahang	Kuantan	Swiss-Garden Resort	RM 52++ per adult, RM 30++ per child
Pahang	Cherating	The Legend Resort	RM 58++ per adult, RM 35++ per child
Petaling Jaya	Lorong Utara	Hotel Armada	RM 42++ per adult, RM 21++ per child
Petaling Jaya	Jalan Kelab Tropicana	Tropicana Golf Resort	RM 48++ per adult, RM 30++ per child
Petaling Jaya	Section 16	Eastin Hotel	RM 78++ per adult, RM 48++ per child
Petaling Jaya	Bandar Utama	One World Hotel	RM 98++ per adult, RM 49++ per child (inclusive of special door gift)
Pulau Pinang	Jalan Gurdwara	Hotel Grand Continental	RM 28++ per adult, RM 14++ per child
Pulau Pinang	Gurney Drive	The Gurney Resort Hotel	RM 33++ per adult, RM 16.50++ per child
Pulau Pinang	Seberang Perai	The Summit Hotel Bukit Mertajam	RM 35 nett per adult, RM 20 nett per child
Pulau Pinang	Georgetown	Berjaya Georgetown Hotel	RM 38++ per adult, RM 23++ per child
Pulau Pinang	Bukit Jambul	Vistana Hotel Pulau Pinang	RM 39++ per adult, RM 20++ per child
Pulau Pinang	Gurney Drive	G Hotel	RM 45++ per adult, half price for children
Pulau Pinang	Jalan Penang	Cititel Penang	RM 45++ per adult, RM 22++ per child
Pulau Pinang	Seberang Jaya	Sunway Hotel Seberang Jaya	RM 48 nett, half price for children
Putrajaya	Presint 1	Cruise Tasik Putrajaya	RM 65++ per adult, RM 33++ per child 10+1: 1 complimentary set per 10 pax Advance booking promotion: RM 198 per pax for Cruise Buffet 1, RM 128 per pax for Cruise Buffet 2 (min 30 pax, 3 days advance booking)
Sabah	Sandakan	Renaissance Sandakan Hotel	RM 38++ per adult, RM 20++ per child
Sabah	Kota Kinabalu	Hotel Shangri-La	1 Aug - 14 Aug: A 35% discount will be entitled upon purchase of voucher 15 Aug - 19Aug: RM 50 per pax, buy 8 vouchers get 1 free 20 Aug - 20 Sep RM 50++ per pax, half price for children. Discounts eligible for members only.
Sabah	Kota Kinabalu	Sutera Harbour, Golf and Spa Resort	RM 120++ per adult, RM 60++ per child
Sarawak	Kuching	Hotel Grand Continental	RM 38++ per adult, RM 19++ per child
Sarawak	Kuching	Merdeka Palace	RM 49++ per adult, half price for children
Sarawak	Kuching	Crowne Plaza Riverside Kuching	RM 60++ per adult, half price for children
Sarawak	Kuching	Hilton Kuching	RM 79++ per adult, half price for children
Selangor	Sepang	Eden @ KLIA	RM 38++ (1 pax), RM 88++ (2 pax), RM 118++ (2-4 pax), RM 218++ (5-7 pax)
Selangor	Sepang	Concorde Inn Kuala Lumpur	RM 43.50++ per adult, RM 30.50++ per child
Selangor	Cyberjaya	Cyberview Lodge Resort & Spa	RM 70++ per adult, RM 35++ per child 10+1: 1 complimentary buffet dinner for every 10 pax Private functions: Min 30 pax (RM 70++ per pax)
Terengganu	Kuala Terengganu	Hotel Grand Continental Kuala Terengganu	RM 45++ per adult, RM 28++ per child

Buffet di Mahkota Hotel, Melaka

Saya telah memilih untuk berbuka puasa di Mahkota Hotel, Melaka. Setibanya di sana, kawasan bufet “Selera Kampung” yang begitu hampir dengan lobi hotel, memudahkan pengunjung bersantai di perkarangan lobi sementara menunggu waktu berbuka. Kawasan buffet yang diperuntukan juga besar, merangkumi 2 kawasan restoran di hotel berkenaan.

Jarak antara meja di restoran amat selesa. Jadi, tak terganggu antara satu kumpulan pengunjung dengan yang bersebelahan. Ada juga pentas kecil untuk mempersembahkan alunan ghazal sebagai halua telinga.

Menu yang disediakan amat menarik. Antara jenis hidangan termasuk makanan kampung seperti nasi putih, nasi goreng, ikan masin, ikan masak halia, sotong masak lemak, udang bakar; ulam-ulaman; nasi ayam; mee soto; satay; roti jala; steamboat; ikan bakar; pizza; ais krim; air batu campur dan pelbagai jenis minuman. Makan berdua pun penuh satu meja.

Harga yang dikenakan juga amat berpatutan. Jumlah bersih untuk seorang dewasa ialah RM57.50 sahaja.

Jika anda berkesempatan mengunjungi tempat-tempat buffet berbuka puasa, tinggalkan lah comment ye. Boleh berkongsi pengalamanan masing-masing sepanjang menjamu selera di bulan Ramadan.