It feels just like a week ago when I last wrote my piece on 2008 year-in-review, and now it's already the end of 2009. How time really flies. If I had thought that 2008 was the year of change, 2009 would be the year of adaption, of re-adjustment.
By the end of last year, I made quite significant moves which impacted my finances, and by God I really underestimated the impact. I was hit hard, and now I wonder how 2010 would be like with no more crumbs in my saving. However, what irks me the most is that just because I work in a multinational ‘potato’ chip company, people assume I have money, when the reality is that I’m struggling just like any average Joe month after month to make ends meet. I seem to have developed the reputation of being the Uncle Scrooge of the family, and a temperamental one too.
“I do not get cranky when I am hungry, but I get angry when I am sleepy, and when people waste time and money.” - How to avoid annoying the dragon -
That last sentence was purposely constructed to rhyme, thank you.
Economic downturn was not kind to us. As expected there was no increment this year, and bonuses were smaller. However I still get to keep my job and I consider that a blessing considering the trend in the industry. And hey, we have a new Prime Minister who curiously seems to have a fetish with the numbers, particularly the number “1”. And Malaysian politics and socio-economy have gotten worse with all kinds of strange and quirky things happening in our beloved Bolehland, right under our noses, but enough of that for now; I don’t want to delve into politics in this post.
Not everything was bad though. I finished my Masters Degree, and scored a rather impressive CGPA by my standards. Of course, the weekends had been tough with classes, assignments, tests, exams, project reports and whatnots, but in the end I survived it, and it was well worth it. Convocation will be sometime next year, and this time my convocation photos will include my parents, wife and 2 naughty toddlers who will have to beat me at it within a 30 years’ timeframe. Good luck, children!
Expectations for 2010, to have more time and more weekends with my family, and probably making more frequent trips back to our hometowns. My firstborn would be in pre-school, and I guess my budget will be even tighter but I sincerely hope that 2010 will be the year of recovery. Hopefully the ‘potato’ chip company will be generous enough with increments and bonuses. I also hope to work on my temper a little, and do a lot more reading. I should start planning my career development, now that the annoying period called “furthering studies” is over. Maybe it’s time to demand for a promotion? (Boss, if you are reading this, take a hint will ya?). Or maybe I should start moonlighting… hum… I do have this particular idea… oh well… Now that I have time, the possibilities are endless!
Well, looks like I survived another year!
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