DISQUS

Yes. I know of quite a number. People choose to be NEET or FREETER for different reasons, but most do it because they CAN. There's a comfortable roof over the head and the family is reasonably well off, so there's no dire need to get a job to provide for themselves. If their family is living hand-to-mouth, they'll get off their butt and work in a coffeeshop, if thats the only option.

I think the mere existence of of this is a good and bad sign. Good since it reflects growing affluence and sense of financial security. Bad because people are getting lazy and this doesn't bode well for the individual and also society.

According to this Hanson, we have high savings rate in Malaysia. What savings is he referring to? That may still be true among the older generation, but our young people today live off credit cards to enjoy the "Starbucks lifestyle." Middle-class wage earners who spend responsibly also cannot save because of the twin curses of hyper-inflation and 3rd world wages in Malaysia.

It is also premature for the govt to gloat that Malaysia will not be heavily affected by this crisis. We are an export and commodity-driven economy. We ARE heavily dependent on demand for both our exports and our commodities. The US economy makes up 25% of the whole world's economy. If US falls into a deep and sustained recession, the only unaffected people are those who live in some small island who fish and collect coconuts for a living.

BTW, everyone knows how expensive imported textbooks are. The US edition retails for 3-400 ringgit. Fortunately, for developing countries, there is an "international edition" that cost about a 1/4 of the price. Same content as the US edition, but in softcover.

There are online booksellers in Thailand and India who will ship to Malaysia. I don't know if the book is available at local shops.

KC, as it turns out, Pearson, the publisher, puts out detailed information on its website:

http://www.pearsonhighered.com/educator/academi...

Here, you'll find links to a detailed table-of-contents, previews of chapters etc.

There is also a companion website for students using this textbook. In it, you'll find resources that are specific to each chapter:

http://wps.aw.com/aw_gitman_fundinv_10/60/15413...

The main things I like about this textbook is its thorough yet systematic approach to investing, and its easy comprehension. One more thing I like are the useful internet links associated with the individual concepts/topics being presented. So, if you want to delve deeper into the subject you're reading, relevant links are provided on that same page.

Understandably, alot of the topics are glossed over, since this is only an intro textbook. For example, chapters on technical analysis and on options are frustratingly brief. But at least the reader is made aware of these topics and suggestions ARE given for further study.

I think of this textbook as a general guide.

Like most middle-class Malaysians coping with inflation, I have no choice mah. Either learn to spend wisely or get buried in debt. I'm probably a smart consumer at this point, but only a beginner investor. That's why I'm drawn to a site such as yours. Thanks for making your tips easy for us beginners to follow.

I'm reading a textbook called "Fundamentals of Investing." The authors are Gitman and Joehnk. The textbook is very well written and is not intimidating since the authors avoid being too quantitative. It is, after all, a "fundamental" book. It covers the basics in a very systematic fashion. Readers are advised to create investment objectives and plans before learning about investment vehicles. And even before that, readers are asked if they are in the right circumstances to invest. For instance, people should first have adequate savings for emergencies and have adequate insurance before investing. Common sense topics but good reminders nonetheless.

Hi, I throughly enjoy your site and find it very educational!

I prepare my monthly budgets on Excel and use the same spreadsheet to keep track of actual expenses. This way, I can do a simple budget-to-actual expenses analysis. The analyses rarely shed new light on my expenses because I am thrifty and usually already have a good handle on my spending.

However, I find the spreadsheet helpful in putting expenses into the right perspective for me. In other words, it tells me where I should focus my attention on, when I need to cut expenses, and it lets me know what types of expenses are relatively insignificant, so I don't need to sweat over them. It is easy to do the above by categorising the expenses and using percentages.

I do buy on impulse, but only when it is inexpensive and infrequent. If I get carried away in a given month, that will be highlighted on the spreadsheet and I get a gentle nudge.