Processed food

Last week, while my wife and I were at Mesra Mall, I picked up some frozen ground beef. Unfortunately, that's all they had. There was no fresh ground beef. Just very limited fresh Australian beef. I didn't have a food processor so I had to go with the frozen option.

BIG mistake that was... it was just not edible. Chewy... full of fat, tendons and bones... yes, even bones. It went into the bin immediately. What a waste!

We then decided to get ourselves a food processor. We had been meaning to get one but had held off as there was no dire need up until now. Yes, need... it can help make my pasta and noodles dough too... it shreds, it chops, it purees, it crushes ice, it whips... need, not want.  I did some looking on the internet and had my mind set on a Philips food processor. Last Friday, we went into shop after shop looking for it but this being Dungun, they did not have the model I wanted. There was only one shop that had the Philips food processor but it was a different model that didn't come with the blender jug. I want the blender jug!

One of the sales guy at the shops then recommended that I take an Electrolux instead. It was slightly more expensive than the Philips that I had in mind. After much deliberation, we decided to go for it. Not that we had a choice right? Hahaha...

Here's the food processor that we bought. The Electrolux EFP5300. It comes with a 1.2L blender jug and has 700W of power which is 200Ws more than the Philips. It's pretty cool... the dial lights up when you use the blender. Hahaha... and my wife and I have already decided that when we next move, this is definitely coming along with us.

So, it was chicken patties on day 1. Yummy...

On day 2 it was beef patties. Yummy too but was very dry as the beef was a lean cut and I had ground the beef too fine. Next time round, will do a coarser ground and add sautéed onions instead of fresh onions.

Next up will be fish cakes... if I can find some Tenggiri... it's the monsoon now and fresh fish is scarce. But for today, I think it will be spaghetti with meatballs...

Who said processed food is bad? 

Need vs Want

I was browsing through Groupon's website looking at deals when I came across the following two deals... take note on how many BOUGHT.

This was the second time I came across such a deal. The first was sometime last month, also a card deal by AmBank and I think the free gift was an Android gadget. That deal had even more interests. Overwhelming in my humble opinion... which started 'My 2 Sen' thinking...

Was the interest actually in the card or the gadget? Based on the AmBank deal, as it was overwhelming, I thought it was the card. Now I see this current deal, I am of the opinion that it is actually both.

I have not had a credit card since 2010 when I was left stranded in Langkawi, out of funds and without a job. I came back to KL and started rebuilding my life from scratch. I had to piece bit by bit together and I started with the big chunks... now I am dealing with the small bits. It was in 2010 that I decided to cut the cards and I have been without them ever since. A tough decision but the best decision.

When I tell people that I do not have a credit card they will just look at me in disbelief. I don't... really... I'm not kiddin' you! I do have a debit card though... I guess they don't believe me coz of my position and age. Even my wife thought I BS-ed her... at first.

The first time I was out buying stuff with my wife, I handed the card to the cashier and said 'Credit Card'... my wife looked at me... her face read 'YOU LIAR'. Hahaha... so, I explained to her that it was a Debit Card but it works as a Credit Card too.

I have a Maybankard MasterCard Platinum Debit Card which has an EMV chip and is accepted at all outlets that accepts MasterCard. When I use my Debit Card at Shopping Centres I prefer to use it as a Credit Card. I always have trouble when using it as a Debit Card coz the Cashiers always assume that my card is linked to a Savings Account... it's not... mine is a Current Account. 

Life without a Credit Card is hard... at first... then when you start to master the discipline of planning, you find that it is bliss. The Debit Card is the way to go... seriously.  Once you adopt the Debit Card, you start to really understand the difference between NEED and WANT... 

The point of this post is because I have been reading a lot of reports about escalating household debts in our country and that the majority of the bankruptcy cases are from those in their early 30s. Then I saw these deals and how it was so popular which seems to support the reports even more.

Most people don't read. They love to read the stupid and silly stuff but not the boring financial parts which would give them knowledge to deal with life. They are unaware of what's happening around them or in the world. They just live in their little circle with no growth oblivious to what's happening around them and not being able to differentiate between NEED and WANT.

If we don't understand AND practice the concept of NEED and WANT then we're going to plateau in life.

Just My 2 Sen...

SALE!!!

Yup, SALE!!!

I am selling some of my gadgets. I am too lazy to take pictures of all the items but for those of you who know me well, you know how I care for my gadgets.

1. Canos EOS 450D Digital SLR (Shutter Count = 16601 as of today). Comes with:-
    EF-S 18-55mm IS kit lens,
    EF-S 55-250mm IS telephoto lens,
    Phottix Battery Grip BP-500Di
    2 batteries, one original and one Phottix.

Canon EOS 450D with the Battery Grip.

2. iPhone 4S 32GB. Purchaser will get a free Bumper Case, Olloclip, and DiCAPac Underwater Case. SOLD!!!. (4th December 2013)

Free with the iPhone 4S. (Ideal for the clumsy person as the phone is recessed)

3. PlayStation 3 - 80GB. Comes with 2 controllers and HDMI cable. SOLD!!!. (3rd December 2013)


4. iPhone 4 16GB. SOLD!!!. (3rd December 2013)

FREE - iPhone 4/4S Battery Pack - SOLD!!!

E-mail me (kevineu@yes.my) your bid with the item as your subject. Please do your own research on current value and make your offer. Successful bid will be informed.

I will be in KL on 26th & 27th December where you can view the product and make payment.