After having been assured by AKPK and banks not to worry about the late payment fees which are still shown in the monthly bank statements, I now focus on saving money and making money.
In fact, the priority of my 2010 new year resolutions is saving money. It’s followed by making money and paying down personal debts and AKPK debt repayments.
In year 2009, my main focus was on paying down credit card debt. Saving money was next and making money came last.
It would not have been possible for me to change the priority had it not been AKPK debt management programme. Being in AKPK DMP means that there is no need to worry whether banks will simply charge or increase late payment fees, annual fees, cash advance fees, retail interest charges and other surprises.
Just keep on paying the agreeable monthly repayments of RM320 for mine and RM360 for hubby’s to AKPK’s collection account, AKPK will take care of the late payment fess and whatever fees that banks accidentally, incidentally or purposely impose on.
My saving still stands at RM1,500 because hubby and I decided to pay back RM1,000 to his sister. I would have had RM2,500 if we had not paid RM1,000 to my sister in law. 
Anyway, I feel good after depositing RM1,000 into my sister-in-law’s account. Being able to pay back money to others makes me feel that I am ABLE or I can AFFORD to.
After depositing the amount of RM1,000, I thought of paying her another RM500 the end of this month. But I think I have to change the plan now.
The amount of RM500 has to be used to pay the deposit of a flat nearby hubby’s school. It’s a 3-room flat which is a stone’s throw away from the school.
Living nearby the school means that hubby doesn’t have to wake up at 5.30 a.m., drive to school and drive home at 5 or 6 o’clock. Very long school hours, I must say.
In other words, hubby can wake up at 6.30 a.m., walk to school, come home to have lunch, take a shower and take a nap in the afternoon, walk back to school again and stay back until the evening. Still long school hours, but hubby can at least take a shower and rest for a while to recharge himself.
I am relieved that the monthly rental is only RM270 for a 3-room flat. There is no need for hubby and me to fork out extra RM270 every month to pay the rental.
We may just need to fork out extra RM50 for the flat rental because the rest of the amount comes from the savings of electricity and petrol costs.
You see, we are currently paying between RM100 and RM150 for the electricity bill because of the use of air-conditioner. As the flat is located on the first floor and on the hill slope, it’s kind of cool. Without the air-cond usage, the electricity bill will be as low as RM50.
As for the petrol cost, hubby estimates that it will save up to RM150 every month.
I have God to thank for all the blessings: hubby’s full time teaching job, my steady online income, AKPK debt management program, and good health. And now, the 3-room flat.
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