Food Wastage Vs Hunger

Forget the government, forget what others can and should do. Lets all do something on our own each of us. Today I went to Pizza Hut and waited on the side of a table as the waitress was cleaning it. Believe me there was enough left over to feed a 2 adults and a child the above count. Seriously, how can human beings be so cruel and waste food while it is the scarcest thing in the world today. A large number of human population is dying daily due to hunger.

I personally can't help myself feeling sad for this family, when I try to imagine some people suffering financially, so badly that they cannot even feed their child on a daily basis. People just give up when they start dying everyday due to the financial load.

Just think, the amount of leftover food that could be wasted and thrown away (by individuals and restaurants alike) in the a single city could feed hundreds of mouths, the same is there for every other city in the world.

Lets all pledge ourselves to help our fellow human beings with whatever we can.

Personally I have ever dreamed of starting some sort of a mission to collect all this food and start distributing it to the needy. Will indeed do it someday.

The Ghosts Book

The Ghosts Book

A review of the Book called "Ghost Hunters: A guide to investigating the paranormal written by Yvette Fielding and Ciaran O'Keefe, the presenters of the "Most Haunted" show. The book was sent to Juzar Noorani, the Hikmah Blog author by thebookshelter.ae, a wonderful initiative by two Emarati Women.

Update: This blog has been shifted to hikmah.ekhwan.com

Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art

Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art

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Online Marketing

There is tons of information out there about online marketing. Although all this being available the average business does not know how to use and tap into its unlimited potential. I have been thinking to use my vast and years of experience to help Mumineen businesses grow and thrive.

Today everything that shows up on either google, yahoo or the newest face bing is what bags the most customers. All you need to know is the right way. Thats what people who have walked the road are.

The road not taken is bitter and bites to the last extent therefore if you do not have the dare to walk that road follow those  who have taken the initiative to pave the road for you.

 Those who are really interested in getting valuable inputs can pay the price of getting such valuable information that comes with several falls and stand-ups.

Keys to Financial Success

Although making resolutions to improve your financial situation is a good thing to do at any time of year, many people find it easier at the beginning of a new year. Regardless of when you begin, the basics remain the same. Here are my top ten keys to getting ahead financially.

1. Get Paid What You're Worth and Spend Less Than You Earn

It sounds simplistic, but many people struggle with this first basic rule. Make sure you know what your job is worth in the marketplace, by conducting an evaluation of your skills, productivity, job tasks, contribution to the company, and the going rate, both inside and outside the company, for what you do. Being underpaid even a thousand dollars a year can have a significant cumulative effect over the course of your working life.

No matter how much or how little you're paid, you'll never get ahead if you spend more than you earn. Often it's easier to spend less than it is to earn more, and a little cost-cutting effort in a number of areas can result in big savings. It doesn't always have to involve making big sacrifices.

2. Stick to a Budget

One of my favorite subjects: budgeting. It's not a four-letter word. How can you know where your money is going if you don't budget? How can you set spending and saving goals if you don't know where your money is going? You need a budget whether you make thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.

3. Pay Off Credit Card Debt

Credit card debt is the number one obstacle to getting ahead financially. Those little pieces of plastic are so easy to use, and it's so easy to forget that it's real money we're dealing with when we whip them out to pay for a purchase, large or small. Despite our good resolves to pay the balance off quickly, the reality is that we often don't, and end up paying far more for things than we would have paid if we had used cash.

4. Contribute to a Retirement Plan

If your employer has a 401(k) plan and you don't contribute to it, you're walking away from one of the best deals out there. Ask your employer if they have a 401(k) plan (or similar plan), and sign up today. If you're already contributing, try to increase your contribution. If your employer doesn't offer a retirement plan, consider an IRA. 

5. Have a Savings Plan

You've heard it before: Pay yourself first! If you wait until you've met all your other financial obligations before seeing what's left over for saving, chances are you'll never have a healthy savings account or investments. Resolve to set aside a minimum of 5% to 10% of your salary for savings BEFORE you start paying your bills. Better yet, have money automatically deducted from your paycheck and deposited into a separate account. 

6. Invest!

If you're contributing to a retirement plan and a savings account and you can still manage to put some money into other investments, all the better.

7. Maximize Your Employment Benefits

Employment benefits like a 401(k) plan, flexible spending accounts, medical and dental insurance, etc., are worth big bucks. Make sure you're maximizing yours and taking advantage of the ones that can save you money by reducing taxes or out-of-pocket expenses. 

8. Review Your Insurance Coverages

Too many people are talked into paying too much for life and disability insurance, whether it's by adding these coverages to car loans, buying whole-life insurance policies when term-life makes more sense, or buying life insurance when you have no dependents. On the other hand, it's important that you have enough insurance to protect your dependents and your income in the case of death or disability. 

9. Update Your Will

70% of Americans don't have a will. If you have dependents, no matter how little or how much you own, you need a will. If your situation isn't too complicated you can even do your own with software like WillMaker from Nolo Press. Protect your loved ones. Write a will. 

10. Keep Good Records

If you don't keep good records, you're probably not claiming all your allowable income tax deductions and credits. Set up a system now and use it all year. It's much easier than scrambling to find everything at tax time, only to miss items that might have saved you money. 

Reality Check

How are you doing on the top ten list? If you're not doing at least six of the ten, resolve to make improvements. Choose one area at a time and set a goal for incorporating all ten into your lifestyle.

Festival of Generators? - Khaleej Times

After its successful launch last year, the ‘Sharjah generator festival’ is back. The industry is booming, thanks to SEWA.

Jokes apart, as a resident of the UAE since the past 15 years, I have never heard of electricity cuts here. But it has happened and there seems to be no respite.

Electricity cuts have become the norm in the emirate. The disruption goes on for hours together, day and night, without warning.

The UAE is considered a developed country and is often compared to countries like UK, USA and France. The country helps other countries in need. Top sports clubs and buildings the world over are being bought by people from the UAE.

Can somebody be generous enough to sponsor/buy SEWA? -      Mohamad, Sharjah