One of the most frequently asked questions from my readers is,
“Cheesie, how on earth do you afford to travel so much?!”
Recently, every single day i feel more thankful than ever that i am so lucky to have all these things in my life that other people consider a privilege and luxury they can never have.
This year alone i have traveled to Japan every single month and each time 3 weeks, and all of them are for work so they are all paid for, except my self-funded trip to Osaka with Aud January. Even that was partly subsidized, for a filming program that we did. Right this moment in typing this sitting at a corner in Tokyo.
ALL the wonderful things i’ve ever experienced here in Japan.
Every time i post about Japan, some one my readers who have never been there will comment and say that they are so so so envious and wish that they could be here one day too, but they just have no money to travel right this moment.
I had been that person too.
Money was indeed a factor. I only went to Japan for the first time when i was 24 when i finally saved RM5,000. Now that doesn’t sound so bad isn’t it? Most of you are younger than me , and here’s me motivating you to save more money to pursue your dreams, because i know how it feels.
Now that i earn more and have extra money to go traveling more often, it really feels like i’m living the life that i dreamed to live. But say if i was lucky and had saved or was somehow given that RM5,000 earlier, i could have fulfilled one of my biggest dreams earlier, and i would have done much more by now.
I am all for responsible spending habit. AVOID DEBT LIKE IT IS A ZOMBIE COCKROACH is my general policy on finance lol.
Admittedly i own 2 credit cards but that was because it comes with my house loan -_-. But i have NEVER abused my cards to buy things i cannot afford, and i always make sure that i have the money to pay back before i swipe.
I have started using credit card for 4 years now, and i have NEVER ever paid extra interest just because i couldn’t come up with the money to pay back (i did pay a few late payment fee due to negligence though -_-).
In April i applied for Citibank Ready Credit and it pretty much help materialized some of my biggest dreams.
Including going for hanami (sakura watching) this early April.
It is a whole new concept that i have never heard before and i doubt i could explain everything in even one very long blog post, because it took me like half an hour to understand it.
But let’s just say that it is a relatively new all-in-one banking tool which allows easy and quick access to cash on flexible terms.
On even simpler terms, it is basically clean personal overdraft at your full control.
Sometimes one cannot just spend only the money we earn. Sometimes unexpected events creep up, or maybe you want to start a business, go for a dream holiday, renovate your house, or secure yourself a wife because your girlfriend won’t marry you without diamond ring lol.
And right now, i am actually using it as a debit card (because i had the extra cash and i want to stay debt-free), and i love it due to several reasons.
One of the reasons is that I go overseas ALOT and it’s always dangerous to carry too much cash. But i can now withdraw money from Ready Credit just like an ATM card without any charge. That’s holy good news because all i need now is one single card and i can survive in a foreign country without any worry. Plus i will never have to worry about running out of cash, or hesitate when i see something i really really want but out of budget. My principle is buy it or regret forever wtf. Especially when you are traveling because once you miss it you kinda miss it forever.
Also i love the mobile app!
It directs you to the nearest ATM omg super useful especially when you are overseas!!!!! There are also 300,000 Citibank & VISA Plus ATMs worldwide so it’s super helpful for frequent travelers like myself.
There are many many more features about Ready Credit that i cannot finish explaining in this post, so for more information on Citibank Ready Credit, check out the following:
Citibank website: www.citibank.com.my/readycredit
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CitibankMalaysia
And i really think everyone deserves a dream holiday as long as you remember to practice responsible finance habit. And be thankful and appreciative for all these little luxuries you have in your life, that is the most important (now i sound like a priest lol).
Now go buy that air ticket!!! 😀 😀 😀
I’m 24 years old this year and going for Japan the first time in my life this October!
Glad that I’m not too late for Japan trip 😉
Good for you!!! Welcome!!!! 😀
How’s the weather in tokyo right now? 😛
perfect!!! warm but not too hot!!!
Is it very stuffy and humid? Because I’m going to Tokyo soon and would like to know what clothes to bring~ Will jeans be fine? 😉
what’s your job actually? 🙂
this!
I actually love you 🙂 Such an inspiration. Much love from Britain xx
thanks so much <333
Such a great info. Thanks for sharing, Cheesie 🙂
I actually started considering Credit cards as an option not a while ago, but I still haven’t gotten a job ground for myself and therefore I don’t want to take the risk just yet. When I’ve secured a job and I can pay for the money I withdraw then I’ll probably go and do it! 🙂 Credit/Debit cards are such a great thing to have, because you don’t have to worry about carrying cash with you.
milkyposh.blogspot.com xx
I am your new reader. Been reading your blog for a while and like most of it.. This is really motivating and inspirational… Love it lots.. Thanks for never stopping on sharing good stuff.. 🙂
please dont show your 16 digits card number to everyone!
If thats really the card you use, showing your 16 digits number will led people to misuse!
I wish I live in Asia now.. but I guess grass is always greener on the other side? Regardless, u do hv lots of blessings~ & I am glad u appreciate it and share them with us ^^
xoxo HitomiNeko xoxo
http://hitomineko-hn.blogspot.com
Isn’t it a bit dangerous to show all 16 digits of your credit card? *worried for Cheesie* Japan looks so pretty (and so is Cheesie ^^). Woah, I wanna go too…
I’m a somewhat new reader x3 and I’m currently 23 years old, so I still have a whole year to save! xD ( Though they pay me crap in my job > ^ > )
I don’t know when I will be able to finally go to Japan, but I know I WILL! Someday, hopefully near, and It will be AWESOME <3! hahaha,
I just wanted to say it's great that you are getting to fulfill those dreams and hopefully you will always do! Also, great advice :3! I fear debts and that's why I keep away from credit cards lol but I know that someday I will have to get one @ ^ @
Love from Mexico <3
Sob sob I don’t know why I feel touched with all this. Remind me of the hard time saving money so that I could fly to Melbourne, I was 20 years old that time! Once I touched down at the airport, I almost knee down and kiss the floor! Yes, appreciate and cherish all the wonderful moment in life 😛 !
I think that card solved alot of traveller’s dilemma of how much money to bring when going oversea! *thumbs up
Such practical advice ^_^. Yes everyone should practice responsible spending habits. Ahh I hope I can backpack through Asia someday but now just a plain student . Congrats on being debt free and achieving your dream trip at the same time.
Oh wow I’m only twenty. In America. And the only out of country I’ve been in Montreal, and I live like 3 hours away. Grr This kinda sound like a good idea. I’m glad you get to travel and this encourages me. Thanks Cheesie.
Dear all,
You cannot do anything with the 16 digits number on the credit card unless you have the cvv number and the card’s expiry date which was cleverly hidden behind cheesie’s thumb.
no worries..
cheesie, y so inspirational?! before I read this blog entry, I had given up all hope of being able to travel overseas, ’cause I live in NZ (damn isolated!) and not to mention damn expensive too. ;_; but now I believe that I will reach my goals if I try super hard! #stubborn.jpg.
so thankyou so much! and congratulations on all the good luck you are having lately! it’s because you are so hardworking! :’)
Isn’t it dangerous to have your credit card number up like that? But lately I’ve been thinking about getting a credit card as well… but with a 500 dollar limit so I never owe so much that I can’t repay it back. Will you ever travel to the US? 😀
thanks for your motivation on saving money for an overseas trip! I really really want to go to Japan too! and also your country Malaysia! 😀
cheeserland.com is amazing website, i’m glad i’m member here
cheeserland.com is amazing website, i’m glad i’m member here