PERKONGSIAN ILMU

21 Things You Should Never Buy New


Wise Bread, On Monday June 28, 2010, 10:24 am EDT

If you're looking to get the most value for your dollar, it would do your wallet good to check out secondhand options. Many used goods still have plenty of life left in them even years after the original purchase, and they're usually resold at a fraction of the retail price, to boot. Here's a list of 21 things that make for a better deal when you buy them used.

1. DVDs and CDs: Used DVDs and CDs will play like new if they were well taken care of. Even if you wind up with a scratched disc and you don't want to bother with a return, there are ways to remove the scratches and make the DVD or CD playable again.
2. Books: You can buy used books at significant discounts from online sellers and brick-and-mortar used book stores. The condition of the books may vary, but they usually range from good to like-new. And of course, check out your local library for free reading material.
3. Video Games: Kids get tired of video games rather quickly. You can easily find used video games from online sellers at sites like Amazon and eBay a few months after the release date. Most video game store outlets will feature a used game shelf, as well. And if you're not the patient type, you can rent or borrow from a friend first to see if it's worth the purchase.
4. Special Occasion and Holiday Clothing: Sometimes you'll need to buy formal clothing for special occasions, such as weddings or prom. Most people will take good care of formal clothing but will only wear it once or twice. Their closet castouts are your savings: Thrift stores, yard sales, online sellers and even some dress shops offer fantastic buys on used formalwear.
5. Jewelry: Depreciation hits hard when you try to sell used jewelry, but as a buyer you can take advantage of the markdown to save a bundle. This is especially true for diamonds, which has ridiculously low resale value. Check out estate sales and reputable pawn shops to find great deals on unique pieces. Even if you decide to resell the jewelry later, the depreciation won't hurt as much.
6. Ikea Furniture: Why bother assembling your own when you can pick it up for free (or nearly free) on Craigslist and Freecycle? Summer is the best time to hunt for Ikea furniture--that's when college students are changing apartments and tossing out their goodies.
7. Games and Toys: How long do games and toys remain your child's favorite before they're left forgotten under the bed or in the closet? You can find used children's toys in great condition at moving sales or on Craigslist, or you can ask your neighbors, friends, and family to trade used toys. Just make sure to give them a good wash before letting junior play.
8. Maternity and Baby Clothes: Compared to everyday outfits that you can wear any time, maternity clothes don't get much wear outside the few months of pregnancy when they fit. The same goes for baby clothes that are quickly outgrown. You'll save a small fortune by purchasing gently used maternity clothes and baby clothes at yard sales and thrift stores. Like children's games and toys, friends and family may have baby or maternity clothing that they'll be happy to let you take off their hands.
[See 20 Things You Should Never Buy Used.]
9. Musical Instruments: Purchasing new musical instruments for a beginner musician is rarely a good idea. (Are you ready to pay $60 an hour for piano lessons?) For your little dear who wants to learn to play an instrument, you should see how long his or her interest lasts by acquiring a rented or used instrument to practice with first. Unless you're a professional musician or your junior prodigy is seriously committed to music, a brand new instrument may not be the best investment.
10. Pets: If you buy a puppy (or kitty) from a professional breeder or a pet store outlet, it can set you back anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. On top of this, you'll need to anticipate additional fees and vet bills, too. Instead, adopt a pre-owned pet from your local animal shelter and get a new family member, fees, and vaccines at a substantially lower cost.
11. Home Accent: Pieces Home decorating pieces and artwork are rarely handled on a day-to-day basis, so they're generally still in good condition even after being resold multiple times. If you like the worn-out look of some decor pieces, you can be sure you didn't pay extra for something that comes naturally with time. And don't forget, for most of us, discovering a true gem at a garage sale is 90% of the fun!
12. Craft Supplies: If you're into crafting, you probably have a variety of different supplies left over from prior projects. If you require some additional supplies for your upcoming project, then you can join a craft swap where you'll find other crafty people to trade supplies with. If you have leftovers, be sure to donate them to your local schools.
13. Houses: You're typically able to get better and more features for your dollar when you purchase an older home rather than building new. Older houses were often constructed on bigger corner lots, and you also get architectural variety in your neighborhood if the houses were built or remodeled in different eras.
14. Office Furniture: Good office furniture is built to withstand heavy use and handling. Really solid pieces will last a lifetime, long after they're resold the first or second time. A great used desk or file cabinet will work as well as (or better than) a new one, but for a fraction of the cost. With the recession shutting down so many businesses, you can easily find lots of great office furniture deals.
15. Cars: You've probably heard this before: Cars depreciate the second you drive them off of the dealership's lot. In buying a used car, you save money on both the initial cost and the insurance. It also helps to know a trusty mechanic who can check it over first. This way, you'll be aware of any potential problems before you make the purchase.
[See 20 Tips for Cleaning on the Cheap.]
16. Hand Tools: Simple tools with few moving parts, like hammers, hoes and wrenches, will keep for decades so long as they are well-made to begin with and are well-maintained. These are fairly easy to find at neighborhood yard or garage sales. If you don't need to use hand tools very often, an even better deal is to rent a set of tools or borrow them from a friend.
17. Sports Equipment: Most people buy sports equipment planning to use it until it drops, but this rarely happens. So when sports equipment ends up on the resale market, they tend to still be in excellent condition. Look into buying used sporting gear through Craigslist and at yard sales or sports equipment stores.
18. Consumer Electronics: I know most folks like shiny new toys, but refurbished electronic goods are a much sweeter deal. Consumer electronics are returned to the manufacturer for different reasons, but generally, they'll be inspected for damaged parts, fixed, tested, then resold at a lower price. Just make sure you get a good warranty along with your purchase.
19. Gardening Supplies: This is an easy way for you to save money, and all you need to do is be observant. Take a look outdoors and you'll likely find such gardening supplies as mulch, wood, and even stones for free or vastly reduced prices. Used garden equipment and tools are also common goods at yard sales.
20. Timeshares: Buying timeshares isn't for everyone, but if you decide that it suits your lifestyle, purchasing the property as a resale would be a better deal than buying it brand new: on average, you'll save 67 percent on the price for a comparable new timeshare. If you're new to timeshare ownership, give it a test run first by renting short term.
21. Recreational Items: It's fairly easy to find high ticket recreational items like campers, boats, and jet skis being resold. Oftentimes, they're barely used at all. As long as they're in safe, working condition, they'll make for a better value when purchased used than new.

Lynn Truong is the co-founder and Deals Editor of Wise Bread, a blog dedicated to helping readers live large on a small budget. Wise Bread's book, 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget, debuted as the #1 Money Management book on Amazon.com

PROGRAM MENGIMARAHKAN MASJID IHSANIAH ISKANDARIAH (2)

KHAMIS 10 JUN 2010 / 27 JAMADIL AKHIR 1431
JAM :8.00

TEMPAT : TINGKAT ATAS (DEWAN SHOLAT)
MASJID IHSANIAH ISKANDARIAH

PROGRAM MENGIMARAHKAN MASJID DI KAMPUNG INI TERMASUKLAH:-
i) MEMBACA YASSIN & TAHLIL - ACARA BULANAN
ii) MAJLIS ILMU (LEBIH DARIPADA 15KALI SEBULAN )

- YANG DIKENDALIKAN OLEH 8 ORANG TENAGA PENGAJAR.

APABILA MASJID IHSANIAH ISKANDARIAH TELAH DI BAIKPULIH, AJK MASJID MEMBUAT KEPUTUSAN UNTUK MENGADAKAN BACAAN YASSIN & TAHLIL SECARA BERSELANG SELI DIANTARA KEDUA2 BUAH MASJID ITU.

MEMANG TERDAPAT KEKANGAN UNTUK MENGADAKAN MAJLIS ILMU DI SINI, KERANA RAMAI JEMAAH TERDIRI DARIPADA ORANG YANG SUDAH LANJUT UMUR . MEREKA KURANG BERUPAYA UNTUK MENAIKI TANGGA KE DEWAN SHOLAT ITU.

PROGRAM MENGIMARAHKAN MASJID IHSANIAH ISKANDARIAH ( 1 )

8 JUN 2010 , JAM 2.00 HINGGA 6 PETANG

TEMPAT : PERKARANGAN MASJID IHSANIAH ISKANDARIAH

MASJID WAHIDIAH, KAMPUNG KUALA DAL.

PROGRAM : RAKAMAN TV3 UNTUK PROGRAM DARI MASJID KE MASJID.

Apa2 pun sebelum sesuatu perkara berlangsung di kampung atau di masjid kampungku, maka berkumpullah AJK Masjid dan JKKK berbincang. Inilah dia diantara WAJAH2 tunggak pentadbiran di sini.

Team TV 3 telah datang ke Masjid Ihsaniah Iskandariah dalam rangka Program Dari Masjid ke Masjid untuk membuat rakaman dengan aktiviti yang dijalankan di masjid ini.

Setiap hari Selasa (2 minggu sekali) memang ada aktiviti di sini seperti kelas berzanji dll. Kebetulan pula TV 3 datang pada hari tersebut... sempatlah mereka merakamkan aktiviti Nasyid pada hari itu. Saya tidak dapat bersama dengan orang2 kampung setiap kali kelas atau aktiviti diadakan. Kesempatan masa belum mengizinkan... hanya turunlah juga sekali-sekala...

Dari kiri: En Hamzah Said, Pak Amin, Hj Osman Musa ,En zulkifli Alias, En Ahmad Fedtri Yahaya (Pengacara TV3),Hj Anuar Abu Bakar dan Hj Jaffar Yusof bergambar ramai di tingkat atas masjid yang masih dikekalkan sebagai ruang sholat.

Pn Asiah Namat (kiri) dan Pn Norsiah Shaari (wanita tunjang kampung saya) tidak melepaskan peluang mengabadikan gambar mereka dengan En Ahmad Fedtri Yahaya.

Datin Salminah, Hjh Norliah (saya) dan Hjh Sharifatul Khobitah bersama2 mendendangkan nasyid "SENANDUNG FATHIHAH"

Seluruh perkumpulan wanita Kampung Kuala Dal, bersama-sama bernasyid.

Bersungguh-sungguh ahli bernasyid

Kumpulan Wanita Padang Rengas turut sama mengimarahkan masjid ini. TERIMA KASIH.

Saya sekeluarga pun turut bergambar

Pak Amin .. dengan fesyen pakaiannya yang tersendiri. Cukup setia dengan kain pelikatnya. Basikal tuanya sentiasa sedia berkhidmat untuknya . Selain jadi Tok Siak, Pak Amin juga seorang tukang urut.

MELIHAT PENYU BERTELUR

1O Mei 2010, 10 .00 MALAM HINGGA 1.00 PAGI

PANTAI GELIGA (MONICA BAY), KEMAMAN.

Dua puluh tahun lalu saya pernah makan telur penyu.... Telur penyu tidak akan jadi keras seperti telur ayam apabila direbus. Bahagian kuningnya hanya sperti telur separuh masak, manakala bahagian putihnya kekal seperti telur suku masak sahaja. Keadaaan ini menyebabkan ramai tidak lalu makan telur penyu. Rasa telur penyu ni agak berpasir sedikit... taruh kicap okay jer...

Penyu dan telur penyu menjadi binatang yang dilindungi. Banyak spesis penyu yang hampir pupus kini. Jarang kita dapat melihat penyu Belimbing lagi. Kalau ada penyu yang naik bertelur pun sekarang ini, hanyalah penyu Agar.

Saya berasa hairan juga kerana di Pasar Payang masih terdapat telur penyu yang dijual secara terbuka. Sesiapa yang kempunan hendak makan telur penyu masih boleh mendapatkanya dengan harga yang agak mahal.

SAYA SEDANG MENYENTUH PENYU YANG SEDANG BERTELUR

Penyu mencari tempat yang sangat selamat untuk ia bertelur. Gambar di atas menunjukkan penyu itu bertelur di tepi bukit, di bawah sebatang pokok pinang yang tumbang.

Saya dan ahli keluarga sangat bernasib baik kerana berkesempatan melihat keseluruhan proses penyu bertelur ini. Apabila seekor penyu sampai ke pantai ia akan mengambil masa dan memerhati keadaan sekeliling sama ada terdapat gangguan atau tidak. Ketika ini jika ada cahaya lampu, ianya akan berpatah balik ke laut. Keadaan bising tidak mengganggu penyu kerana ia pekak di atas darat.

Penyu itu mengambil masa satu jam untuk mengorek lubang. Agak dalam juga lubang yang di koreknya. Bahagian atas lubang , garis pusatnya lebih besar. Manakala lubang di bahagian bawahnya lebih kecil. Lubang besar digunakan oleh penyu untuk meletakkan dadanya , manakala lubang kecil itu pula menjadi tempat ia bertelur.

Inilah dia telur2 penyu yang baru , saya berpeluang menadah tangan menyambut telur2 penyu tersebut. Satu pengalaman yang sukar didapati.

Kami dimaklumkan oleh pemandu pelancong bahawa penyu itu mengorek lubang besar (bahagian atas lubang), dengan menggunakan tangannya dan perlu masa 1 jam atau lebih. Selepas itu penyu akan mengorek lubang kecil (bahagian bawah lubang) dengan menggunakan kakinya pula. Apabila penyu berpuas hati dengan keselamatanya ia akan bertelur. Jika tidak, penyu akan turun ke laut begitu sahaja.

Hari itu dua ekor penyu telah bertelur. Seekor bertelur sebanyak 104 biji , manakala yang seekor lagi bertelur sebanyak 100 biji. Biasanya penyu bertelur antara 70 hingga 140 biji.

Keseluruhannya penyu mengambil masa selama lebih kurang 3 jam untuk naik ke darat, bertelur dan balik semula ke laut.

Dimaklumkan juga, jika penyu bertelur di tepi bukit atau batu, anak yang menetas nanti adalah betina. Jika ianya bertelur di tempat lapang, anak yang menetas adalah jantan. Telur di kawasan lapang mengambil masa lebih kurang 50 hari sahaja untuk menetas, manakala di tepi batu atau hutan , telur penyu perlukan masa yang lebih panjang untuk menetas. Tempoh masa mengeram ini menentukan jantina anak2 penyu tersebut.

Kebetulan pada malam itu, ada sebuah keluarga pelancong daripada Belanda yang datang dengan pakej mahal. Pakej mereka termasuk melepaskan anak penyu Agar (Green Turtle) ke laut. Kami dipelawa untuk "join" sama. Apa lagi dengan muka tak malunya kami pun turut bergambar dengan anak2 penyu dan melepaskannya ke laut.

Inilah anak penyu yang saya namakan sempena nama saya sendiri. Saya mendoakan agar ia selamat dan dapat kembali ke pantai Geliga dan bertelur di situ. Dikatakan setiap 1000 anak penyu yang dilepaskan ke laut, hanya seekor sahaja yang panjang umurnya menjadi dewasa. Banyak penyu mati kerana makan bahan plastik , terutamanya beg plastik. Penyu tertipu dengan beg2 plastik ini kerana menyangka ianya obor-obor sebagai makanannya.

" Upacara sending-off" Penyu Agar turun ke laut selepas bertelur.

Penyu telah sampai ke gigi air.