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Here Are 7 Things Malaysians Should Do With Their Yearly Bonus!

BY Team Loanstreet

Updated 03 Jun 2021




People, the results from the 2018 MEF Salary Surveys for Executives and Non-Executives are in! And it paints a gloomy picture overall. According to the report, Malaysian companies granted lower salary increases and bonuses to their employees in 2018, compared to the previous year. 92.4% of the respondents granted a salary increase to their executives, compared to 94.3% in 2017; for non-executives, it was 92.7% compared to 94.6% in 2017.

But when it came to giving out a bonus, 78.2% of the respondents granted a bonus to all executives as compared to 77.7% in 2017, and for non-executives, it’s 78.7% compared to 76.9% in 2017. If you're one of the lucky ones who received an increment and/or a bonus in 2018 or will be receiving soon -  CONGRATULATIONS!
 

What's covered in this article?




This is the time for you to spend on that trip that you’ve been thinking about, that new iPhone you've been eyeing for months. For sure, you should treat yourself after working so hard, but it's also important to think about how you can derive get value from your bonuses in the long run.

1. Start clearing your loans

A substantial portion of your bonus should be paying off any short-term debt such as credit card dues and personal loans. Short-term debts carry the highest interest rates, so paying them immediately keeps you away from paying more interests in the long-term.

If you don't have any short-term debt, consider allocating money into your mortgage loan (if you have one). A decrease in your mortgage loan’s outstanding balance will reduce the interest charged. Let's take a look at the example below:

Purchase price RM300,000
Total loan RM270,000
Tenure 30 years
Interest rate 5% per annum
Monthly instalment RM1,449.42
Total payment RM521,790.62
Total interest RM251,790.62

To reduce the interest charged, you can make repayment of more than RM1,449.42 by using your bonus. The extra payments will reduce the principal outstanding loan amount and directly save on charged interest. This called the reducing method balance. You can check out how it works here.
 

2. Emergency funds


This type of savings can't be accurately measured (based on each individual's need) nor be calculated in terms of currencies (e.g. ringgits or dollars) but rather, months of living expenses that the funds are able to cover. As such, it is advisable that the most basic emergency fund should contain four to six months of your salary for unexpected circumstances.

It can be utilised for matters such as a sudden loss of a job or ill health. Invest in high liquidity and safe instruments like the Amanah Saham Bumiputra or fixed bank deposits to ensure you are cash-ready when faced with any financial crisis. Hence, if you are still building your funds, a credit card can be an alternative if used correctly.
 

3. Insurance coverage

Proper insurance coverage and policies are needed if you don’t already have one. If you are just starting out with your career and depending solely on the employer’s group insurance, you can use the bonus to purchase medical insurance. As a married individual with a family, ensure that you have sufficient life and health insurance cover on your loved ones too.
 

4. Investments (Short-term)

If you are placing some of your bonus into a savings account, you are in fact getting poorer by the day because the inflation rate is much greater than what the bank is compensating you in interest. What to invest in then? If you’re new to investing, it is better to begin by building a portfolio. Be mindful of the fact that the stock market is volatile and selections of stocks are aplenty so it might end up hurting you, therefore proper research is needed. Consequently, investing in a unit trust is a safe investing alternative.
 

5. Retirement fund (Long-term)


EPF has revised the Basic Savings to RM240,000 effective 1 January 2019 for its Members Investment Scheme. This means that you would need to put away more money for your retirement to look after your future. So why not invest in products with potential returns like shares, unit trusts, private retirement schemes (PRS), investment-linked insurance, annuities, real property and bonds. 

For instance, if you RM50,000 in a mutual fund today with 8% growth annually over 20 years, you'll get RM230,000 at the end, which almost hit the minimum savings recommended by EPF.
 

6. Invest in yourself

Use your year-end bonus to purchase books, take some classes, further your education, and enrich your skill sets. It makes yourself more marketable to your employers, which eventually boosts your career. Thus, having newly acquired knowledge or skills would lead to an individual being able to start a business, which can help increase future wealth.

 

7. Have a bit of fun


It's pointless if your hard-earned money goes into repayments and the like without spending some of it to enjoy yourself, right? The important thing is to set limits. You could have a fun local trip with your loved ones or travel to a foreign country to broaden your horizons.

So which one should I focus on?

Well, it depends on what you want to prioritise first or you can start all. For example, if your bonus is RM10,000, you can separate your money as below:

Allocation Percentage Amount (RM) Description
Debt 35% 3,500 Long- or short-term
Savings/Investments 15% 1,500 Emergency funds
  10% 1,000 Short-term
  15% 1,500 Retirement
Insurance 10% 1,000 Either health or life
Fun 15% 1,500 Entertainment/Holidays
Total 100% 10,000  

Note: this is just a rough guideline.

Remember, the choice is yours. It is up to you on how you would like to spend your bonus. You could actually be achieving financial freedom much earlier than your friends if you plan ahead for it!

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About the Author

Team Loanstreet

Run by a professional human-sized team, get resourceful tips & guides from our very own library of financial articles that can help improve your financial lifestyle & make a well-informed money decision. We strive to provide you with the best service in helping you to get the most out of that DUIT!

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