1. Dig the ‘tukar langsir baru’ tradition – the current curtain looks fine ! If you have to, exchange it with the other set you haven’t used for quite some time. Your guests will not be able to tell, and would most probably compliment you as it looks nice, cheerful and suited for the celebration ! For the household, it will just give a fresh new look ! You save money, time and hassle time from purchasing and installing a new one !
2. For the next raya (or this raya if still applicable), recycle that old pair of your favourite traditional costume which happened to match (if you’re the matchy type) your son’s/husband ‘s baju Melayu. Congratulations you’ve saved a couple hundred of bucks !
3. Easy on the jewellery – mom has plenty from the treasure chest. Scramble through (with permission from lady boss) to see if you can find a few pieces to adorn (and delight momma) on Raya day !
4. If you’re taking that long haul drive up to Penang, or down to Johor Bahru, plan your trip early and wisely pick your departure time. Entering the highway during peak hours can only mean one thing , more gas needed for the longer driving hours. More gas equals to having filling the tank earlier in the route, and again, when returning back to the city/home.
5. Duit raya – plenty a time we generally become extra generous during festive seasons like this. The bucks spent of festive decoration, cards, new furnitures, new clothings and et cetera can cause us our wallet. Try to ‘spend’ raya more wisely now – especially if you’re pay cheque is not that too hefty. You’ve a future to save up for, a retirement to plan for, and of course if you’re having kids, you do want to save for their education. If you can afford only RM2 , or RM5 per green packet, so be it. The idea is not to waste money unnecessarily.
6. Raya money collection ! Yippee. when I was little, my mother would collect the raya money from me right away – even as kids, we do hope that some allowance can be spared.. None.. Mom collect the raya $, and give it back to me at the end of raya celebration to count the total- to be put in my piggy bank. It’s an effective way to instil and educate the young to save up from an early age. Worked for me !
7. Food : we tend to over budget when it comes to food. Yes, you can spend but do budget wisely what and how much to buy to avoid unnecessary wastage. Prepare food that are suitable for the occasion and certainly be a ‘hit’ among your family/friends visiting you !
8. Carpool if you’re travelling with your extended family. Instead of having 7 separate cars, with 2-3 extra seat space each car, jump in and get merry. Observe number of passenger limit though. Generally 2 separate family will split the cost (for long haul journey). If 1 sibling offers to pay for fuel and toll, err…the better?! 🙂 Its okay, you can pay for next year’s trip !
9. Limit the luggage item – you’re not staying for a fortnight. At most the 1 week stay will only require 1 small-medium luggage bag. If the 3 pairs of handbags and shoes are taking too much space, where one (the one with low heels, and chuck another 2 in the bag. Still no difference, just bring a pair of shoes, or at most two. I like to limit my handbag to only one. (yeah the handbag you will be wearing with your baju raya!)
10. Keep small change (and green packets) handy. Local banks offers small changes a few weeks before raya. I changed mine in Maybank last week. That way you don’t have to worry of not having enough change!
Selamat Hari Raya, dan Maaf Zahir Batin from missjewelz !
missJewelz 
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