Elizabeth Tai's Blog, page 14

Adventure in New York City circa 2004

Manhattan bridge by Luca Bravo

If there's one regret I have in life is hitting the delete button on my old blog. I've been blogging since 2000, but by 2008ish, the fun had gone out of it. I was involved in a few annoying blogger spats which moved on to real-life space, and it all seemed stupid. So I erased it all.

Nearly a decade's worth of content. Gone! 

But fortunately, I've saved them all. Instead of letting them die a slow digital death, I thought it'll be a good idea to resurrect them th...

5 reasons why I prefer renting a home

Jared Rice / Unspash

I was a homeowner right out of university. Back then, I didn’t even know how to manage my credit card, let alone a massive six-figure house loan.

But my Chinese parents being the quintessential Chinese parents believed that it was very important for me to get property ASAP, so they encouraged (or rather, strongly motivated) me to get one as quickly as I could.

In many ways I’m thankful that I got on the property ladder at such a young age. I am so grateful for the leg up t...

5 money tips for college grads

Yup, that dress is gorgeous. It's mine, I tell ya, mine. (Photo: bruce mars)

You've just gotten your first pay check! Yay! But before you go and spend it all, I'm going to be an annoying aunty and say: Wait just a micro minute. Don't take out the plastic until you've read this post.

You're a grad, fresh out of uni with a new job. This is the time where your financial decisions could  affect the rest of your life. You need to cultivate good money habits NOW, not later, because you could get in...

We don't have as much time as we think

Photo by Ester Marie Doysabas

I was supposed to meet my colleague for a cup of coffee. But she died before I could.

When I returned to the company, she had called out - while hurrying to a work assignment - "Liz, we need to meet!"

After all, we've not seen each other in years. 

"Yes we should! I yelled back.

I thought we had time. But we didn't.

A few weeks after that encounter, I was attending her wake. As I watched crestfallen colleagues walk past her coffin, I thought to myself: How many thing...

3 Things I learned in June - Stuff I'm Sharing June 2018

How time has flown! This year has been year of such massive change for me. I finally packed up my former identity as a journalist and stepped into the corporate world as a content strategist for an insurance firm. Then New Malaysia happened, and I think, like the rest of Malaysia, I've been devouring the news. I think Malaysians are still in shock over this new found freedom and transparency we have.  

Change is hard. So hard. 

But change is also good.

1. Outlook emails

Corporate culture is SO d...

I got rid of bad PMS with Chinese medicine. Here's what happened.

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The mix of herbs in "ba zhen" - as mysterious as it is helpful.

First of all. A disclaimer. I am NOT a medical professional, so don't take this blog post as medical advice. This is just what my experience of taking ba zhen, a Chinese herbal soup that's been touted to do many great things.

I've been more and more aware of what hormonal fluctuations can do to a female, and it's really fascinating. Did you know these hormonal fluctuations can cause bloating, gut issues, back pain, joint pain?

Ear...

How to prepare your finances for a career change

Photo by Annie Sprat.

Shifting careers is a scary thing. I know, because I have done it a few times. I started out in advertising, then went on to journalism, then briefly to digital marketing and then to nursing and then back to journalism and now I am a content strategist, which I believe is the dream career for me. (Are you dizzy yet? Did I tell you that I also thought of being a massage therapist?)

Each time I changed careers I was terrified, because frankly I am a risk-averse person. How...

Why I moved closer to work, and why you should too

My apartment is designed the way I love it: Minimal and functional.

A few weeks ago, I did something I never thought I'd ever do: pay top dollar to move into an apartment to live on my own.

I've been sharing flats and houses with strangers (mostly) since 2012. My move to share apartments/houses was a deliberate move to downsize; I wanted to live more frugally to pay down my housing loan. I did live on my own for a few years before that and enjoyed it, but it was expensive to live alone. With...

Should you return to Malaysia? Some considerations

My post, Malaysians, No Need To Migrate! Malaysians Abroad, It's Time To Come Home! struck a chord. Many Malaysians now feel euphoric after the historic GE14 election; many Malaysians abroad are now thinking about coming home.

If you are one of these overseas Malaysians, should you make the trek home?

Some Malaysians commented that the move back home isn't possible for all. That, I agree.

When I wrote the article, it was meant for those on the cusp of making that decision. Those who are about t...

Malaysians, no need to migrate! Malaysians abroad, it's time to come home!

Summer in Glenelg.

Oops, apologies for being a wee late with my (usually) Friday udpates. But hoo boy, have I been attacked by one heck of a cold in the last few days.

I spent Saturday asleep in my bed, absolutely knocked out by cold meds. Call it post-GE14 hangover. I mean, I barely slept since May 9, so it's no wonder I fell prey to a microscopic virus.

But I'm fine now and still pinching myself to this new Malaysia we're living in.

So. It's been 11 days since Malaysia's 14th General Election...