After starting to work for 3 weeks in the new company, I'm now making some adjustment on the monthly budget

Salary = 3,500

Bonus = (Unknown. I will save all the bonuses anyway if rewarded)

EPF = 280 (=3,500*8%. I choose to pay 8% salary for my own EPF portion, whereby the company will pay according to the statutory rate.)

Home contribution = 350 (=3,500* 10% salary to parents)

Food = 540 (=18*30, previously i planned 5 per meal and 15 per day for food, however I don't find any cheap restaurants nearby Jln. Raja Chulan, so I have to fork out 3 extra for lunch.  Maybe after I get use to the working environment and know which restaurants or stalls provide economic and cheaper food other than going to Pavillion, then only I can spend less on lunch…>_<!!)

Rental = 300

Transport = 100 (I have decided to defer owning a car. Now I walked from home 10 min to LRT station, and take LRT to KLCC. After that I walk another 10-15 min to reach office, just treat it as an exercise.)

Insurance = 250 (might plan to cut 50 on insurance the new company provides some kind of insurance coverage for the workers)

Internet+phone = 100 (=hand-phone prepaid of 30 + celcome wireless of 60, make the sum total approximately 100)

Investment magazine subscription = 60

Others = 120

So each month I can save RM1,400, of which could have exceeded my previous plan to save 20% of the salary after deducting car installment+car expenses. The reason I aborted the car plan is because I plan to save up to 50% of my salary, too bad that with current pay I can only make it max to 40% with my best effort. I hope after going through the probation or working a year in the firm, I could have achieved the 50% savings plan with additional salary increment then, assuming my expenses will not increase in tandem with the increment.

My next move is to save for a 3 to 6-months emergency fund ranging from RM6,000 to RM8,000. After achieving my plan for setting up emergency fund in the next 5 to 6 months, then only I can take the subsequent savings to continue accumulate my investment portfolio.