{"id":14619,"date":"2015-03-19T10:50:09","date_gmt":"2015-03-19T02:50:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.imoney.my\/articles\/?p=14619"},"modified":"2015-10-06T12:05:12","modified_gmt":"2015-10-06T04:05:12","slug":"how-to-own-the-latest-macbook-without-breaking-your-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.imoney.my\/articles\/how-to-own-the-latest-macbook-without-breaking-your-budget","title":{"rendered":"How-to: Own The Latest MacBook Without Breaking Your Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"

If there\u2019s anything we\u2019ve learned in the past few years or so, it is that people sure do love their Apple products.<\/p>\n

There was a Chinese couple who allegedly sold their daughter<\/a> to buy an iPhone, a 17-year-old who sold a kidney<\/a> for an iPad, and folks who have taken to selling sperm, plasma, their pets, their siblings<\/a> and er\u2026 an assortment of highly inappropriate services in exchange for these devices.<\/p>\n

Earlier this week, the world watched Tim Cook reveal the new MacBook<\/a> and the Apple Watch<\/a>. The Macbook starts at US$1,299 (RM4,785.52), while the watches range from US$350 (RM1,291.39) to US17,000 (RM62,602.50)!<\/p>\n

The hefty price tags will no doubt have many Apple fans dreaming up drastic measures to get their hands on the gadgets again. Instead of parting with a kidney, why not try these cool credit card hacks:<\/p>\n

<\/span>1) Take up an easy payment plan
\n<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"apple1\"<\/h2>\n

Malaysians have the happy option of Easy Payment Plans (EPP) when it comes to credit cards. These cool repayment schemes allow you to repay the purchases you made with a credit card in instalments at little or no interest at all.<\/p>\n

\"macbooktable1\"<\/p>\n

The trick is to be disciplined. If you pay the instalments promptly and make sure you adhere to all the terms and conditions, you will not be charged a single cent in interest throughout the entire repayment period.<\/p>\n

EPPs offer plenty of benefits, including the ability to pay for (mostly) vital big-ticket items spread out over a few months without incurring hefty interest charges over a period of time.<\/p>\n

With an EPP, you also have the option of using the lump sum you would otherwise use to fund a purchase for savings or investing purposes instead. For instance, putting your cash in fixed deposit will help you earn some extra pocket money.<\/p>\n

However, make sure you read the fine print<\/a>. Some credit cards charge an upfront amount and administrative charges, while others require you to make a minimum purchase of a certain amount to benefit from the EPP.<\/p>\n

<\/span>2)\u00a0<\/b>Look into balance transfer<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"apple3\"<\/p>\n

A balance transfer<\/a> is another option you can consider if you plan to make a hefty purchase, but do not intend to shell out more on interest. What a balance transfer card does is, it lets you shift any balance you have accumulated from one card or cards, into a credit card that offers a very low or 0% interest rate for a specified period, and sometimes there may be an upfront fee.<\/p>\n

In this scenario, let us assume that you\u2019ve bought a brand new Macbook for RM5,000 with a credit card at a typical rate of interest of 15%. From there, you can opt to sign up for a balance transfer credit card that offers a lower interest rate, and lets you work off your repayment plan at 0% interest.<\/p>\n

\"macbooktable2\"<\/p>\n

Find out how much you can save with balance transfer using this simple calculator<\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n

The best 0% balance transfer cards usually offer 0% on new purchases for at least six months. If you\u2019re not in debt, you can take advantage of this and take on some life-improving purchases or projects. You can pay the balance off over time and not incur any additional financial charges.<\/p>\n

The trick is to make sure that you pay the required payment punctually each month. Otherwise, the standard interest rate will be applied on your balances.<\/p>\n

<\/span>3) Make full use of your credit card privileges<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"creditcard1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

You can make the most of the discounts and privileges your credit card offers just by getting one that best complements your lifestyle and spending habits.<\/p>\n

For example, CIMB Bank cardholders get to enjoy 10% discount on weekends<\/a> when they make a purchase on Lazada (on certain products). If you make a RM5,000 purchase, you will be entitled to a RM500 discount.<\/p>\n

With the right credit card, you will be able to leverage on discounts and promotions with selected merchants all year round, and boost your finances when used responsibly.<\/p>\n

Whether you intend to raid the Apple store or save on your daily expenditures, in order to maximise the rewards, you want to get a credit card that offers the highest rewards for the categories of things you spend the most money on.<\/p>\n

However, that is not the only deciding factor. Also keep a lookout for cards that give you consistent rewards. If you use your credit cards the right way, you will get rewarded on your spending.<\/p>\n

<\/span>It\u2019s not difficult to find the best card to fit your lifestyle. Let us help you with this simple quiz<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Find out how you can own a MacBook without selling a kidney with these cool credit card hacks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":14623,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[234,257,11,227,256,218,232],"tags":[219],"class_list":["post-14619","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-balance-transfer-card","category-budgeting","category-cards","category-credit-card","category-lifestyle","category-money-management","category-rewards-credit-card","tag-bi"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow-to: Own The Latest Macbook Without Breaking Your Budget | iMoney<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Find out how you can own a MacBook without selling a kidney with these cool credit card hacks.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" 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