Ask Abdiwahab252 Any Question

[Murax]

Heres mine, if You had debts, student loans, etc. and You had some savings. Would You rather spend all Your savings trying to take care of the loan or would You pay the loan in installments and keep Your savings incase You lose Your job?


Also with tax season, do You prefer to file less exemptions, be taxed more throughout the year and get a big return or to file less exemptions, get taxed less but a less tax return?


What are Your tips on saving money?

[AbdiWahab252]

Murax,

Adeer, in this awful economy and with double digit unemployment, I would focus on having a nest egg of 1 year's living expenses tucked away. If you lose your job, you won't be under too much stress as you can draw down on your savings.

Once that is done, start paying off your debts with the highest interest rates first and work your way down to the lowest interest rates.

Ways to start saving, hmm.... Living a more simple life. Simplicity is key. Avoid expensive women. Try to never pay full price for items and look for a discount. Live at home (yes, its cheaper and so what if you are the only friend who lives at home, your bank account will be obese inshallah). Don't buy new cars and buy used.

Tax season - I am on the mindset of giving Uncle Sam as little money as possible (its what any good Muslim should do in light of where he sends the cash). Get as many exemptions as possible but be prepared to pay Uncle Sam if you owe money. The way I figure it better to pay him $2,000 after one year than for him to sit on my $2,000 for an entire year without any return. Look for schemes that make you pay less tax such as joining a Flexible Savings Account to pay for your medical car. I once had to get some medical and dental treatment and I put away $5,000 into that account and saved over $1,200 in federal income taxes. I would have had to pay those expenses but I am paying them PRETAX not after Uncle Sam has robbed me.

P.S. Look for overseas work. Your first 91,000 in income is tax free and you can get another $14,000 in living expenses written off. I pay less in taxes than my 7-11 clerk cousin even though I gross 4 times more than he does

[Meru]

abdiwahab do you celebrate Christmas when you are in Kenya??? plus is madobe your uncle and also in the next part of azania, please elevate me to field marshal Meru i will appreciate. thanks in advance

[AbdiWahab252]

Meru,

I will be briefly in Nairobi but leave for Monrovia a week before Christmas. I promote you to rank of Field Marshal Meru, Order of the Golden Panga.

[BlackVelvet]

Order of the Golden Panga.

[Meru]

Meru,

I will be briefly in Nairobi but leave for Monrovia a week before Christmas. I promote you to rank of Field Marshal Meru, Order of the Golden Panga.

you must be the first Somali to step foot in liberia

[AbdiWahab252]

Meru,

U mean Liberia. You can catch me off Somalia Drive in Monrovia near the Port:




http://www.panoramio.com/photo/8366881

[Meru]

Meru,

U mean Liberia. You can catch me off Somalia Drive in Monrovia near the Port:




http://www.panoramio.com/photo/8366881

hey what are Somalis doing in liberia? they even have a somali drive,? interesting,how did it come?

[AbdiWahab252]

Meru,

Somalia and Liberia were close allies since the 1950s. In Mogadishu, there is a VIA LIBERIA road.

There are Somalis in Monrovia. Mainly there for business or working with INGOs.

I hope the SOmalis stop investing in Kenya and head to countries like Liberia that need the money and have governments that are Somali friendly. Somalis in Gabon for example are doing well. I even got friends in Njdamena, Chad and now I want to check out Bangui, CAR.

[Meru]

Meru,

Somalia and Liberia were close allies since the 1950s. In Mogadishu, there is a VIA LIBERIA road.

There are Somalis in Monrovia. Mainly there for business or working with INGOs.

I hope the SOmalis stop investing in Kenya and head to countries like Liberia that need the money and have governments that are Somali friendly. Somalis in Gabon for example are doing well. I even got friends in Njdamena, Chad and now I want to check out Bangui, CAR.

okay I see now, thanks for the history bit. if Somalis stop investing in Kenya am afraid we will confisticate all their wealth and properties to make up for the investments, you are between a rock and a hard place. do you think we will allow to loose investment?? think again my friend

[AbdiWahab252]

Meru,

I got nothing left in Nairobi. I am going heavy in Mogadishu and finished renovating my spalatial 6 room villa overlooking the ocean. Hopefully, I can get $4,000/month in rent.

[Meru]

Meru,

I got nothing left in Nairobi. I am going heavy in Mogadishu and finished renovating my spalatial 6 room villa overlooking the ocean. Hopefully, I can get $4,000/month in rent.

thats good, wish you the best, Kenyans will soon flock and own real estates in mogadishu, i have a friend who wants to open a company in mogadishu.

[waryaa]

awahab, I need some info on nairobi/mogadishu flights. frequency, fare, reliability, etc. Do you have to book weeks in advance? Also Mogadishu hotels, car/driver rental, etc. thnx in advance.

[SummerRain]

AW
I want to know why you never told my poor cousin about the wives who are keeping busy in tthe homeland.

[AbdiWahab252]

Waryaa,

My recommendations are:

1. Flights - East African or African Express - The small 25-50 seaters only otherwise its a zoo offloading passengers and cargo. Its a pain especially when you are coming back from Mogadishu and transit in Wajir. On the big 737 or MD80, you can be in Wajir for 1 hr and another 1 hr in Nairobi doing checks. With the smaller planes, you are cleared in 35 minutes.

2. Hotels - Depends on what you like. If its politicking, I recommend Hotel Saxafi. Its where the big shots are. After staying there, Xasan Abshir has become my favorite politician. He is a very likeable and down to earth guy. If you want quite and seclusion, try Hotel Amira. Its off K-5 and is secluded from the hustle and bustle of Maka al Mukarama. Shamo Hotel is not a bad option. Its further down into Hodan but I still get creeped out by the Dec 2009 bombing. The hotelier Ina Shaamo is a very hospitable guy and makes your stay pleasant. I like it.

3. Car Rental and Escorts - My advice is to keep low key. I travel around in a Mark 2 with two pistol wielding guards. Most times, I go it alone. When I have a visitor from overseas or traveling around in unfamiliar areas, I rent two TFG soldiers one HG and another from the clan area I am going. With foreigners, I say use well known guards who compromise all clans. When you get into a tiff, a guard from that area can help smooth things out.


Ismahaneey,

What cousin ? And what about wives ?