What is your philosophy on money?
I'm not someone who spends for the sake of it. I enjoy shopping, but I use the money I have and I make sure the credit card is paid off every month. My parents didn't have loads of money. If we wanted something, we had to work for it or wait for our birthday. We soon learnt that if you really wanted something, you waited and saved. I recall vividly wanting a pair of roller skates when I was about 13. I couldn't wait for my birthday, so I saved my pocket money. It took a couple of months to get the £13 (Dh78 at today's rate) I needed, but even now I remember the sense of pride and accomplishment I had when I finally bought them.
Are you a spender or a saver?
I have always had savings. I put aside money each month for Christmas and bills; it's something my parents always encouraged. Even now, I give my mother a cheque each month for a Christmas Club account, which she looks after for me. I save small amounts as I go, so I don't notice. If, for example, we eat at home instead of going out, I'll take the money we would have spent and put it aside. In the UK, I worked for British Gas, which had a share/save scheme. You could buy shares at a discount price and sell them off or keep them. I sold some off once for laser eye surgery - I was terribly short-sighted - I've kept the rest and regularly get dividends.
Have your family finances changed since moving to the Emirates?
Very much so. In the UK, I looked after the family budget. We've been in Dubai for five years and a lot of control seems to have transferred to my husband. It's such a male-dominated society here. He pays the bills and he controls the bank account. It's a weird feeling and I'm not sure I like it, but that's the way things have worked out. Everything seemed to need his signature or his documents.
Have you made any financial mistakes?
It sounds conceited, but I don't think so. Except when my husband went looking for a car and paid a Dh1,000 deposit to a man to buy his second-hand model. It took us longer than expected to sell our car and when we went back to the man he had sold the car and refused to give us back the deposit. We trusted this person and didn't get a receipt or anything in writing, which was silly.
What led you to set up the Buckle Up in the Back Campaign?
I was frustrated every day seeing children not strapped in. When my young daughter was invited on a play date with a western family who didn't have booster seats, I realised something I thought was a local issue was now affecting me and my family. I started a Facebook page in May last year and told a few friends and it snowballed from there. The friends told friends. Someone suggested on the page that I get stickers made. I responded by asking if they would pay for it. Then I got a message from Move One Relocation, a transport firm that was new in Dubai offering to fund them. The company said they had a social responsibility budget and were looking for something local to support. I find it incredibly exciting how much can happen so quickly over here. In the UK, I wouldn't have known where to start to get something like this up and running. We now have four main sponsors: Baby Shop, Graco, GM Chevrolet and the Emirates Driving Institute, which lend us their seat-belt convincer - a machine that simulates how a seat belt works during a crash - for our presentations. Parents tell me their kids all yell "buckle up in the back" as soon as they get into the car and now recognise me as the "Buckle-Up Lady". It's brilliant and shows I've got into their subconscious.
Do you think people compromise on safety when it comes to money?
I really do and I can't understand it. You can buy cheap car seats, that's OK, but when you see people driving around in expensive SUVs without any car seats, I just don't get it. There's no money on earth you can pay to bring your children back after an accident.
What is your idea of financial freedom?
My mother said to me once, "Always have an escape fund", and I do, money that's set aside in my name. But as long as I have enough money to feed and clothe my children and put a roof over our heads, that's financial freedom enough for me. Anything else is a bonus.
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m
7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m
8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m
9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: CVT
Power: 170bhp
Torque: 220Nm
Price: Dh98,900
Wydad 2 Urawa 3
Wydad Nahiri 21’, Hajhouj 90'
Urawa Antonio 18’, 60’, Kashiwagi 26’
More on Quran memorisation:
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Roll of honour
Who has won what so far in the West Asia Premiership season?
Western Clubs Champions League - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens - Winners: Dubai Exiles; Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership - Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons; Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership Cup - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Dubai Exiles
West Asia Cup - Winners: Bahrain; Runners up: Dubai Exiles
West Asia Trophy - Winners: Dubai Hurricanes; Runners up: DSC Eagles
Final West Asia Premiership standings - 1. Jebel Ali Dragons; 2. Abu Dhabi Harlequins; 3. Bahrain; 4. Dubai Exiles; 5. Dubai Hurricanes; 6. DSC Eagles; 7. Abu Dhabi Saracens
Fixture (UAE Premiership final) - Friday, April 13, Al Ain – Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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RESULT
Brazil 2 Croatia 0
Brazil: Neymar (69'), Firmino (90' 3)
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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