Mid-year review: Goal met of $200k cash at 28. $400k+ net worth and Astrea bond V

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Half a year gone.

I still have not gotten my keys to my new home and am still childless. Ok, TMI.

On financial front, I've been seeing a steady increase in my net worth. As at my last update in end 2018, my net worth was at $372k.

Half a year later, I've successfully crossed $200k cash savings (previously it dropped as I topped up my MA) and exceeded $400k in networth. I may be able to hit $450k by end year but will just need to carve out some money for renovation and home stuff.

Most gains came from employment. While I lament how sick I am of work, it is my main source of $. I've not added any stocks and can never not live off my portfolio for passive income. It is with salary crediting that I've received 1.85-2% interest on my DBS multiplier anyway.

I've been thinking if I'm making my money work hard enough. I occasionally browse the SGX hoping to see some stocks to purchase, but am not comfortable enough to make the move.

Since Jan till date, my transactions …
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What's the meaning in my life?



Take a good 5 minutes to read this article.

We all know life is short, life is fragile and life is unpredictable. Who knows if we'll die the following day, just like how Christina Grimme died unfairly. But, we don't live each day having this thought on our mind every single time. Honestly, how is it possible, and how is it healthy if you have that thought...constantly? We'll be so risk averse that we could do nothing. And maybe, doing nothing could lead you to death....

It's early morning on 13 Jun and I'm on leave. On a break from work. I woke up without a aim - no work = a dull day, but work = a strenuous, mentally and physically exhausting day with meetings, spamming and replying of emails, doing extra work (the so called CCAs) that are not relevant to my core portfolio (and I hate it). I'm someone who can't sit still. I could sit still only if my hands and brains are moving - that is, using the internet via phone or computer. Time goes too slowly for me if I've nothing planned out for the day, which is today. That is why I'm sitting in front of my screen, browsing facebook, reading blogs, dreaming of my next holiday vacay on a budget...just to pass time. 

And then I came across the above article posted by Minister Tan Chuan Jin which got me thinking about...LIFE. But, my mind is blank. It seems to me that what I envision in my life is a common model like others. I will be working an office job till 62 (maybe?), get married, have kids, watch them grow and get stressed over their futures...and then retire while taking care of grandchildren. Of course, in between, I want to travel to places - yet, I'm not an adventurous person so, no to mountaineering or camping. Don't I sound like an old soul? Don't I sound like I'm living my life so I could nurture my next generation? But, what if I can't procreate? 

My next thought is on Work. Today is a day for me to escape work. I am tempted to check my emails and clear them so I've an easier time tomorrow, yet feels lazy and sick of those stupid emails coming through. I'm also sick of the bureaucracies and lengthy kiasu kiasi email submissions sent up to supervisors which gets jammed in their inboxes and I've to send repeated reminders just so I could get an "OK" before the team proceeds with the ops. I'm also sick of the management being indecisive and lacking leadership. But, my work gives me 2 things - 1) salary and benefits for me to live a decent life, 2) in exchange for the salary and benefits, my time and contributions are given to the company which a) keeps me busy the whole day so I don't have time to "anyhow think" and b) gets me motivated and sometimes proud that I'm exchanging my time for greater good.

At the end of my post, I still can't tell you what's the meaning in my life. My thoughts are too convoluted to give an answer. 

Comments

  1. Singapore Man of Leisure13 June 2016 at 13:17

    Cherry,

    I think now is a good time to take a glance at the top right corner of your blog.

    Will hitting your 5 goals bring you closer to finding meaning in your life?


    Ah! It's so nice to be young! Enjoy it!

    I can remember a time when I had hair, porcelain white skin, and a 27 inch waist!

    Now?

    Oh well...

    LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  2. temperament13 June 2016 at 19:59

    HA! HA!

    7 wisecracks heard from Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger at the 2016 Berkshire annual meeting
    1) On why Charlie always seems to get the girls
    Buffett: “Charlie is always the one who gets the girl and I have one explanation for that. As you know every mother in this country tells her daughter at an early age: If you’re choosing between two very old and rich guys pick the one that’s older.”
    Buffett is turning 86 this year while Munger is 92.
    2) On Donald Trump becoming President
    Shareholder: If Donald Trump becomes the President of the United States and recognising your public criticism of him and your public support for Hillary Clinton, what specific risks, regulatory, policy, or otherwise do you foresee for Berkshire?
    Buffett: “That won’t be the main problem.”
    3) On longevity
    Buffett recently celebrated the 100th birthday of his friend, Arjay Miller, former President of the Ford Motor Company.
    Buffett: “I went out to see Arjay for his birthday on March 4th and Arjay told me there are 10,000 men in the United States who would live to be 100 or greater and 45,000 women who would live to be 100 or greater. I came back and I checked that on the Internet. I went to the Census figures and sure enough that is the ratio – 10,000 men over 100 roughly and 45,000 women. If you really want to improve your longevity prospects, I mean a guy in my position, you have a sex change. You’re four-and-a-half times more likely to get to be 100. That sounds like one of those studies that people put out. It’s just a matter of fact, folks. I think I’ll have Charlie go first though, on that one.”
    4) On Harry Potter
    Shareholder: “This annual meeting reminds me of the magical world of Hogwarts of Harry Potter. This arena is our Hogwarts. Warren, you are headmaster and Professor Dumbledore.”
    Buffett: “I didn’t read Harry Potter but I’d take it as a compliment.”
    5) On credit rating agencies
    Shareholder: “With Berkshire Hathaway being so well-managed, why doesn’t it have a higher credit bond rating?”
    Munger: “Let me take that one. The rating agencies were wrong!”
    Buffett: “And we don’t fit their model very well. I mean, we don’t look like anything exactly, they see otherwise. But…”
    Munger: “But that’s the answer!”
    6) On cattle farms
    One shareholder who owns a cattle farm asked Buffett and Munger if it is wise to own and grow the cattle business as the world population continues to expand.
    Buffett: Charlie?
    Munger: I think it is one of the worst businesses I can imagine.
    Buffett: There is nothing personal about this.
    Munger: Not only is it a bad business but we have no aptitude for it.
    Buffett: Some people have done well, Charlie.
    Munger: That was some 20 years ago.
    Shareholder: I know you guys like steak.
    Munger: Very much, but not owning cattle.
    Buffett: I know a few people who have done reasonably well raising cattle, but they usually owned a bank on the side. But I wish you the best in it.
    7) On their humour
    Shareholder: “Mr Buffett your sense of humour always admirable. Where did your sense of humor come from? Please tell us.“
    Buffett: “Charlie has a better sense of humor than I am. I’ll let him answer this.”
    Munger: “I think if you see the world accurately it’s bound to be humorous because it’s ridiculous.”

    ReplyDelete
  3. la papillion13 June 2016 at 23:04

    Hi Cherry,

    Quarter life crisis? Haha :)

    I think all of us had been there done that. Some became jaded and cynical, while others put their energy into new roads that lead to greater alignment of reality vs ideals. Enlightenment comes when after confusion ;)

    Have faith that things will turn out well, because whatever it is, it'll be what you think reality is.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cherry14 June 2016 at 20:14

      Maybe :(! Thank you for your kind and positive words :)

      Delete
  4. Anonymous17 June 2016 at 01:06

    Good post.

    ReplyDelete

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