Simple Budget, Simple Life

In my previous post , I talked about how I've hit my goal of saving $100k cash before 28. Here are some of my personal saving tips: Park your money in a high interest savings account  I started off with POSB Kids Savings then switched to FRANK account in Uni and then to OCBC 360 after I started work. The interests offered by OCBC 360 is so far one of the best. 1.2% on salary crediting and 0.5% on paying 3 bills. Clocked my expenses on other credit cards instead of OCBC, so I only have 1.7% p.a on my 360. It does help me in achieving my goal faster. But, if a better savings account comes along, I'll just jump the ship. Update as at 3 Aug - I've jumped the ship to BOC SmartSaver ! Park your remaining money in a fixed deposit Since only the first $60k enjoys attractive interest, why park the remaining amount for the low base rate? I'm always on the look out for fixed deposits, which unfortunately has been disappointing this year, and would place a $10k t

pic from google images Well, hi guys. I've been putting off this post for a few months because I want to be completely sure that after deducting my expenses, I indeed have that amount I've goaled. So here goes. I officially have $100k cash savings before 28. But to set things right, I've been saving since young. For the purpose of this post, I took out my POSB Kids Savings passbook which was set up when I was 9. I still remembered that the first amount put in was $1, and I received a POSB squirrel raincoat! My parents deposited $161 during that first deposit. Gradually, more money were deposited. It could be money from my scholarship awards, bursaries, Eagle Awards and whatever monetary incentives I achieved in school. Of course, in goes my angbao money (which my mom took back a portion - technically, the angbao monies are from her, since she always lugi). I started working as a temp at 17, and continued to do so during school holidays. By age 19, before I enter

When you see this logo on your envelop, you know what it means ;) I always thought that income tax is a good thing - you tax almost everyone and people who earns more get tax more. It's one way of seeking equity.  I still think income tax is a good thing. But now that I've started worked and is contributing to the tax, I kinda feel the pinch...especially when my income tax jumped significantly. Unlike my bf, I can't claim tax relief. My parents are both working and earning at least above $1k, no handicapped siblings (CHOY AH!), and the list goes on. Come to think of it, cannot claim tax relief also good la. My parents are working, and although their income is low, they get to socialise, earn their keeps (and spend it on us lol) and, worry less. Ever since my mom started work years ago after being a housewife for eons, she seems less bored. At work, she gets to banter with others and know more about what's going on in "life" versus staying at h

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 sl

Having dated my partner for 4 years and knowing that he's the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, the natural step is to purchase a flat together. I thought purchasing a flat was going to be easy and smooth - apply and you'll get it. Haha, I probably thought I was very lucky. But I was so wrong. It's all about the timing and luck - whether there are estates you like and whether you'll get a unit based on your ballot number. I've applied for 2 rounds of BTO since 2015 but were unsuccessful because they were mature estates. Location is very important to me. So does the thousands who think so. Honestly, getting a flat now would feel like striking lottery. And, I've only won $10 from TOTO once. So in the latest round of BTO/SOBF, I've made my 3rd try and submitted my $10 bet. It's a gamble, isn't it? This time, I've applied for a SOBF near my estate. The units that I want are less than 15, and my area is HOT, but I hope that I'

image from google   Hold on to your Disney dollars as the currency's value is set to rocket Anyone holding onto your prized Disney dollars? It's now out of production. Time to sell? I've only been to Hong Kong's Disneyland but was not aware of the existence of the Disney Dollar (oops). Only knew of it when my bf gave them to me during his visit to Paris Disneyland. Unfortunately, I can't find my Disney Dollar from him but I managed to find the Disney Coin. Does this count? :P

At 7.30pm, my fiance messaged me.  JUST IN: Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat collapsed during Cabinet meeting; CT scan shows he had a stroke says PMO. I was shocked.  Judging by the number of posts published by the various MPs and Ministers, we could tell that his stroke was a serious one.  I've have never met him, and we don't know each other, but I was affected.  I was possibly feeling concerned because he is a respectable Minister yet, as with all humans, succumbed to stress, leading to a poor health. Many people are like him. Or are on the way to be him. One Minister wrote, " I could see that he was very tired. I have been telling him that he was overworking so much that it will affect his health ." Mr Heng has been steering many big and heavy projects/committees and could possibly have neglected his health at. And then, I reflected on myself. Obviously, I don't hold as big a hat as him, but, would I one day work too much that I breakdown? How

Another month. Again? April zoomed by so quickly that I couldn't remember much that happened. Luckily, I take note of my expenses giving me an inkling of what I did/spent on. My expenses in Apr were as follows: Fixed expenses:  $525 Variable expenses: $1,355.07 Food - $260.82 Had 5 western food this month such as Astons, Tender Chicken, Texas Chicken Treated my family to korean food @ Masizzim via my groupon voucher - not fantastic, but something special for my folks but I reckon they prefer Chinese food more :P btw, even with my $50 voucher, I had to top up $43 more *gasps*...nvm, once in a while indulgence. I really think we can eat more at the same price at tze char stall haha! A treat for my fiance at Tsukada Nojo for their famed bijin nabe aka collagen soup. My 2nd trip here and am still loving the soup. I'm a soup lover, what's more, their collagen soup is so thick....but I got quite a bit of sore throat after the meal. Also, the price is n

Other than sharing about my financial journey, at the end of it, what I want is to have a healthy body and mind to enjoy my fruits of labour. I'm not just financially conscious, but health conscious as well. I used to not care about what I eat since I wasn't fat. But, I would always have bad stomachaches and cramps. Furthermore, I don't exercise. After a few painful episodes, and after visiting the TCMs, I knew I had to do something to improve my health. One of my New Year Resolutions is to eat better. I am trying to cut down on my fast food intake, and raw food such as salad and sashimi. People tout salads as a healthy choice, and I wont' disagree depending on what sauces you add, but I don't think my body suits cold food like salad and sashimi. I still indulge in my hawker food such as hokkien mee, char kway teow, but usually eat less oily food such as fish porridge, fish soup bee hoon, ban mian etc. I have also cut down on my cold drinks intake as my body con

I'm not actively looking for a job. So when I received a call for an interview, I was puzzled. Turns out, I applied for this position months ago. I'm in my first job and feels comfortable with what I have now. The first 2 years were tough. High turnover led me to covering the roles of colleagues until we got people in, trained new colleagues who are much older and "experienced" plus expensive, feeling stressed out from the deadlines and non-existent SOPs, feeling angry because of messy instructions from different bosses who sometimes can't make up their minds, knowing that I'm not paid as well as others, having crappy colleagues who create politics, gossips and do not cooperate and the list goes on. There were times when I felt like giving up. But I knew I can't because, as a fresh grad, there's not much places for me to go. I wouldn't hire people who jumps around within 1-2 years, much less do it myself. And so, I shouldered on. As I got th