Simple Budget, Simple Life

It's just one week to Xmas! No wonder the crowd at Orchard yesterday. There were full of people at Takashimaya, ION looking for gifts....or are they impractical ones? Every Christmas, we fret over what to gift to friends, colleagues and families. I, as a self-proclaimed ultra practical person will never buy gifts that are impractical. I'll SMH and feel disappointed when I received impractical gifts like chocolates (very insincere leh, unless it's Royce lol), The Body Shop lotion (no use la!), piggy banks (I'm big enough leh!) and notebooks (not laptops but jotter books! They're fancy, but I get so many free during fairs and I can't finish using!). Since I'm already spending money liao, might as well gift something useful right? Better late than never, so here's my guide to 5 last minute below $30 Xmas gift ideas if you want to gift something practical. Disclaimer, what's practical for me may not be for you and if you're purchasing these onlin...

I've a total of 4 wisdom tooth that has yet been extracted. People say that if you dont feel aches, there's no need to remove those tooth. But, I've been having toothache on my lower right molar area. I knew my 4 wisdom tooth were growing in weird directions during my x-rays years ago. The dentist said that she could not remove them as they're still growing and it is possible that my tooth would grow vertically just like normal tooth which does not require extractions. However, years later, I could see that my 4 wisdom tooth are impacted - meaning, they are growing against my molars. Also, I've noticed food stuck at the gums between the molars and the wisdom tooth - very gross because there is a hole that traps food already. I've been putting off the extractions for the past few years. My dentist wanted to do a X-Ray for me to check on the tooth before assessing if I should remove them but I didn't bear to spend the money on the X-rays :X. Was also thin...

I like the caption below: With the Powerball jackpot soaring to $415 million, it’s important to remember that money doesn’t solve life’s problems . In fact, many people’s lives took a turn for the worse, and they managed to lose all the money.  What would I do if I strike the lottery? 1. Keep quiet This might be hard to do considering that I like to share my joy. But, I'd like to keep my mouth shut and not share this news to anyone - not even my partner and family. I can already imagine what my dad would say and think - he'd expect me to fork everything. He'll probably share this with the external family who wouldn't let me off easily. More family politics will ensue. As for my partner, he'd probably still treat me the same, but I can't trust his mouth. If he'll to share this news with his family, I'll be labelled as niao if I dont pay for stuffs. Tongues will wag, and I can't take these. Keep quiet for my own sanity. 2. Continue w...

As I trawl through the comments , people were sharing their PSLE scores along with how and what they're doing now. Some are doing well, and some are still finding their way out in life. Now here's my story. I grew up in a vicious environment. A vicious environment perpetuated by bitchy relatives who compare my results EVERY SINGLE TIME. I hated them for their endless comparison and in turn berated myself for not being academically smart. They always had something to say or to belittle me. I had a big ego but a meek personality. Whenever I hear them snickering about my results or "consoling" my parents that my results are "okay", I cry. I was an average student in school. In my primary school, I was streamed into EM2 but was doing okay for most of my subjects, except Maths. I usually top my Chinese, but Chinese was not important. During PSLE, I was hoping for a score of at least 235, so that I could get into a neighbouring girl's school. When my res...

I probably come across as a frugal lady from my previous posts. I don't spend incessantly, don't crave for much, nor chase for the latest fashion or makeup. But, I've my shares of impulse purchases. And this purchase which I'm taking about, makes me regret every time I think about/sees it. And, it's not even my money. My engagement ring I don't think I've shared this story before, but my partner was kinda pressurized to get a diamond ring for me. On the spot. I guess I was feeling frustrated of his inaction, and his NATO style. He is so lepak that if I hadn't got him to pay for the ring, I'm probably still not engaged. (On a side note, there's no point being proposed to early, because we have no plans for marriage yet.) I'll not dwell too much on this but to cut the story short, I chose my diamond ring at a warehouse sale. Yes, I suck. Just because it was a warehouse sale from a reputable jewellery store (think 50%* off signs plas...

It's mid Nov. How time flies. I remember celebrating Xmas in the office not long ago and exchanging gifts. It's going to be another Xmas soon. In the past 11 months, I don't think I've made much significant achievements. But as I squeeze my brain cells hard, I recalled achieving my goal of having $100k cash at 25 . I recalled that I was proposed to, but hey, no progress in terms of marriage/wedding. I recalled that I took on a new portfolio and am not liking it very much. I recalled spending a lot of money on my SC Singpost, Manhattan and BOC Family card just to chalk up rebates, and am now at the stage where I barely spent much - I didn't even spend anything on 11.11. I recalled getting a good performance bonus, and will probably not get this grade in the future. I recalled crying in office and back home because of mistakes, criticisms and stress. I recalled the quarrels with my fiance because I felt that he does not care about my feelings and even thought of c...

It's 1 Nov tomorrow. After a decent break from work, it's back to the grind. During my break, I had various thoughts: A) Quit this job - because I don't know what I'm learning - there's always so much shit to clear up and my bosses cannot lead - too much things on my plate and the bosses will always say they are giving me exposure - don't wish to stay till promotion because it could be at least 2 more years (that's a long time) - bosses don't communicate and don't give proper directions, leading to wastage of efforts and resources B) Stay because - my bosses like/trust me and my performance bonuses show - I should wait for my promotion -the economy is bad and I should stay till I get my increment which would at least be $300+ - everywhere else sucks, as said by everyone. Worst still, if I go into a company full of petty, competitive b* who play politics, I'll probably cry my way home. At the end of it, I chose to stay put. At...