Simple Budget, Simple Life

Blogging about my financial moves is good. I had the impression I started topping up my SA and my mum's since 2015, but it was actually since 2016 (see here and here ). This is my 6th year topping up, which meant a good $84,000 into my mum and my CPF 😱. Not forgetting a blunder I made in 2019 where I top-up ~$6k cash for MA only to be refunded. I've forgotten the story because I didn't blog about it (it was drafted halfway).  Anyway, here's locking down in my little virtual journey that I've just done the cash top-ups via paynow  today.  I will egg my husband to do the same as my SA has outdone his. Afternote - settled his top-up.

This post is to remind me that I've made my CPF nomination at the start of 2021...all within 10 minutes It was an impromptu event. I mean, I had wanted to do this since a long time, but never got around it. For one, I had difficulties finding 2 witnesses lol. But I realised I should just be thick skinned to ask. Nice enough, the 2 witnesses replied instantly with their details   ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ You can refer to the picture here on what details your witnesses need to provide: - their IC number - name as per IC - email address - mobile number Anyway, the CPF nomination was sparked by CPF's video when I was browsing facebook - so CPF Social Media peeps, your post/intent is working. Here's the said video or you can click the link here : I decided to do it because as what the video shared, if I pass away without a nomination, my CPF money will be distributed by intestacy law, takes 6 months to process, and requires fees for my family to receive my money.  Whereas through a 10 minutes n...

When people talked about STI being the Super Terrible Index, I laughed. It was such an apt description cause the people around me who invested into STI via DCA years back are still seeing red.  Despite that, I decided to take it up when it was hovering around $2.50+ in Sept 2020 through  Tiger Brokers . I reckoned that Singapore economy would one day rebound. When would that "one day" happen? I'm not sure. But I figured if it continues that way for the next 1-2 years, I'll just accept the dividends that comes along, since interest rates from saving accounts SUCKS. I didn't expect STI to cross $3.00 4 months later.  I had also planned to sell it off once it hits $3.00.  Not sure if it was a sign - I came across this, and I quote "A gain is not a real again unless its a realized gain". So I decided to sell off my shares in STI ETF, for a ~18% profit.  All through Tiger Brokers.   You can check out the fee comparison on stocks purchases between Tiger and D...

I wanted a morbid title - If I drop dead, I'd hate myself for not spending my money. But since it's a new year, I shall make it less disgusting. You get the drift. I thought about this on 30-31 Dec 2020 when I was feeling damn sick. I had bad gastric (thinking if I've gastric cancer), fever at 37.9 deg then dropping to 37.2 deg, then back up, then dropping to 36.8 deg (thinking if I've covid), backaches (again, is it Covid??). My brain was overthinking. While friends were hyped up for the new year, it was just a mundane day for my hub and I. No celebrations with friends and no fireworks to look forward to. Anyway, I thought, IF I'm really sick, and I suddenly drop dead, I'd be pissed I didn't spend my money. With at least $350k accessible money now, what exactly am I accumulating for? I've no kid. I don't need to leave a legacy. My parents and husband and self-sufficient.  So what am I saving for? I pondered....and realised I've nothing I want. M...

It's the new year, and I've been hoping for good news. Instead, the first financial related stuff I saw was the interest cut on OCBC 360 savings account w.e.f 1 Feb  😒 In view of the current low interest environment, I chanced upon the new plan by Etiqa. I've been a Etiqa customer since 2019.  Back then, I posted about the 2.02% ELASTIQ guaranteed plan  which I bought. Unfortunately, this plan is now fully subscribed. In 2020, I shared that this was one of the way I earned $600-$1,500 passive income ( see point 3) . During then, they had rolled out the 2.1% Tiq 3-year endowment but I didn't take the chance to enter since I had the ELASTIQ plan. On hindsight, should have parked some money there since the saving accounts interest are so pathetic.... As of today, 4 Jan 2021, Etiqa released a new 3-year endowment that provides a guaranteed 1.68% if you hold it for 3 years; with a minimum saving of $10,000. There is no medical underwriting involved. For more details, you m...

I love seeing more money roll in. Who doesn't? I get especially excited to see how much CPF interest rolls in every start of the year. This time, I've clocked an extra $6,800 for my CPF Such gains will propel my goal towards $650k  net worth in 2021 even faster.  Given the projected FRS in this Seedly page , I expect my SA to reach FRS in 3-4 years time😱On hindsight, I should have protected my OA from being wiped out for my flat so that I can reach FRS even faster... Still some way to go, but with me topping up $7k for my SA...hopefully, I can achieve 1M65 or even 1M50 very very soon. Have you checked yours yet?  😊

Since I started blogging here in 2016, I have been doing my own financial review and reflections at the end of the year. It is timely to think about the good and the bad that came and pass. Here's a recap over the years: 2016 -  Unexpected review of 2016: hitting $200k in net worth 2017 -  End 2017 review - net worth at $287k 2018 -  End 2018 review - net worth at $372k  2019 -  End 2019 Review - inching close to $500k net worth  (~$440k) I read back again at what happened in 2019 and am so glad I managed to EXPEND ALL MY VACATION LEAVE and travel to 17 cities. Who would have known that I couldn't even go to JB for my usual shopping in 2020?  Back in 2019, I set very generic goals🙄. I supposed since I have already secured a flat of my own, I have already met my basic needs. Goals like aiming for promotion at work is something that I don't really crave because I prefer NOT to have the stress that comes with it. Here's what I wished for 2020 and whether...