Simple Budget, Simple Life

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

The thought of depositing cash into CPF struck me when I read some blogs on reducing tax reliefs and also earning the decent interest rates given by our government in the current low interest rates climate. Since then, I've been researching on the pros and cons of this move and concluded to transfer $7,000 cash into my mom's Retirement Account. Here's why: 1. To reduce my tax payable My estimated tax is around $2,400, assuming there are zero reliefs. By topping up my mom's CPF, I'll get a relief of $7,000. Now that will reduce my tax to around $1,900. 2. Growing spare cash  I mentioned that I'm always on the look out for safe places to park my cash, mostly FDs. But the FDs these days are disappointing. I've on standby, at least $60k cash in my BOC account  . So, emergency funds are settled. I've also 2 FDs accounts which have yet to mature. The remaining cash could be put to other uses, like giving it to my mom by parking the money into a sa

I recently signed up for the HSBC credit card so that I could get the Samsonite luggage with my >$1k spend. Let me just say that their application forms/page are not user friendly and their processing time was really long. I called the HSBC customer service to enquire when I'd receive the card, and they said mine was still in processing stage despite me making a few calls previously to ensure that I've submitted all my docs and that I need the card by end of the month. They said they'd expedite. Which, they did. Because on the day of making the phone call to the customer service, I received my card. Now, didn't the customer service officer told me that my application is still in processing stage? I reckon the guy just didn't know what was going on and would tell all applicants that their cards are in process. Not a good impression on their banking services. Anyway, I was relieved to get my card on 30 Sept because I needed to pay a payment of >$1k. I imme

I am a self-proclaimed low maintenance lady and I attribute this lifestyle and my personality of wanting to make my money worth (most of the times), to why I manage to save $100k at 25 . I love browsing through famous instagramers' feed - from their immaculate makeup, fashionable outfits, to their pretty manicures. But, I've never bear to splash cash to be like them. I'd rather have spend my money on food than makeup, and nice clothes that doesn't cost a bomb. Here's how I keep a low maintenance lifestyle: 1) I don't do makeup Must self-praise that I've genetically nice skin. I seldom have acne breakouts, and have no freckles. My only concern are those pores and blackheads on my nose, but well, nobody will look at me with a magnifying glass. I guess genetics play a part, but I've also refrain from using makeup loaded with harmful chemicals. Do you know that I know nothing about makeup? Test me with the names of makeup brands and new makeup produc

It's rather funny that I'm talking about this at this age, when most of my peers receive their licenses after "A" levels at 18. But, I've never been bothered to learn driving. Here are the reasons why: 1) My family has no car and the only one with a license is my dad Many of my peers have family car. They were used to being driven around by their parents, and learn about driving through their trips. But our family never had a car. I had no sense of cars, driving or traffic rules and laws. Driving was unfamiliar to me and the closest experience I had was Go-Kart. Most of my peers who learn driving has a car at home, and it stems from a need to learn driving because their parents asked them to. Some were even sponsored a car after learning driving. Also, because my mom doesn't have a license, and we get on well without a car since we live is such a convenient location, it just doesn't strike me that I MUST learn to drive. 2) I'm clumsy, careless

Good lobang must share. A few years ago, when I had no income, I live by my debits. Straight after being employed, I signed up for a few credit cards to milk some rebates. I've never paid much attention to debits offering rebates cause their rebates were so little, until now. DBS Visa Debit offers 5% cashback through Visa paywave, Apply Pay, Samsung Pay and Android Pay. The cashback is subject to a $50 cap per month. You should also keep to 3 times or less cash withdrawals at DBS/POSB ATMs. Good for me, since I don't withdraw cash from POSB. Note that the debit comes with a $2,000 debit limit. I'll probably spend $1000 max to milk the 5% cashback via Visa Paywave. One more thing to add to my tips on how I accumulate $100k before 28 :)

A little too late, or it's never too late? BOC Smartsaver has been around for some time now. I've heard of it when their promo came out, but kept to my OCBC 360 account. I did my sums previously and concluded that it was best for me to keep my money at OCBC. But I redid my sums recently after my brother reminded me about this account, and, DANG, the minimum interest rate I could get was at least a 2% VS OCBC's 1.7% with salary crediting and bills payment. What's making it more attractive is that, since I'm now able to spend $500/mth for my bro's expenses, the interest rate I could receive every month has now reached to the eye-popping 3.55% interest p.a! Why didn't I think of opening this account soon ah?  The following day after I did my sums, I headed down to the BOC branch and opened my account. I was lucky to be the first to enter at the off-peak hours. Btw, thumbs up to the friendly staff at the Westgate outlet. My account was set up on th

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