A few investment lessons I learnt

1) Don't buy REITs - even though everyone is singing praises, the business model does not seem sustainable given it is built on debt. There will be a lot of rights issues which means putting more endlessly, not something I want to habe no choice over. Kreits were given free to me.

2) Do not buy china listed shares in Sg, the accounting is not credible. Anytime there could be a bomb dropped.

3) Do not chase highs - I usually buy more stocks when the share price keep dropping. So far, most of my shares have panned out ok

4) Buy in 10k share as much as possible. In my recent buys, I can't really buy 10k shares cos the share prices are too ex. Am accumulating CDL 

5) business cash flow is more important than asset and profits. It tells you how sustainable the company is.

Scooting

Went scooting today in the hot sun. We took a long way to bedok reservoir, passing thru half of bedok town park. Haha G is too tired. She nearly had 2 falls at Bedok reservoir, i guess i am on my own le.

Prepare sunblock, visor, extra tee shirt, water. I plan to scoot to east coast park. Today stepped on some ants, and my slippers alao rubbed too hard on my right feet.

Today Ah Cheong came to look at mum house. Her lights giving her some problems. Did some catching up with him, bought him teh and some 烧包。 These are good, from the bakery near my house. He looked to be bettee spirited. He has a grand daughter and slowing down. I doubt he will ever retire. 

Anyway life must move on, make someone joyful today.

Healthcare

This is something I like to venture into.

I am not sure if I am up for it but I have seen recruitment ads for such temp/part time jobs. I want to try it out, to take it up on 2-3 days per week.

Why? I think part of it stemmed from my guilt. I didn't do my part to take care of my hubby when he was sick. This is like a redemption for me.

I want to do something meaningful, to help the old elderly in ways I could.

Well, G always sarcastically said I could spend that time looking after my mum, which is true. But I still yearn to contribute back to society. 

I might not be able to perserve, but at least I want to try and fail. At my deathbed, I wouldn't go with any regrets.

One more month!!!

It will be over in one month time. Nobody cares. 

Today have discussed with boss and peers who to takeover my projects. Finally the end is near.

You will always be alone. Remember Sham, Gloria, Sarah, your colleagues who have passed on young. Nobody cared right. Only their families would feel the sorrows of their deaths.

Such is life. The earlier you realized, the earlier you will be free.

I am a speck of dust in this universe. 好好活着。

I need to cherish my loved ones.

On 31 July, I no longer trade my life energy for money. Before you close your eyes permanently, go bring joy to yourself and others.

Remember your colleagues are not your family, you are on your own. Jiayou, 老公在天上看着我们😁 他会明白和支持你的。

I was feeling bad the whole day. The moment I went downstairs, I started feeling better. Went bought some tidbits and chocolates, but today dentist found 4 decays, I only filled two since the other two are small decays. 260 gone with the wind, 100 paid with CDC. Better than nothing. Will fix the 2 decays in dec.

After that little bit of Walking around, I actually felt better. Walking could be what I badly need. I want to go for morning walks. One more month!!! 撑着！！！

Marc Jacob bag

Today started to enjoy one benefit of the bag. There is a zipper on my tote bag. It came in very handy when I put my bag behind me when needing to cross mrt barriers or at crowded spot.

Today took a quick trip to bugis to buy 2 extendable rods for 4.50....i bought two of the wrong lengths earlier.

So today the whole day I zipped my bag...feeling abit unsafe these days. Maybe is my paranoia at work.

I guess this is what most minimalist meant by enjoying and discovering new joys in your existing stuff. Whops but I bought a dispenser.

Anyway I had had enough of bags. Need to turn my attention into something that I can't assess. These few weeks had been looking at slot machines.

Imagine everyday your goal is to earn 50 dollars in slots. One month you will have 1500. Not a lot but it gets you by. No need to be greedy. There are days you lose some, you win some.

Well when I view these videos, at least I won't get the itch since it is an annual trip that mum likes.

We going for 2nd family trip this Sept. Something to look forward to.

Dinner was wanton mee cooked with 4 siew Mai. Saved another 6 bucks. 阿Q精神,when I already spent 30 bucks for the whole of today.

Guqin

Initially I was quite sure I am not continuing with my guqin, because it is 85 per lesson and weekly. After I went to calculate, if I joined the geylang one which is 500 for 12 lessons, end up one month is 500/12*4.5=188.

If I continue with eight tones, but is once every two weeks, the monthly amount is85*2.25=191.

So it is comparable. And I asked the admin person, so is doable. So yay, after July, will sign up a package and then this will last me 15months.

Need to relax and enjoy the music.

Did a calculation, if I scrimp and save, I can control all within 1800.

Haha after July, if I want to frivolously buy something, I need to save my shopping expenses for it. Allocated 50 bucks per month for guilt free spending.

After resting 6 months, I want to try my hands at healthcare industry. I hope I can preservere and try a temp job first and see if I can take it. 

Lg will support me in heaven, today I saw 8353 car plate. He came to see me.

Today I decided to utilize my e climate vouchers 300 to buy a stand fan. Cos I have not been able to withstand the Aircon. When I turned on ac at night, at 24deg, low fan, I would always wake up in the middle of the night cos it is too cold. Then when I turned it off, I would wake up again becos is too hot and stuffy. Ac fan mode too warm.

Decided to barricade my dogs out of my master room, tonight will sleep with fan and open door. Hope it works.

This is also in a bid to lower my electricity bill, before I on Aircon, I uses 139kwh. Now it is 200kwh. This will help me save some money in the long run.

Counting down 5 more weeks

Ever since I submitted my resignation letter, I have been counting down. 5 more weeks.

This is what keeps me going despite feeling tired like nobody's business. Life is short, I must learn to let go and enjoy the moment. Ever since I joined the company, I could not chill and relax. Just can't stop ruminating over work.

Work triggers me, into a downward spiral. It has always been so. I never felt so in my previous job as a writer or call centre operator. There had been so many nights I lost sleep over work. My insomnia only worsened after my hubby's death.

I always envy those who adopts a wtf attitude towards work. I tried but it never seems to work. Finally I hope I am still alive by August, to slow down life, and learn to relax.

There is more to life, than work. My family, my health and friendships. Work drains me of all life energy.

Some reflections, have I learnt anything in my working life? Not a lot but I realized all the sacrifices I made, did not matter after he passed away.

I had always wanted to pursue FIRE ever since I joined this company. But now that I hit this goal, there is nobody that I can share this joy with. At home, I will continue to talk to the air as though he is still here to listen. 

Cherish and love those remaining. Create memories with them 😁 

Siew Mai with tomato rice

Since early Feb, after I came back from Ipoh, my weight ballooned to 71kg. It was puzzling, I didn't eat Ike nobody's business during the 3d2n.

After that, decided to try cooking some of my meals. I started eating red bean soup for meals. Then progressed to green bean soup. Switched back to red bean because green beans get very mushy. I prefer to have some texture to my bean soup.

Then I realized my mixed grain had expired this year. Without caring, I decided to cook it for my meals so as not to waste the two packets of mixed rice.

I cooked a few times with dumplings. Need some proteins. Cannot be eating just carbos. Tried it out and subsequently started adding oyster sauce for some taste because it was quite bland. Ate this way until left half the rice.

Recently was into tomato paste - I cooked wanton noodles with tomato paste and baked beans. I liked the combination. 

Today went to buy some siew mai, chives dumplings, and tomato paste (haidilao) for 30 bucks. I mixed 3 cups of rice, 5 siew Mai, and 1 pack of paste. Initially wanted to use the bak kuk the but decided to leave that for future.

The rice is flavourful without needing to add any sauce. I think this pot can last me 5 meals. I save 5*6.50=32.50 including today's dinner. 6.50 is usually how much I pay for a meal and drink at opposite coffeeshops.

This cook maybe cost 4(paste)+2(5 siew Mai)+1(grains)= 7 which can replace 5 meals.

If I cook like this once every week, I could save ~150. Assuming I spend 6.50 per day for 7 days which is ~210. Save 90 :)

Scooting day

Hehe today as usual, went to my mum's house. Along the way, went to buy a black forrest cake, cos G wanted to eat one. When I reached 85, only left the smaller one. Bought it with cdc vouchers.

The cake was like a normal choc cake. Ok to eat. Then at 3pm, we set out to scoot. We bought the scooter from lazarda msia. Practised scooting below the deck. Then we darted out to JTC, as we approached we saw a path along the canal. We scooted all the way to bedok reservoir park. We went around one half before u turn back as i need to go for guzheng.

We scooted back within 30mins. Well it was tiring and fun. Havent had so much fun in a long while. I would like scoot to east coast park after i am unemployed 😁

Spending my dividends earned only

Previously I watched a Financial coconut episode about 2 guys whom reached FI. One of them taught me something, he only consume his dividends. So what he had earned equate what he could spend.

Deciding to adopt this.

After I quit (i already tendered), I would be officially unemployed from Aug. So i have 5 months.

So my expected dividends for this year is 21k. Minus 10k means i have excess 11k which adds on to my 21k of 2025. So i have 32k for 2025. Am thinking to invest 11k so my dividends can increase.

Remember you quit to spend more time with family and on yourself. Time does not wait.

Today is a tired day

Woke up from a night of dreams. Felt very tired. Today is one of those days where I can't focus.

Luckily work is not so hectic today. I can chill abit.

Tonight have erhu. Practiced some erhu just now. Then fell asleep for like 10mins.

Counting down 30 more days.

Scoot

Today first time playing with one foot scooter. Quite nice to play, feeling the wind in face.

Played scooter at the playground, but was forced to giv it to 3 person playing ball. Ended up playing at 95 void deck. Think i will take it home after i quit.

Skechers run

Shortly after running 2xu, I jio my colleague to run Skechers 10km run. I didn't exactly trained for it, only managed to run a 4 and 6km run before yesterday.

I managed to jog 8km, brisk walk last 2km. Dashed last 100m.

Not sure of the timing. Could be it was after my period, so dun have that much energy. Anyway it was fun. Luv the runner high.

Three other colleagues joined the 4km walk.

Had dinner at putien, liked the lor mee. And chili was the best.

I will likely go run the prison run.

Work had been shitty

Work has been shitty the past one week. Had been fire fighting and my colleague going on leave for two weeks. Leaving me and a newby to fend for ourselves.

I am reminded of why I am leaving. Had enough of this bullshit job for past 14 years, especially last three. So relieved that I know my agony would end in 39 working days. Counting down everyday.

I just take one day at a time, sat going for a run. Monday will be more shit.

I will survive!! This is not the end of anyone world. Nobody died ...

All these shall pass.

Anyway was stressed, so bought a bag for 21 bucks. Haha 

Dont ever buy luxury

I was really tempted to buy another bag. I have so many bags already but I am still tempted. Erggg...

Then i realised all my uniqloo jeggings started to have some frills. But it is only a small patch, I think i bought them in Mar 2022. Had wore them for 2 years. Luv them so why would i throw them away just because of some imperfections.

Had been watching youtubes on luxury - i dont quite get why they buy so much luxury items. There is only so much you can use. The pot calling the kettle black - me myself is thinking of buying bags always.

I should strive to use things until their end of life - i just threw my meta coffee cup away. Initially wanted to buy a new one then i realised i have so many extra cups so just use 1. This should be one of my goals after I quit.

Tendered

With mixed feelings, I submitted my 2 months' notice. My last day will be 30 July.

I want to go off happy, no tears, no regrets.

I know what will likely happen - i will grow away from my colleagues. Nothing to talk about.

I only intend to continue my contact with my exercise buddy J. I knew 人情很淡薄. They talked to you because they have to. 

This has been the case always. 

It takes effort to maintain relationships and i am ok. Because i dont feel any fulfillment and i mean at the end of the day, i have to move on alone. They gave me joy but only short moments, when the job gives me stress 24 7. What is the point....

Went to a wake

Today I went to F's father wake at jurong west in the morning. Initially contemplated to take the mrt at 9am, but as we all know, in the end, I dilly-dally abit and so decided to grab there instead.

It had been 2 years since I saw F. She is my JC friend - only one that I kept in touch. After my hubby's death, I met her for lunch.

She looked ok, accepting her father's death. Such a strong woman - I wish i could do that with hubby. I need to move on bravely alone. Jiayou, you only got yourself.

She has a child, and we did some catching up - me sharing my resignation, where i lived etc. But as her child was ranning around and we chatted 1.5hr, I decided to leave so she could tend to her kid.

I could still remember how that fateful day began. Haiz if I have known, I would drop everything and go travel to China but the world then had not opened up. This is one of the regrets that I would have. See how it goes - can see if can join tour group when going to china.

Life is short - one day you are here, next instant, you can be gone. Cherish those in front of you. Leave no regrets.

If I were to die today, I have no regrets - in the sense that there is nothing I MUST do in this life. I can go in peace knowing G, Y can take care of mum very well. My only worry would be xiaobai and lily.