Today I am in Hong Kong. It has been a while since I was last here in 2014. Coming back to HK after 4 years, I have very mixed feelings. The city seems little changed, but my feelings are now very different. These 4 years have been eventful for me. There have been many permanent … Continue reading Happy April Fool 1/4
Toto and 4Ds
The annual CNY toto draw is just over. There were 2 winners and as expected, I did not win anything. The odds of winning is so low that I read somewhere that it is easier to spot a UFO than to win at our annual toto. Still, that does not deter the masses, judging from … Continue reading Toto and 4Ds
It’s ok not to be invested
Currently, I am 68% in cash, 18% in bonds and gold, and only 14% in equities. In an earlier article, I wrote that I was selling out half my stocks. I sold another half of the equities in July. Now, what remains is roughly a quarter what I had at the start of this year. … Continue reading It’s ok not to be invested
Falling sick without medical coverage
These few days, the flu virus seems to be rampant. I walked past several clinics and they were all crowded. It looks like many people are not well. With the super warm weather and sudden showers, the unpredictable weather has caused many to fall ill. Credit: foodsafetynews.com I was fine on Tues but on Wed, … Continue reading Falling sick without medical coverage
I am an April fool?
This is going to be a short blog post of my April adventures. I sold half my stock portfolio. There had not been any stock sale from me in the last few years. But in the last few weeks, I sold out significantly. I do not advocate market timing but I am doing this sale … Continue reading I am an April fool?
My first business class
I have recently applied and gotten a new credit card. I am unsure if the approval is legit cos I am currently unemployed and should not be eligible? But still I was glad to get the card and the accompanying benefits (4 free rides to the airport, hurray!). I guess the credit card market must … Continue reading My first business class
my BIG annual budget
I thought I was rather frugal. I do not drive, live simply and had set myself a annual spending budget of 30k for 2017, which I thought was rather modest in expensive Singapore. I had aimed to keep basic monthly expenses to <$1000. That is $12k for the entire year for food and bills. The other 18k … Continue reading my BIG annual budget
Financial Planning For 2017
Credit: smithink.com In my last post of 2016, I reflected about my journey for last year. This first blog post of 2017 is about my financial plans for the next 12 months. Each year, I have a plan for my expenses. But it is more relevant to me this year as I have no active … Continue reading Financial Planning For 2017
The Road I Take
The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost, 1916 Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; ........ I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages … Continue reading The Road I Take
79 days of retirement
I left my last official work on 12/9/2016. As of today, I have spent 79 days retired from paid work. This means that I have been unproductive for more than 2 months. Out of the 79 days, I had spent 29 days in USA, 13 days in Korea and 37 days in Singapore. The USA trip … Continue reading 79 days of retirement