After relocating to Singapore, I began taking steps to realize my property dream. Allow me to share with you how I did it some years back.
I imagined me as a company and assigned myself as the Financial Controller. My job was to minimize unnecessary spending and maximize profitability. A regular income statement would be prepared to show total revenues and expenses.
The first thing I did was to clear any liability — paid off my college study loan.
Next, all major expenses were mapped out to see where to cut.
The biggest expense was money to send back home. However, I was happy to leave it as it is.
I’d love my personal space to stay alone. But renting the whole flat all by myself ate up a big portion of my salary.
So from the 2nd year onwards, I shared a big private apartment with two flatmates. They let me occupy the master bedroom. Above all, we could split many cost items, including utility bills, groceries, etc. (and housework too!).
I prepared my dinner on weekdays, often sharing with flatmates. (Till today I still love trips to the wet market, cook my favorite dishes and share them with my loved ones.)
I took buses and trains to move around. I found joy appreciating the scenery from the upper deck of buses. (Now I drive a 6 ½ -year-old 2nd hand car, but still use public transportation on weekends.)
I looked for good bargains for backpacking and trips back to my hometown.
I bought basic skincare and decent clothes for work, but not any branded item.
To me, simple living is an attitude of life:
– Things I know I can afford not necessarily mean that I have to own them.
– I only own things that I really love and they don’t have to be expensive.
– I am easily satisfied even without the very best.
– Things I treasure most almost always have nothing to do with money.
– To give is better than to receive.
I never felt that I had to tighten my belt. But I could save an average of 70% of my monthly income right from the beginning.
I also owed it to a terrible boss who ‘motivated’ me to change to a new job which offered a big increment from my last pay.
And that year, I bought my 1st property.
Hey PS,
(hope you don’t mind addressing you as PS)
Very inspiring post.
Yeah I like backpacking too. Forgive me for speculating but you sound like you’re from the Western side of the world, Europe or US?
Really like your blog btw. Have linked you up. =) And thanks for visiting mine. Didn’t expect anyone to be reading just yet since I haven’t started actively driving traffic to my site.
Have a great week PS. Keep posting!
Hey PS,
(hope you don’t mind addressing you as PS)
Very inspiring post.
Yeah I like backpacking too. Forgive me for speculating but you sound like you’re from the Western side of the world, Europe or US?
Really like your blog btw. Have linked you up. =) And thanks for visiting mine. Didn’t expect anyone to be reading just yet since I haven’t started actively driving traffic to my site.
Have a great week PS. Keep posting!
Glad to see you drop by. Thanks for the link. Your encouragement keeps me blogging. You keep posting too.
P.S. I am a true Asian : )
Glad to see you drop by. Thanks for the link. Your encouragement keeps me blogging. You keep posting too.
P.S. I am a true Asian : )
i love your blog! newbie like me learn so much.
i love your blog! newbie like me learn so much.
Thanks!
Feel free to subscribe so you’ll be notified when there’re new posts.
Thanks!
Feel free to subscribe so you’ll be notified when there’re new posts.
PS, I guess you are from Hongkong rite ? 😉
Hung Vu
PS, I guess you are from Hongkong rite ? 😉
Hung Vu
They said if you find the ladies:
1) chatting among themselves (apart from beauty, relationships and gossips) on money and investment, and also
2) talking with guys about shares and properties,
they’re very likely from two Asian cities, namely Shanghai and Hong Kong.
They said if you find the ladies:
1) chatting among themselves (apart from beauty, relationships and gossips) on money and investment, and also
2) talking with guys about shares and properties,
they’re very likely from two Asian cities, namely Shanghai and Hong Kong.
“The biggest expense was money to send back home. However, I was happy to leave it as it is.”
Impressed! U r not only intelligient but Filial too.
Will share your “simple living” with my children.
“The biggest expense was money to send back home. However, I was happy to leave it as it is.”
Impressed! U r not only intelligient but Filial too.
Will share your “simple living” with my children.
Thanks for your kind words. I think this is the least I can do while cannot spend time with my family after relocation.
But I won’t expect my kids to do the same. I’ll ensure that I can fully support myself when I’m old, by sound investments during my lifetime. Above all, I really hope that I still have enough to support the causes that I’m after.