Sunday 31 July 2022

[Post 144] Why I Left My $116K Law Job To Work A $15/Hour Firefighting Job | On The Side


Summary

Nico Smith, 36, says she lived most of her life by the book. She passed the bar exam on the first try, got married, got a job and started a family. But even after checking all the boxes, she didn’t feel fulfilled. Then, a small fire on her parents’ property led her to a new calling. Here’s how Smith went from making six figures as a lawyer to pursuing a full-time firefighting job.

Tuesday 26 July 2022

[Post 137] Young Investors | Channel NewsAsia Connect

1. Arthur Cheong


Arthur started investing at age 19 and shortly after, blew his entire account in just 2 weeks. Fortunately he was able to overcome his failure and subsequently made profit from investment. We take a look at the wisdom this young investor has gained from his investing experiences

2.Ang Kar Yong


Kar Yong began trading Forex with US$500 in 2012. One year on, his account grew exponentially, up to US$13,000. This episode takes a peek into the trading strategy and motivations of this 22-year-old young investor. It also features a wealth management expert, with tips on Forex trading.

3.Shane Low


23-year-old Shane is a student who dreams of being financially free by age 30, but is it possible? How is the young investor working towards attaining his financial goal? A wealth management expert explains how you can achieve your financial goals.

4.Karen Foo


After a stint at a 9-5 job at age 21, Karen decided to turn to investing as a way out of the rat race. We follow her journey into the world of investment and find out skills she has learned so far. We also feature a wealth management expert, with tips on how you can be a better trader.

5.Chang Choon Fah 


At age 17, Choon Fah was given $8000 by his father, and told to put that money into stocks. 4 years on, we see how this young man has evolved into a seasoned young investor with investment strategies of his own. A wealth management expert gives tips on how parents can give their kids a head start into the world of investing.

Monday 25 July 2022

[Post 136] A Singapore family's tips for fighting inflation | CNA


Summary

Noticing that his family's expenditure was exceeding their monthly budget, Paul Lee decided they had to cut back. From finding free weekend activities and swapping car rides for hour-long bus journeys, to refinancing his home loan, here's what he and his family are doing to ride out rising prices

Personal Takeaway

1.Taking Public Transport 

2.Visit place which are free for local like musuems ,beach etc

3.Cook Yourself

4.Link credit card for digital payment to get cashback

5.Buy in bulk

6.Refinance home loan,change it to fixed rate



Sunday 24 July 2022

[Post 135] The economic of IKEA:How they keep you in it's store? | WSJ


Summary

Counterintuitive though it may seem, part of furniture giant IKEA’s success stems from its policy requiring its customers to build its products. In this video, WSJ explains the behavioral psychology behind the “IKEA effect.”

Personal Takeaway

1.Flat furniture packing to reduce shipping and transportation costs

2.Design of the store layout to allow customers to spend the day testing out the product.

3.Affordable and low-cost furniture

4.When a customer builds something themselves, they become more attached to it.

Saturday 23 July 2022

[Post 134] How does raising interest rates control inflation? | The Economist

Summary

When central banks raise interest rates, the impact is felt far and wide. Mortgages become more expensive, house prices might fall and unemployment can rise. So why do central banks do it? This film tells you why.

Personal Takeaway

1.A higher interest rate encourages people to save money and spend less. Lower interest rate = more spending; do not want to leave money in the bank

2.A central bank is a bank for banks; a commercial bank can deposit its reserves at an central bank

3.High inflation rate= higher interest rate

4.Difficult to predict when inflation will fall when interest rates are raised.

Wednesday 20 July 2022

[Post 131] How To Save On Your Parents Medical Bills | CNA Insider

Summary:Is home nursing more expensive than hospital care? How much should you budget for medical expenses? A study by Marsh predicts that each senior’s healthcare in Singapore may cost as much as S$53,000 a year by 2030. Quadruple that amount to S$212,000 if you are taking care of your parents and in-laws. 

Chronic illnesses such as diabetes, stroke, cancer, heart disease and hypertension are expensive in the long run as our parents live longer. There will be regular check-ups, medication and doctor or specialist visits to pay for. This is where the Community Health Assist Scheme can come in handy to reduce costs.

According to the Ministry of Health in Singapore, 1 in 2 healthy Singaporeans aged 65 could become severely disabled in their lifetime and may need long-term care. That means planning ahead for help like a caregiver, nursing home or elderly daycare. 

Personal Takeaway

1.Check the clinic near to you that allow CHAS

2.Setting up a bedroom with hospital equipment and hire caregiver

3.Purchase the necessary insurance

[Post 130] 5 Financial Movies To Watch

What better way to learn about finance than to watch a movie? I came across the big short on YouTube a while ago and have been on a financial movie binge since then. Here are some of the financial movies that I have seen and enjoyed so far.

1.The Big Short(2015)

The movie is based on the book written by Micheal Lewis ,The Big Short:Inside the Doomsday Machine.Basically ,the movie is about how several finance experts and opportunist predict the collapse of the US housing market in 2008 during the mid-2000s and how they discover the flaws and corruption in the system through their research.My first impression was that it would be a documentary-style story (those kind really bores me to death). However, after 5 minutes of watching, it was not. And did I mention the stellar cast, which includes Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Steve Carell, and Ryan Gosling, among others? Furthermore, it simplifies financial concepts such as CDOs and why bonds rated AAA+ are dog s**t. According to one YouTube commenter, "I thought the big short was a comedy seeing it's tag, but it turned out to be a horror movie."


2. Margin Call(2011)
Essentially, this film is about an investment firm in the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis, where an analyst uncovers evidence that threatens to destroy the firm and the subsequent action taken by the company.It's another fantastic film with an all-star cast that includes Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Ions, Zachary Quinto and Paul Battany .It offers the viewpoint of an investment banking firm prior to the 2008 financial crisis.Although there is a lot of talking, it depicts many similarities to real-life multinational corporations, such as the hierarchy and the fact that the top doesn't really understand what the underlings do, as well as the ridiculous salary earned from working in an investment bank.


3.Too Big To Fail(2011) 

This film is based on the book "Too Big to Fail: The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System—and Themselves" by Andrew Ross Sorkin. Essentially, the film depicts the government's perspective on how they handled the 2008 financial crisis, particularly from the perspective of Henry Paulson, who was appointed Secretary of Treasury after leaving his top job at Goldman Sachs, and how he tries to address the issues that arose during the global economic meltdown, ranging from Lehman Brothers to AIG, among others. It's a pretty good watch that depicts the government's point of view, as well as how various strategies were implemented and how the situation eventually deteriorated.


4.Boiler Room

A college dropout lands a job as a broker for a financial firm, putting him on the fast track to success. Success, on the other hand, clouds his judgment, drawing him into a world of corruption and greed. Essentially, the company runs a pump and dump/ponzi scheme using telemarketer techniques. Although it does not depict the financial crisis, it is unquestionably a must-see film for anyone looking to improve their sales/telemarketing techniques (or learn their tricks!), plus it include stellar cast like Ben Affleck,Vin Diesel etc


5.Inside Job

The final film on the list is Inside Job, a documentary film that depicts the 2008 financial crisis, how it unfolded, the key players who caused the event, and how the key players are still a part of the financial system today. Throughout the film, various key players from Asia to North America were interviewed.

Warning:Of the five films I introduce in this post, this is most likely the one that will give you high blood pressure and make you wonder how they got away with it.


Last but not least, I strongly recommend everyone to watch the films, especially the trio: Margin call (Company perspective), The Big Short (Retail and Hedge fund perspective), and Too big to fail (Government perspective).

Sunday 17 July 2022

[Post 129]10 Skillsfuture Course To Take For $500 and Below (Food)

As continue from the previous post,here are some useful course to take for Skillfuture for $500 and Below.

(Disclaimer:I am not affliated to any of the training provider etc).

1.Traditional Chinese Cooking($110.00)


Course Providers:Diabetes Singapore


Course Objective:
These classes' main objectives are to empower people with diabetes with information on how food choices promote, prevent, and treat type 2 diabetes and practical cooking skills for healthy and delicious meal preparation.

Course Content:
In this course, Chef Allan Teoh will be sharing tips on how common dishes in traditional Chinese cuisine can be made diabetic-friendly: - Hainanese Chicken Rice Set - Hokkien Fried Mee, - Fried Kway Teau (Black), - Fish Head Bee Hoon Soup - Healthy Steam Cooking - Claypot Cooking

For more information,click here


2.NSA- Traditional Indian Cooking –South($110.00)

Course Providers:Diabetes Singapore


Course Objective:
These classes main objectives are to empower people with diabetes with information on how food choices promote, prevent, and treat type 2 diabetes and practical cooking skills for healthy and delicious meal preparation.

Course Content:
In this course, Chef Allan Teoh will be sharing tips on how common dishes in traditional South Indian cuisine can be made diabetic-friendly: Banana Leaf Restaurant Part 1 Banana Leaf Restaurant Part 2 Banana Leaf Restaurant Part 3 Biryani Set

For more information,click here


3.NSA - Hawkers Set- Traditional Malay Cooking


Course Providers:Diabetes Singapore


Course Objective:
These classes' main objectives are to empower people with diabetes with information on how food choices promote, prevent, and treat type 2 diabetes and practical cooking skills for healthy and delicious meal preparation. The skills acquired will help participants understand and improve their overall wellness, and can be applied to community work.

Course Content:
In this course, Chef Allan Teoh will be sharing tips on how common dishes in traditional Malay cuisines can be made diabetic-friendly: Nasi Lemak Set Nasi Dagang Nasi Kerabu Nasi Padang

For more information,click here


4.NSA- Traditional Indian Cooking –North


Course Providers:Diabetes Singapore


Course Objective:
These classes main objectives are to empower people with diabetes with information on how food choices promote, prevent, and treat type 2 diabetes and practical cooking skills for healthy and delicious meal preparation.

Course Content:
In this course, Chef Allan Teoh will be sharing tips on how common dishes in traditional North Indian cuisine can be made diabetic-friendly: Naan Set Bhatura Set- Deep Fried Yoghurt Bread Hyderabadi Biryani Basic North Indian Home Cooking Vegetarian Set

For more information,click here


5.NSA - Japanese Cooking Workshop - Teriyaki


Course Objective:
Understand the ingredients used for making teriyaki sauce
Learn the technique of filleting of salmon
Learn the basics of food preparation and equipment
Understand the techniques of cooking the dishes
Skills acquired may help seniors expand into freelance work or be involved in volunteering activities.

Course Content:
This 1-day programme aims to equip you with the knowledge on the various types of grains for sushi and the techniques of cooking the dishes. You will learn how to prepare the following dishes:
Salmon with home-made Teriyaki
Chawanmushi - Prawns, crabstick, mushroom and chicken

For more information,click here


6.NSA - Japanese Cooking Workshop - Sushi


Course Objective:
Understand types of grains for sushi
Learn/Practice making of sushi maki
Learn the basics of food preparation and equipment
Understand the techniques of cooking the dishes
Skills acquired may help seniors expand into freelance work or be involved in volunteering activities.

Course Content:
This 1-day programme aims to equip you with the knowledge on the various types of grains for sushi and the techniques of cooking the dishes. You will learn how to prepare the following dishes:
Assorted sushi maki (Crabmeat, Salmon and Cucumber)
Okonomiyaki - Japanese cabbage pancake with shrimps

For more information,click here


7.Tantalizing Thai Cooking


Course Objective:
In this one day workshop, participants will be introduced to the different flavours and techniques of Thai cooking with hands-on experience to cook their own classic Thai recipes.

Course Content:
Surprise a loved one with delectable meal: flavourful Thai pineapple fried rice (Khao Pad Sopparot), mouth-watering chicken coconut soup (Tom Kaa Gai) and refreshing ‘red ruby’ dessert (Tub Tim Grob).Skills acquired may help seniors expand into freelance work or be involved in volunteering activities.
- Understand the Italian food culture
- Learn more about ingredients used and their origins
- Learn how to prepare equipment and ingredients
- Learn and execute Italian food preparation

For more information,click here


8.NSA - 3-Day Italian Cooking Workshop


Course Objective:
Skills acquired may help seniors expand into freelance work or be involved in volunteering activities.
- Understand the Italian food culture
- Learn more about ingredients used and their origins
- Learn how to prepare equipment and ingredients
- Learn and execute Italian food preparation

Course Content:
This 3-days workshop aims to equip participants with the knowledge and skills of preparing food for the selected cuisine. This course will teach you a variety of Italian dishes.

For more information,click here


9.SkillsFuture@PA Variety Cooking Workshop For Adults (Hands-On)

Course Objective:
Whether you are a busy executive or a homemaker, you will find this workshop useful. You will pick up a variety of convenient and easy-to-prepare dishes which also happen to be healthy options to the normal diet.

Course Content:
This 3-days workshop aims to equip participants with the knowledge and skills of preparing food for the selected cuisine. This course will teach you a variety of Italian dishes.

For more information,click here


10.Home-Cooked Meals


Course Objective:These classes' main objectives are to empower people with diabetes with information on how food choices promote, prevent, and treat type 2 diabetes and practical cooking skills for healthy and delicious meal preparation.


Course Content:In this course, Chef Allan Teoh will be sharing tips on how common dishes in various cuisines can be made diabetic-friendly:

-Rasam & Mutton Keema (Indian Cuisine)

-Ayam Masak Merah & Gendang Kasturi (Malay Cuisine)

- Sweet & Sour Prawns & Steamed Flower Crabs In Bean Paste (Chinese Cuisine)

- Chap Chye & Chicken Curry (Peranakan Cuisine)

-Roasted Lamb Chops & Baked Rice With Fish Slices (Western Cuisine)


For more information,click here

Friday 15 July 2022

[Post 128] Living On $25K A Year In Greater Baltimore | Millennial Money

Summary:Jerone Gillespie, 23, earns $25,000 a year between driving for Uber and Lyft and working in a tax preparation office. When the pandemic hit, Gillespie stopped driving for Uber and Lyft to keep himself safe, and he relied solely on his tax job for income. He earns $14.50 an hour as the manager of the tax office.

Personal Takeaway:He earns about $25,000 USD (approximately SGD $35,146/year or SGD $2928.33/month) per year as a manager in a tax office ($14.50 USD/he) and does Uber and Lyft on the side. He used to sleep in his car and on his brother's couch, and he used to save money by eating only once or twice a day. He also took out a loan for about $20,000, with an annual interest rate of about 3.75 percent.His typical spending round up to about $1,282 USD (approximately SGD $1788.33),which inferred that his saving is around SGD $1140 and that it was used in stock and ETF.Seem pretty impressive to have such a high saving rate and is definitely a source of insipration for everyone else with median income

Tuesday 12 July 2022

[Post 127] Living On $32K A Year In Spokane, Washington | Millennial Money

Summary:Graham Zickefoose, 26, lives in Spokane, Washington and earns $32,000 a year as a graduate student at Eastern Washington University. Graham is pursuing a master's degree in urban and regional planning and is expected to graduate in the spring of 2023. He has a part time job as a city planning assistant at the city hall offices in Spokane. This is an installment of CNBC Make It's Millennial Money series, which profiles people across the globe and details how they earn, spend and save their money.

Personal Thoughts:Despite the fact that he was on scholarship, I think he did well in surviving on $32,000 (approximately SGD45,000) in scholarship stipend and work payment, among other things. Above is a screenshot of his budget, which is pretty low except for the food expenses, which are probably from paying for and going out on his date with his girlfriend, as mentioned in the video. He also does not have a credit card, only a debit card or a checking account, and he keeps track of his spending. Tithe refers to his monthly contributions to the church, which amount to about 10% of his total income.

Tuesday 5 July 2022

[Post 126] 5 Skillsfuture Course To Take For $500 and Below (Fixing Stuff)

Every Singaporean over the age of 25 will have at least $500 in their skillsfuture credit account by 2021. I was just looking through the skillsfuture website the other day to see which course I should spend my $500 credit on, so I decided to write a post to summarize the research (over 21,000 courses!!). So, here are some interesting courses to take for fixing stuff

(Disclaimer:I am not affliated to any of the training provider etc).

1.NSA - Handyman: Furniture & Fabric Fixes($190.00)


Course Objective:

1) To Provide basic understanding of furniture repair 2) To Demonstrate with participants hands-on Stain and Lacquering 3) To demonstrate with participants hands-on installation of locks 4) To demonstrate with participants hands-on install and adjust hinges 5) To demonstrate with participants hands-on repair of furniture surfaces 6) To demonstrate with participants hands-on hand sewing fabric and accessories


Course Content:

In this 7-hour course, participants will learn to fix common problems with their furniture and fabric. This course teaches basic quality fixes for strengthening unstable furniture, replacing knobs and handles, installing new cabinet and drawer locks, fixing and adjusting hinges, refurbishing furniture surfaces, etc. In the fabric repair, participants will learn basic skills to mend common types of fabric materials by learning basic skills in hand sewing, installing eyelets and other accessories, and other useful tools to mend bags, tents, attire, cushions, etc.


For more information,click here


2.NSA - Handyman: Home Electrical Repairs($190.00)


Course Objective:
1)To Provide basic understanding of LED lighting
2)To Demonstrate with participants hands-on Conversion To LED lights
3)To Demonstrate with participants hands-on lighting control
4)To Demonstrate with participants hands-on Wall Electrical Socket
5)To Demonstrate with participants hands-on Electrical Cabling
6)To Demonstrate with participants hands-on Ceiling Fans Servicing
7)To Demonstrate with participants hands-on AV System wiring & Digital TV Conversion from non-Digital systems

Course Content:
In this 7-hour course, participants will learn how to replace lighting systems like the conversion of regular lamps to LED lights. Participants will also learn to replace wall electrical outlets, run cabling, lamp fixtures, light switches, and fix ceiling fans. With these skills, participants can tackle most common home electrical repairs.

For more information,click here


3.NSA - Handyman: Plumbing, Drywall & Adhesives($190.00)


Course Objective:
1)To Provide basic tool usage training 2)To Demonstrate with participants hands-on Faucet Repair 3)To demonstrate with participants hands-on Drainage Systems 4)To demonstrate with participants hands-on Toilet Flushing System 5)To demonstrate with participants hands-on Hose System 6) To demonstrate with participants hands-on Drywall Fixtures 7) To demonstrate with participants hands-on Adhesives adjustment

Course Content:
In this 7-hour course, participants will learn to tackle various plumbing problems like changing and maintaining faucets, clearing drainage chokes, installing faucet attachments, plastic pipe installations, toilet flush systems etc. Participants will learn to install fixtures in dry walls and learn the applications of adhesives. Learning these skills, participants will be able to tackle common plumbing challenges, install drywall structures, and fix things with adhesives.

For more information,click here


4.NSA - Handyman: Home Repair Maintenance

Course Objective:
1)To Demonstrate with participants hands-on usage of the electrical drill on different materials 2)To demonstrate with participants hands-on Change of different types of door knobs and locks 3)To demonstrate with participants hands-on different types of hinges and their adjustments 4)To demonstrate with participants hands-on changing tiles. 5)To demonstrate with participants hands-on installation of fixtures and plugs 6)To demonstrate with participants hands-on patching of holes in concrete

Course Content:
In this 7-hour course, participants will experience the use of power drills in home repairs of different materials. They will learn how to drill through wood, tiles, metal, plastic and concrete. They will get to install fixtures and screws with wall plugs, replace tiles and patch concrete holes. Participants will also learn how to change various types of locks, install and adjust cabinet hinges. Learning these skills will allow you to make simple repairs at home without waiting for and having to pay servicemen.

For more information,click here


5.SCF Basic Bike Mechanics Course($500)

Course Objective:
Equip you with the basic bike mechanics and maintenance skills set by UCI trained trainers

Course Content(Summarise Version):
1) How to quick release skewers
2) Removing front and rear wheels
3) Repairing a puncture
4) Changing a tube and tires
5) Effective bike cleaning
6) Fixing drop chain
7) Removing and installing pedals
8)Headset
9) Gears adjustments
10) Basic bike fit
11) Routine checks and safety tips

Do note that this may be a little expensive.For more information,click here


Research for other Skillsfuture course are still under going,do expect another post soon!


Saturday 2 July 2022

[Post 125] 1 Day trip to Johor Bahru (Eat and Movie)

Two weeks ago, I took a day excursion with my family to JB to catch Top Gun: Maverick at the Mid Valley Southkey Mall. We were met by a lengthy line at the Malaysia custom side, stretching all the way to the back, and it took approximately an hour and a half of line time before we were able to get our passports stamped, in contrast to my previous trip, where there was not much of a line. By that point, it was already after two in the afternoon, and we were starving.

We chose to grab there as our destination that day was the Mid Valley Southkey mall. Unfortunately, no driver was available that wanted to pick us up. Instead, we used the cab counter at the CIQ, which is below the CIQ and next to the Malaysian bus interchange, to get there.

(Author's note: Just specify your destination at the cab counter to get a quote on the cost. You may be assure that the quoted fee is fair, and a cab driver waiting by the counter will direct you to your vehicle. We were given a quote for RM16 to the nearby Mid Valley Southkey Mall about 10 mins aways.It is a little expensive but we are taking from CIQ after all.)


After about 10 minutes, we arrive at Mid Valley Southkey Mall. A brief overview: It is the largest mall in JB and was completed three years ago in 2019. Additionally, it houses Sogo, a Japanese department store and it is modeled after Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur (KL)



We decided to go to B1's restaurant because we were hungry. But first, we had to buy our movie tickets. The GSH Cinama in the Mid Valley is located on the 4th floor and appears to be very impressive at first glance.Do note that  tickets could only be purchased through the machine, so there will be some waiting time. The ticket 🎫 costs about RM23.50 (almost SGD8) per person.


Author's note: A weekend movie ticket in Malaysia (almost $8) is less expensive than one in Singapore ($14.50). If you are visiting JB, especially City Square, for a day trip, consider seeing a movie as it is a great way to spend your time there. If you're feeling rich, grab a popcorn combo for around RM13rm, or (whispering...) sneak in your preferred food/drink(Just kidding!).🙅

After purchasing our tickets, we proceeded to B1's restaurant section. Because there was a long line at Din Tai Fung, our family decided to eat at Kenny Roger instead. We decided to eat the Kennys' family meal because it was already 2.30pm and close to dinner time.

The Kenny family's meal (menu) consists of the following items(Menu):

1. 1 Whole rotisserie-roasted chicken

2. Three side dishes (Macaroni and cheese,Aromatic Rice and Garsley Potatoes)

3. Four soft drinks ( 2 sprite and 2 fanta strawberry)

4. 4 Kenny's Chicken & Mushroom Soup


Verdict:After adding extra charges, the total damage was around RM110+, which is equivalent to RM36.66 (or nearly $10 per person). However, it appears to be a typical Singapore Aston/Chic a Boo price. The side dishes were delicious, particularly the Aromatic Rice. My mother enjoys the macaroni and cheese a lot. The chicken was also decent, but when compared to our previous experiences with Kenny Roger in Msia at Genting Highlands, there was definitely a drop in quality. Will probably only return if other restaurants have long lines like that day.

We went to A&W after lunch because we still had time before the movie.

I ordered the hot dog meal and the waffle ice cream meal after 3pm++, both of which are about 8-9rm if my memory serves me correctly(menu).

Verdict: One of the fast food restaurants to try in Malaysia, as the Singapore branch is always crowded and has a long queue. The food was adequate and would make a good afternoon snack. Although the waffle is fairly ordinary and lacks the appeal of some cafe waffles. Root beer was great with ice-cream though,pretty easy to make one at home.Among the items I ordered, the corny hot dog was the best.

After we finished eating, it was finally time for a movie, so we returned to the GSH cinema on level 4. It was the first time that I watched a movie at GSH Cinema, and I must say that the seats were quite comfortable for a 2D movie ticket. The theatre was also pretty packed, as we only managed to purchase a seat in the second row beforehand.

Verdict: I hadn't seen Top Gun 1 before, but it was still pretty enjoyable for me; I would have probably appreciated the film more if I had seen Top Gun 1.

Then it was time for dinner at Arashi Shabu Shabu restaurant. I didn't photograph dinner for some reason (Forgotten actually,haha). We pretty much end the day after dinner and return to CIQ, this time with Grab for about RM14. On the way back to Singapore, traffic was also relatively smooth.