Story of a Singaporean's life

Blog

  • New Investment Blog

    Recently, i have started a new investment blog. I plan to devote the majority of my time there as I really do want to succeed in the world of investments and trading. I will be focusing on the blog there and will be doing less and less updates as time passes by here. This domain is still alive as I used to have a dream with some friends. Looking at this blog, I feel like I can be a better me and continue working, carving out the career that I dreamt of and becoming rich enough to benefit others like how I have always wanted.

    Anyway, just some short and simple updates of my life. I have just finished my exams and fear for one of my module as it is really badly done. I felt like it was over before it even began even though I have been studying so hard for it. Sometimes, things just dont go the way you want them to, but if you give up, its all over. If you don’t, there is a possibility that you can bounce right up and become even stronger. What doesn’t kill a person will make him stronger.

  • State Of Personal Finance

    Today, i am going to touch on my personal finance. Currently, i have income from tutoring, part-time sales, web business. The combined income i get from the 3 sources averaged around $500 to $600 every month. Of course, none of the income is really passive and in fact, some really take up a huge amount of my time and mental strength. Coupled that with the fact that i am so concerned over my studies, the whole work thing is actually adding additional stress to my personal well being.

    Yet there are numerous benefits to a healthy passive income stream like better financial freedom to do the things you like or eat the things you want. The passive income stream can come in various forms which i will actually start doing once my expenditure account reached $5,000. I have 2 accounts, 1 for savings, where all my fees and loans are paid from and another, my expenditure account that i used for going through life from day to day. These are the few things i would like to get started on:

    1. Investing in low risk securities

    2. Starting a service for university undergraduates and graduates

    3. Buying more investment linked products that actually generates revenue

    4. Getting started with being a broker for various financial related services that can improve my knowledge of the market

    Truthfully speaking, there is a ton of things i would like to get started on and all that must start from one thing: capital accumulation. Only through capital accumulation can one gathers the sufficient resource to indulge in higher pursuits. Of course, the combined effects of capital accumulation through friends, families or even strangers is so much more stronger than just 1 person.

  • How Playing Poker Is Like Trading

    Poker is a game of skill, which given some luck, might lead someone to the door of riches. Like trading, you need a mastery of fear and greed, as well as calculating different probabilities to your favor for different cards drawn and depending on how you managed risk, you could very well be on your way to infinite riches, like how Greg Merson did it in 2012, bagging home around $8 million worth of tournament earnings. Of course, stories like these are far and few, just like how successful traders are.

    As i continue on this hobby of mine, i have noticed a stark similarity between poker and trading and finally understood why its so popular. Many people can blame a bad hand or bad luck when they lose, but depending on how they manage their hands, they could be successful. They can choose to turn away when the promise of “ALL IN” seems too dangerous, just like the dot com bubble during the year 2,000 and its eventual burst. Increasingly, i am starting to feel that if i cannot become a good poker player, i might not be a good trader in the future. In fact, i have already lost 25% of my initial investment. Combined that with the free bonus given, i have lost 75% of my capital. This is dangerous and i usually takes 1 hour to have a positive gain of 20% on my investment but only 1 minute to lose it all.

    I will master the game of poker. For without even winning at this game of probabilities that has so few variables, how can i ever hope to conquer the bigger market that is the world’s economy. Of course, i cannot neglect my studies, relationships, health and work while learning to be more ahead of myself for someone my years.

    In fact, David Einhorn, a billionaire hedge fund manager is someone whom i look up to a lot. He is a fantastic hedge fund manager cum an excellent poker player.

  • The Economics Of Being The Top 1%

    In Singapore, being the top 1% earner means earning in excess of $700,000 every year. From young, i always have a fascination with getting there or simply the notion of being rich. To be honest, as i look back, i never felt truly satisfied in my life before. I would attribute it to being from one of less privileged family, incessant dramas on watching how the Rich are living their life or simply just pure greed. Regardless, its depressing and unsatisfactory. In recent months, as i am plagued with various new events in my life, i see an even greater need to achieve financial freedom and a stronger drive to succeed.

    The thing is, i am constantly stepping in and out of the path that will take me to riches. One minute, i am doing so well and the next, laziness and an inflated ego beat the crap out of me and make me fall back into the circle of mediocrity again. So many times, over the years, and i just keep shuffling in and out.

    The truth is, i am really sick of all my shuffling. I talked about action but in reality, its CONSTANT ACTION that i need and i am not doing any of it. What i did is a one time action, that usually yields me some results and i grow satisfied, flaunting it against anyone who will care to listen. All i am feeding is my ego and none towards my dream. I would laugh at myself if by the time i got out of university and i realized i haven’t really made any difference to my life.

    “Unleash the giant within”

  • Moving Forward & My Time In Vietnam

    Today, i am going to blog about 2 things at once seeing as to how i am absent from this blog for about 2 to 3 weeks already. I will start with my time in Vietnam. This chinese new year, i went to Vietnam with my family. I visited Vinh Long, Ho Chi Minh and Nha Trang. I went there to take some wedding photos at the most popular beach in Vietnam, Nha Trang. Vietnam has changed a lot since the first time i visited it back in 2010. More and more high rise buildings are being built and i can sense immense opportunities there. One obstacle to the development of this country is its ideological system. Things might be moving fast now, but a simple change in leadership can affect the landscape of the entire country and i am not too sure if investors would be willing to put their money there.

    Well, concentrating on myself, i have to say that many many things are going on right now and i am trying my best to handle everything at the same time. I actually kept this post as a draft for 1 week before able to write this second part. Moving forward, there are a few things i strive to achieve and i will now put it down in writing to make a commitment towards myself.

    1. Exercise every other day to the best of my abilities

    2. Reduce entertainment time and time spent watching shows and mangas

    3. Study more and work harder to build my own personal knowledge and wealth

    4. Cultivate a daily habit of reading news

    5. Try to save as much as possible and reduce expenditures

    6. Be diligent in my web building efforts

    7. Build up my home tuition business

    I believe if i am able to stick to this schedule of mine, i might be headed for success. If i cannot even win against my own desires of endless entertainment, i would most probably not land my dream job. With that said, i will try to post more in this blog as i really wished that this blog can become my personal journal, one in which i can look back years from now.

  • Working At Coffee Club

    Recently, i started a new part time job at Coffee Club. I was paid rather moderately per hour, but compared to my other part time jobs, the hourly pay is around 20% to 30% lower. Anyway, my job includes serving customers, taking orders, cleaning tables, and if i do closing, sweeping and then moping the floor. All in all, this is a difficult job that entails many physical labor.

    After one week of work, my fatigue started to kick in and i could no longer tolerate the harsh hours as i was reaching home at 2 or 3am the next day despite having to study early the next morning. In the end, i decided to take a pause to consider my options. Considering what i am aiming for this semester in school, i cannot work as much as i want to now. Yet, there is a need to generate additional income to sustain the living expenses of my family. At this crossroad, i decided against working and studying more so that i can keep up my grades.

    These are some of my fixed schedules on top of schooling:

    Tuesday Night: Tuition

    Friday & Sunday Night: Assistance with my mom’s business

    Saturday & Sunday Afternoon: Gems and diamond sales part time job

    I really would like to reignite the popularity of my free stuff site that used to earn me close to $1,000 per month. I will be concentrating on that and hopefully, the 2nd bloom of the free stuff site will come again. I believe that as long as i put in the effort to do my due link exchanges with each and every site out there that offers real free stuff, i will be able to build the site up once again like i used to.

  • Saving $1,000 To Spend In Vietnam

    This february, i am going to Vietnam, or Ho Chi Minh. I am going there for a variety of reasons that i would be more comfortable keeping to myself. Anyway, i am saving up $1,000 so that i will be able to carry out a series of actions which will maximize the satisfaction of the trip to my family and me. Yes, i am going with my family =)

    Anyway, i am working super hard now to save enough money to go to Vietnam. I would say my schedule is pretty crazy. Add that into my study at the university and i just feel so cramped, so stressed. But slowly, and steadily, i am somehow getting into the tempo of cramming myself up. I feel light at times even when i am pushed to the extreme. Things seem to move slower and i feel to be in more control of my mind and body.

    Definitely, i am working more and studying more compared to my first semester. I have significantly reduced the amount of time i spent for entertainment. In fact, i am guessing my entertainment time is less than 10 hours every week. Also, i am doing less napping even when i am extremely tired. I need to push myself more, if not, i might crumple under my responsibilities and that is something i never want to see happen. I will come up on top!

  • The Importance Of Researching Before Purchase

    Today, i am going to talk about doing research before buying something that you want. I decided to talk about this because i recently just saved more than $35 for an additional ink cartridge. When i was previously buying ink cartridges, i did not bother to look for additional information and clueless about where to go, i end up purchasing an ink cartridge for $65+. The salesman was very friendly and let me feel that i have made a real bargain.  

    However, this time when i need an ink cartridge, i did a careful research and discover that it only cost around $15 to $25 per piece. Luckily, i managed to find a supplier in Singapore who was willing to sell me the ink cartridge for $38. I bought 2 in the end for $70. To be honest, i saved more than $70 worth of money by just doing a bit more digging around. I am not surprised there are many more instances like this where i can save more. I have made a decision to never jump in too early and do tons of research next time before i purchases something.

  • India Gang Rape Case (Defending Rapists) – Mr Manohar Lal Sharma (Lawyer)

    I have decided to write about this piece of news seeing all the hype this particular incident has generated and I feel extremely revolted after seeing some of the points made by the defendants’ lawyer, namely Mr Manohar Lal Sharma, a lawyer for one of the accused. Before that, i would suggest you to take a look at these links to get a feel of what is this case about:

    http://www.globalnews.ca/3+suspects+in+india+rape+case+plead+not+guilty/6442785600/story.html

    http://edition.cnn.com/2013/01/08/world/asia/india-rape-case/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+(RSS%3A+Top+Stories)

    http://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/delhi-rape-victims-blame-defendants-070339413.html

    http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2013/01/10/india-gang-rape-pleas.html

    Anyway, i am not saying that the accused should not be defended but to denounce their crimes entirely? What the lawyer is proposing can be deem insulting to women by some. After reading some of his defence grounds, which you can find more by googling his name, some will say his arguments are twisted.

    In one article, the accused is said to be crying to the lawyer and telling the lawyer to get him out of “here”. However, how did the man feel when he was carrying out the horrific crime of raping and brutalizing a girl? The lack of humanity in his behavior deserved the most severe punishment that deter others from committing the same crime.

    This trial is now one that can determine the future of women in India. If the suspects are let away too lightly as suggested by the brilliant lawyer, the future of India is a very bleak one indeed and i would strongly recommend all women not to go to India. There is no safety at all. It is not just that, the moral of the entire nation is at question here.

    Take a look at this link: http://www.dailyshame.co.uk/2013/01/satire/manohar-lal-sharma-is-the-perfect-excuse-for-a-revolution-in-india/ where they pretty much sum up the ridiculous arguments they think made up by Mr Manohar Lal Sharma. Words cannot begin to describe how i have lost all my respect for this man even when i have never met him in my life.

  • Fine Dining Restaurant Waiter – 2 Days Part-Timer

    Today, i should blog about my 2 days experience as a part time waiter at Marina Bay Sands. I was working at a very classy fine dining restaurant with my university friend. After the first day, we felt that this job was not for us. It is definitely not because we feel that we are above the job, instead, i have a deep respect for the many employees there. For example, there are Filipinos, China foreigners working 11 to 13 hours a day there and this job requires you to keep standing straight for hours without rest.

    In my few conversations with the workers there, i find that most of them left their family behind to come to Singapore to work and they work more than 10 hours per day. Yet, these are the people pushing our economy forward. They do the same thing day in and day out, repeatedly without complain. Let me mention that this job is in no way easy though it doesn’t require a great deal of thinking. Imagine wiping glasses for hours and checking for finger prints against the light… and then doing it for 6 hours straight. Glass wiping is one of the most mundane jobs ever… There are some perks to this job, like a decent hourly pay of $9, with free food and transportation and these are the things that make me want to work on the second day.

    Anyway, these 2 days of working at the restaurant has taught me a few things:

    1. Study harder for a better career and thus, future
    2. Always strive to your fullest and hardest like the workers there
    3. Remain optimistic even when the whole world seems to be dropping down on you
    4. Save your money and don’t splurge like the workers there and you will find yourself many times richer

    They might not be as lucky as Singaporeans to be born here, but if they keep working hard like that, their future might be better. On the other hand, if a Singaporean work hard like them, we might see the first Lee Ka-shing of Singapore.