Money Matters

I'm turning 30 next year. Neither old nor young. Not middle-age either.

I'm sharing my thoughts about money saving and future planning. This includes retirement.

It may not apply to you, but you can use it as reference for your own financial guide.

1. DIVIDE
Divide your salary is important. I take Gross Salary as a guide.
20% CPF
20% for parents (good for you if you can save this portion up)
20%-25% savings + insurance
10%-15% Household (Utilities Bill, S&CC, Property Tax, Internet Subscription, Home phone line, Paid-TV, Groceries, Maintenance and Servicing Budget)
25% Expenses

If you are single, "household" probably dun apply to you. Thus saving them up for a future house, wedding, or travel will be awesome plan
If you have a car, i assuming abt 15%-30% of your gross salary will go to car installment, road tax, insurance, petrol, parking fees, maintenance & Servicing.

2. MAKE YOUR MONEY WORK FOR YOU
I believe in diversifing my savings. I spilt them into 4 factors
a) Cash
b) Insurance
c) Investment/Shares
d) Gold

Cash
The lowest risk of all is Cash. Keeping the money in bank accounts or FD accounts.
Pros : you can get your money out anytime without any capital loss.
Cons : they dun make much money for you.
A typical FD interest rate is less than 1%. Some banks may offer abit more with some promotion, but generally the $ is low. However, we need this cash component as we may need money anytime

Insurance
Living in SG = have cpf. I used medisave to cover my hospitalisation insurance. It is a must. Buy b4 regrets.
If you have extra cash and/or not in very very pink of health, i suggest you get the full coverage so that you dun need to pay co-insurance and deductible. The extra cash need is little. Few hundred bucks per year. It is worthy.
Life insurance is not in my consideration. Thus when i look for insurance, i focus on 2 pts
- provide my dependent $ when i die and they are too young/old to fed themselves
- option of surrender at old age so that i can withdraw $ to spend during retirement
I'm not sure how much is a good amount to cover myself. For now, i think that $100k per dependent will be minimum. (Considering that my hubby can fed them too)
Pros : Protection
Cons : More money returns than Cash but lesser than Shares

Investment/Shares
This has the highest risk amount the 4 factors mention above. The cash spend here must be extra cash. It is important that the money can be "thrown in" for a long period of time. In general, there are 2 types of gain. Capital gain VS Dividend gain. My hubby likes the former and i prefer the latter. Capital gain may be faster income but more attention needed. Dividend gain is more suitable for me. In general, a gain of 5% - 10% can happen depending on your portfolio and the market trend.
Pros : Make the most money for you... if you are lucky... or skilled
Cons : Highest Risk

Gold
This sounds the most oldie of all investment, but buying them at their lowest cost and selling them at highest price will bring in a good profit.
Some ppl prefer to buy paper gold. Personally i believe in buying physical gold as i cannot foresee the future.
Physical gold is the only thing we can butter-trade in hard time. There is no guaranteed world peace, so this serves as another way of protection.
Pros : Can butter trade during war time and can also bring profit during good times
Cons : Most troublesome.. imho

3. Do your retirement planning while you are young.

Mini-updates~~

As usual, my updates always come with a current schedule

Monday: Meet Friends or Hikki at home coz monday blue
Tuesday: Meet Friends/ Once a month Pedicure (Manicure for events)
Wednesday: Hot Yoga and Laundry Day
Thursday: JP Lesson Day
Friday: Steak Day / Parent & In-Law Day / Special Laundry Day
Saturday: Lazy Breakfast > Home Clean Up > Swimming / At times meet friends or go to either parent or in-law house
Sunday: Morning Yoga > Food Preparation > Laundry Day > Herbal Tea Making

Health Screening on 19 May.. I hope everything will be good. =)

Our Anniversary Celebration is simple. Woke up to see roses that my hubby promise to deliver on every anniversary. Yes, i dun ask for it on v.day or bday. but is a must for wedding anniversary. =)
Then we had lunch at Le Amis coz i love french food. Finally one down out of the 4 restaurant in SG that was listed in world's top 100 restaurant. =)

I decide to add a new milestone in my life this year. Will report back here again once all is confirm =)

My hubby and i are getting very lazy because of the hot weather. On the other hand, i have also get sleepy very often compared to previously. As a result we fail to go tree top even after all the planning i did previously. =(

2014 - my new time-table.

Some achievements/updates

1) I have not take cab to work since the start of 2014
2) Started on Japanese Advance Class - Skip Pre-advanced class
3) Pass JLPTN4 with full marks for listening
4) Started Yoga.
5) Took a to-fro plane by myself.

My Jan/Feb 2014 schedule

Monday: Meet Friends
Tuesday: Meet Friends / Once a month Pedicure (Manicure for events)
Wednesday: Laundry Day
Thursday: JP Lesson Day
Friday: Steak Day / Special Laundry Day / Parent & In-Law Day
Saturday: Home Clean Up + Swimming
Sunday: Food Preparation

March 2014 onwards schedule

Monday: Normal Yoga
Tuesday: Meet Friends/ Once a month Pedicure (Manicure for events)
Wednesday: Hot Yoga and/or Laundry Day
Thursday: JP Lesson Day
Friday: Steak Day / Parent & In-Law Day / Special Laundry Day
Saturday: Home Clean Up + Swimming / Some other activities
Sunday: Food Preparation + Laundry Day + Herbal Tea Making

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm making lesser herbal tea recently though the weather is hot.
Last 2 months weather is cold so i din make herbal tea.
That probably explains why my hubby eczema gets bad.
Shall try to make for him this weekend if possible.

Real Yoga has a new branch in TPY so i have tried 2 trial with miyabi.
We have signed up as a couple as it is cheaper.
But i think we are unlikely to go together due to different schedule but we will probably see each other some time during impromptu session.

I have arrange some activities with my hubby to prevent us from lazing too much at home. March activty will be mini-hiking to treetop. Though simple and nearby, i know we will not go if we never plan.
What shall we do for April? We have not been to Garden by the bay before. So maybe, shall we?

I just came back from Hong Kong .... broke. Spend more than SGD$2k over 3D2N. That does not includes flight. Accommodation is free though. Eating in HK is very cheap, as long as you dun go Michelin restaurant and such. So shopping is the most expensive thing. I have went in the whole season so no much clothes to shop, but i burst my wallet by getting a bag and a wallet. =P

End of 2013. Welcome 2014.

Reflecting on 2013. Bye Bye

CNY
2013 is the 1st year that i'm celebrating CNY in my new house. I enjoyed it. Finally the year with no cooking and no washing. I used to hate CNY. But now, apart from the money to part with(Ang Bao etc), i love this holiday. Organised a CNY party at my house.

Health
I became even more health conscious. Supplements for my hubby, regular checkup for both of us. Turning 30 in 2y time. I know i have to start taking care of my health before anyone knows how bad it can be. I took on the medical checkup from my office and always top for some extra checks. Better be safe than to be sorry. Early detection equals to life-saving.

Work
I decided not to change company for the time being. Alot of reasons, health is one of them. Till i nurse myself well enough to move on, i will be in same co.

Love
Slightly lesser quarrels compared to 2012. But there are a few big fights thought. Things get better towards end of the year. Especially last 2 months, where he supported me during bad health and our bonding during the few days leave for Spring Cleaning.

Family
Started to take care of my mil's health. In charge of getting supplements for her. Went over to mil's place more often. But still between 1 to 2 times each month. My fil's health is still bad. Was hospitalised.

Change maid for my mum. The new maid is slow and i prefer the old one. But the new maid is more tolerance and so far no major issue. Just that i have to tolerate complains from my mum. Frequently.

Money
I started my detailed retirement plan. Started investing into stock, happy when there is dividend, unhappy when there is unrealised capital loss. But is ok, long way to go. Manage to save more money than i expected to save in 2013. Guess taking bus towards the end of the year makes abit of difference.

Life
Study Japanese Intermediate. Took JLPTN4. Skipped Pre-advanced and jump to Advanced Class. My Japanese Teacher left SG for good, change to another teacher.

Meet up with friends often. I dun wanna to have a life with only my hubby.

Hi 2014, I hope things will be even better.

My Weekly Affair.

My Sensei who used to only teach Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun class, has now an additional Class on Thursday.
I'm thankful for this. And i decided to switch to this class except for JLPT Prep Class.

Thursday is a good day. Even though i will be tired after lesson, but the next day is friday!

As a result, i have a new weekly schedule.

Monday & Tuesday : Friends meet-up Day! / Some Tuesday are Manicure Day.
Wednesday: Laundry Day
Thursday: JP Lesson Day
Friday: Special Meetup / Special Laundry Day / Parent & In-Law Day
Saturday: Home Clean Up Day
Sunday: Food Preparation + Herbal Tea Making Day!

Apart from exceptional cases, i'm trying not to give up my schedule.

This year, I have gave MAX5 5-saturdays to meet up to celebrate bdays. I really love MAX5. But it is really tough to give full Saturday.

Friends, if possible, i prefer to do regular meet-ups on Monday & Tuesday, and Special Meet-up like a celebration on any of Mon, Tue, Fri. Weekend are fine if over a span of a few hrs. I can give up certain days for certain ppl. Example, Delphine usually have her offs on Wed, so i can swap for her coz she has no other options. This is something that i can definitely give in. I can also throw in a full weekend for a super-fun-and-packed-activity-day-once-in-a-blue-moon.

Stubborn

If only i had lesser stubbornness, i won’t be waking up that early.

Over the little unhappiness from the boss's statement, my stubbornness gave up my regular cab. This is because the regular cab can't reach that early. It usually reach my place at a later time, which means i will reach work later, and it means, i go home later too.

In fact, i used to believe that my boss think it is ok, but i think it is my pure assumption. Maybe becoz the senior did that so we followed. And the headquarter ppl were worst off.

But somehow, i'm not one who take criticism well. Esp when I thought all is ok. So when I realize it seem not, I tried one week to wake up earlier to reach work earlier. The 1^st week was horrible, could be due to tiredness, I failed badly.

This week I tried again. Monday was nonsense, I ended up paying more than 25 bucks for taxi, and waited very long to get one. Today was ok, I had to pay $5.50 ERP in total. Tomorrow I shall try earlier, hopefully can drop my ERP to $5.

Anyone can intro a regular cab that picks me at 8AM? I would be glad to have one. 

50 Facts About Me (that you may not know)

Travelling
1) When travelling, I never use hotel's shampoo/bath foam/towels.
2) I love buying umbrella, lanyards whenever i go somewhere for holiday.
3) I have a weakness for aquarium & fountain.
4) I have very little travel opportunity as my dad rejects paying for my overseas holiday. i make it up by travelling alot after marriage.

Entertainment
5) I only have Japanese Song in my iPhone.
6) My 1st fav Japanese band is Lucifer.
7) I cannot speak Japanese well but i can sing Japanese song fairly.
8) I love to watch historical drama (be it chinese, korean or japanese).
9) To date, i have watch more than 250 Japanese Dramas.
10) I love to watch horror movies but I'm always very scared when I watched.

Genes
11) I have nyonya blood due to my Granny.
12) All my Grandparents are Teochew. (Including Granny who is teochew-nyonya). My hubby's parents are also Teochew
13) I have brown-eyes and my multi-fold eyelids

Food
14) I only eat ramen in Tonkotsu base. (Only exception is marutama ramen in chix base)
15) I eat good steak once a month. The bill per pax can range from $30 to $250. About once a year, we indulge in grade A5.
16) St Regis is my all time Fav Place. I have supper club member (to st regis) that entitle me to 25% off food & beverage bill.
17) I must eat at Royal China & Yan Ting once a year
18) I adore siew mai from Crystal Jade. Royal China & Yan Ting can't win either.
19) Since working, i nv fail to buy good wood park durian crepe to share with my mum yearly.
20) I hate to eat Oats but i eat them for healthy life-style.
21) The darkest chocz that i can eat is 87%.
22) As a curry lover, i insist the following curry must be eaten with the respective staple food. Veg - Bee Hoon, Chix - Bread, Fish Rice, Mutton - Prata.
23) I love Tulang.
24) My Fav Food Blogger is Daniel's Food Diary.
25) My last fav steak is Angus Steak House.
26) No doubt i love Japanese food like sashimi but i can't handle Tuna.
27) I prefer rendang than curry. Fav rendang is beef, fav curry is mutton.
28) I only eat white fried carrot cake.

Body Skin
29) I rarely use body lotion/hand cream though i always have it in my handbag.
30) My straight hair is a result of rebond, though i dun have curly hair.
31) My fav makeup style is chic follow by neutrals. My most frequent makeup style is neutrals follow by sweet.

Sports/Games
32) I never had a game set like xbox or wii, though i kinda like playing games.
33) My Fav RPG game was MU Online. (i no longer play it)
34) I used to play Kick-Boxing
35) i can score SS for Para Para Machine.
36) My fav sport is swimming

Shopping
37) My Most Expensive Bag is probably LV Alma Electric Epi, present from Hubby. The Most Expensive Bag i bought is probably Miu Miu Clutch.
38) My Most Expensive Shoes cost me close to $400 and i haven never wore it before.
39) I have more than 40 makeup brushes as of today. (i'm giving some away) However i dun have Stippling & Fan brush.
40) My casual clothes generally come from Espirit, Uniqlo, Wasabee. Formal generally comes from Dorothy Perkins & Marks & Spencers
41) My fav sports brand is addias,
42) My 2 feet doesn't have the same size. One is 7, the other is 7.5. However I wear size 9 for heels due to my wide feet

Other random
43) My result was horrible in Primary & Secondary, but i have a silver medal in Poly and Gold medal in Uni.'
44) I give 20% of my salary to CPF, 10% to dad, 10% to mum. Works the same way for bonus.
45) I'm extremely jealous when Odagiri Joe married Kashii Yuu.
46) I read BL books as young as 16yo.
47) I'm still working in my 1st job/company T___T.
48) My childhood dream is to be a lawyer.
49) I planed my basic retirement plan at 23yo. I have the details yearly plan completed early this year,
50) I don't like my current new house becoz of size. I regretted not buying the 5-room flat no doubt knowing that monthly payment is gg to be a killer.

My Skincare Regime (as of May 2013)

Day Time : Whitening is the way to be queen!
1) The never changing rule for years, wash with water!
However this works for me as i sleep in aircon room. If you sleep in a hot room and have alot of sebum after you wake up, maybe you need a cleanser.

2) Laneige Power Essential Skin Refiner Moisture
Previously i use a whitening toner, but Laneige Whitening Toner is too thick for me. I change and swap to the moisturing toner instead. =)

3) Laneige Balancing Emulsion Moisture
Balancing the PH, works the same way as Youth Code Pre-Essence.

4) Laneige White Plus Renew Original Essence
I must have a whitening essence in my regime.

5) Laneige Water Bank Essence
The light hydrating essence that protects the skin.

6) Estee Lauder Night Repair Eye Cream
Eyes is where you starts your anti-aging protection.

7) Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream
Very hydrating. I love it. It also helps to lock all the above essence.

8) Shiseido Perfect UV Protector SPF 50+/ PA+++
Block the sun and be fair~ ^^

Next is Makeup Time! ^^

Night Time : Clean well and hydrate.

1) Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil
The Cleansing oil that never fails me.

2) Biore Mashmellow Foam OR Laneige Multi-Cleanser
I use either one of them. Generally i use Biore.

3) Power Essential Skin Refiner Moisture
The awesome toner for me.

3) Laneige Water Bank Eye Gel Cream
Hyrdate the dry areas around the eyes

4) Laneige Balancing Emulsion Moisture
Re-use this again to balance out the PH

5) Lanige Hydra Solution Essence
Intensive Hydration. Awesome but costly

6) Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream
To lock in the hydration!

7) Laneige Sleeping Pack EX
Seldom use, once in a blue blue moon

If you compare, you will notice that i have simpify alot of steps. Nowadays there is really very little time to take care of my own skin to be pretty. =( But well, i will try not to slack and use sheet mask as often as i can ^^

A Different Mindset.

I WAS crazy about beauty products. Tons of face-mask, i used to use it everyday (and that's when my skin was best).
Catching up with new-release products and buy them to try (which explains why i have 5 BB-cream/Foundation).

Not sure why but recently i get lazy. Which probably explains why i become uglier.

Yup, i became lazy for good. I no longer read on such things and buy makeup. My last big shopping on makeup (not skincare arh) is probably at TW trip Sept 2012. So it means i'm like a good ger for half-a-year.... (Ok, i admit, a green-makeup base bought recently and a laneige foundation bought in HK).

Skincare wise... I did not buy any mask for MYSELF in HK! Amazing hor? hehe. My current mask supply should have more than 100 pieces, no idea how fast i can finish using since i'm no long as hardworking as i was.

I gave up the idea of switching to SK-II. It just don't work for me. =( Tried using FTE and it was bad on my skin. I had a rude shock since my skin was never sensitive. But is ok, i have change to laneige. ^^ (A separate post for my current skincare).

In general, while trying to finish my existing skincare and to do the perfect switch to laneige, i have change my skincare concept. The day concept of whitening & sunblock remains, but the night concept of anti-aging has change to hydration. I realise my skin is very very dry. So i have got myself intensive hydrating essence for my night use. It is VERY expensive for me, but i'm alternative it with basic hydrating essence.

Changing the mindset have a few pros.

1) Spend lesser $ in trying new products only to realise not suitable and give it away.
2) Spend more time on tackling what is good for my skin rather than trying what is trendy right now
3) Lesser time in overall skincare activities.
4) Less wasteage - alot of my skincare & makeup went to the dustbin.

Of coz there are some cons but i shall not mention them..

Hopefully the change of mindset will help my wallet to be happier~ ^^

What i have learn VS what i have realise

I have learn all my life to "TRY YOUR BEST", "DO YOUR BEST". Being not a smart kid, i never did well in the first 10y of my education.

In primary school, i only had good grades for Chinese & Maths.
In secondary school, it s still Chinese & Maths.
Thus, i never fufil my childhood dream, which requires a strong command of English.
I knew i'm not a perfect child.

Someday after O'level results, i decided to say goodbye to English. I no longer wan English as a subject and do comprehension or composition. I open the polytechnic doors and go for something that i'm supposedly good in, Maths = Engineering or IT. Surprisingly, i excel, and thankfully i graduate with as the second top student in the Cohort, which means i have a chance to go UNI. This is the 1st time i felt that i'm not as dumb as i thought. I started to feel that what i was taught to TRY/DO MY BEST is correct. I even regreted not doing the best when i was younger. But well, though it is sad, i had a chance to create another type of future.

University was tough, much tougher than Polytechnic. But i made it through. I graduate with a Gold Medal. I felt that "DO MY BEST" is very true. At that time, FIR have has a song "Neverland". Each time i heard the "DO MY BEST", it motivate me to work harder.

Then it is time to earn my own money. "DO MY BEST" no longer works. T____T

I realise that "DO MY BEST" is only to make myself live w/o regrets. But it only mean more upsets and more dissappointment. "I try so hard and still lidat." This was when i realise that "DO MY BEST" dun works for everything.

Becoz i did not do my best in the 1st 10y of education, i regreted and did my very best for the nx 12y in almost everything. This year, i'm turning to 28yo. After this post, i wanna change my mindset and not do my best in everything anymore. Because i realise this only makes me tired.

From today onwards, i'm gg to live by my new thoughts.

Best is not the ultimate.
Perfect is impossible.

One can never satisfy everyone.
Just satisfy the ONE that matters.

Heck care what ppl think.
But not the ONE who cares for you.

Everything can create regrets.
Regrets are fine, don't take it too hard.

Life is yours.
Live your way.

Health + Love + Happy + Wealth = Greatest Happiness
Health + Love + Happy = My type of Happiness

........


I'm very very tired.

The worse start of the month.

Last 2 weeks was really bad for me. My Godma is sick. It is something serious. At the end of Apr, she had her surgery and now she is moving towards recovery but alot of uncertainty is still lying around. Moreover, there are 2 areas that are sick.

I try my best to be here for her. She has no children, but a handful of god-children. However i live the nearest.

All shit happen on the same  week was horrible week becoz my mum wanted to change maid and i had to rush all the documents to bring the new maid in.

29 May (Mon): Surgery Day. Went down after work but there was some delay during the op. She was in the recovery room for many many hours and cannot go to D ward due to some hiccups. It drag for many hours till morning. =(

30 May (Tue): I rush to maid agency to do some documents before going to the hospital to check on my Godma. She was in D ward at that time and not ready to move to normal ward. Observation needed.

1 May (Wed): Labor Day holiday. Woke up early to make some sandwich such that we can eat on the way. My brother pick me, pat & my Godpa to go see my Godma. The doctor say she is progressing well but low in potassium. I help to take care till noon, then i left to visit my Grandma. My Grandma was all along in the care of my Godma, so now i also try to visit when i can. Then went to my mum's place to settle some money issue with the maid since we are sending her back on the friday.

2 May (Thu): Was a fine day. More maid docu to settle during lunch time. After work i went to visit my Godma. Finally can change to a normal and walk slightly. Her progress was good. I had to see her today and i couldn't do so on friday. Seeing her in a normal ward lessen my worries.

3 May (Fri): Went for my Japanese lesson then to my mum place. It was an overnight trip to my mum's place becoz i need to tell the maid i sending her back the nx day. It was like 10pm when i reach my mum place. I totally had no appetite to eat. I had to tell her 1st. After i told her, she cry, she pack her things, she call back home to ask someone to pick her. Everything ends at 2am. I was deadbeat and hungry. Went to bathe, dry my hair and such. Sleep at 3am.

4 May (Sat): THE WORST DAY: woke up at 5:30am to bring the maid to airport. breakfast, check-in. arrange for ppl to help her. It was about 8:30am when we left airport. Took a train to SGH to see my Godma. Upon reaching, she told me she can be discharge today. I call my siblings to help. Hubby offer to help with the medication and documents. I tried my best to stay till most things are settled. This is because i had another appt at the maid agency to pick the new maid. The discharge procedures told a while and we ended at abt 1:30pm. My appt at the maid agency is actually 1pm so i rush down in a cab. Thankfully my mum was there liao. I had documents to settle and basic briefing for the maid. Finally after alot of nonsense, i manage to bring her out of agency at 3:30pm. I was dead tired when i reach my mum place. But there was more to go through. By the time i finish settling the maid at my mum house, it is 6pm. I took a cab back, bathe, and KO-ed.

Phew~

Don't marry early.

Hi, i'm not saying becoz i'm unhappy with my marriage. I would like to share why i think in this way.

Date a person, marry a family.

When you date someone, both of you lead individual life, with various intersection. Marriage, on the other hand is different. You need be involve in his family matters. He may also need to. It could be good, it could be bad. Before marriage, there is no need to visit each other parents on a frequent basis. You can see ur bf parents maybe a few times a year (CNY, their bday), but after marriage, you are expected to go back frequently. No doubt my hubby tends to go back with me, but i'm sure he will be soon sick of explaining to his parents why he came back alone and why i din go back together. Similiarly, my parents ask me too when my hubby din go back with me.

After married, you live with your in-laws? Conflicts.

I would think, if possible, don't live with your in-laws. A very simple reason, you don't want conflicts due to staying together. Some ppl may be luckily, but not all. A few advantage of staying with in-laws, you don't need to make some time out to go back to your in-law place (neccessary for ppl who has their own house). You don't need to pay property tax, town council fees, etc etc. You may give your in-law a $-token, but groceries are covered.

How about having a new house and be free of parent-related issue?

It is not 100% true. I'm constantly having this issue. My mum ask me to go back on weekend. My in-laws also want us to go back on weekend. My friends also wanna meet on weekend. I wanna learn something, go for lesson on weekends. I wanna rest and do my house work on weekends. I also wanna spend some quality time with my hubby. HOW? Next, every single bill is my own problem. I use to pay for my parents SP bill, my own internet bills. Now on top of that, there is property tax, town council and other stuff to pay. =(

After marriage, time is forever not enough.

I'm using this simple plan now.

I tried to have my mum understand that it is impossible for me to go back every weekend. If i go her place, it would be right to go my in-law side too. After half a year of struggling, i came out with this plan.

Mon - Thu : at most 2 days with friends. 2 other days to have dinner with hubby + do household chores
Fri           : Japanese Lesson
Sat           : Household chores + Swimming
Sun            : Buy Groceries, prepare food for the week, chill.

On top of this plan, we will try to go back home on public holidays (PH), such as lunch at my parents place and dinner at my in-law side, or dinner at my in-law on PH eve.

If there is no PH on that month, we will pick one 2 sundays out of 4 to go back to our parents' place.

If there is special event that month, like birthday or mother's day, i will accommodate and go his place on the actual day and celebrate my side on the day before.

Now is may. My dates are scheduled all the way to end of June (And several random dates till end of the year). =(

Hong Kong~

I went HK in April~ It is really a good place to shop if you are into new trend & branded. The stuff are generally more expensive. Taiwan in comparison is definitely cheaper.

What i love about Hong Kong?

- Cheap Espirit!
- City Gate Factory Outlet (Espirit, Addias!)
- Yee Shun Milk Pudding
- Honolulu Egg Tarts
- A small Korean Accessories shop at Central
- Cooling Weather
- Capitol Cafe awesome scrambled eggs
- Sau Tau Instant Noodles
- Sogo
- Ocean Park
- Tim Ho Wan
- Mak's Noodles
- Cheap Laneige

What i don't like about Hong Kong?

- A weird bad smell in Kowloon. Hong Kong Island is fine
- Rowdy. I stay in Tsim Sha Tsui and always got ppl kena question by police
- Very old infrastructure.
- Night Market does not interests me.
- Expensive
- Night view abit disappointing

The few days there was good bonding with the hubby except that he keeps playing the phone that makes me sad..

Despite saying this & that... i still end up come back with super big luggage bag. haha. =P

Oh? It is March!

It seems to be that 2013 has been a bad year so far.

Was on m.c. from 2 - 4 Jan. Then m.c. again on 18 - 19 Feb. I'm not one who will take m.c. unless i'm really sick. For both occasion, i had high fever. =( But illness did not give any weight loss. It just remains.

The side effect of the second fever was drinking alot of water. Surprisingly, after the fever, i could drink approx a liter of water during work and another cup or more after i reach home.In fact, i even had to bring around a 500ml water bottle wherever i go.

Starting from end Feb, Hubby & I started our Saturday Evening Swimming Routine. We leave home about 6pm, reach the pool ard 6plus and swim for an hour before gg back. Before leaving house, i would have prepared some simple food such that we can heat up and have it for dinner after we reach home =)

Becoz of the swimming routine, I have officially change my Japanese lesson from Sunday Morning to Friday Night! Only Monthly Steak on Friday or any impt event will make me swicth my lesson to Wednesday/Sunday. This switch is after considering things such as saving cab fares on sunday morning and also to give myself an extra rest on the weekend =)

Chinese New Year was a handful for me. Good thing was the happy gathering with Hubby's Poly Friends as well as my friends who came on the 2nd Sunday of CNY. Ang Bao giving was really fun (minus the $ part =P )

I'm flying to HK 3 weeks from now and i'm seriouly looking forward to it. Work have been making me pretty upset. I can foresee a bad bonus this year and the thought of this make me upset. I guess i have to look for another job which the basic is better than the current job.

Reverting to my 2013 resolution, I should be planning for a walk or run 2013 soon. I have not been eating the bird nest dilligently either, but i'm sleeping well. at least from 1:00am to 7:30am. Abit more to go!

I have not missed any Japanese Lesson and is going to Intermediate 2 Class. However, i'm not feeling good about it.  My homework are not done since before CNY started. At times i kinda giving up as my Japanese is getting bad. I guess not not watching my dorama has an impact to it. =(

In february, i have arrange to meet all my friends in my house for CNY. Now i'm scheduling my March & April Activities

5 March - JVCD - Candice Bday Dinner
8 April - Shuhan & mayu - Shuhan Bday Dinner

February is bad month, my Premium Bus taking was badly affect. This morning i fell sick, went to sick doctor and had no choice but to cab to work again. $$ T___T I gotta ganbatte in March.

Last weekend, i accompanied my Hubby to PolyClinic for a non-urgent case. His skin has been in bad condition. So this time i'm determine to settle it and we decide to get a referral letter to NSC via Poly Clinic. This is also part of my resolution in taking care of him. =D

In February, i finalised my retirement plan and create some plan to monitor my HDB Repayment Plan. Retirement seems like very tough esp if the inflation continues like this. Haizz.. But luckily, i'm progressing. slow but at least not stagnant.

In February, I have also stick to my rule and not buy any makep. All i did was purchasing of fancl cleansing oil (coz no stock at home, and miya is only back end of the mth), and hair serums. =D

Retirement Plans.

Last week, my evil boss email me an excel to compute how much $ i need for retirement.
This is base on plans of how much $$ i wanna receive every month as of today dollar, considering an inflation of 2.3%.

Crappy Enough, to retire at age 60 and die at 90, receiving $5,000 of today's dollar each month, i need $5,528,578 by the time i retire.
Abit different from the CPF Website guide. =P

CPF Retirement Estimator

CPF Retirement Calculator

CPF Retirement Interactive Calculator

I have been playing with the 1st 2 since i started working and the last one recently.
In case of a low return on investment, i tend to keep that on the lower % and an inflation of at least 2.5%

Seems like the number did not stay too far away from SGD$5m either.

I have a retirement portfolio that i have for quite a while but it was not in good numbers due to the $$ spend on the house & wedding. Especially if you consider that we did not get any money-help from our parents, and all we receive are gifts to our new house (like fridge, TV etc).

Finally now everything is stable and i shall work harder to build up this Portfolio! =D

Only my dear friends who asked will know how i do up my Portfolio. =)

1st Post of the Year

I wanted to write something. But i have no idea what to write.

Some time in end december i wrote a resolution post but never posted it.
Now when i think of posting it, i realise i can even review my resolution in blue

2013 Resolution

Health
* Drink at least 1 liter of water a day
* Lose Weight
* Exercise at least once a week
Water bad, never exercise either. =( 
* To take part in a run or walk
No plans so far. =( 
* Eat more home-cooked food
Cooked only when hubby at home =|
* Eat Bird Nest for nourish weak lungs
Got eat but not dilligently =|
* Sleep at least 7hrs a day (Target: 12midnight to 7am)
Starting to sleep around 12:30am and wake up abt 7:30am. However a couple of night sleep at 02:00am instead =|

Study 
* Continue with my Japanese Lesson
* Take JLPTN4 at the end of the year
* Do Homework regularly
Still taking lesson but never do HW regularly. Feel like giving up =(

Life 
* At least travel one short overseas trip
Planned my HK Trip =D
* Meet up friends, avoid skipping any gatherings
Meet up with JVCD for dinner, Kanojo for sunday brunch, Shuhan for dinner, mayu for a chit-chat session, mayu & chun for a KTV session, xy house for house-warming  =D
* Complete at least 16 Japanese Drama (4 per season)
Haven start any dramas =( 

Work
* Reach Office before 9am
Have been reaching office around 9:00am - 9:10am
* Leave Office before 6:30pm
Leave office around 6:20pm - 6:45pm.
* OT as little as possible
* increase work efficiency
 Little OT, almost none =)

Taking Care of Hubby 
* Make him drink Chix Essence/DOM once a week
Finished the Chix Essence that i bought =)
Going to start DOM soon =|
* Make him eat Bird Nest at least once a month
Force feed some Bird Nest this month =)
* Make him eat supplements
Started to eat supplements =) DHA, Calcium, Vit B & C

Family
* Go back my parent place at least twice a month
19th & 26th =)
* Go back my in-law place at least once a month
26th =)
* Meet up once with my siblings only for OUR gathering
TBC

Money
* save more money (retirement, big buys, good meals)
Start taking bus to work. Premium Bus, cheaper than cab =D
* To double up the amount of savings that i have. =D
Haven had clear idea of how to make more $$ =(
* More investment
Thinking of buying more shares =|

Beauty
* No purchase of any make up up till June
* No purchase of face mask till the stock is finished
* Convert to one brand skincare except Sunblock
No new skincare & makeup bought in this month. =D

Skincare: What am i currently using~~

Day Time : Protection - Prevention is better than Cure

1) Wash with water! I do not suggest using cleanser unless you use some overnight sleeping mask which have residue that needs a cleanser to wash.
Product used: NEWater

2) Tone with a whitening toner. I'm switching back to L'oreal coz i cannot find a whitening product better than this. Any recommendation?
Product used: L'oreal White Perfect Toner

3) Aging starts from eyes, anti-aging eye cream is important
Product used: Estee Lauder Night Repair Eye Cream - usable for day and night

4) I get totally hooked on Pre-essence. I'm currently using my 3rd bottle~
Product used: L'oreal Youth Code Pre-Essence (as good as Lancome Genifique)

5) Whitening Essence is one good way to help me be fair & fight the sun!
Product used: L'oreal White Perfect Laser Essence

7) Hydrating Essence to protect my skin in air-con room
Product used: Laneige Water Bank Essence

8) In general i use a whitening moisturizer, but i may use a hydrating moisturizer, if i feel very "Dry"
Product used: L'oreal White Perfect Laser Whitening Cream OR Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream

9) Love my new sunblock! It has a nice water smell and it is water-based, yet waterproof~ ^^
Product used: Shiseido Perfect UV Protector SPF 50+/ PA+++

My makeup comes after the sunblock~

Night Time : Clean & Repair

1) Lazy me love one-bottle-do-all
Product used: Fancl Mild Cleaning Oil

2) Basic Cleanser vs extreme cleansing
Product used: Biore Mashmellow Foam VS Laneige Multi-Cleanser

3) Hydrating the skin w toner before the start of repair
Product used: L'oreal Revitalift Toner vs Laneige Power Essential Skin Refiner Moisture

3) Eye Protection. Hyrdating before i sleep my air-con room
Product used: Laneige Water Bank Eye Gel Cream

4) I just love this so much that i have to use it again..
Product used: L'oreal Youth Code Pre-Essence (as good as Lancome Genifique)

5) Anti-aging must starts once after 25yo!
Product used: L'oreal Revitalift Anti-Aging Serum

6) Total hydration for a dry skin like mine~
Product used Laneige Water Bank Essence

8) Lock in the hydration!
Product used: Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream

9) Sleeping mask for my last step~
Product used: Laneige Sleep Pack EX OR The Face Shop Raspberry Sleeping Mask

Recently i review my steps and change a bit. Due to some readings, i stopped using SK-II unless i'm using it nia. I pat it by itself but i kinda dislike the smell. =( I doubt i will buy again after i finish this bottle. But maybe i will switch to SK-II after 30yo.

Have been thinking if i wanna use full Laneige Products. Thought it is not too expensive, it is also not as cheap as the drugstore products. I was wondering why not spent lesser if they are just as good?

I'm now busy with X'mas so i'm not reading any skincare stuff, so let me know if you have awesome recommendation.

I may.. ended up switching to Laneige for my 27yo - 29yo skincare, shall i?

Things that i should avoid buying

... for at least till end this year or even next year..

This morning while dressing for work, i was thinking "how many new/unopened eye-shadow palette do i have?"

I grasped. 2 Lavshua, 2 Integrate, 1 from sephora, 1 Urban Decay and 2 Anna Sui
It was in the 2nd drawer so i open the 1st drawer and see.. Clinque eye-shadow only used twice. Haiz...

There are alot more that i cannot buy...

I'm using SK-II eye-cream, finally it is finishing.. But i still have 2 more eye-cream in queue. Estee Lauder & Laneige. I bet they can last me till nx June coz i have been using the SK-II since before wedding and it last me abt 4-6mths. To think that it is a small bottle and laneige is big.. OK, i guess i have enough eye-cream till Dec2013.

Bags... I love bags... and i have quite some and i'm saving for the next Designer Bag (maybe Celine).. so maybe i should stop buying 1st.. (Urgh..i just saw the green one at new look that i really like)

Shoes... after coming back from honeymoon, i bought approximately 8 pairs of shoes. One down (meaning like in bad condition), and most not even wore once. Yes.. i better stop buy HEELS in specific.

Foundation/BB Cream.. I have SK-II, L'oreal x 2 type, Maybelline x 2.... Enough till Dec2013 too

Hair Treatment... 2 big tubs + 1 tube + 10 one time use tube + 10 hair end treatment.... Enough till end this year i believe

Cleanser... at least 3 new bottles =(

Body Bath. Yes, i have erm.. too many bottles to count

Body Butter/Body Lotion/Hand Cream... COUNTLESS TOO

Mascara.. 1 lavshua, 1 Maybelline, 1 L'oreal, 3-4 Majolica, 1 Estee Lauder unopened

Eyeliner.. more than 5 and less than 10 from Majolica

CRAZY.... stock i have..

How do u spent your bonus?

I reward myself when i get a bonus. After working hard for a year, it will be good say tell yourself thanks.

I started work in year 2008.

2008 bonus was pro-rated. I did not get anything for myself.
2009, Boss Fou was in france, I got him to buy me a LV card holder. I was really poor, but wanted something.
2010, I wanted a bag, but again was poor due to saving for house & wedding, i got myself a longchamp.
2011, I save up the bonus coz the following year i'm gg to europe. I bought myself a prada wallet & key-pouch
2012, I bought myself a miu miu bag with the bonus.

what's in for me in 2013? I'm looking at mont blanc now. =D

Genifique vs Youth Code.

I have this weird habit of looking at the Skin Care product by family. Example, Lancome & L'oreal Paris are all under L'oreal. So with the want to try out lancome Genifique, i went around searching for a replacement in the L'oreal family and yes, i found it under L'oreal Paris. =)

In case some of you dunno, Lancome Genifique which is suppose to re-activate the youth genes in your skin. I google online and found that the ingredients are generally similar.

The colors helps to match the similarities. =)

Genifique Ingredients:
Aqua/Water, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Dimenthicone, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Adenosine, PEG-20 Methyl  Glucose Sesquistearate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, Ammonium Polyacryldimethyltauramide/Ammonium Polyacryldimethyltaurate, Limonene, Xanthan Gum, Caprylylglycol, Disodium EDTA, Octyldodecanol, Citric Acid, Citronellol, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate.

Youth Code Ingredients:
Aqua/Water, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Dimenthicone, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Peg-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquisterate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Adenosine, Ammonium. Polyacryldimethyltauramide, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Octyldodecanol, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, and Parfum.

Considering Genifique cost 3 time of Youth Code, i choose to test out Youth Code instead. And it just prove to be so awesome! =)

Use Youth Code before your serum/essence and see the effect yourself =)