Airlines around the world are facing their greatest challenge due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Airports are as good as shut. Aeroplanes are parked and not flying. Singapore Airlines (SIA) is not spared. In fact, it has taken drastic steps to survive. Management has taken paycuts, pilots and other crew are on no-pay leave (voluntary or…
Author: FIREman
Running around the park
Well, gyms are closed during the circuit breaker period. I have no choice but to run outside. We generally have it good in Singapore but I have to say we don’t have great weather, especially for outdoors sports. It’s either hot or raining and always humid. That’s the main reason why I sign up for…
This too shall pass
As I am typing this, markets are tanking around the world. My stock alerts come faster than I can reset them. My portfolio hit new lows everyday. It’s normal to panic and run. But like most situations in life, it may be better to pause and think before you act. It seems like the end…
“Be greedy when others are fearful”
Wise words from my shifu WB. Well, even he has to cancel his annual shareholders meeting in Omaha due to the Covid 19 situation. I have started deploying my $$$. My portfolio is down 30% currently but I suspect we have not seen the worst yet. Bought some bank and oil-related stocks to average down….
Demystifying the CPF Annual Limit
As mentioned in my previous posts, the CPF Annual Limit is $37,740. What I didn’t realise is that this amount is the absolute limit, that is, it includes any voluntary contribution to the MA. Since I am gainfully employed, my mandatory contributions (from both employer and employee) will already hit the AL. I used to…
A Sobering February
I didn’t manage to write any new post in February. I need to apologize for my tardiness. I went Down Under to visit a friend and his family in Sydney. Took advantage of the CNY holidays. Went to NZ South Island thereafter for 10 days. Everything started well enough. There were hints of the Covid…
An Ang Bao to yourself
As we approach the year of the Rat and bid farewell to the Pig, this is the time when people get excited about the ang baos or red packets. I remember that as a kid, I used to look forward to the Chinese New Year. This is the one time in a year when relatives…
A good start to 2020
Happy new year! A decade has passed by us. Time and tide indeed wait for no man. My favorite activity during this period is to check on my CPF interest for the previous year. Although interest is calculated on a daily basis, the final interest earned on the year before is only revealed in the…
Goodbye 2019. Hello 2020!
We have a few more days before we welcome the new year 2020. This is usually the best time for reflection. Here are mine. 1) Travel – Loads this year. A combination of business and pleasure. HCM with friends to welcome 2019, Sapporo/Otaru for Snow Festival, Bangkok to celebrate my birthday, Melbourne to watch Harry…
It’s the SRS season!
I always like the year end season. Things are winding down, people are clearing their leaves and taking their well-deserved holidays, kids are out of school etc. Well, there’s even less traffic on the roads. This is also the period when I am topping up my SRS. I always tell myself to spread it out…