Review of 2015 in Singapore

[JR8]

Perhaps as with others I get nothing of the history. I just see what appears like bullying, and I wish it weren't so.

[x9200]

Bullying? Care to elaborate?

[Wd40]

Now I have gotten to the stage where money doesn't matter much to me [..].

You just made my day.

I scent an internal contradiction. As I don't think you can arrive at a point of 'money not mattering' unless you have arrived there via a life, not obsessed with money as such, but obsessed with preparation, against the unknown. And I do not believe there is an off-switch.

My 'Totally chilled about money' face:

Yes, it was arrived at by being frugal and saving for the rainy day and making sure I save enough that at some point I can dictate my own terms rather being in the constant fear of job loss or sticking on to something because you need the money to run family or pay installments.

I have realized that since I am so frugal, even if I make extra money I am not going to upgrade my lifestyle. So then you wonder why the obsession to keep focusing on making more and more money.

I think the "money doesn't matter to me" statement was a bit of exaggeration. I think rather I should have put it, "money is not going to be my main focus any more". I have gotten to the point where I don't mind taking a break and a new job with better work life balance. Until even 6 months ago this wasn't the case.

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[JR8]

Well, here is the edited version 'I am afraid it was personal. I just had this thought yesterday or a day before, if I ever see again any post of WD40 that is not going to be about money or at least won't mention money, price etc. (Actually, I think there were some recently in the job changing thread)'
----

I miss hearing his views.
--- hearing. As perhaps unsurprisingly he's another long-timer that's apparently been killed off by the heavy 'cynical old-timer' consensus that can prevail.

[x9200]

Fair enough, though this is just your opinion. I hope at least you realise you are also a part of the old cynical old-timer identity, what makes your comment a bit odd.

Personally, I think it's the right balance what can be seen on this forum. You will never have the situation where everybody is happy.

[Wd40]

Well, here is the edited version 'I am afraid it was personal. I just had this thought yesterday or a day before, if I ever see again any post of WD40 that is not going to be about money or at least won't mention money, price etc. (Actually, I think there were some recently in the job changing thread)'
----

I miss hearing his views.
--- hearing. As perhaps unsurprisingly he's another long-timer that's apparently been killed off by the heavy 'cynical old-timer' consensus that can prevail.

X9200 has mostly been kind and helpful to me. I always liked his legal views. Forums are places where there will be some friction and its good because you want to hear real views which most people won't tell you face to face. The reason I have been posting less is because of my hectic job. I hope, I get a job change here and then I do stuff that I like doing like interacting on this forum

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[x9200]

Well, here is the edited version 'I am afraid it was personal. I just had this thought yesterday or a day before, if I ever see again any post of WD40 that is not going to be about money or at least won't mention money, price etc. (Actually, I think there were some recently in the job changing thread)'
----

I miss hearing his views.
--- hearing. As perhaps unsurprisingly he's another long-timer that's apparently been killed off by the heavy 'cynical old-timer' consensus that can prevail.

X9200 has mostly been kind and helpful to me. I always liked his legal views. Forums are places where there will be some friction and its good because you want to hear real views which most people won't tell you face to face. The reason I have been posting less is because of my hectic job. I hope, I get a job change here and then I do stuff that I like doing like interacting on this forum

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It's not even friction. I am very sure you (and most of regulars) know there is nothing mean behind. Just teasing, provoking a bit, yes. Besides, I believe you mentioned the reasons some time ago.
And thank you for your kind words.

[JR8]

Yes, it was arrived at by being frugal and saving for the rainy day and making sure I save enough that at some point I can dictate my own terms rather being in the constant fear of job loss or sticking on to something because you need the money to run family or pay installments.
I have realized that since I am so frugal, even if I make extra money I am not going to upgrade my lifestyle. So then you wonder why the obsession to keep focusing on making more and more money.
I think the "money doesn't matter to me" statement was a bit of exaggeration. I think rather I should have put it, "money is not going to be my main focus any more". I have gotten to the point where I don't mind taking a break and a new job with better work life balance. Until even 6 months ago this wasn't the case.

I'm coming to the conclusion that this is a good way to do it. Getting into an ethos, for your lifetime, that saving a little as you go along matters far more than waiting for that future promised big bonus day or inheritance etc... As I might have suggested before, to me, it's not just about earning, once you have a plan, it's almost like financial discipline comes quietly and naturally along with it. I.e. Just decide you want to do it, and it's 70% done given 20/+ years

How have you decided how much is enough? I.e. what is your desired end goal? (not the actual sum, just the idea, the goal, the lifestyle) I ask as I reckon most people don't know this, which is pretty weird when you think about it. 'Retirement at random'. 'We'll make do I'm sure', etc. When I'm retired and no longer able to (work and) change my circumstances, I'm damned sure I want to have arrived at circumstances that I hopefully desire. It's weird to me how some people don't have time nor interest to consider this (this includes some members of my family). It's like 1/4 of your life just wilfully left to chance.

Do you think at some point you'll be able to switch gear, from 'save' to 'spend'? To go for a $500 dinner (which you have completely earned and deserve) and not consider the cost? To see a 5cent coin on the pavement and not stoop to pick it up?

[Wd40]

Actually being frugal comes to me very naturally. It's passed on to me from my parents. So it is not some kind of self imposed discipline. Spending $500 on a dinner will be very difficult thing to do for me, even if I was dying tomorrow and know that all that hard earned money is going to be wasted.

I have made enough now to secure my retirement. From now on I will be happy if I can manage a positive cash flow from now until retirement age. The corpus I have made now I will keep it untouched until retirement, I am only 36, by the time I am 50-55, the corpus will have compounded like crazy.

I am merely changing gears from maximizing salary to choosing a job with better work life balance and even I spend my entire salary, it won't bother me. That is the change.

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[JR8]

Actually being frugal comes to me very naturally. It's passed on to me from my parents. So it is not some kind of self imposed discipline. Spending $500 on a dinner will be very difficult thing to do for me, even if I was dying tomorrow and know that all that hard earned money is going to be wasted.

That's interesting. I don't know what age you are, but it similarly comes to me quite naturally, since it's how I was brought up. So it just is how it is. But then I have to face the paradox, I'm arguably using a handed-down WW2 mentality (always saving for tomorrow) to cope with tomorrow, and it's quite probably inappropriate and/or flawed.

Spending $500 on dinner would be very hard for me too. But what if the choice is a) you try and force yourself to enjoy it, or b) you write a letter today [ie an inheritance/your will] , giving that right away to someone you probably only vaguely know, for him to perhaps try and enjoy in 30 years time?

I have made enough now to secure my retirement. From now on I will be happy if I can manage a positive cash flow from now until retirement age. The corpus I have made now I will keep it untouched until retirement, I am only 36, by the time I am 50-55, the corpus will have compounded like crazy.
I am merely changing gears from maximizing salary to choosing a job with better work life balance and even I spend my entire salary, it won't bother me. That is the change.

Woh'ok, I hadn't realised you're still in your 30s. Well your discipline should set you up well.
Do you visualise a 'career window'? I mean when I was employed I tried not to kid myself, and the insecurities of 'banking' kinda demanded that. So I visualised an end point, and it was earlier than I'd have liked or wished for, at which I'd probably be entirely unemployable, and hence I'd have to be self reliant. Realistically (harsh but fair) that was IIRC about 40. The flip-side was 'the kids' who burnt through Porsche's, Bollinger and laydeez, until one day it inevitably ran out....

[Wd40]

I have made enough now to secure my retirement. From now on I will be happy if I can manage a positive cash flow from now until retirement age. The corpus I have made now I will keep it untouched until retirement, I am only 36, by the time I am 50-55, the corpus will have compounded like crazy.
I am merely changing gears from maximizing salary to choosing a job with better work life balance and even I spend my entire salary, it won't bother me. That is the change.

Woh'ok, I hadn't realised you're still in your 30s. Well your discipline should set you up well.
Do you visualise a 'career window'? I mean when I was employed I tried not to kid myself, and the insecurities of 'banking' kinda demanded that. So I visualised an end point, and it was earlier than I'd have liked or wished for, at which I'd probably be entirely unemployable, and hence I'd have to be self reliant. Realistically (harsh but fair) that was IIRC about 40. The flip-side was 'the kids' who burnt through Porsche's, Bollinger and laydeez, until one day it inevitably ran out....

That is a good question. Since I am in IT which is fast changing and my skills can be rendered obsolete very soon. I will have keep skilling up or look at an alternative career. I like banking and finance so I might do something related to it. Another part is to remain fit and healthy beyond 40-45, which is equally important. But yes, thanks, you brought up a very important point. Just because I can find jobs easily now, it doesn't mean 10 years from now it will be easy. I will have to work at it and figure out something.

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[Primrose Hill]

Hope that 2016 will be better for all of us

[x9200]

Unless better tomorrow was already yesterday.

[gunrock]

I managed to hang onto my job in an incredibly bad year in OnG.

OnG? Obestetrics aNd Gynaecology?

[sundaymorningstaple]

I always though that was abbreviated as ObGyn. Not O&G. Granted OnG is not the normal way I've always seen Oil & Gas abbreviated to either.