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Anonymous
I'm actually 26 this year and planning to have a family before 30 with my other half. While I believe in saving money, I do not think that we should only enjoy in our later years. As this is an important phase with energy to enjoy now.
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In the question, you have two key points - balance social life and enjoy with the energy now.
I would say just budget and spend within your means. Though its really taken a while for me to find this balance because so few talk about it.
Since six years ago, I started saving for travel. The travel bank account accumulated about 11,000 at one point. I have now changed this to a Rewards savings goal, 500 per mth, and it covers travel, buying tech toys and basically anything I could want and not need an approval from myself to spend it. Sounds a bit weird hor.
But its worked out for me. Coz I really hate to waste money. I dont believe in trying to keep up with the Joneses and spend money on things you dont like or enjoy.
This savings goal has helped me be more focused, and balance priorities. I know I have a pot there, and sometimes I deliberately am not choosing to spend, because I thought about those things and decided they weren't a priority or must have.
I am saving the money for my bucket list, and eventually some travels with the one. Still not found lol.
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Yes, that balance of saving money for the future, and enjoying ourselves now is something that I have thought about when I decided to start working towards my financial goals. After years of making financial decisions, here is my personal mental rubric:
I am OK with spending more money when it comes to my immediate loved ones eg. family members. I have no qualms about taking my dad to a Kansai trip on a SQ flight. That said, if I was travelling alone, I would not splurge as much. And if it's spending money with fairweather friends or colleagues - no.
For eg. if it was spending money to go to Marquee just to show people on my IG that I am at Marquee, no. The Marie Kondo concept of 'sparking joy' is over-used, but it does make sense. There are times where you feel your money is super well-spent, and other times when it just doesn't.
Having a social life does not entail spending lots of money. Some of my best conversations and catch-up with friends take place over a cup of teh tarik at the prata store. Same concept can be applied to using the energy we have now to keep fit. Some people feel that they need to sign up to an expensive gym membership and get some cool gym clothes before they even start, when all you need is to hit the neighbourhood parks to get some weekly cardio and strength training.
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Kenichi Xi
07 Jun 2019
nᴉʍ oʇ dǝnᴉʇsǝd 不能说的秘密 at Tag Team with Gabriel Tham
As a Fit and Muscular Financial Blogger, I focus on making money work hard for me and spending within my means not just for myself and also my Parents and Grandma.
In reality, you will still need a consistent income, be it a career or business to make money before you can make money work for you.
Getting value from our purchase and enjoyment is the right habit to cultivate as we progress into investing in income generating vehicles.
I buy gifts for good people from money I saved from circumstances tt have to be paid which I manage to save 4 digit amount by doing my homework and taking actions.
I do communities work and guide people towards good habits and fillial piety.
That being said it doesn't mean everytime you save, you have to spend it somehow.
Rather, what plans you have for the amount you saved.
Certainty vs Uncertainty
As a Fit and Muscular Financial Blogger, is painful for me to see people makes silly decision like how I see people takes a dumbbell and swing all over the gym wasting time and effort which might result in injury.
That is also why I focus on getting ppl to plan their CPF as a retirement vehicle since in a way is compulsory and the accumulated funds could be use for useful instances like buying a ppty.
Best of all, usually you have an employer/s who help to contribute towards ur cpf fund.
Basically for me, I will help a person not get injure in the gym rather then training them myself. Everyone circumstances are different and they have to plan their own retirement from the lifestyle they chosen.
Lastly, you don't have to be anyone but yourself but bear in mind that the decision you made today will affect the future you desire.
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At 26, I didn't have a choice. I gave up a lucrative career in finance/audit to run my own business....
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I agree that 20-30 is a time to enjoy also.For example,i will cut back on my spending if i am spending too much on a trip out with friend or family.Also,i will set aside a portion of money to go for a major holiday once per year with friend or family.Other then that ,the joy of managing my blog and investing keep me up most of the time.
Do visit my personal finance blog if you have the time
https://sonicericsg.blogspot.com/