My retirement safety net strategy might be slightly changed after listening to 4M65! 1. Look to top up CPF SA and MA to the max to enjoy the 4% guaranteed risk-free interest, and for OA to invest in S&P500 as suggested by Mr Loo. 2. Re-consider my property purchase (but I bought rental property 6 years ago, and it gives a decent rental yield. That said, i DO use my CPF to pay for a portion of this investment property.) 3. Frugality - this has been one of my big personal values since I was 20, so I am glad that I have been practicing it in the last decade. There might be more creative ways to be more frugal, which I am currently exploring. 4. My last strategy is to print a big poster of this awesome image and paste it in front of my cupboard to remind me of my goal to be a 4M65 Kungfu Senpai like Mr Loo: !

The best Personal Finance lesson my mum ingrained in me especially having spent more time with parents during the Circuit Breaker is going to be different from most responses here on saving money: ! From young, my mother has always ingrained in me the value of money. Her concerns around money has also been what guided my principles around thriftiness, investing early and earning more to provide a financial buffer for the family. This included: - Stashing away 50% of monthly income for savings and investment from the first job I had (when I was 18) - Definitely spending below my means - Earning your own keep and not depending on anyone else for finances - Thinking about the family first, before buying things for my personal wants. Sometimes, money spent on loved ones could be more gratifying than spending money on oneself. However, as I spend time with my parents during this Circuit Breaker and seeing them age, I am increasingly drawn to the realization that time spent with them is priceless. Money does not come by easily for most of us, but time is truly the most finite resource. As I think about the sacrifices that my parents have made for my sister and I, I am reminded that in the midst of chasing financial goals, it also makes sense to dedicate some time everyday to appreciate those we love, instead of expressing that gratitude in the unforeseeable future when we have made $x amount of money and now can stop worrying about money. And there is a financial lesson to this. The earlier we hit financial independence, we earlier we can have peace of mind to spend time on what truly matters. It will be a difficult journey especially in current times when job and pay cuts are rife, but in the long run, if we stick to the fundamentals of thrift and investing early, it could turn out good in the end!

In the first instalment of NOOBIE COOKS: ASAM PEDAS! Tangy, spicy, appetizing and best served with rice. P.S. I actually was craving for Mala, but saw the discounted Asam paste and thought, why not? ! How much it costs: - $15 for a full meal for 3! Ingredients: - Assam paste: 2 packets for $3.45 on Fairprice.com.sg (offer ending 1st May 2020) - otherwise usually at $2 per pack #dontsaybojio - Fish tail: $9 from the wet market - Okra and chilli: $2 from supermarket Unpaid advertisement for Fairprice Assam paste which turned out surprisingly good (and saved my noobie cook ass): ! Share why you decided to cook that dish(es) - Because of all the time spent at home with family, I decided to learn to cook one of my favourite dishes from Mum! - Super easy to prepare (you just need to simmer the fish for 10-12min), super satisfying and an SE-Asian alternative to MALA - SUPER YUMMY! #SUPERPEDAS #SUPERSHIOK A useful cooking tip you have: - You can simmer the gravy until it thickens slightly for the optimum flavour. Asam pedas is one of the dishes that tastes better with every mouthful. P/S: Making Asam fish was much easier than I thought, and it's quick to prepare! Family favourite.