So yeah, this is technically the start of my Dec 2022 break. I will be spending time with my family (wife + 2 kids) through these 2 weeks.
I guess this is a little post to ponder how I should go about this break.
There are a few tiny goals that I hope to achieve.
“Being Present”
On most days when I go to work, I will take the MRT train. During the morning, some people on the train will be staring at their phones, and some will be plugged in with earphones. Most will be mindlessly scrolling through social media or using that few minutes on the train to catch up on some drama. There are lesser people doing that in the morning (during the train ride to work), as compared to the ride home in the evening. This is probably because many are still drowsy / half awake.
On my ride back home, most people on the train will be glued to their smartphones. Me included. I guess this is the only time after the long hours at the office, that we can finally be free to watch what we want.
However, once with my kids (for dinner), my mind may be still preoccupied with work, or I just want to mindlessly scroll through the social media platforms online. Too tired for anything else.
Often I failed to engage with the kids.
So now, I really have no reason and can finally be around for the entire day (at least during this break) to focus and be mentally present with my family. No mundane work to drain my energy and take up my time.
Today we just put up our little Christmas tree together with my little girl and went shopping for a water bottle for her.
My goal is to spend less time on my devices (laptop or handphones) and just be present and enjoy the moment. Hope I don’t get any urgent calls or messages from my boss or colleagues hahahahaha..
Season for giving
They say Christmas is the season for giving. And with Christmas around the corner, it is probably time to give.
Ok, for this year, despite the lackluster stock markets and the less-than-stellar performance of my portfolio, I did accomplish my main goal of saving and investing for the year. In fact, I can give myself a pat on the back and says that I have indeed exceeded my target. I have allocated the intended amount of my savings (from my active income) plus the passive income from dividends and bond interest into my basket of stocks (both growth and dividend counters).
Net worth-wise, 2022 has not been a good year. My portfolio did not do well. However, that is how it is with the stock markets, there are good and bad years.
I have also managed to set aside a lump sum for my aging parents (going to contribute to their CPF accounts by year-end).
I still have a small amount set aside, to slowly create a bond ladder with Singapore Saving bonds next year.
With that being taken care of, I can now use a portion of what’s left for the vacation and have nice meals plus treats for the family.
Ultimately money is an enabler, and holidays are a time to have fun!
StocksCafe
FYI I find StocksCafe useful for the tracking of my own portfolio, and especially like to use it to track my portfolio stock dividend/bond interest payouts (projected and due). You can use my referral code: apenquotes. Just click here. Upon signing up using the referral code, you will get to enjoy being a Trial Global Friend of StocksCafe and test out all features for free for one month!
Please follow me at StocksCafe, via my StocksCafe profile page.
Tiger Brokers
For the Singapore market, Tiger Brokers currently waive the minimum fee and only charge a 0.08% trading fee. This drastically reduces your cost as the minimum fee from other brokers (ranging from SGD 8 such as FSMOne and SCB, to SGD 25 for local brokerages) does add up and can eat into your returns.
Tiger Broker Referral Code:: GPE59H
Sign up here.
FSMOne.com
Typically I use FSMOne.com to invest in funds & ETFs (including money market funds).
If you do not have an account, you can sign up here. Please use my FSMOne referral code: P0031127, when you sign up.
Shopee
I have been using Shopee for a while and think you will like it as much as I do.
Get $10.00 off your first purchase using my code DARREB52.
Download Shopee now and enjoy hot deals at the best prices! Click here.
Happy shopping!
A Pen Quotes 