Bad things happen.

One thing I have blogged about on and off over the years is how things could go wrong.

Bad things happen.

Very often, they happen without warning.

In my last YouTube video, I said that I was making trips to the hospital.

The month of July has turned out to be much busier than I had planned.

I have been so busy dealing with stuff that I have not had much time for gaming, which was the reason for a planned busier month of July initially.

It has affected me physically, mentally and emotionally.

So, apologies for the silence.

I don't intend to share the details of what has happened but I hope readers and viewers understand bad things do happen to us from time to time.

Some things are worse than others.

Anyway, just to touch base to say I am still around although not feeling 100%.

Just have to roll with the punches and deal with it.

In point form, here are things I am doing and thinking of, for those who might be interested.

1. Making multiple trips to the hospital.

4 to 5 days a week. 

This takes up several hours per visit including driving time.

I was caught in a jam one day which resulted in spending 1 hour in the car, driving one way.

I was exhausted.

Very uncomfortable but necessary.

In case readers are wondering, my dad is in a hospital that's close to my family home but far from my place.

2. Cost could mount.

Medishield Life covers a big chunk of expenses.

However, there would still be out of pocket expenses.

Some will be significant especially those involving long term care.

My mom has Incomeshield but my dad doesn't.

3. Buying another car.

I was thinking of not getting another car once my current car's COE expires.

Too expensive and I don't really need a car for my lifestyle.

However, this unfortunate event has made me reconsider.

Need a car to ferry my parents.

I could extend the COE of my car by 5 years.

Then, I decided I should get a car which is friendlier to old people.

Getting in and out of my current car has become challenging for my parents.

It is likely to become more challenging in time to come.

So, I must set aside $200K for this.

I know that is a lot of money.

Unfortunately, that's how much an average family car costs in Singapore these days.

I will wait and see how things go since my current car still has more than a year left to go.

4. Long term change to my lifestyle.

Depending on how thing go, the lifestyle I have been enjoying in the last 8 years could change.

It could change drastically.

My hobbies, including blogging and YouTube, would have to take a backseat.

5. Personal health.

My personal health has been going downhill.

That is to be expected with age.

I have been experiencing pain in my left arm.

Persistent pain.

I was given muscle relaxant but it didn't help.

Will be seeing the doctor before end of the month.

6. Not sleeping well.

I have always had trouble getting enough sleep.

Monkey brain.

Everything has resulted in worsening this problem.

This has made me very irritable.

7. Social interaction.

I have lost interest in interacting with people.

I mean I have always been reclusive and prefer my own company.

However, through blogging and making YouTube videos, I have been having a higher level of social interaction.

I am wary of this loss of interest because it is one of the signs of depression.

I am not there yet since I am OK enough to blog about my current situation.

To be honest, I didn't feel like blogging.

Then, why did I decide to do it?

Writing has always helped me to organize my thoughts and to make sense of my emotions.

Writing is therapeutic for me.

Since I was going to do some writing anyway, I might as well do it in my blog.

Fair warning.

I appreciate people showing concern.

However, please do not be offended if I do not reply to your comments.

Not immediately or in the near future, anyway.

Crossing fingers that things get better.

If they do, I will be back.

2Q 2024 passive income: Steady boat.

This month is going to be a very busy one for me.

I recently shared this with my YouTube community and if you are wondering how to be a part of it, here is the link:

https://www.youtube.com/@A.Singaporean.Stocks.Investor./community

So, before I get too busy, I decided that I should get this quarterly update out pronto.

Many hobbies and not enough time.

I suppose this is how retirement should be like.

Doing things not because we have to and not because we depend on them to make a living.

I mean if I were churning out blogs and YouTube videos daily because I need the money, it isn't retirement or at least it isn't a retirement I would want.

Oops.

I have to step on the brakes or this would be turn into a blog about F.I.R.E. instead.

Before I go off track, how much passive income did my portfolio generate for me in 2Q 2024?

$81,339.05

This is more or less the same as 2Q 2023 which saw $79,774.61.

Some investments such as AIMS APAC REIT, Frasers Logistics Trust, VICOM and Raffles Medical Group generated less income for me.

So, although I received more income from my investments in DBS, OCBC and UOB, the uplift is less noticeable.

As the title of this blog suggests, I am quite happy to be a captain of a steady boat.

Not seeking greater growth but a steady stream of meaningful passive income.

As revealed in my last blog post, I have been socking away more money in SSBs and T-bills, growing the risk free bond component of my portfolio.

This will contribute to my passive income, although not by much.

Even as interest rates gradually reduce into next year, I see our local banks as better investments than most for investors for income like me.

With DBS, OCBC and UOB accounting for more than 45% of my portfolio, I expect a steady stream of passive income, barring the unthinkable.

The question is what if something were to go wrong?

Well, I have already gotten a taste of it during the pandemic years.

I blogged about how I was worried back then when passive income reduced as dividends were slashed or suspended.

The takeaway was the importance of having a buffer.

This is so that even with reduced passive income, we can still be quite comfortable.

In 3Q 2024, I suspect my passive income would reduce, year on year.

I would be quite surprised if there isn't a reduction.

This is because I reduced my investment in Sabana REIT significantly and I mentioned this in my last blog post too.

Sabana REIT was formerly one of my smallest largest investments.

So, there should be some impact.

Of course, one quarter does not make a year.

I would just have to wait and see.

I would be quite happy if full year passive income comes in more or less unchanged, year on year.

Don't believe investing for income works?

If AK can do it, so can you!

Reference:
1Q 2024 passive income.