Save money by having restaurant quality ramen at home!

This blog post is dedicated to a kindred spirit, SMOL.

I love eating Japanese style ramen. A bowl with hot soup is to die for.

However, it is not cheap to have a bowl of Japanese style ramen in Singapore and I am sure a huge portion of what we pay goes to rents and salaries. This is especially obvious when I found that I could have 4 bowls of restaurant quality ramen for only $3.85. Yes, not 1 but 4 bowls!



They come in packs of 4. There are 2 flavours. I prefer this one.

Recently, I bought more because there was a special offer in NTUC Fairprice. $3.35 per pack of 4.

Here is AK in action:



I tried this flavour for dinner recently.

Cook for 4 minutes, stirring often. Then, turn off the fire and add seasoning. Mix well.

Restaurant quality ramen at less than $1 a bowl. Really, really good!

If you are thinking of going out for a bowl of good quality ramen at Ajisen Ramen, for example, think again.

Think of how much money you could save by cooking at home. The taste of this instant ramen is really authentic and the money you save is very real too.

If you like ramen but have always hated instant noodles, this will change your mind. I am sure.

Oishi and in more ways than one too!

Related posts:
1. Korean noodles for lunch.
2. AK brand cup ramen!

Sabana REIT: Should I sell at a loss?

This blog post is in reply to a reader's comment: here.

Hi Kim,

You have asked one of the most difficult questions ever. :)

I wouldn't buy at the current price because I believe that Sabana REIT should offer a bigger premium in distribution yield compared to A-REIT, for example, because of its spotty track record. So, chanting to myself a familiar mantra which is "buy at a price I would not sell at and sell at a price I would not buy at", I should sell.

Of course, if we have to make a loss in selling an investment, it becomes a bit tougher. I never like selling at a loss. Who does?

However, if selling makes sense, we should sell even if it is at a loss and it makes sense if:

1. The business fundamentals have changed for the worse and the reward for staying invested has been drastically reduced or is, in some instances, non-existent.

OR

2. We have found a better investment with stronger fundamentals and better returns.

Of course, if we believe that Sabana REIT's distributable income of 1.88c or so per unit per quarter sufficiently compensates us for being invested at the current price, then, stay invested.

Personally, I would be more comfortable with at least an 8% yield which is what I am accustomed to getting from Sabana REIT. So, a unit price of 94c, all else remaining equal, would be more enticing.

If I were holding on to a loss making position in the REIT but if it is not a big position, I will probably continue to hold on. If it is a big position, I will sleep better at night if I sell half of my investment and take the loss as a fee paid to Mr. Market. If it is a very big position, I might sell 80% of my position. I will most probably not sell everything.

Not selling everything also gives me an incentive to keep monitoring the REIT as I still like the high tech industrial buildings which form about half of the REIT's portfolio. After all, it is not as if Sabana REIT is going to do a Titanic in the next 12 months.

All investments are good at the right price and there could be a chance to buy into the REIT again with a good margin of safety.

That is an imperfect approach that gives the imperfect me peace of mind. :)

Related post:
Sabana REIT: 1Q 2014.