If a fresh grad can save $20,000 a year, so can you.

I recently read a story about a fresh grad who managed to save $20,000 a year. How did she do it? She has good money habits and also packs her own lunch to work. ;)

I always say that every little bit helps and savings however small do snowball into something bigger. I have experienced this myself as have many others, I am sure.

Save more money in 2015?
New year's resolutions to impact financial security.

I have shared some of my money habits before in my blog, money habits that have helped me to grow my savings tremendously over the years.

Some people laughed at me, ridiculed me and called me names. We are all social creatures, aren't we? Seriously, how did I cope?

Don't be afraid to do what is right. Don't be afraid that we might lose face.

If friends laugh at us, enlighten them. If they still laugh at us, ignore them.

The thing to be afraid of is wealth destruction.

Related posts:
1. Seven money habits of AK's.
2. Be $48K to $60K richer in 10 years.
3. Think you cannot reduce your spending?

Angry with foreign talents or with Singaporeans? Why?

Recently, there has been quite a bit of news regarding a male foreigner working as a nurse in one of our hospitals making some insensitive remarks about Singaporeans and praying for Singapore to suffer disasters. As a Singaporean, of course, I felt very unhappy about it.

However, when I thought that this misguided soul could represent a minority of foreign workers in Singapore, I calmed down. Surely, most foreign workers do not think like him, I told myself.



Maybe, only male FTs feel this way since there is reference to taking our women but not our men? Kidding! ;p

Recently, I received an email from a reader who signed off as:

" (FT follower of AK) :) "

He was quite open about his thoughts and his fears before and I once replied to him like so:

"I like to think that the Singaporean readers who have commented in my blog on the issue are level headed and generous people. In fact, I know some of them and I am sure they are. :)

"However, Singapore has this thing called National Service which PRs and new citizens do not have to perform. So, I do understand that it is something that Singaporeans feel sore about.

"For me, generally, I don't think of people as FTs, PRs, born Singaporeans or new citizens. I like to think of everyone as just people and I like to see everyone achieve financial security and freedom and be happy.

"As long as people have respect for Singapore and her people, as long as they contribute to the country in any way and do not disturb the peace, I would like to welcome them. So, no rioting, no peeing in public, no complaining about neighbors cooking curry, for examples. :)

"Thank you very much for the email but I want to encourage you to leave a comment in my blog, if possible. If it is thoughtful, considerate and courteous, I do not see why anyone should flame you. :) "

Whether you are a foreigner in our land or a Singaporean, old or new, please treat every person with courtesy and respect. Common decency is not beyond anyone's reach, I am sure.

Don't you believe this to be the right thing to do as well?

In the news:
Philippine embassy reminds TTSH nurse...

Related post:
"Sorry No Cure" for Anton Casey?