Life is about many things and my time is in short supply (Some of the things I do in retirement).

I have been spending less time blogging and it will probably stay like this for a while more.

The primary reason is that I have become more introspective lately. I have been spending more time meditating, gardening and going back to doing some yoga. I have also been eating differently, following a diet which is very different from what I was used to.

Gardening is a good and inexpensive hobby. Growing plants also means that I am doing my bit for the environment. I fancy myself to be a bit of an environmentalist and recycle whatever I can. 

As with all new hobbies, learning about gardening takes up quite a bit of my time. I am learning new things all the time about plants.
I enjoy spending time in my little outdoor space with my plants. 

In the evening, it is rather calming, especially this time of the year. There is always a cool breeze and with soft lighting, it is a perfect spot for meditation. Before I knew it, I had lost an hour just sitting there. 

Rosemary seedlings.

My planter must be enchanted.

Catnip grows really well from seeds.
Seen here with a solar powered LED light from IKEA.
See: Saving $384 on solar powered LED lights.

As for my new diet, it demands much more attention from me. It is not as convenient as what I was used to. 

So, I end up having to spend more time preparing my own meals, more than before. The selection process is really a learning experience. 

It is hard to have no carbohydrate and no sugar in my diet. The best I can do is to try to have as little carbohydrate and as little sugar as possible. It is about being more careful. 

The results have been encouraging so far and I will probably blog about the initial success of my diet a bit more in a separate blog post.

Tuna, eggs and lettuce.

Oh, I should mention that I have been spending more time visiting doctors, doing check ups and stuff. It is only prudent since I am past 40. 

Frankly, there are certain health issues which probably should have been addressed years ago but I had swept them under the carpet as they were not life threatening (and I didn't want to spend the money, ahem).

For exercise, I continue to take long walks which I do usually in the evenings. I like taking in the sights on such walks. 

Today, I decided to go for a morning walk instead and there were reminders everywhere that Christmas is just round the corner.

As we count our blessings, let us not forget to bring some cheer to the less fortunate. 

Be charitable and remember that true charity does not discriminate amongst the needy.

Related posts:
1. Consider making a donation.
2. Grow a money tree.
3. Something I want to lose.

Use CPF savings or cash to pay for our home?

I remember telling a friend who was disgruntled with the CPF that we don't really have a choice. 

It is like being married and not liking our mother-in-law.

We can kick our mother-in-law in the butt if we divorce our spouse. 

We can kick the CPF in the butt if we give up our citizenship.

Fortunately, I rather like my mother-in-law, er, I mean, the CPF. 

Some might not have mandatory contributions to the CPF for various reasons and might wonder how the CPF fits in their lives?



Here is one example:

Reader:
I accidentally came across your blog only this year, find it very sensible & rational. So, I took few weeks to read all your past articles since Day 1 (I think).

Need your advice or please to talk to yourselves J

I’m a self-employed & have been doing max voluntary contribution to CPF some of the years to service our HDB mortgage through our CPF…

We have no intention to fully pay maybe until when we buy our 2nd property

My question is what is the downside to continue doing VC with the ultimate aim to buy 2nd property using CPF (I’ve set aside the Basic Retirement Sum needed in SA)?

I’m confused on paying back CPF & accrued interests part when & if I were to sell the property

Am I worst off when compare those who bought using Cash???

Awaiting your enlightenment

Thank you J

 

AK:

Welcome to my blog. I am glad you enjoy my muttering and mumbling. ;)

With regards to the CPF, people must remember that it is really meant to help Singaporeans fund our retirement.

For people who do not have sufficient cash on hand or other means, they could use their CPF savings in the OA to help pay for their homes but that is not the primary purpose of the CPF.

However, for people with sufficient cash on hand or other means, especially in an environment of low interest rates, they don't really have to use their CPF savings to purchase their homes. 




They should look at their CPF savings as a back up only to be utilised in case they have to. Well, at least that is how I look at it.

There is an opportunity cost to using our CPF money meant for our retirement to purchase real estate whether for own stay or investment.

I would do VCs to my CPF account if I were self employed because I want some sense of financial security in retirement down the road and not really for anything else.




It is very often a matter of perspective.

How we look at something would determine the way we treat it.

Related posts:

1. Stop interest we owe (CPF) from growing?
2. Proposed changes to the CPF system.
3. Buy the biggest/most expensive home?

Withdrawn CPF money in excess of the Minimum Sum.

If we have planned well, we should be able to meet and even exceed the CPF Minimum Sum when we reach age 55.

If we should exceed the CPF Minimum Sum at age 55, we would be able to withdraw probably much more than a token $5,000 then.

Hi AK

 

Where is the best place to keep the “untouchable” portion of our retirement money (ex-CPF money)

 

Would be delighted to hear you “talk to yourself”

 

Thanks for a great blog

 

R

Hi R,

It would depend on whether it is our only source of retirement funding. If it is our only source of retirement funding, then, we should not take much risk with it. Fixed deposits with promotional interest rates (e.g. 1.8% interest per annum) are safe options.

If we have other sources of retirement funding, then, this could be seen as extra money. Then, it might not be that "untouchable". We could take a bit of risk investing in REITs and dividend paying blue chips then.

We could always opt to buy annuities too, of course.

You might want to search ASSI for the blog post "Is it too late to plan for retirement at age 57?" which was published recently.

I am glad you like my blog. :)

Best wishes,
AK

Related posts:
1. Proposed changes to the CPF system.
2. A lot of money in my CPF-SA...
3. How to upsize $100K to $225K?