"Women are like the rake in poker."

I was chatting with a reader on FB about saving money and I gave him a link to one of my old blogs: http://singaporeanstocksinvestor.blogspot.sg/2011/12/common-piece-of-advice-on-saving.html

I was scrolling through the comments section and found this:

Reader: Hah, while I definitely agree with what you say about the tips on drinking water from coolers, for the large part, it is a very male perspective. Women are like the rake in poker, once you are dating/married, its not easy to get the lady to agree on such things. They like to eat at fancy restaurants and so on and so forth. Once that happens, its not easy to save.

AK: I think a third or at least a quarter of my readers are females. Ahem... I am not going there. ;p

I don't know how many of us guys have faced or are facing this issue. 

Of course, if we are the "OK with spending money" type, I don't think this is really an issue but if we are the "AK the giamsiap fellow" type, then, it could be a problem.

For those of us who don't have the ability or the willingness to spend big money on dates, what do we do? 

For me, it is quite simple, junk the date! No date, no problem.

Remember those days?



OMG! There is a website that teaches girls how to make guys buy stuff for them!

"How To Get A Man To Buy Me Things."

Guys, be careful. OK, since the video says click on the link for more advanced tips, maybe, girls should be careful too.

Now, I am going into hiding.

Spend more money to make more money!

Reader:
I am from a humble working class family, staying with my grandmother, parents, and younger brother in a 4 room flat.

My younger brother is very intelligent but doesn't like school. 





He ventured into MLM last year and enjoyed some early success. 

Now, he wants to buy a car and it has to be a Mercedes Benz or BMW. 

I told him to save the money. 

He said he must look successful and rich to make more money as he can convince people to join him more easily.






I am just a simple person working in the civil service. 

I don't know how the business world works. 

I follow your blog because you give down to earth advice about money and life in general.


I am worried about my brother. 





What should I do?

Thank you for the generous sharing of your time and knowledge.









AK:
Alamak. I don't know what you should do.
I will say that there are many ways to make money in this world.

Hopefully, we can find something we like, are good at, which makes lots of money and is legal.

I know, that is the dream and not many people get to live the dream. I didn't.





Then, of course, it is about being prudent with money, being pragmatic in life and being patient as we grow wealth.

For my own safety, that's all I will say. :)
Related post:
1. If we are not rich, don't act rich.
2. Prudent, patient and pragmatic.

Why join the Supplementary Retirement Scheme?

Reader says...

I just like to share one of my view on SRS account.

When I first decided to contribute to SRS, it was mainly to reduce my income tax.

However, I realize that a lot of people between 55 to 65 years old have to work because their CPF is not enough for them to stop work before the CPF life pay out at age 65. 

This is assuming that CPF is their only retirement fund.

By contributing to SRS, we will have a sum of money which we can withdraw at age 62 penalty free. 

I do realize that you can withdraw up to $40k (per year) to avoid paying income tax on them.

Hence, SRS form a safety net for us between the age of 55 to 65. 

Knowing that we have something to withdraw for our old age at 62 instead of 65 (which the earliest  CPF Life can start paying).

Maybe this might convince more people to contribute to their SRS?

AK says...
I feel the same way. I will be very happy to share your POV in my blog. Thank you. :)

Related post:
SRS e-book and analysis.

Centurion Corporation Limited to double in price?

Reader:
Hi AK, I invested in Centurion Corp. 

I am thinking if I should sell or if the price will go higher with the dual listing in HK.





Chinese money floods into HK stocks.





AK:
Dual listing in HK doesn't change anything in terms of business fundamentals.

Centurion Corporation could be seeking what, to them, is a fairer valuation of their business.

The EDGE wrote that in 2007, Want Want China Holdings was trading at 15x PE ratio in Singapore and when relisted in Hong Kong, it traded at 45x PE ratio. 




Mah Wah Holdings was trading at 3x PE ratio in Singapore but trades at 16x PE ratio in Hong Kong.

Centurion is trading at about 10x PE ratio. 

Could it trade at 15x or 20x PE ratio, perhaps, even higher after the proposed dual listing? 

Looking for a calculator now? 





So, would it be 70c a share or 80c a share or 90c a share in future?

All in the realm of speculation but all quite possible.

When I invested in Centurion earlier this year, it wasn't because I had a crystal ball which told me that dual listing was on the way and that the share price was going up.




I know why I invested in Centurion.

I hope you know why you did too.

Related posts:
1. Added Centurion Corporation Limited.
(See updates in the comments section.)
2. Centurion Corporation Ltd. FY 2016 report.