Leaving Singapore and worried about leaving mom alone.

Reader says...
I met my fiancee at work but he is not Singaporean and we will be leaving for his home country next year.

My worry is my mother and I have asked her to join us but she prefers staying in Singapore which I understand but I don't want her to be alone at home.

Home is a 3 room flat my late father bought 40 years ago.





I know it would be difficult but I asked my younger brother who is married and staying in a 4 room flat if mother could move in with him but he said his flat is too small as they have children and a maid as well.

He said he will visit mother weekly but I still worry because I see her daily now...

AK says...
Reading your email has given me such conflicting feelings.

I am happy for you and worried at the same time.

I worry a lot too and, so, I understand.

What to do?

OK, someone I respect said to me before:

"You must live your life and you should not stop pursuing your own happiness."





I am sure your mom feels the same way.

She will be sad to see you go but she will feel happy at the same time.

When you are far away, contact her daily or every other day to keep in touch and to make sure she is doing well.

Come back to Singapore to spend some time with her as often as it is possible to do so.






Your mom's situation is not so bad and I do know of worse situations. 

So, cheer up or you might make your husband to be feel bad. Yes, don't forget him.

Wishing you and your family good health and happiness. :)

Related post:
Retiree regrets selling flat to help son buy a condominium.

What to do as price plunged on $100K investment?

Reader says...

I have $100K invested in XXX.

As the stock price has plunged, I am wondering if I should buy more, hold or sell?

Should I buy more or should I invest in another stock?

AK says...

Remember the importance of position sizing.

If your investment makes you worried, it might be because it is too big.

Don't bite off more than you can chew.





1. Always ask why did you invest and if it still makes sense now?

2. Ask if you did not invest back then, would you invest now?

Then, you will know what to do.







No matter how attractive an investment looks, it is rarely a good idea to throw in everything including the kitchen sink.

What? You don't know how to tell if you have thrown in the kitchen sink as well?

You would know because your home plumbing would keep you awake all night!





Related post:
Largest investments updated.

Planning for retirement early made early retirement possible.

I spent almost 20 years of my life working, focusing more on the money than on what I love doing.

Even as I made more money, my lifestyle remained more or less unchanged.

Since I did not need more money because I did not crave material upgrades in life, having more and more money didn't really make me happier.





If we are contented with what we already have, even if we make more money, we won't go and buy something frivolous.

As our income increased, if we did not upgrade our lifestyle, logically, there would be less fear of not having enough money in our old age.

I am happier now because I am spending time doing what I enjoy doing although they don't pay me a single cent or in the case of blogging not very well.

It is not about how much money I make anymore but how much joy I get from doing the stuff I do.






However, I am Gen X and I cannot help but wonder sometimes if I should stop bumming around.

Stop being economically inactive!

Hmm.

Nah.

Am I being irresponsible?

I like to think that I am being irresponsible in a responsible manner.

You blur?

I also blur.





To be honest, I have also learned to be reasonably more easy going with money because I can afford to as it makes life easier. 

No man is an island, if you know what I mean.

It is not easy to unlearn certain things but I like to think that I am making progress.

"OK, don't go overboard, AK!"

Who said that? Who? Who?

Must be the other AK.

What? You didn't know AK is mental?

Well, now, you know.






The firm belief that I must plan for retirement early has made my early retirement from employment possible.

I am just talking to myself, as usual.

I don't expect anyone to agree with me.

Remember, I am just a crazy guy.

You must be crazy to listen to a crazy guy.





However, if you are crazy like me, take heart because if AK can do it, so can you! 

100% (bonkers)!

Also published today:
No dividend because CEO was very sick!

Related posts:
1. Start with a plan!
2. Be idealistic?
3. AK should be ashamed!

No dividend because CEO was very sick!

For those who are not in the know, read the related post at the end of this blog post first.

Reader says...
It is a learning journey for me, tolerating all the drama and stories telling why the payout was delayed etc etc..





And they have the guts to make up a story like this:

"The payout was delayed because the CEO fell very sick and was hospitalized, in and out of hospital etc etc"

I was just wondering if these people thought the "investors" are school kids?





To be honest, now I believe all the investors were worst than kids and we were not kids, we were "gundus"- if you know what "gundus" meant?

My agent told me she invested more than me and does this make her a bigger "gundus"?





We are not competing who is the bigger "gundus" here and I just wish the "CEO" will not pass away because the stories will end if he passed away?

And more will follow him to the grave?

Let's pray NOT.

AK says...
Alamak!

Investors have not been paid because the CEO fell sick?

If the CEO of SingTel or ComfortDelgro fell sick, I wonder if they would stop paying dividends to shareholders. ;p






Related post:
$71,000 alternative or bogus investment?