Small savings might not add up to big money but...

It has been a while since I blogged about my money habits.

Readers who have been following my blog for a long time might remember the blogs on packing lunch to work and not buying drinks when eating out (and definitely not from Starbucks), for examples.





For sure, the blogs did not sit well with everybody and I was even labelled a person with a peasant mentality (or a person with a "poverty mindset") in wealth building because of them.

Well, I hope people who don't like my money habits don't read this blog.

Wait a while.

Filtered.

Still reading?

OK, you have been warned.

Since I changed my diet more than a year ago, I have been consuming more eggs and this is how I have been buying them.

In a tray of 30.

I transfer the eggs into smaller trays for ease of storage.

Tray of 30 @ $3.30.

Tray of 10 @ $1.65.

I save $1.65 each time.

What? $1.65 only? 

It is a 33.3% savings! 

Hey! It is like getting 10 eggs for free!

As you can tell from the scribbles on the label, I have been doing this for quite some time.

I know many people think that it is not worth saving small amounts of money. 

Maybe, saving small amounts of money gives them a "poverty mindset" and they don't like it.

Small savings are for poor people and they want to feel rich.

AK, you not poor wor. Why you so giamsiap? So cham like that.





Well, saving small amounts of money might not make us rich but it definitely won't make us poorer. Now, doing the opposite would definitely make us poorer.

Almost bankrupt, AK's family was once quite poor. AK doesn't want to go back there.

Related posts:
1. Money habits and $100K savings.
2. Earn $32,000 with a mug?
3. My family almost went bankrupt.

Cromwell European REIT IPO.

Cromwell European REIT is a mega IPO that will raise S$ 2 billion.

I looked at the distribution yield first. 

7.5% (@ 57 euro cent per unit) to 7.7% (@ 55 euro cents per unit).

Then, I looked at the gearing level. 

34.3% to 36.6%. 

It would have been better if it were below 30% but it is not excessive.

Then, I do what I do pretty often which is to compare with other REITs in the same sector.

Alamak.

This is where the problem lies.







This REIT has a rojak portfolio of 81 retail, office and light industrial properties in 6 European countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and The Netherlands).

How to do comparative analysis like that?

OK, with IREIT Global taking a pan-European strategy, it could be a good candidate for comparison in future. As of now, IREIT Global still has properties in Germany only.

IREIT Global offers a similar distribution yield (7.6% at 76 cents per unit) but its gearing level is higher at 41.3%.

Of course, we should say that IREIT Global's portfolio consists only freehold properties while the proposed Cromwell European REIT's portfolio has less than 70% of assets on freehold land.

Yield should be higher for shorter leases to make investment sense.







In a rojak portfolio, it is very easy to hide bad assets and let the good assets pull the weight and we have seen this with some S-REITs before.

As this could well be the most rojak of portfolios when it comes to S-REITs, I find hard to analyse.

We might be able to get a clue as to what the sponsor thinks of the REIT by looking at the stake they will be retaining after the IPO.

8.7% (if popular) to 12.7% (if unpopular).

Pretty low numbers.

Cromwell European REIT's distribution yield might look decent and the gearing might look comfortable but I don't feel comfortable with the rojak nature of its portfolio.







It gives me the feeling that the sponsor wants to dump everything into a pot and be done with it.

For me, it would have been better if the IPO offered one asset class in one country or even a few asset classes in one country.

Then, if the REIT would like to expand its portfolio to include assets in other countries, justify why and take it from there.

Or it could offer a single asset class cutting across a few countries and then expand to include other asset classes later on.

It would be more orderly.







It could be the OCD in me but, now, it does not feel as if there is any clear strategy other than the REIT is holding European assets and, hence, the name of the REIT. It feels messy to me.

I have avoided IPOs for years and this will be no exception.

If Mr. Market should go into a depression and offer me a much lower price to compensate for the rojak nature of the portfolio, I could be tempted.

Read article: HERE.
IREIT Global: HERE.
Related post:
Would AK invest in IREIT today?

"Retrenched with almost zero compensation in my late 40s but..."

Serejouir said...
Hi AK,

I am a long time reader of your blog and felt compel to write in and share my own experience after reading about the reader who was jobless for almost a year.

I could not agree with you more on living prudently, avoiding unnecessary debt and investing in income generating tool. To add to that, we should also make an effort to to build up transferable skills.






I'm in my late 40s and single, earning $8-9k a month. I was retrenched in Nov last year, a week before my 25th year anniversary with the company, with almost zero compensation.

Thankfully, I have minimal debt - only a property loan that I co-share with my sis, which we managed to 1) re-mortgage a few months before my retrenchment; & 2) rented out albeit lower than our monthly loan payment at the moment.

Thankfully too, I am not into any of those designer stuff nor eating in those fancy restaurant. While I do enjoy an overseas holiday, 5-star hotel and shopping are not my cup of tea; it is also not a must have that I am willing to get into debt for, like many of my friends.

A quick calculation on the back of the envelop, gave me the assurance that my savings + investment returns can last me for 1-2 years, without having to liquidate any of my investment immediately. 

I would still be able to maintain the current lifestyle while still giving my parents their monthly living allowance.






Nevertheless, I also started to examine whether there are any other "frills"/"good to haves" that I can cut back on, so as to make my savings last even longer as well as in anticipation of a drastic pay cut in a new job.

This thought of financial security also gave me the safety net of having a bit of time on my side to evaluate what I want out of life and to get a job that I would enjoy doing, and not one that I have to work for a pay check.

While investing wisely for a secure financial future, I believe one must also look into investing in ourselves, so as to ensure that we have transferable skills that we can bring with us everywhere we turn to.






I also like what you said about keeping an open mind when it comes to job search.

I spent the last 20+ years in technology/manufacturing sector before I was retrenched.

In March this year, 3 months after I was retrenched, I got a new job in the healthcare sector, a totally new and alien industry to me. 

It was a very steep learning curve for me - job responsibilities were very different but I was able to tap on the analytical and management skills as well as various soft skills that I have picked up all these years. 

I find my current job very fulfilling and I really enjoyed what I am doing. To top it off, I not only did not suffer a pay cut but actually was offered a higher salary!






AK says:

Big "thank you" to Serejouir for sharing his experience and advice.

Being retrenched is tough, no matter how we slice it. However, if we are prepared, we will be less badly affected.

So, remember, if Serejouir can do it, so can you!

Gambatte!

Watch the video. He was retrenched after working as a manager for thirty years.







Related post:
Jobless for almost a year and losing my mind.

Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Insurance.

Reader:
Won't you be also concern for yourself? The TPD part.
Medical is already covered for everyone aka Medishield.
I believe most people say not afraid to die, but afraid cannot die.

AK:
Why should I be concerned?






Reader:
Sick and disability. I imagine this 2 are for everyone to think about. Sorry I don't mean to pry. But sought your thoughts on what's necessary to insure for own self. If not necessary one then don't have to pay for it.

AK:
If we have dependents, we need life insurance. Buy term. We also need the following:

For hospitalization, H&S.
For critical illness, CI insurance.

If you are still reliant on your earned income, then, TPD coverage is relevant to you.

It is relatively costly but it will give you peace of mind while you are building your portfolio or until you are able to tap your CPF savings.

Reader:
The insurance agent out there won't really think for customers. We have to be our own agent. But sometimes can't get the "logics" yet. Thank you again.

Best insurance is still: THIS. 






Of course, not everyone is able or willing to be an investor. 

For many people, building up their CPF savings is probably the best way to bolster retirement funding adequacy.

For them, if a meaningful lump sum is available for withdrawal from their CPF account at age 55, having TPD coverage till age 55 could be sufficient.

Otherwise, some amount of TPD coverage till age 65 is probably a better idea as the earliest CPF Life would start paying a monthly income for life is at 65 years old.






Whether we need TPD coverage and to what age we need it will depend on when we will be able to work when we want to and not because we need to.

Yes, if you are a regular reader of my blog, this should sound very familiar.

Related posts:
1. Term Life.
2. H&S (Medishield).
3. Critical Illness.
4. Eldershield.
5. CPF Life.
5. Start with a plan...
6. Work because we want to...

"Jobless for almost a year and losing my mind."

Reader:
I stumbled on your blog last month when searching for ways to make my savings last longer. 

There are many other blogs on money but your blog just feels more real to me. 

We are about the same age and also single but, unlike your frugal ways, I have always had the good life.

To be honest, I used to laugh at people like you. 

As I have been jobless for almost a year, I don't laugh now.

I really regret now. 

Looking back, I really did not need to spend so much money on my flat, my car and on looking good.

Still servicing loans, my savings is running low and I have been avoiding meeting friends recently. 

I have been telling everyone I have been travelling for work a lot.

I think I am losing my mind.







AK:
Your situation seems pretty bad but it is not the end of the world.

HEALTH:
I am not a doctor but it sounds to me that you might be suffering from depression or on the verge of going into a depression. 

Go to a government polyclinic or IMH for consultation. 

Inexpensive but effective. 

I am quite serious about this because depression is very dangerous (hyperlinked to IMH website) and could lead to death.







This is from IMH:
A person who experiences five or more of these symptoms for more than two weeks may have a depressive illness:

Persistent sadness; or feeling down or gloomy

A loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed

Weight loss or weight gain; or decrease or increase in appetite

Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; or sleeping excessively

Feeling agitated or restless

Feeling tired and lacking the energy

Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt

Difficulty concentrating or having trouble thinking

Frequent thoughts of death or suicide





JOB SEARCH:
While you continue searching for a new job, please remember that with all the disruption that is going on, it is possible that we might have to accept lower pay and a job very different from what we used to have especially if we are structurally unemployed.

The world has been changing rapidly and it makes financial security a much higher priority than ever before especially when job security has become more elusive.





MONEY:
Sell your car. 

It is a luxury you can no longer afford. 

Take public transport instead.





Since you are single, you might want to consider renting out spare bedrooms if you have any. 

If you do not have spare bedrooms or if you do not like the idea of sharing your home, I don't know how big your mortgage is but if it is draining your resources rapidly, you might want to consider selling your home too. 

Getting a housing option that will cost only a small fraction of your current home will help a lot. 






Remember, unless our home is fully paid for, it is a liability. 

Even if it is fully paid for, if it does not generate income, it is an asset with attached expenses (i.e. operational expenses).

We want to keep our expenses low (especially when our income is compromised). 

So, downsizing (especially if it leads to right sizing) is a sensible option.






People often feel invincible during good times and only truly appreciate their financial fragility during hard times.

You are suffering now but your situation is not hopeless. 

Do the right things and right your life.






Related posts:
1. Do 3 things to Recession proof your life.
2. Do 3 things to be Mentally and financially prepared for retrenchment.

Cache Logistics Trust 18 for 100 Rights Issue.

It has been many years since I blogged about Cache Logistics Trust in more detail. 

After partially divesting my investment in the Trust a few years ago, I have not really looked at it as I decided back then that they were not friendly to retail investors like me.

Many share placements over the years have diluted the NAV per unit and although total revenue has increased, DPU has reduced. For a retail investor (for income), it is not good for me.




I searched my blog's archives and the last time I really blogged about Cache Logistics Trust was in 2012. 

NAV per unit was 90c then in 2Q 2012. 

It was 77c in 2Q 2017.

DPU was 1.981c then in 2Q 2012. 
It was 2.086c the quarter before. 

It was 1.8c for 2Q 2017.

Gearing level was at 27.5% then in 2Q 2012. 

It was 43.4% in 2Q 2017.

Interest cover ratio was 7.5x then in 2Q 2012. 

It was 4.0x in 2Q 2017.

With gearing level much elevated, some form of equity fund raising is not unexpected. 





The manager did say in their 2Q 2017 presentation that they wished to achieve a lower leverage ratio and the Trust just announced an 18 for 100 rights issue at 63.2 cent per rights unit.

See 2Q 2017 presentation: HERE.

I have said before that I like rights issues if funds are being used to generate more income and hopefully they are DPU accretive. 

However, rights issues to strengthen the balance sheet means a lower DPU and we should expect DPU to drop by a few per cent after this rights issue is over, everything else remaining equal. 

Yes, this rights issue is to strengthen the Trust's balance sheet.





After suffering a string of dilution in the value of their investment in the Trust and receiving lower DPU over time, now, retail investors are being asked to cough up some of those reduced distributions they received to help strengthen the balance sheet. 

Why don't they do another private placement which was something they did so well before?

OK. I know. I am complaining. 

Hey, I am Singaporean!

Complaining is something I can do quite well but I like to think that I am not being unreasonable.

Anyway, after the rights issue, gearing level will reduce significantly from 43.4% to 35.5%. 

Let us hope they do not squander a stronger balance sheet. Crossing fingers (and toes).

See announcement: HERE.
See time table: HERE.

Related post:
Cache Logistics Trust 2Q 2012 DPU reduced.

Care for physical and financial health. (New AK blog?)

Reader:
Sorry didn't msg u for awhile
I broke my arm
Hope u r doin well Shi fu

AK:
Please take calcium supplement and also Vitamin C. We need especially as we age.
Best is to take with Magnesium and Vitamin D included.
Also, take Omega 3 supplement if you don't take enough fish.
I take all these.





Reader:
Ok noted will ask my Wife
Now got go therapy
Damn pain

AK:
Also, taking Vit C will help in recovery.
500mg a day.
I told a friend to give his wife who went for operation.
His wife was in pain for a long time... and the vit c helped a lot in speeding her recovery.
And even after recovery, continue with Vit C for maintenance... Daily one pill... very impt for anti ageing and also reduces chances of getting cancer

Reader:
Wah

AK:
It is many times more potent than Vit E as an anti oxidant. People don't know how powerful Vit C is.



Reader:
U can set up nutrition blog Liao
If ppl dunno tink u work in pharmacy

AK:
haha... already thinking of stopping this blog. i lazy

Reader:
Cannot stop la
U r inspiration for many
Stil alot ppl haven wake up
Stil tink big car n house means Ho seh Liao
I see a few around me buy Rolex , AP etc
Few months salary gone like tat




AK:
aiyoh... not much i can do lah
they happy can liao 😜

Reader:
Ya now I don't talk le
Waste time waste effort
Haha

AK:
See? You also like that liao. LOL

Reader:
I go sleep first Shi Fu .. later working
U take care talk to u soon





AK says:
We must try to take better care of ourselves physically as we age. 

The body is not as resilient as before. 

All we can do is to slow down the deterioration.

Unlike our physical body, our financial body can actually become stronger as we age. 

How to do this?

Alamak... I forgot to ask. What is "AP" har?

Related posts:
1. Don't be the 1 in 9.
2. Average income workers can be rich.

$1m for 30 year old HDB flat and what now?

Reader:
I wonder what you will do if you were me- can you talk to yourself?

I finally sold my maisonette for >$1mil, as it almost hit 30 years old. 

 I had paid up my HDB loan a few years ago, so have this full amount available in cash and CPF.

I have a family of 5 including 2 teenagers and a helper, so am looking for a place to buy.

Although $1mil may sound like a lot, there is hardly any property to buy if I rule out HDB options. 

 My husband and I are in our mid 40s, and our income do not qualify us for BTO nor ECs. Newer resale HDBs may not be the option due to same issue of lease decay and no certainty of SERS...






If I look in the condo space:

- newer 99-year lease condo of at least 1200 sq ft- the location will be outskirts and not within walking distance to MRT station

- older freehold/ 999-years condo of the same size- good locations walkable to MRT stations will be at least $1.8mil at the lowest...





I cannot imagine paying $2mil and above for a property- all the cash (even if I have) will be locked up in ONE property...and cannot use as war chest or emergency fund in the event of unemployment...

What will you do in my case?? I solved one problem of selling off my old HDB, but seemed to have created another one...








AK:
This is why many people say there is no point in property prices going higher if the only property they have is their home. 

They would need a replacement property and it would probably cost the same or more, especially if they are not able to get a new HDB flat (i.e. BTO) as a replacement.






If our home is an ageing HDB flat, it makes sense to consider selling it in view of the lease decay issue. 

However, the issue really becomes more of a problem when the flat has less than 60 years left to its lease. I blogged about this, if you remember. 

I feel that you might have been in too much of a hurry to sell.






For anyone selling their flat and if they need a replacement property of comparable size, they should ask if they qualify for a new HDB flat (i.e. BTO). 

My sister successfully applied for a new 5 room flat and only put up her old 4 room flat for sale after her new flat was ready, for example.





For anyone selling their flat and do not need a replacement property of comparable size, downsizing is the obvious answer. 

A reader shared her family's experience of downsizing and downsizing again, for example. They are quite happy.






Without the BTO option, like you have shared, you are probably not going to find a new similar size property nor one with a much longer remaining land lease selling at the price or lower than the price you sold your 30 year old flat for.

The only reason why I would find myself in your shoes would probably be because I want to leave the family home as a legacy to my children. 

Why sell the flat which has another 69 years left to the lease when I am already in my 40s, otherwise?





However, as I do not wish to be asset rich and cash poor (which is the impression I get when you said you cannot imagine having $2 million locked up in ONE property), I would look for the largest and newest resale HDB flat (i.e. 5 years old) $1 million (or lesser) can buy. 

It might be smaller than my old flat but it would have to do.

Related posts:
1. Downsizing our homes.
2. Problem with older flats.
3. Legacy or location?

Financial freedom for average Singaporeans?

From time to time, I get emails from readers who wonder if average Singaporeans could ever become financially free. 

Of course, I will remind them that AK was once upon a time a pretty average Singaporean too.

If we are from a humble background and if we have a humble lifestyle, I believe that these are strengths and not weaknesses.






I remember when I was a teenager about to join the armed forces, some wondered if I was going to make it because there were stuff I didn't like eating. 

Then, when they remembered that the stuff which I didn't like to eat were crabs, prawns, abalone, lobsters and a whole list of atas (i.e. Malay for high class) foodstuff, they knew I was going to be OK. 

I didn't have atas taste buds.







When I shared my liking for green tea, I was asked to try roasted green tea, Hojicha. Today, I was given some Hojicha as a gift when I met a friend for lunch and later visited a supermarket. 

Drinking Hojicha will transport me to a higher plane of existence (figuratively, of course), apparently. Zen? I like.

Well, I tried it just now and it tastes like Chinese tea to me but it costs a whole lot more. 

$7 or so for a box of 20 tea bags.

I think I will stick to my cheap cheap Japanese green tea. $5 or so for 50 tea bags.

Atas food and drink are wasted on AK. Seriously. The fault is mine and not the food and drinks'.

What is this leading to?





Some might not agree with me but I am just sharing my own experience here.

If we don't have expensive tastes, it is easier to achieve financial freedom, all else remaining equal.

There is no doubt in my mind ever that average Singaporeans can be financially free too. 

If you are not financially free yet, you should not doubt that you can one day be financially free too.

It just depends on what you do.

Related post:
Average income workers can be rich.

Use CPF account as a savings account. (Prefers money close by and is CPF the answer?)

This blog is the continuation of an earlier blog:
Our parents and their CPF plans.

Reader:
Thanks for your well structured reply! It answered most of my questions :)

The reason I am concerned is because my mum keeps cash in the house instead of making it work for her.. And often she gets "tempted" by agents/bankers who sell her savings plans (10 - 15years) with "guaranteed" returns!!!

I managed to stop 1 transaction last week during the free look period but she has another savings plan that is fully paid in the next month and will pay out every year for 10 years (I will just see it as damage is done)...

Hence I thought to further explore the use of her CPF account if she wants to earn more interest over the years.

She likes the feeling of 100% liquidity (which explains keeping of money at home) and she finds it a hassle to even withdraw it at the ATM.. will need to think of an arrangement such that it will benefit her pocket in the long run.







AK:
Yup, it is as I suspected. Your mom likes the feeling of having money close at hand. Haha. So do I, to be honest, if you remember my blog on keeping some convenience cash at home.

Yes, from my habits, you can tell that AK has joint the ranks of the old folks too. Cham. How like that? Die lah.

Convenience is a good thing but there is a price to pay for convenience. Convenience has a price? Yes. I blogged about this too.

Your mom is lucky to have you look out for her, especially when it comes to guarding her against unscrupulous sales people but worse than those would be the PONZI schemes.





Try talking to her about using her CPF account as a high interest savings account. She can do voluntary contributions up to the annual contribution limit ($37,740). 

Please check that her CPF-MA has hit BHS first ($52,000) or else most of her contribution, at her age of 60, will go to her CPF-MA and will be locked up.

Of course, I feel that it is a good thing to hit the BHS because the CPF-MA pays 4% per annum and the interest of more than $2,000 a year will pay for many things but it is her money and it should be her choice.



Related posts:
1. Convenience money.
2. The price of convenience.
3. Unpleasant experience at a bank.
4. PONZI schemes.
5. CPF as a high interest savings account.

Our parents and their CPF plans.

Reader:
I have been thinking about topping up my mum's CPF account in order to earn a higher interest for her monies because she currently keeps the allowances me and my sibling gives her at home 😓..

I tried to read up online on the CPF schemes but got a little confused along the way. She is 60 this year, and I believe she is not under CPF LIFE, she was given an option to opt in but she did not do so. Thus, this would mean she is under the Retirement Sum Scheme and she has around $91k in her RA. Her FRS is $131k and she can choose to receive monthly payouts when she reaches 65.

I understand that I will be able to make use of the Retirement Sum Top Up Scheme to top up her account and also earn tax relief while I do that. However, how would I be able to calculate the impact of my top-ups in order to convince her? Or should she opt for CPF LIFE instead?






AK:
Sometimes, when we think of what is best for our parents, we forget to ask them what is on their minds. I am guilty of that pretty often.

So, ask your mom what does she want to do with her CPF money? It could be that she has no intention to touch her CPF money at all. She might want to leave it as a parting gift for her children. Well, that was what my mom told me she planned to do quite recently.

In such a case, if we top up her CPF-RA, we are actually saving money for our own inheritance. I had a good laugh when I thought of this.

And some older folks are quite resistant to the idea of putting more money into their CPF accounts than what is required by the law. Best to avoid getting into an argument with parents. In my old age, I have less energy for debates.

I bring this up because it sounds like it could be the case for you since you asked me how to "convince" your mom of the benefits.




Talk to your mom and see what she has in mind first. If she plans on receiving monthly payout once she turns 65, I believe that CPF Life would be a better option since it would provide a monthly income for life. Then, let CPF Board know of this decision ASAP.

How to convince her to go with CPF Life? I think being able to receive a monthly income for as long as she lives is a pretty attractive idea.

How to convince her that topping up her CPF-RA is a good idea? I don't know your mom and how resistant she is to the idea. That is your hot potato. Not mine.




OK, I feel that you only need to convince her if you are going to take away her monthly allowance she is now getting from you and putting it into her CPF-RA instead.

If you are going to do a top up to her CPF-RA without taking away or reducing her monthly allowance, I don't think you need to do any convincing. 

The top up is on top of what she is getting from you in such a case. ;p

Part 2: Is CPF the answer?

Related posts:
1. Young people get 6% CPF interest!
2. Don't be stupid to top up CPF!