One of the most noble things we can do.

In recent conversations, I revealed that one of the things I have been thinking of doing is to set up a foundation to help financially disadvantaged students in future.

 

In the meantime, I have been making regular donations for many years to help fund bursaries for deserving undergraduates in National University of Singapore where I spent 4 years of my life.

I believe that helping financially disadvantaged students so that they and their families will have a brighter future is one of the most noble things we can do. So, if you can afford to do so, you might want to find out more about NUS Annual Giving and how to make a donation: here.

Related posts:
1. Counting our blessings.
2. We can help to lessen the pain.
3. The world is full of nice people.

New year's resolutions to impact your financial security.

There are two points to note in this reply I made to a reader:

"Well, in your case, with $157K in the SA, at age 53, 10 years from now, even without another contribution, the money in the SA will grow to be at least $236K. I say "at least" because I have not taken into consideration the additional 1% interest for the first $40K.

"$236K in your SA at age 53 and without any risk. Sounds good? ;)

"... Yes, it is harder for older workers (to rejoin the workforce). This is also why I said during a discussion in FB that a bigger emergency fund is necessary as we grow older."

The two points are:

1. Help the government to help us meet the CPF minimum sum. Beef up our CPF-SA as soon as possible and let time and the government do the rest for us.

2. The size of our emergency funds should not be static. Depending on our financial commitments and depending on our age, we should make adjustments to reflect new realities. The number of dependents we have and our age are important considerations.





Point 1 has worked out well for me but, of course, past results are not a guarantee of future performance, as some readers have pointed out. 

Point 2 is something I am always mindful of and I keep an emergency fund that is enough to cover 24 months of routine expenses.

With the new year just round the corner, giving some serious thought to these two points could be great new year's resolutions and greater still if some decisive action should be taken.

Related posts:
1. Get a lifetime income of >$2K a month (from age 65).
2. Emergency fund: How much is enough?