My food bill grew in size but my weight reduced.

Not too long ago, I blogged about being on a new diet. So, have I noticed any changes since starting on this diet?

The thing to hit me quite quickly is the increase in expenses when it comes to food!


Salad is very expensive and it takes more to fill me up too. $4 for a bowl of salad in the food court compared to $2.30 for economic rice, for example. 

Salad is cheaper in the supermarket but it is still rather pricey. Animal protein also costs more than carbohydrate.

Got this at a food court. $4.00.

I think that my food bill must have at least tripled or, maybe, even quadrupled in size. I don't know exactly how much because I no longer keep track of my expenses. Has been the case for a few years. So, this is just a feeling.

$5.00 from NTUC Fairprice.

Pan fried in butter. Powdered with black pepper.
Romaine lettuce on the side drenched in salsa sauce.
The tangy salsa sauce goes well with the salmon too.

When I talked to a friend who is a doctor, he said that the diet does make sense. Cut down on carbohydrates and sugar and we will probably be healthier.

Many overweight people are overweight because they take too much carbohydrates and sugar which are what comfort food is packed with.

Roasted chicken on lettuce. About $4.00.

Pan fried Batang and ginger. About $4.00 too.

Being on this diet, I do miss ice cream which is one of my two biggest weaknesses in the world of food. As for chocolate, the other weakness, I am allowed dark chocolate but not too much.

I also miss fish ball mee pok dry, char kway teow and chye tow kway. I also miss eating sandwiches which I used to make frequently and, definitely, my daily bowl of oatmeal.

Greek yogurt, banana slices and lettuce.

Pan fried Batang steak in garlic salt and turmeric powder.

Well, I do look a bit trimmer without having increased my level of physical activity. In case you are wondering, I do plan on doing something about this.






In fact, I lost more than 3 kgs in almost 4 weeks. I also seem to have less gas (if you know what I mean).

I will continue with this diet and see if I manage to gradually lose more weight over the next month or so. I would be quite happy to be another 3 kgs lighter by then.

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Something AK wants to lose.

Extra 1% interest for CPF savings and MSTU.

The following is contributed by a reader:

 

The CPF Board's response is appended below. I've edited the questions and part of the response to mask personal information hence, the flow of CPFB's reply may not make sense but I trust that the key points of interest are in there. Feel free to reproduce it:
 

Question: How would the extra 1% interest earned on OA + SMRA be earned? 

 

The extra 1% interest per year is currently paid on the first $60,000 of a member’s combined CPF balances.

 

The priority of the accounts that make up the $60,000 is as follows: 

 

1. Retirement Account (RA), including balances used to pay for the annuity premium under CPF LIFE

2. Ordinary Account (OA), up to $20,000

3. Special Account (SA)

4. Medisave Account (MA)

 

In general, CPF interest is computed monthly, and will be credited and compounded to your respective accounts yearly.

 

Any excess of the FRS will remain in the OA/SA which the member can apply to withdraw.  

 

There are no restrictions on when a member, age 55 and above, can make the withdrawals throughout the year. Now, they can apply for withdrawal at any time as long as they have the withdrawable monies and the Board will assess their applications.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Question: Assuming FRS of $X and MSTU of $(X + Y) including interests. At age 55, can $Y be withdrawn? 

 

No, the top-up monies of $Y cannot be withdrawn as these are meant for recipient’s retirement needs. Hence, the member cannot apply to withdraw the top-up monies:

(a) for payment of education, investments, insurance, housing, etc;

(b) by pledging his property in lieu of the Full FRS; and

(c) via exemption from the Retirement Sum Scheme.

 

Related posts:

1. Retire with a bond and an annuity.

2. CPF MS Top Up and interest computation.