Thursday, March 16, 2023

Monthly Net-Worth Update — Mar 2023

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Dear Readers,

Thank you for coming here! 


hWelcome to the end of Q1 2023.

Here is the snapshot of our Total Net-Worth for Mar 2023.


Net-Worth increase from last month: 11K SGD, -0.95KG Gold

The increase was basically our salary minus loss in stocks and insurance expenses.

Yup, our stock portfolio incurred further losses in the past month again.

Negative growth on Gold, because the price increased a lot.

Photo by 金 运 on Unsplash

Investment: -7.67% annualized return, incl. dividend

Slight drop compared to last month. Still in deep RED.


Till next time!

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

The Power of Visualization: How to Use Your Imagination to Achieve Your Goals

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Dear Readers,

Thank you for coming here! 


Do you ever find yourself daydreaming about achieving your goals? Perhaps you imagine yourself running a successful business, traveling to exotic destinations, or living in your dream home. 

While daydreaming may seem like a waste of time, it turns out that there is real power in using your imagination to visualize your desired outcomes.

Visualization is the process of creating a mental image or scenario of a desired outcome. It involves using your imagination to create a vivid, sensory experience of what it would be like to achieve your goals. 

By picturing yourself achieving your goals, you are more likely to take actions that align with that outcome, and you may even find that opportunities present themselves to help you achieve it.

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Here are some steps to get started with visualization:

  1. Identify your goals: The first step is to clearly identify what you want to achieve. Make a list of your goals, both short-term and long-term, and be as specific as possible. For example, instead of saying “I want to be successful,” define what success means to you and what it would look like.
  2. Create a mental image: Once you have identified your goals, start to create a mental image of what it would be like to achieve them. Close your eyes and use your imagination to picture yourself already having achieved your goals. Imagine what it would look like, how you would feel, and what you would be doing. Make the image as vivid and detailed as possible.
  3. Engage your senses: To make the visualization even more powerful, engage all of your senses. What would you be seeing, hearing, smelling, and feeling? Imagine the sounds and smells of the environment, the texture of the objects around you, and the emotions you would experience.
  4. Repeat regularly: Visualization is a skill that can be developed with practice. To make it a habit, set aside some time each day to visualize your goals. It can be helpful to do this first thing in the morning or before going to bed at night. The more you repeat the visualization, the more it will become ingrained in your subconscious mind.
  5. Take action: While visualization is a powerful tool, it is not enough to simply imagine your goals. You also need to take action to make them a reality. Use the visualization as motivation to take steps towards achieving your goals. Break them down into smaller, achievable tasks, and commit to taking action every day.
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In conclusion, visualization is a powerful tool for achieving your goals. 

By using your imagination to create a mental image of what you want to achieve, you are more likely to take actions that will lead you towards that outcome. 

With practice, visualization can become a habit that helps you stay motivated and focused on achieving your goals. 

So why not give it a try and start picturing your success today?


Till next time!

Sunday, March 12, 2023

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Diversification: Tips and Strategies for Maximizing Returns and Minimizing Risk

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Dear Readers,

Thank you for coming here!


Investing can be a great way to grow your wealth, but it can also be risky if you don’t know what you’re doing. 

One way to mitigate risk and increase your chances of success is to build a diversified investment portfolio. 

Below are some tips and strategies for building a portfolio that can maximize returns and minimize risk.

1 — Understand and BELIEVE the Importance of Diversification

Diversification is the practice of spreading your investments across different asset classes, sectors, and regions. By diversifying your portfolio, you reduce the risk of losing all your money in one investment. For example, if you invest all your money in a single stock, and that stock goes down, you could lose all your money. But if you invest in a mix of stocks, bonds, and other assets, you can reduce the impact of any one investment going down.

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2 — Identify Your Investment Goals and Risk Tolerance

Before you start investing, you need to identify your investment goals and risk tolerance. Your investment goals will determine the types of investments you choose, and your risk tolerance will determine how much risk you’re willing to take on. If you’re investing for the long term, you may be able to tolerate more risk than if you’re investing for the short term.

3 — Choose a Mix of Asset Classes

To build a diversified portfolio, you should choose a mix of asset classes. The three main asset classes are stocks, bonds, and cash equivalents. Stocks are shares in a company, and they offer the potential for high returns but also come with high risk. Bonds are loans to companies or governments, and they offer lower returns but also come with lower risk. Cash equivalents are investments that are very safe but offer low returns.

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4 — Choose a Mix of Sectors and Regions

Within each asset class, you should choose a mix of sectors and regions. For example, within the stock asset class, you could choose to invest in technology, healthcare, and consumer goods companies. Within the bond asset class, you could choose to invest in corporate bonds, government bonds, and municipal bonds. And within the region asset class, you could choose to invest in domestic and international markets.

5 — Rebalance Your Portfolio Regularly

Once you’ve built your portfolio, you should rebalance it regularly. Rebalancing means adjusting your portfolio back to your original asset allocation. For example, if your original asset allocation was 60% stocks, 30% bonds, and 10% cash equivalents, and stocks have performed well, you may need to sell some of your stocks and buy more bonds and cash equivalents to get back to your original allocation.

Photo by Allison Saeng on Unsplash

In conclusion, building a diversified investment portfolio is essential to maximizing returns and minimizing risk. 

By understanding and believing the importance of diversification, identifying your investment goals and risk tolerance, choosing a mix of asset classes, sectors, and regions, and rebalancing your portfolio regularly, you can build a portfolio that can help you achieve your financial goals.


Till next time!

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

5 Common Investment Mistakes to Avoid as a Beginner Investor — Based on My Real & Painful Experiences

Photo by Joshua Mayo on Unsplash

Dear Readers,

Thank you for coming here! 


Investing can be a great way to grow your wealth over the long term, but it can also be a daunting and confusing experience, especially for beginners. Investing requires knowledge, discipline, and patience, and even experienced investors make mistakes. 

In this article, we will discuss the top five common investment mistakes to avoid as a beginner investor, based on my real & painful experiences.

If this article can help one of my readers avoid one small mistake, it would be more than worth it.

Here we go.

1 — Failing to do your research

One of the biggest mistakes beginner investors make is failing to do their research. Before investing in a company or a stock, it’s important to understand its financial health, its business model, its competitive landscape, and its growth potential. Investing blindly without doing your research is like gambling, and it can lead to significant losses.

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2 — Trying to time the market

Another common mistake beginner investors make is trying to time the market. Timing the market means trying to buy stocks when they are cheap and sell them when they are expensive. The problem is that no one can predict the market’s movements accurately, and trying to time the market can lead to missed opportunities and losses. Instead, focus on investing for the long term and staying disciplined.

3 — Not diversifying your portfolio

Diversification is essential in investing because it helps to reduce risk. Investing all your money in one stock or one sector can be dangerous because if that stock or sector performs poorly, you could lose a significant portion of your investment. It’s important to spread your investments across different asset classes, such as stocks, bonds, and real estate, and to diversify within each asset class.

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4 — Letting emotions guide your decisions

Investing can be an emotional experience, and emotions can cloud your judgment. Fear, greed, and panic can lead to impulsive decisions, such as selling stocks at the bottom of a market crash or buying stocks at the peak of a bull market. It’s important to stay disciplined and avoid making investment decisions based on emotions.

5 — Overpaying for investments

Another common mistake beginner investors make is overpaying for investments. This can happen when investors buy stocks that are overvalued or invest in funds with high fees. Overpaying for investments can eat into your returns over the long term, so it’s important to do your research and choose investments that are reasonably priced.

Photo by Joshua Mayo on Unsplash

In conclusion, investing can be a rewarding experience, but it’s important to avoid these common mistakes. 

By doing your research, staying disciplined, diversifying your portfolio, avoiding emotional decisions, and choosing reasonably priced investments, you can achieve your long-term investment goals and build your wealth over time.


Till next time!

Sunday, March 5, 2023

Thursday, March 2, 2023

5 Simple Habits That Can Help You Save More Money Every Month

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Dear Readers,

Thank you for coming here! 


Saving money is an important part of building financial stability and security, but it can be challenging to make it a habit. Fortunately, there are several small changes you can make to your daily routine that can add up to significant savings over time. 

In this blog post, we’ll explore five simple habits that can help you save more money every month.


1 — Track Your Spending

The first step to saving more money is to understand where your money is going. 

Take some time to track your spending for a few weeks or a month. This can be as simple as writing down every purchase you make in a notebook or using a budgeting app to categorize your expenses. 

Once you have a clear picture of where your money is going, you can identify areas where you may be overspending and make adjustments.

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2 — Automate Your Savings/Pay Yourself First

One of the easiest ways to save more money is to make it automatic. 

If you are paying CPF, you are already doing this.

Additionally, you can set up an automatic transfer from your checking account to your savings account each month. Even if it’s just a small amount, like $25 or $50, it can add up over time. 


3 — Avoid Impulse Purchases

Impulse purchases can be a major drain on your wallet, especially on e-commerce sites/apps since it is so easy to spend. 

Before making a purchase, take a few minutes to ask yourself if it’s something you really need or if it’s just a want. If it’s a want, consider waiting a few days before making the purchase. Often, the impulse to buy something will pass, and you’ll be glad you didn’t spend the money.

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4 — Cook at Home

Eating out can be expensive, especially if you do it frequently. 

Instead of eating out, try cooking at home. Not only is it usually cheaper, but it can also be healthier and more enjoyable. You can make meal planning and cooking a fun activity by involving your family or friends.

Or get a helper who can do both cooking and cleaning. The cost might be worthwhile compared to eating out.


5 — Shop for Deals

Finally, always be on the lookout for deals and discounts. 

Before making a purchase, do some research to see if you can find a coupon code or a sale. There are also many cashback apps and websites that can help you earn money back on your purchases. By taking a few minutes to search for deals, you can save money on everything from groceries to clothing to travel.

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

In conclusion, saving more money doesn’t have to be difficult. 

By making small changes to your daily habits, you can build a strong financial foundation and work towards your financial goals. So, start tracking your spending, automate your savings, avoid impulse purchases, cook at home, and shop for deals. 

Your wallet (and future self) will thank you!


Till next time!