Reflections...

Just some reflections. I haven't visited this blog in ages. And as I visit, for some reason, I feel as if I'm brushing away a thin layer of dust that's landed ever so gently on it.

This has been a really busy year and as I read last December's entries... I can't help but sweatdrop.

I have NOT saved. I'm instead still very much a binbou nin. Even though my pay has increased considerably, and I pay less for my bank loan. I have however, managed to reach the stage where I do not have to Borrow to survive. Instead, I can subsist on just what I earn from my main job alone. This while still paying my bills regularly and giving money to mum. I have NOT tithed. Sigh...

So, while there has been some improvement, I can't say that it's a total improvement. Ganbatte mashou!

Next year, since this is already the last month of the year, I would like to embark on my rather ambitious SLSM program. In case you're wondering what on earth is SLSM, let me enlighten you--it's called the Spend Less Save More program.

To embark on this program, I have put in place certain guidelines and structures.

Step One! Shift Tables and label everything...
How will this help me save money pray tell?
Well, by shifting tables from my previous rather cluttered table to the new one, I forced myself to stock take and clean up. Hence, my newest location is beautiful and I took the opportunity to label while organizing. The stock take was very effective because I realised that many times, I bought items from Popular or other places BECAUSE I forgot where I had placed a certain item or because I thought I had finished my supply of a particular item. By labelling, after use, I'll (keeps fingers crossed) keep the items back in their proper positions and only buy new ones after I've completed them.

On stock taking, I also cannot honestly say I need new stationery--I've tons of those... SWEATDROP!

I also have tons of resources--unused. So, next year, since I have more or less exhausted my need for resources, my only book expenditures will be on novels that I really want to read--there aren't that many authors I really want to read, so I think I'm quite safe.

Step Two! Shift Homes
After one yr of attempting to take public transport, I came to the conclusion that I am failing because of the location of my home. It is just too convenient. Most of the time, I just have to wait a couple of moments before I get a cab from the comfort of my front door as compared to waiting 20 minutes for the bus. Plus, because my current location is only a relatively short distance away from my work place, cab charges (even with peak hour charges) isn't all that ex--less than $10 to and fro. So the temptation to sleep in and then catch a cab has been proving too great for little old me. Plus, I cab to my tuition places etc...and back again.

Calculating the cost at the end of the year has been a rather sombre affair--I realise that if I just factor in cabbing to and fro --just twice a day (weekends included), I have been spending a whopping $600 every month on just cab fares alone!

=.= Thankfully, I'm shifting end of this year.

How does that help? Well, firstly, the place I'm shifting to is near an MRT station, and clogs up early in the morning with traffic. Cabs are scarcer because my new place will be inconveniently located on the top of a hill. It is simply NOT economical to take a cab to my workplace and even if I wanted to, I wouldn't be able to get there on time or, perhaps even get a cab to begin with. This means, I will wake up earlier (since I have no choice) and walk (thus exercise and execute slimming program simultaneously) to MRT and take the MRT which will be ridiculously faster than if I were to take a cab. I am definitely NOT paying MORE for something that takes longer.

So, factoring in 2 feeder bus rides and one mrt ride, the total cost to and fro is now--> $4 a day which amounts to about $88 a month for working days. The new place is also tons nearer to my new church--VFC! Which means that going to church I will also save money! Woohoo! So even if I cab to and fro on weekends to church or to town --> total cost of transport is going to be less than $200! That leaves me with an extra $400 to save!

Step 3! Change my handphone subscription program
I changed my phone subscription from M1 to Singtel and am saving tons. It used to be that my phone bills would be about $150 a month. With my new plan, it is only $75 and that's with a data plan included. That could explain why I'm able to subsist without my moonlighting these couple of months. I think I can further save money if I change the plan further to a corporate plan since my company has one. :D Even a few tens saved will be great!

Step4! Change my dietary habits
By changing to a healthier new me diet plan, I hope to save more money! How so? Vegetables are always cheaper are they not? Plus currently, I figure that I'm really really spending a lot of money on weekdays--out dining with my friends at expensive places like Mayim and Swenson's and other even more lavish places. Once in a while is fine, but I think I'm really pushing it.
The rich food is adding many spare tyres to my girth so much so that I do look like Michelin Man... SOB.... by eating more fruits and veges, firstly, I'm doing my entire body a favour. Fruits and veggies are good for cleaning out stuff and prevention of cancer. They also help to supplement my water intake. Secondly, fruits and veggies are cheaper than meat and more eco-friendly. Meat takes up more resources to grow and import. Next, they provide me with vitamins and minerals which should help me keep healthy--reducing need and expenditure on medical services. I've been mcing quite a bit. This will also help me present a better work profile and when I slim down, my clothes expenditure will go down. Right now, I'm spending a lot on branded clothing cos my usual This Fashion clothes simply won't fit or even Giordano. With a slimmer me, I can definitely fit more clothing at many other stores, which means cheaper alternatives.

Step 5! Simplify my life!
Less stuff. This is something that I'm appreciating now, because I'm moving homes remember? The sheer amount of stuff is really AMAZING! I also simplified my work profile by requesting to step down from certain stressful positions. At least one stressful position has been removed--this will lead to a healthier and less lethargic me thus leading to greater willingness to crawl out of bed earlier and sleep better. The amount of sleep I've lost this year has been contributing to much unhappiness at my work place. I'm THAT much grouchier when I don't get enough sleep. Also, the constant having to tiptoe around some person at work ADDS to the unhappiness. With this job gone, I'm FREE!!!!! and life becomes that much simpler. I also see the need to make my new place zenlike--that is simplify and everything keep neatly labeled in the wardrobe so my new room will look like those showrooms one sees in the new condos. Grins. This will make me more willing to come back earlier and save more money.

Step 6! Tithe!
The next step I'm working on is tithing. I think tithing is a huge issue for me because I'm not disciplined enough. However, I think when I tithe, just like when I give money to my mum, it affects me psychologically. It sends a message straight away to my brain that I have a lot less to spend and automatically, I find myself more willing to do things that will save money instead of the opposite. That's important to me as I happen to be one of the least self-disciplined beings on earth... sniff. So what I'm going to do is, the moment I get my pay, I will set aside tithes and allowance for mum immediately, so the psychological factor kicks in almost immediately.

Step 7! Set up new account!
Currently, I have only 3 accounts--bank loan account (where everything I put in gets siphoned off); my savings account where my salary gets credited and my current account which I keep bare most of the time unless necessary. I need a new account with another bank. Cos I find if I transfer funds immediately on the day that my pay comes in, I can't spend it and most importantly, again, the psychological factor of the binbou nin kicks in. I'm going to start this year with whatever I can afford first so that next year, I'll feel inclined to save which brings me to Step 8!

Step 8! Have a goal--several goals!
I'm saving for new furniture. I'm moving home. Thank God there are built-in cabinets and wardrobes. That makes life so much simpler for me cos wardrobes have gotta be the most ex thing on the list. Now I can strike it off the list. I'm also having my friends and family members get me furniture vouchers from muji (if they have it) and from Ikea :D Maybe I can even get my stuff for free!

Second goal to save for--Trip for the parents.
I'd like to save money so that I can give my parents a short trip with the money. I'm figuring about $2000 each parent so that they can have fun at my expense... no la, in the past, when we were kids, they gave us trips too wat... so now is a good time to treat them, esp since I can foresee mum feeling blue about her job.

Third goal to save for--Trip for me!
I'm saving for a trip to go to Japan. That is probably going to take quite a bit of okane... cos it's Japan. It's bound to be ex, and I have absolutely no wish to scrimp and save when I go on holiday :P

Fourth goal--bank pays me money instead.
Right now, I'm paying $2 every month to my banks for each of my accounts --that's $6 a month and $72 a year. When I save money, the bank will pay me instead through interest and such. :D So this is my goal. To make my money grow money for me.

Fifth goal--to utilize my other funds and invest wisely. So that my money grows money for me. :D

I think that's about it for now. :D