Friday, January 29, 2010
Money on the ground is no windfall
One of the cornerstones of values that I want to impart to my kids is to not covet another's belongings.
They can strive to have/ get more and better things by working/ saving for it. But they should never take into possession things that belong to another whether by scheming/ begging/ whatever. I feel that this instill self-worth and confidence, and helps to prevent materialism and the inevitable comparisons with peers on who has what and who has it bigger/ better/ more.
I cant remember how it came to pass, but one of those things we now do is when we pick up stray coins on the road, we do not put them into the piggy bank. We keep them until we pass a donation box whether SPCA/ comchest at the supermarket or a flag day and put that coin in. Because it does not belong to us.
Well, E chance upon a whole SGD5 note when he was on the way home with the kids last night.
The kids promptly relieved him of the
I think we did something right there. :)
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Close
Warning : long rambling post with little joy, some nuggets of truth and too much nagging. At your risk please.
As I carry #3 into the start of 3rd trimester, I find myself pondering more the building and maintaining of a relationship.
Family ties. Friendship. Acquaintances.
Supposedly in that order, and only about family ties today.
And how easy it is to be taken for granted and to take for granted through one's life from birth to adulthood.
OK, it is quite easy to be the center of all attention when in babyhood, no matter when cooing or when one is a screaming bundle of baby blues, especially the latter. The baby generally does not care except that there is a warm body to feed, cloth, cuddle and change a wet/ dirty nappy. (oh but i hear you, if one is not a fish, what does one knows what a fish feels?) There is no question of being taken for granted and when the foremost consideration is survival (for both the baby and the parent) and as much sleep as possible (for the parent).
As one grow older, it is easy to take for granted the simple yet total idolization of a child. Sadly some parents inflate themselves and mistakenly believes in their own invincibility as pro-offered in the child's eyes. They then forget that they are all the child have at this stage and do not tend to the relationship with TLC, instead littering it with careless little snubs and these impressions lasts forever. Rejection and disappointment is never gonna be forgotten, they may be fresh as a open wound, or some what healed with a scar. A child longing for a hug being told by a parent that this is not what is practiced in that conservative Asian family will never again accept a pro-offered hug or offer one to that same parent. A parent who brushes off a child questions and opinion because they are from a child and not a peer will never be his confidante.
As the child grows into a tween or young adult, he assumes the cloak of invincibility when one is young and unafraid, and therefore scorn the advice or the elders (though truth be told, the road to hell is paved with good intentions). Instead of learning from others' mistakes, he prefers to make his own and learn at his own pace. The prerogative of the young.
The child morphs into an adult. If the ties are strong and multi-layered, there will be mutual affection and care. If the relationship was based on logic, there might be cordial filial piety. It may end up a cold calculation of usefulness and worth or worst, abandonment if the child feels unloved or received little care as a child.
As one enters into old age, there then descends a very logical (but may not be wholly justified) thinking that one is owed for the resources given. Unfortunately, it is often misunderstood by the old that the food and shelter they have given should be returned in form of love and affection, instead of in kind.
So the opportunity of being taken for granted and taking for granted abounds through one's life and there I was just musing about the family one is born into, not even a marriage...
Nonetheless, all of us are guilty of assuming that our parents will live forever. Utter foolishness.
The possibility of finding one's ideal restitution (say the wrong-doer asking for forgiveness and repenting) is rare. But it is not impossible to forgive and let go even when the wrong-doer knows of and asks for none. But to forgive is not to heal the wrong-doer, but the wronged. (what? did you think i was going to say that "forgive is divine"? please...)
If one is unable to walk on the wider path and conjure up forgiveness, I do recommend that one at least try to let go. Let go of the hurt. Holding on to a open wound, repeatedly visiting it and peeling at the scab gives the other too much power, and is a waste of energy. Imagine moving through life with an open wound on a limb where every touch, even by unsuspecting others, or a scene from a movie/ book/ whatever triggers fresh blood and pain. Why allow it?
Back to the family. There really is not anything we can do to change another, the will of younger being especially powerless against the older (no matter the age, the equation holds). So I say enjoy the moment, be it a family meal or watching TV together. Stop rolling your eyes, be a duck and let the small stuff roll off your back like so much water.
For long suffering and on-going hurts, say one's piece and move on. Again, only you can decide what you choose to carry, what will hurt you, and be hurt only because you allow it.
What I CAN do NOW is to learn from the mistakes of others and start nurturing my relationship with my own and teach them that:
- they are loved no matter what they do. I will get angry but I still love them.
- they are worthy of love by others and themselves. Only an understanding of one's self-worth can build a strong foundation for self-love and self-respect.
- love is manifested by physical affection and care in a multitude of small and sometimes unseen ways. Love is thought AND action.
And other things I want them to internalize are that:
- they are capable of doing and being anything they want. Obviously the degree of success differs based on natural ability or inclination, but dream and DREAM BIG! You'll never know unless you try.
- a sense of right and wrong for oneself, family and society. One cannot truly say to love one self or family without consideration for the wider society too.
As I carry #3 into the start of 3rd trimester, I find myself pondering more the building and maintaining of a relationship.
Family ties. Friendship. Acquaintances.
Supposedly in that order, and only about family ties today.
And how easy it is to be taken for granted and to take for granted through one's life from birth to adulthood.
OK, it is quite easy to be the center of all attention when in babyhood, no matter when cooing or when one is a screaming bundle of baby blues, especially the latter. The baby generally does not care except that there is a warm body to feed, cloth, cuddle and change a wet/ dirty nappy. (oh but i hear you, if one is not a fish, what does one knows what a fish feels?) There is no question of being taken for granted and when the foremost consideration is survival (for both the baby and the parent) and as much sleep as possible (for the parent).
As one grow older, it is easy to take for granted the simple yet total idolization of a child. Sadly some parents inflate themselves and mistakenly believes in their own invincibility as pro-offered in the child's eyes. They then forget that they are all the child have at this stage and do not tend to the relationship with TLC, instead littering it with careless little snubs and these impressions lasts forever. Rejection and disappointment is never gonna be forgotten, they may be fresh as a open wound, or some what healed with a scar. A child longing for a hug being told by a parent that this is not what is practiced in that conservative Asian family will never again accept a pro-offered hug or offer one to that same parent. A parent who brushes off a child questions and opinion because they are from a child and not a peer will never be his confidante.
As the child grows into a tween or young adult, he assumes the cloak of invincibility when one is young and unafraid, and therefore scorn the advice or the elders (though truth be told, the road to hell is paved with good intentions). Instead of learning from others' mistakes, he prefers to make his own and learn at his own pace. The prerogative of the young.
The child morphs into an adult. If the ties are strong and multi-layered, there will be mutual affection and care. If the relationship was based on logic, there might be cordial filial piety. It may end up a cold calculation of usefulness and worth or worst, abandonment if the child feels unloved or received little care as a child.
As one enters into old age, there then descends a very logical (but may not be wholly justified) thinking that one is owed for the resources given. Unfortunately, it is often misunderstood by the old that the food and shelter they have given should be returned in form of love and affection, instead of in kind.
So the opportunity of being taken for granted and taking for granted abounds through one's life and there I was just musing about the family one is born into, not even a marriage...
Nonetheless, all of us are guilty of assuming that our parents will live forever. Utter foolishness.
The possibility of finding one's ideal restitution (say the wrong-doer asking for forgiveness and repenting) is rare. But it is not impossible to forgive and let go even when the wrong-doer knows of and asks for none. But to forgive is not to heal the wrong-doer, but the wronged. (what? did you think i was going to say that "forgive is divine"? please...)
If one is unable to walk on the wider path and conjure up forgiveness, I do recommend that one at least try to let go. Let go of the hurt. Holding on to a open wound, repeatedly visiting it and peeling at the scab gives the other too much power, and is a waste of energy. Imagine moving through life with an open wound on a limb where every touch, even by unsuspecting others, or a scene from a movie/ book/ whatever triggers fresh blood and pain. Why allow it?
Back to the family. There really is not anything we can do to change another, the will of younger being especially powerless against the older (no matter the age, the equation holds). So I say enjoy the moment, be it a family meal or watching TV together. Stop rolling your eyes, be a duck and let the small stuff roll off your back like so much water.
For long suffering and on-going hurts, say one's piece and move on. Again, only you can decide what you choose to carry, what will hurt you, and be hurt only because you allow it.
What I CAN do NOW is to learn from the mistakes of others and start nurturing my relationship with my own and teach them that:
- they are loved no matter what they do. I will get angry but I still love them.
- they are worthy of love by others and themselves. Only an understanding of one's self-worth can build a strong foundation for self-love and self-respect.
- love is manifested by physical affection and care in a multitude of small and sometimes unseen ways. Love is thought AND action.
And other things I want them to internalize are that:
- they are capable of doing and being anything they want. Obviously the degree of success differs based on natural ability or inclination, but dream and DREAM BIG! You'll never know unless you try.
- a sense of right and wrong for oneself, family and society. One cannot truly say to love one self or family without consideration for the wider society too.
Labels: to Invest
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Austerity Measures
Since becoming seriously broke about Oct last year, I have been on a strict austerity drive. Strict because of the necessity and simply because there was no room to wriggle.
But things have started slowly looking up over the last couple of months. From a loss position amounting to the 100% cash outlay to buy a full licensed car, the paper losses decreased and I have actually managed to take some profit and still have some surplus left in the portfolio.
What a difference in less than a year.
Unfortunately old habits die hard. The austerity measures have since become ingrained in me, and I look at sales information with indifference, noting nothing of interest and nothing of need.
That's mostly welcomed, since it only serves to strengthen my overall financial position.
Somehow an austerity DRIVE had become an austere LIFE, and I cant think of anything that I'd WANT that needs to be BOUGHT.
UNFORTUNATELY, I also could not think of anything material that I wanted for my birthday or Mother's day, much to the discomfort of E who usually relies on me to tell him what to buy for me. So this year, HE had nothing to show for it when my sis happily informed all that her hubby bought her a heart-rate monitor for Mother's Day...
Now, if that Palm PRE would launch really soon, that will definitely help. :)
ps. Many thanks to those who have said a prayer and sent well wishes with regards to my portfolio.
But things have started slowly looking up over the last couple of months. From a loss position amounting to the 100% cash outlay to buy a full licensed car, the paper losses decreased and I have actually managed to take some profit and still have some surplus left in the portfolio.
What a difference in less than a year.
Unfortunately old habits die hard. The austerity measures have since become ingrained in me, and I look at sales information with indifference, noting nothing of interest and nothing of need.
That's mostly welcomed, since it only serves to strengthen my overall financial position.
Somehow an austerity DRIVE had become an austere LIFE, and I cant think of anything that I'd WANT that needs to be BOUGHT.
UNFORTUNATELY, I also could not think of anything material that I wanted for my birthday or Mother's day, much to the discomfort of E who usually relies on me to tell him what to buy for me. So this year, HE had nothing to show for it when my sis happily informed all that her hubby bought her a heart-rate monitor for Mother's Day...
Now, if that Palm PRE would launch really soon, that will definitely help. :)
ps. Many thanks to those who have said a prayer and sent well wishes with regards to my portfolio.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Love in the time of Austerity
Even before being desperately poor since the market's crashing to a 5-year low, I have been taking personal austerity measures for a couple of months now.
Not much fun to do (or to read i'd imagine... or is it MORE fun to read? ;) ), but essential for my mental and financial health.
I do have 1 indulgence: my pilates class which i utilise to the max by making sure i dont cancel for a fee, i make sure i do all the exercises in the correct form and push myself to the max, and i continue to exercise outside class (i've started jogging again! 30min for 5.5km, not too shabby). The results thus far - a lifted butt (YAY!), trimmer waist and better posture. YAY!!!
I havent saved that much to tell the truth (since i never did used to be a big spender, except on food and drinks, haha), and more than half of what i did save went to the kids.
Good breakfast, Snack after class, Art supplies, School related and required stuff, Clothes and shoes - they grow so fast, Stickers with their names for school supplies, Small pocket money to teach them to budget/ count/ get change and save, Trick and Treats and Kiddie rides within reasonable limits, etc etc
But the pleasure and satisfaction when spending on them is priceless.
And i guess E derives his pleasure when spending on me too. :)
- No book buying from Borders, no matter the discount - I go to the National Library.
- No new clothes - the last was a pair exercise pants from duty-free shopping in Changi Airport in September. the previous last were 2 $8 t-shirts from Baleno sale in August. and before that probably a shirt in May.
- No curry puff/ bbq pork/ egg tarts/ chocolate/ snacks except the from the pantry hoard at home, and nothing new until the hoard runs out.
- No drinks at lunch - only soup if available with meal, else cooler or tea from office
- No new bags - the absolute last was a Coach bag that E bought for during USA trip, and none else this year.
- No new shoes - the last were 2 pairs from factory outlet (ok, i confess! they were nine west. but still!) during USA trip in August, old shoes to mended by roadside cobbler instead of Mr. Minute.
- No new toiletries/ cosmetics until everything has been used up
- Saving electricty and water at home
- Buying groceries only when they are on sale
- Choosing cheaper alternative if and when possible
Not much fun to do (or to read i'd imagine... or is it MORE fun to read? ;) ), but essential for my mental and financial health.
I do have 1 indulgence: my pilates class which i utilise to the max by making sure i dont cancel for a fee, i make sure i do all the exercises in the correct form and push myself to the max, and i continue to exercise outside class (i've started jogging again! 30min for 5.5km, not too shabby). The results thus far - a lifted butt (YAY!), trimmer waist and better posture. YAY!!!
I havent saved that much to tell the truth (since i never did used to be a big spender, except on food and drinks, haha), and more than half of what i did save went to the kids.
Good breakfast, Snack after class, Art supplies, School related and required stuff, Clothes and shoes - they grow so fast, Stickers with their names for school supplies, Small pocket money to teach them to budget/ count/ get change and save, Trick and Treats and Kiddie rides within reasonable limits, etc etc
But the pleasure and satisfaction when spending on them is priceless.
And i guess E derives his pleasure when spending on me too. :)
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Penny Wise, Pound Foolish
So the Dow had fallen on hard times (crashed is too drastic a word to use at this time) over the sub-prime credit crisis and markets all over panicked and fell to 3 year lows, wiping out billion, trillions of dollars worth in market capitalisation in sustained plunges over the last few months.
Some markets (such as Indonesia) even saw it fit to suspend trading until calm (or as least less panic) prevailed when they fell more than 10% in less than a day's trading.
My portfolio suffered mid-5 digits losses too, not helped by some last minute gambling on contra basis when I bet that the bailout plan will strengthen the market. HAHAhaha*sniff*
Had to beg, borrow and steal to eat them up and hold on to hope, instead of realising the losses.
Love is when you tell your hubby what you've done, and he was not only ok with borrowing from the family account, he was actually willing to take losses via the family account too. Sigh. I do hope I am deserving of such trust and understanding, which of course I AM. DUH. But lets not take it for granted.
So I trooped down to the brokers office to cough out the dole for the stocks, and i passed by Donut Factory on the way back.
The man in front of me wanted 3 boxes, and the staff told him that by paying $3 more ($21 instead of $18), he will get 4 boxes. He said no. I pondered for a minute and I proposed he buy 4 boxes, and I will pay him $6 for that 4th. In this way, he actually will pay $14 for 3, and I pay $6 instead of $7. To his credit, he first offered to take just $3 then actually said he will pay for me! I insisted on paying him $4 and left happy that I've save $3, almost forgetting the astonishing sum that i've lost in a day.
Some markets (such as Indonesia) even saw it fit to suspend trading until calm (or as least less panic) prevailed when they fell more than 10% in less than a day's trading.
My portfolio suffered mid-5 digits losses too, not helped by some last minute gambling on contra basis when I bet that the bailout plan will strengthen the market. HAHAhaha*sniff*
Had to beg, borrow and steal to eat them up and hold on to hope, instead of realising the losses.
Love is when you tell your hubby what you've done, and he was not only ok with borrowing from the family account, he was actually willing to take losses via the family account too. Sigh. I do hope I am deserving of such trust and understanding, which of course I AM. DUH. But lets not take it for granted.
So I trooped down to the brokers office to cough out the dole for the stocks, and i passed by Donut Factory on the way back.
The man in front of me wanted 3 boxes, and the staff told him that by paying $3 more ($21 instead of $18), he will get 4 boxes. He said no. I pondered for a minute and I proposed he buy 4 boxes, and I will pay him $6 for that 4th. In this way, he actually will pay $14 for 3, and I pay $6 instead of $7. To his credit, he first offered to take just $3 then actually said he will pay for me! I insisted on paying him $4 and left happy that I've save $3, almost forgetting the astonishing sum that i've lost in a day.
Labels: to Invest, to Shop Buy
Friday, May 16, 2008
Numbers
Been punting on the SES for awhile now.
5 lots of this,
10 lots of that
10 lots of the other one
some on contra basis, some on (hopefully) short term hold, some on medium hold (by choice or not)
all very exciting, but the scary bit is when one becomes immune to the numbers as to bet (if you want to be annal about it) with such nonchalance on $4k to $40k per trade
Juuuuust numbers.
Until you work out the tangibility of the numbers:
- $300 is a damn good dinner for 2,
- $700 is the price of my LV wallet,
- $1700 is the LV bag i wanted for my birthday,
- $46000 is the price of my car
gulp~*
and then i went and lose almost $2k (1 LV bag + 1 good dinner) on bad timing and bad decision (sold too late to effectively stop loss).
I am sitting on some paper gain which will more than cover that, but STILL!
ARGH.
Thank goodness it is going to be a public holiday on Monday, and I'll take a 3-days breather.
Happy Vesak Day!
5 lots of this,
10 lots of that
10 lots of the other one
some on contra basis, some on (hopefully) short term hold, some on medium hold (by choice or not)
all very exciting, but the scary bit is when one becomes immune to the numbers as to bet (if you want to be annal about it) with such nonchalance on $4k to $40k per trade
Juuuuust numbers.
Until you work out the tangibility of the numbers:
- $300 is a damn good dinner for 2,
- $700 is the price of my LV wallet,
- $1700 is the LV bag i wanted for my birthday,
- $46000 is the price of my car
gulp~*
and then i went and lose almost $2k (1 LV bag + 1 good dinner) on bad timing and bad decision (sold too late to effectively stop loss).
I am sitting on some paper gain which will more than cover that, but STILL!
ARGH.
Thank goodness it is going to be a public holiday on Monday, and I'll take a 3-days breather.
Happy Vesak Day!
Labels: to Invest
Friday, April 11, 2008
Itchy Backside
Was sitting tidy on some gains, and pocketed about $380 for some short term punting on ChinaEnergy late last week.
Market was volatile over this week, and just before closing on Tuesday, decided to jump in and punt some more.
10 lots on ChinaEnergy at $0.57, and 2 lots SGX at $8.45
with money i dont have, no thoughts on "just in case", juuuust because ChinaEngergy had lost $0.05 and SGX $0.56 on that day. "Will probably recover within the week, right?" <-- famous last words.
ITCHY BACKSIDE never die before.
Market fell for 2 straight days on Wednesday and Thursday.
ChinaEnergy went to a low of $0.545, and SGX $7.81, translating to a loss of $1530 before brokerage of $180.
DIE DIE DIE
Decided to gamble and BOUGHT 2 more SGX at $7.90 on Wednesday, to lower the break even point. There is just no way for SGX to recover to $8.56 to breakeven on my first purchase. But SGX closed at $7.98 on Thursday, way below my break even point of $8.235 (after brokerage). Still a paper loss of $1020 on SGX alone.
how many haircuts, pairs of shoes, books is that? Dont tell me, i dont really want to know.
gulp.
Was thinking whether to cut loss and brave the pain in case it went free-falling. But decided to gamble to hang on till today (settlement on T+3), and not call in for funds to buy and hold the shares (i mean no way for me to can open mouth to ask for $38,700 to buy and hold lor). I SHALL bravely take in the contra hopefully manageable losses and hopefully the paper gain i'm sitting on will be sufficient to cover.
GULP.
Miracles of miracles, the market rallied sufficiently for SGX to go up to $8.26 in the morning, where i managed to offload at $8.23 with small loss only, and it traded with in the $8.13~$8.18 band throughout the day. Even though SGX did close at $8.28 today, I count myself lucky. Even better, I also managed to clear ChinaEngery at $0.56 with some loss.
Total losses for itchy backside probably just less than the $380 that I've made in real money so far (the rest is still paper gain since I'm still holding them).
Exciting week.
But totally unnecessary.
Market was volatile over this week, and just before closing on Tuesday, decided to jump in and punt some more.
10 lots on ChinaEnergy at $0.57, and 2 lots SGX at $8.45
with money i dont have, no thoughts on "just in case", juuuust because ChinaEngergy had lost $0.05 and SGX $0.56 on that day. "Will probably recover within the week, right?" <-- famous last words.
ITCHY BACKSIDE never die before.
Market fell for 2 straight days on Wednesday and Thursday.
ChinaEnergy went to a low of $0.545, and SGX $7.81, translating to a loss of $1530 before brokerage of $180.
DIE DIE DIE
Decided to gamble and BOUGHT 2 more SGX at $7.90 on Wednesday, to lower the break even point. There is just no way for SGX to recover to $8.56 to breakeven on my first purchase. But SGX closed at $7.98 on Thursday, way below my break even point of $8.235 (after brokerage). Still a paper loss of $1020 on SGX alone.
how many haircuts, pairs of shoes, books is that? Dont tell me, i dont really want to know.
gulp.
Was thinking whether to cut loss and brave the pain in case it went free-falling. But decided to gamble to hang on till today (settlement on T+3), and not call in for funds to buy and hold the shares (i mean no way for me to can open mouth to ask for $38,700 to buy and hold lor). I SHALL bravely take in the contra hopefully manageable losses and hopefully the paper gain i'm sitting on will be sufficient to cover.
GULP.
Miracles of miracles, the market rallied sufficiently for SGX to go up to $8.26 in the morning, where i managed to offload at $8.23 with small loss only, and it traded with in the $8.13~$8.18 band throughout the day. Even though SGX did close at $8.28 today, I count myself lucky. Even better, I also managed to clear ChinaEngery at $0.56 with some loss.
Total losses for itchy backside probably just less than the $380 that I've made in real money so far (the rest is still paper gain since I'm still holding them).
Exciting week.
But totally unnecessary.
Labels: to Invest
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Money
Am playing with 3 counters of 10 lots each at the moment.
As of today: S is up 12.5c, H is up 0.5c and F is down 6c, which means my portfolio had gained $600 today, overshooting my target which i reached last Friday.
Overall, this little shopping trip is up a total of about $1.7k. Scary, i don't even know how it happened. The tickers just went up and down and up and down and up and here i am.
Stillll holding out to see what happens.
- I've learned a good lesson in not selling the money spinner too early while holding out for the loser to regain its value, instead: SELL the loser and wait for the money spinner to gain more.
- The other lesson being: it is often easier for 10 lots to gain 1c than 1 lot to gain 10c, so spread your investment, and not all on the expensive blue chips.
But in the mean time, amidst the fun and games and anxious moments, I'm beginning to get that niggling feeling that this won't make me rich, as in RICH-rich, and I dont actually know if i'm having fun yet.
It is certainly no small change and this will let me buy some stuff (or a lot of cheap stuff), but to be frank, there isn't anything i NEED to buy, y'know?
Not a LV bag, a Feragamo shoes, Tiffany ring, or whatever. And besides, I'll be better off diverting the $ to more investment.
But at the end of it, money is just money, right?
i wonder what it all means? jaded or i need a (higher) goal?
As of today: S is up 12.5c, H is up 0.5c and F is down 6c, which means my portfolio had gained $600 today, overshooting my target which i reached last Friday.
Overall, this little shopping trip is up a total of about $1.7k. Scary, i don't even know how it happened. The tickers just went up and down and up and down and up and here i am.
Stillll holding out to see what happens.
- I've learned a good lesson in not selling the money spinner too early while holding out for the loser to regain its value, instead: SELL the loser and wait for the money spinner to gain more.
- The other lesson being: it is often easier for 10 lots to gain 1c than 1 lot to gain 10c, so spread your investment, and not all on the expensive blue chips.
But in the mean time, amidst the fun and games and anxious moments, I'm beginning to get that niggling feeling that this won't make me rich, as in RICH-rich, and I dont actually know if i'm having fun yet.
It is certainly no small change and this will let me buy some stuff (or a lot of cheap stuff), but to be frank, there isn't anything i NEED to buy, y'know?
Not a LV bag, a Feragamo shoes, Tiffany ring, or whatever. And besides, I'll be better off diverting the $ to more investment.
But at the end of it, money is just money, right?
i wonder what it all means? jaded or i need a (higher) goal?
Labels: to Invest, to Read Think
Friday, March 28, 2008
(almost) in the money
I actually hit the target today after enduring a nervous week of flying below the radar.
Had no opportunity to offload during the contra period, and had to pay for them.
Which was just as well as prices only moved up over yesterday and today, which closed above the minimum target prices.
Still holding out...
keep ya fingers crossed for me!
Had no opportunity to offload during the contra period, and had to pay for them.
Which was just as well as prices only moved up over yesterday and today, which closed above the minimum target prices.
Still holding out...
keep ya fingers crossed for me!
Labels: to Invest
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
gone shopping
there has been a lot of sales going on right now, some specifically asking pp to upgrade stuff using their ERS windfall.
I've gone shopping too. 10 lots of 2 counters each, current position at break-even for these 20.
But these are pretty much for speculation gain.
not likely to get burn since my golden rule is never play with what you cant afford.
Hopefully will make about a k in about a month, then plough back into long term holdings.
just pray that i wont be holding out for too long for overly ambitious profits, and then kenna hold forever.
gulp*
I've gone shopping too. 10 lots of 2 counters each, current position at break-even for these 20.
But these are pretty much for speculation gain.
not likely to get burn since my golden rule is never play with what you cant afford.
Hopefully will make about a k in about a month, then plough back into long term holdings.
just pray that i wont be holding out for too long for overly ambitious profits, and then kenna hold forever.
gulp*
Labels: to Invest
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Homemaking vs Career
Had some very interesting conversations with several of my relatives over CNY.
An aunt and a cousin-in-law stayed home to look after their kids when they started or about to start schooling with very good results of well rounded kids with good values and close family ties.
A cousin who is a teacher expressed the same view and even to homeschooling her kids (if and when she has them) as she is disenchanted with the school system obsessed with KPI and principals' careful portfolios.
To be fair, there were also examples of stay-at-home moms with wayward kids, and working moms with amazing kids...
My sis is thinking about quitting work to devote her time to her kids too.
We both feel financially we can afford it if we are careful with our money, provided the hubbies' jobs are stable.
BUT.
Do i have what it takes to give up my work to stay home and be a homemaker without going bonkers?
"Poorer leisurely mad housewife whose sole focus in life is her kids" vs "Well-placed harassed but fulfilled careerist who is drained everyday".
What kind of kids will my children turn out with either choice?
What kind of marriage partnership will it be?
What kind of woman will I be when the kids are grown?
It can't be a black and white either/ or choice.
There must be a balanced place where a woman's career is on a steady (stable but no longer sky rocketing) course while being able and having time to communicate with the kids, giving them space to learn to be independent and thoughtful human beings.
The search continues.
An aunt and a cousin-in-law stayed home to look after their kids when they started or about to start schooling with very good results of well rounded kids with good values and close family ties.
A cousin who is a teacher expressed the same view and even to homeschooling her kids (if and when she has them) as she is disenchanted with the school system obsessed with KPI and principals' careful portfolios.
To be fair, there were also examples of stay-at-home moms with wayward kids, and working moms with amazing kids...
My sis is thinking about quitting work to devote her time to her kids too.
We both feel financially we can afford it if we are careful with our money, provided the hubbies' jobs are stable.
BUT.
Do i have what it takes to give up my work to stay home and be a homemaker without going bonkers?
"Poorer leisurely mad housewife whose sole focus in life is her kids" vs "Well-placed harassed but fulfilled careerist who is drained everyday".
What kind of kids will my children turn out with either choice?
What kind of marriage partnership will it be?
What kind of woman will I be when the kids are grown?
It can't be a black and white either/ or choice.
There must be a balanced place where a woman's career is on a steady (stable but no longer sky rocketing) course while being able and having time to communicate with the kids, giving them space to learn to be independent and thoughtful human beings.
The search continues.
Labels: to Invest, to Read Think
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Spoken too soon
Did i say it was a slow bleeding death?
I spoke too soon
cos on Monday 21-1-08 the STI plunged 6.03% and on Tuesday 22-1-08 another 1.7% (the worst intraday low was 4.7%)
I can't even begin to calculate the shrinkage in my portfolio and paper loss
:(
this year angpow kiew jiu liao loh
I spoke too soon
cos on Monday 21-1-08 the STI plunged 6.03% and on Tuesday 22-1-08 another 1.7% (the worst intraday low was 4.7%)
I can't even begin to calculate the shrinkage in my portfolio and paper loss
:(
this year angpow kiew jiu liao loh
Labels: to Despair, to Invest
Monday, January 21, 2008
Dropping Like Flies
The stock market has been crashing for well over a week now.
Whilst it is a drawn out daily slow retreat instead of one major plunge, nobody is harboring any hopes of Asia being spared the fall out from the sub-prime crisis which started in US and is spreading to the rest of the world.
I pray that China doesn't give us anymore unsettling news like it is slowing down (they are not allowed to! This is Olympics year for goodness sakes, no negative news allowed with countdown at 199 days now), even as we understand that its economy has been overstated.
My portfolio has already lost about 15% of its value (though thankfully I'm in a net gain position since some counters I've held for years when they were quite cheap, and I've been receiving regular dividends on them)
Nonetheless, unfortunately I've plunked in a total of some $12k in late Dec and Jan and am sitting on paper losses of $2.5k at the moment. *pout*
The golden rule of investing is never play with what you can't afford.
So I'm grateful that those are money that I could afford not to use at the moment, so those are positions that I do not have to liquidate yet.
On the bright side, I've received my annual statement from CDP and it says that I have received about S$1k in dividend in 07.
So that's some comfort.
Let's see if more blue chips continue to drop like flies and check out what to buy.
Whilst it is a drawn out daily slow retreat instead of one major plunge, nobody is harboring any hopes of Asia being spared the fall out from the sub-prime crisis which started in US and is spreading to the rest of the world.
I pray that China doesn't give us anymore unsettling news like it is slowing down (they are not allowed to! This is Olympics year for goodness sakes, no negative news allowed with countdown at 199 days now), even as we understand that its economy has been overstated.
My portfolio has already lost about 15% of its value (though thankfully I'm in a net gain position since some counters I've held for years when they were quite cheap, and I've been receiving regular dividends on them)
Nonetheless, unfortunately I've plunked in a total of some $12k in late Dec and Jan and am sitting on paper losses of $2.5k at the moment. *pout*
The golden rule of investing is never play with what you can't afford.
So I'm grateful that those are money that I could afford not to use at the moment, so those are positions that I do not have to liquidate yet.
On the bright side, I've received my annual statement from CDP and it says that I have received about S$1k in dividend in 07.
So that's some comfort.
Let's see if more blue chips continue to drop like flies and check out what to buy.
Labels: to Invest
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
The rich get richer
Have been investing in some shares, investment/ insurance plans and FD for over 10 years.
In fact, my first share trades were made when i was still in the Uni.
Laid off playing the market for awhile and quit just before the Asian Currency Crisis, and RM controls, didnt exactly get burn but did have some money stuck in CLOB and I have no illusion of ever seeing any of those again.
I stayed to the long-term investment plans and accumulating a bit of various counters when the occassions arise, mostly through IPOs.
Recently, my boss and his friends and their network made a killing over various counters due to inside information, from friends of friends who drink together
the info didnt trickle down to me until they made the killing, which were 6 figures each
alas. the rich get richer, while pp like us work ourselves to the bones.
but i did receive a tip recently, and bought 20 lots, when they have been accumulating more than 1000 lots each.
It is trading above my purchase price, but then again, in this market, you'll most likely hit a counter that's moving up anyways.
Not worries about it killing me since my golden rule of investment is NEVER TO PLAY WITH WHAT YOU CAN'T AFFORD.
Lets see if I'll make a killing on the tip then?
In fact, my first share trades were made when i was still in the Uni.
Laid off playing the market for awhile and quit just before the Asian Currency Crisis, and RM controls, didnt exactly get burn but did have some money stuck in CLOB and I have no illusion of ever seeing any of those again.
I stayed to the long-term investment plans and accumulating a bit of various counters when the occassions arise, mostly through IPOs.
Recently, my boss and his friends and their network made a killing over various counters due to inside information, from friends of friends who drink together
the info didnt trickle down to me until they made the killing, which were 6 figures each
alas. the rich get richer, while pp like us work ourselves to the bones.
but i did receive a tip recently, and bought 20 lots, when they have been accumulating more than 1000 lots each.
It is trading above my purchase price, but then again, in this market, you'll most likely hit a counter that's moving up anyways.
Not worries about it killing me since my golden rule of investment is NEVER TO PLAY WITH WHAT YOU CAN'T AFFORD.
Lets see if I'll make a killing on the tip then?
Labels: to Invest
