I have Resigned from my Job

I have resigned from my job and am looking forward to working at my new place =)

People keep asking me to delay my resignation as times are bad now. Duh.. as if I do not know.

The point is this : I simply do not enjoy working at my current job. I am NOT happy no matter how hard I try.

Yes of course i might not be happy at my new place but at least I have given it a shot. I do not want to spend the rest of my life wondering about "what ifs". You only live through life once.

Well as part of my learning process, I think I have learnt alot about myself in this current job. Some of my weaknesses which I am trying to overcome are as follows:

1. To speak up more. Do not be afraid of stating my opinions.
2. Smile more. Talk to others more
3. Be more proactive. Don't be too reactive. Sometimes when we have too much work to do, we tend to "shun" other "extra" work.

I hope to be able to strengthen my weak points even as I embark on my new job.

$1071.98 in Passive Income for February 2009

Looked at my bank account today and was pleasantly surprised to discover that I have received quite a bit of passive income for the month of Feb 09.

Total amount was $1071.98 and comprised dividends from First REITs, Ascott REITs and SUNTEC REITs as well as the $200 Goods and Services Tax Credits that I received. Details as follows:

27 Feb 2009 GC S$200.00

27 Feb 2009 CDP CDP-FIRST RE S$266.90

27 Feb 2009 CDP CDP-FIRST RE S$30.60

27 Feb 2009 CDP CDP-FIRST RE S$32.30

27 Feb 2009 CDP CDP-ASCOTTRE S$313.20

27 Feb 2009 CDP CDP-ASCOTTRE S$51.60

27 Feb 2009 CDP CDP-ASCOTTRE S$148.80

27 Feb 2009 CDP CDP-SUNTECRE S$0.81

27 Feb 2009 CDP CDP-SUNTECRE S$19.17

27 Feb 2009 CDP CDP-SUNTECRE S$6.13

27 Feb 2009 CDP CDP-SUNTECRE S$2.47

In my blogging efforts, I managed a paltry US$8.29 from Google's Adsense. But I am not including that into my passive income yet since it is money I will not receive for sometime.

Busy now with filling my tax returns and trying to see what are the tax reliefs and tax rebates I can get.

In these depressive and uncertain times, I have posted some funny videos here to cheer everyone up =)

Feeling Sick Again Looking at My Stock Portfolio

Feeling totally sick when I just look at my stock portfolio. It is down by more than 50% and the losses are huge.

With the money I have lost, I would have been able to buy a brand new car...

Was I wrong to invest my money into the stock market? Sigh..

Full Time Blogger

Hmm.. Perhaps I could be a full time blogger if the economy does not pick up.

I started blogging in May 08 and since then, I have been able to earn a consistent $5 - $10 per month even though I do not blog regularly. The number of visitors to my blogs are also less than 100 a day.

Even for the month of Feb 09 where I hardly had any new entries in my blog, I have already managed to earn close to $8 from Adsense income.
So.. just maybe.. if I spend all my time blogging, I could possible earn much more!

Decisions..decisions.. =)

NOL announces dividends

So NOL announces 4 cents dividends. Not bad since I have 3 lots of it. Should be able to collect a small sum of $120 as my first dividends for the year.

Apologies for not writing much the past few weeks as I have just been too bogged down at work (as well as looking for a new job)

Is the financial sector dead

Many friends have told me that the financial sector is kind of "dead" in a certain sense.

Does that mean I will have to look for a job else where first?

The Meaning of Red Packets

Since it is Chinese New Year, the family has been in the business of giving out red packets or hong baos as the Chinese would call it.

Red packets are supposed to symbolise luck. But even now, I am not sure why do we put money inside the red packets. I guess the kids love to receive some extra cash during the new year.

But for the parents, it can be a little confusing. Questions like:

"Am i giving enough?"

"What if the other parent gives my child a bigger red packet that what I packed for their child? Will that sway them into giving a larger red packet for my child next year just to make up for the difference?"

These are tough questions. Guess i am still a newbie at giving out red packets that's why I am so confused over this chinese tradition. Of course i know it is meant to be just given out in the spirit of good luck and tradition and all.. But a certain part of me says that I need to rationalise how much I am giving out to people. I can't be giving closer relatives the same amount I am giving other distant friends right?

What's more, this red packet thing is a bit sensitive. If I give too little, will I offend someone who also gives my child a larger red packet?

What about relatives who pass to my parents ang bao meant for my child? Am i supposed to give them back ang baos in kind?

What about older cousins who are not married? Do i give them an ang bao. A bit embarrassing wouldn't it be?

Aargh.. too complicated. Perhaps I will just go on a holiday next Chinese New Year =)