Singapore Inflation for 2008 is 6.5%

So Singapore's Consumer Price Index (CPI) for 2008 climbed to its highest in 28 years. That is a whopping 6.5% !

What this means is that my money in the bank is basically being wiped out by inflation.

With a paltry < 1% bank deposit rate, the bank deposit rates are simply not sufficient to combat this high inflation.

But in reality, what are the prices that have truly gone up for my household?

I will say one word "Petrol". The prices of petrol has simply gone up so much.

Pumping a 95 octane fuel cost almost $1.40++ per litre. If I remember correctly, the highest grade of petrol used to be that price like 7 years back when I first started driving.

Other than petrol, I don't think my household has seen a significant increase in any other item.

Electricity bills did go up a bit during the end of the year but we managed to cut down on our air-con usage and stuff.

Bills to Pay

The bills have arrived once again.

Credit card bills - $645.52
Road Tax - $380.50
Singtel Broadband - $33.87
Starhub Cable - $25.68
Starhub Ltd - $51.93

I really need to find ways to increase my passive income especially with my pending job switch

Spent $215 Servicing My Car

My car a Mitsubishi Lancer 1.6A was way overdue for servicing so I brought it to a workshop for servicing today.

It is still way under 80,000km and is only around 2.5 years old so rightfully I should have brought it back to the original distribute (Cycle & Carriage) for repairs/servicing as the 3 year warranty would be void if I went elsewhere.

Problem is: Cycle and Carriage servicing is abit slow and tends to be quite expensive.

So after asking around abit, I decided to go to one of the workshops which my friend uses. He said it was pretty cheap.

The total cost was $215 all inclusive and it took about 1.5 hrs. The works included:

1. Replacing engine oil - Voltronic semi synthetic oil 10W40
2. Replacing air filter
3. Replacing spark plugs - volker iridium (last for 2 years/160,000km)
4. A minor improvement to the dent on my bonnet. He tried "sucking" the dent out 3 times but it only got slightly better

Was it worth it?

$1588 for a MacBook

Thinking of buying a MacBook but it costs $1588. Not too sure whether it is too much money to pay for just the Apple brand? I actually took a walk at Wheelock's Place to the Apple store that was on the 2nd floor.

I had to ask myself: " Is this a WANT? Or is this a NEED?"

I then realised that a MacBook is a want. I want a MacBook. But in actual fact, I don't need it.
Perhaps I will just buy an ACER laptop which is much cheaper. It really takes a lot of discipline not to spend money unnecessarily.

Simple logic.

"NO" to buying a $1588 Macbook for myself.

I can buy a much cheaper laptop and save the rest of the money.

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..