Just found out that Google does not limit the maximum number of posts once can have for a blog. That's right! The maximum number of posts for a blog on blogspot or blogger is infinity. One is entitled to an unlimited amount of posts though there is a limit of 100 blogs per user.
That gets me wondering. Is it possible to really have 10,000 or even 100,000 posts on a blog. What kind of blog will that look like? Is there even such a blog around today (like a world record for most number of posts on a blog)?
I really really wonder.
Fortune REIT
Bought Fortune REIT some days back. Cannot remember when. First time I have entered into this . I like the brand name behind the REIT that's all. The exposure to retail malls in Hong Kong was also a factor. Just wanted to diversify out of my Ascott REIT, First REIT, etc holdings that I have. Well, Li Ka Shing owns Cheung Kong which listed Fortune REIT. So that is a plus point for just owning a small investment in Fortune REIT.
Also collected my first cheque for Gamco Global Gold Trust. After deducting withholding tax and stuff, I only pocketed slightly over S$30. Bleah..
Also collected my first cheque for Gamco Global Gold Trust. After deducting withholding tax and stuff, I only pocketed slightly over S$30. Bleah..
My Day
Personal thoughts. My day. Ride the MRT. Go to work. Eat lunch. Work work work. Eat dinner. Bath. Surf the net. Do a bit of reading. Reflection. Sleep.
Wow. Each day of my life passes by so fast. Simply amazing.
Yeah, this is an entirely lame post =) But I haven't done such a lame thing for a long long time. I wonder if I blog like that for the next 3 months, will people still visit this blog and bother to read it.. Maybe i shd give it a try.
Wow. Each day of my life passes by so fast. Simply amazing.
Yeah, this is an entirely lame post =) But I haven't done such a lame thing for a long long time. I wonder if I blog like that for the next 3 months, will people still visit this blog and bother to read it.. Maybe i shd give it a try.
Hatched@Evans Road
I am not much of a foodie. But I do appreciate good breakfasts and am always game for some nice breakfast food whether it is at the hawker centers in Singapore or at the hip and cool cafes scattered around little obscure corners in Singapore. Over the weekend, had my breakfast at Hatched which is located at Evans Road just near to Botanical Gardens and opposite the School of Physical Education (or is it now NUS?).
Carparking was a breeze as there was space in the open air carpark where a lone mango tree and a jackfruit tree was growing. It isn't your typical carparking in Singapore so I enjoyed the way it was quite quaint and peaceful.
Verdict on the Food.
Nothing special and nothing especially bad. The mocha was a bit too sweet. Tried the Usual Suspect which was basically eggs, sausages, baked potatoes and baked beans. It also came with a slice of toast and a cup of coffee. Nothing fantastic really but nothing that will make me complain about it. For $15, I will think the price is slightly on the high side but that is the kind of price you pay for a "Big Breakfast kind of meal" in Singapore cafes. I like the ambience. But I think there are better breakfast places around in Singapore. Of course, unless I want an unassuming place to eat my breakfast. Hatched basically strikes me as an unassuming place. It is not an uppety-class kind of cafe. Down to earth. Nice place.
Carparking was a breeze as there was space in the open air carpark where a lone mango tree and a jackfruit tree was growing. It isn't your typical carparking in Singapore so I enjoyed the way it was quite quaint and peaceful.
Verdict on the Food.
Nothing special and nothing especially bad. The mocha was a bit too sweet. Tried the Usual Suspect which was basically eggs, sausages, baked potatoes and baked beans. It also came with a slice of toast and a cup of coffee. Nothing fantastic really but nothing that will make me complain about it. For $15, I will think the price is slightly on the high side but that is the kind of price you pay for a "Big Breakfast kind of meal" in Singapore cafes. I like the ambience. But I think there are better breakfast places around in Singapore. Of course, unless I want an unassuming place to eat my breakfast. Hatched basically strikes me as an unassuming place. It is not an uppety-class kind of cafe. Down to earth. Nice place.
Retiring on Dividend Earnings
All investors like to make a return on their investment, and stock dividends give a great return on your investment. There is no guarantee of dividend payment, but it is unusual for most companies not to pay out every year. Investors can use these dividend payments to fund an expansion in their portfolio or just take the money out.
Most companies that are doing well issue dividends to shareholders annually, but this depends on the company being successful. If a company exceeds targets it can pay a larger dividend and if it is struggling it can cancel the dividend payments completely.
What are Dividends?
Dividends are a bonus paid out of profits to shareholders, with a small amount paid to the holder of each stock. For investors with a small stake and few shares it might not amount to much, but it can add up for large shareholders. Pension schemes and other large investors use this income to supplement the proceeds of their investments, and you can use them in the same way to help fund your retirement without having to sell your shares.
In fact, many investors use the dividend yield of a stock to help influence their buying decisions. One trading theory is that a high dividend yield indicates that the stock is selling cheap and might increase in the future. This can make it a desirable investment, but investors should take care to ensure that the company is not falling on hard times.
The size and frequency of any dividend payments are issued to stockholders when the company files its accounts. These should be issued to all shareholders, who can use them to see how their investment is performing.
Using Dividends
While you are working and amassing shares to build a nest egg, it makes sense to invest the dividends back into buying more shares. This is a great way to increase your stock portfolio without having to spend any of your own money.
Alternatively, people use the dividend payments to pay for the nice things in life. They spend the money to pay for a holiday, a new car or anything else they might need a lump sum to pay for.
In Retirement
Once you retire, you can continue to use dividends in exactly the same way as you did previously. However, most retired people are on a reduced income and might even struggle to survive on their pension. For these people, the extra income that comes from the dividends certainly makes life a lot easier. It is important, however not to rely on these dividends as the companies can decide not to issue them at any time. Shareholders should treat them as a bonus rather than part of their income.
For most retired people, it makes sense to hold onto any investment in the stock market for as long as they can afford to. The long term benefit to their income from the dividends might very well outweigh the short-term gains from selling the stock and living off the proceeds.
Most companies that are doing well issue dividends to shareholders annually, but this depends on the company being successful. If a company exceeds targets it can pay a larger dividend and if it is struggling it can cancel the dividend payments completely.
What are Dividends?
Dividends are a bonus paid out of profits to shareholders, with a small amount paid to the holder of each stock. For investors with a small stake and few shares it might not amount to much, but it can add up for large shareholders. Pension schemes and other large investors use this income to supplement the proceeds of their investments, and you can use them in the same way to help fund your retirement without having to sell your shares.
In fact, many investors use the dividend yield of a stock to help influence their buying decisions. One trading theory is that a high dividend yield indicates that the stock is selling cheap and might increase in the future. This can make it a desirable investment, but investors should take care to ensure that the company is not falling on hard times.
The size and frequency of any dividend payments are issued to stockholders when the company files its accounts. These should be issued to all shareholders, who can use them to see how their investment is performing.
Using Dividends
While you are working and amassing shares to build a nest egg, it makes sense to invest the dividends back into buying more shares. This is a great way to increase your stock portfolio without having to spend any of your own money.
Alternatively, people use the dividend payments to pay for the nice things in life. They spend the money to pay for a holiday, a new car or anything else they might need a lump sum to pay for.
In Retirement
Once you retire, you can continue to use dividends in exactly the same way as you did previously. However, most retired people are on a reduced income and might even struggle to survive on their pension. For these people, the extra income that comes from the dividends certainly makes life a lot easier. It is important, however not to rely on these dividends as the companies can decide not to issue them at any time. Shareholders should treat them as a bonus rather than part of their income.
For most retired people, it makes sense to hold onto any investment in the stock market for as long as they can afford to. The long term benefit to their income from the dividends might very well outweigh the short-term gains from selling the stock and living off the proceeds.
Valentine's Day and Gifts
Valentine's Day is coming up on 14 Feb and I believe it is the season of gift buying again. Most couples will probably be wondering what gifts to buy each other. I remember the days of my youth when I had to literally crack my head to figure out what gifts to buy. I am not a good gift buyer actually.
If you asked me how I will buy my gifts, I will probably tell you that I will buy them online. Shopping online has almost become second nature to me. I can surf the net in the comforts of my home and still literally browse through the many online shops like Ebay to buy a gift. And I think this trend of shopping online will perhaps get more and more common to many people.
Another thing I realised is probably that married couples don't really celebrate Valentine's Day in as big a manner as the unmarried couples. I could be wrong on this but will like to think that my generalisation should be pretty accurate.
So how are you spending your Valentine's Day? And what gifts are you buying for your loved ones? Have you stopped buying gifts for your husband/wife because you are married?
If you asked me how I will buy my gifts, I will probably tell you that I will buy them online. Shopping online has almost become second nature to me. I can surf the net in the comforts of my home and still literally browse through the many online shops like Ebay to buy a gift. And I think this trend of shopping online will perhaps get more and more common to many people.
Another thing I realised is probably that married couples don't really celebrate Valentine's Day in as big a manner as the unmarried couples. I could be wrong on this but will like to think that my generalisation should be pretty accurate.
So how are you spending your Valentine's Day? And what gifts are you buying for your loved ones? Have you stopped buying gifts for your husband/wife because you are married?
How Much to Give for Chinese Wedding
A frequent question that is often asked by many people is this: "How much to give in terms of money for a Chinese wedding?" For the uninitiated, there are many traditions that are followed in a typical wedding involving a Chinese couple. One of these traditions is the giving of red packets (or what is known as ang baos) to the bride and groom during the wedding day itself.
While the red packet symbolises good luck and is meant to "ward off evil spirits", most younger Chinese couple do not really make this association with red packets. It is more of a tradition that has been passed on from generation to generation and we just carry on this tradition as a form of blessing that we hope to give the newly weds. This giving of red packets (with money stuffed inside) is somewhat similar to the Western culture of giving wedding presents I guess, with the exception that money is given instead.
While the amount of money packed inside the red envelope is not meant to be much of an issue, the amount given is usually meant to "reimburse" the newly wed for the expenses involved in hosting the wedding lunch or dinner. Relatives, business associates and close friends of the couple and their parents might sometimes feel obliged to give more than that as it is seen as "blessing" the couple and also forging good ties with the family. It is not unusual for parents to give a large red packet to their children during the tea ceremony.
For most people though, the amount to give in the red packet will just be what is sufficient to cover the expense of the lunch or dinner that you are invited to. For example, if it costs $1200 for a table of 10 people, most people will give around $120 to "cover the costs". Of course, some might give a little extra just in case they are uncertain about the "per table cost". In Singapore, if the wedding banquet is held in a hotel, be prepared to fork out anywhere from $120 to $160 per person. For the more expensive 6 star hotels, it can go as high to $200 per person.
For info, the amount given by each guest is usually recorded down so it is assumed that the giver of the red packet will write his or her name down on the red packet to facilitate this process. The reason for these records is so that the married couple can "give" back an equivalent or even higher amount of money in the event that he or she is invited to your wedding or even your children's wedding. It is a weird concept even for many younger Chinese couples but it is part of the "do and die and don't ask why" kind of tradition we keep.
Here are some pointers when giving the red packet:
While the red packet symbolises good luck and is meant to "ward off evil spirits", most younger Chinese couple do not really make this association with red packets. It is more of a tradition that has been passed on from generation to generation and we just carry on this tradition as a form of blessing that we hope to give the newly weds. This giving of red packets (with money stuffed inside) is somewhat similar to the Western culture of giving wedding presents I guess, with the exception that money is given instead.
While the amount of money packed inside the red envelope is not meant to be much of an issue, the amount given is usually meant to "reimburse" the newly wed for the expenses involved in hosting the wedding lunch or dinner. Relatives, business associates and close friends of the couple and their parents might sometimes feel obliged to give more than that as it is seen as "blessing" the couple and also forging good ties with the family. It is not unusual for parents to give a large red packet to their children during the tea ceremony.
For most people though, the amount to give in the red packet will just be what is sufficient to cover the expense of the lunch or dinner that you are invited to. For example, if it costs $1200 for a table of 10 people, most people will give around $120 to "cover the costs". Of course, some might give a little extra just in case they are uncertain about the "per table cost". In Singapore, if the wedding banquet is held in a hotel, be prepared to fork out anywhere from $120 to $160 per person. For the more expensive 6 star hotels, it can go as high to $200 per person.
For info, the amount given by each guest is usually recorded down so it is assumed that the giver of the red packet will write his or her name down on the red packet to facilitate this process. The reason for these records is so that the married couple can "give" back an equivalent or even higher amount of money in the event that he or she is invited to your wedding or even your children's wedding. It is a weird concept even for many younger Chinese couples but it is part of the "do and die and don't ask why" kind of tradition we keep.
Here are some pointers when giving the red packet:
- The red packet is usually collected at the reception area where you slot it into a box. There might be different boxes used so do slot it in the correct box. The receptionist will often ask you whether you were invited by the groom or the bride and should be able to advise you accordingly.
- If you happen to be late and the reception is closed, the bride and groom will usually go around the tables to take photos and greet the guests. You can pass the red packet to the groom then.
- Don't give a red packet just because it has chinese words printed on it. The chinese words printed on it might mean "Happy New Year" .
- If in doubt of how much to give, you can always check on the internet what is the existing table rate for the hotel. If necessary, just call up the hotel and ask them to give you a rough estimate.
- As the number "8" sounds like "prosper" in chinese, people often give amounts that end with a "8" (e.g. $128, $188). This is however not really necessary but is a good gesture nonetheless.
Hope this posting helps to solve the mystery of how much to give for Chinese weddings. Will like to hear your views on this: How much do you usually give for Chinese weddings?
March 2016 Update:
The Straits Times newspaper came up with a guide on how much one ought to give for hotel weddings in Singapore. The figures are quite astounding add it is meant to just cover the cost per pax (see below):
The above indicates that if you are invited for a wedding dinner at Capella Singapore or St Regis, you should be prepared to give a red packet of around $234 per pax.
Video by Jade Seah on How Much to give for Weddings:
》How much is Nikah in Singapore
=======
For those who are interested, do check out the following links
Articles on retirement, savings, financial planning and investing:
Insurance
Popular Reads
The Road to Financial Freedom:
March 2016 Update:
The Straits Times newspaper came up with a guide on how much one ought to give for hotel weddings in Singapore. The figures are quite astounding add it is meant to just cover the cost per pax (see below):
The above indicates that if you are invited for a wedding dinner at Capella Singapore or St Regis, you should be prepared to give a red packet of around $234 per pax.
Video by Jade Seah on How Much to give for Weddings:
》How much is Nikah in Singapore
=======
For those who are interested, do check out the following links
Articles on retirement, savings, financial planning and investing:
- Lease BuyBack Scheme
- How to Retire in Singapore
- Retiring on Dividends
- Receiving Cash in Mailbox Every Month
- 2 Ideas That Will Change Your View About Investing Forever
- Are You Ready to Manage Your Cash Flow?
- Are You Ready to Take Charge of Your Healthcare Costs?
- 3 Great Ways to Spend Your Annual Bonus
- 10 Great Passive Income Sources
- Buy a 2nd Property or REITs?
- What are REITs?
- Buy Property or Invest in REITs?
- Why Invest in REITs?
- Singapore REITs - History and Regulations
- Income Investing - REITs
- REITs trading below Net Asset Value
Insurance
Popular Reads
The Road to Financial Freedom:
- #1 - The Greatest Mistake
- #2 - Protect What You Cannot Afford to Lose
- #3 - Spend Less Than You Earn
- #4 - Spend Less Or Earn More
- #5 - Buy Assets Not Liabilities
- #6 - Read and Learn More
- #7 - The Magic of Part Time
- #8 - Health Equals Wealth
- #9 - It's a Marathon, Not a Sprint
- #10 - Congrats! You have Achieved it!
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