Covid is still in our midst.

My colleague just caught C+ this week.  This current strain is still prevalent within our global community.

This week another lady colleague succumbed to C: she was fully vaccinated.

I wonder the current strain is still as potent as Delta?

I know of some radical few who did not vaccinate against Covid.

For many of us who caught C++ and recovered; thanks to the Vaccinations.  I knew of one who succumbed to that fatal Delta variant.

Don't play play.  Mask and social distancing are still required.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/is-omicron-really-less-severe-heres-what-the-science-says

https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/5-things-to-know-omicron#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20CDC%2C%20the,virus%20and%20the%20Delta%20variant.

Is "Gold" a good investment?

Someone mentioned storing gold bars in Khong Guan tin.

1kg gold is maybe half handphone size.  To fully fill a Khong Guan biscuit tin with gold bars, you may need a muscle man to carry it.

~~~~~

Anyway, yesterday Bullion 1kg is S$84k+ as at 18Mar23.

Agree, gold nuggets n chains for "run road" to safety.   So you got keep some or not?

My last buy then was about S$56k /kg.  Early buy was when it was S$33k+/kg.  After that, it surged and too expensive to buy more.

When you buy, buy 999.9 gold, in its sealed form.  Dont tear open it hoh. And don't throw away the Certificate.

~~~~~

I would like to share my 25-year experience holding gold, not selling it. Have you heard the saying "Good as Gold". 

Maybe one day it may be "Good as Property"?.  Well which property, Ukraine or UK or SG?

We live in the golden era 75-years of peace and prosperity from WW-II.  Hope this peace will last forever, for ourselves & children. If needed, it can buy your way out of Safety, lol.

Let me share my experience on gold.  As usual, diversification and kuey lapis to retirement.

Roughly, the 25-year yield is about 3.5%. Better than OA at 2.5%.  In order to hedge against inflation, my guess is that any asset should be at least average 3% value appreciation per year.

~~~~ some maths if Gold is good investment

If one holds $500k worth of Gold, average ($33k + $56k)/2 = $45k/kg for 30-years; 

Current Gold Price is $84.5k/kg, the nett gain is ~$1M; [$500k×84.5/45 = S$950k].  

After 30-years, still lost out to buying pte SG prop.

I won't be surprised that, in less than 10-years, S$ might be the World Strongest Currency!

S$1: US$1.1;

S#1: RM4.50

With strong S$1, our SG Pte condos will be like stacks of Gold Bars;  ok lah, so is our hdb flat too.

~~~~

For investment or hedging, Gold is not bought at Jewelry Shops. 

In SG, one can buy/trade Gold or Bullion at UOB Bank @Raffles.  One and only one place in SG. Trusted source. They are sealed in proper packaging and Certificate.  No problem at all to trade at Spot Price.

Of course to sell, I understand that DBS also accepts to buyback real Bullions.

By this time, more gold outlets and even bullion machines are available to buy Gold and other metal.   But you dare buy from them or not?

My 26yo old still holding my hands!

There is a sharing in the big chat of a 26yo son still holding his mum hand.

Does not surprise you ?

For a 26-yo man, it is hard to believe; likely flee from being seen with his mum; unless his mum is so loveable, rich or beautiful or all of it.

One commented that we and our child age, that will happen. 

Maybe some kids may feel throw face to be with parents during their teenage years. 

But once they reach their 30s and beyond, they realize the limited time together and will start to cherish family time.

So, are you still holding your daughter or son's hand? 

or are you still holding your wife's hand? 

If you have not started, it is still not late to begin holding their hands. It will become natural again.

What! Tea-O kosong also got add sugar!

 I just saw a typical hdb coffeeshop drink also adds a big scoop of sugar in their fresh brew of tea (maybe even coffee).

No wonder Singaporeans are diabetes prone.

Even kosong has sugar added!

Looks like need to order Lipton Tea no sugar, or Chinese Tea now.

~~~~

Why am I so concerned about sugar intake?

Under my company sponsored Annual Health Screening Package since age 34,

I faithfully tabulate the entire 57 parameters of my full health historical record, from Year 1998 till 2023.  

And I try made adjustment to my diet to bring these numbers back to desired ranges. 

Just to share,

Age 34: Glucose was 81 mg/dL (desired range: 65 to 120).

Age 40: Glucose: 84

Age 50: Glucose: 83

Age 58: Glucose: 81 mg/dL (Jan 2023)

Excessive salt and sugar intake can create health adhoc to our bodies.

Remember our Garhman call for "War on Diabetes?"

Start a New Family, need $150k ?

 In our chat, someone shared on his semi-retirement at age 32, married with 2 kids. He has some grandparents inheritance boost.  

So I free free make a guess.

How much does it cost to setup a new family.  With rising cost, young couple can be deterred to rush into marriage.

It is very costly to start a family, I think.  Imagine to get married, buy home & furnishing, wedding, honeymoon.  We put aside car ownership and then service the home loan.  

What is the minimum one needs at least $150k to start a family?  "Face" hoh.  Wedding is a woman's big day hoh.  

Maybe I make a guess how much is required to setup one new family in SG; assume:

- 4bedroom hdb: 4% BSD cash + 25% downpayment (5% cash, 20% cash/cpf) of say, $450k home (cash outlay: $18k + 20k = $38k); assume their cpf OA can cover the 20%.

- Basic home furnishing: $50k.  Maybe BTO saves on some renov cost but need to wait for TOP.

- Wedding reception: delta cost damage: $20k

- Wedding package: $20k

- honeymoon: $15k

Total: $38k + $50k + $20 + $20k + $15k = $143k.  (without car)

These days with no help, able to start a family is a super household powerhouse.  

Actually $143k seems do-able?  Maybe I underbudget!!

I salute you.

Which CI would I buy ?

 Which Critical Illness Termlife would I recommend? 

Four TermLife policies with CI which I would recommend:

1. Mindef-Aviva Group Term Life. Top recommendation, but good for upto 60, even though it can costly cover upto 70-yo. Need read T&C for eligibility. Star Best Buy.

2. Singlife-Aviva My Protector. Perpetual 35% lifetime lock-in premium discount. But pay for whole lifetime at lock-in premium. Star Best Buy. 

(Note: Last year was 35%; this year perpetual discount was reduced to 30%). Medical just gets more expensive over the years.

3. Ntuc Income VivoLife-350 or -180. But it's name has since changed "Star Secure". It's premium has risen. It is limited pay over a desired tenure, say pay 10-year for lifetime coverage; can tailor or tradeoff cost between early CI & Advanced CI. This is good for our children as they need not pay after tenure and covers their wholelife.

Anyway, medical cost will always rise. Star Better Buy.

4. GE Multipay CI plan. 30% of Year-1; subsequent years, 10%.

As for the rest overseas insurers, I could want certainty. Reason:

I have no crystal ball if their biz will stay or being bought over during my or children's lifetime.

Parts of AXA, John Hancock n Aviva were sold to Hsbc, Manulife & Singlife respectively.

Example:

SingLife-Aviva MyProtector for a mid-20s, 

*$500k Death, TPD, advanced CI; Premium: ~$1.2k p.a. for lifetime payable. But what is $1.2k amount in 30-years?

*INCOME Vivolife-350: $280k x3.5 accelerated CI coverage before 70 yo, $3.9k ~ $4.7k p.a.

Wait. I am no insurance agent.

It would be good to buy CI from different insurers for diversification n for different CI coverage. 

Good to buy early to lock-in its premium and no medical loading exclusion.

We old man/woman in 20-years time?

 It's so painful to see old auntie n uncle being held by their children as they walk.

We are nearing or hit 60.  In another 20-years, we will be the old man or woman being helped as we walk.

How prepared are you for this day to come?

That's life ...

One generation builds, another enjoys.

One generation helps another generation.

So, when is the best time for ourselves? 

Dont think we are always the marathoner or Superman, super-fit and super-healthy.

Reply1: They are fortunate to have children who are willing to hold their hands.

I have seen old man, old woman struggling to walk with walking stick with no one by their sides.

Reply2: Ask your children not to hold your hands too tight lah. Squeezing can hurt our fragile hands.

Reply3: Is it better for them to walk alone with no children in sight?

We are our children's Plan B

 Many parents are not aware nor reluctant to be their Children's Plan B.

First priority, take care of ourselves first, as parents.  Let us be the Last Sandwiched Generation.

Of course for those who are in late 50s, by now, one should have achieved self sufficiency; not forgetting to level-up your spouse in health n finances, alongside with your progress.

While I am sad n acknowledged that some sickness n illness that strike is not within our controls.

~~~~

Case 1:

Past week, I chatted with a healthy looking man at the coffee-shop. He just comsulted the Doctor for his dropping Platelet counts. Wow, quite low.

Platelet normal range: 150,000/mL to 400,000/mL.

His Platelet count is: 50,000/mL. Ma-chiam kenna Dengue. But diagnosis says it's not.

Case 2: Someone's mum diagnosed with Panacea Cancer; maybe at least stage 2 as it affects other organs; currently completed an cyst removal n chemo 2nd cycle.

Pancreas Cancer is something silent killer.  Because this organ is obscured from screening, it is difficult to detect at early stages.  I am no Doctor.

Just sharing on E.A.T. Beverage outlet. Usually my Tea-O kosong (no sugar).  I was appalled that they add sugar in their Tea-O, by default when they prepare their flesh brew "tarik-ing".  So, no such thing as Teh-O no sugar at E.A.T. 

I always advocate:

"Listen to your Body whisper. Don't wait till it shouts."

"Healthy is not necessary Fit"

Save & save for what ?

Content & Be Thankful

Years back, I was in a Kelong for leisure. 

Kelong is an offshore platform built predominantly with wood, which can be found in waters off an island.

One morning, I came across seeing a Indon couple with baby-in-arm rowing on a boat. 

The young man, with a cigarette in his mouth, rowed his boat while his wife directed where to fish. Perhaps to add a fish dish for the day?

Life can be that simple;

Contentment in life is able to enjoy peace and love around you. And have a Thankful spirit.

More importantly, the health and fitness to eat and move around freely.

Life hard decisions

Life's hard decision

I remembered the hospital scene where I watched my beloved sis in her last day. Her heart and kidneys were weak and failing. 

On that lunch, I recalled lamenting to feed her lunch or just rely on intravenous fluid feeding?

That was my dilemma confronted with my nephew then. Feed or on drip ?

There is no end to life's wants. What is more valuable than kinship, soul and health?

Remember to love more, care more and share more.🙏

Smelling the Roses ?

 Smelling the roses

What would be my real treasure of life ?

Would it be our Wealth, Time, Relationship, Health, Power, Body or Soul?

I choose Health. It is in my top priority since I started my working career.

I was not serious with Health till 20-years later, at the tea-break with my two other colleagues in year 2011 to clock "one-full marathon". 

And this evolves into new into-retirement passion.

Now this exercise regime would fill my whole retirement mornings almost every day, I guess.

These days, in some jogs, I would cut short flowering plant stems in my paths; then grow them in my small corridor garden; put in some gardening effort daily.

Today it is a wonderful sight to see them flowering; Some web searches said that they were bougainvilla, morning glory, basil plants..

I learn new things about flowers.

Sadly, morning glory flowers bloom just only for a day and then wither.

Bougainvillas bloom into beautiful red flowers which can stay for few months. 

The basil will give out nice fragrance only when you bother to touch them. And I saw birds, ants & bee visited them too; for their nectars.

My reflection from these plants;

1. Live your life meaningfully like the morning glories;

2. Shower your care unreservedly to those around you like the bougainvillas;

3. Be ready to touch lives like the basil.

No guess. I choose Health and I get my health. To-date I was the only one of the three to complete a full marathon; my 4th, under seven hours in 6-years. But don't laugh at my timing hoh.

Longevity life. Sure you ?

CPF statistics says:

50% of cohort is expected to live beyond age 85 & 33% beyond age 90.

Many of us assume that we are surely the one, the blessed ones, to live a long life.

But how can we be sure ?

My unscientific guess of criteria :

What are your chances to live beyond age 85 norm?

My guess would be to have:

1. Have long life genes

2. Resting heartbeat (<70 bpm) 

3. Younger inner body age

4. No medical condition before age 65

5. BMI (<23)

6. No major op yet

7. I am cheerful/joyful

8. Regular blood donor

9. I am a Woman

My chances: __/9 (__% chance)

Don't let your body shout!

I had a candid chat with a colleague who shared that he plans to retire early this year or next; now in his mid 60s. He shared that his parents died early in their late 60s due to sickness; so was his uncle.

His unassisted resting heartbeat is 80s, and having HBP & high cholesterol too. So he is taking HBP medication which also helps him lower his heartbeat.

Think he makes a good decision.

Good to know and aware of our horsepower.  

Listen to our body when it whispers;  

Don't wait till it shouts.

Sharing same pants

I was reminded me of a real old story of two Nanyang brothers sharing a bed and pants during early Singapore early Nation Building times.

One day a Minister then visited their dorm to see their living condition. And this man, who was in his underwear, covered under his blanket. He was not able to stand to welcome him.

He later shared that his brother went for day work, wearing the shared pants; while he was not night shift work.

They shared a bed and pants to cut down living cost. One had day work while another night.

Those were the days of hardship. It is said that earlier man sows the seeds, later man reaps the fruits.

Appreciate what we have and give thanks.

Why hurry to retire?

 Indeed the work income usually constitutes the key contributor to our passive income.

When we started work past 35-year ago, say our salary was $1.8k p.m.

If our salary is now maybe $18k p.m, the compounded internal return (6.8%) would be:

$1,800×1.068^(35) = $18,000 p.m.

At older age whereby one is able to save the full annual salary, ($18,000 x  12) = $216,000;  assume bonuses n 13-mth pay the income taxes, CPF contributions n insurance premiums; whereby esp. that we have no dependents or loans.

-----

Just to work an extra year, would support your retirement @$3.5k p.m. for 5 years [=($18000 x 12) / (3,500 x 12)].

That's why retirement later, even postponing for one year, can buffer our retirement expenses for 5-years.

----

One would ask; your pay so high ! where do you work ?

It can just be an example lah.  Scalable....

Earn more save more; earn less save less n work longer.

It can also be combined household income.

When can one retire ?

Over the week, someone who is retiring explains to me on how he knows that he is ready to retire:

1. Know how much you need to spend monthly for your remaining life expenses.  

2. Accumulate this amount which pays you for (1).

3. Put aside and don't consider your CPF Interest nor CPFLife payout. Keep it as your safety buffer against inflation and other.

4. For him, his total passive monthly income exceeds $12k, singly; including his CPFLife payout. He is 63 next year.

5. In addition, he has legacy plan which pays him monthly and it grows as it protects. A good form of bequest, besides his CPF balance of 1MOA.

6. He retires with no debt. No car.

7. He is retiring fit; no 3-Highs. Despite his age, he looks young for his age; hair is still black.   

I think looking young reveals that your inner body is not decaying much. 

8. He has a good hobbies & kakis which can fill his time in his retirement.

9. For some reason, his holidays will always be China. So holiday cost is not so much.

That's yolo. This chap is ready.

Strawberry Generation

We usually hear negativity of parents provided or shield their children too much that it turns the youths into a strawberry generation.

We might have mis-sterotyped and misjudged the new generation.

Generally the Gen Z are more exposed to technology, better educated and better provided, they can be more mobile, opportunistic, resilient and risk takers.

If we try to understand them better. In fact their world is more uncertain, more challenged in face of global economy openness, high living cost and high inflation.

The old saying "I eat more salt than they eat more rice" may somehow not be applicable to stereotype this Generation.

Health Whispers

 My reflection learnt from last year:

1. Whisper your boast;  Whisper your health;

Lest the Devil be envious of it.

2.  Watch where your treasures be, there your heart will be also.

3. Hold on to your loved ones; that they will know your care.

4. Be content with all you have; then you will find His joy and blessing.

5.  Healthy Lifestyle does not guarantee good Mental capacity.

6.   Watch your Health and it will watch yours too.

7.  Don't overwork Health; Lest it will overdo you.

8. Learn to be a gardener; you will see Nature around you.  Others will see nature in you.

9.  Water is my best medicine.  Rest, my generator. And toilet, my doctor.

Too much Food choices. Headache

 I had my late dinner yesterday at IMM, thinking it was still open; but most food shops have closed for the day; except for noodle shops & MacDonalds.

Wonder if anyone faced my makan dilemma; to choose:

1. A plate of standard dumpling wanton noodle, nett $10.50 dine-in, or

2. A Pontian wanton noodle $5, Mac Apple pie $1.70, choco-cone: $1.20, Teh-O: $1.80; nett $9.70.

Guess which one I chose? And which you would choose ?

On my way back, glad to meet Ah Loo and family walking in the Park.  His hair has grown.

Some sharing: Think city living offers so much food choices that we become more picky.

For someone who shared his trip in Yunnan high mountains then, where choices were limited to only bread and buns for breakfast.

Just go enjoy your days

Some thoughts for you too.

When life takes a toil on you...

1. Learn more to smell roses. Find a way to relieve your stress.

Enjoy the flowers that passerby you; for each flower may bloom for you just for a day.

2. Contentment. Those who have Wealth, whispers. But Vanity of all vanities. 

3. Better treasure your health than wealth.

4. When life takes a toil, remember this man. Ah-Q.

Long traveling time can affect health

 Someone shared that he daily takes 2hours to travel to work; from Woodland to Tuas.

I believe that daily two hours one-way to work is too long. Perhaps an hour door-to-door would consider as reasonable time.

I used to hear people said: "Relatively speaking, SG is so small, stay anywhere to come to work is no problem".

If your job has flexi hours, can occasionally wfh, taking public tpt can be healthy routine.   

But if daily long hours commuting sucks your health, requiring you to work up very early to prepare; and then our undisciplined lifestyle to stay up very late into wee hour. 

You will lack sleep and unseen stress builds up. Long term your health will surely be affected. Unless you have the disciplined to catch-up sleep over the weekends.

To alleviate your situation, you can consider these few things:

1. Catch some sleep while travelling.

2. Listen to calming music on the way.

3. Sleep early daily by 1-2hours

4. Catch-up sleep over the weekends.

More drastic steps:

1. Change job or home, or

2. Rent a home nearer to work place, kids schools, spouse workplace.

Better Pay to keep fit

 Just sharing ... on thankfulness.

It is a rainy day this morning.  As my car leaves the carpark, I saw an old man in singlet on his small mobility vehicle exiting the carpark in front.

It may seem a pitiful sight seeing him caught on the road as he manoeuvred this way home.

Technology has improved our lives so much that our old folks are no longer inhibited to stay at home ; but empowered to be mobile to move around in their daily lives.

During those half marathon days in my late 40s, I remembered encountering a malay man running on two prosthetic legs.  I would cheer him on. Perhaps it was the same man for I saw them twice before.  I could also see old aunties in their late 60s running alongside with me.

In full marathon races, I could see men in full spiderman or superman costumes or malay women in full tudung covers.

My recent longer distance run was a virtual AHM22;  hopefully to pick up these actual races again after Covid Pandemic.

To keep fit and to enjoy the races.  Some people call it "pay to suffer".  I would say "better pay to keep fit".

Long life, sure you ?

 Which should I choose for my CPFLife; Basic, Standard or Escalating Plan?

I wouldnt agree that Life Escalating or Std Plan makes much better sense.  

1. Longevity means sure live beyond 94. Only when you sure able to live beyond 94 (+ 1 month) old, you gain.  Can anyone sure guarantee to live beyond 94?

Escalating Plan breakeven with Standard Plan total payout at age 94. Area under the Payout-Tenure curve. I vaguely remembered counting the area under the curve during CPF Roadshow.

2.  Std Plan vs Basic Plan total payout at Std Lifetime Bequest at 85 yo in SG, difference sum of:

~$200 p.m x 12 mth x (84-65) = $45,000. (Should be less than $200 p.m. payout difference; but no matter for more buffer).

If you can save this amount, and drawdown, don't even need to consider Std Plan.  

And with $45,000 topup in RA @4%, you earn perpetual $150 p.m. for lifetime. (=$45,000 x 0.04/12).

In addition, you save your $45,000 more for bequest.   Also Basic Plan bequest is higher than Std Plan.

------

In summary,

1.  Unless you sure live beyond 94yo, think one should avoid Escalating Plan.  No one has crystal ball V4.0.

[See my earlier blog posting.  Reality checklist if you are a 94+yo chance.]

2.  Build up a k.s. amount of $45,000.  Topup into RA to earn 4% perpetually [$150 p.m.]  Don't even bother with Std Plan.

Further 5 key summary on longevity:

1.  You are a woman

2. Your parents (n even grandparents) still alive or long live beyond 94yo.

3. You have no 3 health Fiends.  Diabetes, Cholesterol, HPB.

4. No major surgery before.

5. Your resting heartbeat is below 60s.

Wait.  I no Doctor.  Even trained doctors have no better crystal ball.

Gift better not have "Price" tag

Those were the days our father brought home the bacon, gave us the education & provided us an environment for success.

These days, I am glad that parenting go beyond what our parents had shown us; especially in the new world of uncertainty and job market competition.

We cover our children with insurance, topup their CPF, ... best parenting plan for them...

As I am reading the WORD, "price" and "prize" came to me.

Let our gifts to our children be a prize to them; and not be a price they have to pay.

Then how do we tell if it's prize or price？ 

Simple. 

Does this gift bring warmth, love and bonding? or tear family apart ?

Make it a blessing; not a burden to them.

Remember, Wealth Whisper; just don't tempt the evil ones.

Fit does not imply healthy

Good to know things of the Brain Health. Physical fitness does not imply Mental Health.

~~~~

I know of a marathoner, my cohort, who clocks 4hr+ in his full marathons, has shown some sign of early sign of Parkinson.

Our Mr Sim MW, the Ultra-marathoner and at least 50 full marathons under his belt. He passed away suddenly in Jan 2023 this year. Super-fit!

We need:

- to listen to our body,

- watch over weakness,

- don't over clock our Max Heartbeat,

- keep our body circulatory system and digestive system clean.

I observe that our old folks' aging problems are in:

- sight,

- hearing,

- knee cap,

- weakness in limbs,

- stroke,

- dementia or Parkinson,

- heart weakness

~~~~~

Other minor signs like Prostate, urinary, issue, wrinkling .... we put them aside.

Lung (our respiratory system) - dont forget our 3th most common cancers in SG. I am still pondering over this. My lady friend died of Stage 4 few years ago. She was not a smoker, but used inhaler. I really don't know. One swallow does not make a Summer.

I always advocate. Listen to Your Body whispers. Don't let it Shout at you.

In 20 year's time, I would be 80yo. No crystal ball to see.

Have to keep the 3 good fiends far at bay.

*Watch over for my Max Heartbeat blog. I have made some observations.

https://ferrarilim.blogspot.com/2023/03/we-will-be-old-manwoman-in-20-years.html