GAP #3 - Breakout

After all these defensive GAP measures that focus on cost savings, it's time for some revenue generating ideas.

One idea that I really fancy is equities.

We all know that the stock market is going mad like a woman having PMS, but the volatility is what makes is all so interesting.

It's a bit of gamble, a bit of speculation, but you really need to know some fundamentals and insights to play the game.

As much as people think that analysts are anal-ysts, I still find them the best people to learn from. It's not that they're right all the time, but you have to make your own analysis on their analysis to make sure you don't fall the wrong side of the market.

Being the all lazy person I am, reading the Financial Times and Business Times can be such a chore. And I'm not even going into financial books and all the technical know-hows about stocks.

But one great website I've come across after losing much money to the market over the past 3 years is Yahoo!'s Breakout. (Note: I've stopped losing money during this self-learning period.)

Photo Source: Yahoo! Breakout

It's pretty enjoyable hearing the bald Jeff Macke and his plumper counterpart Matt Nesto talking about equities and bonds. They throw in a fair bit of humour and sarcasm to make the usually 4-5 minutes clip entertaining, if not useful.

So if you're looking to improve the revenue side of your finances, it's probably advisable to just have a listen and start learning.

Do check out Breakout at http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/breakout/

P.S. Not earning any commission from recommending the bald dude.

GAP #2 - Anchor the Savings

After a month of GAP #1, there had to be some review of the budget situation. Technically speaking, the 30 days of GAP #1 measures should have yielded cost savings of $78.50.

However, the cost savings in the ministry of eating have been offset by other expenditure in other ministries.

Specifically, the ministry of drinking. I brought my cousins from overseas to a fancy bar called Lantern last week.

A fancy place indeed. Back in Switzerland, I would come here to have a look at the scenery and then drink elsewhere.

With a splendid view like this, you can't expect kopitiam prices

Photo source: asia-bars.com

Indeed, with fancy places comes delicious pricing. $17++ for a bottle of Asahi beer. The night set me back $120, paring all gains the food ministry had made.

A quick comparison with a club nearby, The Butter Factory, revealed that Lantern had really priced most locals out of consumption. Butter Factory charges about $13++ for a mug.

Going further northeast, a heartland pub like Grapevine would take $20++ for a jug of Asahi. This means that the same quantity in a bottle would cost about $5++ at Grapevine. That's a 70 per cent cost savings, disregarding the valet parking of $12 at Fullerton Bay Hotel.

Anyway, I had to consult the guru in GAP measures, Yakki.

He threw my Butter Factory and Grapevine alternatives out of the boardroom.

Good old Anchor

A can of Anchor beer costs about $2++ at Sheng Shiong, he said.

'enuff said.

GAP #1 - Big Breakfast

The Great Austerity Plan has begun.

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So let's start cutting from there.

Photo Source: pufflist.blogspot.com

Economic bee hoon is one of my favourite breakfast choices. Bee hoon. Egg. Fish fillet. Luncheon meat. Some chilli by the side.

But it is rich in oil, cholesterol and increasingly heavy on the pockets. That combi would cost perhaps $2++. Excluding kopi gao.

So, out goes non-economic bee hoon. And its variants such as nasi lemak.

In comes three like-minded friends who will take their place in my stomach for the next 30 days.

Introducing Skippy, Nutella and Kaya. 3 different spreads to give some variety to my bread.

Weighing a total of 340g, Skippy costs me $3.80.

Following his peanut brethren is Nutella at a heftier $5.05.

And local brands always cost the least with Glory Nonya Kaya coming in at a transfer fee of $2.65 for 400g of squeeze.

That's a $11.50 for 3 spreads.

The kaya has to be consumed within 1 month after opening, so we'll give all three a go for 30 days.

Of course, we'll need some good ol' Gardenia bread to go along with them.

Hello breakfast!

After-note: To inject some joy into one's life, every Monday shall be a "kill the blues, buy some bee hoon" day.

The Great Austerity Plan

With the economy looking like a W, possibly double-double-U, it is with great pleasure (pain) that I'm announcing that I am going to be implementing austerity measures in my life.

Yakki, a great advocate of austerity, will chuckle at me crossing the line, joining him on the dark side of the money world, but I will have no shame in declaring my need to deficit-cut.

In times like these, it is important to track all austerity measures to determine if they're feasible and/or useful.

First up, restricting daily expenditure to $X/day, where X is undisclosed. With a tight budget like $X/day, it is critical that every cent of change is accounted for. You'll be amazed what you can do with cents.

Do not belittle coins.

Coins make dollars.

Are you average?

SINGAPOREANS are the fourth richest people in the world in terms of personal wealth and second richest in Asia-Pacific, according to a Credit Suisse report.

The average wealth per adult here has grown from US$105,000 in 2000 to US$255,488 (S$336,000) this year.

Wealth is calculated as the value of financial assets like stocks and bonds plus non-financial assets - principally housing - less an individual's debts.

...

So are you average?