As we grow up, our perception on the value of money seems to be dropping. During primary school, a $2 note in our wallet was deemed as a luxury, as most of the transaction in the canteen only involved coins. Needless to say, hardly anyone brought a $10 note. We would try to avoid buying anything above $50 on our own.
Now, a lone $2 note in our wallet is almost nothing to us. Most even ditch coins claiming that they only make the wallet heavier. $5 is probably considered 'no money'. $10 is perhaps 'spend when necessary'. $50 is 'can afford a little' while $100 is 'chiong ah!'.
When we approach adulthood and working life, of course it will 'level up' such that $10 becomes 'no money'. We will also start saving up and splurging on more expensive stuffs too.
Usually we would consider if we hadn't bought a particular item before, the cost amount will be saved. Looking closely around my house and thinking back at all the things I've bought for the past 10 years, I probably would have saved a bomb. Noticed lots of white elephants gathering dust or being put away in storage. Most of them were not utilised well before they were 'condemned', which is quite a waste. Wonder why did I buy those things in the first place...
Such includes:
- My humongous Lego collection (三分钟热度)
- Electronic keyboard (Same model as the Chinese High ones.)
- Entire McDonald's Hello Kitty plush set (The thing abt following blindly...)
- Encyclopedia sets (Used to be commonly publicised in bookfairs. With free online resources like Wikipedia now they have become almost unnecessary.)
Of course there are things I din regret buying:
- Jigsaw puzzles (If you've been to my house you shld have seen them in almost every corner.)
- Console/PC games (Contrary to what most adults think, I feel playing games can be educative in a certain way. For eg, I learned lots of vocabulary from it.)
- Contact lens (The feeling of walking ard without specs is great! For a very specs-dependent person like me.)
- Price of my driving license (The course was ex, TP test was ex, haven't driven for a very long time but I still think it was a worth investment =p)
- Entire Japanese learning package (God knows how much I've spent altogether for my lessons, materials and tests for the past 2+ years.)
- I-Weekly (One book per week for 10 years, you can do the sum.)
Do you have anything you regretted or did not regret buying? Feel free to share on the tagboard!
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I think the Internet is really a great tool to save money. Ever since I became Internet-dependent and online-surfing became an important part of my life at home, I have been spending lesser money. Or rather, it saved me lots of money from buying things I could obtain easily through the net. Used to download dramas and animes but now I dun even have to. Thanks to online video streaming sites like Youtube and Crunchyroll, I was able to watch a variety of shows *for free* =p. Most are not available in the market anyway. Ppl who invent things like this is indeed a genius haha.
Hardly rely on solid books nowadays. *glances at Harry Potter* For fiction books, I have no habit of reading them anyway. As for references, information and resources can be found easily in the net. Money saved!
My dose of music and songs mostly comes from the radio so money is not really a problem here. If I really want a song that much I can always resort to downloading or listening at music sites. Good thing is Chinese songs can be found very readily haha. Haven't bought an album for a loooong time. The last one IIRC shld be Stefanie Sun's 风筝 muhahaha...
The Net has also become my main source of news and current affairs. Sometimes I get info faster than the TV/radio news, or even news that weren't reported at all. Can save up on newspapers alr haha.
If weren't for the Net, I could have spent much more money. =)
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Personally I feel I'm quite a thrifty person. Unlike my bro, I dun spend much on games (leeched most games from him haha) and computer components (dun really require a highly powered com). I dun engage in expensive hobbies like model collecting, photography, sports, etc. Neither do I go shopping often (though I have an urge to do so recently), nor intend to own a car or live in a big house in the future. Quite reluctant to purchase a laptop for uni too, esp when I'll be going home everyday.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Regret
Do you have anything regrettable in your life? If possible do you wish to return to the past and redo things once more?
This came into mind when I watched the thought-provoking and touching story of Proposal Daisakusen (Chi:求婚大作战, a recent Japanese drama). It talks abt a guy who regretted his lover's wedding with another guy, and went back to the past to attempt salvaging the situation, but in the end nothing much changed.
The guy was given many chances to time travel, but none were really successful to reverse the wedding, though the girl's impression on him improved slightly after every time travel.
The moral is, never leave any regrets in your life until it's too late to salvage. Cherish your family. Cherish your friendships. Cherish your partner if you really love her/him a lot. Dun take it for granted that they will be there with you forever. Sometimes it only takes one small mistake to snowball into something severe. On the other hand a little initiative taken may actually make things much better.
Unlike in the drama, we can never return to the past and redo things. BUT if we were really given such chance, pls treasure the opportunity greatly!
Proposal Daisakusen is one of the best dramas I've watched this year. Some parts almost made me cry. The theme song is really touching too.
This came into mind when I watched the thought-provoking and touching story of Proposal Daisakusen (Chi:求婚大作战, a recent Japanese drama). It talks abt a guy who regretted his lover's wedding with another guy, and went back to the past to attempt salvaging the situation, but in the end nothing much changed.
The guy was given many chances to time travel, but none were really successful to reverse the wedding, though the girl's impression on him improved slightly after every time travel.
The moral is, never leave any regrets in your life until it's too late to salvage. Cherish your family. Cherish your friendships. Cherish your partner if you really love her/him a lot. Dun take it for granted that they will be there with you forever. Sometimes it only takes one small mistake to snowball into something severe. On the other hand a little initiative taken may actually make things much better.
Unlike in the drama, we can never return to the past and redo things. BUT if we were really given such chance, pls treasure the opportunity greatly!
Proposal Daisakusen is one of the best dramas I've watched this year. Some parts almost made me cry. The theme song is really touching too.
Friday, April 18, 2008
My NS Statistics
Duration: 210406 - 200408 (180408)
Leave Taken: 29 days
Off Taken: 40 days
MC: 0 (!)
Medical Appointment: 8 times (6 of which went during my own off)
Report Sick: 2 times (for my skin condition)
Highest Rank: Corporal First Class
Total Pay: $9760 (Avg $407/mth) *Yucks that's terribly low*
Appointment:
BMT Recruit (Apr 06 - Jun 06)
Auto Tech Trainee (Jun 06 - Sep 06)
Auto Tech OJE (Sep 06 - Nov 06)
Mechanic (Nov 06 - Jul 07)
Admin Clerk (Aug 07 - Apr 08)
Courses:
BMT
Basic Technician Training
V200 Technician Course
Camps Visited:
Chong Pang Camp (Perm)
Ayer Rajah Camp (Technical Training)
Sungei Gedong Camp (OJE)
Palau Tekong BMTC
Nee Soon Camp (NDP/FFI)
Lim Chu Kang Camp II (NDP)
Sembawang Air Base (PC Events)
Paya Lebar Air Base (RSAF Day)
Tengah Air Base (NDP)
Pasir Laba Camp (ATP/BBCDT)
Depot Rd Camp (CMPB)
Gloucester Camp (Guard Duty)
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Blog song changed!
Heard this really nice song by 伍家辉: <虽然我愿意> But can't seem to find it anywhere... His vocals are really O_O
Servbot's Corner wishes Relf a Happy 21st Birthday!
Leave Taken: 29 days
Off Taken: 40 days
MC: 0 (!)
Medical Appointment: 8 times (6 of which went during my own off)
Report Sick: 2 times (for my skin condition)
Highest Rank: Corporal First Class
Total Pay: $9760 (Avg $407/mth) *Yucks that's terribly low*
Appointment:
BMT Recruit (Apr 06 - Jun 06)
Auto Tech Trainee (Jun 06 - Sep 06)
Auto Tech OJE (Sep 06 - Nov 06)
Mechanic (Nov 06 - Jul 07)
Admin Clerk (Aug 07 - Apr 08)
Courses:
BMT
Basic Technician Training
V200 Technician Course
Camps Visited:
Chong Pang Camp (Perm)
Ayer Rajah Camp (Technical Training)
Sungei Gedong Camp (OJE)
Palau Tekong BMTC
Nee Soon Camp (NDP/FFI)
Lim Chu Kang Camp II (NDP)
Sembawang Air Base (PC Events)
Paya Lebar Air Base (RSAF Day)
Tengah Air Base (NDP)
Pasir Laba Camp (ATP/BBCDT)
Depot Rd Camp (CMPB)
Gloucester Camp (Guard Duty)
-----
Blog song changed!
Heard this really nice song by 伍家辉: <虽然我愿意> But can't seem to find it anywhere... His vocals are really O_O
Servbot's Corner wishes Relf a Happy 21st Birthday!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
A Heavy Downpour
So it happened that I got caught in the heavy downpour yesterday at Orchard Rd. Never seen such heavy storm in the shopping district before. So heavy that I felt my plastic umbrella was on the verge of breaking, blown out of it's normal shape. Though I was still drenched from shirt bottom and my entire feet was soaked, thanks to the strong winds and deep puddles, at least I was luckier that those without an umbrella, who became stranded under the buildings.
This made me notice how Orchard Rd, Singapore's major shopping belt, was so vulnerable to rain such that shoppers were unable to get from one shopping centre to another, even to the nearest MRT station, without getting wet. Pity those well-dressed ppl and tourists having to get drenched.
Spent close to 200 this weekend again. Becoming a spendthrift liao. The feeling of buying something is great at first, but becomes a pinch shortly after. It's worse if you discover that the item you bought is not that useful after all, and the money spent can be used to buy a more useful item instead.
Shall continue this topic with a long entry when I have the time...
Share with you all some funny comics regarding blood types:
http://bbs.onlylady.com/thread-310113-1-1.html
Wonder how true is it, some dun match with me.
This made me notice how Orchard Rd, Singapore's major shopping belt, was so vulnerable to rain such that shoppers were unable to get from one shopping centre to another, even to the nearest MRT station, without getting wet. Pity those well-dressed ppl and tourists having to get drenched.
Spent close to 200 this weekend again. Becoming a spendthrift liao. The feeling of buying something is great at first, but becomes a pinch shortly after. It's worse if you discover that the item you bought is not that useful after all, and the money spent can be used to buy a more useful item instead.
Shall continue this topic with a long entry when I have the time...
Share with you all some funny comics regarding blood types:
http://bbs.onlylady.com/thread-310113-1-1.html
Wonder how true is it, some dun match with me.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Shopping Desire
Feels great to be at home during the weekdays! Thanks to my PC, I managed to get a handful of offs to compensate for the overseas leave I took early this year. That means I could enjoy holidays comparable to those who saved up on their leave heh heh.
Bought a couple of books to improve on my Japanese vocabulary. But the scope is a bit too much, such that I even know what is 'right angle' and 'iceberg' in Japanese. Is there really a need to know such words when learning a new language? Haha.
Anyway what's 'right angle' in Chinese?? I guess most ppl dun even care haha.
More importantly, I suddenly have an urge to go shopping. For the past 2 years in NS, I resisted buying lots of stuff cos I think there isn't much need. But now it's time to go all out to spend the money I've accumulated! Like what YF said, "Got money must spend!!!" (ok lah, I added those exclamation marks)
Quite true lah, since the $5 I save now might not even be able to buy a fast food meal in N years time. So might as well spend now and enjoy. 不管天长地久，只在乎曾经拥有。And I'm going out of point alr...
I've alr found a shopping kaki cum 时尚顾问 for a 宅男 like myself. XH, must rmb to go shopping with me k? This time I wun hold back le!
Expect myself to spend a lot this month. Last Sat alone alr spent 100+ liao. But I'm gonna receive my tuition payment soon hehe. My parents are worse; they are buying concert tickets every now and then. Aiyoh such concert addiction has to stop... Maybe I shld consider calling in radio stations, participate in their games and win some cash lol.
Bought a couple of books to improve on my Japanese vocabulary. But the scope is a bit too much, such that I even know what is 'right angle' and 'iceberg' in Japanese. Is there really a need to know such words when learning a new language? Haha.
Anyway what's 'right angle' in Chinese?? I guess most ppl dun even care haha.
More importantly, I suddenly have an urge to go shopping. For the past 2 years in NS, I resisted buying lots of stuff cos I think there isn't much need. But now it's time to go all out to spend the money I've accumulated! Like what YF said, "Got money must spend!!!" (ok lah, I added those exclamation marks)
Quite true lah, since the $5 I save now might not even be able to buy a fast food meal in N years time. So might as well spend now and enjoy. 不管天长地久，只在乎曾经拥有。And I'm going out of point alr...
I've alr found a shopping kaki cum 时尚顾问 for a 宅男 like myself. XH, must rmb to go shopping with me k? This time I wun hold back le!
Expect myself to spend a lot this month. Last Sat alone alr spent 100+ liao. But I'm gonna receive my tuition payment soon hehe. My parents are worse; they are buying concert tickets every now and then. Aiyoh such concert addiction has to stop... Maybe I shld consider calling in radio stations, participate in their games and win some cash lol.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
My greatest decision
It's less than 3 weeks before I ORD. Kind of sad that I've to say farewell to my platoon mates whom I've spent my time with for the past 1 year or so. Farewell to guard duty which I think wasn't that torturous after all. Farewell to my friend who usually chats with me abt the latest happenings in the Chinese entertainment and music industry . Farewell to my stuffy bunk, my dirty workshop, my cozy office... Not to forget my really nice and playful Platoon Commander who introduced me to games like Weiqi and various non-commercialised boardgames. He's the reason how I was able to work comfortably within the platoon, despite the strict regimentation gradually implemented by the unit.
Therefore in order to repay his kindness and continue to serve under such a wonderful superior, I've made one of the greatest decision in my life: To extend my ORD date.
Of course that reason alone may not be sufficient enough to justify my actions. Between my April ORD and university admission date lies a big 3+ months gap, and I hadn't actually thought of what I'm going to do within this period. Thought of finding a temp job but the application process, resume writing and possible interviews put me off. Anyway it's quite hard to find a decent job that allows me to commit for such short period. Things like tuition is definitely not a short term time killer, unless you could just 'abandon' your students halfway.
Thus I decided to take the easiest and least-worrying way of extending my national service, to remain in my comfort zone. Not a method many will resort to, but I guess this will solve my problem of being temporarily jobless. After all I'm a CFC now and will be drawing more pay, so why not?
Hope you guys will respect my decision. I've discussed with my PC and Chief Clerk abt this matter and my service extension will be processed soon. New ORD date would probably be end of July, just before uni admission.
Therefore in order to repay his kindness and continue to serve under such a wonderful superior, I've made one of the greatest decision in my life: To extend my ORD date.
Of course that reason alone may not be sufficient enough to justify my actions. Between my April ORD and university admission date lies a big 3+ months gap, and I hadn't actually thought of what I'm going to do within this period. Thought of finding a temp job but the application process, resume writing and possible interviews put me off. Anyway it's quite hard to find a decent job that allows me to commit for such short period. Things like tuition is definitely not a short term time killer, unless you could just 'abandon' your students halfway.
Thus I decided to take the easiest and least-worrying way of extending my national service, to remain in my comfort zone. Not a method many will resort to, but I guess this will solve my problem of being temporarily jobless. After all I'm a CFC now and will be drawing more pay, so why not?
Hope you guys will respect my decision. I've discussed with my PC and Chief Clerk abt this matter and my service extension will be processed soon. New ORD date would probably be end of July, just before uni admission.
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