Monthly Financial Updates

This monthly report excludes any salaried income. The purpose of this financial review is to assess the sustainability of my financial independence, focusing solely on the total amount of passive income received. As of 2024 September 1st, I have officially activated my FIRE journey, meaning I am no longer receiving a salary from a traditional job.

End of another quarter, and a bad end.

After nearly two years of uninterrupted good health, I finally fell sick in September. I wonder how it happened—it came on quite suddenly. And now... I am still halfway away from recovery. This recovery journey might take a long time. Not as young as before...

So, the September dividend amounted to $6,186.46. This brought the total for the month to $8,769.23. This brings the third quarter to an end at $21,188.61, which is an average of about $7,063. Hmmm, seems like more than usual. Well, I hope this keeps up.

Recently, I’ve been hearing lots of stories and seeing several YouTube videos about the job market. Things aren’t going well, mainly because of the changes that are coming to the corporate world—the development of AI and corporate restructuring. Governments are encouraging individuals to upskill themselves to remain competitive.

As much as I want to agree that upskilling brings more options, sometimes it really comes down to expectations and availability. Four hundred job seekers competing for just one position is... just... tough. When age and skill sets come into consideration, it makes the situation even more complicated.

The world is obviously changing, and moving fast. A lot of people are still not aware of the next leap ahead. AI will gradually replace many roles. New corporate structures revolving around it will reshape themselves to meet the demands of the market. Human resources are now being redefined more evidently than before.

That led me to think about it. If I had not aggressively built an income portfolio when I was young, my situation might have been pretty ugly. That being said, I hope those who are now in this dilemma can find their new path.

 

Nothing much change. Well, except for the banks....growing fast and furious.

 

Monthly Financial Updates

This monthly report excludes any salaried income. The purpose of this financial review is to assess the sustainability of my financial independence, focusing solely on the total amount of passive income received. As of 2024 September 1st, I have officially activated my FIRE journey, meaning I am no longer receiving a salary from a traditional job.

The time has come for my next milestone.

For what? Hmmm… something that’s been on my mind for the past two years. It won’t be easy, but I’m still going to try.

August was a harvesting month.

Dividend income received a big bump, coming in at $7,186.98. Most of it came from the bank stocks, which were all, well… performing. For now, anyway.

Combined with the rest of the income, that brought the total to almost $10k for the month of August.

The stability of rental income certainly helps. But that small increase also meant we started showing up on the income tax radar. I managed to offset the additional taxable income with a fixed relief, but it’s becoming clear that this formula is starting to hit its limit.

Some may wonder: why does it matter?

Because the system here determines which income tier you fall into. And that tier quietly determines a whole range of things — the reliefs, benefits, and subsidies you may or may not receive.

Apparently, the more you earn, the fewer benefits you get from the system.

Sound mechanical?

Well… why wouldn’t it?

That’s how this country works.

 

 

Monthly Financial Updates

This monthly report excludes any salaried income. The purpose of this financial review is to assess the sustainability of my financial independence, focusing solely on the total amount of passive income received. As of 2024 September 1st, I have officially activated my FIRE journey, meaning I am no longer receiving a salary from a traditional job.

A new month has arrived. Looking back, I spent quite a bit on hobbies and purchases by the end of the previous month.

I also have a major project brewing. It'll likely take a few months to complete... if I can find the time. There are just so many things to do.

I met up with a friend recently, and he was genuinely surprised by how busy I am despite no longer being in the workforce. It made me wonder how people perceive those who have left the workforce and no longer earn a fixed income. Do they picture us sitting at home, watching TV, and shaking our legs?

I think that's a rather simplistic assumption. 

Perhaps I'm different because I still have many things I want to accomplish before my time is up. But I believe a person shouldn't stop working just because they've left the traditional workforce. We can choose our own pace, manage our own time, and decide what we want to work on. But we should never stop working.

Perhaps this perception exists because many people associate work solely with employment. Once that ends, some struggle to redefine their purpose. There are cases where people lose their identity after retiring from a career that has defined them for half their lives. Suddenly, they're at a loss for what to do next.

We shouldn't define ourselves solely by our careers. Instead, we should continue to find purpose and set new goals throughout our lives. Human beings are meant to be dynamic, not static.

Okay, enough rambling. LOL.

The third quarter of the year has gotten off to a slow start. Dividend income came in at only $163.18. Fortunately, this was supplemented by other income sources, bringing the total to $2,664.18.

A rather dry month.

 

The US market been rather volatile. But nothing much changed in Singapore market. LOL.

 

Monthly Financial Updates

This monthly report excludes any salaried income. The purpose of this financial review is to assess the sustainability of my financial independence, focusing solely on the total amount of passive income received. As of 2024 September 1st, I have officially activated my FIRE journey, meaning I am no longer receiving a salary from a traditional job.

Another month has passed, and I spent a little more on my hobbies. The results, however, didn't quite meet my expectations, so there's still more work ahead.

June was surprisingly a strong month for dividend income. Total dividend income amounted to $4,903.06. Combined with rental and other side income, our total household income came to $7,400.66. This works out to an average of $6,340 per month for the second quarter.

Hmm, that's more than I estimated. Hopefully, it stays consistent.

 

Portfolio remains unchanged. Don't think there will be for a long time. 

 

 

Monthly Financial Updates

This monthly report excludes any salaried income. The purpose of this financial review is to assess the sustainability of my financial independence, focusing solely on the total amount of passive income received. As of 2024 September 1st, I have officially activated my FIRE journey, meaning I am no longer receiving a salary from a traditional job.

Another busy month. A few family members fell sick and took up some of my time. Fortunately, I didn't go down myself. Phew... lucky.

A major project of mine reached its conclusion a few days ago. I didn't expect to finish it before year-end, so I think I'm getting better at this, LOL.

May was a strong month for dividend income, with the banks paying out dividends around the same time. Total dividend income amounted to $5,433.98. Combined with rental and other side income, total income came to $7,912.68.

Expenses remained low, and nothing came up that required significant spending. Safe...

  

As usual, nothing change in the portfolio. 

 

 

Monthly Financial Updates

This monthly report excludes any salaried income. The purpose of this financial review is to assess the sustainability of my financial independence, focusing solely on the total amount of passive income received. As of 2024 September 1st, I have officially activated my FIRE journey, meaning I am no longer receiving a salary from a traditional job.

Labour Day! I almost forgot today is a public holiday—oops!

It’s been a long, drawn-out month with some lingering illness; I only managed to recover last week. Hmm… April is always a strange month with various things going on. Ah well.

After a strong March, the dividends for April amounted to $1,237.45. Together with rental income and other sources, the total came to $3,708.59. Not too bad as a start to the new quarter. Still, I can see a difference compared to past records—the dividend income is lower this year. It looks like global events are affecting it as well.

 

The portfolio remains unchanged. There’s not much I can adjust at the moment, aside from the rising cash holdings.

 

Monthly Financial Updates

This monthly report excludes any salaried income. The purpose of this financial review is to assess the sustainability of my financial independence, focusing solely on the total amount of passive income received. As of 2024 September 1st, I have officially activated my FIRE journey, meaning I am no longer receiving a salary from a traditional job.

A difficult month—I was struck down by a lingering, dull illness. Although it wasn’t serious, it caused me to lose some focus on my work. Entering my 50s, I’m beginning to experience changes in my body… age is catching up.

On the brighter side, it was a strong month for dividend income, totaling $6,912.31. This certainly helps to offset the past two slower months.

The tenancy agreement was also renewed for another year, securing a steady stream of rental income. The rental amount remains unchanged.

This brings the total for the first quarter to $16,292.77, which averages about $5,430 per month.

  

Cash holding received a small boast due to a strong dividend income. 

 

Monthly Financial Updates

This monthly report excludes any salaried income. The purpose of this financial review is to assess the sustainability of my financial independence, focusing solely on the total amount of passive income received. As of 2024 September 1st, I have officially activated my FIRE journey, meaning I am no longer receiving a salary from a traditional job.

Well, Chinese New Year has come and gone, and it’s a new month again. Things are moving faster for me as my own projects have started to fast-forward into Stage 2. But… I still estimate it will take around 4–5 more years to complete—if it works out.

Dividend income has begun for this month after the cold month of January, amounting to $1,760.73, which is somewhat lower compared to last February. Rental income remains stable, as it is set for another one-year renewal.

 

The war chest has reached 25%. The lack of salaried income has slowed down its buildup. The wait is still ongoing.

 

 

Monthly Financial Updates

This monthly report excludes any salaried income. The purpose of this financial review is to assess the sustainability of my financial independence, focusing solely on the total amount of passive income received. As of 2024 September 1st, I have officially activated my FIRE journey, meaning I am no longer receiving a salary from a traditional job.

16 months since I exit the workforce. Life........been very very very busy..... I should tone down...but why I got endless stuffs to do.......? LOL.

With Chinese New Year approaching, many of my friends are in panic mode. LOL. Well, not me, I don’t celebrate Chinese New Year.

Still, some expenses are expected in the coming weeks as the doomsday approaches.

So, it’s a cold month for dividend income: only $184.38. Rental income, however, is holding up for the month of January.

 

The portfolio remains unchanged. Not much has been happening locally, except that retail sales have not been doing well, with several old-timer retail shops ceasing operations. This may impact retail REITs.

Some high performers, like the three local banks, are on a mad run, pushing prices up. But as usual, I wait.

 

 

Monthly Financial Updates

Well, a new year.

It doesn’t really feel like a new day of the year, though. Ah… well…

The last dividend income for 2025 amounted to $5,609.75. This brings the final quarter of the year to $14,872.38, which works out to an average of about $4,957 per month. Slightly lower than usual, but expenses are kept low, so everything is still in order.

So, what’s next for this year?

Some are expecting a correction in the market. The stock market—especially blue chips—has been going up like mad. For the first time, I’ve seen a major bank like DBS break the $50 price level. I sense a throttle point coming at some stage. For now, I’ll be holding back and sticking to the existing approach until I see something else.

 

The REITs sector was slightly reduced as the latest REIT, Fraser Hospitality, was removed from my holdings. Cash reserves are still increasing slowly despite losing the consistent inflow from my previous daytime job. The watch is still on.

 

Year-End Resolution: Life is Short

Year 2025 Christmas Orchard Road

Another year gone. So what have I learnt?

Life is short. Very short. About 50 years only.

When I was young, I didn’t really feel it. Only when the limits of mortality start to show, then I realise how short life actually is. Stairs that I used to climb two steps at a time, now I need to hold the handrail. The fine details on miniature models that I could see clearly before are now blurred. The body is deteriorating, and time is running out.

How many things have I not done yet? Many. Too many. So many things I still want to do, and I keep wondering how much time I still have to do them.

Time flies, and here I am at the end of another year.

It has been 16 months since I exited the workforce, and I never looked back. Some people expected me to change physically—especially the stomach. LOL. But nothing changed. Some think that now I am very free, so they start to take advantage of me. But the truth is, just because I exited the workforce doesn’t mean I stopped working. I only moved from one stage to another. Now, I work for myself.

Some people thought I started my own business. When I told them no, I’m just doing my own things and there’s no income tied to it, they find it very hard to believe.

I suppose it’s quite natural to assume that someone who can exit the workforce early must be very rich—wah, very rich ah. But honestly, I’m not rich. I just learnt enough financial literacy to find a way out of the cycle, and I managed to do it by 50. Still, more than half my life is already gone. It took a long journey to get here. Now the best I can do is to make full use of whatever time I have left to finish the things I need—and want—to do before the end comes. 

Just yesterday, I managed to complete the first stage of a project that took me one year. Personally, I still feel it’s not good enough, so there’s more work to be done in the new year. I also received notification that endorsements for some of my earlier work have been cleared and will likely go live next year. It’s a start. From there, I’ll see how far I can go—
or rather, not how far I can go, but to go as far as I can.

 So, everyone—if there’s something you want to do, and you can afford to do it, just do it. Life is too short to live with regret.

 

Monthly Financial Updates

This monthly report excludes any salaried income. The purpose of this financial review is to assess the sustainability of my financial independence, focusing solely on the total amount of passive income received. As of 2024 September 1st, I have officially activated my FIRE journey, meaning I am no longer receiving a salary from a traditional job.

Well, the year is ending soon and Christmas is near. This is my second Christmas since I exited the workforce. November has been a very busy month for me, with multiple projects going on at the same time. I never seem to run out of things to do… ah… life is so short.

Dividend income amounted to $1,366.92 for November. Most of the household income was supplemented by returns from other investments. We should expect to see more expenses in December, it usually the month with the highest expenses—well, it is the holiday season and the spending season. Lol.

 

Portfolio remains unchanged. An analysis report says that the STI may hit 5,000 points in 2026. That’s pretty crazy if it really does.

 

Monthly Financial Updates

This monthly report excludes any salaried income. The purpose of this financial review is to assess the sustainability of my financial independence, focusing solely on the total amount of passive income received. As of 2024 September 1st, I have officially activated my FIRE journey, meaning I am no longer receiving a salary from a traditional job.

Well, the year is coming to an end. Things have been on and off for me, nothing big. It’s been 13 months since my departure from the workforce, and I’m still unable to finish my stuff... time feels so short.

It’s a cold month for dividend income, only $469.37. Added with others, the total comes to $2,947.02. Expenses still maintain around $2,000; in fact, I suspect we’re spending less than before. Maybe it’s age, not much craving for fancy food anymore. I still go for nice coffee at cafés though. :)

 

The portfolio underwent a bit of adjustment after one of the counters was delisted. Cash holdings have increased, but overall growth is much slower than before, as I no longer receive additional income from a salary.

 

Monthly Financial Updates

This monthly report excludes any salaried income. The purpose of this financial review is to assess the sustainability of my financial independence, focusing solely on the total amount of passive income received. As of 2024 September 1st, I have officially activated my FIRE journey, meaning I am no longer receiving a salary from a traditional job.

Health issues hit in September, leading to increased medical expenses. Well... not much we can do about it except hope for a speedy recovery.

On a brighter note, it was another "fat" month for dividend income — totaling $6,947.35.
Combined with other income sources, the total came to $9,426.93.

This wraps up the third quarter of the year, with an average monthly income of $7,346, which is higher than previous averages.

 

A counter in my portfolio was delisted and dumped a huge army into my cash holdings. Well, anyone who's been keeping track of REITs probably knows which one. Heeheehee.

So, did I gain any profits? Well, I did — but not much, since my purchase price wasn’t exactly impressive. This has slightly reduced my exposure to REITs.

 

 

 

Monthly Financial Updates

This monthly report excludes any salaried income. The purpose of this financial review is to assess the sustainability of my financial independence, focusing solely on the total amount of passive income received. As of 2024 September 1st, I have officially activated my FIRE journey, meaning I am no longer receiving a salary from a traditional job.

Today is 1st September, the exact date I officially exited the workforce a year ago.

So yes, it’s been a full year. But strangely, it doesn’t feel like much has changed. I still go out on weekdays to do my own work, the difference now is that I do it at my own pace, and on my own terms.

I recently had a buffet lunch with many of my ex-colleagues. They were surprised to see that I haven’t changed at all. Some joked they expected me to have grown a “retirement belly” by now. LOL.

The truth is, I’ve remained active even after leaving the workforce. This is something I often tell friends who are thinking about retirement: retire with purpose, not just because you hate your boss or your job. Even a simple motivation, like wanting to spend more time with your family, is a powerful reason. Life is short. You either spend it chasing money, or creating quality moments with the people you love.

Simple? Not quite.

Many people can’t do it. Some are held back by fear, others by financial constraints. I too once struggled with doubts, especially the fear of losing my identity once I left the working world. But what I’ve come to realize is that I was never truly defined by that identity. Deep down, something in me had already shifted long before I handed in my resignation. That shift is what led me down the path of financial independence. So when I left, I left with purpose, not with regret.

Now, for the updates.

It’s been a “fat” month for dividend income — totaling $6,063.63.
Combined with other income sources, the total came up to $8,639.28.

As usual, our expenses remained steady. We continue to spend only on essentials, keeping things simple and intentional.

So yes, it’s the one-year anniversary of my FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early).
No regrets. Just gratitude and purpose. 

Cash holdings have increased slightly with the recent dividend payouts.
Now, I’m waiting to see what happens with one of my counters, Frasers Hospitality Trust (Frasers HT) and whether it will be privatized.

The offer price is significantly higher than my original purchase price, so it's looking positive.
Let’s see how it plays out.

 

Monthly Financial Updates

This monthly report excludes any salaried income. The purpose of this financial review is to assess the sustainability of my financial independence, focusing solely on the total amount of passive income received. As of 2024 September 1st, I have officially activated my FIRE journey, meaning I am no longer receiving a salary from a traditional job.

Time passed—almost a year into FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early). So, how has life been as a retiree?
Busy... busy... busy... busy... busy.

I start doing my own things, and before I know it, the sky has already grown dark—and I see my tasks still unfinished. There never seems to be enough time. 😞 Life is indeed short.

It was a cold month for dividend income—only $135.63. But household income was supplemented by various sources, mainly a steady stream of rental income, along with the timely maturity of yet another fixed deposit. Altogether, the total still added up to $3,974.17.

 

Nothing much has changed in the portfolio. However, one of the counters—Frasers Hospitality Trust—has received an offer from a potential buyer. The price offered seems a bit on the low side. Well, let's see how it goes.

Monthly Financial Updates

This monthly report excludes any salaried income. The purpose of this financial review is to assess the sustainability of my financial independence, focusing solely on the total amount of passive income received. As of 2024 September 1st, I have officially activated my FIRE journey, meaning I am no longer receiving a salary from a traditional job.

This month marked a special milestone, it's been a year since I decided to activate my FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) journey. Time really flies. Surprisingly, I have no regrets. I do sometimes wonder where I’d be if I were still working a regular 8-to-5 job. Most likely, I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish as much as I have over the past year. And so, the journey continues.

This month, dividend income amounted to $4,491.20. A fixed deposit also matured in June, adding an additional $641.13. However, the renewal interest rate for another year was much lower compared to last year, so we can expect a reduced interest return next year.

Altogether, with other passive income sources included, the total for the month came to $7,692.79. This brings the second quarter total to $19,985.65. Hmm… pretty sure we exceeded $20K, but either way, this averages out to $6,661 per month. This is much higher than expected.

  

The portfolio remain unchanged. Very quiet market.