I was evaluating my expenses to be for 2017.
Unlike previous years, where I have no mortgage to pay for, there is mortgage for 2017, and other additional. Hence, 2017 seems likely to be a year of high expenses.
Except for the home that we bought, my partner and I have totally separate finances, so his expenses are not included here. It's astonishing that even before 2017 starts, almost $60,000 is likely to be out! Do you have this problem like me? Some of the items can actually be cut down. Like cable TV, but it's at my parents' place... And the amount is small, compared to insurance and endowment, which easily eats up about 20% of the likely expenditure. Ridiculous.
Unless I do something about insurance and endowment, it's likely that I will need to spend $65,000 or more 2017. I am keeping $65,000 as the maximum target for 2017. I hope to spend lesser than that. Variable will be about $490 per month. Welcome austerity...
Fixed Expenses - $59,130
$5050 for insurance (this includes a life insurance which takes up a huge portion of it; some term insurances, and health insurances)
$8000 for endowment plan;
$24,000 for parents
$15,000 mortgage (estimated)
$600 for Ang Baos
$480 for cable tv
$6000 childcare (estimated)
Others - $5870
which will comprise all other expenses, like taxes (property and income taxes), food, transport, entertainment, medical, etc., etc. That will leave just $490 per month for me myself then to keep to $65,000. Welcome austerity.
Thursday, 29 December 2016
Saturday, 17 December 2016
The Real Cost to be married in Singapore
December is the month where I would attend many weddings.
I recently attended my sister's wedding, which is extremely atypical of a Singaporean Chinese wedding. I had to take leave to attend it, since it is on a weekday day time.
The wedding started off with solemnization at ROM. After that, the groom chartered us on taxis (ok, he booked the cabs) to their place for a lunch reception at their newly renovated flat. The event was cozy, and we get to chat with everyone, and even get to know the other side's relatives. The lunch buffet was from a caterer which food my parents like.
I am from the bride's side, and I personally know the people she invited. As for the groom's side, it was a time to know his immediate family.
Honestly, I really enjoyed this wedding. I have never thought about a wedding like that, but I feel it's really really cool.
It was atypical of the 8 - 10 course banquets that I usually attend, sitting in a table usually with some strangers on the same table, and sometimes, having many awkward silences, waiting for the food hungrily, and gorging on them when they come. With regards to interaction with the newly married couples, I usually only talk (extremely briefly) to the bride/ groom when they make their rounds for the photo shoot, and at the start (and end if I stay till it) when we shake the hands of them and their family. Sometimes when attending such wedding, I wonder whether I am there only for the food. And after many years (maybe weeks), I don't really remember much about the wedding.
The Real Cost of Getting Married
What's the real cost to be (legally) married in Singapore?
The cost of getting married in Singapore is actually very very low.
$26 for Singaporeans/ PR. For foreigners wanting to get married in Singapore, the cost is at most $298. Click here for details.
The other costs, are generally what I call expectation costs --- costs incurred just to meet the expectations of the couples, traditions, parents, etc. You can still get married (legally) without them.
My thoughts are, the wedding is the most important day, from the perspective of businesses. For the couple, what you do after the wedding is more important. How much you spend of your wedding generally has little significance on how well you get along in the long run.
Why get into debt (meaning you cannot afford it) to meet all these expectations, when the real cost is just $26?
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The wedding started off with solemnization at ROM. After that, the groom chartered us on taxis (ok, he booked the cabs) to their place for a lunch reception at their newly renovated flat. The event was cozy, and we get to chat with everyone, and even get to know the other side's relatives. The lunch buffet was from a caterer which food my parents like.
I am from the bride's side, and I personally know the people she invited. As for the groom's side, it was a time to know his immediate family.
Honestly, I really enjoyed this wedding. I have never thought about a wedding like that, but I feel it's really really cool.
It was atypical of the 8 - 10 course banquets that I usually attend, sitting in a table usually with some strangers on the same table, and sometimes, having many awkward silences, waiting for the food hungrily, and gorging on them when they come. With regards to interaction with the newly married couples, I usually only talk (extremely briefly) to the bride/ groom when they make their rounds for the photo shoot, and at the start (and end if I stay till it) when we shake the hands of them and their family. Sometimes when attending such wedding, I wonder whether I am there only for the food. And after many years (maybe weeks), I don't really remember much about the wedding.
The Real Cost of Getting Married
What's the real cost to be (legally) married in Singapore?
The cost of getting married in Singapore is actually very very low.
$26 for Singaporeans/ PR. For foreigners wanting to get married in Singapore, the cost is at most $298. Click here for details.
The other costs, are generally what I call expectation costs --- costs incurred just to meet the expectations of the couples, traditions, parents, etc. You can still get married (legally) without them.
My thoughts are, the wedding is the most important day, from the perspective of businesses. For the couple, what you do after the wedding is more important. How much you spend of your wedding generally has little significance on how well you get along in the long run.
Why get into debt (meaning you cannot afford it) to meet all these expectations, when the real cost is just $26?
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