Hello 2011, Goodbye 2010!

The time has come once again to review my resolutions from the year gone by. I really am making this quite a regular thing arn't I? So proud of myself...

Here's my review from last year.

I think if I took a (pretty large) step back and saw the whole year of 2010 pan out in its entirety, 2010 has been a fairly good year for me. There were alot of downs, but then there were alot of ups too. In fact I'd say there were way more ups than downs compared to the year before that. It has been another year of reflection, learning and growth once again, but more importantly, maturity has also egged its way to the frontlines.

It is a year where I hope I've improved on my financial situation. Keeping debt as low as possible and trying to work on different pronged outlets for passive income. It's also a year that heralded the new addition in my family, and my role as a father which is only at its infancy. It is a year where I feel a deep mellowing inside of me, for reasons yet unknown. Also a year where I hardly made any new friendships, lost a few, but spent more time re-enforcing and maintaining my existing circle.

There is alot to hope for in 2011...

Anyway, here's a review of my 2010 resolutions.

1) Persue A Healthier Lifestyle
This is abit of a downer because I hardly play football anymore, except for the occasional Saturday kickabout. I hardly go to the gym anymore, even though I extended my gym membership (waste money), which I now only use to take the occasional mid-day shower. And I don't exercise any way else. So there's no excuse for this. A definitely a failure. FAIL

2) Save More Cash
I'm still a big spender and its something that will take a long time to change. That said, I have made strides. Tremendous strides, at turning this around. With that, I've seen a nice steady increase in my savings over the months this year. Am also utilising all avenues to save for retirement (bit of a cliche, but its true!). So this has been a success. PASS

3) Earn More From Investments
At this point of publishing, my overall investments are up approximately 20% to date for the year. It is short of my overall target of around 50% because I have taken significantly higher risks in my trading and investment decisions hoping for a better return. Still I guess going green is always better than going red right? PASS 

4) Spend More Effort Keeping In Touch With Old Friends
Oooh, this one I think I definitely have done quite well at. Like I mentioned, I haven't really forged many new friendships, but at least I can say that I've made more effort reinforcing my existing ones and I'm thankful for this. It is a well known fact that the older you grow, the harder it is to make true friends. People just come and go as aquaintances. Trust becomes less forthcoming because people have different agendas. But the one thing you cannot take away is the past camaraderie and experience you've shared when you were younger. I've even actively cleaned up my Facebook on a quarterly basis. PASS

5) Spend More Time At Home
Well, with a baby in da house, how can I fail this one? I'm spending more time at home and going out less. But it's not like I'm complaining, because coming home to the wifey and son is just about the best thing I look forward to in recent memory. PASS

So 4/5 really is a pretty good result when people always say resolutions are meant to be broken!

2011 is going to be a year of hope for me. Hope for things around be to become even better than they already are. Wealthier, healthier, and happier.

May everyone of you readers have a very happy 2011!

Happy New Year's Eve Eve!

Wow. What a year gone by!

Resolutions and reviews coming soon!

22 Points

That's the number of points separating the top team (Manchester United) and the bottom team (Wolverhampton Wolves) at Christmas. This is amazing stuff. Never have I seen the league this close before. And it is really true that the standard of the league is getting better with alot of supposed mediocre teams playing very good football too.Yet somehow I get the feeling that Manchester United will run away with the title by the time January comes around.

Go Man Yoo!!!!

I'm also going to make a punt for Blackburn getting relegated this season after their purchase by India's Venky's. The sacking of Allardyce is simply mind-boggling, and clearly shows that the new owners have no idea what they're dealing with. Good luck to them!

Anyway Manchester United just beat Sunderland 2-0 at home last night with 2 goals from Berbatov. Not bad, not bad.

China

This week's Economist extrapolated that China's economy will exceed that of the USA in 2019.

Three weeks ago the same magazine dedicated 14 pages in a special pull-out on the threat China posed to the rest of the world (actually it was the USA in particular)

Perhaps we are starting to have visual on the beginning of the next world war?

Wonder where Singapore will be if it happens?

Time to consider buying that getaway home in New Zealand.

The End Of America As We Know It

This is an extremely bleak outlook of the US economy.

I've been subscribing to Stansberry's free newsletters for 4-5 years now and they've always provided very good insight of the world's economics and finances to the retail investor. Too bad I haven't been compelled enough to make a paid subscription yet.

Bewarned that his assessment is very bleak. Right after reading the article I just felt like shorting the USD right away. Haha. Thankfully it's a Saturday and all the markets are closed (except the local fish market).

I always knew the US economy was going downhill, but just how bad?

Remember to read it with a pinch of salt, he does exaggerate sometimes, and don't be too tempted by his sales pitch at the bottom of the article. It's very enticing, I know. Why do you think Porter Stansberry is so respected an economist, but also such a rich man? It's from these newsletters and his books.

But then if you did PAY for the subscription, please share the revelations with me thank you :)

Read it here.

GCB

Just read the latest issue of The Edge.

Can't help but wonder what it's like to be as rich as Stephen Riady or Harry Chua. To be able to shell out millions upon millions to own so much land in Singapore, tear down the old and build something new. That's trully fulfilling their dreams and visions. Something that money definitely can buy. I wish I were that rich too.

If I wanted to buy a bungalow now, I think I'll need at least $3 million. Even to start off with the cheapest landed property (a terrace) in an accessible district I'd need at least $1.5 million.

Wonder when I can save up all that money.

Speaking of which, I think the current low interest rate environment is a HUGE money trap to alot of young Singaporeans buying property. They borrow at the maximum they can afford thinking that these low rates will stay, thereby stretching themselves on as much monthly payments they can afford, to buy the most expensive HDB/condo they think is within their means.

C'mon, the SIBOR has been hovering around 0.5-0.7% for the last year, and the average for the last 20 years has been around 3%. What are the odds that the rates will stay so low for much longer?

And when these rates start moving up, the banks will obviously revise their rates (the best fixed rate you can get is locked for 3 years max), meaning an increase in instalments. And we're talking about a very substantial increase. By then people will have problems trying to meet these payments.

So if they can't meet the payments regularly, they are forced to sell their property and downsize. When so many sellers start coming out into the market, the mass-market and affluent property sector will crash.

And because valuations drop so much, the value of people's homes drop BELOW their loan amounts. Banks have to recall their loans and request payment from clients to top up their property payments to meet Loan-to-Valuation ratios. Property prices will crash further.

Which is why it's actually a good thing to stick to HDB interest rates of 2.6% even though that may sound high. Because don't forget, your CPF is paying you 2.5% of your balance.

So keep your eyes peeled for any movement in the SIBOR!

By then, hopefully I will be ready to step into the property market :)

Champions League Draw

We take on Marseille.

Chelsea takes on Copenhagen.

Arsenal takes on Barcelona.

Tottenham takes on AC Milan.

I think we got a pretty good draw which we should win with ease. Chelsea also got lucky. Arsenal and Tottenham are going to have it extremely tough to overcome their opponents.

The draw of the round actually goes to Inter taking on Bayern, a repeat of last year's finals. Given the state of play this season from the two weakened teams, Bayern should edge this tie.

Man U to be champs!

Manchester United 1 Arsenal 0

Park Ji Sung strikes once again!

Whoot!

Top of the table with one game in hand, if we beat Chelsea next weekend, we're good enough for the title!

Anwar

Suddenly when WikiLeaks says the Singapore government sources could ascertain that Anwar poked another man's backside, all disbelieving Malaysians sit up and listen.

Looks like the fag did it guys, wake up your ideas!

Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place. Would you vote for a corrupted politician, or a bisexual one who lies through his teeth?

Manchester City Cannot Win This League Season

Ok maybe they might do it, but I sure as hell hope they don't.

1. They don't play attractive football
Making defense your primary ethos with more defensive midfielders than any other team in the EPL spells b-o-r-e-f-e-s-t.

2. There's a much better team in the same league from that city.
There's only one United.

3. Mancini irritates me because he has no control of his own dressing room.
Letting your charges constantly air their grievances, shouting at each other over substitutions, all means lack of authority. Maybe a better manager can bring out even more from the squad.

4. There's too much disharmony in the squad.
Given their current wage disparity with the rest of the league, pandering to egos are the name of the game. Which incidentally leads to less teamwork and more selfish play.

5. No one wants a money squad to win.
You win through teamwork and hard work. Assembling a stellar all star cast simply by throwing more money around than anyone can possibly fathom just reeks of arrogance and elitism. Nobody wants them to win.

The Weekend

So glad the weekend is here.

Finally can get some rest.

Been working almost 12 consecutive days.

Need to spend more time at home while I still can.

The Breakout

Anyone started watching this channel 8 drama yet?

Looks like Mediacorp is pulling out all the stops with this mega stellar cast of almost all of their famous actors and actresses.

Hope it's better than The Score.

Haha.