COE and Car Prices

(01-03-2013, 08:54 AM)CY09 Wrote: "I thought I would have got a better deal after the Chinese New Year but it looks like there is no deal now."

In fact I think I would get a better deal after the curbs since overall car prices due to COE prices are lower. Its just that I need to have cash upfront. But i have a lower loan repayments later

From value perspective, it should be a better deal after the curbs. It is likely with lower tax (COE) paid, likely faster delivery of car, likely better term of car loan etc.

Agree. Personally, i feel it should be more affordable now. Unless you are talking about luxury cars, an ok to do car should be manageable if one has savings and has planned ahead. In Singapore, we owned the car for only 10 years and if the coe is not renewed, the car will be send to the scrap yard regardless of whether it is a cheap or expensive car. An average quality and reasonable priced car is good enough for a small island like Singapore.

what i will like to see is a revival of religious studies (RS) in schools. I remembered my sister was offered the course in the 1990s and i took her buddhism books and read them when i was young. That somewhat ingrained in me that excessive materialism is no anchor for the self.

unfortunately RS has been phased out.

Ever growing debt of the youth is a problem - once you are locked in at 25 y.o, you are enslaved forever since it probably morphs into a rolling snowball overtime. How many people are constantly worrying abt their next bill payment?

I'm curious how many people actually does pay themselves after receiving their pay cheque every month or is their salary used to pay off bills, splurge on entertainment and miscellaneous?

Leaving ego aside, isn't it hiring tax service = owning a car + chauffeur ?

I recalled my GM taking taxi to work everyday, instead of owning a car for years. He seems has a long term service engagement with the same taxi driver.

Seemed DBS vehicle has increased to 3.xx% today.. vs other banks still at 1.xx% range..

(01-03-2013, 09:31 AM)AlphaQuant Wrote: what i will like to see is a revival of religious studies (RS) in schools. I remembered my sister was offered the course in the 1990s and i took her buddhism books and read them when i was young. That somewhat ingrained in me that excessive materialism is no anchor for the self.

I went through RS (buddhism) during my sec school days. But that topic didnt really help me think much about materialism. I think its family values that is more important than RS. I am glad you got enlightened by RS.

(01-03-2013, 09:51 AM)kang Wrote: I'm curious how many people actually does pay themselves after receiving their pay cheque every month or is their salary used to pay off bills, splurge on entertainment and miscellaneous?

I've been practising that (in bold) for a number of years already. It's called "Paying Yourself First".

> pay themselves after receiving their pay cheque every month or is their salary used to pay off bills,
> splurge on entertainment and miscellaneous?

It's actually not difficult to do this.

Step 1: Find out how much goes into where?
Step 2: FInd out, is it a Need or a Want?

If money not enough, or want to save more, I ask myself:

a. Breakfast - Breadtalk Bread vs Fairprice Wholemeal Loaf + Pork Floss self service
b. Coffee - $1.00 kopi (not toastbox) or $6 for half kg kopi, brew yourself
c. Lunch - Food court ($5) or kopitiam / hawker centre (if available)

Small things add to big...

(01-03-2013, 02:50 PM)Musicwhiz Wrote:

(01-03-2013, 09:51 AM)kang Wrote: I'm curious how many people actually does pay themselves after receiving their pay cheque every month or is their salary used to pay off bills, splurge on entertainment and miscellaneous?

I've been practising that (in bold) for a number of years already. It's called "Paying Yourself First".

I'm quite surprised that quite a handful of people does not practise this. This should be the way to start one's savings.

So I'm not surprised that when contingency arises, people revert to complaining money not enough.

It really also depends whether the money used is for needs or wants. Sometimes people get confused over needs and wants. The wants become a need. And hence the cycle repeats.