Come on a journey with me to achieve a positive mindset and going on a path to financial freedom! Share with me your experiences too!
In this blog, I will go on to show you tips and simple steps to help you feel good and positive about yourself and take charge of your life, as well as show you how one can improve your finances and ways to get out of the rat race.
I hope to help more people see life with more optimism, and be inspired to work towards becoming financially free and happy!
By the way, the FWD maid Insurance is one of the lowest priced & has the best value in the market!
Buy your FWD Insurance such as your maid, travel, motorcycle, car, home, personal accident, health or term life insurances through my link and get even more discounts!
“We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like.
― Dave Ramsey
It really makes you put back your focus on what you really want in life. Whether it is financial freedom, early retirement or having great relationships with your family and friends. There is no need to impress people. Just be focused on your goals and add value to others. :)
This is an awesome Must-Read article for couples (just attached or married for years). We want our passive income to last us forever, as much as we want our marriage to. Check out the article! Cheers! 👍
If wealth and happiness are what you desire, follow the below steps that ouline Kenneth's noble and encouraging philosophy of financial success.
1) Develop A Mindset of Accumulation
Some people attain their wealth while displaying poor character traits, such as selfishness, which has lead to the widely held belief that a person must be self-serving -- and perhaps aggressive -- to become affluent. But there are wealthy people who give to and care about others, and selfishness is not inextricably linked to affluence.
Kenneth believes that what truly helps a person become wealthy is a mindset of accumulation. The mindset of accumulation acts as an engine that propels a person forward in his or her quest for financial success. It is a foundational principle for a person who wants to become wealthy. Without it, a person's assets will either stagnate or even begin to dwindle.
The good news is that the desire for more does not need to cancel out the desire to help people or to be fair: You can give back to your community and be a kind, caring person as you accumulate your wealth. In fact, as your mindset of accumulation helps you become more successful, your ability to help those in need will increase, too.
2) Use The Word "WANT", Not "Need"
As humans, we have an uncanny ability to ignore our needs, but our desires and wants can spur us into action with great speed.
For example, think about how often a person might postpone a task at work that should be completed as soon as possible. Or think about how easy it is to become sleep-deprived by ignoring the body's need for sleep.
On the other hand, when a person wants something, there's action. A desire could be something that requires work, like starting a business or losing ten pounds. It could also be something pleasurable, like going on vacation or out to dinner with your partner.
The point is: If you need to do something, you might do it. If you want to do something, chances are you will do it. To maintain a mentality of building up wealth, then, it is important to want to accumulate wealth.
This linguistic technicality means that a mindset of accumulation must operate on the fuel of "wants." Instead of saying "I need to earn more," we should say, "I want to earn more," because it is the urgency of wanting that keeps our mindset of accumulation running on all cylinders.
3) Know How To Accumulate Money
On the road to wealth, wanting is important -- but it's not enough. A person must first want to earn more and then also know how to earn money.
Knowing how to accumulate money is one of the most difficult challenges, because each person's approach to earning is as unique as his or her own combination of personality, creativity, passions and skills.
To start, use your imagination and ask yourself: What creative business strategies can I develop to earn money? Or, what employment can I seek to help me earn?
4) Know How To Retain Money
There are people who were once rich but became poor because of their lack of ability to retain their wealth. This means that once you've managed to accumulate earnings, you need to be able to keep -- and ideally grow -- your money. You'll need to ask yourself: How can I manage my wealth in the smartest way? What can I do to reinvest my earnings and increase my money?
5) Acquire Knowledge And Resources
People who become wealthy may or may not complete a formal higher education, but they often enhance their skill sets through study.
Acquiring knowledge is another type of accumulation mindset.
Knowledge could mean learning how to manage resources, such as time and money -- or anything you can use to advance or to make accomplishments.
Pursuing specific knowledge can translate into great learning potential, and knowing how to use resources is very significant in building wealth.
6) Plan For The Future
The mindset of accumulation is focused on actionable, forward-thinking. If you want to be wealthy, you need to plan ahead and look forward toward the future.
While the past is useful because we can look back on our mistakes, it's crucial not to get caught up in what you "could have" or "should have" done. Instead, take the lessons you've learned with you, and implement what you've learned into your plans for the future.
To get where you want to go, you will need to glance at the rearview mirror every now and then. Just remember to concentrate on the road ahead, first and foremost.
7) Be Logical
To grow your wealth, you will need to think logically and rationally. Kenneth says there's no "hocus-pocus" in earning money, but rather a "purposeful understanding and desire" to reach a certain level that is promoted with rational thought. Put simply, this means that superstitions should be set aside. Choose to rely on clear-headed thinking to make decisions as you strive toward meeting your desires.
8) Be Efficient
You might say that, in some ways, the smartest rich people are "lazy". What does this mean? It means that these smart people find productive ways of getting things done. So, if they don't have to do something themselves, they will use shortcuts, formulas, strategies and delegation -- all of which are methods of productivity.
Figure out which tasks you can outsource to maximize your time and ability to accumulate your wealth, and remember that the road to wealth isn't just about working hard. It's about being efficient.
Credits:
The article is obtained from Kenneth Kam's Kenn Magazine by Kenn Organisation.
The steps image is obtained from spotmold.com .
The purse image is obtained from Colourbox.com .
For The Budget, Thrifty and maybe Kiasu Moms/Mothers in Singapore! Get Your Free Essential Baby Stuff and Samples NOW!
Hi Everyone,
It has been an amazing and interesting journey over the past one year, where I got married, delivered a baby girl and staying happily under one roof in a 4-room HDB flat. Life takes a new turn, from being single for pretty long, to now becoming a mother. Oh gosh! What a big change! And now I'm also on a hunt for baby freebies in S'pore like many other typical mums I guess!😀
So, here's the deal! I have done some research, registered for some baby samples, received them and below are some of the deals that were found. By the way, baby formula milk given out free will only be for infants 6 months old and above.
"Today, the Sale of Infant Foods Ethics Committee, Singapore (SIFECS)Code of Ethics covers the ethical aspects of marketing and promotion of breast milk substitutes and already restricts advertising, marketing and promotion of infant formula for infants below six months in Singapore. SIFECS will, in the third quarter of 2017, extend the coverage of the Code to all infant formula for infants up to 12 months of age. It is also reviewing its Code in line with international best practices."
So because of these crazy sky-high formula milk prices that increased over the years, our government has sprung into action and by the end of 2017, you probably be getting lesser free formula milk. What the heck, quickly sign up for your free gifts now!
But if your little one is still below 6 mths old or still in your tummy, you could still apply for and get some free stuff! Start by getting some maternal supplements for yourself! Some websites require you to create your userID and password, which I indicated below. But most sites usually don't require log-in. Check it out now!
Find The Most Complete List of Free Baby Sample Freebies in SG Here! Totally Free Baby Stuff!
Free Nutritional Maternal Supplements for Pregnant, Expecting or Breastfeeding Mothers!
- Friso - http://shop.friso.com.sg/english/sampleproduct/sampleproduct/view . There is the Frisomum. - Dumex - http://www.dumex.com.sg/ . Get your Free sample Mamil Mama. You gotta register for your login name and password. - S-26, under Wyeth Nutrition - https://www.wyethnutrition.com.sg/en/free-samples . There are the S-26 MAMA and Enercal Plus. - Similac, Abbott - http://abbottfamily.com.sg/campaigns/free-samples . There is the Similac Mum. - Anmum - https://www.anmum.com/sg/en/contactus/sample-request.html . They have Lacta (for nursing moms) and Materna (for pregnant or women planning for pregnancy). - New!Little Treasure Infant Formula (Made in Australia) - https://littletreasure.com.sg/
.You can get free samples for pregnancy stage and there is even milk sample for the adults and elderly called Seniors Formula, that are rich in proteins, calcium with multivitamins and mineral nutrients. However, there is a one-time flat
delivery charge/fee of $10 per trip. So get all the samples at one go and pay the
flat fee only once. Sorry they replied me that they no longer offer milk samples anymore. But you can still check out the Pregnancy and Seniors Formula Milk. - Nestle - https://www.starthealthy.nestle.com.sg/ . You can register for the Nestle Baby Club membership here. Sign up to enjoy member benefits worth $388 of giveaways. For new moms, they will give you a New Mommy Bag, with MOM & me sample pack inside, together with other goodies (worth $250). When the baby is 6 to 7 months old, you will receive a Weaning Bag (worth $88) of goodies. Moreover, you will receive $50 product vouchers in your monthly e-mailers or goodie bags.
Free Baby Formula Milk Samples (usually it will be for infants 6 months old and above)
- Friso- http://shop.friso.com.sg/english/sampleproduct/sampleproduct/view . There is the Frisolac Gold Stage 2 (after 6 mths), Stage 3 (1 yr onwards), Stage 4 (3 yrs onwards), Milk Cereal (for 6 mths onwards to help baby start on solid food). - Dumex - http://www.dumex.com.sg/requestsample. In their Mamil Gold Series, they have 3 types of Step 2 Formula (6mths and up), and 1 type of Step 3 Formula (for age 1 to 3 years). - S-26, under Wyeth Nutrition - https://www.wyethnutrition.com.sg/en/free-samples . There are the Promil Gold (6 mths to 1 year), Progress Gold (for 1 to 3 yrs), Promise Gold (for 3 years of age and above), Picky Eater Gold (for picky eateres aged 1 to 12 yrs old). - Similac, Isomil, Grow Abbott - http://abbottfamily.com.sg/campaigns/free-samples . There are 11 types of formula milk for babies and kids ranging from 6 months all the way up to 12 years old. Too many to list each one of them here. Grow Stage 2 and Stage 3 Sample direct link https://abbottfamily.com.sg/campaigns/05711ACD-0262-438A-AA0C-D98684989D84 - NAN, Nestle - https://www.starthealthy.nestle.com.sg/samples . You can get the free samples of NAN OPTIPRO GRO 3 and H.A. 3 (for 1 year and up), and Cerelac infant cereals (for 6 months to 1 year). - Aptamil, AptaAdvantage - http://www.aptaadvantage.com.sg/register . You will get a free Discovery pack 900g sample of Aptamil products (for children 6 months to 6 years old). - Karihome Goat's Milk Formula - http://karihome.com.sg/req-sample.html . You can get the Follow-on formula (7 - 12 mths) and Growing Up formula (1 - 3 years). - Enfamil/Enfagrow, Mead Johnson - http://www.enfagrow.com.sg/register/sample . Register when you are pregnant or your kid is 6 months and above. - New! Einmilk - http://www.einmilk.com/sample.php . You can get Einmilk Stage 2 and Stage 3. - New! Little Treasure Infant Formula (Made in Australia) - https://littletreasure.com.sg/ .You can get free samples for Stage 2, 3 and 4. But there is a flat delivery charge/fee of $10. So get all the samples at one go and pay the flat fee only once.Sorry they replied me that they no longer offer milk samples anymore. But you could still go check out the Australia Milk from Stage 1 to Stage 4.
- Cradle of Love Goodie Bag - https://www.cradleoflove.sg/ ; https://www.facebook.com/cradleoflovesg . It is supported by Great Eastern, so an insurance agent will call you to deliver the goodie bag to you. - NTUC FairPrice FairMily Kit (worth up to $100) - http://www.ntucgoodstart.sg . It is for families with Singapore citizen babies born between 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2019. You can register as soon as you have your baby, but for parents with children under the age of six months old, do note that the redemption card will be sent to you only after your child is six months' old. You also get a complimentary one-year Health Insurance Coverage for your baby from NTUC Income. If you have requested to be contacted by Income, an Income adviser will be in touch within the next two weeks to help you register your baby for Standard or Enhanced IncomeShield. - Nestle Baby Club Membership (worth $388) - https://www.starthealthy.nestle.com.sg/ . I mentioned about it earlier in this post. Details above. - Abbott Family (worth up to $400) - http://abbottfamily.com.sg/campaigns/join-abbott-family .
By the way, if you happen to find out about more freebies, do let me know. You can comment here too. I will input it in the post, so that more people can benefit from it! Cheers!😍💗
For the Average Singapore Investor: What should the Size of your Wealth/Retirement Fund be? What is the Rate of Return from your Wealth Machines? Find Out how you can mathematically calculate your sums.
This concept was taken from either a book or a website, but unable to credit the exact source to due to unable to recall as it was quite a while back.
I will put it in a Singapore context/ SG context for more relevant understanding.
As an average investor, do we know how much a retirement sum is sufficient for us to go to retire comfortably through our golden years? Some of us may not be too sure, or may not have a valid retirement figure/sum to stand by. Below is a guideline to help you to figure out how much you need to have before you can probably call it quits at your miserable work and have the cashflow to do things/work that is much more meaningful to you.
Eventually, at the end of this article, we will finally understand how much money is required in our Wealth Fund in order to achieve our Financial Independence (FI) through simple mathematical calculation in 2 steps.
The Size of Your Wealth Fund depends on a few factors:
- Your Annual Expenses
- Your Wealth Machine Rate of Return (ROR)
- Inflation Rate, e.g. 3%
Wealth Machines could come in the form of:
- Fixed Deposit accounts
- Trading accounts
- Savings/ Endowments
- Properties
- Businesses
- Royalty
Step 1: Let's say that your retirement lifestyle requires $6,000 per month.
Therefore in one year, you will need $6,000 x 12 months = $72,000 per year.
Wealth Fund required in FI (to fund a $6k/mth lifestyle)
= Total amount required per year divided by Rate of Return to generate cash flow in FI
Wealth Fund required in FI (to fund a $6k/mth lifestyle)
= $72,000/4%p.a.
= $1,800,000
Step 2:Rate of Return (ROR) of the Wealth Machine
= ROR to generate cashflow in FI + ROR to keep up with inflation
= 4% + 3%
= 7% p.a.
A rough guideline would be, for every $1,000/month in returns/payout, you will need about $300,000 of assets in your investments to support that monthly income.
Your assets should not exceed 15% in high volatility instruments, e.g. stocks.
The unpredictability of inflation ==> One can't really predict inflation as it is somewhat a function of the political climate. That is why the most appropriate instrument are those that does better in an inflationary scenario, such as TIPS in the US, which are inflation indexed bonds that track the level of inflation, and in Singapore context, it could be CPF, value of properties which moves with the inflation rate.
One word of caution: It is not about randomly finding any financial instruments and randomly investing. No it doesn't work that way. One needs to be careful with their investments and invest wisely. Be careful of mutual funds/hedge funds etc that charges high commissions and fees, which could eat into your capital and cause you to have losses instead of gains.
Investing the Right Way: Investing and choosing in the right stocks or right properties could further expedite your process in reaching your Financial Independence or Financial Freedom.
If you are keen to know how to invest well in stocks and REITs, you might be interested to attend this free investing workshop http://bit.ly/1TCWyqg .
If you have signed up for the workshop, do drop me a comment or message here, so that I can followup with you to ensure that your investments produce results. All the best in your investing journey! Cheers!
Do not get yourself confused with the difference between "feeling good" and "being happy".
Many people feel good smoking, but in actuality they are not happy. Many people who exercise don't feel good while doing it but they are happy because they know that this is a beneficial activity.
I believe we all aim to have a happy life. However, happiness can be tricky which might need time & effort. Instead of looking for happiness, people tend to indulge in things that make them "feel good". "Feeling good" is superficial, e.g. buying an expensive designer handbag might make you "feel good"to show it off. But it doesn't create lasting happiness.
It's not that we cannot do things to make ourselves feel good. But we shouldn't indulge ourselves to escape from the fact that we are not happy. If we are not happy with our lives, we need to look within ourselves and find out the root cause of the unhappiness.
Striving for Meaning in Life - Reasons Why We Should Strive to Find Meaning in Our Lives
Below is an except of an article from The Straits Times.
Many people who are saddened or disquieted by a nagging sense that life in general, or their own lives in particular, lack meaning. The Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Victor Frankl believed that a sense of meaning and purpose is essential to mental well-being.
His experiences in the Nazi concentration camps during World War II, along with his professional dealings with scores of depressed and suicidal men and women, convinced him that without a deeply felt sense of purpose, even the most comfortable lives can feel sad and empty.
But if there exists such a sense of purpose, even the most outwardly wretched lives can feel worthwhile.
Value Investing in REITs by Attlee Hue Book Review and Summary
Value Investing in REITs book review:
Basically this book provides facts and figures comparison about REITs in Singapore. It will be good if you like numbers and understand how the various ratios relate to one another. Below is a summarised version which I find useful.
Summary of Value Investing in REITs book:
If I want maximum yield, I will go for REITs that generate highest yield at the expense of capital appreciation.
CapitaMall Trust and CapitaCommercial Trust, both have healthy capital appreciation and some yield.
Office REIT more cyclical and you will want a higher yield to compensate for this fluctuation.
Singapore retail REITs as being safest types of REITs. Industrial REITs are highly cyclical and you want higher yield to compensate for these cycles.
What does RevPar mean in the reports?
It stands for hotel revenue per available room.
Healthcare REITs like FirstREIT and Parkway Life REIT, have long-term leases but low capital appreciation.
Value Investors usually pay for REIT at price less than NAV.
Property Yield = Net Property Income x 100% / Property Valuation
A REIT may report a loss but this loss is really a book value loss, therefore it could still distribute returns to Unitholders.
Attlee will not invest in REITs with gearing more than 50%. The additional yield cannot be worth the risk.
If the gearing ratio (aka Debt to Equity Ratio) is more than 35%, check the credit rating of the REIT. Under Property Fund Guidelines of the CIS Code, aggregate leverage should not exceed 35% of the deposited property without a credit rating. This is because the total assets of the REIT may have depreciated resulting in the gearing exceeding 35%. Under this circumstance, the REIT need not obtain a credit rating but must cease any further borrowings.
Some of the credit agencies include Moody's, S&P and Fitch.
REIT Manager Pedigree
All REIT Managers in Singapore are incorporated companies. These manager companies themselves have their board of directors and shareholders. Not all the manager companies have the same parental pedigree. It is often helpful to find out who their shareholders are. You draw much comfort if the managers are owned by a substantial entity like Temasek or Capitaland or City Development. Often these same shareholders of the manager are also the largest unitholders of the REIT. This is not unexpected because often the REIT was formed in the first place by these companies moving their property assets into the REIT and then listing them.
In a financial crisis where the REIT has to raise funds to pay down its loans, a REIT manager financially well supported by a strong shareholder or a "big brother" can underwrite the rights issue. If the controlling unitholder of a REIT is a financially weak player, the REIT would be unlikely to undertake a rights issue.
It is better in the long run to opt for a REIT with a high property yield. As an inflation hedge, the larger the portfolio size, the closer the capital gains will track the inflation rate affecting the economy as a whole.
Before reaching any quick conclusion on gearing alone to consider other relevant indicators associated with the level of borrowing. This includes the credit rating, interest cover, amount of short term loan (due within the year), whether any loans are in default and even blended average cost of debt. Interest cover is how many times the earnings of the company for the year exceeds the interest payable for that year.
Avoid REITs whose REIT manager are not well-known. The challenge for REIT investors is not to identify REITs that will not come down when the market does since this is not possible. It is rather to identify REITs that will recover its price when the market eventually gets over the cycle and in the meantime continue to pay a consistent yield to its investors.
Investors Returns on the REITs = Distributions for the year (aka Dividends) / Value of REIT (aka Share Price of REIT)
Price Earnings Ratio (PE Ratio) are not used as valuation, because earnings of a REIT are often distorted by the annual property revaluations.
Value Investors Quick Tips
- Singapore retail REITs as being safest types of REITs.
- Value Investors usually pay for REIT at price less than NAV.
- Refrain from investing in REITs with gearing more than 50%.
- It is better in the long run to opt for a REIT with a high property yield
- Price Earnings Ratio (PE Ratio) are not used as valuation.
- Other factors to consider other than Gearing (aka Debt/Equity Ratio), are credit rating, interest cover, amount of short term loan, any default loan.
- Use Property Yields and Return on Equity (ROE) for comparisons if the numbers are fairly consistent.
How Singapore became a rich & successful country & how you can learn from it, apply to yourself & become rich & successful too!
The Short Singapore Reserves Story
We know that the Singapore government reserves have about $500 billion from foreign reserves managed by MAS & Temasek portfolio (obtained from MOF website http://203.211.150.164/cms-mof/reserves.aspx). But this amount still does not include government funds managed by GIC (not revealed). But we hearsay that it's probably about $1 trillion...well it could be more, but we don't know since it's undisclosed. Even so, the government is taking only about $79.9 billion for expenses in FY2015 (obtained from http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/singapore-budget-2015-parliament-passes-record-799-billi). Probably about 8% or less of its total assets, & part of these expenses will contribute to even more returns for Singapore, e.g. Changi Airport development. Looking at GIC & Temasek portfolio returns, which are at between 7%-15% pa returns. Singapore is very conservative & basically spending only its interests earned on its assets.
The Strategy
Simply put, Singapore has a big mother goose (reserves & assets), that lays golden eggs (its interests & returns earned), but the government only spends the interest, & contribute the excess back to the mother goose. As long as one doesn't kill the mother goose or slowly eat up the assets, the golden eggs will keep coming.
Thus, my goal is to build my mother goose assets & only eat the golden eggs. That way I'll never have to worry about not having another paycheck, & that's when I'll be financially free. Yeah!
The Reality
Sadly, some of my friends & colleagues around me does not have growing assets. They live from paycheck to paycheck, which is very risky. Thus it seems to me, that they are far from being able to achieve their financial freedom. There would be those who make more money than me, but they probably not be able retire earlier than me due to their poor spending habits. On the other side, I do know of people who earn more than me, and invest better & more strategically than I do. These are the people who I prefer to mix with & learn more from.
The Takeaways
It definitely takes discipline to live humbly & conservatively at the beginning and practise delayed gratification, this is so that one can grow their assets sooner, & eventually never have to worry about not having the next paycheck for the rest of your life.
When talking about financial planning, insurance planning & investing, I do have much interests in it. I have picked up some skills and strategies in these areas over the years. It's important to me because it concerns my future. Just like how the government manages Singapore's reserves.
Logical Reasons To Show You Why You Can Still Put Your Retirement Savings into The Stock Market & Not Fear for it to be Wiped Out
The article is written by Teh Hooi Ling, an ex-The Straits Times newspaper writer, author was a multi-award winning investment columnist in Singapore who is now a partner in Aggregate Asset Management, manager of a no-management fee Asia value fund. There were some calculations done to prove to you that by entering at market tops, even after major crisis, as long as you do not cash out the entire portfolio at the market bottom, chances are you would see your portfolio recover back up, and probably giving you even more returns. The Straits Times Index (STI) was used as a proxy for how an all-equities portfolio would have performed. I have re-blog it here below.
The below information are credited to http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2014/04/26/Safe-instruments-for-retirement-myth/
In the field of investment, one wisdom often purveyed is that of life-cycle investing. The theory goes that young people should be more aggressive in their investments, i.e. they should allocate a higher proportion of their portfolios to equities for long-term compounding effect to take place. But as a person nears retirement age, the person should cut exposure to equities and hold more portfolios in bonds and cash.
This makes intuitive sense. Equity prices are more volatile than fixed income instruments, and unlike the latter, there is no assurance of regular pay-outs from equities. As such, it would be “safer” for retirees, who are dependent on their life savings for their daily expenses, to park their money in a less volatile portfolio. What if the retirees had their entire life savings in equities, and saw their portfolio diminish to less than half during the global financial crisis in 2008? That would be a nightmare scenario, wouldn’t it?
This scenario is likely to be most vivid when the stock market crash is at its worst. At that point, we see in our minds retirees with their wealth halved compared to the pre-crisis level. “Poor things!” we’d think. “That’s why retirees shouldn’t put all their nest eggs in the stock market.”
But do you know that the market recovers even from the worst of crises. As long as the retirees don’t panic and cash out the entire portfolio at the bottom of the market, there is a good chance that they would see their portfolio recover.
We did a stress test on an all-equities portfolio at each of the previous market peaks in the Singapore market going as far back as 1973. Let’s assume that there were seven retirees.
Each retired with S$1mil and decided to put the entire sum into the stock market. The bull markets at the time of their retirement gave them confidence that the stock market was a good place to keep their savings. So each of them plonked their S$1mil into the market on the last day of 1972, 1981 1983, 1989, 1996, 1999 and 2007. And each wanted to withdraw 5% from that S$1mil, or S$50,000 a year, to pay for their living expenses.
As it turned out, the years that the seven retirees put their money into the market were the years of market peaks. Soon after, major crashes or market corrections took place.
Can the S$1mil equities portfolio last them till today?
Financial crisis
Well, six out of the seven portfolios did. The initial S$1mil portfolios were worth between S$738,000 and S$3.2mil as at end-2013. For the person who retired at end-1981 with S$1mil invested entirely in the Singapore stock market, her portfolio as at the end of last year was worth S$3.2mil. This was after she withdrew S$50,000 a year for the last 32 years for a total of S$1.6mil from the portfolio.
As for the person who retired on the eve of the Asian financial crisis, her portfolio as at end of last year was worth S$1.5mil. And in the intervening years, she had taken out S$850,000 to spend.
From the table above, you can see that the two who retired on the eve of the two most recent market crashes – the dotcom bubble burst in 2000 and the global financial crisis in 2008 – still had S$738,000 and S$758,000 in their portfolios respectively.
At 5% withdrawal rate, the lowest the six retirees’ portfolios ever fell to was S$417,000. That was for the person who retired at the peak of the dotcom bubble. But as long as there is still money in the market, there is a chance of recovery.
The only retiree whose portfolio didn’t survive was the one who put her money into the market during the massive 1973 bubble in the Singapore market. At that time, according to data from Thomson Datastream, the Singapore index was trading at a price-earnings ratio of 35 times.
It was the time when OCBC was trading at S$50 a share and Metro was at S$26. In other words, there was a massive bubble in the Singapore market at that time.
At a 5% withdrawal rate, her money was depleted by end-1983. But if she had reduced her withdrawal rate to 3%, i.e. take out S$30,000 instead of S$50,000 a year to spend, she would have survived the numerous crashes that followed and she would still have an equities portfolio of S$848,000 as at end of last year.
For the above calculations, we use the Thomson Datastream calculated Straits Times Index as a proxy for how an all-equities portfolio would have performed. Dividends are added to the portfolio. No transaction costs are taken into account. The portfolios are valued once a year on Dec 31, and withdrawals are done on that day as well.
I couldn’t find Malaysian market data that go as far back. But investors here will be happy to note that over the long term, the Malaysian equities market tend to outperform the Singapore market. So the results above are applicable to Malaysia, with an even greater buffer. And if one is able to construct a portfolio of stocks that can outperform the market index over time, then there is an even greater margin of safety.
So what are the main takeaways from the above study?
Chances of an all-equities portfolio being wiped out at a withdrawal rate of 5% a year is minimal under normal market conditions. The exception is when someone buys into the market at the peak of a massive bubble, as was the case in 1973. (For readers who would like to stress-test their retirement funds over various cycles in the US going as far back as 1871, you can go check out the website <www.firecalc.com>.)
Rough ride
Another noteworthy point is that as long as the portfolio is not decimated, and so long as the money stays invested in the market, there is a good chance of recovery given time. But admittedly, the ride can be quite rough at times. The portfolio can plunge by half in a year. The key is to hang on tight.
So the upshot is that one who has S$1mil can safely withdraw S$50,000 a year to fund one’s retirement for as long as one lives, and still leaves an estate for one’s children if one puts the entire sum in the equities market.
Time to say goodbye to perpetuals, annuities and bonds – which usually form the core of a retirement portfolio!
But there is one very important caveat here. The equities portfolio must be made up of a diversified basket of stocks of real businesses, and purchased at cheap or fair prices which are not likely to result in a significant permanent loss of capital. Buying into speculative stocks which have scant business prospects and at way overvalued prices, is a sure-fire way for one to outlive that S$1mil in the shortest possible time.
The author was a multi-award winning investment columnist in Singapore who is now a partner in Aggregate Asset Management, manager of a no-management fee Asia value fund.
Hi all, This article, Plight of the 'sophisticated investor', published on 27 June 2014 in The Straits Times, written by a typical investor in Singapore who has invested part of his savings in endowment insurance policies for the last 20 years, only to find out that his "profits were just a tiny fraction of what was projected 20 years ago".
Read the article, and I guess most of you will find that getting an insurance to grow your savings will sound like a scam to you. Maybe it doesn't sound that bad as Genneva gold, gold guarantee or Profitable plots scams, where you can't even get your money back.
But anyway you were still smoked by these insurance companies "rosy projections", only to find out that you were cheated of your feelings when you received miserable returns on your investment 20 years later. Moreover if you want to take out your funds midway through the insurance plan, you might even have to suffer some losses or negative returns.
This sounds to me like... if you want to grow your money or nest egg, do not put it in insurance!
I would rather put my funds into stocks, property or the STI ETF. Even putting your funds into STI ETF through OCBC, POSB or Phillip share builder plan to do dollar cost averaging (DCA) over the longer term, could give you better returns than unit trusts, plus you can liquidate it within a few days without penalty. But if you invest too small an amount monthly, the fees that you are paying for will not be worth it.
Investing into the right stocks & properties for yourself also require investment knowledge in these areas which we should continuously learn and find out if you do want to properly manage your own funds.
Finally, I guess I wouldn't be opening any new endowment plans any time soon. I would rather put in other investment vehicles that I understand and have more control over my investments. But one should not be complacent as it too comes with more responsibility. But it is not too hard to do as well.
Also importantly, do make sure you have sufficient insurance plans to cover your basic needs such as hospitalisation, critical illness & disability plans. You would not want any unforeseen circumstances to wipe off your hard-earned savings & investment returns.
On another note, there is no need to over-protect, or over-cover yourself by paying huge premiums which I realised that some of my friends do. This could result in yourself having not enough left to invest in your financial future. There are ways to calculate how much you really do need to insure yourself.
Make sure you leave the rest of the money to work harder for you, which you can already start to do at any age whether you are young or old, by taking a step at a time.
This is a pretty good video about the 8 traits successful people have in common. You may be...
NOT Smart
NOT Talented
NOT Lucky
NOT Privileged
NOT Beautiful
NOT Popular
NOT an Achiever
NOT Likely to Succeed
and you still could succeed! (Sounds good to me..=D) After Ten years of research and five hundred face-to-face-interviews, basically this is the summary.
Passion - Love what you do!
Work - Really Hard!
Focus on One Thing - Not everything.
Push - keep pushing yourself
Ideas - Come up with good ideas
Improve - Keep improving yourself in what you do
Serve others something of value - because success is not about me, me, me.
Persist - because there is no overnight success
This 8 traits are the Heart & Foundation of Success. Then on top of it, you build specific skills for a field or career
Free Motorcycle Parking, FOC Motorbike Bike Parking in Singapore
Credit: http://sgwiki.com/wiki/Motorcycle_Parking
*Note: The list is quite long, so if you want to search for a particular location, you may click Ctrl+F to start a search function, and do a quick search of locations and parking from this website.
*If you spot any of the motorcycle parking locations that have changed to paid parking, or if you spot new Free/FOC parking locations, do comment or feedback on it, then we can help more of our motorbiking buddies know about it too.
Downtown East (ground floor FOC; limited lots - park on pavement at your own risk)
EMC (3 Changi Business Park Vista S486051)
Environment Building, 40 Scotts Rd (a dozen lots in the open air carpark)
Esplanade
Fuji Xerox Towers
Gateway Building
German Centre (@ International Business Park)
Great Eastern Centre (Pickering Street)
Great World City Office Building
Guthrie House (@ Fifth Avenue)
Harbourlink
Health Promotion Board
HortPark (@ Hyderabad Rd)
Informatics Education
Inland Revenue House (park @ b3 or b4)
JTC Summit
KA Centre
King Albert Park McDonald's
Keppel Digihub (Serangoon North Ave 5)
Keppel Distripark
Laguna Park (Pte Estate)
Lippo Centre
Mapletree Business City
Marina Barrage
Maxwell Food Centre (free after 2200hrs)
Mountbatten Square
Mount Faber (Go to hilltop find a empty space to park)
National Museum Of Singapore (Bike Lots located before the Carpark Gantry on the right, Carpark Warden at the booth will direct you to park behind the building)
Novena Square (bike parking lots the loading bay)
Old School at 11 Mount Sophia
Orchard Grand Court
Orion Building (Tamiya and Yamaha showroom)
Prudential @ Scotts (Newton) - entrance at Bukit Timah Road
PSA Building (460 Alexandra Road) - Go around to the back of the MSCP. There's a sign motorcycle lots.
Punggol Marina Country Club
Riverside Square (Limited)
Roxy Square opp PParade (lots at the back of the building, no indication of coupons needed)
SAFRA Toa Payoh & Yishun
SAFRA Jurong
Science Centre
Shell house
SGX Centre
SIM HQ (no charge at exit)
Singapore Art Museum (limited lots, free only for guests to the museum & outlets)
Singapore EXPO
Singapore Islamic Hub (Braddell)
Singapore Post Centre
Singapore Mandai Zoo
Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee HQ (1 Kay Siang Rd)
SLF Building (Enter via Thomson Road) [Limited Lots]
Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Tampines Concourse (Lot 11, a new building by CDL)
Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal
The Alpha (Science Park)
The Chevrons
The Concourse
The Rutherford @ Science Park
Thomson Imperial Court
Tradehub 21
Turf City
Shopping Malls/Centres
Amara Shopping Centre (No longer free. See 100AM below.)
Anchorpoint
Balestier Plaza
Beauty World Shopping Centre
Bukit Timah Plaza
Centrepoint (bikes normally super packed) No more free motor bike parking at Centrepoint.
Central @ clarke quay (Don't go up the slope to the MSCP. Follow the Taxi sign and follow the motorcycle lane to pass the barrier.)
Central Mall (basement carpark)
Coronation Plaza Shopping Centre
Concorde Shopping Centre (Havelock)
Concorde Hotel Shopping Mall (formerly Le Meridien Shopping Centre)
Eastpoint Shopping Mall (Limited)
Far East Square
Furniture Mall
Golden Wall Centre
Great World City
Greenwich V
Hougang Point
Hougang Green Shopping Mall
IKEA (alexandra; tampines)
IMM (Toh Guan Road)
Katong Mall
Kembangan Plaza
Liang Court (Go up to the multi-storey CP. No entry for basement CP)
Marina Square
Merchant Square (next to Central Square)
Millenia Walk
Park Mall
Mustafa Shopping Center
Parkway Parade
Punggol Plaza
Suntec City
Tampines Mart
Tampines Mega Malls (Ikea, Giant and Courts)
Tampines Point
Tanglin Mall
Ten Mile Junction
Triple One Somerset (NO LONGER FREE from 01 Apr 2013)
The Verge (formerly known as Tekka Mall)
Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre
UE Square Shopping Mall (no entry to Carpark B. Go to Carpark A - parking area is just past the barriers at the bottom of the slope)
Valley Point
Hotels/Resorts/Chalets
Carlton Hotel (park @ B2)
Changi Village Hotel (Formerly Le Meridien Changi)
Costa Sands East Coast (weekdays free; weekends $1)
Costa Sand Pasir Ris
Conrad Hotel - basement with marked lots
Copthorne King Hotel (no marked lots)
Copthorne Orchid (Dunearn Road)
Furama Hotel
Furama RiverFront Hotel (Full barrier but can there's gaps in the centre kerb to bypass)
Gallery Hotel (only got 2 proper bike lots in B1)
Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel (no marked lots; enter by King's Centre)
Grand Park City Hall
Holiday Inn Atrium (Outram Road)
Hotel 81 (and most other budget hotels)
Hotel Miramar
Hotel Rendezvous (hotel guests only; treacherously tight carpark)
Hotel Royal (Newton)
M Hotel
Pan Pacific Hotel (same CP as Marina Square)
Park Royal Hotel (Beach Road) (Free parking behind - don't go up the Furniture Mall mscp)
Orchard Hotel (B2, look for motorcycle parking sign)
Raffles Hotel Basement (Enter from Seah Street)
Riverside Hotel
Robertson Quay Hotel (Limited)
Sheraton Hotel
Shangri-La (Valley Wing entrance)
Swissotel Merchant Court
Traders Hotel Shangri-la
The Regent Singapore (lots of bike park at B2)
The Ritz-Carlton (not charged at ERP gantry)
Country Clubs
Jurong Country Club
Keppel Country Club (Visitors Carpark)
NSRCC
Polo Club
Seletar Country Club (Designated Bike lots)
Singapore Recreation Club
The Legends @ Fort Canning
Warren Golf and Country Club (workers bike lots)
Hospitals
Ang Mo Kio Community Hospital
Camden Medical Centre
Changi General Hospital
Communicable Disease Centre
Gleneagles
KK Women's and Children's Hospital
Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
Mt Alvernia
National Dental Center
National Skin Centre
National University Hospital
Singapore General Hospital
Singapore Skin Centre
Tan Tock Seng Hospital (Basement 3)
Campus/Learning Centres
Bukit Batok Driving Centre
National University of Singapore (NUS)
Nanyang Technological University of Singapore (NTU)
Police Academy
Republic Polytechnic
Singapore Institute of Management (Clementi Road)
Singapore Safety Driving Center (SSDC)
Singapore Management University (SMU - Basement Parking @ Lee Kong Chien Bldg)
Paid Parking
100AM (Formerly Amara Hotel) $2 per half hr Mon - Sat before 5pm. $3 per entry 5pm onwards till before 8am next day. $3 per entry on Sundays & Pub Holidays
20,26,28 Ayer Rajah Crescent ($0.65 / day per entry Cashcard)
313 Somerset ($0.50 / hour)
8 Shenton Way (formerly Temasek Tower) (1st half hour $0.60 / after half hour $1.20 full day)
888 Plaza ($0.65)
Adelphi ($1.00 from 16 nov 09)
Airport ($1.30,FOC after 2300hrs)
Airport T3 (both CP 3A & 3b $1.30; 2200hrs-0700hrs FOC)
Alexandra Hospital ($0.70)
AMK Hub ($1.20/ENTRY insert cashcard type gantry. loading bay located opposite mrt tracks. dun enter via normal CP as ground will be wet when raining)
Asia Square ($5.35 per entry)
AXA Tower (Shenton Way) ($0.60 every half hour)
Biopolis ($0.65)
Bras Basah Complex ($0.65)
Bugis Junction ($1.05)
Burlington Square ($0.80)
Bukit Merah Central HDB CP below Hawker Centre ($0.65 per entry, FREE on Sundays & Public Holidays - Insert Cash Card only upon exit)
Bukit Panjang Plaza (No longer Free Parking)
Bukit Timah Shopping Centre ($1.05)
Bukit Merah Lane 1 (EPS parking, gantry always spoilt)
Cairnhill Carpark ($1.50)
Capital Square (Got charged $8.80 for slightly more than an hour; stay away from this place!)
Capital Tower ($2.20)(7am to 7am)
Capitol Centre ($1 per entry) - the one at cityhall beside peninsular plaza
Causeway Point ($0.70)
Central Mall - multi-storey carpark ($0.85/ entry)
Centrepoint ($1.50 per hour) 20 mins grace period only for motorcyclists.
Century Square ($1.07)
Certis Cisco Centre (Paya Lebar) ($0.50)
Changi Airport ($1.30 per day (7am-10pm) by Cash Card)
Changi City Point (First 2 hours or part thereof – $1, Every subsequent hour or part thereof – $1)
CHIJMES (Basement CP - Wilson Parking by entry. Free surface parking, no shade - turn right at the entrance)
Chinatown Point ($0.70)
Civil Service Club - Tessensohn Road Clubhouse ($1.00)
City Plaza ($0.60)
City Square Mall - Farrer Park ($1.50) NEW
CK Tangs ($3.00)
Clifford Centre ($1.50)
Cluny Court ($1 before 2am, $5 after 2am)
CMPB - Opp coupon parking
Com Centre III ($0.65 by Cash Card)
Compass Point ($1.20)
Costa Sands Pasir Ris ($1.00)
CPF Building Shenton Way ($1.50 per 1/2hr from 6am to 5pm (Mon-Fri), 6am to 1pm (Sat). Closed after 5pm/1pm, vehicle remaining from close onward will be charged an additional flat rate of $5)
Excelsior Shopping Centre ($0.80)
Far East Plaza ($2.14)
Funan Centre ($1.00)
Fusionpolis ($0.65 per entry)
Garden by the Bay ($1.20 per entry)
Golden Mile Shopping Centre ($1.00)
Golden Landmark Hotel And Shopping Centre
Golden Shoe ($1.10 before 7pm $2.20 after 7pm)
Goldhill Plaza ($0.65)
Goodwood Park Hotel ($1.25 per entry)
Hard Rock Cafe opp. got Wilson Parking ($0.80)
Haw Par Centre (Coupon Parking behind the building)
Hilton Hotel ($7 for 1st hour, $3.50 for 1/2 hour or part thereof)
Holiday Inn Parkview - $2.xx for first hour, and $0.50 every additional 15mins...
Hong Leong Building ($1.10)
Hong Lim Complex (shared with Chinatown Point - see above)
Hougang Mall ($0.65)
Hyatt Hotel ($2.14)[Grand Hyatt]
IBM Headquarters @ Changi Business Park ($0.65/entry)
ICA Building (Immigration & Checkpoints Authority) - $0.65 coupon parking
IOI Plaza ($1)
ION Orchard ($4 per entry, No grace Period)
Jackson Square ($0.65 by cash card)
JB City Square (RM$3.00) need to buy BLISS CARD
JB Holiday Plaza (RM$1.00)
JCube ($1.30)
Jurong Hill ($1 per entry)
Jurong Point ($0.80 per exit)
Jurong Stadium (coupon parking)
Jurong West Stadium (coupon parking; active wardens)
Katong Shoppling Centre (ERP) (Park at Roxy (see above)
LASALLE College of the Arts ($1)
Lot1 ($1.00) (HDB Brank Office next to Lot1 $0.65)
Loyang Point ($0.65)
Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) ($1.00)
Ming Arcade ($1.00) (next to Orchard Parade Hotel)
Manhattan House ($1.00)
Marina @ Keppel Bay ($0.85)
Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 2 ($1.07/ 2 hours)
Marina South Pier (this CP says you have to pay but barrier isn't full length)
National Skin Centre ($0.65 ERP) (This one is free)
MND Complex Tower Block (coupon parking)
Mountbatten Square ($0.80 / Hour)
National Library - ($1.05 / entry or $18 monthly season)
Northpoint ($1.20 / entry)
NEX ($1.20 / entry)
New Tech Park ($0.65 by Cash Card)
One George Street ($1.20 per entry/$15 monthly season parking)
One Raffles Quay ORQ ($1.07/ 2 hours)
Orchard Parade Hotel ($4.00)
OUB Centre ($2.20 every 30 mins)
Palmer House (coupon parking, lots of lots available)
Parklane Shopping Mall ($1.30 insert Cashcard)
Pearl's Centre ($1.00)
Peninsula Hotel ($0.80)
People's Park Shopping Centre ($1.00)
Plaza Singapura ($1.07)
PSA Building ($1.30) now need to pay, free parking at keppel yard entrance opp KTM railway or park at keppel distripark
Queensway Shopping Centre ($0.90)
Quality Hotel ($0.75)
Raffles City (City Hall MRT) ($1.00 per entry, start from 1 Feb 2013)
Raffles Hospital at Rochor ($0.65 per entry start from 8AM, free entry after 6pm)
Republic Plaza (entrance at Malacca St - $1 per 2 hours or part thereof)
Rivervale Plaza ($0.65)
Robertson Walk ($1.00)
Royal Plaza on Scotts same as car rates
(Mon - Sat) 8AM - 6PM $4 per hour, subsequent half hour $1.50 additional, (Mon - Sat) After 6 PM, Sundays and Public Holidays 8 am - 8 am, $5.50 per entry
SAFRA Mount Faber (ERP $0.60 Member; $1.20 Guests)
SAFRA Tampines
Seah Im Foodcenter Carpark (coupon parking; a lot of lots but a lot of bikes too and very active wardens)
Sembawang Shopping Centre ($1.00 per entry)
Serene Centre ($0.80)
Shaw Towers (Beach Road) ($1)
Shenton House ($3.00)
Skytech Buliding ($0.65)
Sim Lim Square ($0.75)
Sim Lim Tower ($1.00)
Solaris ($1.07 per entry)
Standard Chartered (Battery Road - $5)
Starhub Building ($1.00)
Sun Plaza ($1.61)
Takashimaya (per hour charging)
Tampines Mall ($1.07)
Tampines One ($1/entry from Nov 1, 2009 onwards)
Tanjong Pagar Complex ($0.65)
Techlink (Kaki Bukit - $0.65)
The Clementi Mall ($1.05)
The Sail ($1.50)
The Signature - Changi Business Park ($0.65 / entry)
The Star Vista (The Star Performing Arts Centre) - $1.07 per entry
The Strategy (International Business Park) - 65¢ day, 65¢ night
The Synergy (International Business Park) - 65¢ day, 65¢ night
Thomson Plaza ($1.00)
Tiong Bahru Plaza (WEF 1st May Tiong Bahru plaza $1.07 per entry. 10min grace period)
Toa Payoh HDB HUB ($0.65 if more than 10 minutes / Sunday FOC, barrier will be opened)
Triple One Somerset ($1.50 per hour) effective 01 April 2013
UOB Centre ($3.50)
UOB Plaza ($7.00 Per Hour same charge as car)
URA Centre ($1 per entry), open air coupon parking in the streets and alleys around
York Hotel (Above Mount E Hospital) ($1.25)
Youth Park Carpark ($0.65)
Vivocity ($1 for the first 3 hours, $1 hourly after that)
West Coast Jetty $0.65(pay at kiosk, its at the barrier with one man guarding)
White Sands ($1.00)
Wisma Atria ($2.10 - parking only on top 2 levels)
Wikie edge ($1.20 per entry)
Woodlands Civic Centre ($0.65)
Woodlands Point ($0.65)
No Parking
700 Beach Road (tenants only)
AIA building (tenants only; park opposite lau pa sat at Hong Leong Building)
Allson Hotel (only for hotel staff)
California fitness (members only)
Cathay Cinema
Cineleisure - coupon parking across & besides
China Square at Telok Ayer St (Park outside CP near cargo bay, if u dont mind the garbage smell)* Comfort Driving Centre (Closed)
Cuppage
Dawson Place (park on the pavement at Blk 58 at your own risk)
DBS Building Shenton Way
DBS Tampines Centre (tenants only)
Eastpoint Mall (park at MSCP opposite)
Far East Refrigeration Building (Lavender) - No bike lots, park pavement or in front Pek Chuan building got few bike lots)
Far East Shopping Centre (opposite Thai Embassy) - coupon parking besides at Angulia Park
Fook Hai Building
Forum Shopping Mall (From 20th July 2009)
Fortune Centre
Fullerton Hotel (see One Fullerton below)(park on pavement under the trees)
Golden Mile Tower @ beach road (park at pavement)
Great Eastern Life Changi Centre (Changi Road)
Harbourfront Centre
High Street Centre & High Street Plaza (park in the back lane + lots of room on nearby sidewalks)
Heeren
Hougang Plaza (Park at the side, do not go down the carpark's down slope ramp as out of bounds to bikes and the attendant will not help you reverse out and it has no "no entry to bike" sign from what I last seen).
International Bldg
iluma mall
Jelita (Have to park further down or at the petrol station)
Junction 8 (ERP multi storey beside; EXIT USING LEFT BARRIER, THE RIGHT ONE ALWAYS JAM)
991 Alexandra Road (20/02/2009) (scan your IU, no charge)
Acer Building
Alexandra Technopark
Amara Shopping Centre
Anchorpoint (23/01/2009)
Ang Mo Kio Community Hospital
Balestier Plaza
Beauty World Shopping Centre (20/06/2008)
Big Splash (23/03/2009)
Boon Siew Building (20/06/2008)
Botanical Gardens
Bukit Batok Civil Service Club (20/07/2008) (Park in proper lot)
Bukit Batok Driving Centre (BBDC) (20/06/2008)
Bukit Merah Technopreneur Centre (24/07/2009) (alot of bike lots. Like couple more at the back. A gap at the entrance. to exit use the entrance.)
Bukit Panjang Plaza
Bukit Timah Plaza (07/04/2010)
Bright Centre
Caldecott Broadcast Center – Mediacorp (28/02/2009)
Camden Medical Centre (17/08/2009)
Capitol Building (20/06/2008)
Carlton Hotel – Bike parking @ B2
Centrepoint (18/09/2008) (bikes normally super packed)
Central @ clarke quay (Enter by the loading/unloading bay entrance, which is just next to the normal carpark entrance. There are proper bike lots inside there)
Central Square (saw that there is a gap for bikes at the parking barrier)
Changi General Hospital
Changi Village Hotel (Formerly Le Meridien Changi)
Chai Chee Technopark (20/06/2008) (Blk A, D & E only)
China Square at Cross Street (21/06/2009) (near cargo bay, if u dont mind the garbage smell)
Civil Service Club
CJ GLS Building (08/02/2009) (When u turn in, on ur immediate right there are m/c parking lots, if u ride further in where u can see IMM, there are also a few lots on the left after a few parallel car parking lots.)
Clarke Quay Carpark
Communicable Diesease Centre
Comtech (near Alexandra techno park) (08/02/2009)
Coronation Plaza Shopping Centre (27/06/2008) (Very limited lots)
Costa Sands East Coast (Free on weekdays, $1 for weekends)
Costa Sand Pasir Ris
Concorde Shopping Centre
Conrad Hotel (Suntec) – at basement with designated bike lots
Copthrone King Hotel (No lots..Park anywhere with space to slot in)
Copthorne Orchid (Dunearn Road) (24/08/2009)
Courts Tampines (08/12/2008)
Creative Building (02/08/2009)
Dempsey Hill (05/08/2009)
Downtown East (FOC on ground floor only – limited lots – park on pavement at your own risk)
Esplanade – Theater By The Bay (20/06/2008)
Far East Square
Furama City Centre Hotel (Chinatown)
Furama RiverFront Hotel (10/10/2008) (go thru’ kerb; parking is at the “waterfall”)
Furniture Mall
Fuji Xerox Towers (04/08/2010)
Gateway Building
Gallery Hotel (16/11/2008) (only got 2 proper bike lots at B1; didn’t see any at B2)
Giant Tampines (limited lots; very far from main door)
Gleneagles (05/04/2010) (lots to the left of A&E. Not sure about carpark at Glenegles Medical Centre.
Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel (enter by King’s Centre and slot bike in space you can find as there are no proper lots)
Great Eastern Centre (Pickering Street)
Great World City (20/06/2008)
Guthrie House (@ Fifth Avenue)
Harbourlink (14/03/2009)
Health Promotion Board
HortPark (24/12/2008)
Holiday Inn Atrium (01/08/2010)
Hotel 81 (and most other budget hotels)
Hotel Miramar (20/06/2008)
Hotel Rendezvous (only for hotel guests – treacherously tight carpark)
Hotel Royal (Newton) (10/05/2010)
Hougang Point
IKEA (Queenstown) (23/04/2010)
IKEA (Tampines) (20/06/2008)
Inland Revenue House (Park at B3 and B4)
IMM (17/08/2009) (Free if exit via Toh Guan Road) (First 3 hours Free, $1.07 thereafter.)
International Plaza (13/01/2009) (anson road turn left into wallich street at the white house, go all the way turn left at peck seah street, then turn left at choon guan street. see international plaza got carpark go up the slope. there is few marked bike lots. but u can park near the lift lobby got space which is facing temasek tower.)
Jelita (Have to park further down or at the petrol station)
JTC Summit (09/04/2009)
Jurong Birdpark (15/07/2010)
Jurong Country Club (17/08/2009)
Katong Mall (15/01/2009)
Keppel Distripark (18/09/2008)
Keppel Towers (30/09/2008)
Keppel Country Club (Visitors Carpark) (11/12/2008)
Kembangan Plaza
KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital
King Albert Park McDonald’s
Le Meridien Shopping Centre (16/04/2009) (very limited lots)
Liang Court (20/06/2008)
M Hotel
Lippo Centre
Marina South Pier (17/08/2009)
Marina Barrage (21/02/2009)
Marina Square (20/06/2008)
Maxwell Food Center (free after 2200hrs)
Merchant Square (next to Central Square)
Millenia Walk (01/10/2010) (Gap is super small at the exit, not sure how to exit gracefully)
Mount Alvernia (only 4 bike lots at entrance to sheltered carpark)
Mount Elizabeth Hospital (13/12/2009)
Mustafa Shopping Centre (20/06/2008) (Basement carpark; no barrier but there’s no proper bike lots, gotta park at spaces behind/beside the cars near the exit)
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Campus 1 NAFA (20/07/2008)
National Museum Of Singapore (25/03/2010) (Bike Lots located before the Carpark Gantry on the right, Carpark Warden at the booth will direct you to park behind the building)
National University Hospital
National University of Singapore (NUS)
NorthTech Building (Woodlands Industrial Park E1) (21/07/2010)
Novena Square (24//07/2010) (park at loading bay, mscp no entry for bikes. Go down slope to loading bay, turn right and go right in.)
Novotel Hotel @ Clarke Quay (21/02/2009)
NTU Alumni Club/One-North (04/06/2010)
NTUC Trade Union House (Next to Income Centre) (11/06/2011)
Old School at 11 Mount Sophia
Orchard Grand Court
Orchard Hotel
Orchard Parade Shopping Centre
Orion Building (Tamiya and Yamaha showroom)
Pan Pacific Hotel (20/06/2008) (Shares same Car Park as Marina Square)
Park Mall
Park Royal Hotel (Beach Road) (Free parking behind – don’t go up the Furniture Mall mscp)
Parkway Parade (got lots)
Plaza Singapura (20/06/2008) (ALERT! Theft Prone Carpark!) (Exit on LEFT side barrier gap. DO NOT exit on right side. Downslope barrier area.)
Police Academy
PSB Academy (15/06/2010)
Punggol Plaza
Punggol Marina Country Club
Raffles Hotel Basement (Enter from Seah Street)
Republic Polytechnic (02/11/2008)
Riverside Hotel
Riverside Square (Limited)
Riverwalk
Robertson Quay Hotel (Limited)
Roxy opp Parkway Parade (lots at the back of the building,no indication that bike need to put coupon)
SAFRA Toa Payoh, Yishun
Science Centre
Seletar Country Club (15/05/2009) (Designated Bike lots)
Sembawang Shopping Centre (01/03/2008) ($1.00 per entry. There are proper bike lots marked in the carpark, but they are quite narrow. Bikes with panniers will find it to be a tight squeeze.)
Shenton House (21/06/2009) ($3.00)
Sheraton Hotel
Shangri-La (Valley Wing entrance) (20/06/2008)
Shell house
SIM (Clementi Road)
Simpang Bedok (28/04/2010) (go pass the side of the barrier.)
Singapore Art Museum (limited space, free only for guests to the museum & outlets)
Singapore EXPO (20/06/2008) (Insufficient lots for bikes, especially during major shows.)
Singapore Flyer (12/02/2009) (the barrier does not extend all the way. But there are 3 yellow and black sticks on the ground, just have to manuver carefully around them. when u enter the carpark right, just follow the arrow direction at first level, look at your right side where those bulky aircon compressors are)
Singapore General Hospital (21/09/2009)
Singapore Mandai Zoo
Singapore Management University (SMU – Basement Parking @ Lee Kong Chien Bldg – Be careful! To enter car park you must go past the car park EXIT gantry – entry gantry is too narrow)
Singapore Post
Singapore Recreation Club
Singapore Safety Driving Centre (SSDC) (23/08/2008)
Singapore Skin Centre
Singapore Turf Club at Kranji (27/02/2009)
SLF Building (05/05/2010) (Enter via Thomson Road. Limited Lots)
Suntec City (20/06/2008)
Swissotel Merchant Court (20/08/2008)
Tampines Grande (besides AIA Tampines) (25/12/2009) (have 2 lanes for entrance, one of it has gap for bike to pass thru. (same for exit))
Tampines Mart
Tampines Point (28/11/2009)
Tan Tock Seng Hospital (Basement 3; Basement 2 for staff only)
Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal (06/01/2008)
Tanglin Mall
Tanjong Pagar Railway Station (02/11/2008) (gap – i think the attendant also dun mind if we squeeze. no marked lots. park behind the main building where the makan tables used to be)
TelePark (Tampines next to OCBC)
Ten Mile Junction (15/05/2009) (free parking, have proper lots, ground floor open-air lots)
The Alpha (16/07/2009)
The Chevrons (30/07/2009)
The Concourse
The Legends @ Fort Canning (07/03/2009)
The Regent Singapore (lots of bike park at B2) (17/01/2009)
The Ritz-Carlton (19/12/2008) (Scan IU but do not have to insert cashcard; barrier takes a long time to open)
The Verge (formerly known as Tekka Mall)
Tradehub 21
Traders Hotel (by Shangri-la) (09/09/2008)
TripleOne Somerset (13/06/2010) (formerly Singapore Power Building – Have to squeeze through the left side, security told me foc when i tried by main gantry.)
Turf City (20/06/2008)
UE Square Shopping Mall (29/08/2009) (no entry to Carpark B. Go to Carpark A – parking area is just next to the entry and exit barriers at the bottom of the slope)
United Square (30/03/2010)
Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre
Valley Point
Warren Golf and Country Club (22/04/2009) (workers bike lots)
West Coast Recreational Centre (29/09/2010)
YMCA Hotel (Stevens Road) (23/11/2008) (Can park, but at places where you’re not obstructing. No proper parking lots, so have to be careful not to obstruct stairways, car park, etc…..)
Paid Parking Allowed
8 Shenton Way (formerly Temasek Tower) (09/04/2009) (1st half hour $0.60 / after half hour $1.20 full day) 888 Plaza (Woodlands) ($0.65/Entry) AIA building (opp. lau pa sat, $0.50) Only tenants are allowed in Adelphi (16/11/2009) (park at b5)
AMK Hub (21/05/2010) (ERP $1.20 Marked Lots Available. Do not enter via normal Carpark along AMK Ave 3. Go to the bus terminal opposite AMK MRT Station (AMK Ave 8), entrance to loading bay.)
Alexandra Hospital (21/01/2009) ($0.70 Per Entry; By Cashcard) Biopolis (16/07/2008) ($0.65/entry by cashcard) Bishan Junction 8 – Park at MSC abv the bus interchange (ERP $0.60) (Sunday and PH normal HDB parking rules apply.) Bras Basah Complex ($0.65) Bugis Junction (20/06/2008) ($1.07/entry, ERP payment) Burlington Square ($0.80) Bukit Merah Central HDB Car Park below Hawker Centre ($0.65 per entry, FREE on Sundays & Public Holidays – Insert Cash Card only upon exit) Bukit Timah Shopping Centre ($1.07/entry) Cairnhill Carpark (20/06/2008) ($1.00/entry) ***ALERT**Theft Prone Carpark! Capital Tower ($1.53)
Capitol Centre (25/03/2010) ($1 per entry – the one at cityhall beside peninsular plaza)
Causeway Point ($0.70) Centrepoint ($1.50 per hour) 20 mins grace period only for bikes. Century Square (27/05/2009) (ERP $1.07) Certis Cisco Centre (Paya Lebar) (07/09/2009) ($0.50 / entry IU) Changi Airport Terminals 1,2,3 (20/06/2008) ($1.30/day from 0700hrs-2200hrs) (F.O.C 2200hrs-0700hrs) CHIJMES ($1.00, Basement Car Park – pay at Valet Kiosk before entering) Chinese Garden ($1. Just find a corner to Park. No proper parking lot for cars and bikes) (one car park on the left entrance of the Chinese Garden which is FOC. about 15 lots for motorcycle. )
Chinatown Point ($0.70) Civil Service Club – Tessensohn Road Clubhouse (17/10/2008) ($1.00; Can enter and exit the normal way, i.e. with cashcard in IU unit) City Plaza ($0.60) CK Tang (20/06/2008) ($3.00/entry) Clifford Centre ($1.50) Cluny Court ($1.00/entry b4 2am, $5/entry after 2am) CMPB – Opp coupon parking
Com Centre III (21/05/2010) ($1.05 by Cash Card)
Compass Point (16/11/2009) ($1.20 per entry; loading and unloading bay park at normal carpark B3) Costa Sands Pasir Ris ($1.00) CPF Building Shenton Way Dawson Mall (23/06/2008) ($0.65)
Eightrium (Changi Business Park) (22/07/2010) ($0.75/entry)
Excelsior Shopping Centre (ERP $0.80 / entry) Equity Plaza Far East Plaza ($2.14) Far East Shopping Centre – ($0.50) Fullerton Hotel (see One Fullerton below) Funan Centre ($1.00 / entry – gantry now narrower – wide bikes will have problems) Fusionpolis (18/09/2008) ($0.65 per entry by cash card) Goldhill Plaza (31/10/2009) ($0.65) Golden Mile Shopping Centre ($1.00) Golden Landmark Hotel And Shopping Centre Golden Shoe ($1.10 before 7pm $2.20 after 7pm) Goodwood Park Hotel (21/06/2009) ($1.25 per entry) Hard Rock Cafe opp. got Wilson Parking ($0.80) Haw Par Centre (Coupon Parking behind the building) HDB Choa Chu Kang Branch Office (02/11/2008) (Cash card parking, 65 cents/entry) High Street Centre (07/02/2009) ($1.07) Hilton Hotel (04/08/2009) ($7 for 1st hour, $3.50 for 1/2 hour or part thereof) Holiday Inn Parkview – $2.xx for first hour, and $0.50 every additional 15mins… Hong Leong Finance Building ($1.10) Hong Lim Complex (shared with Chinatown Point – see above) Hougang Green Shopping Mall (27/05/2009) ($0.60) Hougang Mall (19/01/2009) ($0.65 renovated with plenty of space) (or park by the MRT station but only 5 lots) Hyatt Hotel ($2) ICA Building (Immigration & Checkpoints Authority) (01/08/2009) (ERP $0.65 parking at the carpark beside) IBM Headquarters @ Changi Industrial park IMM (20/06/2008) (1st 3 hours F.O.C, $1.07 after 3 hours) (or can exit through a gap via the back) IOI Plaza (21/11/2009) ($1) ION Orchard (28/07/2009) ($4 per entry. No grace period.) Jurong Entertainment Centre (ERP $1.05) Jurong Hill (03/02/2009) ($1 per entry; gantry) Jurong Point ($0.80 per entry) Jurong Stadium (coupon parking) Jurong West Stadium (coupon parking, MUST put coupon, very active wardens. ELSE, park at MSCP if you got no coupon; much safer than stadium carpark.) Katong Shoppling Centre (ERP) (Park at Roxy (see above)
Lot 1 (18/04/2010) ($1.07. alternatively, park for $0.65 in the HDB Branch Office just after LOT 1.)
Loyang Point ($0.65)
MacRitchie Reservoir (20/02/2010) ($0.02 / min, max $1.20 / day. From 11am to 5pm only, the first hour is free.)
Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) ($1.00) Marriot Hotel (13/08/2008) ($3.00) Ming Arcade ($1.00) (next to Orchard Parade Hotel) Manhattan House ($1.00) (ERP $0.65)
Marina @ Keppel Bay (14/06/2010) ($1.28 for 1st 3 hours, subsequently $1.28 per hour or part thereof.)
Market Street Multi-Storey Carpark (diagonally opp. Lau Pat Sat) (18/11/2008) (ERP $1.12) MND Complex Tower Block (03/08/2009) (coupon parking) Mountbatten Square (01/01/2010) ($0.80 / Hour)
National Dental Centre (21/05/2010) (ERP $0.65. coupon parking at the open air carpark beside it)
National Library (13/08/2008) ($1.05 / entry or $18 monthly season)
National Skin Centre (21/05/2010) (ERP $0.65)
New Tech Park (13/08/2008) ($0.65 by Cash Card) Northpoint (15/11/2009) ($1.20) OCBC Centre at Raffles Place One George Street (05/12/2008) ($1.20 per entry; season parking $15/month) One Raffles Quay ORQ ($1.10. Turn right after the Sail @ Marina and follow the road to ORQ. Make sure the level 4 barrier scans your IU.) Orchard Parade Hotel (17/08/2009) ($4 per entry) OUB Centre (25/08/2009) ($2.20 every 30 mins) Parklane Shopping Mall (18/11/2008) ($1.40 Insert Cashcard into IU) Peace Centre ($0.60) Pearl’s Centre ($1.00) Peninsula Hotel ($0.80) People’s Park Complex (21/09/2008) ($1.00, keep left and pay cash at the counter by the side) People’s Park Shopping Centre ($1.00 per entry)
Plaza 8 (Changi Business Park) (22/07/2010) ($1.07/hour)
PSA Building (18/09/2008) ($1.30) (now need to pay, free parking at keppel yard entrance opp KTM railway or park at keppel distripark) Queensway Shopping Centre ($0.90) Quality Hotel ($0.75 Using IU)
Raffles City (20/06/2008) ($1.00)
Raffles Hospital at Rochor (23/03/2010) ($0.65, free entry after 6pm) Republic Plaza (23/04/2009) ($1.00 for first 2hrs, or part thereof) Royal Plaza on Scotts (07/09/2009) ((Mon – Sat) 8AM – 6PM $4 per hour, subsequent half hour $1.50 additional, (Mon – Sat) After 6 PM, Sundays and Public Holidays 8 am – 8 am, $5.50 per entry) Robertson Walk ($1.00)
Seah Im Foodcenter Carpark (19/04/2009) (coupon parking; a lot of lots but a lot of bikes too and very active wardens) Serene Centre – $0.80 Shaw Towers (23/08/2008) ($1.00 – Pay cash at gantry) Shenton House (13/08/2008) ($1.20) Skytech Buliding ($0.65) Sim Lim Square ($0.75) Sim Lim Tower ($1.00) Standard Chartered (Battery Road – $5) Starhub Building ($1.00) Sun Plaza ($1.61) (SLIPPERY when raining, especially the bend when reaching basement) Takashimaya (per hour charging) Tampines Mall (21/06/2009) ($1.00 ERP cash, no change given)
HDB HUB Toa Payoh ($0.65/day and $0.65/night)
Techlink (Kaki Bukit- $0.65)
Textile Centre (Jalan Sultan – $0.65 / entry)
The Arcade (18/11/2008) ($1.50/entry)
The Sail (30/09/2010) ($1.50/entry)
The Signature – Changi Business Park ($0.65 / entry) [OR can squeeze at ENTRANCE, go up curb when EXIT. curb is very small anyway]
The Strategy (International Business Park) (30/07/2009) (65¢ day, 65¢ night)
The Synergy (International Business Park) (30/07/2009) (65¢ day, 65¢ night)
Thomson Plaza (01/06/2010) ($1)
Tiong Bahru Plaza (01/05/2010) ($1.07 per entry. 10 mins grace period.)
URA Centre (10/02/2009) (basement parking; $1/entry. park behind MND building use parking coupon. open air coupon parking in the streets and alleys around) UOB Center ($3.50)
UOB Plaza (18/07/2010) ($7.00 Per Hour same charge as car) (public parking: Lor Telok.Circular Road (back lane beside 7-11). Synagogue Road (behind the telephone exchange building) Private: Clifford Centre.)
Vivocity (11/11/2008) (ERP; wef 07/10/2008: 1st 3 hours $1.00 and subsequent hour or part thereof $1.00)
West Coast Jetty (14/03/2010) ($0.65 pay at kiosk, its at the barrier with one man guarding)
Wilkie edge (01/08/2009) ($1.20 per entry) Winsland House (26/12/2008) (1st hr $2.5. Subsequent 1/2 hr $1.2) Whitesands ($1.00 ERP) Wisma Atria ($2.10 – parking only on top 2 levels) Woodlands Civic Centre ERP Parking: $0.65 per entrance, full length barrier Woodlands Point (ERP $0.65) York Hotel (02/09/2009) (Above Mount E Hospital; Rates: $1.25 / entry Wilson Parking Cashcard IU) Youth Park Carpark ($0.65)
OUT OF BOUNDS FOR BIKES Allson Hotel (07/02/2009) (only for hotel staff) Bank of China Building at Battery Road (14/03/2009) (season parking only) California fitness (members only) Cathay Cinema Cineleisure – coupon parking across & besides City Square Mall (Farrer Park) (16/10/2009) (Basement carpark Out Of Bounds, park at power substation next to loading bay (Kitchener Link)) Comfort Driving Centre (URA Carpark FOC for Bikes) (20/07/2008) (URA carpark under renovation) Crown Prince Hotel And Shopping Centre Cuppage Dawson Place (park on the pavement at Blk 58 at your own risk) DBS Building Shenton Way DBS Tampines Centre (opp Tampines MRT) ? (tenants only) Eastpoint Shopping Mall (20/08/2009) (park at MSCP opposite) Fook Hai Building (can park at coupon lots along upp hokkien st or the MSCP next to it. (same w chinatown pt)) Fortune Centre Forum Shopping Mall (20/07/2009) Golden Mile Tower @ beach road (No entry for bikes, park at pavement) Great Eastern Life Changi Centre (Changi Road) Harbourfront Centre (07/07/2009) High Street Plaza (park in the back lane + lots of room on nearby sidewalks) Heeren International Building Jelita (Have to park further down or at the petrol station) Junction 8 (ERP multi storey beside only EXIT USING LEFT BARRIER, THE RIGHT ONE ALWAYS JAM) Keypoint @ beach road (season ticket holders only.) Kallang Leisure Park (lots of URA parking outside at Car Park E & F) Liat Tower Level 5 (only for those working there) Lido Lucky Plaza Monetary Authority of Singapore (tenants only) Meritus Mandarin Hotel & Shopping Arcade S’pore Midlink Plaza (02/11/2008) Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Campus 1 (staff and students only) (29/08/2009) Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Campus 3 (29/08/2009)
Novena Square (Park at loading bay)
Novena Square 2 (30/06/2008) NTUC Income Centre (Bras Basah Branch) (11/03/2009) OCBC Centre at Raffles Place (11/05/2009) (Season Parking Holders Only) Ocean Building – tenants only Odeon Towers – season parking only One Fullerton (07/04/2009) (Season parking only) One Marina Bouvlevard (public carpark beside golden mile, golden mile multistorey carpark or hong leong building. ) Orchard Central (07/07/2009)
Pacific Plaza (03/06/2010) (Coupon Parking behind)
Parliament House Basement Carpark (05/04/2009) Panasonic Building @ Jalan Kilang Barat Paradiz Centre (18/11/2008) Peace Centre (20/07/2009) Paragon Park Hotel (Orchard) Parkview Square (28/04/2009) (tenants only) [FOC if you can convince them that you're despatching letter] Plaza by the Park Police Cantonment Complex (Open Air Only) (for staff only) RCL Building (Park at the lane beside coffeeshop, it’s a “despatch parking”)
Rivervale Mall (21/06/2010)
Rivervale Plaza Samsung Hub Sentosa SGX Centre Shaw Centre SIA Building (77 Robinson Road) (11/08/2009) Springleaf Tower (Only tenant with season parking) Sultan Plaza @ Jalan Sultan Road (No bikes allowed. Open carpark only 3 lots) Sunshine Plaza (Nearest is M/C coupon parking along prinsep st or IOI Plaza across the street $1) Tampines One (03/01/2010) The Bencoolen (only for tenants) The Corporate Office (08/09/2009) (Season parking only) Thong Sia Building
UIC Building United Square (19/04/2009) Velocity (see Novena Sq above)
Wang Hotel at 231 Outram Road (10/01/2010)
West Coast Plaza (05/10/2009) (Formerly Known as Ginza Plaza;Loading/Unloading Bay) West Mall (no more entry to bikes from 1st Oct 08. Park at MSCP nearby.) (14/09/2008) Wheelock Place – coupon parking besides Yew Tee Point (16/04/2009) (but see alot of malaysian bike park at the open space next to the building.) Yishun 10 (29/08/2009)
