Living below my means
Do you realize how easily one can be trapped into living according to a perceived expectation of society? Seems that because both Hub and I are working in the finance sector and in our early 30s would mean that both of us should live in a condominium. It also seems that many have begun to feel entitled to a certain lifestyle and a certain amount of luxuries.
What about living below or within our means? What about living a more enriched life but with less tied to material things? What about pursuing what you wanted instead of what others expect of you?
Of course, Hub and I were previously looking for a swanky condo as our very first love nest but due to the recent property craze, there was no way that we could afford one without taking a three-generation type of mortgage (doubt the banks would approve anyway, this is not Japan in the 1980s). So, we settled for a resale HDB instead.
After Hub and I made that decision, a tremendous weight was lifted from our shoulders and we could afford to renovate our place to exactly what we wanted. We could hack everything away and basically reconfigure the whole space. We could custom-make some furniture that reflects our characters and beliefs.
Although renovation cost us a bomb, it was still within our budget. I did not have to sell one of my kidneys or bags of blood. But if we were to get a condo, that would stretch us a little beyond where we wanted to be, not that we couldn’t afford it. But why must we afford it?
I like to live simply in my simple world and enjoy my simple joys.
Like having sunshine on my face during my morning runs, like having Cookie (my sort-of adopted cat) happily purring at my feet, like preparing dinner for my family while blasting my favorite CDs.
I think I’m a simple girl at heart… very low maintenance and it really doesn’t take a lot to make me happy and contented.
2 comments:
Oh that is so wonderful an attitude!! The Husband and I stayed in an HDB flat for 14 years... well into those years where almost everyone we went to school with were in a condo. We saved up... we saved up... we bought a rental property... we bought another rental property... and another. But we still stayed in an HDB flat.
This ensures that you won't be stressed when you reach your 50s... you'll have enough to maintain a reasonable lifestyle and some by the side.
Peace of mind is something you prepare for when you are young. It's also a luxury many 50 year olds don't have because they had not amassed enough to invest. Without a certain critical mass of money, it is difficult to generate returns.
Rich people aren't those who earn a lot. They are those who can make money grow. To make money grow, you gotta have money to start the growth.
Hooray for you!
Wow, I am very inspired by you! You are my positive example, and your tip of growing one's assets is very, very useful and insightful indeed! I must remember that... ;)
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