Shut up and put your money where your mouth is

That's what you get for waking up in Singapore.

As I wake up every morning, drag myself out of bed, pull out my shirt and pants to iron, I can't help but wonder if that's what I want to do for the next 40 years of my life (God forbid any longer than that!). I know that this is part of the process of life. Its about growing up. I had my fair share of fun for a third of my life already. Now its time to figure out a way to make the other two thirds just as happy and contented.

Money seems to be the key. You have heard a million quotes; no money no honey, money is king, money talks, blah blah blah... Sadly, these quotes are true! Well to a large extent. After holding on to a job for more than a month already, I have seen what one can truly do with money. The respect commanded, the things one can buy, the things you one do, influence, power, etc etc etc.

Well speak not what money does for the immortals, but lets talk about how cash is relevant to us mere mortals in today's society. At our age, (turbo charged novice rats entering the race) our immediate concerns of money would be, earning, saving, investing and then spending. First find a good job, earn some money - get that biggest pay check that we've ever attained in our life for the very first time and figure what to do with it. Then comes saving. Hopefully after a considerable period of time, one would acquire enough to start investing in some ways.

The first three steps are settled now comes the fourth. Spending. Unlike saving which follows earning and investing which subsequently follows saving, spending is concurrent, recurrent, current, ever current and its the only permanent occurence. Regardless of whether you earn, save or invest, everyone spends.

The simple truth to financial freedom is always maximising earnings and reducing expenses. Its not rocket science but somehow its always easier said than done. How many people we know are caught up in the rat race? Bounded by the endless cycle of mortgages, bills and expenses while worrying if the next pay check will settle it all (if it ever arrives at all). I really wish there is someway that I can escape this calamitous route as well but it seems that there are not really many options are there?

There are always so many things on my mind. Investment plans, marriage, holidays and backpacking, savings, housing, preparing for the retirement of my folks, etc. To make things worse I have not even found sustainable empolyment after the end of this year (there's a headcount freeze on my department that has not been lifted in more than a year already). I am also confounded by the many circles of the 'venn' diagrams of the perfect job. Balancing between where my interest lies, my strengths, charateristics and core competencies, the skills and experience I possess, the job scopes and requirements, the pay, etc.

So much to ponder about.

Well I was just commenting on Annika's (an Estonian friend of mine whom I met in UNCG) FB nick. It was really hilarious.

"Due to the current economical situation, until further notice, the light at the end of the tunnel has been switched off. Sorry for the inconvenience."

I burst out laughing when I saw this. She's always full of fun and craziness - Her much younger sister shares it too, as we experienced in Washington - but this one really is the icing on the very huge cake already.

Has the light at the end of the tunnel been really switched off? Has the silver lining forcast been retracted due to the worsening fog? I don't know. I shall just take it a step at a time and slowly see what the future holds for me.

YAaaaaaawn. I hate ironing clothes...