This blog has served me well since it started. Besides bringing in a small bit of blogging income, it allowed me to document my journey towards financial freedom. In the process, I learnt more about myself in terms of my thoughts, feelings and actions that bring me closer towards (or further from) my goal of achieving financial freedom.
In the many articles I have written about financial freedom, I’ve come to realise that the only thing predictable is the unpredictability and fragility of life. I now come to enjoy the occasional can of beer, bottle of soju or sake now and then. I take things less personal and try to practice mindfulness in what I do.
It helps that time has flown and my daughter is already in kindergarten 1. 5 years has come and gone since the day I held her in my arms. Now I struggle to carry her longer than a couple of minutes as her weight is closer to that of a big sack of rice +++!
In terms of net worth, I am moving steadily towards my goal of $1,000,000 in investible net worth (excluding owner-occupied property). I haven’t reached there but it is achievable in my lifetime. The interesting thing is that I’m less obssessed with the goal now than 5 years ago.
I realise that spending some of windfall gains, bonuses or interest and dividends on the small luxuries of life makes me happy. Spending on my loved ones makes me happy. Taking one day at a time makes me happy.
I have discovered a new hobby which is language learning. It is a very scalable hobby in that you can progress as fast or slow as your own abilities, time and passion drives you. It is a useful hobby. I can make use of the language abilities to travel to countries in that language. I can communicate and understand the culture of the target language. I could use them in my workplace and I use them for leisure in listening to cultural television, video or music in that language.
I will continue with Five Cents Ten Cents but I will move from a tactical (how to achieve financial freedom) to a more strategic perspective (how I change in my quest for financial freedom). The insights that I’ve gained from exploring financial freedom in my life and documentating the journey has been both fascinating and enriching.
I wish all my readers a Happy New Year 2013 and also a Happy Lunar New Year 2013!
Be well and prosper.
JC says:
Hi Panzer,
we probably are of the same age (if not group). I have a daughter same age as yours as well. We are on the same path to financial freedom, but I am also working on alternative income streams. I wish I can slow down like you, but I seem to be on this perpetual race. Maybe its just my character to be occupied all the time.
All the best to you and your loved ones, be healthy and huat arh!
Panzer says:
Hi JC
Thanks for reading my blog.
My thoughts about financial freedom have turned more philosophical partly because some of the developments in my personal life have reshaped my paradigm. Hence, I start to realise that the road to financial freedom is a long race in which I have to pace myself and look at things more holistically than to be happy just purely at the figure of my net-worth.
Talking about children, I do worry about the type of Singapore they will grow up in given the recent release of the white paper on population. From 5.3 m to 6.9 m without drop in living standards in this tiny little dot?
I won’t be holding my breath and am actively planning not to be in SG by 2030.
Panzer´s last [type] ..ANZ Step-up Time Deposits Rates Increase
JS says:
Hi Panzer
Your RSS feeds does not include the latest posts.
For your info.
Jared Seah says:
Panzer,
I guess most of us walked similar paths in our journey of life.
We focus on the accumulation of “tools” in the beginning; thinking financial freedom is the solution to life
Who knew using the “tools” we have accumulated on ourselves and others would bring more joy than hoarding these “tools”?
I am undertaking a 3 year spiritual course starting end of this month. I hope to free myself from yesterday, not to plan for the future, but live in the moment.
I seek a freedom broader than financial freedom.
Looking forward to exchanging our reflections on the philosophical aspects of living going forward
Jared Seah´s last [type] ..あなただけを & 流水年華
B says:
You used to be a traveler and now you can serve to be a mentor
I wish you all the luck and god bless for you and your family.
Just curious where are you planning to move in 2030. Your daughter would probably be in her teens by then.
Xavier says:
I totally agree on the part where you said “Taking one day at a time makes me happy”. For a while, I also kind of “obssessed” with financial goal but realized it makes me unhappy. Now I try not to think too much and only do it maybe once a month.
AK71 says:
Hi Panzer,
For us urbanites, there are definitely higher purposes in life than achieving financial freedom.
Financial freedom is but a helpful facilitating device. SMOL, who has achieved financial freedom, calls it a tool. Aptly named.
The way I look at my life has changed through the years as well. I think of how my life is able to bring more benefits my parents’. They come first and if I have to make certain sacrifices, then, it will be done.
Life is never perfect but we can still be happy in the midst of imperfections.
AK71´s last [type] ..Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants!
panzer says:
Hi AK
Well said. Yes, financial freedom can be more of a framework or tool to help shape our behaviour in earning, spending and saving. Many books that I’ve read about happiness share that it’s about people and relationships. Money is just a tool.
Be well and prosper
panzer says:
Hi Xavier
I still maintain my worksheet on my networth and at the top I still track my % achievement of net worth against my target.
But I don’t get too fixated over it, it’s still there to guide me but not so much as a KPI to live/die by.
Be well and prosper.
panzer says:
Hi Jared
All the best for your spiritual course!
Be well and prosper.