Suntalk-Saver-Callback-Plan

Recently, a good buddy of mine introduced me to a callback service which he has been using for a while.
I took the "plunge" and downgraded my mobile phone service plan with MobileOne (M1) and picked up one of the callback cards at a mom-and-pop shop. The voice quality is actually not bad, to my surprise. But my main objective is the savings that accompanies the change:-
As you can see, the savings of 58.8% is significant. Not only that, the unused talk-time on the callback card can be "rolled over" for 6 months (i.e 424 minutes of talk-time must be consumed within next 6 months, which is not an issue). And the best part is, I still get to send 500 SMSes, same as before, through the lower, cheaper MobileOne plan.

To conclude, here are some good and bad sides of the change:-

Good (tangible benefits):-
a) savings of 58.8% !
b) same SMSes to send : 500
c) I actually get a "value-added service" (Caller Number Non-Display) along the way; People receiving my call on the other end sees my number as a "private number". This service would have cost me $5.35 per month with MobileOne (M1).
d) Free UNLIMITED calls to 3 M1 Friends that I choose; (p.s: but soon I realized there are not many friends with M1 numbers).

Good (intangible benefits):-
a) need my "RAM memory" to work harder, therefore improving my brainpower (hopefully); I also hope to be able to memorize the phone numbers of my friends through this as I need to physically key in the numbers in the callback service.

Bad:-
a) A bit inconvenient when trying to key in the numbers while doing something else, such as driving.
b) Worrying about the sustainability and stability of such small-scale companies; But my liability is limited to the $9.00 that I paid for the card.

Many thanks to my buddy for this!

Of Petrol Prices & Fuel Efficiency

I used to think that fuel efficiency, usually measured in Singapore as km/litre, is a good enough gauge of how well the car & driver (collectively) has delivered in terms of using the amount of fuel required to cover certain distance. A few days ago, I listened to one of the podcasts that a better way of measuring the efficiency of the car and driver, as a whole, is to bring in the cost of fuel into the picture as well.

I went back to my fuel efficiency spreadsheet, did some calculation, and agreed that a better way to judge would be in terms of "$/km" or "$ per km", i.e how much it cost to cover one kilometer of travel.

As illustrated in the chart below, I realized that my "$/km" was highest during March2008, but that was not the highest petrol prices yet; Petrol prices were at the peak during July2008; As for now, I see my "$/km" trending downwards and below the "Petrol Price Line", and I hope to make it stay that way by being watchful with my right foot. And if my "$/km" line continues to stay below "Petrol Price" line, I would deem myself to be less affected by the petrol price.Some tips on how I achieved my fuel efficiency: -
a) Drive with shoes off; This will provide a better "feel" between the feet and the paddles and muster better control;.
b) Drive without air-conditioning at night and anytime when possible to do so.
c) Anticipate to decelerate ahead of traffic lights and stopping points.

SMRT promotion

If you want to:-

a) please your boss by being the first to arrive at office daily;

b) be out of the "sardine-packed" train rides;

c) get promotional discounts on breakfast;

d) get $0.10 as a small reward every morning (mon-fri),

then read this.

Ask for water

Of late, I've been spending some quality time with my daughter who just turned 600-day-old, so I'm in kinda "family mood" feeling like a "great dad"; This article by Dr. Money came my way and I thought it's good to share:-

One of the $ games Dr. Money plays with his children:
" (ii) A money game at restaurants focuses on their highest mark-up item: Drinks. If you ask for water instead, you can quench your thirst with no cost and no calories. It's a great inflation fighter. When our kids order water, they get to split the savings with us. If a drink costs $2 and water costs $0, then our daughters earn half the savings of $1.
It also teaches a lesson of capitalism: Don't take all the profits. Deals work best when there is something in it for everyone, including mom and dad. "




Read the full article.

I too have some ideas on such little tips to share. Let me gather my thoughts and share them here at a later date. :-)

CNG food?

No, it's not the CNG you think it is.
Amid the recent high food inflation and record prices of rice, it is a relief to find some businesses in Singapore that do not raise prices but attempt to sell more in place of thinning profits. (薄利多销）。


Today I came across the Straits Times and saw an article on the launch of a community website, www.ekampong.com.sg ; in particular, the article zooms in on the "cheap and good" food people can have access to in Bedok, see www.ekampong.com.sg/cngfood.htm
(note: the file is named "cngfood.htm", which I supposed means "Cheap and Good Food". :-)

Good for the folks at Bedok!
Info on Bedok, Singapore: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedok
And yes, you can type "bedok" and locate it in Google Earth!

Income tax and SRS

Click to enlarge

Did some income tax calculation and developed this chart as a result, something which I think would be good to share.

Some numbers, in particular, the SRS contribution amount for chart above:-

For chargeable income above $31,475, the SRS contribution amount is $11,475 (cap)

For chargeable income within the range of $20,001 - $31,474.90, the SRS contribution amount is in the range of $1 -$11,474.90 respectively.

For more writings on SRS, please see http://www.waynekoh.com/search/label/Supplementary-Retirement-Scheme-SRS

Use GIRO to pay for HDB Season parking (free)

One of the simple and easy ways to save money for drivers is to use GIRO to pay for HDB season parking.

Pay over the counter or via AXN machines: $90.00 per month
Pay using GIRO: $88.20 per month

Tangible net savings: $1.80 per month or 2%
Intangible savings: visits to town council office (which may incur traveling time and cost).

Extrapolate over 49 months (4 years 1 month), the 50th month season parking can be considered free.

How it goes: $88.20 divided by $1.80 = 49

Well of course, the next easier thing to save this money is not owning a car! :-)

Listen to investment ideas from experts - FREE

I have been an "addict" to this thing called podcast since Q4-2007.

I first started with using iTunes -- http://www.apple.com/itunes/ -- and these are some of the channels I subscribe to:-

(A) Investment-related topics: Bloomberg, Business Week (Market reports, Cover Stories), Fidelity Investment Insight, Fidelity Personal Finance, Mckinsey on Finance, Money Girl's Quick Tips, Money Talk Fool.co.uk, PIMCO Investment Outlook, UBS Economics, Vanguard Plain Talk on Investing.

Highly Recommended (if you have time for just ONE):
"Money Talk Fool.co.uk, seriously good with money"

Reason: It offers education, information and HUMOUR, so which means you will not fall asleep while listening to it. David Kuo, the host, is one funny guy with much investing knowledge to share. The guest speakers too offer investment insights, ideas and humour. By far, the 17Jan2008 episode is THE BEST! The guest speaker on 17Jan2008 episode, Justin Urquhart Stewart not only shares his ideas, but tells his stories with jokes that even the usual "chief joker" David is so tickled by his jokes. And, they spoke about MacDonald's "Mc-chilli" and Singapore.
Download it here (File size: 22.6MB) or click here for the main page.

It is podcasted every Thursday (UK time). Past episodes can also be downloaded one shot as MP3 files and listened to at own pace. I listen to them (repeatedly) whenever I am driving or on the MRT, and jogging.

Note: The IRA or ISA that is frequently mentioned in the podcasts is the equivalent of SRS in Singapore terms.

(B) Lifestyle-related topics: What car? Video podcast, Autocar magazine, Berry Bros & Rudd Wine podcast.

(C) Self-improvement topics: Advanced Selling Podcast.

About two weeks ago, I chanced upon www.nokiaexperience.com.sg and found the podacsting application for my Nokia E51. Now I can download some of the usual channels and new channels straight into my E51.
And, as a result, I now stop buying car magazines from news stand. Another money-saving idea!
(See my other money-saving article here)

Sometime new tech is not bad afterall

Sometime I do prefer new tech.

Some of my friends have been wondering what I am reading on my Nokia E51. It's this thing called Avantgo. It's a series of free (yes, free!) "newspapers" that I read on my mobile phone. And when I realize I have been flipping less of my regular good old BT, I decided it was time to "let go" and :-) save $20+ every month on BT Subscription.

By the way, www.businesstimes.com.sg is available for free read from 6pm everyday.

On my Avantgo, I have selected 11 sources of news channels (Bloomberg, CNN, CLSA, Motley Fool etc) that I sync every day (on some days even up to 10 times a day) for the news updates. Sync-ing can even be done at Wireless @ SG hotspots at various locations. Effectively, I bring with me 11 sets of "newspapers" everywhere I go. I would read them on the train rides (without needing the space to stretch from shoulder-to-shoulder), in toilets, in between meetings and waiting times and so on.

However, I do miss the feel and sounds of flipping through the good old-fashioned papers sometime.

Avantgo is available free from

www.avantgo.com and can be used on most mobile phones and PDAs. Simply register an account which is free (and Avantgo does not spam at all!).

Other materials available via Avantgo: Cars, Wines, Entertainment news etc.

Enjoy!