Expenses - April 2020

Total - S$3,910.27

Total expenses in April 2020 came up to S$3,910.27, at c. 97.8% of budgeted amounts. 

Largest category was gifts at S$2,223.00. This was largely attributed to a purchase of an iMac for my partner, given working at home full time on a laptop screen generally leads to squinty eyes and optical degeneration. 

And with the circuit breaker in play, Groceries came in second. Enough said on this. 

Third category was Eating Out. This is basically takeaway / delivery food items, with one massive memorable meal at New Ubin Seafood a couple of days before we received notice of the circuit breaker being imposed on us. That was absolutely delectable. 

Special mention to the fourth category - Alcohol. Haven't seen this level of alcohol expenditure for quite some time, and this could be largely attributed (at 66% or so) to a one time purchase of certain quality wines that were being sold at massive discounts, possibly due to a rush to clear inventory given the dire economic situation. I've opened a few bottles of them and they are seriously of high quality to price. Good value. 

This month was pretty much another example of what retired life looks like, especially when there are no travel plans being put in play, and one has to stay at home most of the time. Sans a one time expense for gifts and donations (had donated some part of my short term trading gains), the "steady state" expenses was at c. S$1,500 for daily expenses and this is in my opinion living quite large. 

Of course, there is rent / mortgage, or in my case parental allowance / separate home contribution allowance, that I've left out in my spending reports given the fixed fee nature of it, but that has been factored into my own drawdown / budget analysis. 

I reckon May will plumb new depths of low spending. As of 29 May, I'm barely hitting S$1,300 all in, and this is before write backs of certain expenditure incurred over the past few months given refunds due to cancellation of certain activities. 

Perhaps I should do a post on what I've been up to over the last couple of months given the COVID-19 situation has been put in place, but that's another story for another day. 

Hope all of you reading this are holding up well, and if not, just know that this current situation, like all others, is impermanent and it will pass as well. Take care, and be happy!