Friday 29 May 2020

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! 

Wednesday 27 May 2020

Expenses - March 2020


Total - S$2,132.90

Total expenses in March 2020 amounted to S$2,132.90, which was roughly 53% of the budgeted amount. 

This month is probably the first month I've stayed at home for majority of the time, given the developing COVID-19 situation. 

Eating Out was once again the largest contributor to expenses at S$680.74, as we could still bask in the luxury of ding out. I remember I had a great meal at Wagyu Express around the Tanjong Pagar area sometime then. 

2nd largest category was Self Improvement at S$365.97. I had signed up for a 200 hour yoga teacher training course and 

3rd largest category was Gifts at S$337.70. I celebrated the birthday of one of my siblings and we had a good meal outside. Also gifted my domestic helper some monies as her birthday present too. 

Other items of note was the purchase of a Canon multi function laser printer that cost S$259.