uncle lim kopi

Same question all the time when someone first find out I am retired (early). And, it comes from not just adults who are still working, but also from younger ones who are still in school. For the young ones, I will explain how long I had been working, and how hard I worked, and how hard I saved up (and invested), so I can retire early. It was never my plan to work as long as possible or up to a commonly known retirement age of 65. And I told them I am happy I achieved my goals and now I have freedom to pursue things that I couldn't due to my commitments to my previous jobs. I hope this inspires them to think for themselves and plan.  For the adults, I just play along and have some jokes on how I spend my free time. But deep inside, I feel for them, as I can understand some who do not have such a choice at all, while some are so deeply brainwashed that I do not plan to unwind it for them since it will be a waste of time. 

In tech, these came up. Think Google, Meta and the likes. Free food, massages, snack bars, beer after 7pm, sleeping pods, kombucha and so on. Other tech companies emulate these, because they all want to attract the same talents who had been “spoiled” by such perks and comforts and would not settle for less.  Seriously, don’t fall into such trappings.  Especially those that make you feel that office is more comfortable than home. You linger around, stretch your time to do work that could had been completed in shorter time, because you want to take a few minutes to go to the lobster live station at tea time.  What are you losing? Your personal time, your freedom, your time to live a life outside of work.  You are now a hamster, trapped. You work longer hours. For the same pay. Geez.  Isn’t it ironic that we have all these technology that supposedly make us more productive but yet we end up working long hours?  Then I’ll rather do away with the tech.  You...

That's probably the most common question I get from others when they found that I have stopped working. 2nd question, which may not be asked directly or at all, is "how you pay your bills?" Let's dispense with the second question immediately. If you don't ask me, you get no answer, I won't volunteer it. If you ask, my answer is "Investment that pays cashflow". That's all. It's simple but not possible for anyone. I worked hard, but I also got a healthy dose of luck and opportunities, for which I am grateful and appreciative of. Now "what do you do?" is the main question.... The answer would be easy if I am still employed. I am a XXX engineer. That's all.  But now? Well, I think its way for meaningful now, and I am proud of it. I am not working anymore. What do I do?  That's a good question I am full time in taking care of myself, mentally and physically and financially. I am also a full time stay at home husband and father. I...

 Yes that’s what money does It’s a lubricant of life, like engine oil is a lubricant for a car engine. Without sufficient lubricant, the engine seizes and stops working. Your life becomes very difficult to move along, things become difficult, food becomes scarce etc But, too much lubricant is also not good. The engine will be damaged too! Too much money? How dare you say that? There’s never too much money! Well, I think too much money is harmful to life too. You can only eat so much or drink so much a day. You only lie on one bed to sleep. You can only drive one car at any time. Excessive money will lubricant your life so smooth that your life become very boring very quickly and you will start having all kinds of issues (think addiction to substances and alcohol etc) Life becomes too easy. Everything comes easily. Want that car? You got it. Want that house? Here take the keys. Want to fly to Japan for ramen, let’s go! There are no efforts anymore! We thrive on life satisfactions, t...

Now that I restarted my retirement, I can definitely attest to the feelings and phases. Hear me out. When I first tried retirement, it ran for about 15 months. So what happened during these 15 months? First, I told myself I will decompress and do whatever I want, while keeping a close watch on my finances. At the same time, I put small notes whenever ideas of what to use my time on spring up in my head. Then I executed my plan, The decompression part was important. I had been working for over 23 years since I graduated from university, not a long time but still a damn long time. I never stopped working during those years, in that, it was a continuous employment, across 4 different companies. When you just started work as a fresh grad, you are super motivated. The world is so new to you, and you want to prove yourself eagerly. And you are fucking poor too (unless you have rich parents). So you are both motivated by self and also by money. This meant, at least for me, I worked very v...

 In Singapore, we can pay our income tax in instalments, without any interest. So naturally that's the default payment method for most people including this uncle. IRAS will serve you your tax notice, and with it, if you already have GIRO set up, the instalment payments per month, down to the exact cents. Based on my personal experience, the instalment starts in May the following year your earned income. E.g. you start paying income tax from May 2026 for your assessed income in CY 2025. For GIRO deduction, it happens around 6th of each month.  So, you will still be paying instalments up to 6th April 2026 for income tax you pay on your earned income in CY 2024.  So, uncle retired just after mid 2024, so uncle was still paying a mid 4-figure instalment for 2024 income. And today is the last day of that instalment! Hooray!  So is uncle income tax free? well, not really, but closer than ever. Uncle did some short term job in the last 3 months in 2025 going into first mon...

 Having constant “pain” from recurring issues But suddenly a new issue propped up, with pain like a jolt of lightning. It makes all existing issues and concerns seem like chicken feet.  It over took all other “priorities” At this point, it really woke me up. That nothing else matters if this new issue isn’t looked at right away Locked in and go. And nothing else matters