Reflection on 2013 and what's in store for 2014

2013 is considered a good year to me. There are few reasons:

1. I am married with my lovely wife.
2. I got an own home to stay in Penang.
3. I got a new job with new boss.

There are also other areas of improvement for myself that I did not do so well in 2013.

• I am not confidence in myself (my communications, my decision making, my job as a people manager)
• I am not doing enough to bring my relationship with my dear to the next level.
• I am not doing enough to foster a closer relationship with my siblings.
• I am not doing enough to improve myself (not doing what I think, plan) - lack of execution and implementation whether in meeting deadline, going for appointments etc.
• I am not doing enough for self exploration and self improvement - whether in my career or self improvement in other areas (like reading, enrolling in course)

In summary, there are few areas that I think I should focus to improve in 2014:

• Self confidence - to build a strong self confidence (communication, decision making)
• Self improvement -  to continue to explore by reading
• Time management - to plan and meet my timeline 
• Interpersonal relationship - to understand people's relationship and build a stronger relationship with my wife, family, colleagues, friends etc.

My wish for 2014....

1. To be a good husband
2. To enhance my knowledge in many areas
3. To enhance my spirituality
4. To build a stronger relationship with family and friends
5. To stay healthy

Happy new year 2014....

Marriage

Today I am going to post about marriage. Yes, I am walking the aisle of marriage. My fiance and I got registered on 7th July 2013. It was a simple ceremony and yet a life changing event for both of us. What it means to me in nutshell:

1. Status change from 'single' to 'married'.
2. Comes with a huge responsibility to take care my other half.
3. Mindset has to change since no longer living a single life.
4. Become more mature.
5. More things to think about - where to settle down, financial, extended family, starting an own family etc.

What is my expectation of my marriage:

1. To have a warm and loving family home.
2. To share the burden be it financial or house chores together with my life partner.
3. To plan for day to day as well as long term plan together (be it family trip, vacation, starting a family etc.)
4. To go home to listen to grouses of the other half, even if I am tired.
5. Provide a shoulder for each other to lean when we are tired of a day's work or when the other person feel's stress and demotivated.

In my mind, what is most important expectation in marriage is not to expect the perfect but do my best to give the best to my life partner be it gratitude, forgiveness, compromising, strength, financial...

It's no single formula that will guarantee a successful marriage. Just like a tandem bike, it needs 2 person to cycle together to move a longer distance. It requires continuous communication, commitment, surprises, love, compromising and importantly embracing each other's weaknesses by not criticizing but continue to encourage and motivate each other. It's not just say without action as action speak louder than words.

I really hope that both of us will be happily ever after. I know it takes a life time to learn. I am commitment to be a good husband to my wife!

Cheers to Mr. & Mrs. Ng....

Financial examine

I looked at my current financial situation. It's not that ideal because I am still paying my debts and also there is not much saving left. Furthermore, with marriage around the corner how should I manage my financial better. I take a glimpse at the % breakdown of my salary and a pie chart is drawn as below.

From the pie chart, there are few assumptions:

1. Reduce my allowance for my family (Home-9%)
2. Service 2 house loans-48%. (*I only need to start service the full amount for Eve Suite in 2 years time)
3. 3% of saving

From the breakdown of the expense type, I can say that 63% of my salary will goes to service my debt. I felt this is not healthy. 25% will goes to expense (Food, Misc, Utilities, travel and credit card bill).

For the near future this is my plan to extract some money out just in case my dear is not able to find a job in Penang.

• Since I don't need to service the 2nd home yet, this money can be reserve
• Also, cutting down the expense by eating in and not travel so often to hometown
• Look into other means of income like public mutual etc
• Worst case, then I need to exercise my company's share and stock options

Well, I will work with my dear to sort things out and support my dear.

Financial planning is part of the life-cycle that I need to go through. I think it's one of the very important planning in life.