Pondering over idea of buying a car...

The week passed with thoughts of buying a car to make my working life a tad bit less tiring as i could then drive to work. So have been weighing the pros and cons for the past week, especially since i have more time to think about it during the breaks and lulls of the course i am attending.

An hour more sleep per working day sounds good, and so does the freedom to stay back late in office when i want or need to instead of having to catch the company shuttle bus out to Jurong East MRT at 2 scheduled times. And if i am tired, can always get some rest before driving home slightly after peak hours. Having a car also gives me ability to meet friends in a 'faster' way as compared to public transport (the last time at greenwood, i left home 1.5 hrs early and was still slightly late) and also the chance to send friends home too! =D

Although i had considered the possibility of having to buy a car when i signed up for shell as the workplace will be either at P. Bukom or Jurong island, at least i have the financial ability to buy it. But i never thought that i will be considering about it so soon, less than a month at work actually. =/

To own a car will cost about $1k per month, factoring in petrol, parking (at least it is free at seraya), insurance (should i register it under wheng as her insurance will be cheaper due to the fact that she obtained her license 8~9 years ago while mine is less than 2 years old?) and taxes. Not to mention the downpayment that i require to reduce the initial loan amount, thus currently thinking of an idea to benefit friends rather than the bank and the guy in mind would be mr cbt, although yet to ask him about it. hmmmmmm...

Anyway, the cost of getting a car will be $1000 less savings a day and the closest alternative would be to take a cab (will have to call a cab for pickup at office), which should cost about $30~35; or if i hitch a ride with any colleague (which i am still getting to know them), the taxi from their place will be less than $25 (so far, all stay in the west, from redhill to jurong or some in the north). This will allow me to take about 30 taxi trips in a month. And being the miser like me, i will most likely be taking the bus anyway. =P

Saving a thousand dollars more per month is a shit load of money and that comes with the ability to treat friends to a good meal when i feel like it (of which a few treats are coming up as soon as i get my paycheck). heh heh. And also the increase in my capacity to investment in stocks, although nowadays, i think it will way too high liao. So waiting for a market crash or a market major correction, which will give me a better window to invest, and if i can maintain my my current performance of >50% gains in investing, i would get over $30k of profits over the next five years and savings of over $100k (if all goes swee swee for everything, but as they say in stocks: past performance is not an indication of future performances - may go up to 70% gains.. heh heh heh =P). With that load of savings, i would be able to go into property as the chances of property market to ONLY go up for the stretch of the next 7 years is slim.

Everything is cyclical, and since nobody can predict the future, but i want to be prepared for it. So when the down time comes, i would (in theory) be able to get a private apt/house or HDB flat 'cheap' by then. And hopefully on my way to financial freedom (if all goes smoothly according to plan). i expect some deviation on my plans but heck, change is the only constant anyway. =P

Yesterday watched Arsenal vs Man U with yongxi and leslie at wheng's place, out 'bachelor's' corner and played winning 11 during half time break. heh heh. Not bad leh, with duty free Hoegaarden and chips. So roy! if u are reading this, will attempt to jio u again next week cos u are on duty if i calculated correctly - need your timetable dude, its going to be soccer night every sat if possible.
Current beer stock = 18 bottles of Hoegaarden, 3 cans of heineken. Peanuts = zero. Cheese balls = 9 packets.

Need to catch back on lost sleep

Just had my bath after coming back from dropping my dad off at punggol fish farm. Woke up this morning for delivery as my mom was feeling unwell, maybe tomorrow will go with my younger bro and let them rest for Sunday.

Though pretty tired out, but still awake as the bath refreshed my spirit. Had to take the bathe cos i was sweaty and lined with carbon from the newspapers. Now waiting for my hair to dry before i take a nap. Have to pick my elder bro & sis-in-law later at the airport. Will be my 3rd time there this week, on mon to send my parents off, yesterday to receive them and later for my brother.

Getting used to driving, still about level 3~4 now. Still a bit apprehensive when i need to change lanes with lots of traffic on the expressway though, and need lots of practice on the half-clutch. =P

Went to yongxi's bro place last night and played Nintendo Wii with him and his bro. Tiring to the arms and yx is crowned the boxing champion. =/ After a few games, went to pick up wheng, shean and her cousin jing2 for a ride, and we went down to changi village to look at some she-males. It was jing2's first time there and she was amazed that those were actually male, or used to be male.

Newspaper delivery boy

As my parents and elder bro went to Taiwan to settle some wedding stuff, i had to take over the responsibility of delivering newspapers when my parents are not around. So for the past few days, since Sunday i think, have been waking up at 0415 every morning to deliver the papers.

Thankfully, i have the help of my younger bro(blessing #1) and am also grateful of yongxi, who had agreed to help out in delivering the papers since Tues (#2). Thus i am finally driving and getting better at that as i have to drive every morning to deliver papers in Chai Chee and also driving to NTU. The first part is easy, but driving to NTU or back at peak hours was VERY challenging. Came back via BKE/SLE/TPE at 1800, thinking that it would be better than taking the PIE. How wrong i was, the expressway was rather packed and most importantly, without knowledge of when to keep left so that i can proceed to SLE from BKE, i had a challenging time trying to cut into the lane so that i can go SLE... else would have ended up at PIE cos i no skill. Thank goodness yongxi was helping me look out for the car behind (#3).

Both my younger bro and yongxi is now asleep. will be turning in soon too, but i think it has been a long time since i blogged so ... writing out thoughts.

Driving to school is so much faster (30 mins via PIE) than taking the MRT, furthermore, get to drive them (yx & kx) to places for dinner and stuff, pick them up and send them home. Would be nice to have a car to drive around, but will only have the car till Friday as my parents will be back by then so no more car liao. Oh well... still have today's toto to look forward to. =D

Yeah!! Me have driving license lor !!

I finally obtained my driving license today. After a 5 year wait ... 1 basic theory, 2 advance theory tests (1st one expired) and 1 practical test (4D special = 5121). It seems a long time, but stuff keeps cropping up; from being posted to Tuas Naval Base for 4 years, to the unexpected bout of cancer last year prevented me from learning to drive previously.

Well... its a nice feeling to be able to complete what i aimed for, passing a first time attempt at the practical test. That will make it less than 3 months time with a total of $1084 spent. At 26 years of age, i am the last person among my frens to get the license... hahaha..

Thus i wish myself, a safe and joyful journey everytime i drive!! =)

Hmmm .... anyone out there dares to sit in my car while i drive? =P

A more fruitful day .... keep it up!

After feeling that i am procrastinating recently, was more motivated today to clear some back log of stuff to do. Finally cleaned my marine tank and changed some water. Pity i have no digital camera with me, else can snap a picture of the tank.

Did some more of my logbook; prepared the pictures to print tomolo in office, to paste in the logbook. Cleared up my cluttered desktop and stuff.

So .. was active for about 3-4 hours liao ... time to take a breather and then sleep. Tomolo will be my final driving lesson b4 the warm up and driving test on Wed. So, lets hope i will have good driving tomolo and an excellent one for the test on Wed. =D

A day of many 'firsts'

Today is my 17th driving lesson. Achieved several 'firsts' .. and i hope it will be the one and only experience.

Today went to circuit, on my 'S' curve, no problem. At the end of the 'S' curve, is the crank course, which is not a problem also. Until i start to turn left OUT of the crank course, in my haste, my rear left tire kissed the kerb. =P Shitz ... best thing is..... i didnt even feel it.

Then, at the vertical parking, as i was reversing, the car opposite me was doing parallel parking at the same time. Afraid that i might hit the car, i looked at the other car in front and i forgot to check behind.... 'clink!' hahahahaha!!!

Lastly, while turning right on a T junction, i misjudged the speed on an on coming car on my left and had to stop in the middle of the road..... oops .... good news is, my right is rather clear. Bad news, my instructor was pretty pissed.... "Your test is coming soon! Tester will give you immediate failure !!!" i gave a sheepish smile and nodded. =P

Well ... thats about it. Now need to focus on outstanding issues such as SC project (need to give this a nice sounding nickname), my europe trip (Only left 2 train connections to settle; all lodging done! =D), clearing up my room, cleaning my marine fish tank and PASS my driving next WED !!!

Learning how to drive ...

My 13th lesson today. Raining weather, but not so bad. Da test is coming soon, on 17th May. Still unsure of whether i can make it anot, i checked with my ever silent instructor who sprouted out two syllabus "Okay". Which would probably be his 2nd comment in our 1.5 hours of interaction that is not a directional cue. Is this normal? To be paying $36 to ride with an instructor who seldoms speaks? hmmm .... have to check it out.

Anyway, lets hope i can pass on my 1st attempt on 17th May, heh heh, which will mean that my license will cost less than $1k sing doolah. *fingers crossed* Can't wait for the day to come, though now is to wait for next tues to arrive, for which i can go into circuit for the second time.