#saveDayre updates: negotiations are still underway (and I guess that's why @/blog delayed the shutdown) and official bids have been made for the buyout of this app, so stay tuned!
I'm still working with the buyers who are still in the bid for Dayre and will keep you guys updated once a final offer has been made and signed. The problem now is that…because I introduced and got in so many investors, it seems quite likely now that there'll be a bidding war π©
I'm actually really annoyed because I didn't set out on all this work (for free too) only for Netccentric to benefit and make profit out of an app that they were gonna shut down at a loss, but I guess what's done is done. Having said that, the asking price was frankly ridiculous and I don't believe it one bit that there are indeed buyers out there willing to pay such an exorbitant price (if so, then why even shut down the app in the first place? *rolls eyes to the back of my head*).
We all set out on the #saveDayre petition to SAVE Dayre, not to Profit (from) Dayre. And I wanted every single cent to go EITHER towards the operations of this app OR the improvement of it.
It is about time Dayre was sold / given to a better team who can run it and actually cherish our community, and I will do everything I can in my capacity to see that transition through, while I work with the new buyers I've brought in.
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ANYWAY! Realised I haven't done an AMA here on Dayre before so while it's a bit quiet now, feel free to ask me anything!
(except work-related / where I live or hang out type of questions)
"How did you feel meeting Heng Swee Keat and the vibes he gives you?"
(from @evonne89)
I actually met HSK previously when he was Minister for Education! He reached out to the team I was leading and invited us to his office for a chat on our views on the education system π
The vibes I got was that he's healthier than I had expected, and he's very sincere!
"Are you sure you don't have more than 24 hours a day?"
(also by @evonne89)
Haha I sleep at 2am almost every night, sometimes later! I draw up a To Do list to prioritise what tasks are the most important so that helps to keep me accountable. My priorities after work are typically my tuition kids, Patreon, working on the blog, researching crypto and stocks, and of cos #saveDayre during this period. Lately I've been getting slower in replying to emails from readers though!
"What does a typical Saturday look like for you?"
(by @wwonderwumeng )
My Saturdays are usually spent teaching + watching the 10.30pm drama with my MIL at night! Blogged about it here as well hehe
@sgbudgetbabe:090717
Sundays are for teaching + church π
"What would you do if you won $1 million?"
(by @alwaysmore)
The chances of me winning $1M are quite low considering I don't usually buy 4D or Toto LOL but if I ever have such a windfall I'll DEFINITELY invest it so it'll keep growing and providing for me and my family in the years to come!
In addition I will probably then quit my job and research on investments / blog full-time. Also set up that Robinhood tuition centre idea that I've always had! This involves giving away free scholarships to students who need but can't afford it! I've been very blessed to have had a scholarship see me through my university days, so this is my way of returning back what I was given π
"If you could have anything you wish for, what would it be?"
(by @hzmz_)
Omg I have a lot of things I want and wish for leh but if I could only pick one, it'll be for my family and myself to be in good health and never suffer from any serious or critical illness. Health really is the #1 priority imo.
Other wishes at this present moment include trying for a πΆ and also other vainer concerns like wanting to go for cosmetic surgery (but scared + expensive) π and losing weight!!!!! I've gained so much weight since my university days π©π©π©ππππͺ
"Would you consider joining the civil service one day or setting up your own business?"
(by @figgyyy)
If a good opportunity in the civil service + good pay pops up, I won't mind considering, but it'll have to be in a ministry or a statutory board that aligns with my passions and beliefs. Best fit for now seems to be in corporate communications haha but I'm not the biggest fan of red tape cos I find them unnecessarily slow and unproductive π
I'm also passionate about politics but with my direct and no-nonsense nature, probably better to steer clear πππ
On my own business, I currently have a stake in organic skincare brand, Blended, which I co-founded a few years ago! You can check it out at www.blendedskincare.com although I'm not the most involved in operations. Do support! Hehe π
I'd also love to set up a Robinhood tuition centre teaching English and General Paper if the opportunity comes up π
"Do you plan to get your own house or continue staying with your in-laws?"
(also by @figgyyy)
We have some very specific areas and requirements for a house that we're looking for, which includes proximity to where both our parents are staying. At this moment, we've yet to find a good house that fits our criteria, but when we do we will definitely be keen on getting our own place.
However, my husband is the only son, so it is quite likely that we will get my in-laws to move in with us even after we get our own place. Will also need their help for when the baby comes!
I do love staying with my in-laws though so I don't mind heh. You can read about some of my conversations with my MIL here! @sgbudgetbabe:220617
"Was there another project previously that you had initiated that you're proud of?"
(by @ourlittlebee)
Yes! Oh this question really brings back memories. When I was 17, I worked with The Salvation Army to start a new volunteering initiative called "Love for a Dollar". You guys might have come across this in Capitaland shopping malls before, where you can bring your Christmas gifts to a counter to be wrapped in return for $1 per gift, which then goes entirely towards charity and funding The Salvation Army's beneficiaries in Singapore!
This charity gift-wrapping initiative is still alive and ongoing up till today, although a lot of it depends on the volunteer team who runs it now, as well as the support we get from the malls (i.e. which malls allow us to use their space for free! The location of the booth matters too cos we don't do publicity or marketing for it…no budget π )
That was one of my proudest projects, even more so because I was only a student when I started it. Of course, I could only pull it off because we were being mentored by the person who headed up all of TSA's volunteers in Singapore (whom I'm still friends with today!) and he helped us with editing our pitches to the different malls asking for a booth space to run our initiative.
Brings back such good memories! Maybe I should find time to go back and volunteer again π
"What got you into finance? How do you get started on your research?"
(by @flynnister )
Hmm I think it was my life circumstances that shaped my interest in budgeting and personal finance. Money was always a tricky issue in my family while growing up – my mom got retrenched during the Asian Financial Crisis, we had to borrow from relatives to make ends meet, my dad got burnt in investing, I was the kid who never had the luxury of being on an airplane ride while all my other classmates had, I had to fund my own way through university and exchange, etc.
So I was determined from a young age and swore that I would never let money become a thorn in my own family when I grew up. I guess it started from there?
For research, Google is my best friend! I can spend hours stalking companies / their directors before I make a big investment. Other tools I use are annual reports and financial websites such as The Motley Fool and The Fifth Person, where they cover the Annual General Meetings (AGMs) that I'm usually unable to attend due to work!
"How did you learn about all these financial stuff?"
(by @because)
Through books and investment courses! I have a blog post on the finance / investment books that I've read and encourage reading. But just books alone aren't enough, I've also attended plenty of courses (unfortunately most of them are too expensive / teach too basic stuff) to turbo-charge my learning and discuss with the trainers who are experienced investors way savvier than I am.
The only courses I recommend now (based on price vs. the learning value you get out of it) are:
– The Investment Quadrant by The Fifth Person. Really speeds up your learning curve and is currently priced too low imo π a must for any investor before you begin!
– Dividend Machines by The Fifth Person. Definitely another must-do if you're into passive income through dividend stocks and REITS. Also priced too cheap cos it's literally the same price I paid for in 2015 ($397). I managed to get from them a readers promo code for $100 off this year if you're keen – blog post coming up on Monday!
– Factor-Based Investing by Dr Wealth. A super comprehensive investment methodology which also comprises of their own proprietary investment formulas that they came up with on their own to find undervalued stocks. This is the priciest course out of all 3 but I would say definitely go for it if you can afford it (asking for a readers' discount too but won't be available till March I think).
"How to become more productive?"
(by @hollibear)
Actually I can also be super unproductive leh, especially when I spend too much time watching Chinese / Korean dramas, or just mindlessly browsing through social media, or even just sleeping in like a pig π· π
One method that I find quite helpful is to draw up a To-Do list! It is very therapeutic to tick off the tasks that I've completed as well π I tend to prioritise them in order of deadlines and try not to sleep until I'm done!
Another useful method is to limit my usage of social media. I try to resist the urge to check my chats too frequently especially when I'm at work, unless I really am quite free la haha. I've also cut down on my usage of Facebook and Instagram, especially if their content don't add value to my life. On Facebook, I only browse my News Feed once a week or when I'm free, and most of my time is spent on useful communities or groups like Budget Brides, Bitcoin Singapore, Women Who Invest, etc.
I've also become more selective of who I follow and what I read nowadays to ensure that I'm always learning something. My online reading diet largely comprises of news websites, financial blogs, blogs on socio-political issues, cryptocurrency news, etc…boring to most people but they really aid in my learning and self-improvement. On Instagram, I follow people and thought leaders who inspire me in various ways as I read about their lives!
"What are some of the mottos you live by?"
(by @checklistmonster )
This is my #1 guiding philosophy whenever I encounter obstacles in life that makes me feel like giving up.
The harder we work, the luckier we get.
Whenever I feel like giving up, I'm reminded of the human capacity for strength.
π
"Do you always stand up for what you think is right?"
(by @coffeeluvs)
Depends on my mood / energy level lol. Sometimes I have a lot of things to expose but I don't feel like getting involved so I just leave it. But if I feel VERY strongly about it and that something needs to be said, then I will! Deceptive influencer marketing is one such example oops π
"BTO, EC or resale?"
(by @mmeixian)
I'm open to all three, but they just gotta be in the right location! BTO would be best if one wants to profit from a house but I generally see my first house as a home instead of an investment property (damn lazy to decor and reno twice sia).
"If you had 5 minutes with PM Lee, what hard questions would you ask him?"
(by @taypengkosong)
I'd ask:
1. Did you find your father's shoes too big to feel? How did you cope on those days?
2. What kind of legacy do you think you have left behind during your tenure as PM, or what legacy would you want to be remembered by?
3. How did you strike a balance between work and family, while keeping your children out of the public eye as much as possible?
4. Who is your favourite candidate to succeed you as PM, and why?
5. If you had to vote between yourself and Tharman for PM, who would you vote for and why?
