8 days Seoul trip (Nov 29 - Dec 6, 2025)

The finance report is out. :)

We met the first snow in Seoul on December 4th, 2025 at 7.20 pm, how lucky!

The SGD exchange rate to Korean Won also hit all time high during our trip, hence YouTrip gave fantastic rate throughout the trip, average around S$1 = KRW 1,127. Not bad for a credit card rate.

More photos to be uploaded ... ....

Endowment, ILP & Whole Life plan updates

It's time to update my endowment plan, investment-linked plan (ILP) and whole life plan.

1. Endowment Plan - HSBC Target Saver

That's a 21-years saving plan and I had completed my last payment in July 2025. The plan will be lapsed in July 2026, and I will receive one lump sum payout of S$67,134.

Total premium paid S$52,161.48. 
Surrender Value: S$67,134. 
IRR: 2.24% only.

2. Investment-Linked Plan (ILP) - 100% AIA Acorns of Asia

The performance of the ILP sorely depends on the fund that you have chosen. Since AIA Acorns of Asia had gone up significantly, reaching my desired level of S$4 level, I decided to surrender the plan. I sold the plan just last week (Sep 25th, 2025) and I shall receive a payout S$67,564.01.

Total premium paid S$52,425.6.
Surrender Value: S$67,564.01. 
IRR: 2.20% only.

3. Whole Life Plan - Tokio Marine 

I have completed my last payment in February 2025. So, this life insurance will cover me for LIFE.

If and ONLY IF I want to surrender this plan at age 66 (for an example), I will get back S$163,341.

Total premium paid S$64,860.
Surrender Value: S$163,341.
IRR: 3.02%.

Whole Life Insurance plan is not meant for surrendering while you are alive, that's not the intention of the Whole Life Insurance. 

You shall leave the greatest legacy to your next generation.

3 more years to hit CPF S$1 million

On target to hit CPF S$1 million at the age of 48. :)

This is achievable by doing Voluntary Housing Refund (VHR).

It is fine to perform VHR because the T-bill rate and FD interest rate had crashed to 1.40+%.

As of today, the VHR ceiling: S$75,251+S$40,625 = S$115,876.

Key Milestones shall be:

(1) Jan 1st, 2026: S$700,000. Estimate to VHR S$28,590.

(2) Jan 1st, 2027: S$800,000. Estimate to VHR S$24,590.

(3) Jan 1st, 2028: S$900,000. Estimate to VHR S$20,590.

(4) Jan 1st, 2029: S$1,000,000

Updated on October 9th, 2025

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I decided to perform VHR now rather than later. :)

8 days Shanghai trip (June 2025)

The finance report is out. :)

We do not have chance to use cash. All expenses in China were paid by Alipay or WeChat Pay. 

China is truly a cashless country!

It is interesting to find out among S$2,324 spent in China:

- 45% for 2 times massage & haircut

- 25% for meals (15% dinner, 7% lunch & 3% breakfast)

- 12% for coffee & dessert

- 12% for shopping 

- 6% for transportation (metro and cab).

It's nice to travel in China. We are going to Bejing next year!

More photos to be uploaded ... ....

HDB rental dropped 12.50% !

My new HDB rental dropped 12.50%.

My last rental mentioned in this blog. HDB rental yield now 13.52% !

S$3,500 monthly, rental yield 11.83%.

The flat has 73 years lease left, so 73 years x 12 months x S$3,500 ~= S$3.06 million potential passive income. :) Still very good la. The HDB was fully paid in year 2014, no more housing loan and the HDB market valuation had gone up by 82%. Not bad. I shall sell it 20 years later. 

This S$3,500 monthly rental is like CPF LIFE monthly payout at age 65 for LIFE. 

However, to have such CPF LIFE monthly payout of S$3,500 at age 65, you need to have S$437,500 at CPF Retirement Account (RA) at the age of 55.

Some flyers sent to my HDB unit.

HDB | Check Market Rental Rates

Based on HDB rental caveat, for the past 12 months rental at Toh Guan estate, there were total 64 rental.

Median rental is more accurate than average rental, but it is fun to find out the average rental too.

Median rental: S$3,500.00

Average rental: S$ 3,424.44

My tenant had decided to end the lease 3 months earlier and based on the contract, they have to reimburse the Landlord S$545, being pro-rated commission paid to the lease period from May 1st to July 31st, 2025 (total 3 months) including forfeiture of security deposit (S$4,000).

My agent took almost 1 month to secure the new tenant. The current rental market is weakening.

It is better to secure the rental as early as possible!

We secured 2 years rental tenancy with S$3,500, that's S$84,000 for my 2 years living expenses. :)

My still beautiful 4-room flat at Jurong East. All three bedrooms size are decent, don't you think so?

Extremely large kitchen area.

I have replaced 2x toilet bowls after 16 years of usage. 

The S$3,500 HDB rental is able to cover my compulsory first 9 items of living expenses, total: S$2,667. Still have a balance of S$833 to support other living expenses, not bad. :)