I wrote the below draft on my smartphone’s note app while passing time in the office. It’s my first attempt of writing something personal, so hope you enjoy this narrative journal post! (Hadn’t been writing since my last post, so it might feel rusty.)
Sometime in mid-June, my employment status had changed from “Student” to “Employed”.
Though designated as a temp staff, I wasn’t elated on taking additional responsibilities, nor receiving salary in my bank account. The latter spelled trouble like the former did. It might seemed puzzling, but how would you have reacted to an increase in spending power?
Despite being bent on saving my NS allowances to pay off my university fees, the plan had fell apart as binge-shopping ensued, blowing whatever amount I had received.
The guilt conscience from then had molded my frugality to date. What mattered more however, like how I did in my polytechnic life, was having the mindset of spending and saving like a student, and cultivating that habit.
While the absolute values are pint-sized compared to permanent employees, I am investing 13.3% and saving 45.9% (not counting CPF) of my current income. The percentages aren’t stellar, but they would make a great benchmark to compare to, when I step into full-time work.
How are you allocating income to different items?
-Alvin
Let there be White Noise 