The SG Hustle

A few days ago, I met up with some university friends for a steamboat dinner at HDL. It was a rare gathering, as life had taken us in different directions since the Covid-19 pandemic—many of us got married, had children, or found new social circles. Before the pandemic, we met regularly, from seeing each other daily in school to monthly catch-ups after graduation. However, as responsibilities grew, our meetups became less frequent, making this dinner a special occasion. During our gathering, we naturally caught up on each other's lives. To my surprise, some of my peers were facing difficulties despite holding NTU degrees. A few lost their jobs during the pandemic and struggled to recover, while others turned to gig work due to limited opportunities. Listening to their stories, I realized how fortunate I had been. Instead of commenting much, I simply listened, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of life. On my way home, I reflected on my own journey. My first job paid well, but a...

Introduction: A Step Toward Financial Independence When I first embarked on my F.I.R.E (Financial Independence, Retire Early) journey, I knew it would require discipline, planning, and a lot of hard work. What I didn’t anticipate was how much time and energy everyday tasks would consume. That’s why, few months ago, my wife and I made a decision that has significantly impacted my journey: We hired a helper for our household. The Time Drain: Life Before Hiring a Helper Before hiring a helper, my days were a constant juggling act. Between work, family responsibilities, and household chores, it felt like there were never enough hours in the day. Cooking, cleaning, laundry, and other mundane tasks consumed a significant portion of my time and energy. While I was making progress on my F.I.R.E journey, I often felt exhausted and stretched thin. I knew something had to change if I wanted to stay on track and maintain my well-being. The Game-Changer: Reclaiming My Time Hiring a he...

Recently, I came across an article about the Ministry of Education (MOE) working with the advertising industry to establish a code of conduct for tuition centres. Education Minister Chan Chun Sing mentioned unethical practices in the tuition industry, such as fear-based marketing and guilt-tripping parents into believing their children will fall behind without extra classes.  Personally, I feel that tutoring is an experience many undergraduates go through at some point before graduation. It’s a way to earn extra income, share knowledge, and gain valuable life skills. Personally, I went through this phase myself, and while it was rewarding, it wasn’t without its challenges. My Journey as a Private Tutor I started giving private tuition in my first year of university and continued until graduation. To balance my studies and personal life, I limited myself to a maximum of three students at any given time. Back then, the market rate for O-level tuition ranged from $40-$50...

When I first started exploring the idea of F.I.R.E (Financial Independence, Retire Early), I imagined a life of freedom, flexibility, and endless possibilities. But during a lunch conversation with my colleagues, I was struck by their perspective: early retirement, to them, meant "doing nothing and just having fun." This got me thinking—what does FIRE really mean for me? And more importantly, what would I do if I no longer had to work? The truth is, the idea of not having a structured daily routine feels both liberating and terrifying. Here’s why. The Misconception of Early Retirement: It’s Not About Doing Nothing Many people, like my colleagues, assume that early retirement is about lounging around, traveling endlessly, or indulging in hobbies without a care in the world. While that might sound appealing at first, it’s a shallow interpretation of what F.I.R.E truly offers. FIRE isn’t about doing nothing—it’s about reclaiming your time and designing a life that ali...

Identifying the Opportunity Through my work, I often travel to different locations for site visits, and along the way, I’ve noticed an interesting trend. Many workers in industrial and warehouse settings depend on small canteens for their food and drinks. But what really caught my attention was the presence of vending machines—mostly stocked with soft drinks—that are frequently sold out. This made me think: is there an untapped business opportunity here? Understanding the Target Market The main users of these vending machines seem to be ad-hoc job workers, such as semi-retired individuals and young adults in tertiary education. Many of them work in warehouses, particularly in third-party logistics (3PL) roles. Additionally, last-mile delivery drivers, who are always on the move, also rely on these machines for quick and easy refreshments. Seeing this demand made me consider if placing vending machines in strategic locations could be a profitable venture. Market Research and Cost Analys...

Curious about the Shopee Affiliate Program ? It’s a simple way to earn commissions by sharing product links with others. Whether you’re recommending items to friends, family, or even colleagues, you can make money effortlessly—no influencer status required! I started exploring this program in Feb 2024 , and since then, I’ve earned a total of $590.81 by casually sharing links. While it’s not a life-changing amount, it’s a decent side income for something that requires minimal effort. The best part? I didn’t need a massive social media following or spend hours promoting products. Here’s how I made it work: I only share products I genuinely use and recommend. For example, since I work in built environment related sector, I often get asked for recommendations on home essentials like CCTV cameras, doorbells, and maintenance tools. I’d casually share links to products I’ve personally tried, such as home CCTV, drain uncloggers, sink traps, or air fryer liners. I avoid spamming s...

Embarking on the F.I.R.E. (Financial Independence, Retire Early) journey as a salaried individual with a family is no small feat. I’m fortunate to have a supportive and understanding wife who shares the same financial values. As long as I contribute my fair share to our shared rainy-day fund and monthly expenses, she gives me the freedom to manage the remainder of my income as I see fit. This mutual trust has been crucial in maintaining harmony in our financial journey. But how much do I actually spend each month? Truthfully, a significant portion of my salary goes toward daily expenses, even as I pursue F.I.R.E. The key difference is that I’ve cut back on social gatherings and nightlife, focusing instead on essentials like meals and transportation. Let me break it down for you. Breaking Down My Monthly Expenses CPF Contributions : Like most Singaporeans earning below the contribution cap, 20% of my salary goes into CPF. This leaves me with what I call my "take-home ...

F.I.R.E., which stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early , is a lifestyle movement focused on achieving financial freedom and the ability to retire much earlier than the traditional retirement age. It emphasizes saving, investing, and generating passive income to create a sustainable financial future. While F.I.R.E. is an inspiring goal, it is not something that can be achieved overnight or even within a year—unless, of course, you inherit significant wealth or win the lottery. For most people, F.I.R.E. is a journey that unfolds in stages, with each stage bringing you closer to the ultimate goal of financial independence. Life is unpredictable, and while we can plan, we cannot guarantee that everything will go according to that plan. There will be detours, setbacks, and unexpected challenges along the way. When this happens, it’s important to reassess, readjust, and return to the drawing board to refine your strategy. However, the end goal should always remain clea...