Why Earning Above Average Still Feels Like Never Enough

Based on online data, males in my age group should be earning about $6,049 per month, including employer CPF. In my trade, real estate services, the median is around $4,908 per month.

To be transparent, I’m currently earning $8,760 per month, including employer CPF. On paper, it looks great, above average both in general and within my industry.

And yet, why do I often feel like there’s never enough money? The reason is simple: I’m actively putting my money to work, building a future where I don’t have to rely solely on a paycheck.

How I Balance Life and Financial Discipline

1️⃣ I don’t compromise my lifestyle. I still enjoy good lunches, dinners, and occasional treats. Life is to be lived, not just saved.

2️⃣ I set aside at least 25% of my monthly income for my warchest. This acts as my buffer, my optionality fund, and the foundation of my long-term financial plan.

3️⃣ I have a clear goal: I aim to stop working full-time for someone else by the age of 40, that’s in 2041. Every decision I make now, every investment I put my money into, is geared toward that milestone.

Final Thoughts

Earning more than average feels comfortable, but comfort doesn’t create freedom. Feeling “never enough” isn’t a flaw, it’s a signal that your money is doing its job: working for you and your future.

Financial security isn’t just about how much you earn, it’s about how strategically you deploy it.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My First Portfolio Update

Hello everyone and welcome to the very first portfolio update of The SG Hustle! After years of investing, I’ve built a modest portfolio that I’m excited to share. This update will focus solely on assets under my name, as my wife and I manage other investments jointly that won’t be covered here. Portfolio Overview Company Position Current Price % SGD OCBC 2000 $16.59 25% Capitaland Invest 10052 $2.60 19% Aims Apac Reit 12500 $1.26 12% Hafary 30000 $0.30 7% Genting Sing 11500 $0.76 7% USD NVDA 180 $139.00 25% BTC 0.0417 $94,424.00 4% CRO 7000 $0.16 1%   Price cut off as of 24th Dec 5pm. Dividend Income Outlook The Singapore portfolio is strategically positioned for dividends. In 2025, I project a minimum of $5,000 SGD in dividends , assuming stable payouts across my holdings. This projection serves as a baseline, as I typically reinvest dividends and add new holdings to the portfolio over time. Reductions are rare and usually only happen if a stock’s valuation surges beyond what ...
Read more

Breaking Down My Family’s Monthly Expenses of Nearly $5,000 SGD

Many might wonder why my family’s monthly expenses amount to nearly $5,000 SGD . Here’s a detailed breakdown to provide clarity. 1. Fixed Monthly Bills: $835 Electricity: $160 Water & Miscellaneous Utilities: $60 Service & Conservancy Charges (S&CC): $70 Broadband: $45 Domestic Worker (Helper): $500 2. Groceries & Household Essentials: $560 Mainly from Fairprice and Redmart.  3. Children’s Expenses: $1,820 With two young kids, childcare and necessities form a significant portion of our spending: Infant Care & Playgroup Fees: $1,200 Milk Powder: $120 Diapers: $300 Ad-Hoc Baby Items (Bottles, etc.): $200 4. Car-Related Costs: $1,200 This includes: Monthly Installment Petrol Insurance & Road Tax 5. Occasional Dining Out: $300 Since welcoming our new baby, we’ve cut back on eating out, but occasional meals still add up to about $300 monthly . Looking Ahead: Relief in Sight The biggest expenses— childcare and car costs —will ease over time. Once my young...
Read more

Why I'm Starting a Business After Living Below My Means

Recently, I noticed something interesting. While many people struggle with rising costs, I've remained financially comfortable. This made me stop and think: why am I not feeling the pinch like others? The answer surprised me. I've always lived a step behind my peers when it comes to lifestyle choices. I still live in an HDB flat when they have upgraded to condos I sold my car and now use only public transport I avoid expensive vacations and luxury purchases Some might ask: "Where's the enjoyment in life?" Honestly, right now my world revolves around my two toddlers who are both under 3 years old. Between work and family time, there's little room for extravagant spending. And this simpler lifestyle has helped me save significantly more money. Discovering New Opportunities With reduced social outings and no big holiday (thanks to my 2 toddlers), I found myself with valuable free time in the evenings. Instead of wasting it, I began asking myself: could I build so...
Read more