Thinking too much...
We are our own worst enemy.
Humans think too much. It took me four years to work on my financial health — four years of compounding interest, four years of dreaming about early retirement, four years of procrastination.
Thinking back, did I know I needed to take immediate action? Definitely, yes!
So why did it take me four years to finally get things going? The answer is simple: priority.
Investing simply wasn’t my priority. It was more of a want than a need.
🏜️ A Perspective on Priority
Imagine being stranded in a scorching desert with no source of water. Not a sip in three days — and soon, you’ll die of thirst. Your body will be so dehydrated that you'll be too weak to move. Hallucinations will set in, and eventually, you’ll fall into a coma and die a slow, painful death. At that point, water isn’t just a need — it becomes your only priority.
Now, imagine you find a broken bottle with some liquid residue inside. It could be dew, rainwater, or something unknown. Would you still drink it? Or would you rather die?
I think the answer is clear.
💰 Investing is the Only Way to Build Wealth
And no — this isn’t some fluffy “motherhood” statement to push people into investing.
This is a fact.
Ask any rich person whether they invest — the answer is a resounding yes.
I strongly believe there's not a single rich person who got wealthy just by saving. There’s a saying: “The rich get richer, the poor get poorer” — but let’s not forget: the rich were once poor too. And we’re not talking about generational wealth or inheritance.
👤 If You Haven’t Started Investing, You Might Be in One of These Categories:
Type A – “I Don’t Know How”
You don’t know how to invest, and the truth is — you never will, because you have no desire to find out.
In the age of AI and information at your fingertips, not knowing “how to” is just a convenient excuse.
You’re the type who prefers having a plate of food served to you. Going to the buffet line and choosing for yourself? That’s too troublesome.
In fact, you’d rather wait for money to fall from the sky than lift a finger.
Type B – “I’ll Do It Later”
You know you need to take action… but you choose to wait.
You prefer to kick the can down the road, sweep the dust under the carpet, or close your eyes and pretend nothing’s wrong.
You know that exercise is good for your health, but wait until things deteriorate. Your motto is: “If it doesn’t kill me, life goes on.”
This type is the scariest. You know the grass is greener on the other side, and heaven lies behind the door — but you still choose inaction.
You’re comfortable where you are, and fear change. You remain in your status quo, even though deep down, you know what needs to be done. You simply choose not to act — not because of logic, but out of emotion.
Years later, life goes on… and you’re still standing in the same spot.
Type C – “I Started, but I Gave Up”
You took action, but got impatient with the results. You want to get rich overnight.
You say, “I started investing but lost some money. Investing is bad. I’m never doing it again.”
But investing is like a rollercoaster. It has ups and downs — but if you stay on long enough, the ride ends with a return.
Speculative trades might make quick money, but consistent investing over time builds patience and wealth.
✅ No Matter Which Type You Are: Just Get Started
Investing beats inflation, and inflation is guaranteed.
Wealth can only be created if your money isn’t eroding while sitting still.
Remember: the kopi you used to buy in the past was always cheaper than today’s kopi.
Let time and compounding do the heavy lifting.
📆 It’s Mid-2025. Here Are 3 Simple Tips to Get Started Gradually:
1. Invest Your Excess CPF OA
If you have idle funds in your CPF Ordinary Account, consider investing to beat the 2.5% interest rate.
While 2.5% is risk-free and government-guaranteed, imagine the compounding effect if you have a long runway ahead.
2. Top Up Your CPF SA
Enjoy tax relief and earn 4% risk-free interest.
It’s almost a no-brainer — yet many still don’t do it.
The earlier you hit your Full Retirement Sum (FRS), the sooner compound interest works its magic.
FRS increases around 3% yearly — each day of inaction is another day of playing catch-up.
3. Start Small, But Start Now
Don’t wait for a lump sum. It’s not about the amount — it’s about the habit.
Even S$100 to S$200 a month is a great start.
Don’t think of flying a jumbo jet the moment you want to be a pilot. Learn to take off first.
Edited by ChatGPT so that it is more structured and free from grammar mistakes.
Ben is not financially trained. He is not a certified financial planner and he does not sell any insurance or investment plans. He is not financially motivated by any entities to produce this blog. He just want his friends to know more about money management and not have anyone fall between the social cracks. Nope, he is not a millionaire though he aims to be financially free before 50 years old.
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