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Showing posts from January, 2024

Critical Illness (CI) medical cost in Singapore

This HL Assurance article was dated Sep 2020.  Estimated CI  medical cost in Singapore in 2020. 1.  The  most common types of cancer  for women in Singapore are breast cancer, followed by colorectal cancer and lung cancer. For men, the most common type of cancer is colorectal cancer, followed by lung cancer and then prostate cancer. Risk factors for cancer include family history, obesity, smoking and diet. However, people can still get diagnosed with cancer despite not exhibiting high-risk factors. The  cost of treating cancer  in Singapore has been estimated at about $100,000 to $200,000 a year. 2. Stroke is quite costly to treat, with the  mean direct medical cost of stroke  estimated at about $12,473.70 in Singapore.   3. Heart bypass medical cost. The median cost of heart bypass surgery at public hospitals in Singapore is $8,312 for those in Class B2 wards and $6,046 for those in Class C wards. 4. Heart angioplasty is an expensive procedure, with the subsidised cost of the procedu

Saltwater or Listening better for Oral gargle ?

What are the 3 major portals of entry for disease? a. Inhalation (via the respiratory tract) b. Absorption (via mucous membranes such as the eyes) c.  Ingestion (via the gastrointestinal tract) I no Doctor.  But I try to find out about bacteria entry through the above; termed as ENT channel (Ear, Nose & Throat). 1. Does salt water kill bacteria? Salt water may kill some, but does not kill all, mouth and throat bacteria. However, solutions of salt can help bring bacteria to the surface of the gums, teeth, and throat. Once the bacteria is brought to the surface, some of it washes away when a person spits the salt water out. However, the saltwater gargle was not as effective at reducing bacteria as the alum mouthwash. Alum, which is potassium aluminum sulfate, is an active ingredient in some medicated mouthwashes. Doctors and dentists often recommend saltwater gargles to help alleviate mouth and throat pain. 2. Is it better to gargle with salt water or Listerine? Gargling salt water c

Hearing loss increases dementia risk by 90% !

Something new about Dementia: Protect your hearing. Protect, check and support your hearing 1.  Hearing loss in midlife can increase dementia risk by an average of 90%. 2.  Use hearing aids if needed – they help reduce that risk. Protect your hearing from loud noises. Get your hearing tested. http://alzheimer.ca/en/about-dementia/how-can-i-reduce-risk-dementia/10-ways-reduce-your-risk-dementia

Tinnitus - Serious hearing condition ?

 1. Tinnitus is the medical term for "hearing" noises in your ears. It occurs when there is no outside source of the sounds. Tinnitus is often called "ringing in the ears." 2. Tinnitus is common . Almost everyone notices a mild form of tinnitus once in a while. It usually lasts a few minutes. 3. Can tinnitus go away? Many times, tinnitus can't be cured. But there are treatments that can help make your symptoms less noticeable. Your doctor may suggest using an electronic device to suppress the noise. 4. Untreated earwax buildup can lead to hearing loss , irritation, pain in your ear, dizziness, ringing in your ears and other issues. In most cases, earwax impaction isn’t dangerous and symptoms go away with treatment. Earwax blockage treatments include drops to soften the wax. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14428-ear-wax-buildup--blockage https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/tinnitus https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient

17 Habits of self-made millionaires who retire early

17 habits of self-made millionaires who retired early 1. Take stock of own finances 2. Track net worth & spending 3. Frugal 4. Underspend on housing 5. Focus on increasing earnings 6. Earn more, to invest more 7. Create passive income 8. Comfortable living outside comfort zone 9. After retiring, spend even less 10. When they do spend, it's on experiences 11. After retiring, money is not huge motivator 12. Value happiness as living life they love 13. Move to areas with lower cost of living 14. Develop hobbies 15. Like to exercise 16. They travel 17. They are optimistic https://www.businessinsider.sg/self-made-millionaire-early-retirement-habits-2019-12/ Further applications Worldly temporal wealth 1. Track net worth & spending 2. Create and grow passive income 3. Be frugal but spend wisely 4. Value happiness and life over money 5. Retire in areas of lower cost 6. Develop hobbies, exercise and travel 7. Be optimistic True Wealth 1. Know the Giver of your wealth 2. Know your w

PA Senior Silver Passion Card

For those Senior finally hitting 60-yo to apply for new PA Silver Passion Card . Not young anymore... ~~~ When one reaching 60yo, People Association (PA) will send you a TransitLink Application Form for you to apply for Silver Passion Card.  This card will entitle you for cheaper Senior rate for MRT & Bus transportation, Cinema movie, Restaurant buffets & other perks. The New Application Form basically captures your personal particulars. Together with recent hardcopy or e-Passport size photo,  we can either to TransitIink Ticketing Booth to apply or register @SimplyGo website to submit application, as stated in the Form QR Code. SimplyGo - Poor UI !! And I need to download app from PlayStore !! This form looks real, not scam.  However this SimplyGo web site will lead us to a "wild-goose chase" to register.   Poor UI (User Interface) and not helpful at all. Sometimes it is a worrying trend.  With so much scams going on, and we still subject to such e-application.  We n

13 Vitamins our body needs

  What are the 13 classes of vitamins that our body needs? The 13 vitamins your body needs are: vitamin A, C, D, E, K, B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), B5 (Pantothenic Acid), B6 (Pyridoxine), B7 (Biotin), B9 (Folate) and B12 (Cobalamin). From the fruit-vitamin chart, these vitamins are available in fruits. Group1 : milk (6): A, B1, B2, B6, B12, D + sunlight Banana (2): B, E Tomato (2): C, K Group2 Egg (4): A, B12, D, E Beans/Nuts (): B1; B2, B, B6, E, K Oranges/Grapes: (1): C I am no Doctor.   Generally as one gets older, our absorption and consumption of vitamins may not be enough.  I hear of people adding supplements beside Multivitamin, Omega 3, 6 & 9 in their supplements. During my younger days, I was given cod-liver oil daily.   I remembered its taste.  Recently I tried to consume the same brand of Cod-Liver oil, it still tastes the same; so this brand is not so adulterated and authentic. ~~~~ One added Magnesium supplements too. Magnesium may help to prom

SRS another solid income stream!!

1. One perspective of SRS contributions is another solid Retirement Layer (SRS).   2. SRS scheme was started in 2001, which is to augment our retirement.  Only in 2016 when it increased annual contribution to $15,300. 3. A solid 23 years to contribute and grow into a portfolio. This annual topup of $15.3k into SRS can build up into an SRS income stream.   ~~~ 4. Someone shared that his SRS was used to buy endowment single premiums to generate an income stream of $70k p.a. !!! for upto 70+ yo.   5. Maybe it was his gross estimation. Realistically $30k ~ $40k p.a for 10-year maybe possible. Even so, it will be $3k p.m. from age 65 to 75; quite impression stream too ? ~~~~ 6. How much personal income tax saving from SRS contributions? * At say, 10% tax bracket, it would be saving of $15,300 × 0.1 = $1.5k annually. * At say, 20% personal income tax bracket, savings from SRS contributions would be $15,300 × 0.2 = $3k annually saving. https://www.mof.gov.sg/schemes/individuals/supplementar

Retirement financial consideration

1. Some considerations of Retirement Planning *  Pre-retirement is Wealth accumulation *  Post-retirement is Wealth Preservation, without Wealth de-accumulation, not endless accumulation. *  Emotion Journey in retirement (loss of identity & power can cause unease) *  Steady income steam (from diversify portfolio & allows for long term compounding interest) ~~~~ 2. Layered Retirement Income streams * Stable fixed stream 1. CPFLife Payout 2. CPF Balance (SA/OA) Interest 3. Endowments & Annuities 4. SRS (withdrawal/investment) 5. Cash withdrawal/FD & Bill/Bond interest/ 6. Pension Payout * Dynamic stream 7. Rental income 8. Equity returns 9. Others (e-Vouchers, allowance) ~~~ 3. Retirement expenses woes 1.  High inflation 2.  High living cost expenses 3.  Medical cost 4.  Nursing home cost 5.  Split-over cost from loved ones https://www.inspiredvillages.co.uk/blog/the-journey-through-the-5-stages-of-retirement

Be kind to your liver. How ?

  5 Ways to Be Kind to Your Liver 1. Be careful about alcohol consumption. 2. Wash produce and steer clear of toxins. ... 3. Prevent hepatitis A, B and C. ... 4. Watch out for medications and herbs. ... 5. Exercise and eat right. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/5-ways-to-be-kind-to-your-liver&ved=2ahUKEwjp5MbB_dODAxVpTGwGHekPA_4QFnoECAkQBQ&usg=AOvVaw2x218jwjTRw-NqHOmj5kLE ~~~ Best Ways To Detox Your Liver 1. Consume More Water. Starting off easy, water is great and one of the best ways to detox your liver. 2. Sweating Is The Way To Go. It is imperative for your body to sweat. 3. Say Goodbye To Toxic Foods. ... 4. Raw Vegetable Juice To The Rescue. 5. You Need Potassium-Rich Foods. 6. Liver Support Supplements. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://psrihospital.com/simple-ways-to-detox-your-liver/&ved=2ahUKEwjp5M

Parent topup to children CPF

I realised that this was Mr CPF Loo's sharing with FM93.8 on building up Child's CPF SA. Annually CPF will publish a Table showing CPF Regrossed Balance tabulating for various ages and their corresponding Balance in CPF. Regrossed Balance in 2022, only 30 children have more than $300k ~ $400k in their CPF. Let me try extract this table, as attached. I was thinking if this was real. I checked my SA topup for my children; now in their mid-20s. To-date their SA is more than $110k; projected to achieve $600k+ at their age 65. Thinking back, CPF only started a "Others" category in year 2015 to allow topup for our children; that was when when they were in Secondary schools. And they don't even have Nric to register for CPF Login Account yet !!  Everything is hardcopy then, include bringing their Birth Certs to CPFB Branch to do the transactions for first topup. So from 2015 to 2023, 9 years of topup to reach their present SA $110k+ in Jan 2024. For my case, it is just

Retrenched without notice

 https://cna.asia/3HbLsbq This morning we heard of Lazada retrenched without notice; and even recalled the staff back from leaves just to be issued the R" Letter. One of the real nightmares is to be retrenched without advanced notice or due to poor performance or other damning reasons. This is esp. worrying if you are sole breadwinner of a young family with schooling kids. Imagine that it happened to your children or loved ones who just started their family. My first Resale Endowment policy was bought from a young housewife of 30yo.  According to her agent whom I met later, her spouse was retrenched and she might have surrendered her policy (~$10k+) to support the family. Sad but harsh reality.  My takeaway: 1.  Std answer: Build up a second source of income, be it from another part-time job or passive income. 2. Choose your SAFE secure job properly. But have a mindset that your job can be taken away from you; lest to get emotionally attached to the job. 3. As parents, give a lif

Paradox of using CPF-OA to buy T-bills

Paradox of using CPF-OA for T-bills & investment. Usually 1 Jan is a routine activity for CPF Balance stock-take. 1.  Check annual interest for the past year; in this case Whole Year Interest for 2022. 2.  VCMA to BHS from $68,500 to $71,500 by $3,000 cash topup, VCRA to its ERS from $298,200 to $308,700, with $10,500 cash topup. 3.  Subsequently another VC3AC by ~$8,000 cash topup to 3 CPF accounts (OA & SA, since MA reached its BHS).  This is to max CPF topup to its yearly $37,740 for Seniors whose CPF contribution rate is reduced after age 55 and then after age 60. 4.  Subsequently few cash topups to refund MA withdrawal by Medical premiums; maybe $3,000 for whole year. ~~~ I noticed that my total whole-year interest (for 2022) actually dropped and less than that of 2021. I expected its interest $33k+ for whole-year 2022.  But it was $30k+. Reason: I use OA to buy 6-mth T-bills.   T-bills interest earned is returned into OA Balance, not accounted as interest paid by CPFB. I