$150K in 5 years from $0 🏦
Real heart to heart talk today. Every month I tell myself “this is the month I save,” but where did my money go 🥹
I’ve read so many “$100k by 30” posts and yes, it’s possible. But if it’s so possible, why are so many of us not hitting it? I believe it’s not the ability, it was no plan and zero discipline. When I started thinking about buying a house, I told myself to stop guessing and build a system I can stick to. AND IT’S WORKING!!!
For anyone around a $5k monthly income in SG, here’s the simple structure I use : even if you’re starting from $0.
1) Rule of thumb (how I split my $5k)
• 20% CPF ($1,000) — automatic and can go to housing later
• 50% expenses ($2,500) — realistic for my not-so-perfect habits 🤣 any leftovers stay in bank
• 10% insurance ($500) — I’m really scared to die tbh so I’m ok paying for protection
• 20% investments ($1,000) — mid and long term buckets
2) Expenses reality check
I don’t know if any of y’all feel the same as me, but I always feel broke… then I open my statement and realise half was totally negotiable. The “non-negotiable” are rent, bills, transport basics. Start by deciding what’s truly non-negotiable and trim the noise. Chinese always say 你要理财，财才会理你
3) Short, Mid, Long term investing
Everyone says they “invest”… but honestly, who’s really earning money consistently? I burned myself trying to trade stocks, so I switched to money-earning, sleep-well choices:
• Short term: UOB One Account interest for cash I need soon
• Mid term: dividend funds that pay me monthly (hi passive income)
• Long term: growth funds for compounding (future house, retirement)
Let’s do the math. Stick to this for 5 years and here’s a conservative picture:
• Dividend payouts ≈ $12k total received
• Investment capital grows to ≈ $65k
• CPF you’ve contributed ≈ $60k (it’s your money too)
• Emergency cash in bank ≈ $30k
That’s around $150k in your name. Not overnight, but very doable with a simple system and quiet discipline.
If you’d like my simple Excel tracker that I use to log monthly expenses and investments, comment “tracker” and I’ll share it with you. 🤍
When I first started tracking my finances, I realized that having a clear system was a game changer. From the OCR image insights, breaking down expenses into negotiable and non-negotiable categories helped me identify where to cut back without feeling deprived. For example, rent and essential bills are fixed, but things like entertainment and dining out can be trimmed monthly. I also found that grouping my investments into short, mid, and long-term buckets gave me peace of mind. The UOB One Account is great for short-term cash needs with competitive interest, while dividend funds helped me earn passive income regularly. Growth funds are my long-term strategy for compounding wealth toward a future home. Using a monthly tracker, similar to the Excel one I offer, kept me accountable and motivated. Seeing my CPF contributions as part of my savings rather than just a mandatory deduction changed my perspective. Emergencies are covered with a cash buffer, which prevents me from dipping into investments prematurely. If you're starting from scratch, consistency with these simple rules can help build substantial savings over time without overwhelming your lifestyle. It’s not just about how much you earn but how deliberately you manage it.
