Things I miss and don't

"Money, money, money, always sunny in a rich man's world"
" Money makes the world go round, the world go round.."

I would sing these 2 songs accompanied by cabaret kicks, when jesting with my children about the importance of money since their toddler days.

Maybe they grow up really thinking it was all a joke, hence their indifference towards a financial career. (well, I have myself to blame, haven't I?)

I have talked a lot about my resignation last year and the feelings that came with it. However, I have never mentioned whether I missed the money.

Unless you have really "arrived" I think you would definitely miss the everthere monthly inflow that comes rain or shine, be it you sleep on the job or you work till you drop dead. Now I am not one who blows a couple of thousands on a bag or a pair of shoes. Branded stuff doesn't appeal to me unless they are offered at 90% discount. Even at 90% discount, I would still be hesitant. So what do I miss from a monthly cashflow?

Ok thanks to my husband, household expenses are taken care off so I don't worry too much about that. Now what do I miss (sniff, sniff) and not miss:

1) The joy of seeing a stock (which I have bought using my last pay) goes up in price (money being an end in itself). "Too bad if the price dropped. Aahh... at least I didn't blow it on something that can only depreciate and never give dividend". This I miss. Now I kick myself when the price of the share (which I bought with my passive income) drops.

2) I don't really miss fine dining. We didn't dine at fancy restaurants even whilst I was working because my husband is a "value for money" person. We eat only at places that offer discounts using credit cards that we own. So not much difference. Besides I already have my fair share of good food at my previous job lunching with bankers, for more than a decade. Now is time to eat healthy and go back to my inherent contour.

3) As I have mentioned I don't buy branded bags, shoes, dresses, jewelleries. (My my I am so easy to upkeep. I must make my husband read this post). My readers probably think I am either a fool, a pathetic soul or a dullard. Hmmm...may not be wrong. I reckon I may be a bit of each, but the lucky thing is I don't really feel sad about that.

4) Ok I miss flying business class, trying out Airbus 380 to Sydney (sob, sob will never have a chance ever again). You know when watching the coverage on that inaugural flight on TV, I long for the pamperings, being addressed by name, the cabin seat which was ample for me, etc, etc. But my Ah Q jing shen told me I didn't really utterly enjoy because my mind was always burdened when travelling on business. So whatever lor, can not have the best of everything.

5) But I think I probably miss the "less of a budget constrain" type of travelling plans. But see circumstances have also changed. My children who used to accompany us dislike travelling to China. Now that they travel with us less often, my husband and I can take cheaper tours to the many places in China which we have always wanted to see.


Today in the Forum page in a letter entitled "Flashy yuppies paint themselves into a corner", someone lamented about yuppies with lucrative jobs having anxieties over building a large enough nest egg for a comfortable retirement. He reasoned that the yuppies are afflicted with "conspicuous consumption" brainwashed by ads that tell you how to look good, be it that suit, car or Da Vinci sofa set, all of which keep the cash register ringing.He lamented about the difference between the current "ethos of consumption" vs the thrift and austerity of past generations.

I hope people don't take him too seriously. Why? Because I bought shares of companies selling luxurious goods.