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an elfin question

actually, mr sohguanh, if you want to do that suggest you buy van, it is so much cheaper and got more space & privacy....

but seriously, my point is that we got to be focus if we really want to make money and be financially independant.. dont get distracted and wan to hao lian...

use the surplus money for more seed money to invest..

 

Cars got one additional advantage. No money go hotel 81 open room can go one secluded area park car die fire and then hehehehehe...... those were the days when you are with groups of teenagers that go around in East Coast to catch monkeys in action hahahahaha......

 

Thanks ,got the point.

I was just thinking that if all think rationale,then all will invest the money in shares rather than cars.

Sorry if i offend anyone.

 

Don't buy a $700 000 condo and take a 30 year loan........

 

Businessmen, speculators who made it in stocks and properties, loaded retirees, company directors, alongsans, gamblers, drug lords, Joo Chiat karaoke & bar bosses, rich char kway teow hawkers, beauty saloon lady bosses, casino agents, hair saloon lady bosses, rich men's gi-nais (mistresses), scroungers & scalawags all own one or two Mercs & BMW & Jags. 

 

Guys/Gals,

I think the discussion seems to have gotton abit off tangent.....and seemed to be focused on BMW and Merc...and bicycles.



My first post in this thread is to address the issue of many of the member's desire to achieve FINANCIAL INDEPENDANCE.



My suggestion was:

• not to spend on the unneccessary, not to spend beyond your means.
• Not to get into unneccassary debt => pay high interests.
• Invest wisely.

The issue of car purchases was brought up merely as an example....I am not advocating that those who can afford it should not own a BMW or a Merc. If you earn 'peanuts' ($600K or more), what's the big deal to spend $200K for one of these German marques?



Then again, if you are in that league, you've already; or soon will have, achieved your dream of financial independance.

 

Just wondering who are those in spore that owns BMW,MERC etc...

Businessman?

Stock Brokers?

 

Lucky me to be very accident-prone and had MacDonald sizes feets (everytime e-brake will slam on the gas as well) so I dun even need to think what car to buy..

 

good post shplayer! I had a similar choice to make... japanese 1600cc vs Mer E class.. difference the merc about 3.5 times more in price . If i am in US or Europe where I can drive long distances i.e spend a lot of time in the car the extra comfort really does not justify that type of difference in price.. besides, I worry about people scratching the car, and when you send the car for servicing, it cost very much more than seeing a doctor...

with the "savings" (about 120k) , I can travel around the world, and stay in 5 star hotels, drive/rent premium class cars, eat at gourmet restaurants etc.. of cos I could use the money as seed to invest..

 

not everything is about dollars and cents.

bicycles is also a mode of transport eh..... 

some pple, not necessarily the super rich, are willing to pay a premium for comfy leather interior, additional safety features, smoother ride and more engine power.

 

shplayer, i agree w u. cars to me are just a mode of transport that get u from pt A to pt B. unless one has $$ yo burn, then by all means go get BMW, MB, S2000, etc.



i would not pay the extra to get a 'branded' vehicle not 'coz i wish to invest the $ to get more, but coz i chao niao. hahahaha...

 

Sorry to break this food review session....but to answer geojam...if you can afford to buy a BMW or Merc...would'nt/should'nt to do it???



My personnal experience....about a year ago, when it made economic sense to trade in my then  3 year old car for a new one (due to COE drop from about $30+K to about $10K, I considered which car to buy. My options were

• a 1600cc Japanese car......not the cheapest in the market...but good value, known for its reliability, good potential resale, economical on fuel.
• a 2000cc Japanese car....also good, reliable, fuel efficient, spacious...etc...but cost about $30K more.

Both cars were within my affordability....no need to take loan after trading in old car.

 The bigger car was of course my preferred choice.......then I asked myself....what will spending $30+K extra for something to take me and my family from point A to Point B....plus extra operating expenses...(fuel, road tax, insurance, maintenance...).

The answer was...

• face
• some subtle bragging rights??

Besides these intangibles...nothing else. Then I asked myself...will it help me make more $$ in the market?...ans..NO. Will people give me better deals because of the car I drive??? ans....NO.

i.e. There is no tangible benefit.



The next question was....what happens to the extra $30K after 10 years.....ans ....become $00000.



If I invested this $30K wisely...how much will I have after 10 years (based conservatively on 15% returns compounded)....ans >$121K

With this money...I can easily buy another car when the current one is due to be scrapped.....and still have lots of spare.

Like I said, we all make our choices.....and we have to live with it....

As for me, I have made mine.....and just thought it will be nice to share my perspective with members of SJ.

:-)    :-)    :-)

Back to the food critiques.

 

hey, Ipunter, I remembered the Phippine BBQ, do you mean paksiw na lechon? I use to go around hunting high and low for the most crispy ones sigh that was quite some time ago.. btw, did you try the balut..? should recommend it to Elfinchilde..

 

 

hi Ipunter, karibuni (most welcome).. should have added that the nyama choma is done over charcoal fire.. and of cos, drink accompanying Tasker beer (it taste like our Tiger).. ugali is like our rice or potato chips put on the side.. btw, nyama choma is sold only in special restaurants, they dont serve anything else like our satay stalls..

hi elf, actually Penang Laksa is not so sour.. unlike the Kedah Laksa.. becos it the stock is made from fish (sardines?). also you should add the heh ko (black shrimp paste of which Penang is famous for).. sigh I wish I can eat it now...

 

...sorry, i don't like durians...

geylang normally has good ones. dunno which you prefer, if i really have to eat them then i pref the slightly bitter ones...

segamat in johor is good; by the roadside. they're like 3 little ones for 1 ringgit. closer to main road it's RM$2. i think the little ones are better. or mebbe that's just 'cos i like small things. haha.

agree with chinkiasu about the penang laksa in ayer hitam. (don't particularly like it myself tho; can't really stomach sour food o_0)

 

Thanks chinkiasu... for explaining...

I once tried babecued meat in Manila that went so well with the St Miguel.. :)

 

hahah elf you really know how to eat & talk....
I see the big diff in SJ with elf and without elf ^_*

 

best Penang laksa is at Ayer Hitam in Penang..

btw, Ipunter,

?Nyama choma? is the Kiswahili phrase meaning roasted meat. ?Nyama choma? is prepared by roasting huge chunks of meat over an open charcoal fire Ugali is a pudding made from maize flour - it is the stable food of east african people

 

It is really Penang Laksa, very spicy and sour ! Only 1 stall is selling, so no range there.