Wednesday, November 30, 2022

My 15-plus-year Weight Management Records from 2007-05-28 to 2022-11-28 (by Calorie Restriction, i.e. Dietary Energy Restriction):

My 15-plus-year Weight Management Records from 2007-05-28 to 2022-11-28 (by Calorie Restriction, i.e. Dietary Energy Restriction):

Note: According to the Singapore Health Promotion Board, a Healthy BMI is greater than18.5 and less than 23.0. A BMI less than 18.5 would mean that the individual is at risk of nutrition deficiency diseases and osteoporosis. A BMI equal or greater than 23.0 would mean that the individual is at risk of obesity-related diseases. (Ref: DD-Md2022J28)

As of 2022-11-28,

Total number of Monthly Weight monitored was 186 (100%)

The no. of times my BMI between 18.5 and 22.9 was 181 (97.31%)

The no. of times my BMI equal or more than 23.000 was 5 (2.69%)

=======================

2007

2007-05-28 morning, my weight = 65.0 kg, BMI = 23.588

2007-06-28 morning, my weight = 61.0 kg, BMI = 22.136

2007-07-28 morning, my weight = 59.0 kg, BMI = 21.410

2007-08-28 morning, my weight = 58.7 kg, BMI = 21.302

2007-09-28 morning, my weight = 57.5 kg, BMI = 20.866

2007-10-28 morning, my weight = 57.5 kg, BMI = 20.866

2007-11-28 morning, my weight = 56.2 kg, BMI = 20.394

2007-12-28 morning, my weight = 55.5 kg, BMI = 20.140

2008

2008-01-28 morning, my weight = 54.8 kg, BMI = 19.886

2008-02-28 morning, my weight = 54.8 kg, BMI = 19.886

2008-03-28 morning, my weight = 54.5 kg, BMI = 19.777

2008-04-28 morning, my weight = 54.4 kg, BMI = 19.741

2008-05-28 morning, my weight = 54.1 kg, BMI = 19.632

2008-06-28 morning, my weight = 54.6 kg, BMI = 19.814

2008-07-28 morning, my weight = 54.5 kg, BMI = 19.777

2008-08-28 morning, my weight = 54.3 kg, BMI = 19.705

2008-09-28 morning, my weight = 54.9 kg, BMI = 19.923

2008-10-28 morning, my weight = 55.3 kg, BMI = 20.068

2008-11-28 morning, my weight = 54.5 kg, BMI = 19.777

2008-12-28 morning, my weight = 55.6 kg, BMI = 20.177

2009

2009-01-28 morning, my weight = 54.8 kg, BMI = 19.886

2009-02-28 morning, my weight = 55.9 kg, BMI = 20.285

2009-03-28 morning, my weight = 54.8 kg, BMI = 19.886

2009-04-28 morning, my weight = 55.3 kg, BMI = 20.068

2009-05-28 morning, my weight = 55.4 kg, BMI = 20.104.

2009-06-28 morning, my weight = 55.2 kg, BMI = 20.031

2009-07-28 morning, my weight = 55.1 kg, BMI = 19.995

2009-08-28 morning, my weight = 55.2 kg, BMI = 20.031

2009-09-28 morning, my weight = 56.3 kg, BMI = 20.431

2009-10-28 morning, my weight = 55.8 kg, BMI = 20.249

2009-11-28 morning, my weight = 56.2 kg, BMI = 20.394

2009-12-28 morning, my weight = 56.1 kg, BMI = 20.358

2010

2010-01-28 morning, my weight = 55.6 kg, BMI = 20.177

2010-02-28 morning, my weight = 56.5 kg, BMI = 20.503

2010-03-28 morning, my weight = 56.4 kg, BMI = 20.467

2010-04-28 morning, my weight = 55.7 kg, BMI = 20.213

2010-05-28 morning, my weight = 55.1 kg, BMI = 19.995

2010-06-28 morning, my weight = 56.4 kg, BMI = 20.467

2010-07-28 morning, my weight = 55.5 kg, BMI = 20.140

2010-08-28 morning, my weight = 55.8 kg, BMI = 20.249

2010-09-28 morning, my weight = 55.8 kg, BMI = 20.249

2010-10-28 morning, my weight = 55.4 kg, BMI = 20.104

2010-11-28 morning, my weight = 55.6 kg, BMI = 20.177

2010-12-28 morning, my weight = 55.5 kg, BMI = 20.140

2011

2011-01-28 morning, my weight = 55.4 kg, BMI = 20.104

2011-02-28 morning, my weight = 56.5 kg, BMI = 20.503

2011-03-28 morning, my weight = 55.6 kg, BMI = 20.177

2011-04-28 morning, my weight = 55.7 kg, BMI = 20.213

2011-05-28 morning, my weight = 55.6 kg, BMI = 20.177

2011-06-28 morning, my weight = 56.3 kg, BMI = 20.431

2011-07-28 morning, my weight = 56.5 kg, BMI = 20.503

2011-08-28 morning, my weight = 56.9 kg, BMI = 20.649

2011-09-28 morning, my weight = 56.2 kg, BMI = 20.394

2011-10-28 morning, my weight = 56.8 kg, BMI = 20.613

2011-11-28 morning, my weight = 59.0 kg, BMI = 21.410

2011-12-28 morning, my weight = 60.3 kg, BMI = 21.882

2012

2012-01-28 morning, my weight = 61.5 kg, BMI = 22.318

2012-02-28 morning, my weight = 62.7 kg, BMI = 22.753

2012-03-28 morning, my weight = 62.5 kg, BMI = 22.681

2012-04-28 morning, my weight = 61.3 kg, BMI = 22.246

2012-05-28 morning, my weight = 60.7 kg, BMI = 22.028

2012-06-28 morning, my weight = 60.6 kg, BMI = 21.992

2012-07-28 morning, my weight = 61.2 kg, BMI = 22.209

2012-08-28 morning, my weight = 60.8 kg, BMI = 22.064

2012-09-28 morning, my weight = 61.5 kg, BMI = 22.318**

2012-10-28 morning, my weight = 62.3 kg, BMI = 22.608

2012-11-28 morning, my weight = 63.4 kg, BMI = 23.008***

2012-12-28 morning, my weight = 62.9 kg, BMI = 22.826

2013

2013-01-28 morning, my weight = 63.0 kg, BMI = 22.863

2013-02-28 morning, my weight = 62.1 kg, BMI = 22.536

2013-03-28 morning, my weight = 61.5 kg, BMI = 22.318

2013-04-28 12.45 pm, my weight = 63.1 kg, BMI = 22.899****

2013-05-28 morning, my weight = 62.3 kg, BMI = 22.608

2013-06-28 morning, my weight = 62.2 kg, BMI = 22.572

2013-07-28 morning, my weight = 62.4 kg, BMI = 22.645

2013-08-28 morning, my weight = 62.6 kg BMI = 22.717

2013-09-28 morning, my weight = 62.4 kg BMI = 22.645**

2013-10-28 morning, my weight = 62.3 kg BMI = 22.609

2013-11-28 morning, my weight = 63.1 kg BMI = 22.899

2013-12-28 morning, my weight = 64.4 kg BMI = 23.371

2014

2014-01-28 morning, my weight = 63.6 kg, BMI = 23.080

2014-02-28 morning, my weight = 63.3 kg, BMI = 22.971

2014-03-28 morning, my weight = 62.7 kg, BMI = 22.753

2014-04-28 morning, my weight = 62.7 kg, BMI = 22.753

2014-05-28 morning, my weight = 62.9 kg, BMI = 22.826

2014-06-28 morning, my weight = 63.1 kg BMI = 22.899

2014-07-28 morning, my weight = 62.7 kg, BMI = 22.753

2014-08-28 morning, my weight = 62.2 kg, BMI = 22.572

2014-09-28 morning, my weight = 61.2 kg, BMI = 22.209

2014-10-28 morning, my weight = 61.4 kg, BMI = 22.282

2014-11-28 morning, my weight = 60.2 kg, BMI = 21.846

2014-12-28 morning, my weight = 60.8 kg, BMI = 22.064

2015

2015-01-28 morning, my weight = 61.3 kg, BMI = 22.246

2015-02-28 morning, my weight = 61.8 kg, BMI = 22.427

2015-03-28 morning, my weight = 61.8 kg, BMI = 22.427

2015-04-28 morning, my weight = 62,5. kg, BMI = 22.681

2015-05-28 morning, my weight = 62.4 kg, BMI = 22.645

2015-06-28 morning, my weight = 63.6 kg, BMI = 23.080

2015-07-28 morning, my weight = 62.3 kg BMI = 22.609

2015-08-28 morning, my weight = 62.2 kg, BMI = 22.572

2015-09-28 morning, my weight = 63.0 kg, BMI = 22.863

2015-10-28 morning, my weight = 63.2 kg, BMI = 22.935

2015-11-28 morning, my weight = 62.6 kg, BMI = 22.717

2015-12-28 morning, my weight = 62.3 kg BMI = 22.609

2016

2016-01-28 morning, my weight = 63.0 kg, BMI = 22.863

2016-02-28 morning, my weight = 62.8 kg, BMI = 22.790

2016-03-28 morning, my weight = 62.0 kg, BMI = 22.499

2016-04-28 morning, my weight = 62.0 kg, BMI = 22.499

2016-05-28 morning, my weight = 62.4 kg, BMI = 22.645

2016-06-28 morning, my weight = 62.1 kg, BMI = 22.536

2016-07-28 morning, my weight = 62.2 kg, BMI = 22.572

2016-08-28 morning, my weight = 62.6 kg, BMI = 22.717

2016-09-28 morning, my weight = 62.8 kg, BMI = 22.790

2016-10-28 morning, my weight = 62,5. kg, BMI = 22.681

2016-11-28 morning, my weight = 62.1 kg, BMI = 22.536

2016-12-28 morning, my weight = 62.3 kg, BMI = 22.608

2017

2017-01-28 morning, my weight = 62.9 kg, BMI = 22.826

2017-02-28 morning, my weight = 62.4 kg, BMI = 22.644

2017-03-28 morning, my weight = 62.8 kg, BMI = 22.789

2017-04-28 morning, my weight = 62.3 kg, BMI = 22.609

2017-05-28 morning, my weight = 62.2 kg, BMI = 22.572

2017-06-28 morning, my weight = 62.6 kg, BMI = 22.717

2017-07-28 morning, my weight = 62.4 kg, BMI = 22.645

2017-08-28 morning, my weight = 61.9 kg, BMI = 22.463

2017-09-28 morning, my weight = 62.0 kg, BMI = 22.499

2017-10-28 morning, my weight = 62.0 kg, BMI = 22.499

2017-11-28 morning, my weight = 61.5 kg, BMI = 22.318

2017-12-28 morning, my weight = 61.5 kg, BMI = 22.318

2018

My Weight 2018-01-28 0934 hr 61.0 kg BMI 22.136

My Weight 2018-02-28 0915 hr 60.7 kg BMI 22.027

My Weight 2018-03-28 0620 hr 61.0 kg BMI 22.136

My Weight 2018-04-28 1005 hr 61.7 kg BMI 22.390

My Weight 2018-05-28 0856 hr 60.5 kg BMI 21.955

My Weight 2018-06-28 0600 hr 61.4 kg BMI 22.281

My Weight 2018-07-28 0600 hr 62.2 kg BMI 22.572

My Weight 2018-08-28 0720 hr 61.4 kg BMI 22.281

My Weight 2018-09-28 0805 hr 62.1 kg BMI 22.535

My Weight 2018-10-28 0750 hr 61.3 kg BMI 22.24

My Weight 2018-11-28 1000 hr 61.5 kg BMI 22.318

My Weight 2018-12-28 0650 hr 62.5 kg BMI 22.681

2019

2019-01-28 at 1000 hr 60.9 kg BMI 22.100

2019-02-28 at 0946 hr 61.0 kg BMI 22.136

2019-03-28 at 0700 hr 62.4 kg BMI 22.644

2019-04-28 at 0828 hr 62.9 kg BMI 22.826

2019-05-28 at 0745 hr 62.4 kg BMI 22.826

2019-06-28 at 0650 hr 62.4 kg BMI 22.644

2019-07-28 at 0736 hr 62.8 kg BMI 22.789

2019-08-28 at 0629 hr 62.4 kg BMI 22.644

2019-09-28 at 0644 hr 61.9 kg BMI 22.463

2019-10-28 at 0740 hr 62.5 kg BMI 22.681

2019-11-28 at 0632 hr 62.8 kg BMI 22.789

2019-12-28 at 0726 hr 62.5 kg BMI 22.681

2020

My Weight 2020-01-28 0625 HR  62.6 kg BMI 22.717

My Weight 2020-02-28 0728 HR  62.3 kg BMI 22.608

My Weight 2020-03-28 0649 HR  61.4 kg BMI 22.281

My Weight 2020-04-28 0810 HR  62.0 kg BMI 22.499

My Weight 2020-05-28 0714 HR  62.3 kg BMI 22.608

My Weight 2020-06-28 0757 HR  60.2 kg BMI 21.846

My Weight 2020-07-28 0715 HR  61.6 kg BMI 22.354

My Weight 2020-08-28 0707 HR  61.1 kg BMI 22.173

My Weight 2020-09-28 0609 HR  60.8 kg BMI 22.064

My Weight 2020-10-28 0818 HR  60.7 kg BMI 22.027

My Weight 2020-11-28 0706 HR  60.9 kg BMI 22.100

My Weight 2020-12-28 0631 HR  60.5 kg BMI 21.955

2021

My Weight 2021-01-28 0638 HR  61.3 kg BMI 22.245

My Weight 2021-02-28 0741 HR  61.2 kg BMI 22.209

My Weight 2021-03-28 0659 HR  61.3 kg BMI 22.245

My Weight 2021-04-28 0659 HR  61.1 kg BMI 22.173

My Weight 2021-05-28 0618 HR  61.1 kg BMI 22.173

My Weight 2021-06-28 0604 HR  61.3 kg BMI 22.245

My Weight 2021-07-28 0642 HR  61.2 kg BMI 22.209

My Weight 2021-08-28 0653 HR  61.5 kg BMI 22.318

My Weight 2021-09-28 0618 HR  61.5 kg BMI 22.318

My Weight 2021-10-28 0549 HR  61.0 kg BMI 22.136

My Weight 2021-11-28 0630 HR  61.3 kg BMI 22.245

My Weight 2021-12-28 0528 HR  61.6 kg BMI 22.354

======================================

2022

My Weight 2022-01-28 0910 HR  61.1 kg  BMI 22.173

My Weight 2022-02-28 0642 HR  61.2 kg  BMI 22.209

My Weight 2022-03-28 0649 HR  61.4 kg  BMI 22.281

My Weight 2022-04-28 0649 HR  61.4 kg  BMI 22.281

My Weight 2022-05-28 0549 HR  61.0 kg  BMI 22.136

My Weight 2022-06-28 0549 HR  61.0 kg  BMI 22.136

My Weight 2022-07-28 0700 HR  60.6 kg  BMI 21.991

My Weight 2022-08-28 0640 HR  61.3 kg  BMI 22.245

My Weight 2022-09-28 0738 HR  61.7 kg  BMI 22.390

My Weight 2022-10-28 0708 HR  61.5 kg  BMI 22.318

My Weight 2022-11-28 0706 HR  60.9 kg BMI 22.100

=======================================

Note:

My current BMI is within the healthy range of 18.5 to 22.9.

For me, the range of healthy weight is 50.9786 kg (BMI = 18.5) to 63.10324 kg (BMI = 22.9).

People with BMI values of 23 kg/m2 (or 25 kg/m2 according to some sources) and above have been found to be at risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.

To be healthy, I must have a healthy weight.

Be as lean as possible without being underweight, as recommended by World Cancer Prevention Foundation, United Kingdom.

=================================

Note: From 2021-05-28, I have removed the unimportant minute details of old records from My Weight Management Records.

=================================


Ref. WeightManagement



Red Dates 红枣 and 枸杞 in Japanese noodle soup Vivo City Food Republic -- 新明日报 20221130


Red Dates 红枣 and 枸杞 in Japanese noodle soup Vivo City Food Republic -- 新明日报 20221130

交流站:读《看专科须等六个半月》有感


交流站:读《看专科须等六个半月》有感

https://www.zaobao.com.sg/forum/talk/story20221130-1338659

2022-11-30

11月21日在《联合早报·交流站》读到王振春投函《看专科须等六个半月》,有感而发,不吐不快。

我属于建国一代,想谈谈几次与综合诊疗所及医院打交道的经历。

一次,致电综合诊疗所预约看牙医。电话那头问为什么求诊,我说牙疼。对方告知预约要在一个多星期后。我反问她有没有听过“牙疼不是病,疼起来要人命。牙疼不能等。”对方说,要快的话须付一笔额外费用。我唯有花钱消灾了事,两三天后就见到牙医。

又一次,右眼神经感染,住家附近私人诊所的医生写信,转介我去综合诊疗所要求预约看医院专科医生。国大医院预约日期排到两三个月后。我在想,这期间没药可服,难道要我听之任之,什么都不做吗?

自己不放心,改去看私人眼科诊所,这才有药可服。再去看中医诊所针灸治疗半边脸,中医称这种病症为“面瘫”。双管齐下,病情日渐好了起来。

两三个月后,去国大医院神经科看专科医生,他劈头就问我:“你来做什么?”

我莫名其妙,院方不能及时为病人诊治,难道叫病人自求多福吗?等我从头到尾讲述一遍染眼疾及如何治好它的过程,医生口中才又蹦出一句:“你没事了”,就将我打发走。

退休前右眼生白内障,由于左眼是“懒惰眼”(自己后来才知道),所以视觉全靠右眼,这一来,看文件看电脑荧幕非常吃力,连巴士号码要等到进站才能看清楚,唯有希望西区的眼科中心能尽快解我的燃眉之急。没想到,即便我反映了困境,院方按照例行公事,列为一般病例。

幸好遇上贵人,劝我咨询私人眼科医院,部分手术费可动用公积金,加上公司的员工保险及自己的个人保险,现金付款大大减少。

割除白内障兼矫正视网膜手术后,右眼专司远视,左眼专司老花,脱离了数十年戴眼镜的日子,连老花眼镜都免了。体检后一星期就动手术,先动右眼,隔天动左眼,三两下子问题解决,我又能继续工作到68岁才退休。

在社团里,每每听到属于建国一代的长辈,还在痴痴等待割除白内障手术,说什么白内障“还没熟透”,到底是怎么一回事?

我国第一代的政治精英高瞻远瞩地出炉了“老人报告书”,而眼下的治国者面对建国一代和立国一代的老人群体,做足功课了吗?

My Weight 2022-11-28 at 0856 HR 60.9 kg BMI 22.100

My Weight
2022-11-28
0856 HR 
60.9 kg
BMI 22.100

Saturday, November 26, 2022

中国三代领导人同框!





中国三代领导人同框!

美景

Thursday, November 24, 2022

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Debt stress levels up. investment returns fall but S’poreans not saving enough for crises: OCBC survey 2022-11-22


Debt stress levels up, investment returns fall but S’poreans not saving enough for crises: OCBC survey

The survey also found that while Singaporeans continue to be strong savers, they are not saving up for crises but are spending on discretionary expenses such as travel. PHOTO: ST FILE
Chor Khieng Yuit
Senior Correspondent
Published
22 Nov 2022, 8:42 pm SGT
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SINGAPORE - Rising inflation, higher interest rates and uncertain market conditions have hit the financial health of Singaporeans.

Unsecured debt levels have gone up and mortgage stress is mounting as more Singaporeans face difficulties in paying off their housing loans.

This is one of the findings of an OCBC survey done in August of 2,182 working adults between the ages of 21 and 65. The results were released on Tuesday.

The survey also found that while Singaporeans continued to be strong savers, they were not saving up for crises but were spending on discretionary expenses such as travel.

Coupled with poor investment returns, the OCBC Financial Wellness Index dipped to 61 from 62 in 2021.

Respondents were assessed based on 10 pillars of financial wellness, including saving habits, whether they plan for their retirement and whether they speculate excessively or spend beyond their means. The highest score was 100.

The Index was back at the level it was during 2020, when the world was grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Debt stress levels increased as about a third of respondents (31 per cent) took on more unsecured debts such as credit card debts, education loans and renovation loans, up from 24 per cent in 2021.

Their ability to repay unsecured debts also dropped three percentage points, with 19 per cent of Singaporeans having some difficulties managing these debts.

As mortgage rates pushed to as high as 4.5 per cent, 40 per cent of respondents now faced difficulties paying their housing loans, and more of them indicated they would have to sell or downgrade their homes to repay their loans (8 per cent, compared with 6 per cent in 2021).

OCBC said this 40 per cent was the highest proportion it had seen in the last four years.

Mr Chin Mun Hong, OCBC’s head of market insights, said mortgage stress is set to go up significantly more as home loan packages which were fixed at lower rates previously expire in the coming months and home owners have to take up packages at relatively higher loan rates. 

Ms Lee Meng, executive financial services consultant at Gen Financial Advisory, said her clients are stressed from not knowing when interest rates will stop rising, adding that this uncertainty makes it difficult for them to budget their household expenses.
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Among HDB and private property owners, OCBC said those who had HDB flats were slightly more stressed over their home loan, with 42 per cent facing difficulties versus 36 per cent for private property owners.

OCBC said many HDB home owners also took advantage of very low interest rates in the past decade to borrow from banks to finance their flat, hence they must now face up or have already faced up to higher rates when their loan packages expired.

But even as debt stress levels rose, Singaporeans were not saving enough for emergencies – 20 per cent had not accumulated six months of their current salary.

Financial advisers generally advise individuals to have a contingency fund of three to six months’ worth of salary to deal with family crises or emergencies.

Instead, the survey found that more Singaporeans were allocating their savings to discretionary expenses such as travel as the post-pandemic recovery spurs “revenge travel and spending”.

At the same time, investment returns had been disappointing, with the average rate of return on investments falling by more than half from 1.5 per cent in 2021 to 0.7 per cent this year.

More respondents also incurred investment losses this year – 36 per cent, compared with 26 per cent in 2021.

This meant that fewer Singaporeans were on track to meet their investment targets – 41 per cent versus 52 per cent in 2021, a fall of 11 percentage points.

Mr Sani Hamid, director of economics and market strategy at Financial Alliance, said despite this setback, investors should continue to invest for the long term by doing dollar-cost averaging. This is a strategy where they invest a fixed amount of money at regular intervals, say over a 24-month period, regardless of the price of the stock or investment.

In this inflationary environment, where returns are low, respondents are seeking more ways to build up their retirement nest eggs.
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Across the age groups, more are taking on greater risks in their investments to earn higher returns.

The survey found that among those in their 20s and 30s, 33 per cent speculated excessively, while 36 per cent of those between 40 and 54 years old, and 34 per cent of those who were 55 to 65 years old, did so.

The older groups tended to speculate more in futures, currencies and structured investment products, which are financial instruments whose returns are linked to an underlying asset class such as equities, commodities or currencies.

Meanwhile, the younger respondents – Gen Zs and millennials in their 20s and 30s (about two in five of the respondents) – continued to turn to cryptocurrencies to build their retirement funds despite losing 40 per cent on average from such investments.

Ms Lee said unregulated assets such as cryptocurrencies should form at most only 10 per cent of a retirement portfolio.
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Mr Sani said this is really not the time to be taking on too much risks as the markets are undergoing a reset. “We are not sure when it will end but until it does, there is going to be a lot of volatility”, he said.

Eighteen per cent of respondents in their 20s and 14 per cent of those in their 30s are currently invested in cryptocurrencies.

To ensure they remain financially healthy, OCBC head of wealth advisory Aaron Chwee advises everyone to save regularly, spend prudently, within their means and get adequate insurance coverage to take care of any unexpected health crisis.

Follow ST on LinkedIn and stay updated on the latest career news, insights and more.

    FINANCIAL LITERACY FINANCIAL PLANNING MORTGAGES/REAL ESTATE CREDIT SAVINGS INVESTMENT Cryptocurrencies 

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Debt stress levels up. investment returns fall but S’poreans not saving enough for crises: OCBC survey 2022-11-22

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Debt stress levels up, investment returns fall but S’poreans not saving enough for crises: OCBC survey

2022-11-22
The survey also found that while Singaporeans continue to be strong savers, they are not saving up for crises but are spending on discretionary expenses such as travel. PHOTO: ST FILE

SINGAPORE - Rising inflation, higher interest rates and uncertain market conditions have hit the financial health of Singaporeans.

Unsecured debt levels have gone up and mortgage stress is mounting as more Singaporeans face difficulties in paying off their housing loans.

This is one of the findings of an OCBC survey done in August of 2,182 working adults between the ages of 21 and 65. The results were released on Tuesday.

The survey also found that while Singaporeans continued to be strong savers, they were not saving up for crises but were spending on discretionary expenses such as travel.

Coupled with poor investment returns, the OCBC Financial Wellness Index dipped to 61 from 62 in 2021.

Respondents were assessed based on 10 pillars of financial wellness, including saving habits, whether they plan for their retirement and whether they speculate excessively or spend beyond their means. The highest score was 100.

The Index was back at the level it was during 2020, when the world was grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Debt stress levels increased as about a third of respondents (31 per cent) took on more unsecured debts such as credit card debts, education loans and renovation loans, up from 24 per cent in 2021.

Their ability to repay unsecured debts also dropped three percentage points, with 19 per cent of Singaporeans having some difficulties managing these debts.

As mortgage rates pushed to as high as 4.5 per cent, 40 per cent of respondents now faced difficulties paying their housing loans, and more of them indicated they would have to sell or downgrade their homes to repay their loans (8 per cent, compared with 6 per cent in 2021).

OCBC said this 40 per cent was the highest proportion it had seen in the last four years.

Mr Chin Mun Hong, OCBC’s head of market insights, said mortgage stress is set to go up significantly more as home loan packages which were fixed at lower rates previously expire in the coming months and home owners have to take up packages at relatively higher loan rates. 

Ms Lee Meng, executive financial services consultant at Gen Financial Advisory, said her clients are stressed from not knowing when interest rates will stop rising, adding that this uncertainty makes it difficult for them to budget their household expenses.

Among HDB and private property owners, OCBC said those who had HDB flats were slightly more stressed over their home loan, with 42 per cent facing difficulties versus 36 per cent for private property owners.

OCBC said many HDB home owners also took advantage of very low interest rates in the past decade to borrow from banks to finance their flat, hence they must now face up or have already faced up to higher rates when their loan packages expired.

But even as debt stress levels rose, Singaporeans were not saving enough for emergencies – 20 per cent had not accumulated six months of their current salary.

Financial advisers generally advise individuals to have a contingency fund of three to six months’ worth of salary to deal with family crises or emergencies.

Instead, the survey found that more Singaporeans were allocating their savings to discretionary expenses such as travel as the post-pandemic recovery spurs “revenge travel and spending”.

At the same time, investment returns had been disappointing, with the average rate of return on investments falling by more than half from 1.5 per cent in 2021 to 0.7 per cent this year.

More respondents also incurred investment losses this year – 36 per cent, compared with 26 per cent in 2021.

This meant that fewer Singaporeans were on track to meet their investment targets – 41 per cent versus 52 per cent in 2021, a fall of 11 percentage points.

Mr Sani Hamid, director of economics and market strategy at Financial Alliance, said despite this setback, investors should continue to invest for the long term by doing dollar-cost averaging. This is a strategy where they invest a fixed amount of money at regular intervals, say over a 24-month period, regardless of the price of the stock or investment.

In this inflationary environment, where returns are low, respondents are seeking more ways to build up their retirement nest eggs.

Across the age groups, more are taking on greater risks in their investments to earn higher returns.

The survey found that among those in their 20s and 30s, 33 per cent speculated excessively, while 36 per cent of those between 40 and 54 years old, and 34 per cent of those who were 55 to 65 years old, did so.

The older groups tended to speculate more in futures, currencies and structured investment products, which are financial instruments whose returns are linked to an underlying asset class such as equities, commodities or currencies.

Meanwhile, the younger respondents – Gen Zs and millennials in their 20s and 30s (about two in five of the respondents) – continued to turn to cryptocurrencies to build their retirement funds despite losing 40 per cent on average from such investments.

Ms Lee said unregulated assets such as cryptocurrencies should form at most only 10 per cent of a retirement portfolio.

Mr Sani said this is really not the time to be taking on too much risks as the markets are undergoing a reset. “We are not sure when it will end but until it does, there is going to be a lot of volatility”, he said.

Eighteen per cent of respondents in their 20s and 14 per cent of those in their 30s are currently invested in cryptocurrencies.

To ensure they remain financially healthy, OCBC head of wealth advisory Aaron Chwee advises everyone to save regularly, spend prudently, within their means and get adequate insurance coverage to take care of any unexpected health crisis.

Follow ST on LinkedIn and stay updated on the latest career news, insights and more.

Day count 2961 days -- Today 2022-11-23 to 2030-12-31

From and including: Wednesday, 23 November 2022

To and including: Tuesday, 31 December 2030

Result: 2961 days

It is 2961 days from the start date to the end date, end date included.

Or 8 years, 1 month, 9 days including the end date.

Or 97 month, 9 days including the end date.

https://www.timeanddate.com/date/durationresult.html?d1=23&m1=11&y1=2022&d2=31&m2=12&y2=2030&ti=on

增聘外籍护士乃形势所需

增聘外籍护士乃形势所需



社论:增聘外籍护士乃形势所需

https://www.zaobao.com.sg/forum/editorial/story20221123-1336090

2022-11-23

社论

2022年11月23日

卫生部长王乙康星期一(11月21日)在第16届陈振传护士奖颁奖礼上透露,我国明年将增聘近4000名护士,比去年增聘的护士多700人。在增聘的新护士中,外籍护士将占六成,本地护士占四成,以弥补过去两年大量外籍护士的流失。

他强调,虽然我国增聘外籍护士,但护士队伍绝大部分仍会由本地人组成,他们来自护士学院和中途转业培训计划。

上个月,王乙康在国会辩论《健康SG白皮书》时指出,本地护士平常的流失率是6.4%,去年上升至7.4%,今年回跌到平常的水平。他说,本地护士大量出走的说法,言过其实。

相比较下,外籍护士平常的流失率是8.9%,但去年却激增至14.8%。这是因为在冠病疫情期间,全球都在争抢护士,不少在我国服务的外籍护士转到新西兰、澳大利亚、英国以及阿联酋等待遇更优厚的国家工作。

明年增聘的外籍护士将多过本地护士,恐怕会引起一些国人情绪性的反应。然而,新加坡的人口老龄化,对护理人员的需求殷切,增聘外籍护士乃形势所需,否则本地医疗体系将面对更大的压力。

目前,每六名新加坡人中,就有一名是65岁或以上的年长者。到了2030年,这比例将达到四对一。这意味着对医疗服务以及人员的需求将急速提高。

根据卫生部数据,我国在2021年每1000名人口中,有7.6名护士。在发达经济体中,我国的护士与人口比例偏低。随着人口老龄化,从绝对数与人口比例而言,护士队伍须日益增大,才能满足医疗需求。

在护士供应方面,王乙康在国会辩论上指出,10年前工艺教育学院、理工学院与大专学府每年吸收1500名护士生;目前,人数增加至2100名,并预计再增加至2300名。在每20名本地学生中,有一名修读护士课程,或占同龄学生的5%。另一方面,政府也从中途转业培训计划中,吸引中年员工投入护士行列。

此外,政府也提高薪酬,以吸引及留住护士。普通护士的全年工资中位数在2017年介于4万2800元至5万3700元。到了2021年,增加至4万6300元至5万8500元。同期,高级护士的全年工资中位数从6万5000元至7万9700元,增加到7万1200元至8万7600元。

去年,卫生部给予包括护士的10万名公共医疗机构员工4000元的“冠病医疗护理奖励金”。它将在今年底及明年发放给公共医疗机构的护士,相当于1.7个月至2.1个月基本工资的“挽留奖金”。

即便如此,护士仍然供不应求,外籍护士的高流失率,更加剧护士短缺问题。在2020年,公共医院的护士中,新加坡公民与永久居民占69%,外籍护士占31%。私立医院的外籍护士比率相信会更高。因此,外籍护士流失的趋势若不及时扭转,将进一步加重本地护士的工作压力,可能导致本地护士也相继离去。

外籍护士固然能减轻本地护士的工作负担,但由于他们在护士队伍中的占比相当显著,因此外籍护士融入本地医疗体系的问题不可小觑。在增聘外籍护士方面,有关当局在供应来源方面或许可考虑采取海纳百川的多元化策略,避免把鸡蛋放在同一个篮子内。

与建筑或制造业不同,护理行业是面对面接触的服务业,沟通至关重要。有年长病患申诉,在医院与一些外籍护理人员的沟通有困难。因此,在增聘外籍护士时,或许可考虑把优先权给予那些在语言与文化上较为接近本国的外籍护士。此外,除了专业技能,医疗机构也可考虑给予外籍护士培训,提高他们同病患的沟通能力。

过去多年来,护士行业的社会地位逐渐提高,尤其是在冠病期间,他们的贡献获得社会更大的认可与赞赏,他们的薪酬也获得显著的调整。这都有助于吸引更多人加入这个行业。

除了增聘新护士,有关当局也必须在留住本地与外籍护士方面多加一把劲,减低流失率。

追梦人 (Dj版)

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

World Cup 2022 Schedule - Boy

Day Count: From and including: Tuesday 22 November 2022To and including: Tuesday 31 December 2030. Result: 2962 days



Days Calculator: Days Between Two Dates
How many days, months, and years are there between two dates?

From and including: Tuesday, 22 November 2022
To and including: Tuesday, 31 December 2030

Result: 2962 days

It is 2962 days from the start date to the end date, end date included.

Or 8 years, 1 month, 10 days including the end date.

Or 97 month, 10 days including the end date.

Alternative time units
2962 days can be converted to one of these units:

255,916,800 seconds
4,265,280 minutes
71,088 hours
2962 days
423 weeks and 1 day
811.51% of a common year (365 days)

From and including: Monday, November 21, 2022To and including: Tuesday, December 31, 2030

From and including: Monday, November 21, 2022
To and including: Tuesday, December 31, 2030

Result: 2963 days
It is 2963 days from the start date to the end date, end date included.

Or 8 years, 1 month, 11 days including the end date.

Or 97 month, 11 days including the end date.

关于(2023年起)消费税上调 你需要了解的事 https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/singapore/story20221121-1335286

1. 明年1月1日起,我需要付多少消费税?

新加坡接下来分两个阶段上调消费税,2023年1月1日从7%调高到8%,2024年1月1日再上调至9%。

因此,从明年1月1日起,消费者从消费税注册公司购买商品或订购服务时,需支付8%消费税。

如果消费者订购的是将持续一段时间的服务,那么明年1月1日前的服务会按7%消费税计算,1日或之后的服务则按8%算。

例如,消费者订购从2022年12月10日至2023年12月9日的音乐串流服务,订购期总共为365天,而1月1日至12月9日占343天,因此,有343天的日均服务费应付8%消费税。

即使消费者已经在1月1日前支付全款,并收到供应商开具的7%消费税发票,1日或之后提供的服务仍然必须算8%消费税。因此,消费者将收到取消旧发票的贷记单(credit note),并收到供应商按8%消费税开具的新发票。

换句话说,无论消费者在哪一天付款,消费税都会根据提供服务的日期计算。

2. 分期付款的商品,该怎么计算消费税?

分期付款的商品与持续服务同理,商品若是在明年1月1日或之后送达,即使消费者在1日前下单,并按7%消费税支付首笔款项,1日或之后的分期付款仍需要付8%消费税。

不过,购买商品若在明年1月1日前送达,那么之后所有的分期付款也只需付7%消费税。

3. 海外网购低价商品也需要付消费税吗?

从2023年起,消费者在购买通过空运或邮寄方式进口、价值在400元或以下的低价商品时也需要付消费税。

这也包括非数码服务,如海外业者以视讯直播提供的教育课程和远程医疗服务等。

目前,通过海运或陆运进口的商品,无论价值,都是在商品抵达新加坡后,由消费者将消费税单独付给新加坡关税局,而不是在购买时由商家收取。空运或邮寄进口的商品若价值400元以上才需付消费税,不超过400元则可免付消费税。

这项新税收是为了确保海外和本地供应商都面对同样的消费税处理方式,让本地企业能有一个公平的竞争环境。

消费税将由已注册消费税的卖家、电商市场运营者或转运方收取,从海外网购低价商品的消费者一旦向其中一方支付消费税,将不需要向其他业者重复支付。同时,消费者付款的金额如果已经含税,也无需额外付消费税给新加坡关税局。

需要注意的是,如果商品刨除运费和保险费的售价少于400元,就属于低价商品,须由商家收取消费税。

400元的顶限也取决于商品单件价格,而不是总价。假设消费者从海外网购10件单价为100元的商品,并空运或邮寄到新加坡,即使商品总价达到1000元,但因为单价仍低于400元,消费者仍需要在购买时先支付消费税,而非等商品抵达新加坡才付消费税给新加坡关税局。