Buying a car in Singapore

Buying a car is not a necessity to me but a convenience, especially since the birth of my son. I am now seriously thinking of buying one or joining a car sharing scheme like Honda Dirrac. Scratch head*

So far I have shortlisted Toyota Vios, Toyota Altis, Honda City and Honda Jazz. I will most probably go for the Off Peak Car Scheme as I will only use the car on weekday evenings, weekends and public holidays. Was happily looking around until a good friend of mine reminded me that I need a MPV if my whole family were to go out at once.... (My parents,grandma,wife,baby son and myself!)

Will have to look around again...will update when I have a new shortlist... Meanwhile got to look around at the car loan packages...

Goldfish for good Fengshui?

Been away from goldfish for quite some time. Recently my interest in keeping them is rekindled.

Goldfish are beautiful and non agressive, however the drawback is that you need to have a good filtration system or a good water changing regimen to deal with their excretion. Classical fengshui advocates keeping 8 red plus 1 black. I think it is more important to keep the fish healthy rather than cramp all 9 into a small tank. :)

With the increase in water and electricity prices, the cost for this hobby is escalating too...

Just to share pic of my previous batch of goldfish :)

Inflation setting in

Almost everyday I hear the price of a certain item has increased. 2007 is indeed a year of increases, notably the GST increase from 5% to 7%, bus fare increment, ERP rates increase, pork price increase, flour price increase....

This morning as I read last night's Chinese newspaper, there is this article on 10 sets of kaya,butter toast costing $15 in a chinatown coffeshop!! The owner cites high rental as the reason...

Just be prepared for more increases ahead. I personally believe that GST will be increased further with the government cutting corporate taxes to attract MNCs, high tech setup to open shop in Singapore. As they argued, this will give our citizens more job openings,etc. But in order to balance the "loss" in corporate tax revenue, they will have to increase consumer tax...

More to ponder on my next posting...