小胖's Credit Score

Inspired by GMGH's post on his credit score, 小胖 went on to register to view my credit score.

小胖 has always wanted to view his credit rating report, and believes that everyone should should it once annually. Previously, it takes $6.42 to check your credit score, but for the month of June, SingSaver has collaborated with Singapore's Credit Bureau to provide FREE credit report for interested users in June. I believe this is part of a programme to instill financial and credit awareness to Singaporeans. So... if you are interested in viewing your credit score, follow the instructions HERE!

According to the explanation given by Credit Bureau, your credit score will affect your eligibility to obtain credit and qualify for loans. 

So, here's 小胖's credit rating report...

Based on the highest score of 2000, where 2000 depicts individuals having the lowest chance of reaching a delinquency status. According to his score of 1994, he only has a 0.08% probability of default. Seems like 小胖 has a rather good credit rating! 

For some who may not understand why his/her loans amount are smaller, or face difficulties in his/her loan or credit cards application process, it may be worthwhile to review your credit score once in a while. 

小胖's Money Management Tip #2

小胖 had tried and tested several iPhone apps to note down his daily expenses, so that he would have to think twice before deciding to splurge and then regret it afterwards. Unfortunately, he would always forget to update it daily, or maybe he's just too lazy to do it... 

It was then he decided to organise his entire input and output altogether in a single spreadsheet. Otherwise known as my Net Worth, which Investopedia describes it as the amount of assets exceeding liabilities. 

Source: www.financialjuneteenth.com

Updating this spreadsheet allows 小胖 to gain an overall awareness on items such as: 

1) Whether his stocks portfolio has increased in value month-on-month?

2) Whether the balances in his savings account has increased month-on-month? 

3) Has his long-term liabilities decreased in value? 

4) Has he paid ALL his credit card bills? 

5) Ensuring that his Net Worth increases gradually over the months. 

The spreadsheet has included CPF savings as part of his assets as ultimately 小胖 feels that the amount in his CPF savings are his, and there's no reason that we should segregate CPF savings aside from his current Net Worth. There are a number of ways to utilise the amount in his CPF account, though he haven't been doing it. But in the near future, 小胖 will update on what are the ways that your money in your CPF account can be used for. 

Going back to the topic, 小胖 makes it a point to update this spreadsheet weekly, if not fortnightly, and the goods news is that he has been doing it religiously for the past six months now! 

The general idea of constantly updating this spreadsheet is to keep my savings and expenses in check. Not only it instills discipline in myself, it also lets me realise the purpose of saving part of my paycheck and helps me to keep in line in order to meet my financial goals or targets for the year. 

This basic spreadsheet was adapted during an online search late last year. Throughout the next few months, 小胖 will explore ways to:

1) insert a line chart to exhibit the gradual increase of his Net Worth.

2) highlight his financial goals and targets for the year in the spreadsheet. 

So how do you guys manage to keep tabs on your finances? Please let me know in the comments below! 

If you are interested in the spreadsheet, please click HERE! 

小胖 shows his portfolio

So... 小胖 started his investing journey in August 2012. Throughout these years, he has grown from a more-trader to a more-investor.

In the past, he remembered the heydays of 10-20% monthly returns on trading oil & gas stocks, shell companies, etc... Only to lose all of them in another one or two trades. He is not a fan of cutting loss, even when trading. That adrenaline rush, and fast heartbeats along with shrinking balls were the reasons why he decided to move from a trader to more of an investor.

As he started transiting from a more-trader to a more-investor, he started picking up REITs, before amassing more savings to pick up blue-chips, bit by bit. Using SCB trading account, he is able to pick up blue-chips in lots of 100 shares, ever since the kickstart of smaller lots trading on Jan 2015.

The smaller trading lots have also allowed him to use Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) if the share prices goes against his way.

Shown is his portfolio throughout these 3.5 years of investing (ranked according to % value in portfolio). Along the way, he had also done some trading on blue-chips, which are not listed here.

Share Name	No. of Shares
CapitaCommercial Trust	4200
Keppel REIT	5000
Hyflux 6% Perp. Securities	4000
HPH Trust	5000
Perennial n4.65% 181023	2000
Figtree	10000
AIMSAMP Capital REIT	1200
SPH	400
Starhill Global REIT	1000
SoilBuild Business REIT	1000
Lippo Malls Trust	2000
Global Logistics Trust	200
STI ETF	100
M1	100

As you can see, 小胖's portfolio is heavy on the property sector, which he feels is not a good sign. Thus, he is looking to diversify on other sectors, as well as building up his percentage of portfolio in bonds and other investments.

As of 2015, his dividend income stands at ~4%, he is hoping to increase it to reach ~5% in 2016 (conservative estimate).

Standby for updates on whether I can hit that target at the end of the year!