The "SGD 667" Strategic Retirement Model in Singapore

 

Source Material:

• Income Transition: Officially retired on March 1, 2024, successfully transitioning from work income to tax-free passive income.

• Medical Background & Health Imperative :

  • Managing Side Effects: As a long-term user of 1mg Risperidone, I must proactively combat its metabolic side effects (appetite changes, weight gain risk) through a "Textbook Level" diet.

  • Visual Health: Managing Glaucoma requires a high intake of antioxidants and precise nutrient management.

  • Digital Transformation: I used a grant from SkillsFuture to return to Ngee Ann Polytechnic to study SDGAI (Ngee Ann Polytechnic Applied Generative AI). Leveraging my on SDGAI (Graduated Sept 2025), I digitized my health management into a systematic "Digital Asset".

• August 2025 Financial Snapshot: Total monthly expenses controlled at SGD 667.33.

  • Strategic Sourcing: 37.3% spent at NTUC FairPrice, 13.5% at Lazada, and 6.5% at Sheng Siong.

  • E-commerce Optimization: Leveraged Taobao (6.9%), Pinduoduo (4.2%), and Shopee (3.4%) to source high-value nutritional supplies.

• Radical Minimalism:

  • Energy Efficiency: Resolutely avoided installing a water heater and rarely uses the air conditioner to conserve electricity.

  • Manual Labor: Clothes are washed by hand; no washing machine is owned or planned for purchase.

• Insurance & Risk Management Philosophy

  • Private Insurance Rejection: Before retirement, I conducted a personal risk assessment and made a conscious decision to refuse any private insurance packages.

  • National Security Net: I rely on the national MediShield Life insurance for fundamental medical coverage.

  • Financial Autonomy: By choosing not to pay private premiums, I redirected those funds into my investment portfolio to ensure a higher cash flow, as this was a personal choice based on my own risk tolerance.

• Living Arrangement: Owns the house and lives with a sister (younger sister), benefiting from Singapore's "Home Ownership Scheme" to eliminate rent expenses.

• Portfolio Management:

  • Assets: Comprised of Unit Trusts, high-dividend stocks, and Singapore Government Bonds (SSBs). The passive income generated by these assets is completely tax-free in Singapore.

  • Sustainability: The SGD 667 expense represents only 29.73% of monthly passive income.

  • Growth: Reinvests 43% of annual passive income into DBS Bank retail unit trusts.

• Core Philosophy: "Increase income, reduce unnecessary expenses, and rapidly increase reliable investments".