Worked for 2 weeks and if I am under Recruit Express, I will be expecting my pay to come in anytime next week. Being cash-strapped, I am back to the good old budget-constrained days. It's as if I am working back at Luxasia.

Though I am limited to the same monetary constrain of $4 a day, life seems more difficult because Novena Square has no cheap food! My good old curry puff at Old Chang Kee now costs $1.20! Eating at the foodcourt will cost me more than $3.50! CY and I thought of buying cup noodles as lunch to save money. Though we haven't try it out yet, who knows when I am really desperate.

My salary rounds up to $1,000 after deducting CPF, so how am I going to spend my money?

Well, I will contribute $300 to my family. Why am I giving so much? Because I want to be more financially independent. Though I still take some money from my Mum sometimes, I want to train myself to be more responsible towards my family and have a taste of what committment is like. Actually I am only giving $150 a month, however I didn't work last month so I am covering back what I owed.

Next, $300 into my education funds. I usually set aside $200 a month into my savings but I saved $100 lesser the previous month. That explains why am I saving $300 this month. I hope to save as much as I can. Being financially independent also means that I have to pay for my own education.

Ever since I know Ade is flying to Australia for studies. I too are making plans to go there too. If I am going Australia to study, I need roughly $90,000 for the whole of 2 years. I want to graduate young, and $90,000 is the opportunity cost. Wished I studied harder and get myself a place in NTU Business. However, everything is too late.

Life will be sad if I can't use my hard-earned money. I am putting $50 for my books, $20 for my magazines, $80 for transport and $200 plus to last me till next payday. With $200 left, absolutely no chance to go on a cruise with my buddies or go Bangkok with my cliques. Both offers are attractive. However, my future comes first.

Will my aim for $1,000 before enlistment be fulfilled?