6068. "I am a stingy man!" the 72-year-old said. It is not the size but how you do with your income that matters.

EDUCATIONAL STORY ABOUT HIGH YIELD INVESTMENTS.

A STINGY MAN
Thursday, 4 Jun 2026. Food Republic. City Square Mall.

"I am a stingy man!" the 72-year-old Senior Calvin declared to his three silver-haired friends at one of the Thursday lunches and dinners I attended with my wife. A drink costs $2.90 per cup, free flowing, but Senior Calvin would not buy one as he has his 200ml water bottle in his sling bag. One Senior bought a cup of Milo for him as he had occupied a seat but didn't purchase any beverage. 

I got to know 3 Seniors of this group during my Vietnam Tour some 5 years ago. One of the Seniors did not go for the tour and it was Senior Calvin.  

The 3 Seniors failed to change Senior Calvin's behaviour over many years. "He would buy the cheapest food during lunch," Senior Jack said to me. "If a dish costs $9.00, he would not pay another dish that would cost $3.00 instead."

"I can understand his behaviour," I said to the 3 Seniors yesterday. "Every cent saved from eating can be invested in his high-yield unit trusts. Now he has $350,000 based on $300,000 invested in Aberdeen 2 years ago! Every month, he receives $3,000 from Aberdeen!". 

"Grace from Bright Insurance loves him," Senior Bernard said. "He has his fingers all over her!". Calvin did not rebut. "It is not nice to say that of a hard working financial consultant of Bright Insurance," I said although I know the Senior was joking.

 "I mean he has his thumb prints in the various documents Grace had given him. Do you know Grace? Her daughter is taking over her portfolio!" Ben replied. 

"I don't know Grace. Is she a Director of Bright Insurance?" I asked. "I don't think so!" Senior Ben replied.

Conversations with the 4 Seniors involving Senior Calvin can be educational and entertaining sometimes. Senior Calvin has wealth, but he has already declared he is a stingy man. So what? He believes he is healthier by eating cheaper and he has the wealth to support him to his 100 years of age! 

Wealth is not about the size of your income. Wealth is about what you do with your income. The stingy man sacrifices his personal matters, not splurging on travels as every dollar saved goes to the income investment in financial instruments.

P.S. A stingy man is someone with the financial means to spend but who is excessively reluctant to part with his money. Often driven by a deep-rooted fear of scarcity or lack of control, he tends to hoard his resources rather than share them, prioritize cheap alternatives, and frequently complain about being broke.

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 I have read your story.. ha ha ha… 
First thing I had to verify, you can call it an occupation hazard, was the ROI of his investment. 
$3K per month = $36,000. 
$36,000 out of $350,000 = 10.28%pa. 
Then, i checked our Aberdeen Funds (we have a total of 9), and none of which are dividend paying. 
We have a total of 25 dividend paying funds and the highest is 9+% and it is Franklin Templeton. 
Even the highest one I see on iFast One is 8.11%pa.
So, hmmm…..🫣🫣🫣

And if, all his money is planned as a legacy for his family and children, then I call him generous instead. Another POV.

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Google review.  SINGAPORE - 4 JUN 2026: 2.39pm. 

Food Republic at City Square mall has been relocated to the basement three car park area. 

It has been transformed into a nostalgic, retro-style hawker ambiance. The decor includes painted sky ceilings, foldable tables, strings of lights, old signage and stalls designed like dai pai dong (street hawker style) — it gives a sense of “eating on the streets, but indoors.” 

Its interior is generally dark, unlike most food courts.

My wife had a plate of eel and rice. I didn't order any food as I did not like eating in a dark environment with tarred road flooring inside basement 3. 

Kopitiam Food Hall at VivoCity Mall, in contrast, is a bright and clean food court which makes meals with friends much pleasant.

PHOTOGRAPHY TIP:
I used Canon R5, 75-300mm lens. 105mm, 1/125sec, f/16, iso 5000, AV Mode. The photo has been brightened.

TO BUY PHOTO;
www.shutterstock.com/g/toapayohvets