What to do next?
Hi fellow redditors, I've been lurking around here but wanted to seek advice on my next steps in life (mostly financially, but maybe also physically and mentally to be well-rounded)...
Brief background:
- Early 30s, single, no spouse / children, no house of my own, no car
- Parents are retired but doing ok (they don't spend much and have a fully paid for hdb in a nice neighborhood)
- Working full-time at a job that pays a decent $10k/month + side income of $1.8k/month (averaged). Job is ok but I may eventually switch job/industries if opportunities come by. No plans to take a career break.
- Got cover for personal insurance (term+hosp+rider), in addition to corporate insurance
- Portfolio based on current value: Mid/Long Term Investments (720k), Savings (22k), CPF (230k). Got a little lucky catching the recent market trends as well as back in Covid, hence I'm also watchful that my NW would continue fluctuating if the trends fade/change.
- On average I save about 80-85% of my salary, the bulk of the 80% goes to investments (I DCA in broad based ETFs and also occasionally pile on some individual stocks I have conviction in) and savings. The 15-20% is mostly on food (work/WFH lunches), shopping (personal care/clothes/etc), travel (usually to Asia countries about twice a year), allowances etc.
- Not a fan of luxury goods, so probably unlikely to splurge out of the blue
- Not sure if I'll be married or have kids; haven't been able to meet a likeminded person who is financially savvy and similar in terms of interests/personality. If eventually have kids, probably just 1 or at most 2 (then I can say goodbye to my current FI plans...)
- Don't plan to buy a car as I don't trust myself with it. Will eventually get a house of my own within the next 10 years with or without a partner, 4/5-room with minimalist clean layouts (no fancy furnishings) and doesn't have to be in central areas as long as there are basic facilities nearby (park/food/mrt/shopping malls in 1-2km vicinity) - maybe 700k?
- The main plan is to be financially independent where I can stop working when I don't feel like it. I aim to reach that in my 40s to early 50s, but might continue working full time/part time if I feel like it
- If I retire, I probably will still live a relatively simple life - maybe mostly coffee shop food for regular lunches, occasional splurge on meals/travels, probably averaging 3k-3.5k a month just averaging out
I have some interests of my own and hang out with family/friends, but somehow life just feels mundane. But I do know it is a privilege to feel this way.
Personally I do think I'm doing average or at best fairly well compared to my peers (many probably don't disclose their financials here anyway), but somehow it just never feels enough. Hence I'm wondering if anyone had a similar financial/life at this age phase and what would they share as an advice be it opportunities or pitfalls?
Edit: Wanted to keep this gender neutral at first cos I feel like it doesn’t have much impact on the point I’m making in this post. But yes I am female and the number of assumptions thinking I’m a guy is so damn high… not sure if it’s the profile of this sub?