Not just finances.
5 Talents.
I’ve made it into a little game or chart to look at whenever I find the concept of me ever buying a house seeming absurd. I mean, the current economy is about as friendly as Pennywise from IT. All smiles and deathly demise.
It turns out that if I save about RM 150 every month in StashAway, I have a 75% chance of getting approx. RM 1.3m in 50 years. Of course, past result does not guarantee future success. What if I upgrade that to RM 1000 a month? Add on a nifty RM 10k that I could borrow and payback from my folks? (Costs of Inflation, ya’lls!):
I believe the results speak for themselves. Doing the bare minimum (saving) and still seeing that M in my bank account in 30 years ain't half bad. But I’ll be 53 young, and I think it’ll be an amazing feeling to say someday, “Hi, I’m a high school teacher. Can I buy that Tesla in cash?”
You’re welcome, future Rg.
And that’s the first talent, honing my wisdom in choosing for myself the best out of the millions of choices out there, specifically regarding my finances. Meh, ask me again in 35 years if it worked out. (No 1k+ job yet 😛)
The second talent is actually something I learned from a small writing gig recently: Learner’s Agency. It’s powerful in its return of learning ownership back where it belongs — in the tiny hands of our tiny tots. And it applies for us not so tiny todds too. I’m currently being manufactured out of a school system that favours machinery, and I’m very much human. It’s so easy to forget that I’m learning, not merely accomplishing a degree/cert/ego trip.
Real-world applications mean starting on a voracious reading journey, reading every bit of the alphabet that articles that attract me have to offer. Taking my own courses, just because I want to. Trying out an internship at a company that uses my second language more than my very comfortable English. Starting a Medium blog… (shameless plug here.) And keep moving forward in the direction I’ve chosen. For at least 6 months. A year feels too long at my age.
The third sees me gaming my nights away. Because it’s a talent to have ambition and still have fun. Whether or not it works well, I believe it did for my advisor, who dropped everything save Biz + Gaming. Not a bad combo if you ask me. Of course, it resulted in him being able to afford a Tesla in cash. Side note: I much rather prefer to Grab all day. When Covid has stopped guarding my gate.
Interestingly, I realized my currency is fun. I am most alive when I enjoy life.
Forthright fourth has me texting away, wishing my loved ones well. Enjoying life-giving relationships, I also find to be a talent much elusive to ol’ Hermit Me. I much prefer the company of screens — which, to be fair, it’s not exactly optional right now. But it’s a lie I’ve bought into. I swiftly realized this after feeling much refreshed after spending some quality time in person with said loved ones. I am 100% an introvert, though my bestie Bunny disagrees. Hey, just because I can strike a conversation fairly decently does not mean I recharge with company.
The Final Talent:
To make money. It’s hard to remember I have this talent right now, especially with high job competitiveness out there. All second-hand information, of course, I still have a dangling hold onto that entrepreneur's dream. I’m the one being shaken off, thanks, economy. I meant it non-sarcastically, btw. My advisor does say, after all, in Pain, there’s Chance. To help and to serve.
Right now, I have an internship, and that funds my StashingAway (see Talent 1). Here’s to more income streams in years to come:
Cheers,
Rg
