Our new flat, and financial planning...

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. As most would have known, Husband and I have received our keys and are now officially proud owners of the BTO flat we opted for back on 9th December 2012.

We thank Allah SWT for all his blessings, in which He had made some things easier for us and insyaAllah our future as joint owners of this new flat, in which new life shall begin, a new challenge as husband and wife.

All our consistency in working full time, enduring and hanging on to our jobs, searching for better opportunities, and the rewards our stay in the company has been paid off when we see the figures on the screen.

We initially wanted to just go for 15yr loan, but the figures are a bit tight for my husband, so we opted for a 20yr loan instead of the full 30yr loan as I definitely don't want to work beyond 50, if possible I don't want to be working beyond 45. And I definitely don't want to see my husband struggle and continue working too hard after he is 55. He deserve a good break too, you know.

Alhamdulillah, even with the shorter loan period, we are still at the comfortable repayment amount, in fact it was at least $200 under. Alhamdulillah. This only means that I can afford to cut some slack after a good 5-8 years of continuously working as how I already am at the moment.

So friends, this is why a good job with a good CPF contribution is helpful. The 20% goes a long long way if you do intend to have your own flat and it does help if you are hospitalized.

So now that all the signing is over, we took the trip to physically see the flat, and get down to the real planning works. Jump on the wagon and start scouting for a good contractor to get working. If you havent know, we are intending to be loan free as much as possible.

We had told each other to save $10K each for renovation work, since 2-3 years ago, I kept to my word, in fact had some extra to get my Babylock Enlighten at least! However, due to some unseen circumstances, my husband falls short, But is okay, it is at 70% of the targetted amount and is good enough for us who are both minimalist and practical in terms of our new home.

So we set ourselves to keep everything within $15K. Alhamdulillah, we know of a contractor who can do the job for us at that amount or less. Allah SWT had made it easy for us, Alhamdulillah.

And the plan we had earlier, wasn't to what our actual flat is, so there you go! This is why I waited till I get my keys. :)

From this:

Initially we drew this from the "typical floor plan" in the BTO booklet thingy, and modified to suit our flat layout as per the BTO booklet. 

After looking at the actual flat, the actual size of it, the irritating corners or the columns that eat up space, that Gas Maintence shaft that eats into our kitchen, we had no choice but to make significant changes to our plans, and this is what we come up with.

I even decided to do a built-in shelf for the hobby room instead of getting an off the shelf, as I figured I need durability. Further changes to wardrobe locations with the contractors' advice. And the kitchen! I had to put my fridge in the service yard. Oh wells, what to do? We also shifted the dining area since there is a partition there beside our main door. And had our game console on the other corner. For sure, we LOVE our living/dining area, Alhamdulillah, it is spacious to accommodate, living day space, dining space and game space!

Baby M was very sure the hobby room was hers, she kept going in that room and telling me it is hers, and that we will sleep in it. Haha. Okay Baby, we will keep a space for you in there okay? While Abah saves for his bicycles, I will squeeze a day bed and toy space for you in there! :)

Also, this is a corridor unit, not the corner, so on a down side, I don't have a view, the sunlight, or the wind. But I get a good living space, and a personal corridor to my main gate. Possibly to grow some herbs and get some Aquaponic going on or something? Or maybe a bench to just sit guests when the house gets too full. That personal space also means our shoes wont get kicked by neighbours walking pass to get to the lift or the bin chute. I love that outdoor space the most, to be honest. :)

That's about it for my new flat, another entry for our contractor soon..

The happy new owner of a new flat,
Jun

Wassalam

Are you ready to own your own flat?

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, readers and followers of this blog. Today, I was asked, "Hey, you gonna get your keys soon, right? So are you ready?"

I stared blankly back at her and asked. "Ready for what?"

What preparations?

That is when it hits me, my own home soon.. What have I done? Nothing. Yup. Nothing like I am never going to shift. It was a strange phenomena to many young couples, or maybe only for those who never had to fight with other siblings for the morning bath and having to squeeze in a room to sleep and fight for privacy. Maybe. To be really honest, the only preparations my husband and I made was to save enough money, and nothing else.

What's the plan, really?

Minimalist. I seriously plan to do very minimal and just the most basic renovation needs and nothing else. I want my flat bare. So bare that even a robber would leave me some tips when he leaves. Heh.

I guess the reality of owning our own flat hasn't sink in, so we just decide to wait till we get the physical keys, get into our physical flat, and walk in it before we jump in the wagon and start doing everything that is necessary.

How do I feel?

The feeling is rather blank at the moment. Definitely very mixed. At one moment I feel like I couldn't wait, the next moment I don't feel anything at all. I feel a lot of fear instead of the supposedly burst of excitement of having my own place. Not sure why, maybe because my parents didn't chase me out (not like I want them to). Perhaps it was just my comfort zone. I have lived in Clementi for 23 long years, I am somewhat attached to it, the comfort of seeing your neighbours, the comfort of knowing the market at the back of your hand, the comfort of just being in a place so familiar to me.

On the other hand though, I was looking forward to being a CCK resident. I would be nearer to my elder sister, cousin, and some friends. I look forward to having the master room, I look forward to the dedicated hobby cum sewing room, I look forward to challenge my husband to a dance, I look forward to welcoming my very first guests to my very own home. I look forward to stripping my house naked as I wish. Hey! Naked as in stripping it off any decoratives, so it would be easier for me to clean.

Then I remembered, my parents would be living with me, and we cannot go without a sofa in the living room. Or maybe we can with two lazy chairs just for them.

Here's the rough plan.

As with many other plans, things will change to suit when it comes. So let's imagine and dream for some things to become a good reality ok? ;)

Until I get myself into my own home,
Jun

Wassalam