Friday reads – volume 17

And here are the goodies…

Our Crazy Rich Experience On Singapore Airlines Suites (Dr. McFrugal) 

“A first class amenity kit was waiting for us at our seat. It was a Salvatore Ferragamo bag that contained Ferragamo designer toiletries such as lotion, cologne, lip balm, and moisturizing cream. In addition, we were given a night-time kit of Givenchy pajamas, eye shades, warm socks, and slippers.”

We all know Singapore Airlines has a reputation for being the top luxury airline in the aviation industry. Coupled with the topped airline awards that it has bagged over the few years, this is one of the few Singapore Inc. that Singaporeans are proud of, although to be honest, I think I have travelled on the airlines at most 5 times my entire life. Tickets are not cheap, although you can get them on a steal on promotions. But this Suites experience does sound out of this world! Yes, Crazy Rich Asians world.

The Case Against FIRE (Millennial Revolution)

“Whether you are for or against FIRE, it doesn’t matter. Every day more and more people are waking up, and realizing that FIRE is a real thing. It’s been tried, tested, and vetted. And we all know, in the end, it’s not about getting rich or quitting your job. It’s about freedom and choices.”

Another fiesty one by Firecracker from Millennial Revolution. There are no doubt many detractors that question FIRE and I think Firecracker has presented her arguments pretty well in this one. Well, you can’t please anybody. Or perhaps it is just a case of sour grapes?

China Can’t Afford a Cashless Society (Foreign Policy) 

“When apps are built on the assumption that residents of a specific community are formally enrolled in a bank or financial institution, the unenrolled are simply locked out of being able to pay. As these digital platforms attempt to become the default form of payment, China is facing a critical challenge to get its unbanked citizens caught up to financial inclusion standards.”

A pretty interesting read in relation to the move towards a cashless society – something which the Singapore government is aiming to do. As technology advances and cashless payments are fast becoming the norm, there is always the opposite end of a (disadvantaged) group that might not be included in the process. This article provides a pretty good alternative view to it, something which might provide some food for thought for us.

How much would the iPhone cost if it were made in America? (Vox)

“The issue is not so much cost of putting an iPhone together, or even the cost per part on paper. The issue is skill, scale, expertise, and infrastructure — all of which require money, time and long-term investment. Unlike other manufacturing jobs that have migrated from the United States, Apple wouldn’t be bringing them “back” so much as starting from scratch. The cost would come in attempting to build a system that’s never been in the US, but has been built over decades abroad.”

A pretty good read about outsourcing. Yes, low labour cost is a huge factor but increasingly, it has gone beyond that, and spans across the skillset and expertise, and of course, the host government’s willingness to grant some form of concessions and grants to these MNCs.

Are Financial Bloggers ‘Suffering?’ (Dr Wealth)

“People choose to Suffer now for a better tomorrow. They choose to work hard and take lesser holidays so that they can retire earlier. They choose to forgo Starbucks so that they can build up their cash buffer for a rainy day. Many are performing well in their stable jobs. They do not make Bold career moves because they know they will take a longer time to learn and feel comfortable once again, or worse, failed moves have consequences.”

An awesome read by Alvin from Dr Wealth where he provided two anecdotes on the Warrior and the Monk. In fact, this article also inspired a spin-off from My15hourworkweek (another highly recommended read). Are you the warrior or the monk? Or perhaps the farmer?

And here’s a quote to round it up.