<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Jan 25, 2009
WELL-OFF RETIREE
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Budget benefits yet to be seen
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Housewife Yvonne Heng,w ith her husband Heng Tin Meng, a retired stockbroker, and their sons Tee Jin, 25 (in black) and Tong Jin, 30. -- PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->Housewife Yvonne Heng, 55, lives with her husband Heng Tin Meng, 64, a retired stockbroker, and their two sons, aged 25 and 30, in a condominium along East Coast Road. Mrs Heng used to work as an executive secretary in an American consulting firm but retired seven years ago to travel, keep fit and spend more time with family and friends.
What's for reunion dinner this year?
We will be eating out as we usually do. We have booked a table for our extended family of 12 at a Teochew restaurant in the city. We booked it one month in advance and it costs about $800 for a table. There will be the usual delicacies such as shark's fin and suckling pig, as well as traditional Teochew dishes as we are Teochew. Though times are bad now, my husband feels that it is his duty to treat his siblings as he is the eldest of the four of them.
What was for reunion dinner last year?
We treated ourselves to dinner at the Shang Palace in Shangri-La Hotel. It cost us nearly $2,000 for a table for 12 as my husband wanted somewhere with a nice ambience. We decided to be more prudent and look for somewhere less pricey this year, given the state of the economy.
How was the Year of the Rat for you and your family?
A disaster. Our investments in equities and property were affected as early as November 2007 but depreciated quite a lot last year.
We've had to cut back on our expenses, such as on travel and dining. I took about eight overseas holidays last year but I will certainly be doing so less this year. We fly economy class instead of business or first class now, unless it's for long-haul trips where we need a little more comfort. We've also started taking budget airlines for regional trips.
We eat at fine dining spots less frequently and we encourage our boys to eat at home with us more often. Anyway, my husband loves cooking and finds it therapeutic.
Instead of purchasing on impulse as I used to do, I think over my shopping and ask myself if the items are really necessary before buying.
What is your biggest fear for the Year of the Ox?
That the recession will drag on longer than expected. We're both retired so we don't have to worry about retrenchment, but we constantly remind our sons to be alert and work hard to stay in their jobs. My elder son is an equities analyst and the younger one is a project executive in the hospitality industry.
How did the Budget help you?
There's not much we can benefit from. It seems to benefit companies more. The property tax rebate is good news but our second property is still under construction, so we will see the benefits only next year if they can extend it.
Any wish list?
I hope the economy will recover soon, but more importantly, I wish for good health and for my family to stay close-knit and happy.
WELL-OFF RETIREE
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Budget benefits yet to be seen
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
Housewife Yvonne Heng,w ith her husband Heng Tin Meng, a retired stockbroker, and their sons Tee Jin, 25 (in black) and Tong Jin, 30. -- PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->Housewife Yvonne Heng, 55, lives with her husband Heng Tin Meng, 64, a retired stockbroker, and their two sons, aged 25 and 30, in a condominium along East Coast Road. Mrs Heng used to work as an executive secretary in an American consulting firm but retired seven years ago to travel, keep fit and spend more time with family and friends.
What's for reunion dinner this year?
We will be eating out as we usually do. We have booked a table for our extended family of 12 at a Teochew restaurant in the city. We booked it one month in advance and it costs about $800 for a table. There will be the usual delicacies such as shark's fin and suckling pig, as well as traditional Teochew dishes as we are Teochew. Though times are bad now, my husband feels that it is his duty to treat his siblings as he is the eldest of the four of them.
What was for reunion dinner last year?
We treated ourselves to dinner at the Shang Palace in Shangri-La Hotel. It cost us nearly $2,000 for a table for 12 as my husband wanted somewhere with a nice ambience. We decided to be more prudent and look for somewhere less pricey this year, given the state of the economy.
How was the Year of the Rat for you and your family?
A disaster. Our investments in equities and property were affected as early as November 2007 but depreciated quite a lot last year.
We've had to cut back on our expenses, such as on travel and dining. I took about eight overseas holidays last year but I will certainly be doing so less this year. We fly economy class instead of business or first class now, unless it's for long-haul trips where we need a little more comfort. We've also started taking budget airlines for regional trips.
We eat at fine dining spots less frequently and we encourage our boys to eat at home with us more often. Anyway, my husband loves cooking and finds it therapeutic.
Instead of purchasing on impulse as I used to do, I think over my shopping and ask myself if the items are really necessary before buying.
What is your biggest fear for the Year of the Ox?
That the recession will drag on longer than expected. We're both retired so we don't have to worry about retrenchment, but we constantly remind our sons to be alert and work hard to stay in their jobs. My elder son is an equities analyst and the younger one is a project executive in the hospitality industry.
How did the Budget help you?
There's not much we can benefit from. It seems to benefit companies more. The property tax rebate is good news but our second property is still under construction, so we will see the benefits only next year if they can extend it.
Any wish list?
I hope the economy will recover soon, but more importantly, I wish for good health and for my family to stay close-knit and happy.
