1 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:05,269 Speaker 1: You're listening to AC NE podcast. 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:07,949 Speaker 2: Hello, I'm Stepa Hearn, one of the judges of the 3 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:12,020 Speaker 2: Asia Podcast Awards. I'm interrupting this episode to let you 4 00:00:12,029 --> 00:00:15,829 Speaker 2: know that you're listening to an award winning podcast. This 5 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:20,319 Speaker 2: podcast won its category in the 2024 podcast awards. So, 6 00:00:20,329 --> 00:00:24,770 Speaker 2: you know, you're listening to quality, enjoy your listening experience 7 00:00:24,790 --> 00:00:28,389 Speaker 2: and congratulations to the team who created this award winning 8 00:00:28,399 --> 00:00:29,620 Speaker 2: podcast for you. 9 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:34,529 Speaker 1: Hey, there, it's Andrea and welcome back to the Money 10 00:00:34,540 --> 00:00:38,419 Speaker 1: Talks podcast. So there was a recent survey, it showed 11 00:00:38,430 --> 00:00:45,299 Speaker 1: that slightly more than 1000 people were asked about growing old, right? 80% 12 00:00:45,310 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: said they feared poor health and nearly 50% said 13 00:00:50,455 --> 00:00:54,654 Speaker 1: to depend on others was a big worry. Now, if 14 00:00:54,665 --> 00:00:58,275 Speaker 1: you're listening to this while exercising or, you know, on 15 00:00:58,284 --> 00:01:03,235 Speaker 1: your commute, you happen to be young, relatively healthy and active, 16 00:01:03,244 --> 00:01:06,074 Speaker 1: this concept of growing old and depending on others, this 17 00:01:06,084 --> 00:01:11,315 Speaker 1: might seem like a world away. But the reality for 18 00:01:11,324 --> 00:01:14,275 Speaker 1: thousands of others is quite different. 19 00:01:14,750 --> 00:01:18,860 Speaker 1: They are either caregivers or in need of care. And 20 00:01:18,870 --> 00:01:23,300 Speaker 1: the truth of the matter is this costs money, quite 21 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:26,459 Speaker 1: a bit of money and it is something that every 22 00:01:26,470 --> 00:01:29,260 Speaker 1: one of us is going to have to face someday. 23 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:32,510 Speaker 1: So today we have a different kind of conversation on 24 00:01:32,519 --> 00:01:33,309 Speaker 1: Money Talks. 25 00:01:33,464 --> 00:01:38,364 Speaker 1: I'm talking to someone who shoulders the physical, emotional and 26 00:01:38,375 --> 00:01:43,834 Speaker 1: financial burden of caring for her grandmother, Nabila Haim. Welcome 27 00:01:43,845 --> 00:01:46,735 Speaker 1: to Money Talks. Hi, Andrea. Thank you for having me. 28 00:01:46,745 --> 00:01:49,165 Speaker 1: It's so good to have you here. Thanks first and 29 00:01:49,175 --> 00:01:52,275 Speaker 1: foremost for coming on the podcast to share your story. 30 00:01:52,584 --> 00:01:55,684 Speaker 1: So let's paint a little bit of a context to start. 31 00:01:55,900 --> 00:01:58,639 Speaker 1: How old is your grandma? And why are you the 32 00:01:58,650 --> 00:02:02,669 Speaker 1: main caregiver? I have a 90 year old grandma and 33 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 1: I've been taking care of her since 2022. Ok. Yeah. 34 00:02:06,050 --> 00:02:09,869 Speaker 1: So basically before this, she was staying with my aunt 35 00:02:09,899 --> 00:02:10,758 Speaker 1: and my cousin 36 00:02:11,270 --> 00:02:14,538 Speaker 1: and grandma has been very active and independent all her life. 37 00:02:14,550 --> 00:02:16,538 Speaker 1: But I think in 2022 it was a wake up 38 00:02:16,550 --> 00:02:20,029 Speaker 1: call when we discovered one day she couldn't walk, she 39 00:02:20,038 --> 00:02:22,638 Speaker 1: just couldn't get off the bed. We decided to get 40 00:02:22,649 --> 00:02:26,259 Speaker 1: medical help thinking that, oh, ok. This is just normal, 41 00:02:26,270 --> 00:02:29,038 Speaker 1: you know, consequence of old age. And then we got 42 00:02:29,050 --> 00:02:30,019 Speaker 1: scolded the doctors. 43 00:02:31,050 --> 00:02:34,130 Speaker 1: What happened? The doctor was saying that, do you know 44 00:02:34,139 --> 00:02:36,589 Speaker 1: that these are signs of a mild stroke? And you know, 45 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:38,830 Speaker 1: we had no idea. We always thought that ok, a 46 00:02:38,839 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 1: stroke would be, you get paralyzed, you know, it's quite severe. Exactly. 47 00:02:42,449 --> 00:02:44,270 Speaker 1: And you will see, you know, this change in facial 48 00:02:44,279 --> 00:02:47,990 Speaker 1: expression at that point, my cousin, she was already a 49 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:51,660 Speaker 1: dialysis patient. So she, she already had a chronic illness 50 00:02:51,669 --> 00:02:55,050 Speaker 1: for the longest time and when the decision was made to, ok. 51 00:02:55,059 --> 00:02:55,589 Speaker 1: So what is the 52 00:02:55,684 --> 00:02:58,043 Speaker 1: care that is going to happen after this? Initially? I 53 00:02:58,054 --> 00:03:00,404 Speaker 1: thought maybe we could arrange it in some way, we'll 54 00:03:00,413 --> 00:03:02,705 Speaker 1: get a helper and then I'll come over every day 55 00:03:02,714 --> 00:03:04,954 Speaker 1: and then I realized that my house is quite far. 56 00:03:04,964 --> 00:03:07,285 Speaker 1: I'm at Bukit Batok at to Payoh. Right. So it's 57 00:03:07,294 --> 00:03:09,345 Speaker 1: a bit of a ride and then I have Children. 58 00:03:09,354 --> 00:03:11,154 Speaker 1: So I'm a mother of three and I also have 59 00:03:11,163 --> 00:03:12,744 Speaker 1: a job at the end of the day, we just 60 00:03:12,755 --> 00:03:14,785 Speaker 1: decided that, yeah, we're going to have her at our 61 00:03:14,794 --> 00:03:17,964 Speaker 1: house at my home. And yeah, that's how it all started. 62 00:03:17,975 --> 00:03:20,384 Speaker 1: You must have had some kind of conversation 63 00:03:20,740 --> 00:03:24,850 Speaker 1: with your husband and your Children also about bringing grandma home. 64 00:03:24,860 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 1: What was that conversation like? I'm very thankful that my 65 00:03:27,729 --> 00:03:30,359 Speaker 1: husband is a family man, but to be realistic, he 66 00:03:30,369 --> 00:03:34,179 Speaker 1: is not based in Singapore. Ok. I was a teacher 67 00:03:34,190 --> 00:03:36,550 Speaker 1: before this. So I left full time work looking for 68 00:03:36,559 --> 00:03:39,020 Speaker 1: something that's flexible that I can be with the Children. 69 00:03:39,110 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 1: And yeah, if you are a traveling husband, anybody with 70 00:03:41,009 --> 00:03:42,679 Speaker 1: a traveling spouse will tell you that 71 00:03:43,009 --> 00:03:45,029 Speaker 1: there must be a parent at home. But when I 72 00:03:45,039 --> 00:03:47,399 Speaker 1: talked to him about it, I was surprised he was 73 00:03:47,410 --> 00:03:49,820 Speaker 1: actually saying that, oh, every time I look at your grandma. 74 00:03:49,830 --> 00:03:51,369 Speaker 1: I always thought I wanted to take care of her. 75 00:03:51,380 --> 00:03:54,419 Speaker 1: And I'm like, oh, ok. Ok. I never knew, I 76 00:03:54,429 --> 00:03:56,460 Speaker 1: never knew, you know, grandma is very independent. She's always 77 00:03:56,470 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: in and out of the house. But I think what 78 00:03:58,009 --> 00:04:00,029 Speaker 1: crosses his mind would be one day this 79 00:04:00,395 --> 00:04:03,125 Speaker 1: old strong lady is going to get really old and 80 00:04:03,134 --> 00:04:05,985 Speaker 1: really sick. Right. So, yeah. So we talked about that 81 00:04:05,994 --> 00:04:07,925 Speaker 1: and I think that made it a lot easier to 82 00:04:07,934 --> 00:04:09,675 Speaker 1: know that I had to buy in. But I also 83 00:04:09,684 --> 00:04:12,725 Speaker 1: knew that because he travels a bit, I would have 84 00:04:12,735 --> 00:04:15,845 Speaker 1: to have right. And I'm thinking of my aunts, my mom, 85 00:04:15,854 --> 00:04:17,005 Speaker 1: this is my mother's mother. 86 00:04:17,500 --> 00:04:20,549 Speaker 1: They're all in the sixties, seventies. I don't think that 87 00:04:20,559 --> 00:04:22,649 Speaker 1: they will be coming over every day, you know. So 88 00:04:22,660 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: that's when I decided I said if I, if I 89 00:04:24,890 --> 00:04:26,959 Speaker 1: was going to do this, it would have to be 90 00:04:26,970 --> 00:04:29,559 Speaker 1: with the help of a helper. So we never had 91 00:04:29,570 --> 00:04:30,869 Speaker 1: a helper. Never 92 00:04:31,750 --> 00:04:34,909 Speaker 1: until now. Yes, but bless her. She is a gem. 93 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:37,390 Speaker 1: I wanted to get a better understanding of what you 94 00:04:37,399 --> 00:04:40,589 Speaker 1: had to do to prepare for grandma coming home. You 95 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:42,970 Speaker 1: needed to set up your home for it. Obviously, because 96 00:04:42,980 --> 00:04:46,839 Speaker 1: after the stroke, I imagine she was pretty immobile. So 97 00:04:46,850 --> 00:04:49,809 Speaker 1: take us through the key things that you needed for 98 00:04:49,820 --> 00:04:53,609 Speaker 1: the house to prepare for her arrival and how much 99 00:04:53,619 --> 00:04:56,308 Speaker 1: they cost. So I think before all that, I honestly 100 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:58,980 Speaker 1: had no idea what was going to happen. Right. We thought, ok, 101 00:04:58,988 --> 00:05:00,170 Speaker 1: take her home and that's it. 102 00:05:00,549 --> 00:05:02,779 Speaker 1: So it was very interesting at the hospital when the 103 00:05:02,790 --> 00:05:05,428 Speaker 1: doctors were the ones to actually ask us. So, can 104 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:08,089 Speaker 1: I understand what's the caregiving situation like, who's going to 105 00:05:08,100 --> 00:05:08,769 Speaker 1: care for her? 106 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:11,269 Speaker 1: And then, yeah, they will ask you a lot of questions. 107 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:13,779 Speaker 1: And then the physiotherapist also comes in quite a bit 108 00:05:13,790 --> 00:05:16,868 Speaker 1: and ask you about your home setup at the end 109 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:18,450 Speaker 1: of the day. They just wanted to know whether my 110 00:05:18,459 --> 00:05:20,980 Speaker 1: home is viable for her. Of course, the only thing 111 00:05:20,988 --> 00:05:23,630 Speaker 1: though I didn't have certain things, for example, because none 112 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:26,368 Speaker 1: of us are wheelchair bound. So we didn't have a 113 00:05:26,380 --> 00:05:28,309 Speaker 1: ramp for the three steps. So we actually had to 114 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:31,170 Speaker 1: carry her whenever we go for the daycare therapy and 115 00:05:31,178 --> 00:05:31,820 Speaker 1: things like that. 116 00:05:32,059 --> 00:05:36,519 Speaker 1: She had a second stroke in October last year. So that's, yeah. So, 117 00:05:36,529 --> 00:05:39,729 Speaker 1: so now she's mostly bed bound. But during the first year, yeah, 118 00:05:39,738 --> 00:05:41,890 Speaker 1: the three, the three steps in front of our house 119 00:05:41,899 --> 00:05:44,519 Speaker 1: was a bit of a struggle to get through. And 120 00:05:44,529 --> 00:05:47,559 Speaker 1: also we had to have a hospital bed that also 121 00:05:47,570 --> 00:05:50,570 Speaker 1: came part of the discharge. They have a subsidy for that. 122 00:05:50,579 --> 00:05:52,829 Speaker 1: And then you get to choose what are the things 123 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 1: that you need and that there was a lot of 124 00:05:54,769 --> 00:05:56,769 Speaker 1: navigation on. Where is she going to sleep? How is 125 00:05:56,779 --> 00:05:58,709 Speaker 1: she going to sleep? Where is my helper? Going to sleep. 126 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:00,230 Speaker 1: So those are the things that we had to take 127 00:06:00,238 --> 00:06:01,359 Speaker 1: into consideration. 128 00:06:01,890 --> 00:06:04,779 Speaker 1: Yeah. Ok. Was there, was there a lot of obstacles 129 00:06:04,790 --> 00:06:07,690 Speaker 1: in this navigation for you? I would say during the 130 00:06:07,700 --> 00:06:10,049 Speaker 1: first year, I think the wheelchair thing was a little 131 00:06:10,059 --> 00:06:12,779 Speaker 1: bit hard, you know, making her move around. And a 132 00:06:12,959 --> 00:06:16,170 Speaker 1: lot of people think that when stroke patients come home 133 00:06:16,178 --> 00:06:18,649 Speaker 1: and that's it. Right. They just lie on the bed 134 00:06:18,690 --> 00:06:21,570 Speaker 1: in the wheelchair, but actually there's a physiotherapy component 135 00:06:22,029 --> 00:06:24,809 Speaker 1: and that aspect. So, although yes, we bring her to 136 00:06:24,820 --> 00:06:27,279 Speaker 1: physiotherapy where there are all these machines and all that 137 00:06:27,290 --> 00:06:30,279 Speaker 1: to help her strengthen herself. Actually, at home, you do 138 00:06:30,290 --> 00:06:33,769 Speaker 1: need to walk her around and do some exercising. Talk 139 00:06:33,779 --> 00:06:37,209 Speaker 1: to me more about the breakdown of the costs that 140 00:06:37,220 --> 00:06:40,290 Speaker 1: you needed to factor in when you were setting up 141 00:06:40,299 --> 00:06:43,329 Speaker 1: your home. You talked about the hospital bed, there was 142 00:06:43,339 --> 00:06:45,579 Speaker 1: the wheelchair, the physiotherapist, what 143 00:06:45,625 --> 00:06:49,984 Speaker 1: the other, I guess the other aspects in the periphery 144 00:06:49,994 --> 00:06:53,005 Speaker 1: nurse visits, that sort of stuff. How much roughly were 145 00:06:53,015 --> 00:06:55,594 Speaker 1: you set back by these? Ok. So I mentioned that 146 00:06:55,605 --> 00:06:57,863 Speaker 1: there were two stages, right? In the earlier part, I 147 00:06:57,875 --> 00:07:01,863 Speaker 1: would say y diapers is definitely consumables, the daycare, the 148 00:07:01,875 --> 00:07:05,195 Speaker 1: therapy that would be quite a significant cost. But because 149 00:07:05,375 --> 00:07:08,674 Speaker 1: my grandmother still owns her house, right? So we didn't 150 00:07:08,684 --> 00:07:09,125 Speaker 1: take her name 151 00:07:09,220 --> 00:07:12,390 Speaker 1: that the good thing about all these things is they 152 00:07:12,399 --> 00:07:17,109 Speaker 1: do means testing. Ok. So, so she qualified for some subsidies, 153 00:07:17,119 --> 00:07:19,350 Speaker 1: but still the daycare was about a few 100 or 154 00:07:19,359 --> 00:07:23,179 Speaker 1: 304 $100 on its own. So you have the diapers 155 00:07:23,190 --> 00:07:25,100 Speaker 1: and at the time she was still eating. So we 156 00:07:25,109 --> 00:07:28,399 Speaker 1: had to cook for her and all that um hospital visits, 157 00:07:28,410 --> 00:07:32,730 Speaker 1: grab rides, car rides, um any kind of uh transportation 158 00:07:32,815 --> 00:07:36,554 Speaker 1: to the medical institution now that she's under palliative care. 159 00:07:36,885 --> 00:07:39,894 Speaker 1: Um So when we brought her first from the hospital, 160 00:07:39,904 --> 00:07:41,964 Speaker 1: it has to be by a private ambulance. So I 161 00:07:41,975 --> 00:07:44,174 Speaker 1: think caregivers out there would know if you were to 162 00:07:44,184 --> 00:07:47,005 Speaker 1: use a private ambulance. Um Yeah, there will be cost 163 00:07:47,015 --> 00:07:49,825 Speaker 1: to it. How much would that would the trip cost 164 00:07:49,834 --> 00:07:52,195 Speaker 1: like that? I think when we first got her back 165 00:07:52,204 --> 00:07:55,054 Speaker 1: to the hospital for a follow up visit not knowing 166 00:07:55,065 --> 00:07:56,255 Speaker 1: that actually we didn't need to. 167 00:07:58,070 --> 00:08:02,149 Speaker 1: That's ok. That's hindsight. So once you bring back a 168 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:05,980 Speaker 1: palliative patient, actually the community hospital, if you choose to 169 00:08:05,989 --> 00:08:08,170 Speaker 1: have someone come to your house, to look at your 170 00:08:08,179 --> 00:08:10,700 Speaker 1: family member, it takes a bit of time for them 171 00:08:10,709 --> 00:08:12,690 Speaker 1: to sort out that process. So I didn't know. So 172 00:08:12,700 --> 00:08:14,519 Speaker 1: I just thought ok, so this is how it's going 173 00:08:14,529 --> 00:08:16,649 Speaker 1: to be like I'm going to get an ambulance every 174 00:08:16,660 --> 00:08:18,459 Speaker 1: time we need to go to the poly didn't make 175 00:08:18,470 --> 00:08:20,500 Speaker 1: sense at that point in time thinking how is this 176 00:08:20,510 --> 00:08:22,290 Speaker 1: going to work out? But let's just do it. So 177 00:08:22,299 --> 00:08:23,089 Speaker 1: that easily said 178 00:08:23,187 --> 00:08:26,867 Speaker 1: that's about $200 per trip, per trip. Yeah, but thankfully 179 00:08:26,877 --> 00:08:30,367 Speaker 1: after that, we discovered that actually, yeah, we had the 180 00:08:30,377 --> 00:08:33,827 Speaker 1: privilege of having palliative doctors and nurses coming in to 181 00:08:33,836 --> 00:08:37,497 Speaker 1: see her. And again, because she's under subsidy, she had 182 00:08:37,506 --> 00:08:41,446 Speaker 1: certain subsidies like a single visit. We had a physiotherapist 183 00:08:41,456 --> 00:08:44,606 Speaker 1: come in once. That was easily 100 and 60 without 184 00:08:44,617 --> 00:08:47,117 Speaker 1: the subsidy. Wow. So the good thing though, I'm very 185 00:08:47,127 --> 00:08:48,447 Speaker 1: glad that our social workers 186 00:08:48,703 --> 00:08:50,773 Speaker 1: have always been very proactive and reaching out to us 187 00:08:50,783 --> 00:08:53,213 Speaker 1: to explain to us that there are these options. So 188 00:08:53,223 --> 00:08:55,973 Speaker 1: we also had a speech therapist because my grandmother is 189 00:08:55,984 --> 00:08:59,263 Speaker 1: on NGT, she's on a feeding tube. So we were 190 00:08:59,273 --> 00:09:01,213 Speaker 1: also trying to wean her off the tube and so 191 00:09:01,223 --> 00:09:02,914 Speaker 1: we had that. But yeah, the hospital will work out 192 00:09:02,924 --> 00:09:05,403 Speaker 1: with you giving you the expectation of how many sessions 193 00:09:05,414 --> 00:09:07,843 Speaker 1: do you want to actually take up? I see you 194 00:09:07,854 --> 00:09:10,554 Speaker 1: mentioned subsidies earlier, I wanted to talk about that. What 195 00:09:10,564 --> 00:09:13,794 Speaker 1: kind of subsidies are actually available for care 196 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:16,620 Speaker 1: givers here in this context, especially in the context of 197 00:09:16,630 --> 00:09:19,630 Speaker 1: you and your grandma. Ok. So I talk about subsidies 198 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:22,481 Speaker 1: to do with the community palliative care, right? I think 199 00:09:22,491 --> 00:09:25,491 Speaker 1: that it is a bit more personalized to your condition, 200 00:09:25,500 --> 00:09:28,699 Speaker 1: to your situation. But the ones that we have always 201 00:09:28,710 --> 00:09:31,580 Speaker 1: been getting consistently ever since she was first diagnosed in 202 00:09:31,591 --> 00:09:35,380 Speaker 1: 2022 would be the home care giving grant. I always 203 00:09:35,390 --> 00:09:37,720 Speaker 1: tell my friends reach out to your social workers ask 204 00:09:37,731 --> 00:09:38,981 Speaker 1: for a IC. 205 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:43,239 Speaker 1: You heard it here, the Money talk podcast. So A 206 00:09:43,250 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 1: I basically stands for agency for integrated care and they 207 00:09:46,530 --> 00:09:49,699 Speaker 1: are really quite comprehensive. It all depends on the adl's 208 00:09:49,710 --> 00:09:52,079 Speaker 1: or what they call the activities of daily living, right? 209 00:09:52,090 --> 00:09:55,159 Speaker 1: So that's how they diagnose or they kind of assess 210 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:58,169 Speaker 1: how much help you need. And also because my grandma 211 00:09:58,179 --> 00:10:01,080 Speaker 1: is already 90 she does qualify for quite a number 212 00:10:01,090 --> 00:10:03,859 Speaker 1: of things. So currently we are on two grants. One 213 00:10:03,869 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 1: is a home care giving grant. 214 00:10:05,215 --> 00:10:08,135 Speaker 1: I'm just stating the range that I'm familiar with. So 215 00:10:08,145 --> 00:10:11,474 Speaker 1: we had a range of 250 then to 400 a month, 216 00:10:11,835 --> 00:10:15,054 Speaker 1: which is actually quite sizable. Yeah, they don't really tell 217 00:10:15,065 --> 00:10:16,585 Speaker 1: you what to use it for. So we use it 218 00:10:16,594 --> 00:10:20,085 Speaker 1: either for the helper fees, your salary. This is something 219 00:10:20,094 --> 00:10:21,864 Speaker 1: that many people may not be aware of, but there 220 00:10:21,875 --> 00:10:24,304 Speaker 1: are actually paid caregivers that you can get to come 221 00:10:24,315 --> 00:10:27,025 Speaker 1: to your house. I see you can call one that 222 00:10:27,034 --> 00:10:30,125 Speaker 1: is nurse certified so she can do nursing things like 223 00:10:30,419 --> 00:10:33,390 Speaker 1: she can change the catheter and change the tubes for 224 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:35,210 Speaker 1: us because we are trained. So my helper and I 225 00:10:35,219 --> 00:10:38,489 Speaker 1: we actually train in lifting her in feeding her tube, 226 00:10:38,500 --> 00:10:40,250 Speaker 1: feeding her. We don't really need someone to do that 227 00:10:40,260 --> 00:10:42,900 Speaker 1: for us, but we do need help with lifting. So 228 00:10:42,909 --> 00:10:44,890 Speaker 1: for example, if I'm not at home or my husband 229 00:10:44,900 --> 00:10:46,830 Speaker 1: is not, he's not based in Singapore for that week. 230 00:10:47,020 --> 00:10:49,579 Speaker 1: It's quite hard to carry on our own. Yeah. Yeah. 231 00:10:49,590 --> 00:10:51,789 Speaker 1: So that's where we will get a caregiver to come 232 00:10:51,799 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 1: for two or three hours. Wow. It's great that there's 233 00:10:54,830 --> 00:10:58,099 Speaker 1: an option. And how much would it cost to hire 234 00:10:58,109 --> 00:10:58,700 Speaker 1: someone like that? 235 00:10:58,979 --> 00:11:01,419 Speaker 1: I would say that for about 2 to 3 hours. 236 00:11:01,429 --> 00:11:03,359 Speaker 1: And it is the company that I, I get help 237 00:11:03,369 --> 00:11:07,979 Speaker 1: from about 70 $80. Sometimes if it's a weekend or 238 00:11:07,989 --> 00:11:09,950 Speaker 1: a public holiday, it might go up to 100. It 239 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:13,210 Speaker 1: all depends. Right. Yeah. And how much have all of 240 00:11:13,219 --> 00:11:18,039 Speaker 1: these subsidies helped in reducing your overall expenses in caring 241 00:11:18,049 --> 00:11:21,299 Speaker 1: for grandma? Ok. So I would say that the biggest 242 00:11:21,309 --> 00:11:23,989 Speaker 1: fees are actually the helper fees, you know, um, per salaries. 243 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:25,309 Speaker 1: I think a lot of people would also be in 244 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:27,400 Speaker 1: the same boat when you want to get a helper. 245 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:30,859 Speaker 1: Right? People will talk about, oh, what kind, how many 246 00:11:30,869 --> 00:11:33,330 Speaker 1: years of experience or get a new one? Because they 247 00:11:33,340 --> 00:11:35,210 Speaker 1: are cheap and all that. But I knew from the 248 00:11:35,219 --> 00:11:36,929 Speaker 1: start that I wanted someone independent. 249 00:11:37,299 --> 00:11:40,780 Speaker 1: I wanted someone that I could trust, living on her own. 250 00:11:40,969 --> 00:11:43,299 Speaker 1: So actually you can employ the helper under the patient. 251 00:11:43,309 --> 00:11:46,390 Speaker 1: I see to qualify for the levy. Right. But in 252 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 1: my case, I felt that it's a bit complicated if 253 00:11:48,849 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 1: she's staying with me. I felt that ok, I'll just 254 00:11:50,890 --> 00:11:53,239 Speaker 1: employ her. Ok. So yes, so she does help me 255 00:11:53,250 --> 00:11:55,659 Speaker 1: with managing the household in a sense that's part of 256 00:11:55,669 --> 00:11:58,039 Speaker 1: her job scope, getting a helper who is experienced, that's 257 00:11:58,049 --> 00:12:00,659 Speaker 1: easily 708 $100. So I would say 258 00:12:00,924 --> 00:12:03,145 Speaker 1: my husband and I will shoulder that cost or rather myself. 259 00:12:03,155 --> 00:12:06,025 Speaker 1: So between myself and my husband, we segregate, my husband 260 00:12:06,034 --> 00:12:08,335 Speaker 1: will handle the household finances. I see, I will show 261 00:12:08,344 --> 00:12:11,164 Speaker 1: the most if not all of the finances for my 262 00:12:11,174 --> 00:12:14,505 Speaker 1: grandma or whatever, you know, on top of the family contributions, 263 00:12:14,674 --> 00:12:18,145 Speaker 1: on top of the subsidies, contributions and all that. But 264 00:12:18,155 --> 00:12:20,574 Speaker 1: the thing is when she got the second stroke, she 265 00:12:20,585 --> 00:12:22,895 Speaker 1: had to be on a milk feed. So that shocked 266 00:12:22,905 --> 00:12:24,424 Speaker 1: us a little bit when we found out 267 00:12:25,309 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 1: a tray of 30 bottles of milk is easily 100 268 00:12:29,770 --> 00:12:33,830 Speaker 1: and $50 and she needs three bottles a day. Wow. Wow, 269 00:12:33,969 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 1: that's just added cost all of a sudden I wanted 270 00:12:36,890 --> 00:12:38,869 Speaker 1: to add on though, that there were other things, there 271 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:41,109 Speaker 1: are other things that we got in the pioneer generation. 272 00:12:41,119 --> 00:12:45,250 Speaker 1: They actually have this disability assistance scheme. That's right. So 273 00:12:45,260 --> 00:12:49,289 Speaker 1: that's about $100. Ok. And then after that, because when 274 00:12:49,299 --> 00:12:52,369 Speaker 1: she got the second stroke, she is considered under palliative 275 00:12:52,596 --> 00:12:56,827 Speaker 1: community hospital actually got us a further subsidy which allows 276 00:12:56,836 --> 00:13:00,646 Speaker 1: us to actually buy things consumables. The milk feeds at 277 00:13:00,655 --> 00:13:03,535 Speaker 1: a discounted price, a subsidized price, but they give us 278 00:13:03,546 --> 00:13:06,216 Speaker 1: a lump sum and it's like a credit system, right? 279 00:13:06,226 --> 00:13:08,646 Speaker 1: So every year you get $2000 and it has to 280 00:13:08,655 --> 00:13:10,606 Speaker 1: last you for the whole year. So, it's up to you, 281 00:13:10,617 --> 00:13:15,346 Speaker 1: how you want to have you found that useful. Every 282 00:13:15,356 --> 00:13:18,915 Speaker 1: dollar counts doesn't. Exactly. Exactly. So, I just take 2000 283 00:13:18,927 --> 00:13:19,736 Speaker 1: divided by 12. 284 00:13:19,924 --> 00:13:22,382 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, that, that's how you budget. I know that 285 00:13:22,393 --> 00:13:24,984 Speaker 1: every month I have a certain amount that is set 286 00:13:24,994 --> 00:13:27,213 Speaker 1: aside for buying the consumables and the milk feeds and 287 00:13:27,223 --> 00:13:32,223 Speaker 1: all that. So. yeah. Wow. I'm just overwhelmed right now 288 00:13:32,234 --> 00:13:35,364 Speaker 1: by the expenses. I don't know how you're just staying 289 00:13:35,374 --> 00:13:39,243 Speaker 1: calm and talking to me about this. It's been a journey. Oh, yeah, 290 00:13:39,254 --> 00:13:42,273 Speaker 1: I bet. And in a way I feel that it 291 00:13:42,283 --> 00:13:45,583 Speaker 1: gets better over time once you realize your priorities and 292 00:13:45,593 --> 00:13:47,004 Speaker 1: I'm very open with my family because 293 00:13:47,250 --> 00:13:50,310 Speaker 1: aunts are very old. My mom, they're not working full time. 294 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:52,471 Speaker 1: One is retired and all that. So I tell them 295 00:13:52,671 --> 00:13:55,111 Speaker 1: you give me whatever you can but whatever it is 296 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:56,861 Speaker 1: other than the helper fees and all that, if you 297 00:13:56,870 --> 00:13:58,890 Speaker 1: can't cover whatever it is, I will do it. You know, 298 00:13:58,901 --> 00:14:02,431 Speaker 1: we are realistic and yeah, finding the best deals like, 299 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:06,380 Speaker 1: you know, instead of buying at Watsons, sorry, Watsons go 300 00:14:06,510 --> 00:14:09,471 Speaker 1: shop and find like, oh yeah, you know, earlier you 301 00:14:09,481 --> 00:14:13,250 Speaker 1: talk about some of the financial support that is available 302 00:14:13,260 --> 00:14:14,401 Speaker 1: to you as a care give, 303 00:14:14,789 --> 00:14:17,849 Speaker 1: be it palliative care or any other kind of care. 304 00:14:17,979 --> 00:14:21,789 Speaker 1: Was there, was there anything that you wish had been 305 00:14:21,799 --> 00:14:25,869 Speaker 1: subsidized or covered by Medisave. I personally feel this the 306 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:29,460 Speaker 1: helper fees, it can be quite heavy if you factor 307 00:14:29,469 --> 00:14:31,530 Speaker 1: in things. Like, you know, when you first get the helper, 308 00:14:31,539 --> 00:14:34,460 Speaker 1: there's actually an upfront cost that not many people are 309 00:14:34,469 --> 00:14:36,789 Speaker 1: aware of. It can easily be up to 3 to 310 00:14:36,799 --> 00:14:39,690 Speaker 1: $4000 upfront cost. And I always wonder 311 00:14:40,090 --> 00:14:43,359 Speaker 1: for people who can't afford that, that amount, what do 312 00:14:43,369 --> 00:14:44,969 Speaker 1: they do? Do they just suck it in and then 313 00:14:44,979 --> 00:14:47,010 Speaker 1: leave their jobs? How do you cope with that? I 314 00:14:47,020 --> 00:14:49,700 Speaker 1: honestly feel that's the main thing, you know, when my 315 00:14:49,710 --> 00:14:51,549 Speaker 1: grandma was still mobile and we were still sending her 316 00:14:51,559 --> 00:14:54,729 Speaker 1: for polyclinic checkups. I was amazed at the kind of 317 00:14:54,739 --> 00:14:55,380 Speaker 1: caregivers I was 318 00:14:55,500 --> 00:14:59,780 Speaker 1: seeing, I was seeing university students, poly students and I 319 00:14:59,789 --> 00:15:02,429 Speaker 1: think the most heartbreaking was the elderly, taking care of 320 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:04,770 Speaker 1: the elderly is really going to be quite common. I 321 00:15:04,780 --> 00:15:06,590 Speaker 1: saw a 70 year old pushing a 90 year old 322 00:15:06,599 --> 00:15:09,289 Speaker 1: in a wheelchair and I always wonder for families who 323 00:15:09,299 --> 00:15:10,780 Speaker 1: cannot afford a helper, 324 00:15:11,580 --> 00:15:14,289 Speaker 1: what else can we do? What are the options available? Right. 325 00:15:14,299 --> 00:15:17,280 Speaker 1: So I know there's daycare, daycare also comes with cost 326 00:15:17,380 --> 00:15:20,369 Speaker 1: and like the childcare, if the patient or the family 327 00:15:20,380 --> 00:15:23,210 Speaker 1: member is unwell, somebody's got to take some kind of 328 00:15:23,219 --> 00:15:26,690 Speaker 1: family care leave. Yeah. Who's going to be the emergency contact? Right. 329 00:15:27,479 --> 00:15:30,409 Speaker 1: Exactly. Do you know what's covered by Medisave? And what's not? 330 00:15:30,419 --> 00:15:33,390 Speaker 1: Was that confusing? I think that was quite clear So 331 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:35,250 Speaker 1: I know that when you are at the hospital, if 332 00:15:35,260 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 1: you're warded, right? So that would be helpful. The Medisave 333 00:15:38,479 --> 00:15:40,679 Speaker 1: and I think there are things like Medishield and Eldershield 334 00:15:40,700 --> 00:15:43,039 Speaker 1: and all that. The polyclinic visits are also covered by 335 00:15:43,049 --> 00:15:46,109 Speaker 1: Medisave up to a certain amount each year for chronic diseases. 336 00:15:46,330 --> 00:15:47,520 Speaker 1: So I think if you're about a 337 00:15:47,630 --> 00:15:50,039 Speaker 1: of the age of 60 or something, you can actually 338 00:15:50,109 --> 00:15:54,650 Speaker 1: pay off your polyclinic bills through Medisave. That's right. And 339 00:15:54,659 --> 00:15:56,630 Speaker 1: for a period of time before my grandma got her 340 00:15:56,640 --> 00:15:59,650 Speaker 1: second stroke, we were seeing a geriatrician at a hospital 341 00:15:59,659 --> 00:16:01,659 Speaker 1: because she had dementia before this. So she had a 342 00:16:01,669 --> 00:16:05,229 Speaker 1: lot of sleep problems and a caregiver friend was telling me, hey, 343 00:16:05,239 --> 00:16:06,679 Speaker 1: you know what, why don't you just bring her to 344 00:16:06,690 --> 00:16:07,809 Speaker 1: see a geriatrician 345 00:16:08,090 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 1: because they are trained to look at geriatric care and 346 00:16:10,450 --> 00:16:12,580 Speaker 1: all that. So they would be able to help you. 347 00:16:12,590 --> 00:16:14,830 Speaker 1: So we were able to actually offset those kind of 348 00:16:14,840 --> 00:16:18,549 Speaker 1: visits with Medisave as well. Wow, that's really come in 349 00:16:18,559 --> 00:16:20,770 Speaker 1: handy for you. But to talk about Medisave itself, I 350 00:16:20,780 --> 00:16:23,950 Speaker 1: think we're just lucky because my aunt, so just a 351 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:26,359 Speaker 1: bit of a backtrack. My grandma lost her husband at 352 00:16:26,369 --> 00:16:29,140 Speaker 1: a very early age. So even before my parents got married, 353 00:16:29,150 --> 00:16:31,630 Speaker 1: my grandfather was no longer around. But my aunt 354 00:16:31,739 --> 00:16:34,530 Speaker 1: had that foresight at the tender age of 25. I 355 00:16:34,539 --> 00:16:37,429 Speaker 1: don't know how she was putting in money in her 356 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:42,830 Speaker 1: medicine in my grandmother's me up till retirement in 2021. Wow. 357 00:16:43,260 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 1: I don't know if you know what is video party 358 00:16:45,119 --> 00:16:48,369 Speaker 1: that is. Yeah. And she was also paying for a 359 00:16:48,380 --> 00:16:51,859 Speaker 1: hospitalization insurance for my grandma. But the thing is we 360 00:16:51,869 --> 00:16:55,280 Speaker 1: never had to use it because grandma was never admitted. Right. 361 00:16:55,729 --> 00:16:58,460 Speaker 1: And that really helped a lot because, and I didn't 362 00:16:58,469 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 1: know this right. When I first entered into this whole equation, 363 00:17:01,650 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 1: I was thinking, ok, I've been working for a while. 364 00:17:05,369 --> 00:17:08,569 Speaker 1: I have medicine. You know, my aunts also have medicine. 365 00:17:08,579 --> 00:17:11,310 Speaker 1: My mom has Medisave, we'll just use someone's medicine. And 366 00:17:11,319 --> 00:17:14,199 Speaker 1: then when I checked into the amount and I'm like, oh, 367 00:17:14,209 --> 00:17:16,208 Speaker 1: this is a sizable amount. I think it will be 368 00:17:16,280 --> 00:17:19,160 Speaker 1: all right. She worked all her life well, bless your aunt. 369 00:17:19,170 --> 00:17:19,869 Speaker 1: Then 370 00:17:20,780 --> 00:17:23,030 Speaker 1: this is a big lesson in why it's important to 371 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:26,520 Speaker 1: start early because you really never know what will happen. 372 00:17:26,530 --> 00:17:29,380 Speaker 1: And when it will happen, you talked about how you 373 00:17:29,390 --> 00:17:32,310 Speaker 1: separate your expenses. So your husband takes care of the 374 00:17:32,319 --> 00:17:35,270 Speaker 1: household and family expenditure, you just take care of grandma 375 00:17:35,719 --> 00:17:39,030 Speaker 1: and that's sorted. But you have kids. Surely you think 376 00:17:39,040 --> 00:17:42,760 Speaker 1: about taking holidays, stuff like that. I just want to 377 00:17:42,770 --> 00:17:48,069 Speaker 1: know what's one financial sacrifice that you've had to make 378 00:17:48,079 --> 00:17:49,910 Speaker 1: since being a caregiver. 379 00:17:50,699 --> 00:17:51,459 Speaker 1: Um 380 00:17:51,910 --> 00:17:55,459 Speaker 1: Actually, it's, it's I would say that uh my, my 381 00:17:55,469 --> 00:17:57,688 Speaker 1: Children are all very big now, right? So initially, the 382 00:17:57,699 --> 00:18:00,250 Speaker 1: plan was I take some time to do flexible work. 383 00:18:00,469 --> 00:18:02,829 Speaker 1: So that I can focus on the kids growing up now. 384 00:18:02,839 --> 00:18:04,639 Speaker 1: They're all in primary school. So my youngest is eight. 385 00:18:04,650 --> 00:18:08,770 Speaker 1: My est is taking PSLE this year. So I felt that, oh, 386 00:18:08,939 --> 00:18:10,829 Speaker 1: it seems like a good time to go back and 387 00:18:10,839 --> 00:18:13,010 Speaker 1: do what I like, go back to work. So I 388 00:18:13,020 --> 00:18:15,530 Speaker 1: would say it's not exactly a financial sacrifice, but it's 389 00:18:15,540 --> 00:18:18,770 Speaker 1: more of like my time now is, it's not as 390 00:18:18,780 --> 00:18:21,409 Speaker 1: flexible or free for me to do 391 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:24,170 Speaker 1: the things that I want to do as fast as 392 00:18:24,180 --> 00:18:26,780 Speaker 1: I want to. There's a lot more planning involved. Right. 393 00:18:26,790 --> 00:18:29,089 Speaker 1: And then I always advocate this to my friends when 394 00:18:29,099 --> 00:18:30,750 Speaker 1: I know a lot of my friends, I think we 395 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:32,900 Speaker 1: are in a similar boat. I'm almost 40. Ok. I 396 00:18:32,910 --> 00:18:34,409 Speaker 1: think this is the age where all my friends are 397 00:18:34,420 --> 00:18:37,500 Speaker 1: also seeing their parents starting to, you know, I'm in 398 00:18:37,510 --> 00:18:40,459 Speaker 1: the same boat, seeing it's mortality. It's really hitting you 399 00:18:40,984 --> 00:18:43,474 Speaker 1: in the face. So I tell my friends that whatever 400 00:18:43,484 --> 00:18:46,645 Speaker 1: it is do not lose yourself. So I have like 401 00:18:46,655 --> 00:18:49,274 Speaker 1: my own professional plans. I kind of full time now. Ok, 402 00:18:49,285 --> 00:18:52,834 Speaker 1: I'll just do part time or I'll do something online 403 00:18:52,864 --> 00:18:56,294 Speaker 1: and doesn't mean you can't progress. Right. Exactly. Exactly. You 404 00:18:56,305 --> 00:18:58,324 Speaker 1: talk about holidays. So I would say that my kids 405 00:18:58,334 --> 00:18:59,244 Speaker 1: are easily pleased, 406 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:03,150 Speaker 1: I think from the start. Right. When we got married, 407 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:06,579 Speaker 1: I think we, we were never big spenders on travel. So, yeah, 408 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:11,619 Speaker 1: your typical Malaysia, Indonesia, the short trips and the time spent, 409 00:19:11,849 --> 00:19:13,680 Speaker 1: I think the returns, one of the returns would be 410 00:19:13,689 --> 00:19:16,989 Speaker 1: role modeling, caring for an elderly. And I think that's 411 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:19,089 Speaker 1: one of the greatest takeaways that I, that I get. 412 00:19:19,099 --> 00:19:22,669 Speaker 1: That's priceless. If you think about it, that costs so 413 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:26,109 Speaker 1: much but no money at the same time. Final words 414 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:27,349 Speaker 1: of advice for, 415 00:19:27,435 --> 00:19:30,165 Speaker 1: for caregivers in your position out there. I think there 416 00:19:30,175 --> 00:19:31,734 Speaker 1: are two aspects to it. One of it is of 417 00:19:31,744 --> 00:19:34,094 Speaker 1: course the financial aspect. So I have some friends who 418 00:19:34,104 --> 00:19:36,125 Speaker 1: they are also in the same boat as I am. 419 00:19:36,135 --> 00:19:38,034 Speaker 1: We're doing flexi work and all that and then they 420 00:19:38,045 --> 00:19:40,895 Speaker 1: have to make decisions to become caregivers. And I told 421 00:19:40,905 --> 00:19:42,864 Speaker 1: them never let them forget that 422 00:19:43,630 --> 00:19:45,760 Speaker 1: you have your right to achieve your dreams. It's a 423 00:19:45,770 --> 00:19:49,040 Speaker 1: shared responsibility. I'm blessed to have aunts who are still 424 00:19:49,050 --> 00:19:54,010 Speaker 1: very proactive and responsible and coming to see us contributing financially. 425 00:19:54,020 --> 00:19:57,540 Speaker 1: My aunts won't go for expensive holidays, you know, but 426 00:19:57,550 --> 00:19:59,800 Speaker 1: for people our age, we may have to make some 427 00:19:59,810 --> 00:20:03,209 Speaker 1: kind of, I would say calculated to calculate your expenses. 428 00:20:03,219 --> 00:20:04,770 Speaker 1: You would really have to prepare for it. 429 00:20:05,060 --> 00:20:07,369 Speaker 1: That's one the other side of the coin is just, 430 00:20:07,380 --> 00:20:09,959 Speaker 1: don't lose yourself to this journey. People say it's noble 431 00:20:09,969 --> 00:20:11,859 Speaker 1: and I get a bit. Not exactly. No, I think 432 00:20:11,869 --> 00:20:14,510 Speaker 1: it is our duty in a sense, especially if you 433 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:16,739 Speaker 1: feel that in among your family members, you have that 434 00:20:16,750 --> 00:20:20,939 Speaker 1: extra ability or capacity to contribute. And I think that's ok. 435 00:20:20,949 --> 00:20:21,449 Speaker 1: A lot of us 436 00:20:21,564 --> 00:20:23,265 Speaker 1: when I say share the load, I don't mean that 437 00:20:23,275 --> 00:20:25,875 Speaker 1: everybody does the same thing. We play our role. If 438 00:20:25,885 --> 00:20:28,504 Speaker 1: you are more financially able, contribute to the best of 439 00:20:28,515 --> 00:20:30,935 Speaker 1: your ability. Exactly. If you're better off at the social 440 00:20:30,944 --> 00:20:33,573 Speaker 1: emotional aspect, OK, come and talk to grandma or if 441 00:20:33,584 --> 00:20:35,295 Speaker 1: you have a space in your house that you can give, 442 00:20:35,305 --> 00:20:37,515 Speaker 1: then offer that space for your family member. 443 00:20:38,260 --> 00:20:41,989 Speaker 1: Navia. I think what you said there about it being 444 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:44,569 Speaker 1: noble about people calling what you do noble. I will 445 00:20:44,579 --> 00:20:46,459 Speaker 1: have to agree with them. It is a noble thing 446 00:20:46,469 --> 00:20:49,609 Speaker 1: to do as much as it is our duty to 447 00:20:49,619 --> 00:20:52,959 Speaker 1: come into it. It is a sacrifice no matter how 448 00:20:52,969 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 1: and any which way you look at it. 449 00:20:55,020 --> 00:20:57,910 Speaker 1: Uh And it's tough. It's really tough. It takes a 450 00:20:57,969 --> 00:21:01,669 Speaker 1: big heart to do something like this. So thank you 451 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:04,300 Speaker 1: for coming out time out of your precious schedule, care, 452 00:21:04,430 --> 00:21:07,540 Speaker 1: giving schedule uh to speak with us on money talks today. 453 00:21:07,569 --> 00:21:08,339 Speaker 1: Thank you, Andrea. 454 00:21:13,239 --> 00:21:16,159 Speaker 1: Ok. So before we let you go, there is a segment, 455 00:21:16,170 --> 00:21:17,780 Speaker 1: it's called questions from my hat and we're gonna turn 456 00:21:17,790 --> 00:21:19,770 Speaker 1: the mood around a little bit to something a bit 457 00:21:19,780 --> 00:21:24,050 Speaker 1: more fun. So, Nabila, there are five questions in this hat. 458 00:21:24,060 --> 00:21:25,899 Speaker 1: So just pick one hand it to me and I'll 459 00:21:25,910 --> 00:21:27,010 Speaker 1: read it out to you. Ok, 460 00:21:29,420 --> 00:21:36,219 Speaker 1: Nabila, your question is. Oh, what financial advice would you 461 00:21:36,229 --> 00:21:40,209 Speaker 1: give to your 20 year old self. Well, 20 year old, 462 00:21:40,219 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 1: what was I, I was in university. What would I give? 463 00:21:44,329 --> 00:21:47,958 Speaker 1: It's been so long ago. Yeah, probably. I think to 464 00:21:47,969 --> 00:21:50,319 Speaker 1: actually save more and I think at that point in time, 465 00:21:50,459 --> 00:21:52,359 Speaker 1: many of us would have just started working on the 466 00:21:52,369 --> 00:21:55,050 Speaker 1: side part time and all that. And we feel that, oh, 467 00:21:55,060 --> 00:21:59,399 Speaker 1: we just felt, started feeling the independence of having cash flow, 468 00:21:59,530 --> 00:22:02,520 Speaker 1: but now that I, I'm nearing 40 I always feel 469 00:22:02,530 --> 00:22:05,599 Speaker 1: that yeah, it would be great if I had that foresight, 470 00:22:06,989 --> 00:22:09,719 Speaker 1: it's always on hindsight, isn't it? What would you tell 471 00:22:09,729 --> 00:22:12,099 Speaker 1: your child when he or she turns 20? Then 472 00:22:12,939 --> 00:22:15,640 Speaker 1: I actually, I'm thinking maybe for my Children, I would 473 00:22:15,650 --> 00:22:19,790 Speaker 1: tell them to diversify their assets, not just on cash. 474 00:22:20,329 --> 00:22:22,109 Speaker 1: I might as well would also say the same thing 475 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 1: that you can only start some kind of investment savings 476 00:22:25,530 --> 00:22:28,589 Speaker 1: or something on top of just the cash savings no 477 00:22:28,599 --> 00:22:29,510 Speaker 1: matter how small 478 00:22:29,849 --> 00:22:32,949 Speaker 1: the principal amount is. It absolutely makes a whole lot 479 00:22:32,959 --> 00:22:35,819 Speaker 1: of sense. All right, once again, thank you, Nabila. We 480 00:22:35,829 --> 00:22:38,329 Speaker 1: are really certain that a caregiver like yourself listening to 481 00:22:38,339 --> 00:22:43,069 Speaker 1: this will have a clearer picture of what to expect financially. 482 00:22:43,079 --> 00:22:46,560 Speaker 1: And if you have any thoughts or questions about this episode, 483 00:22:46,569 --> 00:22:46,790 Speaker 1: do 484 00:22:46,875 --> 00:22:51,025 Speaker 1: send us a message. This podcast is available on Apple podcasts, 485 00:22:51,035 --> 00:22:54,655 Speaker 1: Spotify and youtube music. Don't forget to rate us if 486 00:22:54,665 --> 00:22:59,125 Speaker 1: you are enjoying this podcast. Big thanks to the team, 487 00:22:59,135 --> 00:23:03,724 Speaker 1: Christina Robert Tiffany Ang Jaini, Johari, Joanne Chan and Sye win. 488 00:23:04,064 --> 00:23:06,795 Speaker 1: I'm Andrea Heng. Thank you for listening to Money Talks.