Inheritance From Dickson Idlier

Picture taken from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/160820819@N02/33259453848/sizes/z/ There is actually free software for most of your computing needs, so why are you still paying for yours? Look for open source software. —— Dickson Idlier I am a fan of free software (Open Source) for personal use. The author of the software releases its codes to his software and give others free usage of it. However, you are generally not allowed to modify and sell it for a profit. I have been using Linux, an operating system called "Hacker's OS". Highly configurable, depending on your technical skills, but generally useable for any general users since they have graphical applications so you won’t feel lost, compared to last time when command line was king. For the open source software that I use often are as follows: Operating system - Lubuntu Linux. A variant from Ubuntu, powerful and classic Windows interface. Lubuntu is designed for old hardware so most hardware should work. I am usin...

Picture taken from: http://www.debugpoint.com/2020/10/ubuntu-20-10-flavors/ Lubuntu was my favourite operating system since I started using it. My new favourite is Linux Mint.  —— Dickson Idlier I believe you only need to buy a new computer when the old one does not meet your computing needs. However, it is mainly the operating systems vendor increasing the hardware requirements or clutter of useless / bloated installed software in your computer. While computers are getting cheaper and faster every year, it is bad for the environment as not all components are recyclable. I stumbled upon Lubuntu when I had to help out a colleague to set up a few old laptops (Thinkpad X61s) to deploy for security work. It works on such old laptops and fully functional as well. Since I am a fan of the light-weight operating system, I stuck with it until now. I have 3 laptops that I am currently using, Lenovo Thinkpad X200 (2008 model), Acer Aspire One 756 (2012 model), and Asus X556U (2016 model). It...

Image from: Photo by  Đông Viễn  from  Pexels Rainwater, an essential life supporting element, and surprisingly, it is free, like air. Be creative using it. —— Dickson Idlier Rainwater is free if you bother collecting it. My main purpose for collecting rainwater is to reduce my water utility bill. I found more use for rainwater along the way so I thought sharing it with other people who might be interested, other than drinking it. Flushing Toilet. You used about 16 litres of water per flush. One of the highest usages of water at home. Making Eco-Enzyme. This is using fruit peels from orange, apple, pineapple, etc with sugar and water (Ratio about 3:1:10) to make eco-enzyme. This is fruit vinegar. It is a safe product for cleaning and washing. Pets. I use filtered (with a cloth) rainwater for my aquarium (limited) and tortoise. I need to change water for the tortoise every day so water usage is high for it. I do a water change every 2 weeks for my aquarium. Mopping The...

Image from:  https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/marie-kondo.png?x79628   This is a short post. I prefer to let the pictures do the talking.  I have been using Marie Kondo method of folding my clothes and storing them into my drawers. I find her method practical for my personal use. So below are how it is done for different type of clothes. As for those not included in this post, it is likely that they are not recommended to be folded and left on the hangers.  How to Fold T-Shirts (Credit: HomeAdvisor) The idea behind this folding is to allow the folded clothes to stand on its own. That way they can be stacked side by side in the drawers. This is the method that I used most for my clothes, including bermudas and jeans as it allows me easier access to them and also see their colors clearly. How to Fold Shirt (Credit: HomeAdvisor) How to Fold Trousers (Credit: HomeAdvisor) How to Fold Blouses (Credit: HomeAdvisor) How to Fold Dresses  (Credit: Ho...

Too bad I don't have a license and there is no such van here. Image from : https://unsplash.com/photos/xr-y6Ruw7K8?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditShareLink Live below your means doesn't mean comprising your living standard but having a sustainable lifestyle with what you have. Is a simple way of life people desire.  —— Dickson Idlier Live below your means is spending less money than you earn (budget management) but to me, it is living with bare essentials. Similar to minimalism  minus declutter your stuff to the minimum. Another aspect is be as debt-free as possible.  Will I be like a cheapskate person if I live below my means? Yes in a certain sense but you are smiling with a fat bank account while others slogging their lives over money. Different people perceive differently what are bare essentials. Below is an idea of living with my bare essentials: Food . We need to eat to live. Try to buy fresh ingredients and cook mo...

Image from: http://clipart-library.com/clipart/157662.htm A treasure-hunting game called “dumpster diving”. You don’t know what you will find in the dumpster. —— Dickson Idlier Overview On Dumpster Diving Dumpster Diving or Urban foraging has been popularized by Freeganism. It is an act of salvaging or recovering usable or edible stuff from the dumpsters or trash bins. The main purpose of such activity is to prevent or reduce wastage of usable or edibles stuff from being incinerated or sent to landfills. In any times where people are unable to feed themselves or stuff for survival, saddens many people why such resources are not channelled to these needy people. It is unthinkable finding usable stuff in the trash but in reality, it is highly possible, at least in cities such as Singapore and America. What Made This Possible?  This activity is made possible and feasible mainly due to over-consumerism, upgrading mindset (buying new stuff and throw away the older ones), corrupted ...

Image from: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermittent_fasting What is Intermittent Fasting? Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern where you cycle between periods of eating and fasting. It does not matter about what foods to eat, but rather when you should eat them. Intermittent fasting is not that hard. Many people reported feeling better and having more energy during a fast. Hunger is usually not a big issue except in the beginning, while your body is getting used to not eating for extended periods. No food is allowed during the fasting period except water, coffee, tea, and other non-caloric beverages. It is an effective “life hack” that simplifies your life while improving your health too. Not having to eat 3-4 times per day with the preparation and cleaning involved saves a lot of time. Types of Intermittent Fasting Several different types/methods have emerged. Some of the most popular ones: The 16/8 Method : Fast for 16 hours each day, for example by only eating between noon...

You need to grow your money without working to be financially independent. Image from: Image by  Tumisu  from  Pixabay I am not a financial consultant. What I wrote here is purely my opinion. The highs are savings, investments, and assets. The easiest to start is savings and start saving as young as possible. Reducing your expenditure equates to savings, as mentioned in the earlier post. Understand how to invest and pay someone to advise you, like a private financial consultant. Such things are better at the hands of professionals but not impossible to do it yourself nowadays. Just that I am too lazy to monitor my investments. What you invest depends on you but I prefer unit trusts that provide payouts each month. This ensures I can get a steady income without working and easily calculate how much I can receive every month. I am not familiar with others. Assets should generate income, not lose income. A car is a liability and a house is a liability unless you rent it out....

Low on cash? What have you been spending on? Image from: Photo by  cottonbro  from  Pexels Financial independence is essentially able to sustain your lifestyle with the amount of money you have without working. This is one of life’s most difficult problems everyone has and many are unable to overcome it. —— Dickson Idlier I am not a financial consultant. What I wrote here is purely my opinion. The road to my financial independence is essentially be low on debts and expenses and high in investments and assets. How to control your expenses and debts depends on what is essential to you. I prefer rejecting any instalments (debts) whenever possible and have a simple lifestyle. After these, then build up your savings, investments and assets. This is how I did without many details but I think it is the easiest to get started. Ways to keep a low debt and expenses: Food is essential but not all kinds of food. Try keeping food expenses low but not compromising on quality. Reduce ...