Haha… I know that’s not how SWR is supposed to be used.
Still, I think you get the point I was making. If spending budget drifts too far from what an “optimal” SWR should be as time goes by, then something isn’t set quite right. If that wasn’t pre-planned, then it’s a signal to adjust and relook.

In my case, spending as a % of portfolio has also dropped a lot... though not as much as yours, unfortunately… haha. I rationalize it by telling myself I’m still relatively young, even though already FIRE’d, so it’s okay.

But in your case, a 0.75% SWR is insanely good. From one angle, it basically means there’s virtually no chance of ever depleting your wealth. Even if all you did was park it in EPF earning 6%, your balance would still compound at ~5.25% a year… forever.
And the 0.75% budget is just growing at inflation rate of official 3%.....

Which leads to the obvious question: did you actually intend to underspend by that much or just how things turned out? your age? way below 50 or above?

understand... the age part is good enough reason to have a low swr... its up to each what's a comfortable number to set despite the normal 4% advice (usually minus a bit for buffer)... although i think as one ages, that swr can be up'ed.

one thing for sure... I need my aircon... that itself is like 40 sen every hour... lol

0.75% per year at retirement?

Thats way too much underspending.

or over rich... 

While many/most here had posted about "alot/alot more than most/enough for early passive retirement use.

Few years ago, PIDM conducted a sample survey/study of amount of emergency funds by Malaysians found

Funny you brought this up… before trying to convince you that promotions usually come with decent bumps, I thought its best I check my old records.
Turns out you’re right. When I was promoted, my increment was a glorious 5%. What a sad joke.

The good part came later though: raises every 6 months for some years. I suspect that was partly due to profitability, and partly to bring my pay in line with peers (most of whom were like 15 to 20 years older than me).

So maybe it’s still worth taking the chance and climbing the ladder...

Hate to break it to you, but not really… every firm, whether European, American, Malaysian, Singaporean or Chinaman, puts itself first. Everyone is expendable and is just a replaceable resource.

That’s also why companies and business owners loudly dislike the FIRE movement. The fewer choices employees have, the more control stays with them.

Generally most companies are like that.

I met a girl working in shell, I was wow shell have so much benefit. They really try not to laid off their worker if sick by moving them around and will unless really sick, give you buy shares of shell at discount to market price, amazing health car benefits Vs my previously non existent benefit 😂

And she was with shell for like 8 years already. Her first company and didn't quit shell.

Gave me a good impression of shell. But yeah. Maybe this is just an exception.

I know but she was telling me last time finding HR was finding a place for him as much as possible. But because they cannot find a job for him because of his medical condition, they have to let him go. I was impressed.

Also their medical benefit is like way better than my non existent benefit. If a person is no moving from their job is likely they like the working environment. Cause if you are like me and many people who hate their work place, definitely jump ship at first opportunity. Of course people jump ship to get pay rise.

Sometimes… I’m wondering… a person with his calibre, initiative and determination… why is he not able to find employment with a high-end company…

Why does he end-up with chinaman-like companies, little-to-no-medical benefits… toxic work environment, etc…

Mysteries of life there….

Good luck.
Ya lo.

Actually now my company is better than the old one.

No more working like a donkey, leaves and public holiday is counted as extra hours, medical coverage for myself, spouse and kids

Usually housing loan subsidy or some car loan subsidy are for the higher level. Some stocks related benefit also for the higher benefits. Yeah, I think a lot of MNC also have other supplement benefits, which includes flexi hours, WFH, additional medical coverage

I don't mean like very high. Sometimes some just 1-2x above the fresh to motivate the lower ranking staff to perform. Of course there are other MNCs which have it be it in entry level. For higher level some getting ~2K for the car allowance - so can easily get a 3 series or C Class.

I got no subsidy for loan. Usually only those working in the banks get those perks.

Ramjade did mention that not all his trades are profitable as he did say he kena exercised before. Rare but still kena.
mtm will definitely swing; it’s just that he views his strategy as long-term profitable.

your friend's portfolio is performing great... looks like he didn’t cut exposure in April and managed to ride the big rally all the way till now.

eh eh...cannot cannot... don’t encourage the likes of RamJade to go fire... how are business owners supposed to score cheap labour?
Whenever someone succeed, spin tonnes of negative narratives to shame them. It’s never the firm’s fault, it’s always the employee too stupid.  lol   

I didn't say I am in MNC. So like I said my salary is capped and there is nothing I can do about it. You have to accept it that not everyone can climb the corporate ladder.

Up to you if you don't want to believe me that my salary is capped no matter what I do.

I don't bother about salary anymore as investment is easier and less stressful than my job. Take the path of least resistance.

Like I said

It's not the boss. It the nature of the job and industry where salary is capped no matter if you jump ship to another company. There is no way to move up unless you want to take up management job by taking an MBA.

As long as you got no MBA yeah your salary is capped. But do I want to take up management and be a bureaucrat? Nope.

It's true. In my industry you need MBA. If not you are stuck. If you got no MBA, nobody wants you.

You play with what cards you are dealt with.

That's why I focus on investment. Because in investment I got no capped. The capped is only by the market returns (which I cannot control) and my portfolio value (which I can control somewhat)

Everything you said is fair and reasonable… but that doesn’t make his venting wrong either. His experience is his experience, and that’s valid to him.

Honestly, there must be a ton of reasons why the median salary in Malaysia is still around RM3K in 2025. I’ve been baffled about it myself since the day I started working here. Water flows via the path of least resistance, rite?
Ramjade found something that works and stuck with it, and that’s the smart way to go.

When you compare 5K active income against passive income that’s 2–3x bigger, obviously passive is easier. But the real question is: would it be easier to push active income from RM5K to RM15K, or to keep doubling down on passive?

Anyway, this is a FIRE thread. His journey is pretty inspirational in this context, and credit to him for being open enough to share.
If he’d asked about career paths in a career thread, my advice would’ve been more career-focused