A Childhood Lesson Inspired Early Retirement
When Colin was in primary school, he saw his aunt crying after losing her job in her mid-40s.
He explained that it was called retrenchment, a word he had never heard before. She told him that losing a job around that age was common.
That moment shaped his thinking about money and security. Colin decided he wanted to save enough money to retire before age 45, hoping to avoid the uncertainty of retrenchment.
He became an extreme saver, working long hours, keeping expenses low and investing whatever money remained. However, things did not go according to plan.
At 35, Colin unexpectedly lost his job. He was devastated and struggled with the uncertainty of finding another job while worrying about his savings.
The Housing Trick Behind His Early Retirement
A property agent later shared a strategy that changed Colin’s financial journey.
The advice was to buy the cheapest apartment he could afford in Singapore and pay for it fully instead of taking on a large mortgage.
The agent suggested renting out a room and using the rental income to cover daily expenses, including food, utilities, phone bills, transport, insurance and other costs.
Colin also found similar advice from his favourite finance expert, Suze Orman, who highlighted the importance of reducing housing expenses.
He decided to follow the plan, and it worked. Colin retired at 35, avoiding the stress of job hunting and the fear of running out of savings. Instead, he spent his days exploring hobbies and enjoying his newfound freedom.
From Dumpster Finds to Giving Back
During retirement, Colin discovered around 30 hobbies, many of which were free.
One of his most unusual hobbies was searching through dumpsters for useful items that others had thrown away. Instead of keeping everything, he started giving the items away through his initiative, “Giving & Taking Free Stuff.”
Through the initiative, thousands of usable items were collected and sent to communities in Manila, Philippines. The idea started when Filipino domestic helpers became interested in sending the items back to their villages as Christmas gifts. However, shipping costs to remote areas became a major challenge.
Later, Colin connected with Robin Cargo, creating a partnership that made it easier to send the items overseas.
He also created a Facebook page where Singapore residents could donate small unwanted items instead of throwing them away. Colin said many things discarded in Singapore are still valuable to people living in poorer communities.
By filling unused spaces in shipping containers with donated items, the goods could be delivered to people living near warehouses in Manila.
For Colin, retirement became more than just leaving the workforce. It gave him the freedom to pursue his passions while finding a unique way to help others.
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