Millionaire by 33... but Bad at Math?! SG Budget Babe's Shocking Journey

Curious to know what side hustle Dawn is teaching… i dont have sob story though…

Dawn Cher, known as SG Budget Babe, has chronicled her financial journey from a fresh graduate in 2014 to achieving a $1 million investment portfolio by 2025. While specific annual returns and internal rate of return (IRR) figures are not publicly disclosed, we can outline her financial milestones and investment strategies based on available information.

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📈 Timeline: 2014–2025

2014
• Milestone: Saved $20,000 in her first year of full-time employment with a monthly salary of $2,500.
• Investment: Began learning about investing after a significant loss on her first stock purchase, SingPost, which dropped 80%.  

2015–2016
• Savings: Saved $30,000 in 2015 and $40,000 in 2016.
• Net Worth: Reached $100,000 in net worth by age 26, including CPF savings.
• Investment: Focused on Singapore stocks, capitalizing on market downturns like the 2016 oil crisis.   

2017–2018
• Savings: Saved $45,000 in 2017 and $50,000 in 2018.
• Strategy: Continued investing in dividend-paying Singapore stocks, reinvesting dividends to compound growth.  

2019
• Savings: Saved $35,000.
• Family: Became a mother, leading to increased expenses and a focus on budgeting for family needs.  

2020
• Investment: Achieved significant returns during the COVID-19 market crash by investing in undervalued stocks.
• Education: Launched the SGBB Investment Academy to educate others on investing strategies. 

2021
• Performance: US portfolio up approximately 10%; Hong Kong positions in the red due to regulatory crackdowns; crypto investments boosted by Layer 1 altcoins. 

2022
• Performance: Overall investment portfolio down about 35%, with significant losses in crypto (down ~50%) due to events like the Luna meltdown and FTX collapse. 

2023–2024
• Recovery: Market recovery led to improved portfolio performance.
• Milestone: Officially crossed the $1 million net worth mark, driven by higher income and investment gains. 

2025
• Status: Maintains a diversified investment portfolio across Singapore, US, and Hong Kong markets, as well as cryptocurrencies.
• Strategy: Continues to focus on long-term investing, reinvesting dividends, and educating others through her blog and courses. 

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💼 Investment Portfolio Breakdown (as of 2025)

While exact figures are not publicly available, Dawn’s portfolio includes:
• Singapore Stocks: Dividend-paying stocks with reinvested dividends.
• US Stocks: Investments in companies like Meta, Shopify, and Masimo.
• Hong Kong Stocks: Exposure to Chinese markets, despite volatility.
• Cryptocurrencies: Holdings in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other altcoins.
• Fixed Income: Investments in T-bills and cash management products.

Do fact checks. Do not rely on secondary sources like the following!

In 2014, at age 23, Dawn Cher (SG Budget Babe) graduated and started her first full-time job. She managed to save about S$20,000 in that first year through aggressive budgeting and side hustles.

In 2015, at age 24, her estimated net worth grew to around S$50,000. This increase came from continued disciplined savings and starting her investment journey, despite some early losses.

By 2016, at age 25, her estimated net worth reached about S$85,000. She took advantage of market opportunities during the oil crisis and reinvested dividends from her investments.

In 2017, at age 26, she crossed a major milestone, reaching around S$130,000 in net worth. This was achieved through high savings and improved investment performance.

In 2018, at age 27, her estimated net worth rose to about S$180,000. The strong equity market and her increasing experience in investing contributed to this growth.

By 2019, at age 28, her net worth increased to approximately S$215,000. This year saw her transition into motherhood, which led to higher family expenses but still steady financial progress.

In 2020, at age 29, her net worth jumped to around S$280,000. She capitalized on the COVID-19 market crash by buying undervalued stocks during the downturn.

In 2021, at age 30, her estimated net worth grew to about S$330,000. Gains in her US portfolio and crypto assets contributed to this, despite some volatility in the Hong Kong market.

In 2022, at age 31, her net worth dropped to roughly S$250,000 due to a 35% decline in her investment portfolio, mainly caused by crypto losses and China stock volatility.

By 2023, at age 32, the market recovered, and her net worth climbed back to an estimated S$400,000, supported by rebounding asset values and new income streams from blogging and education.

In 2024, at age 33, her estimated net worth grew significantly to about S$700,000. This was driven by strong portfolio performance, side income, and consistent savings.

Finally, in 2025, at age 34, she crossed the S$1 million mark in net worth, a major milestone that she publicly celebrated. This was the result of more than a decade of disciplined saving, smart investing, and diversified income generation.

side hustle from Dawn
She is proven and a practicing teacher
worth learning from her

It’s wonderful to hear from these two accomplished and humble women who achieved success.

Chole keep the interviews going, doing work about while listening to the podcast enriches the mind. Im appreciative for this, thank you.

Millionaire by 33? So slow? I know ppl who got there in their 20s