1/2 day trip to JB premium Outlet mall 9-May-2025

 Exploring Johor Premium Outlets: A Shopper's Paradise in Southeast Asia

Nestled in the heart of Kulai, Johor, Johor Premium Outlets (JPO) stands as Malaysia's premier destination for luxury shopping at unbeatable prices. With its strategic location just an hour's drive from Singapore and proximity to Senai International Airport, JPO has become a magnet for both local and international shoppers seeking high-end brands without the hefty price tags. We made our way there from Singapore 2nd link Tuas side and it took 15 mins to clear the customs as it was a Friday afternoon. There were not much traffic. And journey took about 1/2 hour after we clear the customs.

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A Brief Overview

Since its grand opening in December 2011, JPO has undergone significant expansions to accommodate the growing demand from fashion enthusiasts. Today, the outlet boasts 150 stores spread across two floors, offering a diverse range of products from renowned international brands. 

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Shopping: Brands Galore

JPO is a haven for those seeking luxury and quality. Shoppers can find impressive savings at stores like Aigner, BOSS, Bottega Veneta, Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, Nike Unite Johor, and VERSACE. For those looking for everyday essentials, brands such as Adidas, Anta, Asics, G2000, Hush Puppies, New Balance, Nike, Puma, Rip Curl, and Under Armour are available. Additionally, stores like Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Animation World, and CoComelon Play Centre cater to younger shoppers.

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Dining: A Culinary Journey

After a day of shopping, JPO offers a variety of dining options to satisfy diverse palates:

• Absolute Thai: Authentic Thai cuisine with dishes like hot and spicy seafood tom yum and sweet and sour steamed fish. 

• Burger King: Classic fast-food favorites, including beef, chicken, or fish burgers, complemented by sides like onion rings or cheese sticks. 

• DÔME Café: A mix of Western and Asian dishes, with offerings like mushroom soup and chicken pie. 

• Godiva Café: A treat for chocolate lovers, offering Belgian chocolate-based beverages and desserts. 

• Liang Sandwich Bar & Ages Ago: Crispy sandwiches filled with ingredients like grilled chicken and onions, made with premium-grade flour and non-GMO soybean oil. 

• Starbucks: A familiar stop for coffee enthusiasts, serving a range of beverages and light bites.

• Souper Tang Restaurant: Specializing in nutritious Chinese soups made with traditional herbs and spices, catering to health-conscious diners. 

For those seeking a more relaxed environment, the JPO Lounge offers a cozy setting with a selection of cakes, spaghetti, and beverages like hot ginger tea. 

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Tips for Visitors

• Best Time to Visit: Weekdays are generally less crowded, offering a more relaxed shopping experience.

• Currency Exchange: Given the favorable exchange rate (S$1 = RM3.30 as of May 2024), Singaporean shoppers can enjoy significant savings. 

• Membership Perks: Consider signing up for JPO's VIP Shopper Club to access exclusive deals and promotions.

• Stay Hydrated: With the vast area to cover, it's essential to stay hydrated. Numerous beverage outlets are available throughout the mall. (If you are like me, come prepared with water and you will be able shop to your hearts content

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My friends and I manage to spend about 3 hours there after our dim sum lunch. It was delicious and the total cost was $300 ringgit for 5 of us. At the Premium Outlet mall, we shop around at scent shop which i then know that my friends like diffuser smell which can last 3 months for a 500ml bottle. Something interesting that i pick up as i thought is burning of candle to have the smell. Something new to me. After which we shopped at Nike where there was further promotions. After you purchase 3 items in the shop, you will get further 40% discount from the price. I bought 2 pairs of shoes as my current running shoes are almost worn out from BATA. I bought it in 31st Dec 2023 and it has lasted me for 1 year and 4 months + considering i jog in it for almost every day. Do check out the promotions before you make a trip down in this website so at least you can see what are on sale before you make the trip down. 

https://www.premiumoutlets.com.my/

Conclusion

Johor Premium Outlets offers a unique blend of luxury shopping and diverse dining options, all set within a convenient location. Whether you're a fashion aficionado or a casual shopper, JPO promises an experience that's both enjoyable and value-packed.

For more information and the latest updates, visit their official website: Johor Premium Outlets.

Monthly Investment Plan to Reach $2M Faster

 

1️⃣ Assumptions for Growth Plan

📌 Current Portfolio: $0 (starting fresh)
📌 Annual Savings for Investment: ~$50,000 (from your income)
📌 Expected Portfolio Growth Rate: 6% per year (dividends reinvested)
📌 Investment Strategy:

• $4,000/month into REITs (high dividend yield)

• $2,000/month into dividend stocks (growth & stability)

• $1,000/month into SSBs/T-bills (low risk)

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2️⃣ How Long to Reach $2M?

If you invest $7,000/month consistently, here’s how long it will take:

Years	Portfolio Size ($)	Annual Passive Income ($)
5	~$470,000	~$25,000
10	~$1.1M	~$60,000
15	$2.0M	$107,000 ✅

📌 In ~15 years, you can retire with $100K/year tax-free!

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3️⃣ Monthly Investment Breakdown

Asset Type	Monthly Investment ($)	Allocation (%)
REITs (Keppel DC, Digital Core, Mapletree Ind)	$4,000	57%
Dividend Stocks (DBS, OCBC, SGX, ST Eng)	$2,000	29%
Bonds/SSBs (Safe Assets)	$1,000	14%
Total Monthly Investment	$7,000	100%

💡 Why this works?

• REITs give high cash flow early 🏢

• Stocks grow capital for long-term security 📈

• Bonds provide stability & emergency funds 💰

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4️⃣ Fast-Track Strategy (If You Want to Retire Earlier)

• Bonus & Windfalls: Invest any extra cash (e.g., annual bonuses, tax refunds).

• CPF Voluntary Top-Ups: Earn risk-free 4%+ in CPF SA.

• Increase Investment Amount: If you invest $10K/month, you’ll hit $2M in 12 years instead of 15!

First Month Investment Plan – Stock & REIT Buy List

Since you’re investing $7,000/month, here’s your optimized first-month buy list to balance dividend yield & growth.

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1️⃣ REITs – High Passive Income ($4,000 Allocation)

📌 Target: 6%+ dividend yield for tax-free income.

REIT	Sector	Yield (%)	Buy Amount ($)	Est. Shares
Keppel DC REIT	Data Centers	5.0%	$1,200	~470
Digital Core REIT	Data Centers	7.5%	$1,000	~850
Mapletree Industrial Trust	Industrial	6.0%	$1,000	~300
CapitaLand Integrated Trust	Retail/Office	5.5%	$800	~220

📌 Total REITs Investment: $4,000 (~$230/month dividends)

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2️⃣ Dividend Stocks – Growth & Stability ($2,000 Allocation)

📌 Target: 4–6% dividend yield for long-term stability.

Stock	Sector	Yield (%)	Buy Amount ($)	Est. Shares
DBS Bank	Banking	5.5%	$800	~14
OCBC Bank	Banking	6.0%	$600	~24
ST Engineering	Defense	4.2%	$600	~60

📌 Total Stock Investment: $2,000 (~$80/month dividends)

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3️⃣ Bonds/SSBs – Stability & Emergency Fund ($1,000 Allocation)

📌 Target: 3–4% safe return with flexibility.

Asset	Type	Yield (%)	Buy Amount ($)
Singapore Savings Bonds (SSB)	Govt Bonds	3.2%	$500
T-bills (6-month)	Govt Bonds	3.5%	$500

📌 Total Bonds Investment: $1,000 (~$30/month income, low risk)

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📌 Expected Monthly Passive Income from This Month's Buy:

✅ REITs Dividends: ~$230/month
✅ Stocks Dividends: ~$80/month
✅ Bonds Income: ~$30/month
🔹 Total: $340/month (tax-free!)

Dividend Portfolio Suggestion

Tax-Free Dividend Portfolio – Customized Investment Allocation

Since you’re focused on financial freedom with dividends, here are three portfolio options based on different risk levels.

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1️⃣ Conservative (Low Risk, Stable Income – 4.8% Yield)

🔹 Best for: Stability, capital preservation, & passive income
🔹 Strategy: Focus on large-cap dividend stocks & blue-chip REITs

Asset Class	Allocation	Expected           Yield (%)	Annual Income ($)
Blue-Chip Dividend Stocks (DBS, OCBC, UOB, SGX, ST Eng)	50% ($1M)	4.5%	$45,000
Blue-Chip REITs (Mapletree Ind, CapitaLand, Frasers L&C)	30% ($600K)	5.5%	$33,000
Bonds & SSBs (Govt Bonds, Temasek Bonds)	20% ($400K)	3.5%	$14,000
Total	$2M	4.8% avg.	$92,000/year

💡 Pros: Lower volatility, stable dividends
💡 Cons: Slower growth, lower long-term upside

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2️⃣ Balanced (Medium Risk, Higher Growth – 5.35% Yield)

🔹 Best for: Growth + passive income mix
🔹 Strategy: Mix of growth REITs, banks, & defensive stocks

Asset Class	Allocation	Expected     Yield (%)	Annual   Income ($)
Dividend Growth Stocks (DBS, OCBC, SGX, ST Eng)	40% ($800K)	5.0%	$40,000
High-Yield REITs (Keppel DC, Digital Core, Mapletree Ind)	50% ($1M)	6.0%	$60,000
Bonds & Cash (SSBs, T-Bills, CPF)	10% ($200K)	3.5%	$7,000
Total	$2M	5.35% avg.	$107,000/year

💡 Pros: Balanced mix of stable & high-yielding assets
💡 Cons: REITs can be volatile during downturns

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3️⃣ Aggressive (Higher Risk, Max Yield – 6.1% Yield)

🔹 Best for: Maximizing passive income & total return
🔹 Strategy: Focus on higher-yield REITs & international dividend stocks

Asset Class	Allocation	Expected           Yield (%)	Annual Income ($)
High-Yield REITs (Keppel DC, Digital Core, Frasers L&C, CapitaLand)	60% ($1.2M)	6.5%	$78,000
Dividend Growth Stocks (DBS, OCBC, ST Eng)	30% ($600K)	5.0%	$30,000
Crypto/Bonds/SRS (SRS Stocks, Govt Bonds)	10% ($200K)	4.0%	$8,000
Total	$2M	6.1% avg.	$116,000/year

💡 Pros: Highest income potential, faster wealth accumulation
💡 Cons: More volatility, potential dividend cuts in downturns

Dividend Investing In Singapore to hit $100k per annum

 

Tax-Efficient Dividend Portfolio Strategy for Financial Freedom

Since you're focused on dividend investing in Singapore and targeting $100,000/year passive income for retirement, let’s design a tax-free dividend portfolio.

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1️⃣ Portfolio Allocation: Growth vs. Income

To balance capital growth and stable dividends, a diversified portfolio should include:

✅ Singapore REITs (50%) – High-yield passive income (5–7% yields)
✅ Dividend Stocks (40%) – Blue-chip stability & dividend growth (3–6%)
✅ Bonds/Cash (10%) – Stability & emergency funds

📌 Target Yield: ~5–6% overall for sustainable, tax-free passive income.

💡 Portfolio Growth Plan:

• Start with higher-yield REITs to accelerate compounding.

• Shift towards dividend growth stocks & bonds as you approach retirement.

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2️⃣ Singapore REITs (50%) – Passive Income Powerhouse

📌 Best Sectors for Stable Dividends:
🏢 Data Center REITs – Strong growth (Keppel DC REIT, Digital Core REIT)
🏬 Retail REITs – Defensive income (CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust)
🏢 Office/Industrial REITs – Long-term contracts (Mapletree Industrial Trust)

Top REIT Picks & Yields

REIT	Sector	Dividend Yield (%)
Keppel DC REIT	Data Centers	5.0%
Digital Core REIT	Data Centers	7.5%
CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust	Retail/Office	5.5%
Mapletree Industrial Trust	Industrial/Data	6.0%
Frasers Logistics & Commercial Trust	Industrial	6.3%

📌 Plan: Invest 50% of your portfolio here to generate high, tax-free income.

💡 Example: If you invest $500,000 in REITs at a 6% yield, you’ll get $30,000/year in tax-free dividends.

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3️⃣ Singapore Blue-Chip Dividend Stocks (40%)

📌 Top Picks for Growth & Stability

Stock	Sector	Dividend Yield (%)
DBS Bank	Banking	5.5%
OCBC Bank	Banking	6.0%
UOB Bank	Banking	5.8%
Singapore Exchange (SGX)	Financials	3.5%
ST Engineering	Aerospace/Defense	4.2%

💡 Plan: Invest 40% here for long-term dividend growth & stability.

💡 Example: If you invest $400,000 at 5% yield, you’ll receive $20,000/year in tax-free dividends.

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4️⃣ Bonds & Cash (10%) – Safety Net

📌 Safe, steady income sources

• Singapore Savings Bonds (SSB) – ~3.0% risk-free

• T-bills (Treasury Bills) – 3.5% (short-term)

• Corporate Bonds (Temasek-linked) – 4–5%

💡 Plan: Invest $100,000 here for $3,000–$4,000/year passive income.

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5️⃣ Portfolio Simulation – Targeting $100K Passive Income

Investment	Yield (%)	Annual Dividend ($)
REITs ($1M)	6.0%	$60,000
Dividend Stocks ($800K)	5.0%	$40,000
Bonds & Cash ($200K)	3.5%	$7,000
Total Portfolio: $2M	5.35% avg.	$107,000/year (tax-free!)

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6️⃣ Strategy to Reach $2M Portfolio

Assuming:

• You invest $50,000/year

• Portfolio grows at 6% per year (dividends reinvested)

📌 Time Needed to Reach $2M

• In 15 years, your portfolio can grow to $2M+.

• Retirement Goal Achieved: $100K/year passive income (tax-free)!