MoneyDigest - Personal Finance, Lifestyle, Money Saving Tips

Enjoy these hotel-standard high tea sets with delivery or self-collection

How are you surviving Phase 2 (Heightened Alert)? We’re about two weeks away from the end of this mini circuit breaker.

The good news is that the government has announced that further tightening of measures is not required at the moment. Also, Singapore residents can look forward to a more detailed update on 31 May via the next multi-ministry task force press conference.

But at the time of writing, we’re still unable to dine out. Most of us are sticking to cooking at home, food takeaways, or using delivery services. Some of us may also have been forced to cancel that high tea appointment thanks to the latest COVID-19 measures.

But fret not as hotels are bringing to you their high tea selections right to your doorstep.

#1: The Capitol Kempinski Hotel

Price: from S$38

At an affordable price, you get to savour a 3-course afternoon tea session from the comforts of home. Expect local creations like chicken rice arancini and classic scones with cranberry-flavoured ones. The set will also include high-quality TWG teabags.

Order here and pick up at 15 Stamford Road or opt for free delivery if you spend a minimum of S$60.

#2: Shangri-La Singapore

Price: from S$68

The Rose Veranda from Shangri-La Singapore presents a takeaway high tea set for two at just S$68. You can also add on a bottle of Nyetimber Classic Cuvée for S$98 (discounted price). We think the strawberry lobster slaw sandwich and foie gras tart with granny smith apple and candied ginger would be worth a taste.

Complimentary delivery is only available for purchases above S$200. Or you can choose to self-collect to save on that S$20.

#3: Regent Singapore

Price: from S$96

Book your high tea set from Regent Singapore if you want to sink your teeth on roasted Angus beef with mustard, or reward yourself with some apricot creamy cheesecake. Raspberry white chocolate macarons, yuzu and dark chocolate cookies will go very well with the premium Gryphon tea provided.

You can either choose the 2-pax or 4-pax set from this link.

#4: Mandarin Oriental

Price: S$98

The June holidays have officially started, and families looking to enjoy some time together indoors can consider this afternoon tea set from Mandarin Oriental. Priced at S$98, the quantity is just right for two adults and two children. There’s a good combination of meats, greens, and sweet bites for everyone.

Place your order at least two hours before and call +65 6885 3500 if you need some quick answers to your burning questions.

#5: Intercontinental Singapore

Price: from S$110

Take your pick from Intercontinental Singapore’s multi-tiered collection of sweets and savouries if you want variety. Lychee coulis, laksa prawn quiche, and hojicha craquelin choux are some of the items you can look forward to. Pay an extra S$50 if you want a Taittinger Brut Reserve Half Bottle to accompany your taste buds.

For more information, please click here. Self-collect at The Lobby Lounge if you don’t want to fork out S$25 for delivery.

Ways to treat erectile dysfunction without surgery

Do you know of someone who has erectile dysfunction (ED)? ED is a condition that deters a man from erecting and staying firm enough to have sex.

Usually, older men face such an issue. But there is also a range of reasons that leads to ED, including:

Stress
Smoking
Depression
Overweight
Alcohol consumption
Cardiovascular-related conditions
Overexposure to radiation at the pelvic region
Blood flow problems or nerve damage in the penis
High blood pressure or unhealthy cholesterol levels
Side effects of present treatments or medications for prostate diseases

Ladies, if your partners consistently face a low sexual desire or have difficulties getting an erection, they may have an ED. Similarly, having trouble maintaining that long-awaited erection during intercourse or premature ejaculation could be ED signs.

Thankfully, not all hope is lost. Here are some ways to treat ED without surgery.

#1: Get up & get moving

For those who are against consuming medicine, maybe you would want to look into getting more active.

The main idea here is to improve your cardiovascular status, and you can do so with running, biking, jogging, or swimming. When there is increased blood flow throughout your body, it could lead to better circulation down there and improve your ED condition.

#2: Turn to oral drugs

Okay, so maybe a couple of you guys out there aren’t able to pump up your physical activity either due to immobility or health issues.

If so, you might want to turn to oral medication like Sildenafil (Viagra). It was the first oral medicine approved to help up the flow of blood to the penis. Thus, when engaging in sexual acts, an erection can be stimulated. Tadalafil (Cialis) and Vardenafil (Levitra) are also alternatives to try.

#3: Consider injection therapy

Image Credits: csp.org.uk

Penile injection therapy can help tackle various erection issues related to the nerve, blood vessel, and psychological conditions.

The medical term to note is intracavernosal injection therapy, though most laymen refer to it as penile self-injection. During the process, you can DIY by injecting a small quantity of prostaglandin E1, papaverine, phentolamine, or a combination of these drugs into the side of your penis. The medicine will help relax your blood vessels and direct blood flow to the penis.

However, this method comes with side effects like pain and penile scarring (fibrosis).

#4: Use a vacuum constriction device

The abovementioned method could be too painful for some to bear. Why not use a vacuum constriction device for those who don’t mind putting up with some discomfort?

It is essentially a cylinder to put over your penis. Most are either hand-powered or battery-operated. It works by pumping air out of the cylinder, drawing blood into the penis, and causing an erection. The drawback is that the cylinder band that helps maintain the erection can only stay in place for about 20 minutes or less.

#5: Experience extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT)

As we come to a close, we have ESWT. It is a method that uses low-intensity shock waves to form blood vessels in the erectile tissues.

As a result, blood flow to the penis area will increase, and your erection will last longer. The good news is that the process is painless and non-invasive. But ready yourself as you may need to go through up to 12 sessions of 20-minute ESWT to see results.

Here’s how to get a sense of the company culture during your probation

So, you’ve walked out of a wonderful interview, and within the next day, you received an offer of employment with the same company you interviewed with.

Times are hard with the ongoing pandemic, and one should be thankful for a job offer. Well, that is true to a certain extent. But if the company culture is a misfit with the way you work, you may not be able to function properly in the long run.

Art Markman, PhD, a professor of Psychology and Marketing at the University of Texas, shares with us how to get a sense of the company culture to decide its fit for you.

#1: Explore your colleagues’ values

Have you ever heard of the saying, “Every job is doable, but it’s the people that are causing problems”?

While the management plays a part, your colleagues in the company significantly influence the company culture. This also means that their values will matter as you seek to explore what those are. It could be power, security, or achievement.

During your probation of 3 to 6 months, take this chance not only to ease yourself into the tasks but also to speak to your coworkers. We’re not asking you to be a full-fledged social butterfly but listen to what the people around you think of their work’s importance and success in general.

Then, decide for yourself if the beliefs they hold are in line with your own. Should you agree with the way your colleagues are portraying work, then it’s likely that you will be a great fit with the company. Otherwise, it’s better to seek opportunities elsewhere.

#2: Observe workplace interactions

Image Credits: unsplash.com

We think most of us would want to work in an office where people can freely talk to anyone regardless of job titles.

In fact, you can observe workplace interactions not just during your probation but right from your interview. Spot how your interviewers are reacting and communicating with each other. From there, you will probably get a good sense of the company’s hierarchical structure.

If you’re someone who values the definition of success, you may want to bring this topic up during your interview. Ask how the company values individual and group success. Do they expect everyone to stick to a set of norms? Or are they flexible to embrace diversity?

Take what they say with a pinch of salt because words are empty without concrete actions. During your probational period, you will get a sense of the culture via minor aspects. For example, do people shush when the boss walks in? Are they freely voicing out their opinions during team meetings?

#3: Trust your gut

You will probably notice that the first two points noted by Markman are very straightforward ways to catch a glimpse of the company culture.

However, sometimes, all it takes is a little intuition to conclude whether a workplace is right or wrong for you. Yes, even if you can’t seem to verbalise the reasons why, trust your gut. For those who’ve had the experience of working with several companies throughout their career, it would be easier to come to a realisation.

Nevertheless, be fully aware that a company may still be a good fit even if your initial intuition isn’t all that positive. You can blame it on the lack of familiarity if you want. Being in an unknown setting with newer job responsibilities can sometimes nudge our minds and bodies to take flight.

Final thoughts

With all that said, that is precisely why the probational period is in place. Give yourself some time to ease into the company culture and converse with your colleagues often. If all else fails, it’s not the end of the world.

Read this before you hop on your sets of Invisalign or clear aligners

Misaligned teeth can dampen your confidence if you often have to meet clients or face customers.

While traditional braces work, they aren’t as flexible when compared to Invisalign aligners. Just think about having the ease in removing your aligners when eating or brushing your teeth. You wouldn’t be able to do that with braces, though.

For peeps looking to start their journey with sets of Invisalign, hear from Dr Hwang Yee Cheau, an orthodontist at TP Dental Surgeons, on the essential things to note. Dr Hwang is also an adjunct professor at the NUS Faculty of Dentistry and highly qualified to share knowledge in this field.

#1: Expect precise results

Dr Hwang has been working with Invisalign clear aligners for more than 15 years, and she mentions that one can expect precise results with it.

The treatment uses advanced 3D planning software with data from 10 million patients worldwide. This allows the Invisalign-trained dentist to visualise each stage from the start to the end without unpleasant surprises.

#2: Receive a customised plan

Every misalignment is different. When you hop on the Invisalign journey, your dentist will craft a customised plan to help you achieve your desired results.

Once the initial iTero 3D (a digital system) scan is done and your treatment journey is mapped out, you will receive a series of removable Invisalign clear aligners throughout the process. Look forward to gradually straightened teeth as you progress through the months!

#3: Seek consultation before starting

Image Credits: dentalproductsreport.com

By now, some of you might be overly eager to get started. However, hold your horses. After all, teeth straightening is a medical procedure, and it’s best that you seek consultation before any treatment.

Ask your dentist or orthodontist to recommend doctor-directed clear aligner brands that are safe and sustainable. Also, ensure that the same doctor will accompany you throughout the course of your treatment.

#4: Treat complex cases

Apart from the privilege of flaunting your teeth when you smile, Invisalign clear aligners can also treat complex cases. This includes overbite, crossbite, and even serious crowding conditions.

Some individuals may also need to go through a corrective jaw surgery and decide to receive a pre-surgery orthodontic treatment using Invisalign clear aligners. In fact, it’s not just an option for adults, but kids and teens too.

#5: Different compared to clear aligners

Remember what mum used to say? Looks are deceiving. While clear aligners may look similar, the materials and technology used are different.

Dr Hwang noted that Invisalign treatment uses SmartTrack material, a proprietary medical-grade plastic. Going hand-in-hand with advanced software technology, you are guaranteed up to 75% of predictability on your teeth straightening journey.

Final thoughts

Be sure that your dentist is with you every step of the way because clear aligners can lead to tooth loosening or even gum recession if unsupervised.

In addition, you will need to persevere through the treatment process and have the discipline to stick to the aligner treatment wear time to see maximum results. Just so you know, that’s about 20 to 22 hours to put on a day.

For more information, please head to invisalign.com.sg.

Online registration to enrol your kids for primary 1 in 2022 will start on 30 June

Parents with children born between 2 January 2015 and 1 January 2016, this article’s for you.

Your child has come a long way from transiting through his or her kindergarten life, and it’s now time to prepare for the next juncture – primary school education.

Thanks to the pandemic, there will be no in-person registrations, and all will be done online. Here’s what you need to know to gear yourself for the upcoming registration from 30 June.

Several phases till 29 October

The online registration to enrol your kids for primary 1 in 2022 will involve several phases till 29 October.

Subject to the stages, there are mainly two means by which you can register – online application forms and the Primary One Internet System (P1-IS).

“As both of these registration modes require SingPass, parents are advised to set up their SingPass 2-Step Verification (2FA) early, and ensure that their SingPass account is valid before the commencement of the P1 Registration Exercise,” said the Ministry of Education (MOE).

Phase 1 (from 30 June)

If you have a child already studying in the school you’re planning to enrol your younger kid in, this phase is for you. The respective schools will guide you on the registration with more details to come.

Phases 2A(1) and 2A(2) (from 7 & 14 July respectively)

These phases are for kids with parents who are former students of the particular school you’re enrolling your child in. Little ones currently studying in MOE kindergarten located at the school will also fall under this phase.

Phase 2B (from 26 July)

For parents who are community or school volunteers, Phase 2B will apply to your children. This phase is also for kids who have specific church affiliations or clan associations.

Phase 2C and 2C Supplementary (from 3 & 19 August respectively)

Kids with no links to the school but are Singapore citizens, or permanent residents can start their online registrations in August under this phase.

Phase 3

The last phase is for international students and their parents. You may fill up the online form from 1 to 7 June via moe.gov.sg/primary/p1-registration/international-students. The availability of places will be made known to you in October.

For more information on the registration phases and key dates, you may head to moe.gov.sg/primary/p1-registration/registration-phases-key-dates.

Registration postponement

Image Credits: The Straits Times

Parents with kids born on 1 January 2016 can send in a deferment request to allow their child to enrol in the 2023 primary 1 cohort instead.

Likewise, children who have been evaluated by a qualified health professional as being unready for primary 1 can appeal for a postponement from MOE’s Compulsory Education Unit.

Please do so from now till September via moe.gov.sg/primary/compulsory-education/deferment.

Remember to head to moe.gov.sg/primary/p1-registration regularly for the latest updates on the 2022 primary 1 registration, including necessary documents needed and essential information for overseas Singaporeans.

May the registration results work in your favour!