5 Luminous Lessons Harry Potter Taught Us About Money

The magical story of a young wizard named Harry Potter has captured the hearts of fans of all ages and with a good reason. In fact, I am wearing my Hufflepuff shirt while I am writing this.

Despite being in a fictional world, the Harry Potter characters’ financial problems cannot be solved with a wave of a wand. They also have to struggle with the challenges of saving, spending, and growing money throughout the series. Here are just some of the personal finance lessons that you can learn form the wizarding world of Harry Potter:

GET THE A DEPENDABLE AUTO-INSURANCE

In the “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” book, Ron and Harry crashed a car into a tree. It caused an irreparable damage to a car that they do not own. This scenario taught us the importance of having a car insurance.

In Singapore, it is mandatory to have your car insured. Examine your options and look for an auto-insurance that suits your needs and your budget. Some of the plans that you may consider are the FWD, Aviva, and NTUC Income auto-insurance plans. FWD has three auto-insurance plans from Classic to Prestige. Its annual premiums start from S$731.38. Aviva offers three auto-insurance plans too from Lite to Prestige. Its annual premiums start from S$883.12. Lastly, NTUC Income has Drivo Classic and Premium plans. Its annual premiums start from S$$970.35. Annual premiums are usually based on the driver’s profile and the car itself.

SORT OUT YOUR WILL

After living in an uncomfortable cupboard under the stairs for eleven years, the book’s main protagonist Harry Potter found out that he was a wizard and that his parents left him a considerable amount of money. His family’s wealth was beyond what he can imagine! Although his parents died at a very young age, when he was just a baby, it was clear that they a robust financial plan in place. They left all their wealth to Harry. This helped him secure his school supplies and daily needs throughout the years.

Unforeseen events can strike at any moment. It is important to save up for your retirement as soon as possible. Moreover, you must create a will that ensures the list of beneficiaries on all of your savings and investment accounts.

SEE THE POWER OF COMPOUND INTEREST

Harry not only benefits from his parents’ wealth, but also reap the rewards of compound interest. His money was untouched for eleven years. When he opened his vault for the first time at the Gringotts Wizarding Bank, he discovered the amount of gold and money that was in his vault. Despite having this wealth, he did not lead a lavish lifestyle.

Like Harry, you may benefit from compound interest by leaving your money untouched for years in a bank or by investing your money for the long haul.

APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE

As I said above, he did not lead a lavish lifestyle. Harry was humble. In fact, he wore the same glasses for seven years. He appreciates what he has and exemplifies this trait the most in the first book. When Hagrid gifts him Hedwig the owl, he was amazed and accepted it wholeheartedly. He was also very grateful when he was gifted the Nimbus 2000 by Professor McGonagall.

In our world, it is easy to be caught by all the sale items and designer brands. However, you must remember to strike a balance between your needs and wants. Appreciate what you have and live within a realistic budget that you set.

SECURE YOUR MONEY IN A SAFE PLACE

Harry’s immense fortune was stored in the Gringotts Wizarding Bank, located in the heart of London. The bank is operated and guarded by goblins. These goblins serve as the gatekeepers to the underground vaults. It is often described as the safest place in the Wizarding World.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

While you cannot keep your wealth within the protection of magical spells and goblins, you can secure your money in other ways. Firstly, you may set up an auto-deposit scheme to send a portion of each paycheck to your savings account. Secondly, you may store your emergency fund in a place where you will not be tempted to spend it frivolously. For instance, you may set up a different account exclusively for that. Lastly, secure your online banking apps through Two-Factor Authentication.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

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Here are 6 online furniture stores for people who want options other than IKEA

Malawi Sofa - White

Talk about new furniture and people might naturally bring up IKEA. Well, there’s nothing wrong about shopping at IKEA but sometimes we humans want a little fresher alternative. If you share the same sentiments, how about shopping at these online furniture stores we’re about to introduce to you?

Here are six online furniture stores for people who want options other than IKEA.

#1: Island Living

Java Table with White Iron Legs

Website: islandliving.sg

Island Living is the brainchild of Karin Rysgaard and Denise Vrontas, a designer and ex-PR consultant, respectively. If you fancy a laid-back approach to your home, this brand will resonate with you. You can expect lots of different textures, including sustainable rattan and reclaimed teak wood. Check back frequently if you want to keep up with the latest global interior trends.

#2: Ong Shunmugam

natural rattan dining chair in a black finish

Website: ongshunmugam.com

In case you’re wondering, Ong Shunmugam rattan furniture and basketry is designed and drafted in their offices across London and Singapore and made in Malaysia. High-end is probably the right word to describe their range of products. To allow the veteran craftsmen to work their magic, be ready to wait for about 6 to 8 weeks before you welcome the masterpieces back home.

#3: Celson

Bone Inlay Bedside Table

Website: celson.sg

Celson was founded in 2018 by Sonam, who did her postgraduate studies in merchandising and designing in Delhi, the capital of India. The brand believes that they are capable of bringing quality handcrafted products to every home at transparent prices. We like how they have customisation options for both bone inlay and solid Indian wood furniture types. Check them out!

#4: Naturalis Historia

Vauban - Shoe Cabinet

Website: nhteak.com

Naturalis Historia designs and creates furniture pieces that combine modern functions with classic features. Entirely handcrafted by experienced artisans, the brand only utilises materials from sustainable and ethical sources. To put it simply, you can expect attractive, stable, and trustworthy products to last you for generations to come.

#5: Hock Siong

SF Green Marble Dining Table

Website: hocksiong.com.sg

Hock Siong is the go-to place if you want to own furniture that has a rich history, passed down from previous owners. In other words, they deal with secondhand items, including those from local hotels and residential households. This place is for people who find beauty in slightly defective items due to wear and tear over time. Light touch-ups are available for wooden products.

#6: Crate & Barrel

Anaise Cane Queen Bed

Website: crateandbarrel.com.sg

We will wrap up this list of online furniture stores with a possibly familiar name – Crate & Barrel. They have been around for almost 60 years, with over 100 stores and franchise partners in 11 countries. You will adore their furniture collection if you’re on a hunt for clean, minimalistic, and timeless designs.

Don’t forget to compare prices before hitting that ‘pay’ button!

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Bear & Bull Markets: Animals In The Stock Market

For investors, the terms “bull” and “bear” carry distinct weights as they frequently describe the market conditions. These terms are used to describe how the market is doing. It is your responsibility as an investor to know the direction of the stock market, because it will significantly affect your portfolio. Examine how each of these market conditions may impact your investments.

INVESTORS’ ATTITUDES AND THE MARKET

Since the financial markets are greatly influenced by the investors’ attitudes, these terms also denote how they feel about the current economic situations. A bear market occurs in an economy that is receding and where most stocks are depreciating in value. Interestingly, it is named for the way the bear attacks its victims. You see, a bear swipes downward during an attack. Thus, it became a metaphor for the market activity during this condition.

On the other hand, a bull market exists in an economy on the rise. This is where conditions of the economy are generally favorable and positive. Investors usually have faith that the uptrend will continue over a long period of time during the bull market condition. In the case of equity, a bull market denotes a rise in the prices of companies’ shares.

In a bear market, share prices are continuously dropping. This affects the investors’ attitudes negatively, which later perpetuates the downward spiral. During this time, the economy slows down and unemployment rises as companies begin laying off workers. One can only imagine how the investors felt last March 2020 when the U.S. stock market fell into the bear market due to the pandemic!

SUPPLY AND DEMAND FOR SECURITIES

More investors are looking to sell than to buy in a bear market. The demand for securities is significantly lower than the supply. As a result, share prices drop. A bear market can be more dangerous to invest in, because many equities lose value and price.

In contrast, there is a strong demand and weak supply for securities in a bull market. Many investors wish to buy securities, but only few people are willing to sell them in a bull market. As a result, share prices will rise and investors compete to obtain available equity.

SHIFT IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

A weak economy is often associated with the bear market. Most businesses and companies are unable to bring in huge profits due to the unwillingness of consumers to spend money. This decline in profits directly affects the way the market values stocks.

In a bull market, the opposite happens. People have more money to spend and are very much willing to spend it. This relationship towards the consumers strengthens the economy.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

THE CONCLUSION

A bear market occurs in an economy that is receding, where more stocks are depreciating in value. While, a bull market exists when the economy is sound. Both of these conditions will have a significant influence on your investments. It is a good idea to determine how the market is doing when making an investment decision.

How long a bear market will last varies wildly due to the situation. Some can last for several weeks, while others last for years. Over the long run, the stock market always has a positive return. A grand comeback, which we all have been waiting for!

Sources: 1 & 2

 

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How OCBC’s Online Investment Platforms May Suit Your Investment Objective

woman using her laptop

Do you know that OCBC has an investment platform that caters to a wide variety of investment objectives? Whether you are an investor who prefers to have your portfolio managed by professional fund managers, an investor who prefers accumulating stocks via a dollar-cost averaging approach or an investor who appreciates the discipline of algorithm-driven portfolio management, there is bound to be something suitable for you with OCBC’s 3 main investment platforms. Here is a comparison of OCBC’s Blue Chip Investment Plan (BCIP), RoboInvest and Unit Trust to show how they suit each investment profile.

Comparison of OCBC’s BCIP, RoboInvest and Unit Trust Platforms

OCBC RoboInvest

Photo 96059964 © Sarinya Pinngam | Dreamstime.com

OCBC’s RoboInvest delivers the best elements of high-end investing services to a retail audience. Besides wide-ranging portfolios invested across 6 different geographical markets with interesting investment themes such as Future World, Impact Investing, Gen Z etc., it also boasts a seamless user experience:

  • No need to open a securities or custodian account
  • Top up and withdraw your investments easily by using your OCBC deposit account anytime without fees and charges
  • Be notified on portfolio rebalancing opportunities to help maximise your returns based on changing market conditions

More sophisticated investors such as PMETs, who are attuned to financial news and the latest developments of the global economy would appreciate the chance to invest in portfolios constructed around such broad and popular investment themes like US technology or the rise of China. RoboInvest is therefore the answer for investors who are keen to invest in a wide-range of investment themes and enjoy automated portfolio management service without paying excessive management fees.

Meanwhile, new investors can take advantage of RoboInvest’s risk-based portfolios (defensive, conservative, balanced, growth, aggressive) to gain diversified exposure to various asset classes and geographical markets at relatively low cost. This can form the core of their investment portfolio, and they can build on it with time

OCBC Blue Chip Investment Plan (BCIP)

Photo 75624892 © Tang90246 | Dreamstime.com

The BCIP allows investor to gain access to dividend-yielding stocks and ETFs listed on the Singapore stock exchange. By making monthly investments from as low as S$100 per month, an investor is able to purchase shares in amounts below the standard lot size. Full-time national servicemen or young investors would find the ability to buy below the standard lot size very attractive given that they might not have accumulated sufficient capital for investment yet. By investing consistently each month via a dollar cost averaging approach, the BCIP allows investors to reduce their average cost of purchase over time. A strict monthly investment plan also reduces the risks associated with market timing risks and allow investors to accumulate stocks in a disciplined manner.

In addition, there is great flexibility since there is no lock-in period while counter selection and monthly investment amount can be easily tweaked. The BCIP is therefore most suitable for new investors keen to implement a dollar-cost averaging strategy by starting small and staying invested while retaining flexibility and control on their portfolios.

Unit Trust

Photo 39253582 © Ang Wee Heng John | Dreamstime.com

The OCBC Unit Trust Investment platform is one of ways to access the bank’s top fund ideas that have been carefully selected by its panel of investment experts.
Through actively managed unit trusts, investors can simply leverage on the expertise of professional fund managers who possess the experience, skills and resources to manage the portfolio on your behalf. The OCBC online platform allows the user to compare, buy, sell and monitor unit trusts with ease.

This is perfect for time-pressed individuals who do not have the time to monitor markets and recognise their own limitations in investing. For instance, working parents might gain greater utility and satisfaction by spending precious time with their children while leaving their investments to professionals looking after their portfolios. The Unit Trust Investment platform would most appeal to long-term investors who are keen to access a diversified portfolio in a more cost-effective manner whilst having a professional fund manager at the helm, monitoring and managing their investments through different market conditions. This may go a long way to provide a peace of mind.

Whether you are a new investor just starting out, a busy parent with no time to mull over investing, or a sophisticated investor looking to invest in the latest investment themes, OCBC’s various online investment platforms capably address these various investment objectives so that its clients are able to build a stable financial future with convenience and confidence.

Click here to find out more about the different investment products from OCBC.

Disclaimer:

All figures provided are for illustration purposes only. Actual figures may vary or differ depending on the actual circumstances.

This is for general information and does not take into account your particular investment and protection aims, financial situation or needs. You should seek advice from a financial adviser before committing to a purchase. Otherwise, you should consider the suitability of the product.

Investments are subject to investment risks, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested.

This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

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Top Spots For Rooftop Dining in Singapore

Once you visit Singapore you have not experienced traditional Singapore unless you try rooftop dining in Singapore. It’s a one-of-a-kind dining experience that you will treasure for the rest of your life. You can enjoy fine cuisine, atmosphere , and catch the breathtaking view of the Singapore skyline all at one sitting. Singapore has many unique rooftop restaurants so you have your pick of the best.

Braci – as the name implies serves Italian dishes that have been carried on from antiquity. Freshly imported from Italy the restaurant maintains the fine Italian legacy of rich pasta marinated in rich sauces. The restaurant has picturesque views of the Singapore river that can be enjoyed from both the bar and the restaurant. The atmosphere is relaxed and you can enjoy their fork-tender pork dish a must try among their traditional Italian cuisine dishes.

CE LA VI – situated on the 57th floor of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel brings a new definition to fine twilight rooftop dining in Singapore. Come and enjoy a special night atop this rooftop wonder. You can enjoy one of their unforgettable Asian dishes while you take in the breathtaking Singapore skyline.. You will have an unforgettable panoramic view of the world famous sky-lit skyline.

Zafferano – the pride of Singapore brings you some of the finest Italian cuisine you will ever taste. It is perched atop the 43rd floor of the Ocean Financial Center in Collyer Quay a once-in-a-lifetime rooftop dining experience. You have the luxury of glancing across the crystal clear water of Singapore to drink in the beautiful skyline of Singapore’s impressive Central Business district highlighted by the Marina Bay Sands. You can feast on their delicious Canadian Lobster Linguine and scrumptious house-made fettuccine.

Southbridge – a taste of the sea you will enjoy on this 5th floor paradise. The restaurant features some of the best views of the Lion City’s skyline. And who can forget the view of the majestic Marina Bay Sands hotel. Additionally, you can enjoy mouth-watering oyster dishes from the world over. Don’t forget the Lobster Knuckle rolls a treat you won’t forget.

Stellar at 1- Altitude – restaurant perched 62 levels up into the Singapore skyline. As you dine you can enjoy a panoramic view of the stellar Singapore skyline in the distance. The Marina Sands and Singapore Flyer stand out in the distant star-lit skyline. They offer a fine line of menus especially their constellations menu. It features steamed sea urchin custard(an experience all in itself) and roasted pigeon, two dishes that are out of this world.

Jaan – sits on the 7oth floor of the tallest hotel in Singapore-the Swissotel. It has become Singapore’s signature rooftop dining hotspot. You will experience unforgettable rooftop dining in Singapore that will stay with you the rest of your life. Its food is as dreamy as its spectacular night time views. It has been noted perennially on world famous lists of “Best restaurants in Asia” putting it in a dining class all of its own. Their fish and chips is a must try.

Finally, you have a panoramic view of some of the best rooftop dining in Singapore. The list notes some of the best restaurants you will find in Singapore. Each one presenting its own unique dining experience.

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