5 Amazingly Unique Ice Cream Flavors In Singapore

I have to admit! I am quite adventurous when it comes to food. My openness towards food extends to the different flavors of ice cream. Who does not love this cold treat, anyway? If you share the same enthusiasm as I do with ice cream, you may want to try these unusual flavors.

Get your palates ready! 🙂

CHILI CRAB

Close your eyes and visualize the potent taste of Chili Crab. Now, picture it in ice cream form. It sounds interesting, to say the least!

Mingle Mangle offers a single scoop of Chili Crab ice cream for S$4.80 and a double scoop for S$8.40. These prices are reasonable given its purpose of novelty. Much like the local dish that it is based on, the ice cream version oozes with spiciness. It is a gradual kick that will be felt as you bite. You may want to purchase a sweet drink to wash out the spicy taste.

Image Credits: burpple.com

Location: Mingle Mangle, 476 Upper Serangoon View, #02-07, Singapore 530476
Website: minglemangle.com.sg

WHITE RABBIT

There is no greater joy than hearing your childhood candy transformed into a cold treat! I am talking about the limited edition White Rabbit-flavored ice cream at Sunday Folks.

On the quiet corner of a neighborhood, this local cafe put a spin on the classic candy by mixing a milk-flavored ice cream with milk mochi, milk-caramel sauce, and a sheet of the iconic glutinous rice paper. This nostalgic ice cream is available in cup or cone version for S$9.

Image Credits: Sunday Folks via facebook.com

Remember, this flavor is available for a limited time only. Get it while you can!

Location: Sunday Folks, 44 Jalan Merah Saga, Chip Bee Gardens #01-52, Singapore 278116
Website: facebook.com/sundayfolks.singapore

CHILLI CHOC

Take spiciness to a whole new level by tasting the Chilli Choc ice cream at The Daily Scoop! You read that right. Served with a whole chili on the top of the scoop, this ice cream may seem intimidating at first. Who am I kidding? It is not for the fainthearted!

Feel the heat at first lick and indulge on the dark chocolate ice cream soon after. As the website describes: “count to 10 and feel the burn”. A 400g takeaway tub of the Chilli Choc retails for about S$12.50 online. In its physical store, look for it under the “Fun Kyreations” section.

Location: Four locations islandwide including – 369 Sembawang Road, #01-05 Sembawang Cottage, Singapore 758382
Website: thedailyscoop.com.sg

KAYA LOTEE

Many Singaporeans enjoy eating their ice cream with bread. Personally speaking, the affordable ice cream sandwiches found on the streets can satisfy my hunger any day! As such, I am certain that the Ice Cream Chefs’ Kaya Lotee is a winner to most. Kaya Lotee ice cream consists of premium Pandan kaya and toasted bread chunks.

The perfect mixture of sweet and crunchy makes for a best-selling ice cream flavor. It retails for only S$3.80. What I like most about Ice Cream Chefs is its dedication to the gourmet freshness and the old-school quality ice cream.

Location: 12 Jalan Kuras, Ice Cream Chefs, Singapore 577727
Website: icecreamchefs.com

SALTED EGG YOLK

Salted egg yolk has taken the world by storm! There are interesting variations of this ingredient such as the salted egg yolk chicken, salted egg yolk crab, salted egg yolk pasta, and salted egg yolk chips. Salted egg yolk chips was made popular by the local brand called Irvins. Its popularity was proven by its growing international presence. In Chinese cuisine, salted egg yolk exists in moon cakes, rice dumplings, and other pastries. Fortunately for us, Tom’s Palette offers Salted Egg Yolk ice cream all day and everyday!

Image Credits: themunchingirl.wordpress.com

Tom’s Palette is a homemade ice cream shop that has been creating creative ice cream flavors since 2005. Its Salted Egg Yolk ice cream has a grainy texture that you may not resist. Another flavor that is sinfully good is the Parmesan Cheese & Cream Crackers. Made with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, this ice cream boasts both a savory and a sweet taste. These flavors cost about S$4.

Location: Tom’s Palette, Shaw Towers, #01-25, 100 Beach Rd, Singapore 189702
Website: facebook.com/TomsPalette

Sources: 1 & 2

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4 Entertaining Money Activities For Young Adults

Whether you admit it or not, managing money sounds like a hefty task. Pouring elements of entertainment can may get your attention. On that note, here are some money-related games that you must try.

#1: MONOPOLY

This list won’t be complete without Monopoly! I remember playing this board game as a child. At first, it was simply a way to kill boredom. Little did I know that I can develop purchasing strategies and other financial skills while playing. Put a spin to this classic game by altering some rules. For instance, you may maintain a record of each payment or deposit in the register. Then, each player will start with a mortgaged property. You must pay off the mortgages with your income. This will enable the players to learn more about the dynamics of loans.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

#2: MARKET, MARKET

This exciting game shall simulate what is like to shop on a supermarket at varying levels of budget. Each player will be given a scenario, which defines the family size and the amount of money available for grocery shopping. Then, the players shall visit the nearby grocery to write down the items that they intend to “buy”. The player with the most items within a given budget wins!

#3: LOAN MASTER

If you are interested in brushing your borrowing skills then, this loan application game called Loan Master is suitable for you. The game is controlled by a facilitator. The facilitator starts with dividing the participants into two groups – the consumers and the lenders. The former will be assigned to specific incomes and expenses. They must plan for their budgets and include reasons for borrowing money such as medical or travel fees. The latter, on the other hand, includes different types of lenders such as bankers and loan sharks.

“To loan or not to loan?” is the question that the consumers must answer throughout the game. They must learn to decide whether they shall commit to a loan application or not.

#4: SIMPLE SAVER

Young adults must realize that growing one’s savings is faster when money is put in an interest earning account. Highlight the differences between saving with and without compound interest by playing the Simple Saver game. Begin by grabbing a pen, paper, calculator, and a partner. Each participant will calculate his weekly savings for a year.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Participant A is the Simple Saver who earns no interest. While, Participant B is the Super Saver who earns a 5% interest compounded daily. See the difference!

Sources: 1 & 2

 

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Singapore Banks Have Access To S$30M Funds To Boost Cybersecurity

If you are updated with the current events, you would know that the country has suffered a serious data breaching this year. The unfortunate event compromised the personal data of 1.5 million healthcare patients including the data of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. These patients are under SingHealth – the country’s largest group of healthcare institutions spanning various clinical specialties, public hospitals, specialty centers, polyclinics, and community hospitals.

Similar stories of data breaching in other sectors have been reported in other parts of the world. Imagine how vulnerable a financial institution can be once its clients’ data has been breached!

With the increasing use of technology in global banking, Singapore needs to combat money laundering and online unlawful acts. I, for one, am vigilant when it comes to checking my balance after a transaction or an online purchase. Fortunately for us, the Singapore government and the financial institutions thought of ways to tackle the situation.

Firstly, the government acknowledged the importance of cybersecurity to financial institutions. Hence, it has signaled its willingness to ease some restrictions on importing talents for the financial-technology industry. The authorities are aware of the talent shortages. That said, financial institutions can either train or upgrade the skills of its existing employees or hire foreign talents who are experts in the field.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Secondly, the Monetary Authority of Singapore offered financial institutions access to a S$30 million grant. This funds can be used to boost their cybersecurity skill-sets and related operations. It is under the country’s Financial Sector Technology and Innovation Scheme, the grant facilitating the development of advanced cybersecurity functions such as computer forensics, malware research, and cyber threat surveillance. The funds could be tapped to cover up to 50% of a financial institution’s qualified cybersecurity expenses, with a cap of S$3 million.

Lastly, local banks can exhaust its current resources to provide cybersecurity services. For instance, three major banks in Singapore have started using artificial intelligence and data analytics to help enhance the detection of illicit cash flows. These banks are DBS, OCBC, and UOB.

We cannot deny that cyber threats continue to evolve throughout the years. Thus, it is highly encouraged for the financial sector to strengthen their cybersecurity capabilities to keep us safe.

Sources: 1,2, & 3

 

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Get Your Pet A “Pink IC” For As Low As S$25

Now, more than ever, pets play an important role in enriching our lives. Whether you own a dog or a rabbit, these pets typically become a part of the family. Some pet owners go beyond dressing their pets by creating social media profiles for them. Creating their own identities strengthens their roles in your homes.

To protect your beloved pet’s identity, you may purchase a “pink identity card”. Do not rush to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) just yet! I am referring to the novelty products produced by two local companies. Both Plus Accessories and MyPetInc create tags resembling the pink NRIC. These products steer away from the traditional round pet collar tags to provide more information to identify your pets. Let us start with the products offered by Plus Accessories.

Image Credits: facebook.com/Plus-accessories

At first glance, one will be shocked by how the wallet-size “pet IC” (i.e., retails for about S$25) looks somewhat like the actual identity card. It has all the necessary details such as the pet’s name, breed, date of birth, country of birth, and identity number. Moreover, it will feature a small picture of your pet. On the top, the card playfully says that it belongs to the Republic of Singapaw! Please note that it takes about 2 months after the confirmation of design to receive the product. What’s more, the Plus Accessories offer pet tags (i.e., about S$28 to S$38) and customized car displays.

On the other hand, MyPetInc was founded in 2014. Its founders created the company to “reunite lost pets with their owners in the fastest way possible”. They created a product that provides more information than a traditional dog collar tag. That being said, relevant information relating to the pet (e.g., health condition, allergies, or address) were considered. Each collar tag is uniquely made and personalized through your order. For instance, small dogs like Chihuahuas and Terriers will be offered smaller collar tags with measurements of 4.5 cm x 3.5 cm.

Image Credits: facebook.com/MyPetIC

What I like most about this tag is that it is waterproof and coated with a layer of material that claims to withstand scratches and bites from your furry pal. MyPetInc collar tag retails for about S$29.50.

For the holiday season, you may want to check these online shops out! 🙂

Sources: 1 & 2

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Things To Expect When Meeting A Financial Adviser For The First Time

You have decided that 2019 is the year that you are going to meet a financial adviser. Many Singaporeans can casually start a conversation about sports, fashion, and travel. However, discussing about money is another story. The mere act of reaching out to a financial adviser brings you a step ahead towards your money goals. That being said, here are the practical things that you can expect when meeting one.

1. YOUR CURRENT FINANCIAL SITUATION WILL BE ASSESSED

A competent and conscientious financial adviser will never assume to know your needs at first glance. It is important for you to provide all the necessary financial information available. I am referring to the bank statements, insurance premiums, tax returns, and so on. These details will help the financial adviser to tackle the toughest question in one’s financial life.

What steps do you need to take to secure your future?

2. YOUR FINANCIAL PHILOSOPHY WILL BE QUESTIONED

Be honest with yourself! What is your philosophy on wealth and investment?

Image Credits: pixabay.com

If you decide to work with a professional to give you advice on money then, ensure that he or she understands your limits. Discuss each other’s financial philosophies as these would dictate his or her actions toward your account. If you are willing to risk it all then, the financial adviser will lead you to that. While, risk averse clients will have more conservative options.

The financial adviser’s approach needs to balance your goals, your financial timeline, and your appetite for risks.

3. YOUR OVERALL PROGRESS WILL BE REVIEWED

With your financial adviser, your milestones will be set on a timetable. Do not be surprised when you are asked about your ideal retirement age or ideal marrying age. These may feel too intimate, but your success lies on having a concrete plan.

Your financial progress will be reviewed based on your plan. You see, Personal Finance is a process. It helps to have a knowledgeable and emphatic professional to track how far you have come and to guide you to your next goal.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

May your financial adviser create the most suitable financial road-map for you. Good luck! 🙂

Sources: 1 & 2

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