Anna Agoncillo, Author at MoneyDigest.sg

How To Strike A Balance Between Work And Personal Life

These past few days, I had the luxury to tune out all my worries and to immerse myself in a 3-day vacation. This brief retreat sent my state of mind into its reset mode. My renewed self became more efficient in the workplace. I, for one, believe in creating a balance between work and personal life.

The core of balancing these two areas is satisfying both your sense of achievement and your hunger for enjoyment. Achievement is gained through growth in the workplace while, indulgence is gained through engaging in enjoyable activities. How do you divide your time, money, and effort to these two areas? It is something that you have to discover on your own.

Meanwhile, may the following tips help you in establishing a work-life balance.

#1: DRAW A CLOCK

In a recent training conference that I attended, the speaker shared how her subordinate juggles fifty preschool students on her own. She faced the challenge head-on while maintaining a household. What is her secret? According to her, the key is time management.

An individual must carefully manage his or her time to achieve what needs to be done. Prioritize your tasks and divide your time accordingly. These are some of the categories that you may follow:

a. urgent and important,
b. important and not urgent,
c. urgent and unimportant, or
d. neither urgent nor important.

Now, let us move on to your personal clock. It is easy to bury yourself into your job when faced with a significant personal issue. However, putting said issues on hold may take a toll on your career. Personal issues (e.g., involving your relationships or health) matter in the long run.

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Image Credits: HollyEma☮, via Flickr

#2: CHOOSE THREE THINGS

Prioritizing is vital in creating a balance between the your personal and your professional life. The root of prioritizing depends on determining what matters to you. For instance, Randi Zuckerberg limits his priorities into three main categories. Randi chooses between work, sleep, relationships, and fitness. Yes! He is the sibling of Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg.

After uncovering what matters to you the most, you can realistically define the “parameters of success” in each one. What do you have to do to achieve each of these category? Do you need to distance yourself from the activities that distract you from your priorities? Or, do you need to say “no” to some people?

#3: MANAGE YOUR FINANCES

Feeling confident about your finances will help you with both your personal and professional life. The expression “money makes the world go round” is still relevant in this day and age. The amount of cash-flow that circulates throughout your financial reservoir affects the life you lead. It is one of the biggest challenges that Singaporean households face on a daily basis. Hence, finding time to manage your finances is a must!

Track your spending by writing each expense on a piece of paper. To make your life easier, you may download accounting software or financial apps such as Spendee and AceMoney.

#4: LET GO OF PERFECTIONISM

Aside from toxic relationships and unnecessary spending, there are other things that you need to let go. Consider dialing down your “perfectionist tendencies” to maintain sanity. Aiming for perfection develops at a young age. It starts with keeping up with the demands of getting high marks. As you grow up, life gets more complicated.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

I learned the hard way that you must not be too hard on yourself. You cannot be in control all the time. When things do not go as planned, acceptance is the only option. Letting go of perfectionism can help you avoid burnout.

Sources: 1 & 2

Free Beauty Samples To Request Now

In the money driven world we live in, people value receiving something for free. This is why companies introduce “free beauty samples”. Free beauty samples benefit not only its consumers, but also its manufacturers.

You are given the opportunity to test out products without having to waste your money on a full-sized bottle. These beauty samples come in handy while travelling and while on-the-go. On the other hand, companies directly give the products to you in the hopes that you will like their products. The increasing admiration towards the product may lead to increase in sales.

Singapore is blessed with companies who are more than happy to share their products. Check out these free beauty samples that you can request now:

#1: FOR EXPERIENTIAL ENTHUSIASTS

Website: samplestore.com

As a preschool teacher, we are taught that many people learn best through their experiences. Experiencing a product or a service directly is essential for modern consumers. This is where Sample Store comes in.

Sample Store lets you immerse yourself with up to four samples on a daily basis. You read that right! Get free samples delivered to your doorsteps through SingPost. Start by signing up at samplestore.com and by choosing from their wide product selection. Post product reviews in their website to earn more points and redeem more products.

You are free to explore more than 300 brands, but you can only receive one sample per product in a certain time.

#2: FOR MAKEUP JUNKIES

Website: sephora.sg

Sephora is a place that serves as a haven for makeup addicts. It houses some of the best beauty brands out there! What’s more? Its online store offers free samples upon checkout. Simply comply with the mechanics.

Here are the basic rules that you must follow:

a. Add a saple to your bag at checkout.
b. Only one sample may be added to each order.
c. Samples are available while supplies last.
d. If a sample goes out of stock, Sephora will provide a substitute.
e. Samples are not available during sale periods.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

The current samples circulating the website include products from Make Up Forever, Kat Von D, Hourglass, Becca, and Fresh. You may receive samples of bigger sizes and of higher values by availing the Premium Sample. You can add a Premium Sample when your total bill ranks up to S$120 (i.e., before shipping and after applying the discounts).

#3: FOR HARDWORKING EYES

Website: kao.com

KAO corporation has a variety of products ranging from a sanitary napkin to a steam eye mask. The latter is an interesting one!

It goes without saying that eye strain is common in our screen-dependant society. What better way to refreshen your hardworking eyes that by receiving a free “hot” eye mask. Simply request a sample by completing a questionnaire. It is a rather lengthly form compared to the ones available on this list. Furthemore, they are releasing limited samples.

Here are the other terms and conditions:

a. Sample consists of 1 piece of Steam Eye Mask.
b. Each residential address is limited to one sample request.
c. Please allow 4-5 weeks for delivery of the sample.
d. Entries with incomplete addresses will be deemed invalid.
e. This free sample request is only available for applicants residing in Singapore.

#4: FOR DELICATE SKIN

Website: cetaphil.com.sg

Having sensitive skin is an issue that I had to tackle throughout my life. I lean towards gentle cleansers and organic soaps. Countless hours where spent on testing products that may or may not work for my skin. Not to mention, the prices these products are tagged with. In the course of my determined search, I found an affordable product that I completely swear by. It is none other than Cetaphil.

Cetaphil offers a broad selection of skin care products for babies and adults. Thus, you choose the right product to suit your skin type (e.g., Oily Skin Cleanser for oily skin). Receive a Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser by answering a quick online form.

Now, let us move on to your baby’s regimen. Cetaphil baby is specially formulated for your beloved’s delicate skin. These products are dermatologically tested to help your child maintain a smooth skin and a healthy hair. Receive a Cetaphil Baby Skincare by answering a quick online form.

5 Budget-Friendly Tips For A Starbucks Addict

It is time for a reality check!

There is a huge difference between being late due to family emergencies and being late because you were queuing at Starbucks. Your constant trips to your “coffee haven” can drain your wallet. So, how do you keep your thirst for the daily coffee grind? With clever planning, of course! Try these tried-and-tested hacks to satisfy your coffee addiction:

#1: SHARING IS CARING

While I was chatting away with a friend of mine, our conversation drifted to her pleasant date. She and her mom shared a Venti cup after countless hours of shopping. You see, splitting a Venti cup is cheaper than purchasing two Tall or two Grande cups. Let us take the “Frappuccino” as an example. A Venti frap costs about S$7.60 while, a Tall frap costs about S$6. Splitting the bill with a friend can help you save up to S$2.20 each! Isn’t that what friendship is for?

Image Credits: pixabay.com

If you are planning to kill time in Starbucks, it is better to opt for the largest size available. Situations such as working on a school project with your classmate or finishing a business proposal call for this strategy!

#2: REAP THE REWARDS

One of the quickest ways to enjoy discounts and freebies is by joining the Starbucks Rewards Program. Upon entering, you will be eligible earn a star for every dollar spent. These stars equate to specific benefits such as a free slice of cake or a free drink. To get started, you must acquire a gift card. Register it thru the Starbucks website or thru the mobile app.

Use the app to stay updated with the latest promotions. What I like most about this loyalty program is the value given to one’s birthday month (i.e., by giving a free slice of cake, a free drink, or a free drink upgrade). Furthermore, you can get a personalized gold card. It is an ultimate Starbucks addict collectible, if you ask me!

#3: BRING A CONTAINER

An easy way to save at least 50 cents on your next order is by bringing your own container! Take out your favorite mug, tumbler, or water bottle from the shelf. Then, confidently offer your own container to the Starbucks barista.

Getting S$0.50 off your bills may seem minuscule at the moment but, these savings add up. Furthermore, you are helping save the environment by conserving the resources.

#4: ASK FOR TEA

I am not a heavy caffeine drinker. This is why I prefer drinking tea over coffee. Have you ever considered exchanging tea with a friend? Purchase two different tea bags and ask for hot water. In most cases, you may refill a cup for at least three times to savor its flavor. Do not worry about asking the staff for a refill as it is free!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

For tea connoisseurs, it is best to avoid steeping your tea twice. Stick to your drink preference instead of wasting money.

#5: MAKE YOUR OWN

Whether you want to believe it or not, you can make your own iced latte while saving money in the process. Order a triple espresso over ice and head over to the condiment bar. Fill up the rest of your cup with the complimentary milk. Voila! You just made your own iced latte!

Lastly, you can make your own Chai Tea Latte. Instead of spending S$5.70 for a Tall-sized Chai Tea Latte, you may ask for a hot Chai Tea (about S$4.20 for a Tall cup). Fill half of the cup with steamed milk. Not only will this recipe save you a dollar but, it will also contain lesser calories than the Chai Tea Latte.

Sources: 1 & 2

How To Deal With A Stingy Boss

Frugality is an admirable trait, in most cases. Frugal people are typically prepared to tackle the bumps ahead. They are also able to cut down their environmental wastes. However, giving a reaction is essential if the frugality of your boss pulls down your productivity and lowers your workplace morale.

Keep these things in mind before approaching your boss:

WHEN DISCUSSING ABOUT MONEY

As most of the things in life, timing is everything. Choose the appropriate time and place to approach your boss. For instance, you must not discuss about the loss of a major account after your boss got into a car accident. It is not appropriate to discuss serious matter over a phone call either. Remember to equip yourself with respectfulness when discussing money matters.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Be polite when asking your boss for what you need or want. Be prepared to graciously accept whatever his or her answer is. Do not whine!

WHEN RUMORS CIRCULATE

It goes without saying that the portability of social media influenced how gossips can circulate on a wider scale. With rumor mills running on hyper-drive, people rarely invest their time into validating each one.

Say that there is a rumor about how your supervisor’s errors plummeted the sales of your company. Without adequate research and lack of communication, you can easily make negative assumptions. This is why learning the full story is important.

WHEN ASKING FOR GROWTH

Loyalty is a two-way street. There is a fine line between sacrificing for a company that you love and recognizing that you are taken advantaged of. If you are offering your continued loyalty to an employer for over 5 years then, you deserve to be compensated.

When a cheap boss fails to recognize your value, it can stroke a sizzling fire of discontent.

WHEN YOU FEEL UNDERPAID

If it seems as though your employer is exhausting you in unnecessary proportions then, you may approach him or her for a pay raise (or a better schedule at the very least). You do not need to let your emotions get in the way! You will only sound conceited and demanding. Instead, start the conversation on a positive note. Praise how well the company is doing in the past quarter or the recent months. Afterwards, you may ask how this affects the employees.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

The next step is to do your research. Be prepared to show your employer how your salary stacks up in comparison with people with similar jobs. You are more valuable than you think; otherwise, they would have fired you a long time ago!

Sources: 1 & 2

8 Money-Saving Hacks For Families In Singapore

#1: OPT FOR PRE-LOVED GOODS

Save money while contributing to a sustainable environment by exploring the thrift stores and second-hand markets in the country. From baby clothes to infant accessories, dig deeper to each pile to score some great finds.

#2: REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE

Reduce your waste by reusing empty containers or recycling products before throwing each one away. Maximize the use of your sandwich bags, plastic containers, disposable utensils, and water bottles.

#3: MAKE YOUR OWN CARDS

With the number of birthdays and holidays in Singapore, your expense for greeting cards will add up. Instead of purchasing a S$5 greeting card from a nearby bookstore, you can have your children create one for you. Children love to use their artistic skills through crafts and illustrations. Let their creativity shine while giving your wallet an extra boost.

#4: SHARE A RIDE

It goes without saying that owning and maintaining a vehicle in Singapore is a costly task. This is where carpooling and GrabShare come in. Save money on ERP tolls, parking fees, and petrol by encouraging a friend to share a ride.

#5: GET RID OF THE CABLE

If you cannot keep up with the television bills then, you may want to enjoy video streaming services instead. Netflix Singapore and Toggle.sg offers a wide array of series and movies. Choose an economic option that will best suit your needs.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

#6: SHOP WISELY

Grocery shopping is tempting for anyone. This is why many people end up buying more than what they intended. Please avoid shopping when you are angry or tired. Furthermore, you must not shop without a list in mind. The list will help you to prioritize your needs over your wants.

#7: WAIT FOR TEN

Shopping for every little item as soon as it runs out is a recipe for disaster! Wait until you need at least 10 items before heading to the store. You may also apply this strategy when shopping online.

#8: CONSIDER FAMILY MEMBERSHIPS

Spending quality time with your family is important. Who does not want to enjoy a pleasant day outside the house? By singing up to family memberships, you can take advantage of various group deals. These memberships are available at National Gallery of Singapore, Jurong Bird Park, Universal Studios, and so much more.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Sources: 1, 2, 3, & 4

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