Anna Agoncillo, Author at MoneyDigest.sg

6 Awesome Storage Hacks To Extend Your Food’s Lives

You walk inside the grocery with your list at hand but after being tempted with the fragrant herbs, fresh bread, tantalizing sweets, and healthy greens…you walked out with more food than you expected!

To get most of your money and avoid wastage, how can you finish all these food before it spoils?

Not everyone found the answer to this question. In fact, each person in Singapore was responsible for about 130 kg of food wastage last 2011.

But the good news is that, this awesome list will bring you 6 storage hacks to increase the longevity of some of your beloved food.

1. CEREAL, OATS, AND PASTA

Keep your dry foods hard by not letting air to seep inside its containers. Use air locked containers to store dry food such as cereal, oats, and pasta instead of keeping them in their original packaging (boxes or plastic bags). Decorate and label the containers as you wish.

2. PEANUT BUTTER

The sweetened goodness of a peanut butter used for sesame balls, spring rolls, or plain bread can make the meal delicious. The trick to make your jar of peanut butter last longer is to flip it upside down with the cap sealed tight. This will allow the oil near the lid to move through the rest of your jar evenly. Also, it will make your peanut butter creamier.

3. SOY SAUCE

Soy sauce is a commonly used in Asian countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Philippines, and Taiwan. Generally, soy sauce does not need to be kept chilled but putting it inside the refrigerator will help the flavor to remain at its prime quality longer.

4. AVOCADO

Instead of storing your avocado in a basket, store it inside your fridge to avoid over-ripening. And as the day of consumption draws near, pull the avocado outside the fridge. Then, let it finish its ripening process inside a paper bag.

5. ASPARAGUS AND SCALLIONS

Treat your asparagus and scallions like how you would treat your freshly cut flowers. Fill up a vase or a jar with about two inches of water and regularly trim these vegetables. Keep these veggies there until you are ready to cook them.

6. HONEY

I for one love the taste of the honey lemon drink. But I noticed something, leaving it in the fridge leads it to crystallize. This is unnecessary because enzymes in the bees’ stomach create by-products that fight bacteria, honey can be preserved for a lifetime.

So revive your honey by placing the contents in a frying pan with simmering water. Stir it until the crystals dissolve.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

May these 6 tricks come in handy soon! 🙂

Sources: 1 ,2,3,& 4

Creating A Budget Is Like Learning How To Ride A Bike

Creating a budget for the first time is like learning how to ride a bicycle. At first you were scared to mount up those two-wheelers like how scared you were to conquer those mountain of debts. Even though you know these are healthy for you and your finances, you just cannot hop around and go!

That fear of yours consumed you. You never learned how to ride a bike gracefully. You never learned how to implement a budget efficiently.

Don’t you think it is the right time to change? For a brighter future ahead, I think it is!

Let me carefully take you to step 1…

Step 1: LOOK FOR A SAFE PLACE TO PRACTICE

When you are riding a bike for the first few times, it is better to find a place that will cushion your potential falls. Find a grassy field with short grasses so that it does not drag the wheels too much.

Likewise, you must find safe place to practice budgeting. That safe place is inside your head! Visualize your financial goals and examine how you are going to achieve them. Make it feasible and smart so you would not have too much unrealistic expectation. Then, list down your short-term and long-term financial goals.

Step 2: ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE ALL THE NECESSARY RESOURCES

After finding a “safe” place, the next things you have to gather are all the needed materials and information. For beginners in biking, consider strapping a helmet and kneepads. Tuck in your shoelaces while you are it. And avoid long pants, long skirts, and heavy clothing because the fabric can get caught in the gears or tires.

For beginners in budgeting, consider tracking your spending history (for the last two month). Gather all the past receipts, credit card statement, utilities bill, and bank statements. Estimate how much you make and spend each month.

Step 3: PRACTICE AND JUST DO IT

In order for you to practice riding or budgeting, you must push yourself to just do it. Mount the bike and get the feel of how it leans and steers. Notice how your body leans when you are going intro a curve. Instead of just using your hands to brave the curve, try letting your body turn and the bike will follow.

This will help you learn an important biking skill – balancing.

Now that you know your income and expenses per month, it is time to make a plan. Categorize your spending into 2-3 main categories namely: needs, savings, and wants. Learnvest suggests allocating 50% of your budget to your basic needs such as rent, food, transportation, and utilities. Secondly, 20% of your budget will go to your savings such as emergency fund. The last 30% of your budget will go to your wants such as mobile phone plans, gym memberships, and vacations.

This will help you learn an important budgeting skill – organizing.

Step 4: GET READY TO RIDE AND SAVE

From finding your safe place to pushing yourself to do it, the final step to take is to face your fears.

Ride that shiny bicycle! Follow that well-devised budgeting plan!

Raise the seat of your bike but keep it low enough so that you can touch the ground with your toes. Balance and steer along the flat surface. Glide along the gentle slopes. Allow yourself to go naturally with the flow of the road.

On the other hand, you must follow your budgeting plan that you devised on spreadsheet file or budgeting software. Track your spending and eliminate at least two unnecessary expenses every month. By doing so, you are keeping things under control.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Over the course of the month, you will encounter slopes and obstacles but you have to persevere on. It will all be worth it in the end!

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

Delicious And Affordable Places For Snacks in Singapore

One of my favorite things to do when I am bored is snacking! Who does not love indulging on small amounts of that sweet slice of cake or that salty pack of potato chips? Besides these classics, there are other budget-friendly snacks that are to die for!

Inexpensive does not always come with bad taste if you know the right places to look. That being said, here are 4 delicious yet affordable places to satisfy your hunger for quick bites…

1. TAI-PARFAIT

In 2014, a Japanese dessert shop called Tai-Parfait graced Singapore at the Bugis Junction. Brought by Dining Innovation Singapore, Tai-Parfait boasts its Taiyaki – a Japanese original fish-shaped pancake filled with sweet red bean paste. What’s more? You can also put ice cream, fruits, and other toppings on your dessert.

For example, you may try the Matcha Azuki Tai-Parfait for S$5.50. It is a chocolate-filled Taiyaki topped with Matcha cream, Green Tea ice cream, and Azuki. Sounds delicious, doesn’t it?

Image Credits: facebook.com/TaiParfait

Go ahead and get your very own Tai-Parfait desserts at their 3 outlets.

2. SHIHLIN TAIWAN STREET SNACKS

I have to be honest! My sisters and I consider XXL Crispy Chicken as one of our favorite snacks. Its crispy breadcrumbs exterior mixed with chili powder and juicy chicken cuts dance gracefully with our taste buds.

If you were going to ask me where to get it, I would answer Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks right away. This snack is sold for about S$4.20.

Image Credits: facebook.com/shihlinsnacks

Try it at one of their 4 outlets. Trust me, you would not regret it!

3. OLD CHANG KEE

The brand name speaks for itself. Old Chang Kee has been serving us with their signature curry puffs for over 50 years!

A curry puff is a fried pastry made with curry chicken, eggs, and soft potatoes. You cannot go wrong with Old Chang Kee’s consistency in preparing crispy and zesty curry puffs that are filled with herbs and spices. These are sold for only S$1.40 each.

With a bunch of outlets nationwide, you are sure to find one that is nearby.

4. WHAT THE FRIES!

Say you are out with your friends and you want to get a snack, what better food to share than a bowl of flavored fries? What The Fries! sells creatively delicious flavors such as Nacho Cheese, Chili Crab, Herb Mayo, Bolognese, and Wasabi.

Made with thick-cut potatoes and a sizable sauce, this hot snack is a great way to satisfy your tummy. Get a single serving for S$3.90 or a double serving for S$4.90. If that is not enough, you can try their golden nuggets or curly fries for S$4.90.

Image Credits: facebook.com/WhatTheFries

Location: 2 Jurong East Central 1, J Cube Building, #B1-K09 Singapore 609731

Sources: 1 & 2

Smart, Simple, and Swift Ways To Save Money Now

Would you rather spend your six minutes to check the latest gossip on Facebook, to stalk the recent celebrity updates on Instagram, or to save a decent amount of money?

The last choice proves to be healthy not only to your finances but also to your life in general.

So start allocating at least 6 minutes of every day to do 1 of these money-saving steps:

1. UNPLUG THE TELEVISION

Did you know that the electricity cost for households is 20.35 cents per kWh? Thus, the monthly cost of a 40″ LCD television (TV) running for 6 hours daily is about S$7.69.

In reality, you cannot maintain the energy consumption of the television constant due to social events. There may be days when you alone time with yourself the remote and other days when you want to go out with friends. Also, free previews during holidays can make you want to use the cable TV even more.

To keep the tariff into a minimum, it is important to switch off and unplug your TV when no one is watching. Instead of leaving the TV on as a background noise, consider your hand phone as a radio. This small daily acts can save you a whole month’s worth of major electricity.

2. LOOK FOR ONE EXPENSE TO ELIMINATE

Spend your 6 minutes by examining your last month’s utilities bill or last month’s credit card statement. Use your hawk eyes to look for one expense you can reduce or eliminate. Whether it is the unusable Yoga studio membership or the expensive dinners at the restaurants, there is a surefire way to cut and save!

For example:

Say you have different telecom provider for your hand phone, landline, and cable TV. Cut them all and save money by getting a promotional bundle from one provider.

3. ALTER AND FIX YOUR CLOTHING BY YOURSELF

Tailoring or sewing services in Singapore can range from S$5-40 depending on the type of clothing article. Some of the prices are too much if you asked me. You might as well buy a new one. Good thing there is a better and quicker option – altering clothes by yourself.

Instead of tossing away your favorite shirt because of several broken or missing buttons, sew new ones into the fabric one by one. Learning how to sew a button is quick and uncomplicated. The first thing you must do is to choose a suitable button and a matching thread. Then, be guided by this short video:

Aside from sewing buttons, master the basics stitches now by browsing through the free tutorial videos available online or by reading this post.

4. COMPILE THE BEST FINANCIAL RESOURCES ON THE WEB

Make a concise list of the premium financial resources on the Internet that are both free and objective. Upon making the list, subscribe to their email or Facebook notifications so you are constantly reminded of the money-saving tips, great deals, online coupon codes, and other financial news. Rather than using your personal email, it is advisable to make a separate email for this.

This simple step can save you money regularly in 6 minutes or less! Begin the list by including Money Digest and MoneySENSE (the national financial resource made by the government).

Image Credits: facebook.com/MoneyDigest

Sources: 1, 2, 3, & 4

Financial Tips For Quiet And Reserved People

Whether you are known to be the quiet or reserved one, you most likely belong to a special group of people who are known as the INTROVERTS.

A common misconception of introverts is that the dislike socializing. Contrary to the popular belief, introverts are drained by social interaction. Many introverts can socialize easily…they just prefer not to.

In fact, you can be more interpersonally connected and emphatic than others. Use these and your other magnificent qualities to your advantage as you enhance your financial life.

To get started, here are some things you can do:

1. ACTIVELY LISTEN

Introverts, in general, tend to be great at listening. This skill can make you a good investor. Before investing your wealth, you must actively listen to what others have done or will do. Analyze the results of their strategies and actions. Then, make your own strategy based on the successful predecessors.

2. STUDY WHAT YOUR ARE SELLING THOROUGHLY

In order to increase your profits in sales, you must know what you are selling in a deeper level. Study your products and services thoroughly so that you can efficiently aid in the client’s needs. And if someone new approaches you, determine if he or she is a potentially good client. As an introvert you understand that it takes more than a wallet to make the sales flowing.

3. REMAIN CALM

Aside from being great at listening, introverts are usually among the calmest people in the world. This quality can be applied in different financial events, especially the unforeseen ones.

So when an unexpected bill arrives, use your natural calm then, come up with a way to pay it. When the market tumbles down, do not sell it right away because of fear; use your innate calmness to contemplate on the situation. As others panic to the unfortunate monetary events, you make levelheaded decisions.

4. WELCOME THE SOCIAL MEDIA

For an introvert, social media is a brilliant manner to communicate with other people in the safety of their own home. Embracing social media can help you to save cash in many ways such as selling your unused or underused items through Facebook, Instagram, or Carousell. You can also browse free tutorials to learn new skills so you would not have to ask a bunch of people in real life.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

The downside to social media is that it can overwhelm you. This is why it is important to spend a minimum amount of time (e.g., 10 minutes/day) so it does not take over your wonderfully humble life!

Sources: 1 ,2,3,4,5,& 6

Search the site