6 Kinds Of Friends Who Can Positively Influence Your Finances

Thomas Monson once said: “Choose your friends with caution, plan your future with purpose, and frame your life with faith.”

What if you can plan a financial future with a purpose by choosing your friends carefully? Yes! That is possible.

You may not be able to change the personalities of the people around you but you can change the people whom you choose to be around all the time. Filter out toxic financial relationships and know the 6 Kinds Of Friends Who Can Positively Influence Your Finances…

1. OBJECTIVE ADVISOR

A friend who can give objective monetary advice is the one who is unbiased, unemotional, unprejudiced, and fair-minded. This friend can have a hearty chat with you to point out your financial flaws and give you feasible solutions. An objective advice is something all of us need to hear, especially when it comes to financial and spending habits.

2. CHEERLEADER FRIEND

A cheerleader friend does not exactly need pompoms or shout chants. This type of friend is the one who supports and encourages you even if they do not share the same financial situation. After talking to the objective advisor, you can ask this friend to help you keep track of your financial goals. Having a supportive confidant who will boost your self-esteem can be beneficial for your discomforting situation.

3. FRIEND CARRYING SIMILAR BURDEN

Are you feeling hesitant to decline a group trip offer because of the fear that you are the only left out in the group? Not anymore. If you have a friend who carries the same loads or the same financial situation as you then, the both of you can find ways together. You can either cancel the trip or help each other to build a travel fund. This friend will understand and support your monetary decisions.

4. GENEROUS FRIEND

If you have a friend who will lend you money in a heartbeat then, consider yourself very lucky! However, you must not abuse this generous gesture and pay the sum back as soon as possible. Do not turn into a friend who never repays instead, you must take care to not burn any bridges with your generous friend.

5. RESOURCEFUL FRIEND

There was an American series once called “MacGyver” wherein a top agent defeats his enemies by using his vast scientific knowledge in creating weapons out of the things available in the room such as paper clips or duct tapes. Like MacGyver, a resourceful friend maximizes the use of what he or she has. With his or her resources in money and people, this trusted friend could help solve your financial problem. Although, being resourceful is not easy, it takes a combination of handwork, social skills, experience, talent, and luck.

6. FINANCIAL EXPERT

A financial expert may be the best kind of friend to positively influence your finances. With a background in finance, this friend can help you improve your financial accounts or help you cut down your spending.

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

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

If you do not have many financial expert friends right now, fret not. Money Digest has your back. 🙂

Sources:1,2, & 3

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6 Affordable Home Remedies For Common Travel Sickness

According to a survey, 6 out of 10 people fall sick overseas every year. There is a higher susceptibility to common travel sickness such as colds, sunburn, throat infection, constipation, and insect bites.

You do not need to visit the doctor just yet! Be healthy after traveling with these 6 Home Remedies For Common Travel Sickness…

1. COLDS

If you travelled in country at wintertime and came back immediately to sunny Singapore then, you can really catch a cold. The main virus that causes cold is still unknown. This is why the body relies on its own defenses. However, you can effectively ease its symptoms with these remedies:

a. STAY HYDRATED

Drink plenty of water, juices, or warm lemon water with honey to help prevent dehydration and loosen up the congestion. Stay away from alcohol, coffee, or caffeinated sodas as they can worsen dehydration.

b. ADD MOIST IN THE AIR

Add moist in the air by purchasing an air humidifier that retails for as low as S$15.90. This helps loosen the congestion as well. But, remember to change its water daily and clean the machine according to the manufacturer’s manual. Stay away from steams as some can cause burns.

2. SUNBURN

If you overexposed your skin to the sun just to get the perfect holiday selfies then, you can end up with painful sunburn. Until it naturally goes diminishes on its own, ease the discomfort with these remedies:

a. MAGIC POTATO

An aged-old remedy for sunburn relies on the magic of potatoes. Get two washed potatoes, cut them into small chunks, and put them inside the blender or food processor. The potato must reach its liquid form before you can pat the burned areas with it. Then, wait until the potatoes dry up so you can take a cool shower.

b. APPLY COOL COMPRESS

You shall not apply ice a pack of it to the burnt area. Instead, soak a cloth into cool water and apply it to the burnt area for several minutes. Apply this multiple times to help relieve discomfort throughout the day. Strengthen the cool compress by adding soothing ingredients such as baking soda or oatmeal to the water.

3. INSECT BITES

Without consulting your doctor, most insect bites and stings heals naturally. Unless if you feel other symptoms such as fever then, it could be Dengue. Otherwise, relieve the itching, pain, and swelling with these remedies:

a. RUB TEA BAGS

Gently rub damp and cool tea bag over the bites. The natural tannins in the leaves will remove the excess fluid to decrease the swelling and pain felt.

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

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

b. APPLY LEMON JUICE

The natural antioxidants and alpha-hydroxy acids found in lemon juice are good for healing and cleansing the skin. Apply a few lemon juice particles over the mosquito bites with a cotton ball then, let it dry. Afterwards, you must rinse it well. You have to be careful when applying this remedy outside of your house because the oils in citrus fruits can make the skin more susceptible to sunburn.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, & 4

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Best Resources For Retirement Planning In Singapore (These Are Free Too)

In 2014, a survey by DBS bank showed that over 76% of the participants said that their key long-term financial goal is to have sufficient for retirement. Why are these people not ready? Perhaps time and awareness are the factors.

Majority of people think that saving for retirement can wait until you are more stable later on in life. Some may get caught up with their spending patterns and life events such as celebrating weddings and raising children.

There is never a “great” time to start planning for your retirement. But, there are good advantages if you started early. However, if you are starting late today then, you will have to work harder to grow your retirement fund. Moreover, you cannot afford to lose money anymore so; you must avoid investments with higher risks.

After shedding a light into the importance of retirement planning earlier on, here are the best yet free resources for retiring in Singapore (aside from the fantastic Money Digest) :

1. RETIREMENT CALCULATOR BY AVIVA

Aviva is a British multinational insurance company that provides services across 16 countries. Since they have a branch in Singapore, their website features a retirement calculator that tells you how much money you need to live comfortably in your golden years. Also, it takes expected inflation into account. Personally, I found Aviva’s Retirement Calculator as easy and user-friendly but I still want to get more information out of it.

Get it here.

2. CPF RETIREMENT SAVINGS INTERACTIVE CALCULATOR

As I said, I seek more functionality from the above retirement calculator. Which is why I continued my search. In my conquest I found a comprehensive retirement calculator that is validated and created by Central Provident Fund (CPF).

CPF is a social security savings plan that has provided the working Singaporeans with confidence and a sense of security for their retirement years. A part from this, they offer online guides and resources such as the Retirement Savings Interactive Calculator. This calculator allows you to assign values for your current age, desired retirement age, desired retirement income, return of investment, and so on. The results will show the number of years you need to save and the cumulative savings necessary to age gracefully. Furthermore, it provides charts and graphs to enable you to understand the numbers more.

Get it here.

3. VANGUARD RETIREMENT INSIGHTS

A premier international website for retirement information is owned by the Vanguard Group – an American investment company. Vanguard’s retirement resources are divided into three categories namely: saving for retirement, nearing retirement, and living in retirement. They provide tips, guidance, and advice using simple terms that would not require a genius to understand. Additionally, it offers retirement planning tools such as creating a realistic retirement budget.

Browse it here. 

4. HSBC SINGAPORE RETIREMENT PLANNING

Going local, you may browse through the articles by HSBC Singapore. These articles feature detailed information about the future retirees in Singapore, 8 steps to have a confident retirement, and a guide to retirement planning. Also, it includes localized researched statistics, charts, tables, and graphs. But, I cannot deny the fact that it advertises HSBC’s own retirement services too.

Browse it here.

 

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

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

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Things You Should Not Be Spending Too Much On

As all the expenses adult life throws at you outpour, it can be difficult to manage your finances regardless of how much you make. One of the best ways to improve your situation is to trim your daily costs. Figure out what exactly you are paying for by knowing which things you are spending too much on.

1. FOOD

If you have been eating restaurant food almost everyday because you do not cook much then, you really need to cutback on your food expenses. Here are some viable suggestions:

a. If eating out is unavoidable, you must eat smart by making healthier and cheaper choices in just 5 ways.

b. When you are shopping and cooking at home, think about these awesome veggies and fruit hacks that will help you to be healthy and to save more.

c. Just because the food is deemed or claimed as healthy – that does not mean it always is. For example, most diet often has enough protein intakes already but some people still add the protein powder. By doing so, the person is at risk of excess protein, which is actually bad for the health. When your normal eating diet is protein sufficient then, save on expensive medical bills by skipping the protein powder.

2. HANDPHONE INSURANCE

Yes! It is better safe than sorry but some of the Smartphone mishaps can be fixed or even prevented for less. Spare yourself some money and time by subtracting handphone insurance and Smartphone repair to your expenses. Here are some viable suggestions:

a. Instead of paying 3-4 months of handphone insurance because you are scared of water damage, a well-reviewed waterproof case will only cost you S$21.

b. With continued use; your charger may not fit as well into the port as it did before. The simple way to fix it is to use a sharp toothpick to remove the lint and dirt from the port. Clean the rest of your phone by using cotton swab/ cotton buds/ cotton tips with drops of distilled water on it.

c. Overtime, you may experience hearing an inferior sound when you plug the earphones into the “jack” (usually on the upper-right hand corner of the phone). To fix this audio quality, stick a cotton swab into the jack and use it to clear out any dirt.

3. GREETING CARDS

I know everyone would agree that those stores bought greeting cards are too pricey for its materials. A minimum of S$4 per card (i.e., price of a common brand) for every occasion and for every special someone can add to your expenses fast. Do not get me started with the price of famed Hallmark cards!

A frugal alternative is to print free greeting cards that are available online. I personally recommend the free printable cards, invitations, and envelopes from greetingsisland.com.

4. DIAMOND RINGS

Since wedding and engagement are events that happen once in a lifetime, people often rationalize their spending for the diamond rings. Jewelry, in general, is an expensive category in itself. Expensive jewelry plus an emotional event can result to overspending. If you try to spend less, you will feel guilty and cheap. Fortunately, you can negotiate with the prices by knowing the 4 C’s namely carat, clarity, color, and cut.

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

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

Now, you may ask the local jeweler if he or she is willing to change the setting of the ring for a discount or even for free. That will surely lower down the overall amount.

Sources: 1 & 2

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6 Amazingly Affordable Toys That Can Make Your Child Happier And Smarter

I smiled when I saw the definition of the word “toy” at dictionary.com. According to it, toys are supposed to serve as a diversion rather than practicality. It is also an object that typically represents something familiar for children or others to play with. As a children’s teacher I can vouch for that meaning. Sometimes, we use toys to divert the kids’ attention while we prepare for the class. I am sure some moms use toys as a distraction for them to do chores too!

If toys are so helpful and pervasive, are there cheaper alternatives? Fortunately, there are. You can use your imagination and creativity to make handmade toys. Not only can you save more money but you can also increase the toys’ safety.

Two types of toys are mainly in the market today namely: educational toys and entertaining toys. Let us start with the latter…

FUN TOYS

1. MADE OF MILK CARTON

It is vital for kids to consume more milk in order for their bones to grow stronger. And, after they finished the whole carton, do not throw it just yet. You can transform an empty milk carton into a sailboat that can survive sizable splashes of water.

Full instructions – here.

2. MADE OF SPONGES

Have you ever played Jenga or Tumbling Towers? It is a fun game that you and your little ones can get addicted to. But, a new box can cost over S$19. Save more money while retaining its structure by making block pieces out of sponges.

Image Credits: facebook.com/pages/Toddler-Approved/179029702145360?fref=photo

Image Credits: facebook.com/pages/Toddler-Approved/179029702145360?fref=photo

Alternatively, you can practice making patterns or letters out of it. Full instructions – here.

3. MADE OF SHOEBOX

Have you saved up old newspapers, shoeboxes, and rubber bands? Well, you can turn those things into an old-fashioned toy guitar. Browse here for full instructions.

SMART TOYS

1. IMPROVE THE CHILD’S TOUCHING SENSATIONS

Various childcare and preschool centers include sensory tables to improve the fine motor skills and touching sensations of the young minds. Make your own by taking a simple wooden base out of a plastic bin. Then, you can fill it with colorful beads, dried beans, handful of rice, and so much more. This set toy will keep your child occupied for hours!

Full instructions – here.

2. IMPROVE THE CHILD’S VISUO-SPATIAL AND PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS

Say the weather is not friendly enough to go to the nearby playground, what you can do is to round-up your kids, take a large sheet of paper, and several shaped blocks. Then, challenge them into a giant block puzzle. Let them figure it out on their own. Full instructions – here.

3. IMPROVE THE CHILD’S PHONETICS

A toy made out of inexpensive materials can go a long way in terms of improving your child’s language abilities. Repeat the letters and add sounds as you read along the alphabet board (full instructions – here).

Image Credits: nicandkate09.blogspot.com

Image Credits: nicandkate09.blogspot.com

Also, you can incorporate magnetic letters for your child to match it with the alphabet board accordingly. This activity is both educational and enjoyable! 🙂

Reminder: Although the ingredients and materials used are safe, it is still essential to look after your child from time to time to avoid any unforeseen events.

Sources: 1 2

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