Anna Agoncillo, Author at MoneyDigest.sg

Save Cash By Reusing These Vintage Things

Have you heard of the saying: “out with the old and in with the new”? If you have and you strongly believe in it then, let me change your mind with these vintage or old things that you can still reuse:

1. CLOTHES

You can recycle your gorgeously patterned old clothes by sewing it into pillowcases or teapot covers. On the other hand, you can accept mint condition hand-me-downs from family and friends especially those who have baby clothes or infant toys. Do not be too picky. These said items are not utilized a lot since babies grow significantly every day anyway.

2. PIECES OF FURNITURE

There are plenty of used pieces of furniture that you can greatly score online. Try searching for drawers, tables, chairs, and closets at singapore.craigslist.com.sg or carousell.com.

Alternatively, do not be shy to ask your friends or neighbors if they are giving away any pre-owned furniture. Be careful or do avoid the articles with fabric (e.g., couch) to prevent getting bed bugs into your home.

3. DESIGNER BAGS

Pre-loved bags that long-lived across time can be found in online shops too! With prices that are up to 80% lower than the retail price, how can you resist an online bargain deal? Start with the trusted retail websites such as madammilan.com.sg and reebonz.com.sg.

What is special about these vintage bags is that they give a one-of-a-kind twist in the modern fashion.

4. CARRIER BAGS

Give your carrier bags a chance by recycling them! Plastic bags can be reused at home as the bin bags around the flat while paper bags make as a simple wrapping paper.

5. BOOKS AND MAGAZINES

Save more money by purchasing secondhand books or magazines that still look practically new. Start with purchasing good condition used books at Evernew Bookstore, Bras Basah Complex. Evernew Bookstore has a full collection of non-fiction books, fiction books, textbooks, children’s books, and so much more.

Image Credits: Sharon & Nikki McCutcheon via Flickr with Creative Commons License

Another option of browsing books and magazines would not cost you a thing! Go to your neighborhood public library and flip through a nice book or two.

5 Simple Ways To Renovate Your Tiny Flat Without Spending Too Much

It is no secret that most of the flats available in Singapore are relatively small. It is done so as to expand the area available in our wonderful country. Aside from condominiums, HDB flats, ranging from 45 to 110 square meters, are the popular choice of the masses.

Whether you recently got off your parent’s estate or you relocated in the city center, the limited space of a flat can pose different challenges ahead. To live comfortably in it, here is the “5 Simple Ways To Renovate Your Tiny Flat Without Spending Too Much”:

1. SHOP AT IKEA

This Swedish super brand is a hub for home decorating while on a budget. IKEA’s two Singapore stores sell multiple organizational items and furniture that are perfect for small living spaces. For example, you may purchase the BRIMNES slim mirror with 4 storage squares for S$99 or the BYGEL removable dish drainer for only S$6.90.

What’s more? You can get free #homeinspo from their in-store displays or website catalogs.

2. AFFIX YOUR APPLIANCES TO THE WALL

Instead of getting huge drawers for the flat screen television or microwave oven, mount or affix them on the wall. This inexpensive trick is a surefire space saver for a small-scale kitchen or living room.

3. ADD MIRRORS

Adding mirrors to a modest room can make it appear bigger. Wide and oversized mirrors can fool the eyes by reflecting more light and by brightening the room. Save money by mounting two 70×70 cm IKEA STAVE mirrors costing to S$29.90 each.

4. OPT FOR SOFA BEDS

Buying a mattress, a headboard, and a bed frame can be costly and space consuming. Opt for a sofa bed instead. For about S$100, you can purchase a multi-purpose coach that expands into a bed for yourself or your guests.

5. NO-COST VISUAL DISTRACTIONS

You can easily maximize your space for free! All you have to do is to create visual distractions. Keep the room bright by opening the curtains. Then, make room for more by fixing your furniture diagonally.

Image Credits: Jim Cramer via Flickr with Creative Commons License (Attribution-NoDerivs)

Sources:1 & 2

26 Smartest Companies: Leading In Innovation, Technology, And Success Worldwide

Some say that there is nothing left to be invented as humanity reached its outpouring potential. But various technology companies begged to disprove that statement! This is why MIT Technology Review did an extensive research of global companies that are smart in terms of their innovative technology and business model. Said business model must be both practical and ambitious.

From renewable energy products to saving lives of people with lung cancer and landing unmanned rockets, these are the World’s 26 Smartest Companies to date:

26. Bristol-Myers Squibb

Bristol-Myers Squibb, from New York City, took a leap at immunotherapy by selling a drug called Opdivo. Opdivo helps save lives of people who are suffering from lung and skin cancer.

25. Universal Robots

From Denmark, Universal Robots sell user-friendly and relatively affordable robots.

24. Freescale Semiconductor

Its pioneering technology is planned to be used in cars’ advanced computer vision systems.

23. Sakti3

Sakti3, from Michigan, makes solid-state batteries that store more energy than lithium-ion batteries.

22. SpaceX

SpaceX, progressing in landing and reusing unmanned rockets, had completed 9 missions in the last year.

21. Baidu

All the way from China, Baidu is an Internet company that reached undeniable results in speech and facial recognition.

20. Aquion Energy

Interestingly, Aquion Energy’s novel batteries can store solar energy and surplus wind.

19. Amgen

California’s Amgen has an Icelandic gene database that helps it decide which drug to develop.

18. IDE Technologies

IDE Technologies of Kadima, Israel offers more inexpensive water desalination.

17. Voxel8

After creating the world’s first 3-D electronics printer, Voxel8 is promising to make new materials such as conductive ink.

16. Apple

This list would not be complete without the creative minds of Apple. Its Apple Pay technology and new smart watch had its consumers in awe.

15. Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences from California had over US$3.6 billion in the first three months of sales for curing most cases of Hepatitis C.

14. AliveCor

AliveCor created a heart monitor that connects to a Smartphone, which automatically detects irregular heartbeats.

13. Amazon

With about US$89 billion sales in 2014, Amazon use robots to make its facilities more productive.

Image Credits: Carlos Luna via Flickr with Creative Commons License

12. Google

Another company from California, Google’s loon balloons are designed to widen the access of Internet.

11. OvaScience

OvaScience’s stem-cell treatment help conceived its first baby.

10. Netflix

A crowd favorite, Netflix had created original content and distribution deals with cable companies.

9. SolarCity

SolarCity is manufacturer of solar panels that served about 177,000 United States citizens.

8. Juno Therapeutics

Seattle’s Juno Therapeutics had raised US$304 million to test cancer treatments using one’s immune cells.

7. Tencent

Tencent from Shenzhen, China is China’s most-used Internet service portal.

6. SunEdison

SunEdison had been expanding its renewable energy products and building technology to provide electricity to several developing countries.

5. Counsyl

Its relatively cheap DNA tests aids in parental planning. Furthermore, they are now selling cancer screens.

4. Alibaba

A household name, Alibaba is considered as the world’s largest online retailer. More than half of its regular transactions are made through its Alipay digital wallet.

3. Illumina

Another biomedical company, Illumina developed quick DNA-reading machines for hospitals and cancer clinics.

2. Xiaomi

Xiaomi from China is one of the fast-growing Smartphone retailers that are obviously more affordable than Apple products. Its most recent valuation is about US$45 billion.

1. Tesla Motors

Top on the list is the Tesla Motors from California. Its adventurous ideas include electrical cars and battery technologies that are applicable for cars, homes, and commercial infrastructures.

Image Credits: Maurizio Pesce via Flickr with Creative Commons License

Will a Singaporean company emerge to the top of the list someday? I certainly hope so. 🙂

Source: 1

How To Keep Employees Happy And Efficient At The Workplace

Beyond costly monetary benefits, you can keep your employees happy and productive at the workplace by knowing the underlying factors that induce motivation. Daniel Pink, the renowned author of “Drive” book, highlighted that the three elements of motivation include purpose, autonomy, and mastery.

Applying these elements realistically, here are the three key ways to keep your employees efficient and happy:

1. HAVE A SOCIAL PURPOSE

Having a meaningful cause larger than oneself drives the deepest motivation. Generation Y employees, in particular, want to feel that their work is making a difference. This is why they are drawn to work or patronize products of TOMS. TOMS is company that equates their sales into helping people in developing countries. For example, whenever they sell a pair of shoes, a new pair of shoes will be given to a needy child.

Even if your company does not include a direct social mission in the system, you must do your best to practice altruism. Have the social responsibility to donate to charity whenever possible.

2. MAKE ROOM FOR EMPLOYEE AUTONOMY

I am sure that no one enjoys being micromanaged especially in a small business! Employees work happiest and most efficient when they have personal control over the situation as they can freely express their creativity and solve the problems by themselves. When employees feel that they are able to make tangible impact to the company through regular brainstorming, they are more likely to give their all for the company.

3. GIVE EDUCATION AND FEEDBACK

Mastery is formed when there is a comprehensive knowledge or skill built in the company. Employers can hone mastery by encouraging further training or education as well as conducting regular performance feedback. A sense of progress in oneself contributes to the inner workplace motivation. Allow your employees to grow by empowering a new responsibility. Everyone wants to feel that they are getting better at things.

Image Credits: AJC ajcann.wordpress.com via Flickr With Creative Commons License Attribution-ShareAlike

Sources: 1 & 2

4 Incredibly Premium Websites For Free Music Downloads

Music is something that transcends over the generations. And, if you were a passionate music listener, you would want to download songs legally to support the artists, labels, and distributors.Thankfully, the Internet has made it possible by hosting premium websites that allow you to legally stream and download songs.

Although most of the no-cost songs are by independent or rising musicians that does not mean that it sounds bad! With a myriad of genres and music collections, I am sure that you will find a song that hits your taste.

1. MP3.COM

Kicking it off with the veteran on the list, MP3.com was first established on 1997. It is one of the most popular websites that offer free music sharing services, especially for the independent artists who want to share their works. With years of experience, it has a good collection of songs from pop, jazz, metal, country, and so much more.

2. AMAZON.COM

An established household name, Amazon proves its efficiency by offering a comprehensive list of over 46,000 songs. To make your searching experience easier, Amazon has classified the free tunes by genres, by artists, and by ratings. Simply navigate your mouse here to get started.

3. PUREVOLUME.COM

Since 2003, PureVolume is dedicated to bring new music from several rising artists. Acting as a networking platform, PureVolume allows both artists and listeners to create music profiles and discuss musical tastes. All the song downloads are legal and majority of it is free but there are some premium songs that users can buy.

4. JAMENDO.COM

Over 400,000 songs from more than 40,000 artists awaits you at Jamendo. With that vast amount of collection, it has been one of the biggest repositories of free music to date. You do not have to waste loads of time to find music that pleases your ears because you can quickly browse through by popularity, genre, most played, or most downloaded. The greatest thing about Jamendo is that it allows unlimited downloads of free MP3s and unlimited listening with the in-page music player.

Image Credits: epSos .de via Flickr with Creative Commons License

Sources: 1 & 2

Search the site