Anna Agoncillo, Author at MoneyDigest.sg

How Much To Tip When Traveling In These 10 Countries

Tipping is a practice of gratitude and recognition to those who have provided you with excellent service. In Singapore, they automatically have service charges in restaurants but you can still leave about 5% for great service.

Not all countries welcome tipping. In fact, some parts of China and Japan may be offended when you give them tips. Before leaving your hotel, it is important to research on the country’s tipping practices. Here are 10 countries you can start with…

1. AUSTRALIA

Tipping of 10-15% of your bill is appreciated for waiters and waitresses especially those who are serving you from expensive restaurants. It is customary to tip the hotel bellman at least AU$1 per bag.

2. FRANCE

A service charge of 15% is always included in your restaurant or bar tab. So, typing beyond that is not a must. For taxi drivers, you may tip at least 1 Euro and the hotel bellman should get at least 1 Euro per bag.

3. GERMANY

Like France, a service charge is included but, you may leave at least 5-10% of tip for good service. At least 1 Euro should be left for the hotel’s bellman per bag and the hotel’s maid per day.

4. HONG KONG

Tipping is certainly acceptable in Hong Kong. Offer your bellman at least HK$2-3 per bag.

5. ARGENTINA

You may tip at least 10% in restaurants but, do not tip your taxi drivers. Your bellman should get at least 2 Pesos per bag.

6. SOUTH AFRICA

Tip at least 10% in restaurants and taxis for gratitude. Group tours should receive at least R 10/tour guide while private tours should receive R 50/guide for half-day tours and R 100/guide for whole day tours. Hotel maids should get R 50 per day while the hotel bellman should get about R 5 per bag.

7. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Consider at least 10% of tip for restaurants. Your bellman should get at least 5 Dirhams per bag.

8. UNITED STATES, CANADA, AND MEXICO

It is common to tip the person who assisted you with your baggage in the airport or the hotel with at least US$1 per bag. Bellman should receive about US$1 per bag too. And, the hotel maid should be tipped at least US$2-5 per day.

Image Credits: Tax Credits via Flickr

Since some hospitality workers are paid less, they will truly appreciate a tip. Tipping per day will not only be a gesture of gratitude but it will help you to receive continued shower of good service.

Source: Fodors

How To Land Your Dream Job Without Spending A Dollar

Landing your dream job or any job can be a challenging task. But, it is definitely worth the effort. Throughout the process, you will have to tap into your creative mind and stay motivated. Here are 6 tips that can help you…

1. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS

Job portals or online classified ads such as Jobstreet and Monster have articles that can teach you how to make a professional Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) wherein your qualifications are presented efficiently. For example, it is recommended to have no more than a page for every 10 years of experience.

2. MAKE YOUR C.V. EYE-CATCHING

Your C.V. will stand out from a pile of other candidates if you add a sparkle of creativity. Use Adobe Photoshop for retouching your photos or Prezi.com for making an interactive presentation. As much as possible, make the content specific and concise.

3. MAXIMIZE YOUR ONLINE JOB SEARCH

If job portals have no listings that match your qualifications, then submit your C.V. to the employers’ websites directly. Most websites have “Careers or Jobs” tab on the home page. By doing so, you are actively pursuing new openings.

4. SEEK AND YOU SHALL FIND

Aside from researching for job openings online, go outside and talk to your friends, family, church-mates or fellow spinning classmates…they might just have a position for you. But, you shall never ask a person you just met for a job; ask them for career advice and contacts. The more people you share your goals to, the greater your chance of scoring a lead.

5. RESEARCH

Research the companies that interest you. Find out about their job operation, products, and services. If you are acquainted with some of the employees in the firm then, ask them about the skills that are valued most when hiring and the job opportunities that are available at the moment.

6. WORK YOUR WAY IN

You will never know if you’re suited for the company unless you try it yourself. Even though there are no current full-time positions available, consider internships, freelance, and volunteering opportunities.

Image Credits: Kevin Dooley

This will benefit you because big companies tend to hire within and the experience will fill the gaps in your C.V.

8 Earth Friendly Ways To Save Money On Utility Bills

1. UNPLUG

You do not need a PhD to know that unplugging your cables and electronics when not in use can help you save energy and reduce your bills. Even if you turn the switches off, appliances will continue to use energy if they are plugged in.

Image Credits: Chris Potter via Flickr

2. KEEP IT COOL

Cold running water uses lower amount of energy than heated ones. So, use cold water when washing your clothes and dishes or when doing other tasks.

3. CHOOSE WISELY

If you are buying a new appliance, make sure that it is an energy efficient model. Smaller appliances not only help you save more on space but on bills also. Opt for a relatively small microwave than an oven and smaller lamps than the overhead lights.

4. REFRAIN FROM REPEATEDLY OPENING THE FRIDGE’S DOOR

Ensure that you know what you must get before opening the refrigerator’s door/s. Repeatedly opening and closing the door/s will only cause cold air to escape and for the appliance to work more than it should.

5. PUT DOWN THE BLINDS

During summer and hot days, put down the blinds to prevent extra heat from coming in and prevent your air conditioner from running more on energy. Do the opposite during the cold weather to keep your home naturally warm.

6. PAINT THE ROOF WHITE

In Color Psychology, white symbolizes new beginnings while in Business, it symbolizes efficiency. By merely painting your roof white, findings suggest that it can cause a 40% drop on the energy consumption. It also cools down the whole house.

7. COVER THE POTS

Cover your pots when boiling because if you leave it open, the boiling period will only be longer and therefore requiring more energy.

8. DOUBLE CHECK YOUR BILLS

Image Credits: Phillip Stewart via Flickr

Double-check your billing amount to ensure that you are paying accurately. Do this by checking the reported bill usage and comparing it to your meter.

Use These Brain Techniques To Save More And Spend Less

1. EMPLOY THE “URGENCY TEST” WHILE SHOPPING

When you are thinking twice on purchasing an item, ask yourself if you are willing to try it on the dressing room at that very moment. If you are not really excited to wear it then, do not bother to buy it.

2. AVOID “GIVING UP”, USE “SAVORING” INSTEAD

You will only feel deprived if your perspective is to give up something in order to save more. So, change your perspective and start “savoring” the moments that you indulge on lavish things. The goal is to change your frequency of indulgence and not to hinder you from enjoying life’s goodness.

3. WHEN YOU ARE NOT EARNING, YOU ARE SPENDING

Keep in mind that when you are not earning, you are just losing the money you earned. If there are opportunities to work more and your body feels okay then, take on the challenge. Sometimes, the feeling of losing money is more painful than missing it.

4. MAKE TIME A CURRENCY

To get a clearer perspective, break down the monetary value of things by the hour. For example, if you make S$10 an hour and a bowl of bean curd is S$2 then that is 12 minutes of your work and life. This technique will help a lot to cut down your impulse purchases.

5. BE MOTIVATED WITH A SLOGAN

If you are struggling to be frugal, make a tangible slogan or a poster that you can hang on to. For example, you can use this slogan to help you think critically when purchasing: “Use it up, Wear it out, Make it happen, or Do without it”.

6. UTILIZE THE “GAS OR BREAK METHOD”

Compare your financial progress to driving. In every decision you can either get closer to where you want to be (gas) or slow down (brakes).

Image Credits: loveheels via Flickr

So, the next time you have to make a monetary decision then ask yourself this: “Am I stepping on the gas or the brake? Is it worth it?”

Real Ways To Make Money Online

Some online businesses and websites are prevalent of scams or are filled with annoying ads that give a bad impression. But, do not let that stop you. The Internet is full of realistic opportunities to make a couple of quick cash. All you have to do is be creative and patient in finding credible ones. Here are 6 ideas you can start with…

1. 99 DESIGNS

Originally from Australia, 99 Designs became one of the world’s largest online graphic design marketplaces. They have been connecting designers to customers who are in need of quality yet affordable designs. If you have always been good and passionate at Photoshop or any graphic design tools then 99 Designs is perfect for your skills. Simply enter t-shirt, logo, website, and print design contests to win and earn money.

2. EBAY OR CAROUSELL

Explore through your pile of books, clothes, and other items. Look for anything of value and good condition that you do not want or need anymore. Then, sell it on eBay or Carousell. eBay is a website that serves as a marketplace for people worldwide while Carousell is pretty much a Smartphone version of eBay. You can also sell your bargain items to your friends and family by posting an ad on Facebook.

3. CONTENT-BASED SITES

Content websites are always in the lookout for quality and sensible content. Know your expertise then get paid for each article at eHow or Constant-Content.

4. AMAZON MECHANICAL TURK

Amazon Mechanical Turk is a market place for workers, businesses, and developers. It gives you an opportunity to work from home and to hold your own working hours. Just find and complete simple tasks such as testing sites or answering surveys, to make money.

5. MICROWORKERS

Crowd source your Micro Jobs to more than 600,000 Workers worldwide through Microworkers. Make money by completing small tasks online such as signing up for websites, searching articles, or linking url to websites.

Image Credits: Tax Credits via Flickr

These are such easy ways to make few bucks online! Try ’em now.

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