Anna Agoncillo, Author at MoneyDigest.sg

Ring, Romance, & Price Tag: Inside Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce’s Engagement

Travis Kelce orchestrated nothing short of a modern fairytale for his proposal to Taylor Swift.

“Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” Swift wrote in the caption of her engagement photos, signaling a moment that instantly captivated fans worldwide.

The centerpiece of the proposal is a ring Kelce designed in collaboration with Kindred Lubeck of Artifex Fine Jewelry. The dazzling stone is an old mine brilliant cut diamond, a style dating back centuries that Swift proudly displays in her announcement photos. Known for its squarish shape and distinctive character, the old mine cut features a smaller table, larger culet, and higher crown. According to the Gemological Institute of America, the style was common from the early 1700s through the late 1800s and is often sought after for its antique and vintage qualities. The choice perfectly aligns with Swift’s well-known affinity for timeless, nostalgic aesthetics.

Image Credits: Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce (instagram.com)

New York jewelry influencer Julia Hackman Chafé estimates the value of the ring to fall between US$250,000 (approximately S$322,000) and US$500,000 (approximately S$642,000), though the final figure remains undisclosed.

The proposal setting was equally breathtaking, designed as a lush garden dreamscape. It featured 800 pounds of greenery, 1,200 roses, and more than 1,000 additional blooms. At its center stood a 20-foot domed arboretum draped in southern smilax vines, moss, and layered with garden roses, anemones, lilies, and soft candlelight. Industry experts suggest the elaborate display could have cost as much as US$38,000 (approximately S$49,000) to create.

For fans, the engagement is a new chapter in a story that began publicly in September 2023, when Swift made a surprise appearance at a Kansas City Chiefs game. She was seen cheering from Kelce’s suite alongside his mother, Donna, and celebrated as he scored a touchdown. The two left the stadium together, sparking rumors that quickly evolved into one of the most followed celebrity relationships of the year.

Their bond has since grown in full public view. Earlier this month, Swift appeared on Kelce’s New Heights podcast with his brother Jason. The episode shattered a Guinness World Record by reaching 1.3 million concurrent views on YouTube. It was during this conversation that Swift not only announced her twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, but also offered rare glimpses into her relationship with Kelce, including hints that they now share a home.

Image Credits: facebook.com/TaylorSwift

Together, Swift and Kelce have transformed their romance into a cultural moment, blending music and sports into a love story that resonates far beyond the stage and the field.

Sources: 1 & 2

How to Keep Your Friendships in Your 30s

No one really prepares you for how drastically your social life changes once you hit your 30s. I realized this at 31, when I looked back at how different my friendships felt compared to just a few years ago. In my 20s, life revolved around dinners with friends, weekend getaways, and late nights in the malls. But slowly, the circle began to shift. Some friends got married (myself included), others moved away, and many became consumed by work or family. A few had children, and their lives naturally settled into a different rhythm.

At first, it was a transition. How could people I had shared so much of my life with suddenly become unavailable? But as I sat with it, I realized it was not a rejection of our bond. It was simply life unfolding. Priorities shifted, responsibilities grew heavier, and friendships that once had all the time in the world had to fight for space alongside careers, families, and personal well-being.

The truth is, friendship in your 30s requires a recalibration. You cannot expect the same frequency of meetups or the same spontaneity you had when you were younger. What you can cultivate instead is quality. Think moments of connection that feel present and intentional. A long brunch every few months, a heartfelt conversation over kopi after work, or even a voice note that says, “I’m thinking of you.” These smaller, thoughtful gestures often mean more than constant chatter.

I also discovered that no single friend can meet every need. In my 20s, I leaned heavily on a few close friendships for everything from laughter to advice as well as from nights out to deep talks. But in my 30s, I learned to diversify. I think of it as building a personal board of directors for my social life. Some friends are the ones I call for career advice. Others are great for a badminton match on the weekend. A few are there for long conversations about family, relationships, or dreams. Spreading this out makes each friendship lighter, healthier, and more sustainable.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Of course, friendships evolve. A friend with children may not be able to join in late-night suppers anymore, but perhaps you can visit their home and spend time with the family. A friend who is between jobs may not be keen on expensive dinners, but you can invite them over for home-cooked meals. Being flexible, patient, and willing to adapt keeps the friendship alive even when lifestyles no longer align perfectly.

I also found that integrating friendships into your lifestyle is key. It is much easier to maintain bonds when they are built into your routines. Joining a regular fitness class, participating in a community group, or attending cultural events provides natural opportunities to see familiar faces and form deeper connections over time. That could mean joining a running club along the Marina Bay stretch, signing up for pottery workshops, or simply becoming a regular at your favorite hawker stall where the conversations eventually go beyond small talk.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

And sometimes, it is about embracing new forms of connection. A short video call, a late-night text, or sending a funny link can keep the thread alive. The medium matters less than the intent. What counts is showing up, even in small ways, and letting your friends know you are still invested in their lives.

Keeping friendships in your 30s takes more effort, but the rewards run deeper. You realize that the people who want to be in your life will make the time, just as you will for them. What once revolved around convenience now rests on choice. And that makes every coffee, every conversation, and every shared moment feel all the more valuable.

POP MART SG This August: Spotlight on Labubu

Singapore’s cultural calendar gets a burst of playful energy as POP MART, the global powerhouse of designer toys, plants its flag at Marina Bay Sands. From August 22 to 24, Pop Toy Show Singapore 2025 (PTS) takes over Sands Expo & Convention Centre, uniting fans, artists, and brands in a spectacle that is part convention, part carnival, and entirely devoted to pop culture.

PTS Singapore 2025

Imagine 20,000 square meters transformed into a toy wonderland. PTS Singapore is not an ordinary expo; it is POP MART’s flagship festival for Southeast Asia. Visitors can expect exclusive product launches, artist meet-and-greet sessions, large-scale installations, and interactive activities designed to blur the boundaries between fandom and art.

Premium ticket holders will receive a Hirono merchandise pack, while all attendees will have access to raffled exclusives, reinforcing POP MART’s ability to combine rarity with spectacle. Beyond the exhibition halls, a 1,300-drone performance at Marina Bay on August 22 and 23 will animate the night sky with iconic POP MART characters, turning the waterfront into a moving canvas of light.

Image Credits: popmart.com

The celebration continues until August 31 with Hirono-inspired installations at Marina Bay Sands Event Square, featuring nostalgic Singaporean playground motifs.

Among the headlining artists are Lang, creator of Hirono; Agee and Yep, the designers behind Hacipupu; Bao, creator of Kubo; and Libby Frame, the imagination behind Peach Riot. Their presence demonstrates POP MART’s global strategy of blending Eastern and Western influences while elevating collectible design into cultural currency.

Image Credits: popmart.com

Tickets available here.

Godiva x Labubu’s Sweet Collab

What is better than art you can collect? Art you can eat. In a collaboration that reflects the mainstreaming of designer toys, Godiva has partnered with POP MART’s mischievous character Labubu for a dessert collection that combines indulgence with whimsy.

Image Credits: godiva.com.sg

The line-up features three limited-edition soft serves and two specialty shakes, each layered with bold toppings such as cookie crumble, strawberry pieces, and playful Labubu decorative keepsakes. Available at Godiva boutiques across Singapore (excluding Changi Airport Terminal 3 and online), the collaboration shows that character licensing now extends beyond toys and apparel to the culinary world.

Latest Labubu Collectible

For collectors who prefer their Labubu in vinyl rather than vanilla, the Labubu Summer Ride Figure launched on August 15. Priced at S$39.90, the 10-centimeter figure captures the cheeky character mid-adventure, breezing through summer on two wheels.

Compact, vibrant, and brimming with personality, this release is another reminder of why POP MART remains one of the most dynamic players in the collectible market.

Image Credits: popmart.com

From limited-run figures to large-scale drone shows and even premium desserts, POP MART continues to redefine what it means to be in the business of play.

Sources: 1,2, 3, & 4

How Small Splurges Sabotage Your Wealth

How do you stop yourself from buying things you don’t really need?

At first glance, a harmless splurge seems insignificant. A new gadget, the latest iPhone release, or another bag charm that costs less than a night out may not feel like much. Yet in reality, these purchases often represent a much bigger loss. You’re losing the wealth you could have built if that money was directed into savings, investments, or assets that appreciate over time.

Impulse buying is rarely about the item itself. It is often emotional. A rough day invites a reward. A good day feels like it deserves a celebration. Sometimes boredom sparks an online shopping scroll, or grief fuels the desire for quick comfort. Retailers understand this psychology well and they engineer marketing strategies to capitalize on it. Limited releases, fear of missing out, and aspirational advertising are carefully designed to convince you that your life will be better if you just own one more thing.

The problem is that these “little luxuries” add up. Think about it this way: that S$35 accessory might not break the bank today, but what if you invested that same amount every month into a market index fund or a high-yield savings instrument? Over the years, compounded returns could turn those bag charms into the down payment of a property or the seed capital for a business.

That is the hidden cost of impulse spending. It is not just the price tag, it is the opportunity cost.

One practical strategy is to pause before buying. Walk away, take a breath, and ask yourself how many hours of your life it took to earn that money. Then consider what the same effort could generate if invested instead of spent. When you reframe a purchase in terms of time and opportunity cost, the urgency to own it often fades.

Avoiding temptation altogether is even more powerful. I no longer go shopping just to look or browse online sales for fun. Shopping without intention is like walking into a casino where the odds are designed to make you lose.

The truth is that marketing encourages us to believe more possessions equal more happiness. When viewed through a financial lens, the equation is very different. Every unnecessary purchase reduces your ability to grow and secure long-term freedom.

You see, wealth is rarely built on how much you earn. It is built on how much you keep and how wisely you grow it. Learning to say no to unnecessary spending is not about deprivation. It is about redirecting your resources to things that create real value such as investments, experiences that bring lasting joy, and relationships that cannot be bought.

Dream big and pursue your ambitions. But remember this: wealth is not measured by what sits in your shopping cart. It is measured by the assets you accumulate, the businesses you build, and the freedom that comes from financial independence.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

The smartest investment decision you can make today may simply be this. Do not buy what you do not need!

Rezolve Ai Lands in Singapore as its Asia Pacific HQ

Rezolve Ai (NASDAQ: RZLV), the US$750 million (about S$960 million) artificial intelligence company reshaping digital commerce, has chosen Singapore for its new Asia Pacific headquarters. The move comes with a multi-million-dollar investment from the Government of Singapore. By establishing itself in one of the world’s most dynamic innovation hubs, the company is showing both confidence in the region and a long-term commitment to Southeast Asia’s digital economy.

For founder and CEO Daniel M. Wagner, the decision is both strategic and symbolic. “Singapore offers the ideal combination of innovation, infrastructure, and regional access,” he said. “This investment signals institutional confidence in Rezolve Ai’s future and provides the launchpad for our next phase of hypergrowth in Asia.”

An Asia Pacific HQ strengthens Rezolve Ai’s ability to serve enterprise clients such as Japan’s Rakuten and India’s Myntra, while also positioning the company to capture opportunities across Asia’s rapidly expanding retail sector. The new hub extends Rezolve Ai’s global footprint, joining a network that spans London, New York, Melbourne, Warsaw, and Calcutta. More than just an additional office, it is designed to enhance the company’s around-the-clock capabilities and ensure that its AI-driven solutions for customer engagement and operational efficiency keep pace with retailers and consumers operating in multiple time zones.

The expansion comes as Rezolve Ai accelerates its financial trajectory. From zero revenue to more than US$70 million (about S$90 million) in annual recurring revenue during the first half of 2025, the company has become one of the most closely watched players in AI-powered commerce. With Asia Pacific expected to contribute over 60% of global retail growth by 2030, the Singapore hub is an important step in the company’s international scale-up strategy.

Rezolve Ai’s platform is designed to guide shoppers seamlessly from search to checkout using conversational AI and intelligent product matching. Strategic alliances with technology leaders such as Microsoft and Google highlight the company’s global ambition.

Government backing not only provides capital but also connects Rezolve Ai to a powerful ecosystem of enterprises, academic talent from institutions such as the NUS, and innovation programs that can accelerate adoption across the region.

For a company built on the idea of linking people and products more intelligently, anchoring itself in Singapore is more than an expansion of geography. It is a clear statement of intent.

Sources: 1,2, & 3

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