MoneyDigest - Personal Finance, Lifestyle, Money Saving Tips

5 issues that come with pregnancy plus how to deal with them

For mummies-to-be, congratulations! While the joy of being able to hold your child in your arms excites you, there are sorrows that come with pregnancy too. We’re referring to the issues that come with pregnancy like acne, pigmentation, eczema, stretch marks, and hair problems. Except maybe for stretch marks, most of them are temporary woes so don’t sweat over it!

Ladies who are planning their pregnancy journey may also find this useful.

#1: ACNE BREAKOUTS

a-woman-with-pregnancy-acne

Image Credits: Medical News Today

It’s like going through teenage years all over again with acne breakouts. According to dermatologist Dr Wang Yi Shi of W Skin and Laser Clinic, acne outbreaks are more common during early pregnancy. This is most likely because of hormonal changes that happen during pregnancy which trigger the oil glands on the face to become more active. The increase in sebum may cause clogged pores.

How to deal with it

If you’re facing such issues, try to go on days without makeup. This is because makeup traps the pores which in turn result in more acne breakouts and skin irritations. You may also need to switch up your skin cleaning routine with products like topical antibiotic gels and topical salicylic acid. However, if you’re unsure of how to proceed, just make an appointment with a skin clinic.

#2: PIGMENTATIONS

Pregnancy pigmentation

Image Credits: Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore

Currently at your fourth or fifth month of pregnancy and spotting irregular pigmentation marks on your face? Don’t be too stressed about it. These pigmentation marks also known as melasma, chloasma, or pregnancy mask come about as a result of the changes in your hormones. It should clear up slowly over time after you’ve given birth. This also applies to the ‘linea nigra’, a brownish line along the central abdomen.

How to deal with it

While the pregnancy mask is likely to go away, you may help prevent it by avoiding too much sun exposure. Also, use a sunscreen of minimum SPF 30 if you know you will be coming into contact with the harmful sun rays.

#3: ECZEMA

Pregnancy eczema

Image Credits: Medical News Today

As your tummy gets bigger over the months, the skin around the lower abdomen expands. This can cause itchy skin or eczema that may disrupt your sleep if left unattended.

How to deal with it

You should probably change to a gentler skin cleanser and apply moisturizer to the affected areas regularly.

#4: STRETCH MARKS

Pregnancy stretch marks

Image Credits: SmartParents

Stretch marks associated with pregnancy are almost unavoidable. But understanding it is a first step to minimizing the damage. Do you know how stretch marks appear? As a result of your abdomen increasing dramatically in size, the middle layer of the skin (dermis) is torn.

How to deal with it

Since there is almost no cure for stretch marks relating to pregnancy, you can at least lessen the effect by keeping the skin around the abdomen soft, supple, and more resistant. To do that, exfoliate the skin once or twice a week before applying your preferred daily moisturizer.

We’ve also heard of the benefits of Bio-Oil against scars, stretch marks, and uneven skin tone. Furthermore, it is suitable for all skin types so decide if you want to give it a go?

#5: HAIR PROBLEMS

Pregnant-woman-hair-problems

Image Credits: Baby Magazine

Again, all thanks to hormonal changes during pregnancy, you may notice hair loss or even thickening. The good news is that these changes are most likely not here to stay. But, a change in products used may be necessary.

How to deal with it

Depending on your hair conditions, you may need to purchase new hair products to tackle the problems. Also, according to Dr Wang, people with sensitive and itchy scalps or broken skin on their scalp should avoid colouring their hair. Even organic hair colour brands can contain strong and toxic chemicals which may lead to allergic reactions. Better to be safe than sorry!

For the husbands out there who want to thank their wives for this really tough journey they are embarking on, how about giving them a practical pregnancy gift set? We think Clarins’ Beautiful Pregnancy Set is a collection of must-haves for mummies-to-be.

Here’s what you get for 193 SGD:

Clarins’ Beautiful Pregnancy Set

Image Credits: Clarins

The Beautiful Pregnancy Set includes:

Body Partner Stretch Mark Expert (175ml) x 1
A gentle stretch mark cream that addresses stretch marks caused by pregnancy and weight fluctuations. This fast-absorbing, plant-based formula blended with minimal ingredients chosen precisely for their highly effective properties helps target stretch marks and gently comforts the skin.
Tonic Body Treatment Oil (100ml) x 1
Essential body care to tone and improve skin elasticity and firmness. Made from 100% pure plant extracts, this fine, lightweight oil is recommended to prevent the appearance of stretch marks. It is also recommended during a period of weight loss. Leaves skin satin-soft and supple.

Exfoliating Body Scrub (100ml) x 1
The first essential step to prevent dull-looking skin by refining and smoothing the skin’s texture.

Energizing Leg Emulsion (125ml) x 1
An ultra-refreshing leg emulsion that instantly soothes the feeling of tired, heavy legs. It can even be applied over stockings. It is non-sticky, does not stain, and consists of natural plant extracts and essential oils.

Hydra-Essentiel Light Cream (15ml) x 1
A luxurious light cream that plumps dehydrated skin with intense moisture and keeps it there for all-day hydration.
Clarins Soother x 1
Pregnancy Book by Jacques & Olivier Courtin-Clarins x 1
A face and body beauty guide by Clarins for women before and after childbirth.

Click here to buy

Muah Chee Boy: Homemade muah chee in unique flavours like matcha, black sesame, chocolate, and pandan kaya

No pasar malam? No problem. The new local business is here to save us from our muah chee cravings. But, even better. This is because there are unique flavours like matcha, black sesame, chocolate, and pandan kaya to choose from. For those who are team originals, the original flavour is available too. Let’s dive straight into the new name in town – Muah Chee Boy.

#1: THE CHEF BEHIND THE BRAND

Madam Goh of Muah Chee Boy

Image Credits: 8Days

The chef is a 60-year old lady named Madam Goh Ka Hua. Together with her two daughters, the Chua sisters, they started their home-based business in mid-May this year.

Their muah chee cravings during the circuit breaker inspired them to make their own. Can you believe that prior to the business, Madam Goh never made muah chee before? When she first started, she referred to videos online but couldn’t get the consistency of the dough right. It was only after much tweaking that they found the golden ratio. And thank God, they did!

The brand name, Muah Chee Boy, is actually named after Madam Goh’s grandson, who loves his grandma’s muah chee to bits and pieces. That’s him on the box:

Muah Chee Boy box

Image Credits: 8Days

#2: WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS USED?

The average muah chee consists of sesame oil, pork lard / shallot oil, glutinous rice flour and water. As for Madam Goh’s version, she uses sunflower oil instead of pork lard / shallot oil. While they are aware that pork lard / shallot oil makes the muah chee more fragrant, they wanted to make theirs a vegetarian-friendly local delight. Part of the reason also being they have friends who don’t eat shallots.

If you’re worried about a different taste, don’t. The roasted peanut topping will do enough justice to give you the yummy muah chee experience you’re looking for.

#3: CURRENT FLAVOURS AND UPCOMING ONES

Muah Chee Boy flavours

Image Credits: 8Days

Muah Chee Boy currently has five flavours: Original (3 SGD), Pandan Kaya (5 SGD), Chocolate (5 SGD), Black Sesame (6 SGD), and Matcha (6 SGD). You can also mix and match flavours in the yuan yang option for 6 SGD.

According to the Chua sisters, the Original, Pandan Kaya, and Black Sesame are their best-sellers. While their Chocolate flavour is popular among kids. In addition to the current offerings, you may look forward to a cheese-flavoured muah chee soon! It’s currently work-in-progress.

#4: DIY HOME KIT

Muah Chee Boy DIY option

Image Credits: 8Days

Muah Chee Boy also has a DIY home kit series from 12 SGD for 300g to 30 SGD for 1kg. This is great because you can store the muah chee in the fridge for up to three days. When you’re ready to eat, just cut out the portion you need and steam it for about 10 minutes. After that, pour yourself a generous portion of peanuts and snip it into bite-size goodness for the whole family!

#5: MENU

Ready to place an order? Here’s a look at their full menu:

Muah Chee Boy full menu

Image Credits: Muah Chee Boy

Muah Chee Boy is also currently running a special promotion from now till 31 July 2020. Simply buy any two DIY Muah Chee Home Kit (any flavour) and get one DIY Muah Chee Home Kit – 300g (Original) for free (worth $12)!

Head to their Facebook page for more details.

How To Maximise Your Returns Investing In Gold With Everest Gold

The arguments of having gold in your investment portfolio have already been well articulated by scholars, but do you know how to go about doing it in Singapore in a cost-efficient manner?

The traditional way of buying gold jewellery and passing it down to the next generation is highly cumbersome and costly. Purchasing gold bars from a bank and storing them in a vault will not be cheap either. Fret not, your chance to start building your own dream gold portfolio is finally here with the launch of Everest Gold in Singapore.

Traditional Ways Of Investing In Gold

The most traditional way of investing in gold is to purchase and store gold jewellery at home while waiting for capital appreciation. However, this is a costly way of investing in gold because of leakages such as workmanship costs and 7% GST on the purchase price.

The other way of investing in gold is to purchase gold from the banks. However, there is often a minimum quantity to purchase which may put it beyond the reach of retail investors who do not have a significant amount of money to set aside in the first place.

Purchasing gold directly from the banks is also not a cost-effective way of investing in gold because of the significant bid-ask spread and storage fee charged by the bank. Bid-ask spread at the bank could go as high as 30% while storage fees are often levied as a separate service charge at 0.25% of the current portfolio. All these fees significantly dilute the returns investors can potentially make from gold.

An Elegant and Tech-savvy Solution To Own And Trade Gold

To maximise your returns from investing in gold, you should own and trade gold on Everest Gold. Everest Gold is a fintech company working to make gold trading and investment accessible and affordable for retail investors on a secure online platform. Everest Gold uses 999.9 pure investment-grade gold. Its 1kg gold bars are obtained from Metalor Technologies Singapore Pte. Ltd, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Metalor Technologies International SA, the leading worldwide precious metals refiners based in Switzerland.

Everest Gold employs advanced technology which allows clients to track real-time gold prices as they seamlessly build, invest, trade and sell their gold portfolios. Here are the key cost advantages of using Everest Gold to invest in gold:

Affordable: No minimum amount required such that the capital investment is low. Start trading gold from as low as 0.01g of gold!
Trade with peace of mind: Your investment assets are fully insured.
Lower gold price: Benchmarked against international gold price, price of gold sold on Everest Gold is significantly lower than banks (USD$0.558 vs USD$0.783 per 0.01 of gold) during its Gold Subscription Event
Maximise Returns: No transaction fees mean all your principal are invested in the possible capital appreciation of gold
Accessible: 24/7 trade for instantaneous liquidity, something which the banks cannot provide

Additionally, investors do not need any specialised trading experience to yield higher profits when investing in gold via Everest Gold. Everest Gold is truly the most affordable and accessible platform for retail investors to start investing in gold today. Say no to workmanship cost, GST, high bid-ask spread and storage fees once you start investing in gold via Everest Gold.

Everest Gold is available for download on Android, iOS and desktop.

For more information, visit https://everestgold.sg

Enter referral code “WAVTW” when you register your Everest Gold account. Be rewarded with 300,000 reward points (worth US$30) for each successful account verification. Promotion valid till 31 July 2020.

Sign your kids up for these useful enrichment classes to teach them about money management

According to the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) mathematics syllabus, your child would begin learning more about money from primary one. To be more specific, they will start learning how to count in cents up to a dollar, and in dollars up to 100 SGD.

By the end of their primary one academic year, they should be able to solve one-step problems like the addition and subtraction of money in dollars or in cents. But learning how to count is vastly different from money management. While it is part of the learning process, not every child grows up to be a financially literate adult.

If that’s your concern, skip the usual piano lessons and sign your kids up for enrichment classes that can groom them to be better money managers. We think this is an important life lesson that MOE schools may not have placed enough emphasis on. Hence, we’ve sourced out three platforms that offer such classes.

#1: STAR HORIZON

Financial literacy for teens

Image Credits: Star Horizon

Star Horizon offers financial literacy courses for kids, teens, and adults. For the sake of this article, we will focus on their kids and teens syllabus. Feel free to head to their website if you’re keen to learn more about the course for adults.

Kids syllabus (for 9 to 12 year-olds)

Targeting upper primary school students, their kids’ workshop will teach your children about the forms and history of money. They will also learn about how money is earned. In addition, there will be exposure to the importance of savings. Your little ones will be able to differentiate their needs from wants and set their own budget.

Teens syllabus (for 13 to 18 year-olds)

Their teens’ syllabus will target secondary school to junior college students. They will learn about cash-debt management including types of loans, credit card problems, and even bankruptcy.

The syllabus has also included investment-related topics like shares, unit trusts, and property. Furthermore, your teenager will be able to learn in-depth about risk management and insurance too. To put the icing on the cake, there will be field visits to corporate companies. Talk about positive exposures!

#2: CIVIL SERVICE CLUB

ways-to-make-saving-fun-for-your-child

Image Credits: DBS

Civil Service Club is also another avenue to look out for. They have a course named ‘Introduction to Financial Awareness for Children’. Aimed at children aged 7 to 12, it will provide kids with basic financial awareness. They will also understand how money decisions are influenced and learn to develop wise money management habits.

#3: MONEYTREE

learn about money through play

Image Credits: MoneyTree

Founded in 2008, MoneyTree claims to be the leading financial literacy education provider in the region. To prove their credibility and give you peace of mind, they have had partnerships with MayBank in 2009 and 2016.

Their programs are specially catered for children and youth aged from 7 to 22. However, they work a little differently from the average enrichment schools in the market. They are currently only partnering schools to offer their Financial Literacy in School (FLIP) program.

However, parents or caregivers can look forward to their Financial Literacy Pack launching soon. Instead of sending your kids for enrichment classes, you will get resources from their online learning portal to equip you with lifetime skills to coach your kids on money matters. How cool is that?

Money management is important and it’s good to start them from young. As the famous Chinese proverb goes, “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for the rest of his life.” Over to you to decide!

Should you merge finances with your partner after getting married?

After saying ‘I do’, there are now more things to consider past the courting phase. As you begin preparing for your special day, take time to think about what happens after that. As I’ve heard many married couples say, the real deal begins after exchanging your wedding vows.

One of the most touchy issues is that of finances. While there are couples out there who manage their finances separately and successfully, some of you out there are wondering if you should do a merge. If that is so, you will need some fast advice to get you going.

#1: SET DATES

Calendar

Image Credits: unsplash.com

To decide if you should do a merge, full disclosure is needed. This means hiding nothing and having an honest discussion. Laying everything out on the table helps you and your partner to see where both of you are at in terms of money management.

The most obvious thing to discuss is the shared expenses for the house. We’re talking about things like the mortgage, various monthly bills, and even weekly spending groceries. A 50-50 might do the trick if both of you guys are receiving the same paycheck. But that’s usually not the case. Thus, maybe a monthly contribution of a fixed percentage of your income might work?

There’s also the question of raising kids in the future. An extra person or two will cost and this is another major topic on its own. We know one sit-down session won’t work with so much to decide. Thus, set dates. Make sure you allocate enough time to go through the nitty-gritty. Rushing through the conversations will only hurt later.

#2: SHARE YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATIONS

Couple conversations

Image Credits: unsplash.com

‘For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.’ That’s one of the common marriage vows exchanged on the most important day. To do so, you will need to walk the talk and get down and dirty with your financial situations.

Apart from salaries and bonuses, there’s also the topic of debt and other large expenses unknown to your partner. Now’s the best time to share your financial plans and future goals as well. What are the steps you or your partner are taking to pay off the debt? Will this affect your early years of marriage? Can either of you make compromises?

Let’s not forget routines! Is an annual trip to Europe feasible? Or can you two only afford a staycation at the moment? Talk about habits like the frequency of dining out per week and any expensive hobbies you might have.

#3: COME UP WITH A STRATEGY

Writing

Image Credits: unsplash.com

This is the final stage should you decide to merge your finances with your partner. After the sharing sessions and much pondering, it’s time to come up with a long-term strategy.

How will the merge be like? Are we talking about shared bank accounts and credit cards? If that’s the case, you may consider having one shared bank account. This account can be a place for crediting an agreed percentage of your salary and also withdrawals for shared expenses for the family.

After reviewing your strategy and realizing you guys have enough money for investment? Go ahead and discuss if the both of you should open up an investment account. Also, decide upfront who will be the main person managing the funds for investment. It’s also important to do a yearly review of your strategy.

We’re honestly just scratching the surface with some of these questions. As each couple is unique, there may be other unique issues that need to be brought up. Also, you and your partner must be aware that bickering might arise while going through this entire process. If required, allow yourself some ‘time-out’. Nothing said in the heat of the moment is rational.