As an early childhood teacher from an internationally acclaimed school, I am exposed to the childcare industry. My mere exposure made me wonder why childcare is so expensive! For starters, the issue made the headlines last year due to the huge price gap between the different childcare services across Singapore.
The average price was S$1,004 and the median was S$856. This means that there are centers that charge more than S$2,000. It is ridiculous how this amount is near to the country’s minimum wage. With these overwhelming prices, here are some factors that you must consider before paying for childcare services:
1. VISIT YOUR OPTIONS
Ask credible resources about the available childcare services in your area. For instance, an affordable option is NTUC First Campus (NFC). NFC is dedicated to provide quality and affordable education services for working parents. The institution’s fees range from about S$1,300 to S$1,900.
Image Credits: ntucfirstcampus.com
On the other hand, premium childcare centers endorse specific methodologies such as Montessori. Research on these methods to determine whether they are in lined with your beliefs. Another option is hiring a live-in nanny. A nanny can help you out with other tasks such as cleaning the room and cooking dinner. Save money by hiring a caregiver nearby.
2. COMPARE THE COSTS
As with everything else, you should shop around. Compare the costs of hiring a nanny and enrolling in a daycare center. Have a sense of the monthly fees and requirements. Also, remember to include any government fees and childcare benefits from your company.
3. UNDERSTAND YOUR ECONOMIC SITUATION
Look at your budget and focus on two things. Firstly, figure out your current spending habits. Lastly, eliminate the unnecessary expenses. Are you ready?
Start by creating a list of the things that you spend on. A free software like Mint can help you with the compilation of information. Afterwards, you must go through your non-essential spending. Eliminate or minimize your coffee runs, restaurant visits, shopping sprees, and petrol costs.
Alter your budget according to your predicted childcare spending according to your careful examination.
These practical lifestyle changes can often save your money and energy.
LET LESS WATER FLOW
Score up to 60% less than your regular water usage by installing a low flow shower-head. Some modern shower-heads are adjustable, which means that you can change the settings to low flow. Imagine having a controlled water flow while lathering up and an active rush while rinsing!
Alternatively, you can buy a low flow shower-head for only S$14.74 at Monotaro. Installing one could mean huge savings on your water bill.
CREATE PROPER VENTILATION
There are two ways to freshen up your space naturally. You can either build a proper ventilation system or make use of shading. Install ventilation by switching to ceiling fans that can facilitate air flow throughout the room. On the other hand, shading is done by closing the blinds at certain times of the day.
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If you are undergoing the process of renovation, ask the architect to include passive cooling designs to put your air conditioner to rest.
PATRONIZE INTELLIGENT DESIGNS
Energy (and cash) is wasted when there is a mismatch between your appliances and your lifestyle. Instead, you must patronize energy efficient appliances that boost its intelligent designs. Pick the right appliances by understanding your family size, frequency of use, and capacity requirements.
You may also adjust the energy consumption of your appliances with the innate smart programming.
COOK WITH RESIDUAL HEAT
I can still recall the day when my uncle imparted a practical solution, which saved me a considerable amount of cash. He knew that I usually boil pasta on a regular basis due to my fondness for Italian cuisine. So, he taught me to cook with residual heat. Simply cover the pot and switch off the stove after the pasta has been boiling for 7 minutes. Let the pasta sit for 5 minutes more.
You may also apply the same technique when boiling noodles.
SWITCH TO A DIFFERENT BULB
If environmentalists were tasked to replace your bulbs, they would turn to the power of Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL). CFLs were introduced in the ’80s and were improved a decade later. These are perfectly suited for study rooms, home office, and other spaces that need extra brightness. You see, CFLs last longer than traditional bulbs and use up to 80% less energy.
Philips Singapore has a range of CFLs. The only catch is that the price of these bulbs are more expensive upfront. However, the steeper cost of your utility bill makes it worth your money.
HOST A RUMMAGE SALE
Embody the “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle” slogan by hosting a rummage sale in your community. Doing so allows you to save more space in your closet and to earn extra money on the side. There will be no resources or energy wasted on producing new stuff.
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Furthermore, you may include your neighbors to attract more customers.
Sunglasses, fedora hats, and loose fabrics can be found at music festivals. One of its key fashion elements is the “off-the-shoulder” top. This is the chicest way to show some skin as shoulders almost always look good. People who are close to me know how much I am obsessed with this trend.
This trend started in the mid-1800s when Couturier Charles Frederick Worth designed elaborate dresses which featured off-the-shoulder sleeves. In 1960s, French actress Brigitte Bardot put her own spin by wearing off-the-shoulder tops with pants and skirts. Nowadays, you can wear this look from day to night. Best of all? Off-the-shoulder tops and dresses are suited for the Singapore weather.
BUY THE WARDROBE STAPLE
From a runway flair to a corporate queen, you can transform a white button-down shirt a variety of ways. It is worth paying for a decent white button-down shirt as it beautifully complements all skin tones. So, feel free to play around with this trend by exploring different textures. Fabrics such as linen and cotton make for the most comfortable Singapore-weather clothing.
Image Credits: pixabay.com
INTRODUCING THE MILLENNIAL PINK
Pale Dogwood (or Millennial Pink) is the Pantone color of 2017. It is a shade of pink that signifies purity and innocence. This muted hue was used by many celebrities to signal women empowerment.
Join the bandwagon by adding subtle touches of pink to your attire. Wear a sheer pink blouse with a bolder jacket or pair your outfit with a pink handbag. There are number of ways to follow this trend without having to look bold!
SLIP INTO THE SULTRY LOOK
Slip dresses have been the rage since late 2016. You cannot go wrong with this trend, because you can layer it up. Add a plain tee underneath your silk slip for a sexy outfit without being too uncomfortable. For a sultry look, you can accessorize a slip dress with a neck scarf. This simple article of clothing brings together a seamless attire.
MIX THE ELEMENTS
The rules of fashion have been in favor of matching your shoes with your belt. It forces you to buy a colored belt just to match your flashy sneakers. Thankfully, the contemporary style arena embraces mixing and matching.
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Bust out your favorite multi-patterned ensemble to create a mesmerizing combination. You may even pair your checkered blouse with your neutral shoes!
Yes folks, yet another long weekend (read: perfect excuse to travel) is approaching.
If the only thing holding you back is trawling through tons of hotel websites to get the most out of your buck, look no further than at HotelsCombined!
HotelsCombined compares all the top travel sites in one simple search and find just what you’re after. Furthermore, there are completely no booking fees, and no mark-up prices.
Not sure where to go on your next travel adventure? Check out these top 10 most booked destinations by other fellow Singaporeans.
Home to a grand total of eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, Sri Lanka’s intriguing history would definitely excite your inner history nerd. Pay a visit to Polunnaruwa, where the remains of what was once the glorious Kingdom of Polunnaruwa resides. There, you can find the remaining façade of the Royal Palace, as well as various religious statues. As for dining options in Sri Lanka, head down to Bedspace Kitchen, where around 95% of their ingredients are sourced locally in Sri Lanka, and most are organic.
Bangkok has long been one of Singaporean’s favourite travel destinations as it is extremely affordable to fly by budget carriers and is only a two-and-a-half-hour flight from Changi Airport. Travelling over the long weekend means that you would have chance to drop by the famed Chatuchak Weekend Market, where you can literally shop till you drop and spoil yourselves with cheap clothing and accessories. Check out the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and cruise down the canals for an authentic Thai experience.
Taipei is regarded as one of the foodie heavens, with more than 10 night markets filled with delicious local fares to visit. As the long weekend would only allow you to cover two markets, drop by Shilin Night Market and Raohe Night Market. Shilin Night Market is perhaps the most popular night market of choice amongst tourists, due to its selection of local fare ranging from oyster omelette, oyster mee sua to the famed, gigantic Shilin chicken cutlet, all priced affordably. On the other hand, Raohe Night Market is Taipei’s largest wholesale market for clothes and accessories where you can get a good bargain.
Boasting a grand total 165 canals and 1753 bridges, Amsterdam is your travel destination of choice if you seek a tranquil getaway and have an eye for history and art. See the world through Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank’s eyes at the Anne Frank House, or visit the Van Gogh Museum to check out the works of the renowned artist, Vincent Van Gogh. Alternatively, hunt down all the locations where the heart-breaking movie, The Fault in our Stars was filmed.
(Image credit: Mukashi Mukashi Photography, via Flickr)
Singaporeans’ love for food is undeniable, which is why the capital of Hokkaido, Sapporo, makes it the perfect travel destination. Sapporo is fondly known by the locals as the “Kingdom of Food”, due to its abundant seafood, agricultural and dairy produce. While Japan may be famous for their Alaskan King Crab, crab lovers would enjoy the Kegani crab (hairy crab) as its meat is sweeter, and you may treat yourself to a seafood feast at the Nijo Market. Sapporo is also famous for their local beer, so do drop by the Sapporo Beer Museum to find out how the Sapporo beer is made.
Apart from being famously known for producing heart-wrenching Korean dramas and palpitating music videos from K-Pop bands, this metropolitan city achieves a balance between the old and the new. Visit the Dongdaemun Design Plaza and feast your eyes on the futuristic architecture. Dongdaemun is also the shopping district of Seoul where you can fulfil all your shopaholic desires.
No matter if you are traveling with a little one, your significant other, or with your friends, the capital of Japan is your destination of choice. Where the world’s one and only DisneySea resides, revisit your childhood at the happiest place on earth at Tokyo DisneySea. Alternatively, head to Shinjuku for a day of shopping and the nearby Shinjukiu Gyeon – one of Tokyo’s largest and most popular parks, to feast your eyes on the beautiful flora and fauna.
Second only to Sapporo, Asahikawa is situated in the center of Hokkaido, and is famed for their local Asahiyama Zoo, which allows visitors to observe the animals from various angles. The zoo features a glass tunnel through the penguin pool which allows visitors to watch the penguins’ underwater adventures, and small glass domes in the middle of the polar bear and wolf enclosures that can get visitors right among the animals. Ramen lovers will also rejoice as the Asahikawa Ramen Village gives you eight of Asahikawa’s most popular ramen shops in one location.
What makes Bintan an ideal travel destination for Singaporeans is because it takes less than two hours to get to the island by ferry, from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. This island also makes for the perfect long weekend escapade as you can book a villa by the beach and spend a relaxing getaway with your loved ones. If you crave for adventure, the calm seas during June are just right for diving, water skiing and jet skiing.
Where the red desert meets the Indian Ocean, Broome is the beach resort town of Western Australia’s Kimberley region. Ride a camel at sunset along its Indian Ocean coastline at Cable Beach, and snap picturesque silhouette shots. For those who desire to explore the depths of the ocean, head to Ningaloo Marine Park to snorkel through coral lagoons in Coral Bay and swim with the huge whale shark.
Prove how wrong the older generations are! Being relatively young does not necessarily equate to ignorance and carelessness. Exude financial readiness by avoiding these scenarios:
BY BEING TOO CONSERVATIVE
Millennials have a distinct currency that many people cannot afford to lose – time. The more time you have, the more powerful the compound interest is. The only problem is that many Millennials are too risk averse. Why is this so?
Well, they had experienced at least two financial crises in the course of their life. Recall the great recession of 2008. The downfall of the economy in United States contributed to the ripple effects that stressed the Singapore economy. It was the first East Asian country to succumb into recession.
Image Credits: pixabay.com
Despite these events, it is important to focus on your long-term plan before you retire. Consider investing in stocks and take advantage of it over time. Failing to invest may cause you to have an insufficient fund during your golden years.
BY COLLECTING PASSPORT STAMPS
It is no secret that many Singaporean Millennials are globetrotters. Collecting passport stamps is not a cheap hobby! This is why some of them take up part-time jobs in order to finance their passion for travelling.
The places to explore in our humble island may be limited, but there is no shortage of things to spend on. Some Millennials waste their money on the frequent trips to the themed restaurants or hippie cafes. While, others spend their paycheck on bargain hunting. Notice the flashy “sale” signs in Orchard Road. These are very tempting, if you ask me. It is only later that they realize the essence of cutting back.
BY FAILING TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE
Knowing the facts on young Singaporeans and retirement may trigger anxiety. It is alarming how many people hold their retirement plans due to fulfilling short-term goals such as purchasing a nice car or creating a fantastic wedding. Not to mention, there are numerous reports that highlight how poor the retirement readiness of Singaporeans are. A 2016 survey showed that 1 in 3 working citizens were not planning for retirement at all!
Just because you are young does not mean that you can put off your plans for the future. Do not solely rely on your CPF account to cushion your foreseen expenses. Start your retirement fund as early as your first paycheck.
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The bottom line is to keep your finances simple by focusing on saving your excess money and earning more cash. Planning for a comfortable lifestyle is crucial too!
