Submitting your resignation letter and starting a fresh chapter is a significant transition is someone’s career. Before taking the leap of faith, here are some financial steps that you may take.
SET A TIMELINE
Many people may think that there are better career opportunities ahead of them, but that is not always the case. This is why, you must set a timeline for realistic events. Ask yourself certain questions that will answer various outcomes. How long can you afford to take a break while you hunt for a new job? When shall you send out your tailored C.V.s? Do you need to schedule interviews next month?
It is recommended to build your emergency fund during this break. You may also build your networking list. There is no need to start from scratch when switching careers.
SELL SOME STUFF
Selling your old belongings is one of the quickest ways to use your free time and to de-clutter your space. Do an inventory of all your underused or unwanted items and filter out those that are in good condition.
Sell these items at a discounted price to your friends via Facebook groups. I remember selling my old shoes and clothes to help me purchase new ones when I was still a Uni student. To ease my search for a buyer, I made an account on Carousell. Carousell is a convenient marketplace app that is available all over Asia.
ELIMINATE THE NON-ESSENTIALS
Be honest with yourself! Check your monthly subscriptions on products and services. Do you really need to pay for two streaming services (i.e., one local and one international) or is one enough? Can you trim your gym membership and exercise at the park instead? Find no-cost ways to reap the benefits of your hobbies.
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While you may have gotten used to certain luxuries throughout your life, taking a few sacrifices here and there is essential. While you are on a “career break”, you can be conservative with your budget calculations.
SELECT A PART-TIME HUSTLE
Getting multiple streams of income can benefit your situation. By multiple streams, I am referring to either finding part-time jobs or to setting up your own small business. Aside from earning extra cash, you can also experiment with a variety of jobs or fields.
Find a freelance job that you can do at home such as teaching English, selling stock images, or becoming a virtual assistant. You may also open up your own small short-term business. Depending on your skills, you can sell baked goods for the upcoming holiday season or plan events for weddings and birthdays. Who knows? This humble venture may lead to bigger opportunities in the future.
As Singaporeans, we are always on the hunt for good, and value for money deals, and one of the things that we hope to check all the boxes when we are hunting for such deals is good food. As such, we have rounded up a list of hotels offering 1-for-1 buffets when you use your credit cards.
Of course, credit cards have more than just 1-for-1 buffet promotions at hotels – different banks offers various percentage discounts and promotions on hotels, restaurants and cafes around Singapore too, so be sure to check for dining privileges with your respective bank’s websites!
We have decided to cover on hotel buffets as they are value for money when it comes to filling our tummies, so if you feel the same way, check out the list below!
*We will only be listing buffets and their prices which has 1-for-1 promotions, if you wish to check out other buffets or food each restaurant offers, please check out the link by clicking on the restaurant’s name.
Triple Three boasts an extensive international buffet selection daily, featuring fresh sashimi and sushi, seafood on ice, live cooking stations, a premium roast section and delectable desserts. If you love Japanese food, Triple Three is the choice to go being a Japanese-inspired restaurant. Be sure to make your money worth and indulge in plates after plates of seafood!
Lunch Buffet
Monday–Saturday: $78++ per adult; $28++ per child (6–12 years)
*Promotion ends 31st December for DBS/POSB cardholders, and 9th April 2019 for UOB cardholders.
SingSaver Exclusive Benefit: Get $50 cash reward when you sign up for a UOB Credit Card. This promotion is applicable for both new and existing card holders.
Cocobolo’s buffet dinner is only limited to the weekends, but this does not stop the sumptuous barbecue spread one can enjoy. Featuring a heavenly combination of charcoal-grilled premium meats and succulent seafood like New Zealand Angus Beef, Australian Rack of Lamb, Assorted Grilled Sausages, Stingray with Spicy Shrimp Paste, Tiger Prawns with Saffron Spices and Turmeric Spiced Squids, I bet you are already drooling while reading this!
Barbecue Buffet Dinner
Friday–Saturday: $68++ per adult; $34++ per child
*Promotion ends 31st December for UOB cardholders.
SingSaver Exclusive Benefit: Get $50 cash reward when you sign up for a UOB Credit Card. This promotion is applicable for both new and existing card holders.
Address: 76 Bras Basah Road, Level 1,Carlton Hotel, 189558
Café Mosaic offers an array of international delicacies that is bound to satisfy your taste buds! Choose from an assortment of appetisers and seafood on ice such as fresh Black Mussels and Tiger Prawns. Savour mouth-watering treats as you enjoy O.P Ribs served with Red Wine Reduction Mustard, or even prepare your own rojak! End your meal with desserts such as freshly baked pastries, cakes and sweet treats such as Crème Brûlée, Cheesecake, and Chocolate Mousse.
Buffet Dinner
Mondays–Sundays: $88++ per adult; $44++ per child
*Promotion ends 31st December for DBS/POSB/CITIBANK/OCBC/UOB cardholders.
SingSaver Exclusive Benefit:
– Get $50 cash reward when you sign up for a UOB Credit Card. This promotion is applicable for both new and existing card holders.
– Get $200 NTUC FairPrice or Takashimaya vouchers, or Grab promo codes upon approval for new customers when you sign up for a Citibank Credit Card. Get $50 NTUC FairPrice vouchers upon approval for existing customers.
– Get $100 cash back upon approval when you sign up for a OCBC Credit Card for new customers.
With a buffet spread that ranges from Asian to Western, it would definitely appeal to most! Fusing food, drink, and lifestyle in a sensational all-embracing concept, it offers a first of its kind multicultural, multi-generational, and multi-occasion F&B experience in an integrated and inspirational environment. 1-for-1 buffet is valid for lunch for OCBC cardholders, and dinner for DBS/POSB cardholders.
Lunch Buffet – International
Monday–Friday: $52++ per adult; $26++ per child (6 to 12 years)
*Promotion ends 31st December for OCBC cardholders.
Dinner Buffet – International
Mondays–Sundays: $72++ per adult; $36++ per child (6 to 12 years)
*Promotion ends 30th December for DBS/POSB cardholders.
SingSaver Exclusive Benefit: Get $100 cash back upon approval when you sign up for a OCBC Credit Card for new customers.
Kintamani serves authentic Halal Indonesian cuisine. If you are craving for the heat of sambal or tender rendang, Kintamani may just be the place for you to go. They offer a delectable buffet spread with authentic bites like Gado Gado Jakarta, Mee Soto Ayam, as well as mains such as Rendang Daging Sumatra and Tahu Telur Surabaya. Definitely a must try for Indonesian cuisine lovers!
Buffet Lunch & Dinner
Monday–Sunday: $65.00++ per adult; $30.00++ per child
*Promotion ends 30th December for DBS/POSB cardholders, 31st December for Maybank/UOB cardholders, and 31st January 2019 for HSBC cardholders. 1-for-1 promotion is only valid for lunch buffet for UOB cardholders.
SingSaver Exclusive Benefit:
– Get $50 cash reward when you sign up for a UOB Credit Card. This promotion is applicable for both new and existing card holders.
HSBC Sign Up Benefit:
– Get $150 cash back for new customers and $100 cash back for existing customers when you sign up for a HSBC Credit Card.
AMEX Love Dining By Platinum
Although American Express do not have 1-for-1 dining promotions, they do have a program which offers 50% off your bill when you dine with a guest! Essentially, you are allowed to bring up to 9 guests, but the most value for money deal would be to just bring a partner along. Here, we list 2 restaurants that offers buffets with Love Dining @ 50% off for you and your guest.
Find the freshest selection of oysters, snow crabs, crayfish and prawns at the Seafood Station, before indulging in some piping hot noodles cooked à la minute. Savour renowned local dishes such as the Singapore Chilli Crab, Chicken Rice or visit the hot buffet line for an extensive array of premium meat dishes such as Crispy Pork Saddle with Pancetta, Prunes and Mixed Herbs, Roast Beef and other roasted delights cooked to perfection at the Beech Oven Station. For those with a sweet tooth, our signature desserts include the Sticky Date Pudding that will make for pure palate pleasers after a satisfying meal.
Lunch Buffet
Monday–Saturday: $59++ per adult; $35++ per child (5 to 12 years)
High Tea Buffet
Monday–Friday: $45++ per adult; $27++ per child (5 to 12 years)
Saturday–Sunday: $48++ per adult; $30++ per child (5 to 12 years)
Dinner Buffet
Sunday–Wednesday: $78++ per adult; $38++ per child (5 to 12 years)
Friday–Saturday: $88++ per adult; $40++ per child (5 to 12 years)
SingSaver Exclusive Benefit: Get $150 cash upon approval for new and existing customers when you sign up for an American Express Credit Card.
With different dining experiences such as the ‘Food From The Heart’ and Seafood From The Heart’ buffet, The Kitchen Table presents a buffet dining experience which is remarkably intimate and exciting. With six live cooking stations, be assured that you will enjoy delectable treats like Octopus Salad on Toast with Jamon Crumbs and Duck and Scallop Noodle Soup. The buffet also offers freshly caught seafood delights, steaming dim sum, grilled meats, and fragrant tandoori!
Food From The Heart Buffet
Monday–Thursday: $68++ per person
Seafood From The Heart Buffet
Friday–Sunday: $88++ per person
Sunday Cool Remix Brunch Buffet
$128++ per adult; $48++ per child (4-6 years); $68++ per child (7-12 years); Kids aged 4 and below dines free.
SingSaver Exclusive Benefit: Get $150 cash upon approval for new and existing customers when you sign up for an American Express Credit Card.
Standard Chartered The Good® Life Privileges
Like American Express, Standard Chartered offers various dining privileges with percentage discounts of up to 50% off depending on the number of guests you bring. Likewise, bringing just one guest along would be the most bang for your buck!
Be overwhelmed with the spread Town Restaurant has to offer as you will be spoiled with choices by the selection of seafood, cold starters, and hot dishes that comes in so much variety. Fresh seafood includes oysters, lobsters and salmon, with sashimi and sushi choices. With dishes from Mediterranean, to Western and Asian, be amazed at Town Restaurant’s spread and consistency in their quality of food, which will make you leave wanting for more.
International Buffet Lunch
Monday–Friday: $57++ per adult; $29++ per child
Brimming Buffet Dinner
Sunday–Wednesday: $59++ per adult; $30++ per child
Thursday–Saturday: $79++ per adult; $39++ per child
SingSaver Exclusive Benefit: Get $100 cash upon card activation for new customers and $50 cash for existing customers when you sign up for a Standard Chartered Credit Card.
SingSaver Exclusive Benefits
If you love this list of restaurant buffets but do not have the abovementioned credit cards, now may be a good time for you to get one! SingSaver is running an exclusive promotion where new and existing sign ups will get to enjoy various rewards. Visit SingSaver’s website for a full list of promotions and benefits, as well as to sign up! For those who have already signed up, be sure to fill up the gift redemption form to register for SingSaver’s exclusive benefits.
To provide an easier understand for our readers, we have drawn up a table for each bank’s sign up benefit.
*All promotions are valid till 30th November and subjected to T&Cs.
Many offices are filled with smooth-takers who can easily say the right words to get what they want. While some people are born to be negotiators, others are somewhat fearful to share their ideas. Fortunately for you, negotiation is a skill that can be shaped with lots of practice.
Start with these tips:
PREPARATION IS THE KEY
When it comes to gaining confidence and bargaining skills, preparation is the key. Arm yourself with the facts by doing thorough research. Do not rely on personal opinions and emotions when negotiating. Instead, you must collect data from multiple reliable sources. Determine the average and maximum salary for a person in your position with a similar level of experience.
DRAW THE OUTCOME
Aside from the facts, you must prepare yourself with the possible outcomes of your actions. What are the possible ways that your employer can respond to your request? What will you do if he or she disagrees? What will you do if he or she agrees?
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Assess every possible outcome and how you will handle these situations. Is what your asking for really worth it?
WRITE A SCRIPT AND REHEARSE IT
Researching is the initial step. What’s next? Planning a script, of course. Having a foundation for the serious conversation can help you to feel more comfortable as it happens. Write at least two scripts to have more options. It is important to note that you have to flexible during the actual discussion.
GO FOR IT
Employees often perceive negotiation as a heated encounter where the clear “winner” shall prevail. In reality, negotiations work best when both parties walk away with satisfaction. Simply asking for what you want (i.e., a pay raise) is half the battle!
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Do not let your shyness be an obstacle to getting what you deserve! Boost your chances of having a positive resolution by being polite and firm. Aim to reflect on your personal growth and foster long-term workplace relationships.
Our concrete jungle has wired us to focus mainly on work. As work occupies most of your day, it is easy to take domestic life for granted. To handle the so-called burden of managing your household chores while you tackle occupational responsibilities, you may turn to a maid agency for help.
Let us be honest! It is becoming a fairly common practice to hire domestic help in Singapore. Many families come from dual-income households where both parents work long hours. Who will be left to take care of the children, elderly relatives, and chores?
There are various reasons why you may hire a helper. Whatever your reasons are, here are the initial and monthly costs that you can expect.
UPFRONT COSTS
The following are some of the initial costs that you need to pay as an employer of a foreign domestic worker.
a. Agency Fees: about S$1,000
b. Settling-in Programme: S$75
c. Work Permit Application: S$30
d. Work Permit Issuance: S$30
e. Security Deposit: S$5,000
f. Foreign Domestic Worker Levy: S$60-S$265
g. Medical and Personal Accident Insurance: about S$250 per month spanning 26 months
The estimated total will amount to more than S$6,000. Now, let us put a spotlight on each element.
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#1: MONTHLY SALARY
To determine someone’s monthly salary, you must consider several factors. Experience and relevant training are just some of the main factors. Not to mention, the applicant’s nationality plays a part too.
The Philippines’ government recently reduced the number of domestic helpers entering Singapore. With the reduced manpower supply, expect salaries to increase accordingly. That being said, the minimum salary for a Philippine domestic helper is S$570. On the other hand, Indonesian authority set its minimum domestic helper salary to about S$500. Lastly, the minimum salary that you can expect to pay to a foreign domestic worker (FDW) from Sri Lanka is S$400.
Other miscellaneous costs include food, accommodation, medical expenses, and travel expenses.
#2: EMPLOYER’S ORIENTATION PROGRAMME
As the name suggests, Employer’s Orientation Programme or EOP is tailored to the employers who are looking to employ some FDWs. It is recommended for employers who are hiring a foreign domestic worker for the first time or have changed workers on a frequent basis. This program lasts for 3 hours and can be both taken in a classroom or online setting. Classroom setting costs about S$30 to S$34. While, the online setting costs about S$46. After all, you are paying for convenience!
Learn more information about EOP by checking this link: mom.gov.sg.
#3: SECURITY BOND
How many times have you encountered a damage deposit or damage bond in your life? One to many, I suppose. A damage deposit ensures that you return an item in good condition. Similar mechanics can be applied to the FDW security bond.
If you are employing a Non-Malaysian domestic helper, you have to pay about S$5,000 to the Singapore government. This security bond ensures the safety of the domestic helper should you break any laws governing the employment. You will eventually be discharged from the security bond when you meet the following requirements:
a. You cancelled your foreign domestic worker’s Work Permit b. You did not breach any conditions of the said bond c. Your FDW has returned home
#4: AGENCY FEES
There are more than 500 maid agencies in Singapore, which are licensed by the Ministry of Manpower. Only licensed maid agencies can act as middlemen in finding related jobs in the country. Agency fees vary greatly depending on the services included. They do not usually publish their fees unless you inquire, but you can expect to pay around S$1,000. Be wary if you only have to pay S$200 or less.
#5: FOREIGN DOMESTIC WORKER LEVY
The FDW levy, paid directly to the Singapore government, costs about S$265 on a monthly basis. However, you can qualify for the concessionary rate of S$60 per month. Levy concession is “part of the package to support Singaporeans needing care”.
An employer with a young child or grandchild, an elderly person, or a person with disability living at the registered address can apply for the levy concessionary rate. Learn more about this by going to mom.gov.sg.
One expensive hobbies that many Singaporeans partake in is collecting luxury watches. Due to the changing times, counterfeit or fake watches are becoming harder to spot. Collectors need to be very careful.
Consider these warning signs before purchasing a new watch:
#1: DOES IT HAVE A DOCUMENTATION?
Similar to purchasing an appliance, you must ensure that it comes with a warranty and an authenticity certificate (i.e., with a serial number). If you are acquiring it from a private collector, research the history of its ownership. Nonetheless, your safest bet is to buy the watch directly from the brand’s authorized store.
#2: DOES IT HAVE SPELLING ERRORS?
As obvious as this might sound, some fake items have spelling errors. Words such as “Professional” on Omega watches are commonly spelled with a single “s”. That is a red flag right there! Be wary of low quality pictures where the spelling is ambiguous too.
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#3: IS IT TOO LIGHT?
Counterfeit watches are typically lighter than the original watches due to the cheaper materials used in its production. For instance, authentic gold Rolex watches are heavier than the fake ones. The weight of real gold is greater than the base metal used in the fakes.
#4: IS IT TOO LOUD?
Did you know that you can tell the movement of a watch based on its sound? Most fine quality watches have extremely smooth mechanisms, which means that these are engineered to function at an exceedingly low volume. You should not be able to hear a ticking sound unless the watch is put closer to your ear.
#5: DOES IT HAVE THE RIGHT ENGRAVING?
Some luxury brands use distinct engravings to make their products difficult to copy. Rolex uses laser-etched crowns in their sapphire crystals. While, Omega engraves a symbol in the case-back of its watches. Keep a vigilant eye on these specific markers.
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It is better to be safe than sorry! Equip yourself with these tips or ask a professional for quality assessment.
