MoneyDigest - Personal Finance, Lifestyle, Money Saving Tips

Pre-wedding Photoshoot in Bali, under $1000

I caught up with Valerie, who came back from her 3-day prewedding adventure in Bali. She booked a 4-hour prewedding photoshoot package via OneThreeOneFour.com. I invited her to share with us the tips and tricks and the details of her photoshoot. I’m sure soon-to-marry couples planning for an overseas wedding photoshoot would find her story below very useful.

— As told to Scott:

We chose to do the photoshoot on our 2nd day in Bali. We started with the makeup at about 12 noon and Maxtu Photography came to pick us up later.

Bonus Location: Sanur Beach

Although our US$700 photoshoot package only includes 2 locations within 4 hours, Maxtu’s team brought us to a beautiful tree near their villa for some shots too! What a pleasant surprise! It’s so apparent that they love what they do. Instead of cutting corners, they really went out of the way to think of what would be the best for us.

Location 1: Mangrove Forest

For this location, I wanted to do a vintage casual shoot with a little picnic styling. I started planning this in the weeks leading up to the shoot. My Pinterest board quickly got filled up with picnic ideas and casual vintage styles.

Casual + Vintage Outfits

I mixed a white lace top from H&M with a vintage midi skirt that I got from Haji Lane (S$45). And in my mad rush to the airport I had forgotten to bring my shoes from home so I had to buy a shoe on my 1st day in Bali (S$10.50). The flower headband that I got from Factorie costs only S$1; – S$2 after discount plus a 1 for 1 for sales item. I got 6 headbands in total, for my bridesmaid for my wedding day!

For John, he wore a vintage vest (S$20) over a white shirt. He paired it with his red bermudas and a cute checkered socks from Uniqlo.

Total Estimated: US$58.00

Styling

On top of that, I also added a little more flavour to the styling with some props! I got my Mason Jars from qoo10 (S$10 each), picnic mat from Spotlight (S$20), straw hat from Bali (S$5). The flowers, mini basket and buntings are all from Daiso for S$2 bucks each.

Total Estimated: US$35.00

Location 2: Canggu Beach

We met a traffic jam on our way to Canggu and I was worried that we would not be able to catch the sunset. The sky looked really dark like it was going to rain! I was praying like mad in the car trying to abate my anxiety. We managed to catch the sunset and thank GOD there was still some light when we arrived and we even had a pink sunset!

I had tried to find rental of horses on my own that are affordable and good but not to much success. I eventually approached Maxtu Photography to see if they had any suggestions and they did! The price was so much more affordable than anything I could find – the great thing about having local photographers! Gotta tip our hats to Maxtu for helping us to book the two horses at Canggu beach. We paid US$30 separately for one hour rental of the horses.

Formal Outfit

I got my own gown-looking dress from ASOS, for only S$80 after a 50% discount! I used the same pair of shoe from the casual vintage look! Hehe. As for the head accessories, I wished I had more time to plan for this because I bought it for S$20 from Lovisa.

As for John, we wore an existing suit which he tailored for when he was a groomsmen at a friend’s wedding. He bought his bow tie S$10 in Malacca, together with the vintage vest. It was not too bad at all! We did go to Benjamin Barker and bow ties costs like around S$30.

Total Estimated: US$77.00

I’m sooo happy with how these have turned out!
Even though I missed out to glam up myself, I didn’t give myself enough time to prepare for my OWN styling, instead cared more about the picnic and John, many people still complimented the look, saying that it looks more natural this way. I’m sooo happy with how these have turned out!

After the photoshoot, we got back to our villa at around 8pm. I felt really bad that Maxtu had to send us back to our Villa and drive up 2 hours to head back to Ubud area. Even though our photoshoot was only 4 hours, the travelling certainly took up more time and they were not calculative about it. So thankful to have met such kind and gracious photographers! We had interesting conversations in the car as well, it was like making new Balinese friends.

After Thoughts

All in all, I’m so stoked to have heard about OneThreeOneFour.com before going to Bali and when they asked for my feedback, I was naturally willing to give an enthusiastic thumbs-up! I praised them for breaking into this unique niche in the market and I think that this is going to revolutionize wedding photoshoot market.

Couples in Singapore who wants to go for overseas wedding photoshoots but are always intimidated by the idea of it being expensive, can simply browse through the price lists and portfolios, all available at one place! There’s no need to go to each photographer to ask for the rates and portfolios. This was a mega point for me because I could do all the comparison to my heart’s content and I LOVE IT! I’m honestly not sponsored or asked to write this by them, but this service has really benefited us so much!

Bali Wedding Photographer

And as for Maxtu Photography, they really over-delivered for our photoshoot in sooo many ways, looking out for us and made us look gorgeous. :’) These photos will stay with us until we are old and with grandchildren and we would be able to relive the good times we spent in Bali together for this experience.

Within 1.5 weeks, the edited photos came in and now we just have to find a good deal to print out the photos for display on our big wedding day / for our future home!!

Our Accommodation in Bali

We booked our awesome villa via Airbnb. It’s called Little Tree House and it costs only S$66 per night! A quiet hideaway in Sanur and 5 mins away from the beach! We also enjoyed the outdoor adjoining toilet in our room and the pool very much!

—

If you want to know more about the rest of Valerie’s Bali trip, head on over to her blog at valziekay.wordpress.com

About the Author: Scott is a writer from OneThreeOneFour.com, a wedding photography marketplace that connects couples with photographers based in different cities around the world. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for more updates.

(This is a guest post by OneThreeOneFour.)

The Most Overlooked Principle of Investment in a Weak Economy

In my years as a consultant, I have advised and been mentored by many brilliant individuals including the CEO of major corporations and household names. Risk / return ratio was always the centrepiece of major decisions. While regulators and financial institutions are taking up more responsibility in the post-crisis world with Dodd-Frank and Basel III, we as individual investors should view investment return with a risk lens too, for risk is the shadow of return, the two sides of the same coin.

Many are attracted by the idea of “guaranteed investment return” or “maximum return minimum investment.” A Google search of these keywords gives us 3.2 million and 216 million results respectively. However, these pursuits are inspirational but not aspirational. In financial markets and many commercial activities, if one wants to achieve higher returns on average, one often has to assume more risk. The key question is then not “How can I make the most return?” but rather “How can I make the most return at a risk I’m comfortable with?”

Four Common Approaches in Risk Management

In the practice of risk management, there are 4 common approaches towards risk i.e., avoid, transfer, mitigate and keep. Most would inadvertently take the approach of avoid or keep i.e., avoid investment risk and not invest at all, or invest and face the full risk. In fact, based on an internal survey Funding Societies has conducted with 500 members of the public, 50% of the respondents across all segments keep their funds in saving accounts and do not invest. 19% of respondents consider returns but not safety of capital as critical investment criteria. Avoid and keep are common not because of ignorance, but because of convenience.

Importance of Diversification

Investing has to be deliberate. For most, we believe the right approach is to mitigate risk by systematically diversifying investment. While a focus strategy may be suitable for experts who dedicate hours into analyzing and monitoring investments, diversification is tremendously valuable for regular investors who prefer to “invest and forget”. Effective diversification is not only about making more investments, but also investing in areas less correlated with each other by geography, industry and asset class etc. This is especially true in a weak economic environment that is fraught with uncertainty.

I have personally invested in equity, investment fund, real estate and alternative investment, with of course always 6 months of savings as contingency. I began with Asia equity and bond investment funds to achieve diversification even with limited capital. As I accumulated more capital, I ventured into US equity and Singapore real estate for further diversification. Diversification has helped me through many financial crises. By strategically allocating funds into a portfolio suitable for me, I only have to check my investments once a month and still enjoy reasonable returns.

P2P Lending Platform – A New Way to Diversify Your Investments

The recent rise in alternative investments such as peer-to-peer (P2P) lending in US, UK, Australia and China provides a new, proven opportunity for higher return and diversification. While higher return clearly comes with higher risk, it is at a level suitable for working professionals like me, especially given the shorter term and hassle-free nature of P2P lending. Investing on P2P lending has become my new favorite. A few P2P lending platforms have since launched in Singapore. An example is Funding Societies that focuses on small-medium enterprise (SME) loans.

Of course, diversification takes capital, cost and effort. Undue diversification could spread us too thin across investments. The key is to select uncorrelated investments. The less correlated the investments are, the better the diversification effect. One may ask: how do we know whether the investments are correlated? Without going into a statistical model or correlation matrix, basic intuition is a good start.

As risk guru Michel Crouhy aptly summarized, “The future cannot be predicted. However, the financial risk that arises from uncertainty can be managed.” We need to be deliberate in our risk / return decisions and be diligent in diversification because if we don’t decide them for ourselves, the market will decide for us.

Tried and Tested Home Saving Tips Taught By Moms

The legendary Stevie Wonder once said:

“Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love.”

The great things we learn from our mothers are more than just tips – they are well-kept traditions, family secrets, and wonderful memories that we must treasure.

That said, here are 6 Tried and Tested Home Saving Tips As Told By Moms…

In cleaning:

1. RE-USE YOUR OLD SOCKS

I still remember the days when my cousins and I would slide through the slippery floor that we splashed with baby powder. Hit LIKE if you have done this fun activity too.

It brought us countless minutes of happiness but the mess scattered through the floor and furniture was the enemy our mothers had to face. Fortunately, you can save several bucks on furniture dusters by using your clean old socks. Simply slip a piece in your hand, spray the cleaning solution, and start cleaning!

2. KEEP THINGS NATURAL

Using DIY natural cleaning products will not only reduce the risks of toxins and environmental damage but also save you piles of cash. Make your own glass solution by mixing 1 teaspoon of dish soap, half cup of white vinegar, and 3 cups of distilled water in a bottle. Then, spray it directly to the windows and mirrors.

You can also use the mom-approved “microfiber cloth” to clean practically anything from rugs to glass, granite to stainless steel. Just damp it with water and you are ready to go! This magical cloth costs about S$15 you can get it for only S$5 at Qoo10.

In cooking:

3. SPRINKLE SOME SALT

One of the best cooking tips you can get from the mothers online is to sprinkle some salt to boiling water. “Why?” you may ask. Salt is a great and inexpensive way to add flavour to the broccoli, pasta, or anything you are boiling.

4. SAVE YOUR BACON FATS

Another way to add a wonderfully strong flavor is to cook with bacon fats. After frying the strips of bacon, you can save its fats for later. After which, use it to saute your roasted potatoes or vegetables.

In grocery shopping:

5. BUY THE IN-HOUSE LABEL

As much as possible, buy the store’s brand products for home items such as rice, sponge, bleach, and sugar. And if a better deal comes along, check the price tag and compare it with the in-house label. Doing the maths can go a long way!

6. MAKE A LIST AND STICK WITH IT

Instead of going with the flow, make a list of the items you need for the week and stick with it. This is an age-old trick used by my late grandmother. She plans the weekly menu first and sets a budget accordingly. If there is excess cash, we can buy the stuff we want such as ice cream. Who doesn’t love ice cream?

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Sources: 1, 2, 3,4, & 5

7 Famous People Who Still Earn Millions Beyond The Grave

They may no longer be breathing in this world but they probably earn more in one year than most of us will in our entire lives!

These numbers, accumulated by Forbes, show the top earning dead celebrities in 2015…

7. JOHN LENNON

Yoko Ono’s soulmate that is better known as the singer-songwriter of the Beatles – John Lennon takes the 7th spot.

With a whopping total of US$12 million (S$16.9 million) in 2015, this iconic musician continues to share the revenue of his recorded and published music. Other ventures such as the Beatles-themed Cirque du Soleil show are also earning him money even after death.

6. MARILYN MONROE

One of the famous entertainers of the 50s is the dashing Marilyn Monroe. Although she died more than 50 years ago, her legend continues as the Authentic Brand Group bought the rights to her brand. Her branding consists of a lingerie line, clothing label, perfume, and spa treatments. In 2015, these earned her US$17 million (S$23.9 million).

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

This proves that her beauty still captivates the hearts of many!

5. ELIZABETH TAYLOR

Aside from her movies, this legendary leading lady has been reigning supreme in the celebrity fragrance business. One of her top fragrance called “White Diamonds” is still continuing to sell even after 24 years.

All in all, Elizabeth Taylor earned about US$20 million (S$28.1 million) this year!

4. BOB MARLEY

Bob Marley, a reggae superstar, may not be an outright entrepreneur when he was alive but he became one in his death. This is due to three reasons namely: his Marley Beverage Company, his House Of Marley, and his music royalties.

He really does not need to worry about money as he is still earning US$21 million (S$29.6 million) after his death!

3. CHARLES SCHULZ

It is rare to see people who cannot recognize who Snoopy and Charlie Brown is! With the release of the “Peanuts Movie”, their creator named Charles Schulz who died in 2000 earned about US$40 million (S$56.42 million) this year. He is said to be earning a cut from the licensing revenue of the popular comics too.

2. ELVIS PRESLEY

The King of Rock and Roll’s magic lives on until the present day as his brand and name is still earning an impressive amount of US$55 million (S$77.5 million). This is largely due to the sales of his albums, memorabilia, and Graceland ticket sales.

Elvis, we can’t help falling in love with you!

1. MICHAEL JACKSON

Smooth as his pipes were, Michael Jackson has been bringing home the bucks gracefully since young. Consistently, he has been earning triple-digit millions every year after his death in 2009. Thought that was thrilling? How about if I told you that he earned US$115 million (S$162.1 million) this year alone?

Well, his undying talent still drives the force of his Cirque du Soleil show, his Mijac Music catalogue, and his music royalties including the half of the Sony/ATV publishing empire.

See his everlasting career here:

Sources: 1 & 2

Purrfect Christmas Gift Ideas For Cat Lovers Costing Under S$30

Lovable, clever, quiet, sweet, and playful are just some of the words to describe your feline friend. Their comforting nature has been proven to reduce one’s stress levels that even renowned Psychologist Sigmund Freud believed that the “time spent with cats is never wasted”.

This Christmas season, while searching for the purrfect gift for your cat-adoring loved one, keep in mind that you must also be financially savvy.

Here are 5 Christmas Gift Ideas For Cat Lovers Costing Under S$30…

1. HAND-KNITTED FELINE TOYS

Doggy Friend maybe one of the cheapest online pet stores out there but their services are optimum. Looking at their user-friendly website that is easy to navigate, I saw a wide range of cat food brands. You will definitely find a product and price that suits you best.

Also, there are adorable hand-knitted toys made with toxic-free wool, 75 cm strings, and bell to tease the kittens with. Hurry as these JU-BE Feline toys are on sale for S$5 only!

Screen-grabbed from: doggyfriend.com.sg

And if you want to give a present for your friend but you do not know what cat product to get him or her, you may buy a Doggy Friend gift certificate instead. Their gift certificates range from S$10-S$50.

2. PRETTY CAT LIP GLOSS

Pucker up as the cat-shaped lip gloss by Rubi Shoes can be used wherever you go. You can choose from three delightful scents such as mint, watermelon, and coconut as well as three vivid colors such as silver, mint, and hot pink.

Screen-grabbed from: cottonon.com

Retailing for S$7.95-9.95, this novelty lip gloss will surely be loved by your friend’s lips and your own wallet!

3. NOT YOUR AVERAGE GRAPHIC TEE

You can never go wrong with the classic crew neck printed tees as it goes well with anything from skinny denims to loose skirts.

Made with 100% cotton, Cotton On Singapore takes a humorous route as their white shirt for men is basically a cat version of the singer Pharrell Williams. It is on sale now for only S$10!

Screen-grabbed from: cottonon.com

If you prefer printed words, you can go for the unisex “ARE YOU KITTEN ME RIGHT MEOW?” tee by TrendingTops. It is handmade and shipped internationally from United States. This is why the variety of sizes range from XS-4XL. 4XL- a size unheard of in most Asian countries! They cost about S$20.31.

Screen-grabbed from: etsy.com/sg-en/listing/209522050/cute-kitten-t-shirt-are-you-kitten-me?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=cat&ref=sr_gallery_23

Image Credits: TrendingTops via etsy.com

4. DAINTY CAT NECKLACE

Nothing says simplicity and sophistication better than a dainty cat necklace. Its lovely shape made with 925 sterling silver exudes femininity to the everyday wear. The necklace is shipped from China and costs about S$14.33 on Etsy.

Image Credits: SilverLiningsByNoel via etsy.com

5. KITTY HAND WARMERS

As the breeze of cold December air graces the nation, keep your loved ones warm and happy with these finger less gloves. Customize these pair of gloves by choosing the yarn or color of the fun kitty design.

Friendly reminder: Purchase these gloves for over S$18.84 under Priority Mail International in order to receive your order prior to Christmas day!

Image Credits: SunOverVegas via Etsy

May these gift ideas bring nothing but delight! 🙂

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