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.
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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.
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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!
How often do you have a chance encounter with a person who is innately savvy with money? Not so often, right?
Personal finance is not exactly a part of the school’s curriculum. This is why you must be open to discussing about proper money management. No matter how embarrassed you may feel, here are some questions that many Singaporeans are eager to know.
#1: HOW CAN I MAXIMIZE MY SAVINGS DESPITE LIVING FROM PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK?
Tackling the overwhelming bills and loans can make you unenthusiastic about saving money. You see, it is difficult to save money if you are barely living from paycheck to paycheck. The solution could be found in the way you spend.
Notice how you allocate your monthly budget and look for ways to downsize your purchases. You may focus on entertainment costs such as limiting your restaurant dining. Strategically planning your spending habits will help you to increase your savings.
#2: WHICH FUND SHOULD YOU SET FIRST: RETIREMENT OR EMERGENCY?
Financial security places a heavy weight on both the emergency and the retirement fund. The former aims to protect you against unexpected events in the immediate future. While, the latter will cover your expenses in the golden years. Stop choosing between these two! Cultivate varying amounts in your emergency and retirement fund simultaneously.
Once you are done with setting up a sufficient emergency fund, you can start stretching out your contribution for your CPF OA.
#3: WHY WAS MY PLASTIC CARD DECLINED?
There is nothing worse than having a sales clerk or a waiter tell you that your credit or debit card has been declined. I can only imagine the horror on the client’s face as this happened to me before. Several years ago, I was working as an administrative officer at a fitness studio. A rising Hollywood celebrity came to pay but her credit cards got declined. She was furious at me and gave her debit card instead. Thankfully, the transaction was successful. I must highlight that she is using plastic cards from international institutions.
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Why did this happen to the rising starlet? Well, it may be due to the bank’s security measures. Purchases made far from your home may seem like red flags to your issuer. So, call your bank or issuer right away and authorize the transactions. Handle this situation better by keeping your cool. Talk to the personnel privately and arrange an alternative form of payment such as going to the nearest Automated Teller Machine (ATM) to withdraw cash.
#4: HOW DO I TELL MY PARTNER ABOUT MY OUTSTANDING DEBT?
Telling your partner or future spouse about your outstanding debt fuels anxiety, but you must simply do it. Schedule an open discussion with your beloved. Explain the gravity of the situation and the events that led up to it. Highlight what you learned from your past mistakes and show how you can conquer your debt.
Do not forget to include your partner in the planning process.
#5: WHEN SHALL I STOP ADDING INTO MY SAVINGS ACCOUNT?
As a conservative adult, you had exhausted all your contributions for your future. Congratulations on meeting your short-term financial goals too! Now, you may wonder if you are putting too much on your savings account.
Limiting yourself to a savings account makes you miss the opportunities of growing your wealth to its fullest potential. Consider opening an investment account once your emergency fund, retirement fund, and living expenses are in order. You may even schedule a consultation from a financial expert.
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It is rare to encounter a person who is innately financially savvy. So, serve as a good example to other Singaporeans by raising important money discussions.
You are a responsible adult living in the most expensive city in the world. With this in mind, how much money should you have in your savings account? This may sound like a basic financial query, but it is hard to extract a straight answer from it. Make things simple by aligning your goals with the volume of your savings.
Here are just some goals that you may tap with:
GOAL #1: BUILDING A SAFE NEST FOR THE GOLDEN YEARS
To shed a light to the path of many Singaporean retirees, a social security savings plan has been put into place. This savings plan is none other than the comprehensive Central Provident Fund (CPF). You can use your CPF Ordinary Savings account for important purposes such as purchasing an HDB flat or financing your retirement years.
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The amount of your retirement fund must be based on your estimated future spending or your predicted lifestyle. This is why it is challenging to quantify a singular retirement fund. It is best to save on a regular basis with the knowledge that all will add up as you age. For instance, many financial experts recommend to save at least “10% to 15% of your income for retirement as early as your 20s“.
GOAL #2: ESTABLISHING A REALISTIC EMERGENCY CUSHION
As the name suggests, an emergency fund is established to cushion unforeseen events. There are many ways to arrive at a specific amount for an emergency fund. First, you may follow the advice of the renowned Personal Finance Adviser Suze Orman. She suggests to have eight months’ worth of your salary because it is the average period before a person finds a job.
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Second, you may save up a five-figure emergency fund in an investment account with relatively safe allocations in order for it to grow. Doing so will allow you to save more money than by leaving your cash in a savings account.
Lastly, you may save up based on your living expenses. Add up the cost of all your current essentials (i.e., rent, grocery, and utilities) and work from there. For example, you need S$2,000 per month to survive. Prioritize getting about S$6,000 in your emergency fund.
GOAL #3: CONQUERING SHORT-TERM VICTORIES
In a list of financial priorities, chances are, your specific goals reside at the bottom. Specific goals include purchasing a car, backpacking around Europe, and buying a new phone. Do not limit your savings just to suit your specific goals.
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Remember that starting your savings is the initial step and that you must plan to raise it over time.
Anna Agoncillo
MoneyDigest
