MoneyDigest - Personal Finance, Lifestyle, Money Saving Tips

Be The Best Traveler You Can Be Without Spending A Cent

If you are a seasoned traveler, backpacker, or hiker, you must be aware of the saying: “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, and kill nothing but time.”

Sometimes, we get too engrossed with our desire to have a great time that we forget that we responsible for taking care of the environment for the future generations to come. The statement above simply encapsulates that responsibility.

You do not need to spend hundreds of dollars to become good stewards of Mother Nature and have unforgettable experiences in return, all you have to do is follow these steps:

1. TAKING NOTHING BUT PICTURES

Bringing a piece of nature’s paradise from your trip may seem like a good idea at first. But it is not! Keeping a bottle of Boracay, Philippines’ glorious white sands would only tarnish its beauty. Commercial establishments had already taken up some of the island’s resources; do you want to continue what they started?

To ensure that untouched destinations such as Penghu Islands (Taiwan) and Yaeyama Islands (Japan) are maintained, it is important to take pictures and nothing else. Besides, getting “souvenirs” without permission can be punishable by the laws of that country. You would not want to pay a hefty fine!

2. LEAVING NOTHING BUT FOOTPRINTS

In 20 years, I picture a world filled with diverse species that are vividly scattered across the globe! I think you want to share the same vision too. I mean…would you rather see majestic birds fly through the air or birds covered with dirt due to an unfortunate oil spill?

Image Credits: Marine Photobank via Flickr (CC license)

It is our obligation to leave nothing but shoe (not carbon) footprints wherever we go. For instance, if you want to go snorkeling in Thailand’s Ko Lipe, do not forget to throw your trash in the rubbish bin and not in its beautiful waters. Do not carve your “couple name” on the walls either as vandalizing can ruin historical landmarks. Simply, do your best to contribute to the cleanliness of the place you are visiting.

3. KILLING NOTHING BUT TIME

Ambon (Indonesia) was an essential island during the heyday of the Dutch East India Company because it was used as a source of spices. Aside from spices, Ambon is famous for their eels. Imagine if people would pay to kill those eels? Fortunately, they do not!

However, that is not the case in Africa. People pay Africans to get the tusks of the helpless elephants in order to sell them internationally. Believe it or not, thousands of elephants are being killed each year for their tusks! When you purchase ivory necklaces, you may not be the one holding the knife but you just promoted the market for the illegal killings. Let us face it; do you really need that ivory tusk necklace or that tortoise-shell keychain?

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

So please, while enjoying your travels, kill nothing but negativity and time.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

Excellent Ways To Showcase “Singlish” With Pride

Singapore is unique melting pot of diverse cultures such as Chinese, Malay, and Indian. These cultures fused together to build the unofficial common language of all Singaporeans – the Singlish. Despite one’s efforts to speak fluent English, one cannot help it when Singlish phrases kicks in so naturally. You get so comfortable with it that your foreign friends look at you with total perplexity.

How do exactly explain what “leh”, “liao”, or “lah” is?

Well, you can start by (affordably) wearing it with pride!

1. THE LITTLE DRÖM STORE

Keychains: S$13.90 & Badges: S$20. Buy here.

From badges to keychains, you name it…they have it! The Little Dröm Store sells local items for several types of Singaporean.

Their gold-plated keychains have 30 different designs like Huat ah, Chope, Kopi Uncle, and Shiok. With that many choices, you will surely find one you like. While the badges have 16 different designs. From the Precise (Zhun zhun guni hoon), to the Champion (Kiasu), and the Composed Singaporean (Steady Pom Pipi), this store has it all for you!

Image Credits: http://shop.thelittledromstore.com/product/chope-kc

Image Credits: shop.thelittledromstore.com/product/chope-kc

2. NAIISE.

Singlish Poster (A3 Size): S$15. Buy here.

Nothing screams your pride for Singlish even more than a poster hanged in your home or office. Aside from posting your precious family portraits, post this printed Singlish words and phrases by angmohdan. Also, you may share it with your loved ones who are overseas to remind them of our beautiful land!

Image Credits: www.angmohdan.com

3. SIMITAIJI

Uniquely Singaporean Phrases: S$25. Buy here.

Sprinkled with Singaporean humor, Simitaiji presents the Uniquely Singaporean Phrases unisex tees that are available in two nationalistic colors. Simitaiji was founded by two designers from diverse backgrounds and was brought together by their love of the country.

Image Credits: facebook.com/hello.simitaiji

Worry not if you fit the tee as they come in XXS-L!

4. HOSAY!

Hosay! Itunes App: Free. Buy here.

If you want to master your “mother-tongue” even more, do it with this free yet cool app! It comes with 80 unique Singaporean expressions and their meanings. Learn how to pronounce phrases such as “Wah Lau” or “Jialat”. A review by Kitty966 even added that this really funny App has accurate pronunciations.

Complete with insults, kopitiam, gambling, and character lingo – this App will surely brush up your Singlish skills while tickling your funny bone.

Image Credits: Hosay! via Itunes

Wallet-Friendly Ways To Make Parenting Simple And Fun

One of the best parts of parenting is spending quality time with your children. Most of the time, creating fun memories are simple. However, there are days when it is far from easy.

This is why you must unlock the “inner child” within you by trying these inexpensive ideas:

1. BE A PART OF WHAT THEY LOVE TO DO

In the weekends, you just want to lay down and rest your body from all the week’s work. But, you also want to spend time with your beloved ones. Kill these two birds with one stone with the “Car Play Shirt”.

The Car Play Shirt allows you to relax and lay down while your kids are playing with the activity on your back. The interactive puzzle is drawn at the back of your shirt lets your boys imagine where they want their cool cars to go. You can either purchase them for S$32.17 or make your own by following this tutorial.

Image Credits: thebluebasket.blogspot.sg/2011/09/tutorial-car-shirt.html

2. TALK ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS

Children who do not express themselves genuinely can become people-pleasers with low self-esteem or unhappy adults who cannot reach their fullest potentials. This is why as parents, it is important to encourage the child to be more demonstrative.

Do so by making “Paper Plate Emotion Masks”. The goal of this artistic activity is to open up a conversation with your children to know more about them. With this, you can emphasize more on happy situations and decrease the sad situations.

Simply gather these materials: paper plates, popsicle sticks, markers, crayons, scissors, and tape. Then, let your child create a mask with basic emotions such as happy, sad, scared and angry. If you need more help, follow the instructions here.

Image Credits: thepinterestedparent.com/2013/11/teaching-toddlers-emotions

Note: This activity is great for toddlers and preschoolers.

3. FEED YOUR CHILD’S IMAGINATION

If you want a few minutes to an hour to yourself to do some work at home, you can try indulging your child with arts and crafts. Aside from keeping him or her occupied, art therapy is especially beneficial for children since they are naturally more imaginative and creative. Furthermore, it enhances the child’s problem solving and cognitive (brain) skills.

Inspired by various craft from the Internet, a blogger that goes by the name of “A Little Learning For Two” came up with the “Sticky Window Art”. This easy craft lets your child illustrate endless images with colorful sticks drawn on the “sticky paper” that is plastered in the window. You would need these four items: scissors, clear contact paper, tape, and colored matchsticks/popsicle sticks. After which, follow the tutorial here.

Image Credits: alittlelearningfortwo.blogspot.sg/2010/11/sticky-window-art.html

Much to the blogger’s surprise, her daughter played this activity for almost an hour without losing interest!

Note: A roll of clear contact paper can be found at your nearest stationery shop such as Popular Bookstore.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

3 Life Events Where Time Management Is Financially Crucial

Your heart is pounding as excitement and uncertainty clouds your mind. You are about to make a life altering decision. Pause for a moment. Before you do anything else, consider its financial outcomes.

Whether you are rendering your resignation or planning your engagement proposal, all these huge decisions can make or break your wealth. This is why it is important to have a substantial amount of time to analyze every factor including time itself.

To do this, you must master the art of time management. Time management refers to the way you organize and sort out how long you spend on specific tasks. After all, we are equally given the same 24 hours. Let us make the most of it!

For instance, here are some life events where time management is financially crucial…

1. GETTING MARRIED

Save lots of money by scheduling your big day during off-peak months. Generally, getting married in “off-peak” months such as November, March, and April can be less expensive than marrying in “peak” months such as December and February. However, you must always be cautious of the venue’s weather and conditions.

During off-peak months where the demand for weddings are lesser, couples get to negotiate for better prices. Tying the knot in these months means taking full advantage of the discounted prices on reception venues, catering, and photography. If you want to save even more, know the right time when the hotels and resorts are off-season and stay away from the weekends.

2. RENDERING YOUR RESIGNATION

Remaining in a horrible job or company for too long can be harmful not only to your career but also to your health. If you have tried your best to turn things around and have not seen any changes, perhaps it may be time to walk away.

According to Travis Bradberry of Forbes.com, here some signs that validate your desire to quit:

It is time to quit your job if you…

a. dread going to work.

b. know more than your boss.

c. are out of the workplace loop most of the time.

d. lost your passion.

e. have a horrible boss who is not going anywhere.

f. see no room for advancement.

g. are suffering health wise.

h. are suffering in your personal life.

i. think the company is in danger of closing.

Image Credits: Quinn Dombrowski (CC License Attribution-ShareAlike)

If most of this or all of this are happening to you, consider your options before quitting your main source of income. Rendering a resignation is best done during the beginning of the month, wherein you are not holding any projects yet. Schedule your resignation email or letter and do so graciously.

3. RECEIVING YOUR BILLS (AS A YOUNG WORKING ADULT)

As a young working adult, especially if you are living alone, you become responsible for keeping the household sharp. For the first time in your life, you are the chief of your own bills.

With this newly acquired responsibility, you must stay organized to keep up with your payments. Set aside some time in the beginning of the month to make a list of the bills you are expecting to receive. Put it on your working desk or create a file for it. This way, you will not pay a bill twice even if you received it simultaneously by e-mail and postal mail.

Alternatively, you can get your payments automated. Since you are prepared for the bills earlier on, you may have available money in the bank to pay it the same day as you received it. If you have automatic payment scheduled and you still received a billing statement, call your bank or creditor.

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

Sources: 1, 2, 3, & 4

Affordable And Quality 24-Hour Laundromats In Singapore

If you are a avid-fan of FRIENDS, you would remember the first time Rachel and Ross kissed. It was in a simple self-service laundry shop wherein customers put their clothes inside the machines. The machines would wash their clothes once they filled its slot with coins.

In the most parts of the world, this self-service laundry shop is called laundromats while in United Kingdom, they call it launderettes. When this technology graced Singapore, people welcomed it with open arms.

Laundromats enables you to save time and money compared to the “traditional” laundry services. If you are rushing to have your business coat washed and dried, go to a laundromat! It will only cost you several minutes to get it done rather than the average turnaround time of 5 working days in other laundry shops.

With more than a hundred laundromats in Singapore, travelers can also take advantage of their affordable and pay-as-you-use prices.

On that note, here are four affordable and quality laundromats that operate for 24 hours…

1. WONDER WASH

Wonder Wash is one of the first self-service laundry shops in Singapore. By self-service I mean, there are completely no attendants! You are free to wash all your garments at any time and any day (except in their One@KentRidge outlet). Aside from their premium technology, Wonder Wash’s edge from the rest is their accessibility. With more than 40 outlets all over Singapore, you will surely find one that is near you!

Pricing:

Washing

11 kg from S$5

16kg from S$7

20kg from S$9

Drying

S$1 per 5 minutes

Locations: Full list of the outlets, here.

2. EASY WASH

Raved with good reviews in Yelp http://www.yelp.com.sg/biz/easy-wash-laundromat-singapore, Easy Wash uses their state-of-the-art technology to suit your needs and the needs of the delicate fabrics. You can choose from a myriad of services such as normal wash, soft wash, hot water wash, and double wash.

Pricing:

Image Credits: www.easywash.sg/pricing

Locations: 4 outlets nationwide. Click here for the full list.

3. WASHINGHUT

WashingHut started as a family business that has grown to be a well-established company in Singapore. Two things that make WashingHut stand out are their exclusive DOMUS technology and their prepaid payment system.

DOMUS, a company that boasts with 90 years of experience, is the official brand used by WashingHut. DOMUS Laundry Point allows customers to pay through coins, banknotes, and WashingHut Card prepaid card. Isn’t that amazing?

Pricing:

Washing

11 kg from S$5

16kg from S$7

20kg from S$10

Drying

S$1 per 5 minutes

Location: 216 Joo Chiat Road, SOHO Life, Singapore 427483

Image Credits: facebook.com/washinghutlaundromat

4. VAPOUR LAUNDRY

VAPOUR Laundry showcases modernity in its website and aesthetically pleasing environment. Using industrial-strength machines, customers can leave with their clothes as fresh and crisp as they can be. Wonderfully located at the vicinity of restaurants and bakeries, foodies who need to get their garments washed can just press the machine and grab a bite while waiting for 30 minutes or so. Also, they offer seasonal promotions so it is best to stay update by liking their Facebook page at: facebook.com/vapourlaundry.

Pricing:

Washing

10 kg from S$4 to 6

13kg from S$6 to 8

16kg from S$8 to 10

Drying

S$1 per 5 minutes

Location: 109 Clementi Street 11, Singapore 120109