MoneyDigest - Personal Finance, Lifestyle, Money Saving Tips

Interesting Ang Bao Facts Every Singaporean Shall Know

It is that time of the year again! We are about three weeks from the festivities of the Chinese New Year. Family reunions, abundant food, and small red packets called “Ang Bao, Hongbao, or Ang Pao” shall grace Singapore once again.

The color red embodies luck that is supposed to ward off the evil spirits. Along with its potent color, here are 5 Ang Bao Facts Every Singaporean Shall Know:

1. AMOUNT TO GIVE OUT

There is no specific standard on the lowest or the highest amount to give but the amount definitely reflects your character as a person. A simple survey on TheAsianParent Facebook Page showed that readers usually give out S$2 – S$80 to children in 2014. Although, Singaporeans usually give out S$6. If you are truly in touch with your Chinese roots, you will give out an amount ending with an even digit as odd digits are traditionally associated with funerals.

2. NOTES TO PUT IN

Generally, the number of notes you put it does not matter as long as the amount you gave is in the range of what is expected. Most Singaporeans do not mind if you opt for putting four S$2 or two S$5 notes! However, leaving even-numbered notes is believed to bring out future success!

3. NUMBER FOUR

Some people are likely to avoid giving amounts in fours such as S$40, S$44, and S$400. This is due to the fact that the number “4” is similar (or rhymes) with the word “death in several Chinese dialects.

4. DIFFERENT NATIONS

Since Singapore is a mixture of different cultures, we as a nation have created practices centering red packet gifting. It is not uncommon to have marriages between two different races, leading to traditional practices being modified or ignored. But aside from the Chinese, nations such as Vietnamese, Japanese, Filipinos and South Koreans have similar customs.

5. DIFFERENT CELEBRATIONS

Aside from Chinese New Year, red packets are given to religious practitioners and lion dance performers as a payment for their excellent service. Also, it is given to couples during wedding banquets. The minimum Ang Bao amount for this event is about S$50. It certainly is “little” compared to the minimum of S$150 handed out in Taiwan.

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

Let us be the first to greet you, advance Happy Chinese New Year!

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

5 Surefire Ways To Boost Your Net Worth

With the wealth you possess right now, do you barely get by or do you live lavishly?

Realize your financial situation by actually calculating your net worth. It is pretty straightforward! Simply add up the value of your assets and deduct the value of your liabilities.

Assets include savings, investments, CPF balances, insurance, properties, cars, or anything you own with monetary value. While liabilities include loans, mortgages, credit card debt, or all the money you still owe.

To save you time and effort, here is a tool to help you calculate and benchmark your personal net worth: salary.sg/2007/calculate-net-worth-and-benchmark-it. Remember to measure your net worth every six months to a year as recommended by financial experts. Doing too often may lead to unnecessary stress and panic.

Interestingly, one might end up with a negative net worth due to taking on a number of loans and poor money management skills. Do not let this happen to you!

Consider these 5 Surefire Ways To Boost Your Net Worth:

1. BE A DEBT NINJA

Slice debts out of your life as soon as possible. You probably heard this tip before. But, it goes without saying that aiming to clear off the high-interest debts (e.g., outstanding credit card balance) will help you pay lower interests in the long run.

Minimize the negative effects of debt while increasing your wealth by taking part in the debt diet, as popularized by Oprah Winfrey.

2. SPEND LESS

Nobody, including me, likes to hear that they are spending too much. I know how delicious a cup of Starbucks caramel frappuccino is or how satisfying it is to get the latest IPhone but these things will catch up on your wallet. The small and big expenses can add up as fast as Kopitiam queues lengthen during lunch time.

This is why you must take down your expenses everyday for at least a week and realize your spending habits. By knowing so, eliminate or reduce the areas which are unnecessary. This act of cutting expenses can have a substantial impact to your net worth!

3. INVEST MORE

It only makes sense that making your money work for you can improve your wealth. If you have spare cash lying around your savings account (experiencing small interest growth), consider investing in index funds, unit trusts, bonds, or RIETs (Real Estate Investment Trust).

*Friendly Reminder: If you do not have enough knowledge or did not consult a financial adviser, please refrain from committing to any type of investment first.

4. GET A RAISE

Another way to increase your wealth is by increasing your income. If you have been in the organization for a period of time and feel that you had done some good, there is no harm in asking for a reasonable pay raise.

Do not open a discussion with your boss unless you are fully prepared. Consider these six things to help you prepare.

5. SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP

One of the most underrated and overlooked step to growing one’s net worth is seeking professional help. Many people are ashamed of their current financial state and get sucked in their negative tracks. Fear not my friend as experienced professionals are able to guide you in budgeting and planning as well as provide you with the latest information on how to grow your assets.

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

There may be no secret formula to permanently increasing your wealth but every time you decrease your debt and boost your assets, your net worth certainly spikes up!

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

Newbie’s Guide To Buying Insurance In Singapore

Insurance is a binding contract or policy in which an individual receives reimbursement or financial protection against losses. It provides coverage or security against a myriad of unwanted or unforeseen events such as death of the spouse, permanent disability, critical illness, and damaged car.

First, you must determine the situation you are in then and decide what type of insurance is appropriate for you. The policies and the insurance jargons can be confusing to a novice. To help you, here are some things you should consider before purchasing an insurance policy in Singapore:

1. PRICES

When purchasing for an insurance policy in Singapore, look for the best-priced deal that is suitable for you because prices can vary from one company to the next. Furthermore, the policies these companies offer are different. So, beyond the price, it is important to consider other factors as well.

2. TYPES

There are three main types of insurance sold in Singapore namely: Life Insurance, Health Insurance, and General Insurance. It is important to make sure you know what you want and you know what the insurance policies entails.

a. Life Insurance

This policy protects you and your dependants by giving the sum assured under certain circumstances such as being permanently disabled or critically ill. The agreed amount of money is intended to help you and your dependants meet your financial needs.

b. Health Insurance

This policy covers accidents, illnesses, and disabilities that affects your health. To help you and your family deal with the expenses, different health insurance policies are available in the market.

c. General Insurance

This policy secures you against a wide range of events such as damage to your home or loss of your belongings. Upon the occurrence of the event, the insurance company will pay you with an agreed amount to cover a portion or all of your loss.

3. TERMS

As a newbie, you are exposed to different insurance terms that can sometimes be confusing. This is why you must read through a comprehensive glossary of terms such as this list compiled by A.M. Best Company. This is the sample:

a. Annuity- a type of insurance policy that pays out fixed income payments at regular timings for one’s retirement.

b. Premium- price of protection for a specified period of time or a specified risk.

c. Whole Life Insurance- a type of life insurance serves a lifetime of protection. The policy will pay out the total sum insured plus any additional that you have accumulated before you passed away or become permanently disabled.

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

Sources: 1 & 2

4 Money Decisions That Will Bring Future Satisfaction

1. BUILDING AN EMERGENCY FUND NOW

What happens next if your ridiculously expensive car needs an engine replacement? If you are like countless people in the world, you will opt for using your credit card or taking loans. This will only build piles of debt.

Instead, you must commit to building an emergency fund to use during the “rainy days”. Financial professionals recommend to save money that can cover at least 6 months’ worth of your living expenses.

2. SAVING MORE FOR RETIREMENT

If you envision a life of comfort after you leave the working scene, you will not regret your decision to maximize your contributions to your CPF account or to your retirement plan.

Remember that the amount of money you need to save depends on what type of lifestyle you want to achieve during your retirement. You will need more savings if you plan to purchase a rest house, travel the world, keep your cable TV subscription, and other luxuries. Building your retirement plan while young can bring huge advantages to your financial future because of the power of compound interest. So start boosting your retirement savings as soon as possible!

3. EVALUATING THE RISKS BEFORE INVESTING

Before you lose some or all of your savings, it is important to understand the risks of the investments. Investment hazards include credit, liquidity, market, concentration, inflation, and devaluation risks. Taking a higher risk can potentially give you higher returns. But you have consult a financial adviser first.

As you make informed choices for your wealth, you will appreciate the day that you evaluated the risks before investing.

4. AVOIDING DEBTS

The debt that you accumulate in your 20s (e.g., student or car loans) can haunt you for the rest of your life. So before you take one more responsibilities such as getting married, starting a family, and buying a flat…you must avoid and eliminate your debts first.

Start by paying off the debts with high interest such as quickly as circumstance permits. Then, avoid accumulating debt by purchasing items that you can actually afford.

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

Sources: 1 & 2

Financial Tips For People Dating In Retirement

Dating later in life can be a challenge not only because of your limited income resource but also because of the ever-so-changing dating landscape. In the era of Tinder and online dating sites, dating is entirely different from your first time. However, I believe that if your health permits (i.e.,you have no chronic illnesses or serious health concerns), it is never too late to fall in love again!

Despite its challenges, persevere with these 4 Financial Tips For People Dating In Retirement:

1. REKINDLE THE OLD FLAMES

Use modern technology to your advantage by embracing the power of social networking. Free sites such as Facebook and Twitter, allow you to look up your old friends whom you lost touch with. Do not be afraid to reconnect with your previous secondary school, university, and workmates by instant messaging or even e-mailing them. This way, you are expanding your social circle and increasing your chances of finding a date.

2. CONSIDER ONLINE DATING

If rekindling did not work for you, another inexpensive yet tricky strategy is to consider online dating. For many dating sites, you need not spend a cent as they offer free memberships. But you must proceed with caution as there may be scammers and imposters.

The leading online dating sites in Singapore include SingaporeCupid.com and
SingaporeLoveLinks.com. SingaporeCupid.com offers their services to more than 14,000 members. It has a rather retro design that may seem messy at first but you will soon get a hang of it. With its practical options, you can search for matches based on ages, locations, and other keywords. Members can either be free or deluxe. Deluxe members pay about S$16.95 for 1-month membership.

While SingaporeLoveLinks.com is operated by one of the largest niche dating networks in the world – Cupid Media. What is special about this site is that they bring together the singles of different nationalities. Also, they offer useful functions such as video exchange and instant messaging to its paid members. Members can either be gold or platinum. Gold members pay about S$29.98 for 1-month membership and platinum members pay about S$39.99 for the same time.

3. KNOW EACH OTHER’S MONETARY VALUES

Once you meet someone new, it is important to understand and know each other’s values about money. No need to talk about the specific numbers at first but you need to get an idea of how your date likes to save and spend.

Learn to put yourself in your date’s situation (i.e., spender or saver) by recognizing his or her financial strengths. For example, if your date is a saver then, he or she may view money as an important currency that shall not be wasted.

4. SET CLEAR EXPECTATIONS

After several dates, solidify your bond by maintaining good communication with your date. You must set clear expectations about who pays for what as this notion changes over time.

Time has led to both genders being relatively equals. In fact, a poll by Cosmopolitan showed that less than 25% of women believe that their partners should always pay for the bill and about 40% of women think that couples shall always split the bill.

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

Gone are the days when men pay for all the bills!

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

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