20 Dollar-Pinching Food Hacks

1. Squeeze every last drop of lemon, calamansi, and other citrus fruits by using a pair of tongs.

2. Savvy shoppers compare prices across the board. Do so by visiting the website called PriceTrolley. It gives transparency over different product prices in local supermarkets.

3. Plan your meals a week in advance and shop accordingly. Do not go beyond this list!

4. If you cannot handle the taste of tap water, get a water filter. It is cheaper to get a water filter and attach it on your faucet instead of purchasing purified water regularly. Lazada Singapore sells water purifiers for as low as S$12.

5. Reduce your intake of meat. Instead of consuming meat on a daily basis, you may reduce your consumption to five times a week. This act both save some cash and to be kinder to the animals.

Image Credits: pixabay,com

6. Use coupons in the grocery. Keep a watchful eye over coupons available in magazines and newspapers. You may also check couponing websites for codes that can be used while you shop online.

7. Invest on food containers or Tupperware. Use these containers to pack your lunch in your campus.

8. Not every due date is set on stone. Do not throw food out just because it is beyond the “best before” date. Inspect the product first.

9. Applying the same concept as a mystery shopper, you can become a mystery diner. Eat your hearts out while commenting on dishes in various restaurants. You get to enjoy a free meal while getting paid for your job.

10. Do not over serve your guests. Ask them to get more food, if necessary. This will reduce the wastes of uneaten food on a plate.

Image Credits: pixabay,com

11. Follow the age-old trick of First In, First Out. Use older products or produce first before moving on to others. An organized refrigerator will make this possible.

12. As mentioned above, you must organize the items inside your refrigerator. Plan out the products that you will actually eat and store them properly. Since the fridge’s door is the warmest part, it is the best place to store your condiments and non-dairy beverages that do not spoil easily.

13. Know how to distinguish what is freezable from what is not. Afterwards, freeze everything that is freezable. Maximizing the power of your freezer will save you money in the long run.

14. Spice up your basic popcorn by seasoning it with herbs. Before your herbs go bad, you may chop them up and mix them with olive oil or butter. Use this mixture to sauté your onions or to spread on a toast.

15. Dine out on your birthday. There are so many place that offer free meals, desserts, or giveaway to celebrants. I remember receiving a free ice cream cake and a free ticket to a contemporary museum during my birthday.

16. Wrap the stem of the banana in a plastic wrap to extend its life span. This will keep it fresh.

17. Cheese is a tricky product to store! Start by wrapping it loosely in a wax paper before placing it in the packaging. Then, partially seal the plastic. This prevents the bacteria and ammonia from being trapped inside.

18. To keep your brown sugar soft, toss a few marshmallows inside the packaging.

19. Absorb the moisture on your lettuce by breaking it apart before storing it. Do this trick to similar greens upon washing it. Then, store the greens in a resealable container with a dry paper towel. Replace the paper towel as needed.

Image Credits: pixabay,com

20. Do not throw your eggs in the rubbish bin right away! Do the “fresh test” by letting it float gently in a bowl of water. The eggs that will sink are still fresh.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

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This Affordable Cooking Platform Offers Cooking Sessions That Caters to Different Needs

If you’ve ever attended a cooking class, you’d notice that it typically involves an instructor teaching one dish to the entire class and you barely have any interaction with your classmates.

Wishing there was an affordable cooking platform where you could learn how to cook anything you desire, in a small group of participants whom you can freely talk to and share homemade dishes with? Local cooking platform Living Menu is running a Culinary Exchange, which is essentially a cooking session that facilitates the exchange of dishes from diverse culinary cultures and caters to different needs of people from all walks of life. You could be cooking with a Russian tourist who wants to showcase their national dish and learn about local food culture at the same time, a 70-year-old grandma who wants to share her family recipe and learn about food that’s popular with millennials, or a 30-year-old banker who just wants to pick up some cooking skills.

From only $29 per 3-hour session, ingredients for your dish will be provided and washing up isn’t required! In each session, there is a world of different experiences to fulfil your needs:

Endless learning opportunities

Unlike typical cooking classes with a pre-determined list of dishes to learn, you decide on the dish you want to cook at Living Menu. Prior to attending the session, participants would’ve already decided on a dish to cook, which means you’ll get to learn and taste a variety of dishes in one session. If you’re unfamiliar with the dish you want to attempt, you can even bring a recipe to the session and the resident chef will guide you, provide cooking tips, help you create a dish you can be proud of and boost your confidence in your cooking.

Freedom to experiment with recipes

Whether you have basic or advanced cooking skills, Living Menu’s stylish cooking studios are well-equipped with kitchenware, giving you all the freedom to unleash your imagination. When you’re cooking at home, sometimes you’ll find yourself having to shop for seasoning you’ll barely use just to test out a new recipe which ends up costing a lot. Living Menu solves this problem with pantries that are fully stocked with all the essential herbs and spices for your cooking needs, saving you money and time on grocery shopping!

Meet new people

The Culinary Exchange is also a great way to socialise and make new friends through the common language of food. Cooking sessions are held in an intimate group of up to 5 participants, so you can watch how others prepare their dishes. You’ll also get to know fellow participants and hear the stories and inspirations behind their dishes. As they say, strangers are just people who have yet to become your friends.

Discover food from different cultures

 Pandan Muah Chee

From Singaporean, Vietnamese, to Portuguese and even Fusion, get to know dishes from diverse culinary cultures and the stories behind them. With participants from all over the world, you’ll even get to taste dishes that you don’t come across in restaurants or from street stalls in certain countries. Dishes that people only cook at home, which have been passed down through generations. At Living Menu, you’ll never know who you’re cooking with, but there’s always something new to discover.

Cook with friends and family

If you prefer cooking with people you know, the cooking sessions are also available for group bookings. The sessions will run as usual with the resident chef who’s on hand to assist you in your needs. If you’ve run out of fun activities to do other than going to the movies or café hopping, a cooking session at Living Menu can be an alternative recreational activity for you to enjoy with friends and family, perfect for gatherings or celebrations!

To book your slot on Living Menu’s Culinary Exchange, head to www.living.menu. Living Menu is also rolling out its exclusive Host and Chef beta programmes for food enthusiasts to earn money through their passion for food and cooking. Find out more here.

 

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5 Budget-Friendly Korean Beauty Tips

Korean beauty secrets focus on the rigorous steps that you need to follow on a daily basis. They invest their time and money on flawless skin to wear less makeup. Dewy skin with tinted lips is the way their go-to look!

#1: DRINK LOTS OF WATER

Much like the tip shared by a Parisian model, renowned Korean artist Song Ji-eun is zealous when it comes to drinking water. She drinks about three liters of water daily. She believes that the act of hydration will keep her skin looking radiant. She is right!

Drinking water is essential for your body. In some cases, it may even lighten your skin! Generally speaking, it keeps your skin from cracking or drying out.

#2: FOLLOW THE 10 STEPS

Most Korean skincare regimen involves 10 steps. It includes applying sheet masks, essences, serums, moisturizers, fermented products, and sunscreen. Cleansing and exfoliating are parts of the ritual too. I am going to focus on exfoliation.

Exfoliation not only cleans out clogged pores, but also removes dead skin cells. Doing so will brighten your skin. People with sensitive skin must exfoliate once a week. While, people with less sensitive skin shall exfoliate three times a week. Consider purchasing the Palmer’s Exfoliating Facial Scrub for S$15.90.

#3: MASSAGE YOUR OWN FACE

Many Koreans prefer showering with a warm to hot temperature setting. As an avid fan of facials, I learned that the steam opens up pores. It makes it easier to remove your blackheads and other imperfections. Fortunately for South Koreans, skin clinics are rampant in their area. So, how can we mimic this convenience?

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Massage your face whenever you want to. Create circular motions with your fingers tapping your forehead, cheeks, and jaw. Massaging it can increase ciculation. It is believed that this can lead to a dewy complexion.

#4: USE A CHARCOAL FACE MASK

Buying sheet masks in South Korea is synonymous to purchasing rice in Singapore. It is a necessity! What face mask ingredient is all the rage? Well, charcoal is popular these days. Charcoal dries out your face to detoxify it from excess oils. Furthermore, it exfoliates the face to wash out other impurities. Let it sit on your face for 10 to 15 minutes.

A popular Korean brand for face sheet masks is MEDIHEAL. Its black charcoal mask retails for S$8.90 at Watsons.

#5: WEAR A TINTED LIP COLOR

Korean women prefer wearing lip tints for its many advantages. Firstly, it stays put throughout the day. You can eat two slices of pizza and still have stained lips! Secondly, brands incorporate different natural products such as plant extracts and essential oils. Lastly, it is perfect for the low-maintenance or no-makeup look.

Image Credits: Hanbyul❤ via Flickr Creative Commons

Korea’s innisfree carries a variety of lip tints including the Eco Flower tint for S$10. It has balsam, calendula, rose, azaleas and camellia extracts make your lips look fresh and beautiful.

Sources: 1 & 2

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4 Indoor Plants Believed To Attract Money

There are a host of beautiful indoor plants that have powerful effects on one’s prosperity. Whether it be money or luck, the following plants have earned a reputation for bestowing those who take care of them.

#1: MONEY TREE

As the name suggests, the Money Tree is recognized as one of the luckiest plants out there! Fung Shui principles highlight its abilities to purify air and to absorb radiation. It energizes the flat by increasing oxygen inflow and filtering air. To absorb radiation, it is recommended to keep the plant close to the Wi-Fi router, computer, or television.

The position of the plant is important too. You must keep it indoors in the southeast direction of the living room.

#2: JADE PLANT

The Jade Plant or Crassula ovata is a succulent with small pink or white flowers. This common houseplant is native to South Africa and Mozambique. Much of its popularity is rooted from its low maintenance nature. It requires little water to survive in indoor conditions.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

With regards to its appearance, its shiny and smooth leaves appear to have a yellow-green color. The branches are impressively thick too.

#3: LUCKY BAMBOO

Generally speaking, a bamboo is an amazing plant that brings peace and wise energy to your home. It teaches an individual how to be flexible for its spirit to freely flow or heal within. It is more than just an addition to your aesthetic!

In Feng Shui, the amount of stalks signify different aspects. Two stalks bring positive energy to your love life. Three stalks evoke happiness, five stalks give good health, and eight stalks bring wealth. Furthermore, a lucky bamboo with 21 stalks may bring good fortune and good health to your life.

#4: PEACE LILY

Last but not the least is the Peace Lily. This deep green plant laced with white blooms helps you to prosper physically, mentally, and financially. It can detoxify your air and get rid of the following toxins: formaldehyde, benzene and carbon monoxide. Bid farewell to the medical expenses caused by these!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Moreover, this type of plant is super easy to care for. It survives best in shaded or dark environments such as small offices and corner closets. Interesting, right?

Sources: 1, 2, 3, & 4

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Budget-Friendly Ways To Look Taller

Wearing heeled leather shoes or skyscraper stilettos is not the only solution to a taller figure. Consider these affordable tips:

#1: MEET YOUR BEST FRIEND

Image Credits: pixabay.com

When choosing a style for your skirt or dress, A-line is the best way to go. An a-line cut exudes glamour and class that does not require too much fabric. You see, a pleated ball gown can make you appear smaller. A-line garments suit a petite bride better. Guests should put a focus on you and not what you are wearing.

#2: GET EVERYTHING FITTED

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Dropping by the fitting room to try an article of clothing is a good practice when shopping. Doing so ensures that the clothes you buy fit you perfectly. Choosing clothes that stay close to your body can make you appear taller. In contrast, baggy clothes will stretch the silhouette horizontally and make you seem wider. You do not want that! So, a shorter man must opt for streamlined silhouette.

#3: EMBRACE ONE COLOR

Image Credits: pixabay.com

As obvious as this may seem, dressing in a monochromatic manner can make you look longer. A head-to-toe outfit in one color won’t be breaking up your body in sections. A single hue will act as a continuous length that keeps on flowing.

#4: OPT FOR THE V

Image Credits: pixabay.com

What better way to accompany your a-line skirt than pairing it with a v-neck top? A v-neck top gives an illusion of a longer torso. It does not chop your shoulders away like wearing a tube top. Instead, it creates extra inches with skin exposure. Complete the look with chunky heels, stilettos, or platform sandals.

#5: DITCH THE WAISTCOATS AND BELTS

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Belts and waistcoasts have the same shorterining effect by creating a middle-section of the body. The horizontal line it creates cuts your body in half. It draws attention away from your overall “long” vertical line. After all, you do not need these accessories if your suit is tailored properly to your figure.

#6: WEAR NUDE SHOES

Lastly, wearing nude shoes create a leg-lengthening effect. They may have fallen out of the wagon with some of the high-fashion labels, but there is a reason why nude shoes are still popular with the masses. It is timeless.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Sources: 1,2, & 3

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