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5 Efficient Ways To Save Money Using The Internet

The Internet can be your best financial ally!

1. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SHARING ECONOMY

Sharing Economy is a type of economic model which allows individuals to borrow or rent assets owned by someone else. For individuals and society at large, it presents a variety of opportunities to invent new ways to earn and to solve social issues. All of these opportunities are made possible with the help of modern technology.

If you tired of the mediocre and costly hotel services that do not meet your expectations, consider finding a well-reviewed space from home sharing websites. Cut accommodation costs as well as energy and water consumption by availing the services of Airbnb, HomeExchange, and Couchsurfing.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Friendly Tip: For your safety, please conduct a careful examination of the place and its owners before renting it.

2. SAVE SOME CASH BY COUPONING

Previously viewed as a hobby exclusive to “aunties and uncles”, couponing is seen in fresh light due to the popularity of online couponing services such as groupon.sg and cuponation.com.sg. My love affair with these websites began when I was a frugal university student. Groupon Singapore helped me to get the cheapest deals on educational workshops in lined my course while, Cuponation helped me to expand my school wardrobe without breaking the bank.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

3. DOWNLOAD FREE SONGS

People who are deeply passionate about the music industry frequently download songs to support the artists, labels, and distributors. Fortunately for these people, the Internet hosts several premium websites that allow people to legally stream and download songs. The sites that I am referring to are mp3.com, Amazon.com, PureVolume.com, and Jamendo.com.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

The wide array of genres and music collections available online will help you find a song that chimes in with your taste. Go check them out!

4. USE FREE AND OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE

Stop paying hundreds or thousands of dollars on programs that can be obtained for free with the same level of performance, quality, and reliability. Use free and open-source software such as the packages enumerated on these posts:

a. List of free and open-source software packages,
b. 30 Essential Pieces Of Free (and Open) Software for Windows, and
c. 5 Awesome Free and Open Source Reporting Software Packages.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

5. DOWNLOAD MONEY MANAGEMENT APPS

Eliminate unnecessary expenses and improve your spending habits with the aid of free money management apps such as Mint, MoneyWise, and Pocket Expense Personal Finance. Mint allows its users to track their spending, develop a monthly budget, receive bill reminders, and take control of their financial life. It is available for download on iOS and Android devices.

MoneyWise combines minimalist design with powerful functionality. It may seem minimal but it can do a lot! It allows you to generate charts or graphs, track budgets or spending, and create regular account backups. It is available for download on Android devices.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Lastly, Pocket Expense Personal Finance fuses all your financial accounts together so it can track all your bills and set your budgets. It is exclusively for iOS users.

Newbie’s Basic Guide To Smart Shopping

1. BATTLE BETWEEN NEEDS AND WANTS

If you want to be a smart shopper, it is important to stick to what you need to buy and what your budget permits. Knowing the difference between a perceived deal and an actual deal is also a must. For instance, you find a studio that offers 80% off their Pilates classes, but you have no passion for it, then you are still wasting money if you purchase the deal.

2. CHOOSE THE RIGHT CREDIT CARD

Committing to smart shopping entails a credit card that has the best rewards. By that I mean, you must find the best card that aligns with your purchasing habits. For instance, if you intend to save more on flying then get a frequent flyer miles card. To each your own cards match.

3. GET OFF THE ELECTRONIC MAILING LISTS

Most of the stores especially those that are online makes you give out your email details. This can break your savvy shopping strategy. Being a newbie, you may not be able to resist the urge to shop once you learned about the deals available, so it is recommended to unsubscribe from the mailing list right away. This simple change will eventually break the bad habits.

4. STICKING WITH THE MONEY YOU HAVE

If you cannot trust yourself with the responsibility of holding a credit card, then stick with cash and debit card. It is best to spend the money you already have rather than to swim in a pile of debt. You may allocate a portion of your budget per month to a category called “shopping money” so you will be sure that you always have money to spare.

5. FREE SHIPPING IS NEVER FREE

Free shipping is usually offered in more expensive items and by comparing prices you will find out that an item at a lower price is much cheaper with shipping included!

Image Credits: Yoel Ben-Avraham via Flickr

So, when a website offers a free shipping minimum, it is smart to shop what you need and observe if your virtual shopping cart has reached the minimum. This not only gives you a chance to see the prices go up and down to fit your desired budget but it also gives you a chance to save even more money.

6. LOOK OUT FOR DISCOUNT COUPONS AND DEALS

Online shoppers need to know this. Why pay full price for your cart when you can save even more with discount coupons? There are many aggregators out there that offer coupons and deals for online shopping. These sites help benefits customers by giving them varied discount coupons and choices in their shopping experience, by leveraging our relationship with merchants.

For example, shoppers can easily save up to 70% with a promo code for Zalora that can be found on Paylesser.com.

Great Singapore Sale Facts That Every Singaporean Should Know

Great Singapore Sale (GSS) is a shopping extravaganza that happens annually in Singapore.

Citizens as well as guests from all over the world can indulge on the extended period of this year’s GSS, which started last June 3. It is set to run for ten weeks instead of the usual eight. Its official partner card is UnionPay International.

Image Credits: facebook.com/OfficialGreatSingaporeSale

1. PRIMARY PURPOSE OF GSS

The Great Singapore Sale is an event spearheaded by Singapore Retailers Association (SRA) along with the local stores and malls. Its primary purpose is to boost the tourism industry in the Lion City. In fact, the longer sale period was predetermined to better accommodate the tourists hailing from Asia-Pacific countries such as China. SRA’s executive director Anthony Gan stressed that the GSS 2016 coincides with the school holidays in June-August and the peak travel season in July.

This extension may very well increase the influx of tourists but it can also desensitize the locals.

2. ACCREDITED PARTICIPANTS OF GSS

There are no “official” participants of GSS as retailers are not required to submit to SRA guidelines or register with SRA to engage in the event. All the retailers who offer discounts or promotions during the GSS period are considered as the partipicants.

Moreover, merchants are not mandated to use the GSS logo. The decision to do so is left to the business owners because they must think about their own marketing strategies.

3. AUTHORITY GOVERNING THE PROMOTIONS

Aside from the freedom put on the incorporation of the GSS logo, retailers are free to determine their discounts and promotions. The minimum and maximum amounts of discounts, deals, and promotions are left to the hands of the retailers. SRA has little to no say in this.

4. DURATION OF THE RETAILER’S PROMOTIONS

In lined with Fact #2-3, perhaps you have an idea about the designated duration for the store’s sale. It is not compulsory to hold the sale for the entire GSS period. In fact, there were some stores that started their “GSS sale” even before June 3. These stores include Metro and Robinsons.

5. BLOGGER’S INFLUENCE

In 2013, the financial giant MasterCard Singapore launched the Princess Singapore Campaign that featured famous Singapore bloggers. The campaign was a success as MasterCard holders used their cards for a total of over US$1.5 billion (S$2 billion) during the GSS 2013.

6. RISE IN THE TOTAL RETAIL SALES

GSS contributes to the rise in total retail sales in the country throughout the years. According to the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s Department of Statistics, the total retail sales for June and July 2015 was about S$7 billion. It is a 6.1% boost over that of 2014’s.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Since the flow of GSS is heavily bestowed upon the retailers, the possibilities are endless. Be sure to check out this grand shopping event!

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

Avoid “Bill Shock”: 5 Ways You’re Throwing Your Money Away

As much as we try to save on bills that swamp us, there are hidden costs along the way that seem to spring up and bite you from the back when you least expect it.

Here, we suss out 5 ways that your next bill may shock you, and how you can prevent it to save yourself from the all-too-often panic attacks.

Phone bill costs

(Image credit: www.saveup.com)

Today’s millennials simply can no longer live without a smartphone. The smartphone is the gateway to everything. Furthermore, it acts as your PA. It reminds you of upcoming birthdays, it keeps you connected to your otherwise non-existent friends, it is your solution to appearing knowledgeable, and is handy for when you need to “keep busy”.

All the little time spent on your phone adds up. And you would have wished you had watched a little less YouTube, served a little less on Instagram, and minded less about people’s business on Snapchat when your monthly phone bill arrives.

For the next month, take control of your phone bills. Free apps such as My Data Manager or Onavo Count make for great tools to monitor your data usage. Both are available on Apple and Android.

Overseas purchase and currency conversion

(Image credit: commons.wikimedia.org)

It is in everyone’s nature to be unique, and looking unique is part of the equation. Therefore sometimes, we cannot help but do some online shopping with overseas brands.

It all seems harmless and appears to be an effective way to shop, until your credit card company charges you at their own currency conversion rate. That is when you realize that the items you bought are not as affordable as you previously thought.

Keep in mind the next time you do online shopping with a different currency. If possible, convert the foreign currency to a local one, so that at least you will not be at the mercy of your credit card company’s exchange rates.

Letting your taxi meter run as you get stuck in heavy traffic

So you inadvertently overslept for work the next day thanks to a soccer match. You flag for the next oncoming taxi hoping to beat time. But when you fall right into the throes of peak-hour traffic conditions, the fare meter is racing as fast as your heart is.

Why give yourself the unnecessary morning stress and panic? You can eliminate fare uncertainty with GrabCar, where you always know your fixed fare upfront. Once you have keyed in your pickup and drop off locations and are satisfied with your fare, all you need to do is wait for your ride to arrive. Unlike metered fares that will jump by the distance or time, GrabCar fares remain constant even if you are caught in a traffic jam.

Unlimited flow of drinks

(Image credit: https://www.rsamelbourne.com.au)

It is your best friend’s birthday, or your cousin’s first promotion at work, and this is a cause for celebration at a bar. It is an occasional splurge, you tell yourself. You make a mental note to make sure no glass on the table is empty, and you put your bill on tab. What matters is that everyone is merry, right?

At the end of the night, you sign your bill off only to realize that you have spent way out of your limit.

Sometimes, it does not take more than a simple suggestion to split the bill between your comrades to spread out your cost.

Hidden charges on restaurant bills

(Image credit: http://www.stomp.com.sg)

Cunning as they can be, some restaurants put extra hidden charges on seemingly great service, such as paper towels, starter bread baskets or drink refills. Before you know it, it is already charged to your final bill.

The next time you frequent a restaurant that does something similar, be wiser about it and clarify beforehand, or decline politely when they serve these (chargeable) bonuses to you.

(This article is brought to you by Grab.)

Where Do Hippie Singaporeans Spend Their Money On

Modern Singaporean hippies frequent places that exude a youthful vibe that opposes the status quo. Here are some of the common places where they spend their money on:

1. SHOPPING

Hipsters habituate shopping centers that offer minimalist products and online labels. Three of my favorite trendy malls are Orchard Gateway, 313@Somerset, and *Scape.

a. Orchard Gateway gives a modern vibe as its futuristic glass bridge joins the orchardgateway@emerald and the remainder of the Orchard Gateway. Always have your camera with you so you can stop and snap some selfies while you are walking along.

b. Minimalist, hip, and chic are three words that perfectly encapsulates the charm of The Editor’s Market. It is a fashion forward shop that houses clothing ranging from S$20-50. Whenever I am at their 313@Somerset’s outlet, it is impossible to not find something I like.

Image Credits: facebook.com/theeditorsmarket

c. *Scape Underground is filled with online shops that sell items at affordable prices. Unique accessories for as low as S$5 can be found here. If you are lucky, you can chance upon ELF or NYX cosmetics that retails for as low as S$3. Nonetheless, inexpensive yet cool phone cases will always be available there.

2. BOOKSTORES

Hippies create their own slice of heaven by frequenting independent bookstores such as BooksActually and Littered with Books. Probably the most popular of the bunch is “BooksActually”. BooksActually is the go-to place for local literature, enigmatic titles, and creative stationary. Even its website is crisp, simple, and neat. See for yourself: http://www.booksactuallyshop.com.

Another gem for the spunky bookworms is “Littered with Books”. It is situated in a restored shophouse at Ann Siang Hill. Get lost in a shop filled with classic novels, children’s literature, contemporary local literature, and more!

Image Credits: litteredwithbooks.tumblr.com

3. CAFÉS

It comes as no surprise that you will find this ecentric sub-culture at cool cafés. Three neighborhoods that have an abundance of bespoke products are Tiong Bahru, Haji Lane, and Bedok. Tiong Bahru is a historic staple of the Singapore’s hip culture. When you are here, do not skip on the bespoke coffee offered by Forty Hands or Flock Café.

Haji Lane has a myriad of vintage shophouses that sell contemporary and quirky items such as accessories and clothing. Among its packed list of cafés, CAD Cafe is my favorite.

Located in the Bedok area is a humble cafe called Percolate. The place is plain, cozy, and beautifully decorated that is why it brings a relaxing ambiance to its hip customers. According to HungryGoWhere, the average plate costs S$10.

Image Credits: facebook.com/PercolateCoffee

Good prices offering delectable dishes…who am I to complain?

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