Most Singaporeans desire to improve their health, but many find it difficult to squeeze an adequate amount of time for a fitness regimen. Not for long! Money Digest has you covered.
#1: WORKOUT AT THE OFFICE
You will be surprised to know how much you can accomplish by merely spending 5 minutes to exercise at your desk. You may do a few lunges while you are waiting for the meeting to start or a few arm stretches while you are on the phone. There are a variety of quick workouts online. This is a good example of total body toning:
#2: CHOOSE A “HEALTHY” HOTEL
When you are travelling for business, choose a hotel that has its own gym. This ensures that you can practice your exercise routines outside from home. Alternatively, you may avail the “guest or tourist” pass at a local gym.
#3: PREPARE HEALTHY SNACKS
A surefire way to cut back some weight is to switch your junk food with healthy snacks. It takes less than 5 minutes to whip a pack of container filled with sliced fruits and assorted nuts. Keeping these healthy bites at a convenient reach will prevent you from indulging on the candy bars from the office’s vending machine. Also, these snacks will increase your energy to survive the day.
#4: EAT OATS FOR BREAKFAST
Whenever I am running late or feeling ill, one of my go-to healthy fixes is the oatmeal. Oatmeal contains soluble fiber which helps lower your cholesterol and your risk of heart disease. Embrace the power of oats by topping it off with grated apples, almonds, or honey.
Try the Quaker Quickcook Oatmeal Hearty Supreme as it retails for only S$2.95.
#5: RELAX WITH BREATHING EXERCISES
After a day of hustling through a mountain of tasks, your stress levels may be off the charts! This is something that you must wary of as prolonged stress may impact your overall well being. Thus, you must learn how to relax.
Spending 10 minutes or less in breathing exercises will help. Know about the 6 breathing exercises: Equal Breathing, Progressive Relaxation, Guided Visualization, Alternate Nostril Breathing, Skull Shining Breath, and Abdominal Breathing Technique by clicking this.
Image Credits: pixabay.com
Go! Take the stairs for someone who is busier than you is exercising at this moment.
Standfirst: This is the moment you’ve been waiting for all year — to make your biggest savings by stocking up on gifts, every-day essentials and clothes from Amazon to Courts
As you know, Black Friday is just around the corner. In fact, it’s so close you could almost touch it. You might have read news reports that this year, Amazon has decided to shorten the wait to this annual Sale of the Year by three weeks — yes, it the e-comm juggernaut has already started the “countdown” to D-Day by offering a slew of attractive daily deals. With that news, we couldn’t help but wonder if other e-tailers — overseas and right here in our backward — might have jumped on the bandwagon with early-bird teasers, too.
So we did what we do best — scout, dig and ferret out all the sites and even brick-and-mortar stores that you should be stalking from now to bag the best deals, whether it’s gifts for the festive season or essentials for the new year ahead. Ready, set, shop!
Amazon The race to the best buys is already on. Make a beeline for the “deal of the day” section, and you’ll be spoilt for choice for items going for up to 70 per cent off. It seems like a good place to start looking for stocking stuffers or Secret Santa gifts, if you ask us. Some of the crazy deals spotted so far include “The Hunger Games Complete 4-film Blu-Ray series at US$24.99 (46% off), TaoTronics Bluetooth Nano-Coating Sweatproof Sport Headphone at US$25.49 (58% off) and SanDisk Extreme PRO 64GB SDXC Flash Memory Card at US$34.95 (45% off). Be sure to log on every day to check for new deals and steals.
Zalora
Word is out. Zalora Singapore will have conducting their Black Friday sale from November 27 to 30 with discounts of up to 80 per cent. If you download their app, you’ll get an additional 18 per cent off. We don’t know about you, but we’re already shopping and adding our 2017 wardrobe to wish list. As soon as the clock strikes 12 on November 27, we’re checking out.
Sephora
Hey beauty-philes! Last year, Sephora Singapore offered Black and White card members 15 per cent off their purchases with a minimum spend of S$100. We expect no less from the our beauty fairy godmother this year. If anyone needs us, we’ll be stalking Sephora.sg and their social media for the latest updates.
Uniqlo
You know you can trust the Japanese to be precise. Last year, Uniqlo gave us 20 per cent off storewide (a minimum purchase was required only at their online store). The promotion was valid precisely on the day of Black Friday, and the it’s come to our attention that they almost always launch their promotion at the stroke of midnight. So, if you’re looking to stock up on winterwear, Heattech underwear or — gasp! — Uniqlo’s Carine Roitfeld collection (if they’re still available by then), set your alarm!
Shopbop
From indie to designer labels, Shopbop is a one-stop shop for fashionistas. Have you been searching for the perfect pair of mules or embroidered bomber jacket? There’s a pretty good chance you’ll find it here — and at a sweet discount come Black Friday. If the last two years are any indication, you can expect up to 25 per cent off your order, plus free express shipping worldwide. Keep your eyes peeled.
Nasty Gal
In the Nasty Gal-axy, Black Friday is the new black. Looking at the history books, #Girlbosses everywhere enjoyed 30 per cent off their favourite black styles with a bonus 30 per cent off for Black Friday. Details of their deals are usually up a few days before Black Friday, and include early access for their social media followers. So, start following, go.
Love, Bonito
If you’re a fan of homegrown fashion e-commerce site Love, Bonito, chances are you’d have enjoyed up to half in 2015 with an additional 10 per cent off when you enter a promo code. We are rubbing our hands in anticipation of what’s to come this year. Stay tuned, and support local, people!
Robinsons
Calling big spenders! Are you moving house and in the market for big-ticket items? In case you missed it, Robinsons offered up some seriously delish discounts (up to 80 per cent!) and gifts including limited quantities of the iPad Mini 3 (with a minimum spend of S$3,500) and the iPhone 6 64GB for those who spent at least S$5,000. It’d be wise to start keeping your eyes and ears open a week before Black Friday, and be ready to strike when the time comes.
Qoo10
Love it or loathe it, you can’t deny that Qoo10 does have some good stuff to offer — if you could bring yourself to wade through the clutter. Last year, we spotted Havaianas for S$9.90, Kindle Paperwhite for S$79.90 and Kate Spade wallets for S$59. It could be worth a stakeout.
Courts
This is perhaps the best time of the year to refurbish your home or think about renewing some of your age-old furniture and appliances. At the last Black Friday, Courts rolled out irresistible offers that promised up to 90 per cent in savings. Sure, you can jostle with other bargain hunters at their brick-and-mortar stores, but the promotions are also available online if you’re busy making other purchases the world over.
This article was contributed by SingSaver.com.sg, Singapore’s #1 personal finance comparison site for credit cards and personal loan.
First things first! Make it a habit to check the restaurant’s menu and price range before booking a reservation for two. Websites such as sg.openrice.com, yelp.com.sg, or hungrygowhere.com can help you to locate a restaurant, identify its menu, and give an estimate of the average spending. This will help you make tastier, healthier, and cheaper decisions.
You can employ a money-saving technique beyond your credible search. Simply have a light snack at home before you enjoy your exquisite main course. Or, you may do the opposite by eating the main course at your home and dining at the restaurant for luxurious desserts.
Relish The Moment Of Consumption
Relationships are all about giving and taking. Spread the spirit of reciprocity by sharing your meal to each other. Restaurants usually serve a portion that is bigger than expected. Instead of ordering for two, you may order one starter and one main course meal. Doing so will reduce the expenses.
To get most of their money, some couples indulge on all-you-can eat buffets. If you are not a fan of buffets, you may purchase less by savoring the taste of your food. Eating slowly will help you realize that you are actually satiated!
Consequences Of The Next Day
The romantic date night ended in a great note. You remembered to pack your leftovers from the restaurant. Fortunately, you do not have to cook breakfast because you can reheat the leftovers. You may also revamp the dishes by following the directions on this post.
Regularly dining out can put a strain on your budget. It is perfectly acceptable to spend on something you love, but you have to set boundaries and stick to them. Curate a “Date Fund” or a “Spending Plan” and adjust your budget accordingly. You will have to make significant sacrifices in order to follow your financial goals.
Image Credits: pixabay.com
Are you willing to enjoy three consecutive date nights and eat instant Ramen noodles for the rest of the week? Are you willing to restrict your food budget to S$100 per week?
That is the kind of discipline that you (as a couple) will have to maintain.
Since your crowning glory is an asset, you must take good care of your beloved hair. Homemade and natural remedies have abundant benefits to nourish your scalp and roots. Instead of forking out over S$10,000 for hair transplant, consider restoring the health of your locks by following these inexpensive tips:
1. CREATE A BENEFICIAL HAIR MASK
Aside from trimming your belly fat, avocado has a myriad of benefits for your locks. You will not believe what this impressive fruit can offer! Let us start with the fact that it is a rich source of vitamins, proteins amino acids. This is why it is able to soothe your scalp, add moisture, restore shine, and nurture strong growth.
Enjoy all these by combining one avocado, a tablespoon of coconut oil, two eggs, and a tablespoon of honey. Apply this mixture to your hair. Let it settle for 20 minutes before you rinse it.
2. MASSAGE YOUR MANE
A quick homemade remedy for dry and damaged hair only takes one ingredient – butter. Raid your kitchen to get a relatively small amount of butter. Massage this generously to your dry hair and cover everything with a shower cap. Do this for 30 minutes. Then, rinse all the butter out by using shampoo.
3. LET IT ALL DOWN
You deserve to have a meaningful rest after months of back-to-back deadlines and major projects. The same idea goes for your hair. It needs every break it can possibly get. Simple things such as wearing your hair down or fixing it loosely can make a difference. Elastic bands can put stress on your hair roots and shaft. This is why you must not sleep with any hair accessories.
4. ABSORB THE ONION’S JUICE
Onion has a high concentration of sulfur, which helps hair growth by increasing collagen production. Use the onion’s juice to control hair fall. Start by chopping the onion well and squeeze out its juice. Massage the mixture to your scalp and let it sit for 15 minutes. When the time is up, rinse your hair with mild shampoo.
As a friendly reminder, do a patch test before using the onion as hair treatment.
5. WRAP YOUR DAMP HAIR
Do you know why some women keep their hair wrapped in a “towel bun“? Well, wrapping the wet hair in a cotton towel leads to the absorption of moisture. This act can help to protect the hair against further split ends.
6. BRUSH YOUR HAIR BEFORE SLEEPING
One of the best treats that you can bestow upon your hair is to brush it before you sleep. Opt for a natural-bristle brush or a wide-tooth comb. Run this through your hair from roots to tips. According to the Owner of Cambio Salon Mary Rascon, doing this will help to move your scalp’s natural oils through your hair.
Social media platforms have infiltrated our lives. According to the findings of the Connected Life by Kantar TNS global study, Singapore ranked third among the countries of APAC.
Third in which scale? Well, third in the usage of Instagram and Snapchat apps. Considering that Singapore’s connectivity speed is impressive, it comes as no surprise that more and more people are using these two apps.
Put your knowledge of social media into good use by earning cash on the side!
SELL YOUR PRODUCTS OR SERVICES
With the knowledge that social media allows daily access of diverse consumers, one of the most obvious methods to make money through this platform is to post an advertisement. For example, you may clean up the clutter in your closet and find the things that you deem to be unused or underused and sell them to your friends and family through Instagram. Or, you can turn your hobbies (e.g., baking cupcakes or making jewelries) into a home-based online shop.
You can either use your personal Instagram account or set up a secondary business profile. Instagram’s business profile allows you to add details (e.g., contact number and location) so that interested individuals can directly reach your brand. Interestingly, it includes a tool called “Insight” that enables you to learn more about your followers and to observe how your posts are performing.
PROMOTE FOR OTHERS
It never crossed my mind that I could be paid to share a selfie simply because I am a blogger. I once gave a “shout-out” for a humble jewelry business while rocking some of their products. No! I am far from a huge celebrity nor am I as close as the famous social media personalities. However, I have a decent amount of followers. Marketers seem to ensure people like me when it comes to promotion.
Well, it might be due to the trust placed by the consumers. According to Singaporeans aged 16 to 24, they seem to accept the information shared by the social media personalities rather than the information distributed by the brands themselves. You may take advantage of this ideal by selling your selfies and shout-outs in Instagram and Snapchat (considering that you have a relatively huge following).
For instance, you can feature the songs of rising artists on your Snapchat live stories. Keep in mind that the stories are no longer auto-advanced, which is why you must maintain the interest of your audience.
EMPLOY AFFILIATE MARKETING
How often have you seen websites with sidebar banners that publicize their partners and other affiliates? This is called affiliate marketing. The same principle applies when you are rolling it over to Instagram. You use affiliate marketing to receive cash for the sales of the products or services that you promoted. Use catchy taglines and vibrant HD photographs to drive more sales through an affiliate code or a URL (i.e., to be attached in your profile bio).
SELL YOUR ACCOUNT
If you are ready to quit your social media addiction, consider selling your account along with the audience that you carefully built. Your hard work will not put to waste as budding businesses and other individuals are interested in managing an established account.
Image Credits: pixabay.com
Simply wipe out your sensitive information as well as all your uploads before handing it out to the new owner.
