To be rich, you have got to take pleasure in working hard

“My formula for success is rise early, work late and strike oil” by Jean Paul Getty, the world’s richest man who amassed billions from oil according to the Fortune magazine in 1957. This is no secret. Hard work always comes before success in many respects.

 In the engineering sphere

Image credit: www.telegraph.co.uk

Image credit: www.telegraph.co.uk

Sakichi Toyoda, the founding father of Toyota, took a protracted period of 23 years to perfect the non-stop shuttle change automatic loom, Type G in 1924. It incorporated numerous automatic, protective, and safety devices based on Toyota’s legion of earlier inventions and underwent rigorous and uncompromising  commercial testing to deliver unparalleled performance in the textile industry worldwide. The patent was eventually sold to a British leading innovation company, Platt Brothers & Co for a whopping £100,000 in 1929. This unpremeditated development had set the cornerstone for Toyota’s industrial and technological achievements we witness today.

His eldest son, Kiichiro Toyoda subsequently took the plunge into the automobile business and never looked back since. Presently, Toyota is crowned the world’s top-selling automaker for a third consecutive year. Ultimately, success is often more easily built on prior successes as the acquired funds and a prudent risk-bearing attitude would allow one to navigate the treacherous waters more cautiously and readily exploit the illuminated opportunities. Nonetheless, to bag the first success, working assiduously is never an option but a priority.

In the world of science and technology

Thomas Edison, the reputable American inventor, drew leading scientists and outstanding engineers from all over the world to his Menlo Park research centre to advance scientific and technological developments. The tight collaboration and painstaking efforts undertaken by the brilliant minds from diverse fields shed powerful insights and revolutionary ideas that culminated in a series of inventions indispensable to our daily lives. Essentially, the invention of the incandescent light bulb was a fruit ripe with both industriousness and dynamic teamwork. Currently, General Electric – established by Edison in 1890 –  is a colossal conglomerate worth more than one quarter of a trillion as of May 2015.

While some people may be flush with cash by a stroke of luck or by birthright, most people shore up their wealth through enduring hard work and unmitigated perseverance.

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Do Not Let These Feelings Drain Your Money

“Emotional Spender: Someone who spends money freely to satisfy his or her feelings at the moment.”

Whether the feelings or emotions are positive or not, letting these dictate your purchases may potentially lead to a disaster. Ask yourself, are you one of them? Another interesting characteristic that an emotional spender has is the regret after spending. This is sometimes due to spending more than one can afford. Fortunately, you can change for the better!

The first step you must take is to identify the problem by figuring out what emotions or feelings trigger your snap financial decisions. Then, use budgeting to guide you as you stop this nasty buying habit.

Here are some of the emotions that may affect your free spending:

1. ANGER

Let us start the list off with Anger. Shopping while you are angry makes you more likely to take risks. This is because purchasing while you are angry can make you feel empowered. For example, if you are angry with your spouse, you can just grab your credit card (i.e., from your joint account) and not care about how much you spend on clothes. An expensive revenge indeed!

Solution: Making yourself feel better by filling the void inside you is not a good move. Instead, lock yourself in a room, play your favorite song, and write down what you feel. Do these things to help you simmer down and avoid emotional purchases.

2. BOREDOM

Having too much time in your hands can make you spend more. Shopping, a very pleasant activity can keep you busy and make you feel occupied. So, it may act as a substitute for other fulfilling and productive activities. For example, if you work from home, it is natural to have a few hours to spare. As leisure, you decided to go on shopping trips since shopping is not only a boredom buster but also an activity you can do alone.

Solution: Find a fun hobby or activity to occupy you when you are bored. You may try cooking different pasta recipes or catching up on your favorite TV shows. Toggle.sg lets you watch episodes of your favorite shows at Channel 5, Channel 8, Channel U, Okto, Suria, and Vasantham – at no cost!

3. HAPPINESS

How can a positive feeling make you splurge your paycheck? Well, it is possible if you want to celebrate a milestone (e.g., promotion, raise, or graduation) in a grand fashion. According to research by Harris Interactive, 53% of people are guilty of celebratory shopping. This goes to show that shopping in a good note is normal but it may come with expensive price tags.

Solution: Celebrate a momentous event within your means. Having an intimate gathering of your closest loved ones is better than having a huge graduation party at a 5-star hotel. It is okay to indulge once in a while as long as you have money to spare. You deserve it!

CONCLUSION

Spending the money you either do not have or you can well spend elsewhere to satisfy your emotional needs only create more problems than solutions. If you set up a budget with a room for reasonable indulgence then, it is acceptable to spend. After all, that is how personal finance should work.

Image Credits: Antoine K via Flickr with Creative Commons License

Image Credits: Antoine K via Flickr with Creative Commons License

Sources: 1 & 2

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Exciting Places To Explore At Bugis Area With S$30 In Your Pocket

The Bugis Area, spanning from Bras Basah to Fort Canning, is not only rich in business establishments but is also abundant in cafes, bookstores, museums, and activities that you and your companions can enjoy. Even with a budget of only S$30!

1. FOR DELECTABLE DESSERTS

In 2014, a Japanese dessert shop called Tai-Parfait graced Singapore at the Bugis Junction. Brought by Dining Innovation Singapore, Tai-Parfait boasts its Taiyaki – a Japanese original fish-shaped pancake filled with sweet red bean paste…for only S$2.20. What’s more? You can also put ice cream, fruits, and other toppings on your dessert.

For example, you may try the Matcha Azuki Tai-Parfait for S$5.50. It is a chocolate-filled Taiyaki topped with Matcha cream, Green Tea ice cream, and Azuki. Sounds delicious, doesn’t it?

Go ahead and get your very own Tai-Parfait desserts at Bugis Junction, #B1-03A.

2. FOR BODY TONING AND MUSCLE STRENGTH

Have you wanted to burn more calories without having extreme muscle stress? Then, try water exercises, especially the Aqua Spin. Aqua Spin, suited for all levels, is believed to fight diabetes and obesity. Aside from this, your blood circulation, muscle strength, and cardiovascular fitness will improve.

A session will not cost you a fortune as a one-time trial is priced at S$25. Spin away at YWCA Fort Canning Lodge (Swimming Pool at Level 3), 6 Fort Canning Road, Singapore 179494!

3. FOR THE GENUINE BOOKWORM

The Bras Basah Complex is the one-stop-shop for budget printing services and cheap books. The bookstores here are filled with a myriad of non-fiction books, fiction books, magazines, textbooks, children’s books, graphic novels, and so much more! Support the Evernew Bookstore’s book fairs that offer second-hand books for as low as S$2-5!

With prices as low as that, how can a genuine bookworm ever leave?

4. FOR THE LOVE OF TOYS

A visit at the MINT (Moment of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys) Museum of Toys will help you relive the treasured memories of your childhood. With its collection of over 50,000 vintage toys originating from over 40 countries as far as United Kingdom, Bulgaria, and Germany, it is no surprise that the value of the entire museum is over S$5 million.

Admission rates are as follows:

Children (Aged 2-12): $7.50

Senior Citizens (Aged 60 years and above): $7.50

Adults: $15.00

Interestingly, some of the toys that you may see are the 1903 Steiff Teddy Bear and the 1953 Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Set.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8epZlJ73GVY

For more information about the MINT Museum, check out emint.com.

Sources: 1 & 2

 

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Excellent Places To Find Low-Cost Uniquely Singaporean Souvenirs

If you are traveling Singapore for the first time or if you are visiting relatives overseas, it is great to have a uniquely Singaporean keepsake with you. Looking for the keepsake or souvenir can be a challenge when your budget and time are constricted. But, not anymore! The key is to find the famous bargain shopping places that can be easily accessed. Thus, your shopping trip will only take a few hours of your day.

With that in mind, here are places where you can find affordable Singapore souvenirs:

1. LUCKY PLAZA

There is no doubt in my mind that bargaining is widely acceptable in mostly all the shops at Lucky Plaza. This shopping center is conveniently located at Orchard Road so, you can simply drop by while you are cruising along the huge stretch of malls. The varieties of souvenirs that you can buy are abundant with a price starting from S$2.

2. PENINSULA PLAZA

Nearby the tourist spots such as Asian Civilisations Museum, the Esplanade Theatres, St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Parliament House, and Funan DigitalLife Mall, Peninsula Plaza proves to be a go-to shopping center for cheap keepsakes such as magnets, postcards, bags, and key chains. The prices of these keepsakes range from about S$3-25.

Image Credits: Riza Nugraha via Flickr with Creative Commons License

Image Credits: Riza Nugraha via Flickr with Creative Commons License

3. BUGIS STREET

A well-known bargain hub located opposite Bugis Junction is called Bugis Street. It houses a variety of shops that sell souvenirs such as clothing, bags, accessories, cups, magnets, chocolates, stamps, and so much more. The prices of these items range from about S$3-30. You may freely bargain with some stall owners.

Now, if you have no idea what to get for your friends and family, you may try to shop for these items:

1. SINGAPORE PRESSED PENNIES

Almost all the popular tourist attractions have automatic pressed penny machines where it is priced at about S$2 per penny. The engraved design of the coin features the name of the place where the souvenir was taken. For example, it is available at Universal Studios Singapore, National Museum of Singapore, Singapore Zoo, and Gardens By The Bay.

2. ANYTHING WITH THE MERLION

The Merlion represents the roots of Singapore being a “Lion City” with its lion head while the body of a fish represents Singapore’s dawn as a fishing village. With a souvenir featuring the national icon – the Merlion, your gift recipient will surely appreciate where it came from. Prices of Merlion merchandise such as chocolates, key chains, magnets, snow globes, mugs, and picture frames range from S$2-20.

These Merlion-based are available at all souvenir shops.

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Bargain Hunting: Singapore’s Greatest Shopping Events

Great Singapore Sale

If you want to avoid shopping crowds and busy stores, why not shop online? You can easily experience hassle-free shopping and still get the best discounts, if you know when and where to shop. If you don’t want to miss out on the biggest discounts of the year, make sure you keep yourself updated with the most popular shopping events in Singapore.

The Great Singapore Sale (GSS)

Dates: 29 May – 26 July

There’s no better time to be a bit more carefree with money than during the Great Singapore Sale (GSS). Acclaimed Singapore’s biggest sale of the year, GSS is one of the top shopping holidays for both retailers and customers. Singapore Retailers Association (SRA), official organiser of the event, teamed up with MasterCard to provide Singaporeans with amazing opportunities to save money during the festival – shoppers are invited to use dedicated coupon codes and discounts on flights, hotel accommodation, fashion, electronics and various online services. The festival is full of attractive events, including Singapore Restaurant Month, International Jewellery Expo or Food Festival. What’s most important though, promotions live up to customer’s expectations – you can get even 70% off on a wide range of products. In addition, customers who participate in the event can enter daily giveaways and stand a chance to win daily prizes (detailed information can be found on the event’s official website).

The Great Online Shopping Festival (GOSF)

Dates: 02 – 04 February

Created by Google, The Great Online Shopping Festival came to Singapore right after its commercial success in India. The idea behind the event was to convince online retailers and shopping platforms to release great discounts in order to push their sales. Google partners with big ecommerce sites and shopping websites who will provide a special promotional offer for these two days only – coupon codes, gifts with purchases, free shipping, extra off sales, competitions and much more. GOSF is also supported by DBS and SingPost who joined the organiser to facilitate the participation in the event. In result, shoppers are spoilt with a massive number of promotion codes applicable via website or mobile devices and are offered a huge range of discounted services and products that are equally satisfactory. The shopping festival lasts only two days but it’s filled with opportunities to save money and win prizes on a daily basis. Shoppers must act quickly not to miss out.

Black Friday & Cyber Monday

Dates: 27 – 30 November

Those two major shopping events and the busiest shopping days of the year originated in the USA and quickly gained great international popularity. Black Friday and its online counterpart Cyber Monday provide retailers with an opportunity to increase sales before Christmas and customers with a chance to save money and do some early shopping on a budget. Even though Singaporeans invented their own version of Cyber Monday – GOSF – these shopping events are still celebrated by a number of local online retailers. Cross-border shoppers should stay tuned and keep their eyes wide opened, especially if they plan to seek bargains from outside of Singapore. Plenty of online retailers release free worldwide delivery codes so that international consumers can also benefit and make some savings during sales period.

Participate in the Singapore’s online shopping craze from the comfort of your home and spoil yourself, as these events will bring you the best that online shopping has to offer.

The impatient bargain hunters can visit Picodi.sg and browse a wide range of online coupons to Singapore’s online stores. The website updates its listing of coupons on a daily basis, so grab a deal and start shopping!

 

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