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You Are Losing Bulks Of Money On Fads

A fad is an intense enthusiasm that is widely shared by the masses but it is short-lived. For instance, investing fads are usually the “newest” investing style in the market, which is usually unsustainable in the long run. Moreover, fad in the marketing sense is the behavior that develops on a large population due to the perception of popularity or coolness as deemed in social media or other forms.

By definition, being hooked on a fad is similar as being infatuated with a person for temporary period of time. Although, that does not stop you to spend bulks of money on fads! Avoid overspending by being aware of the ongoing fads in the Singapore market:

1. BOOK CRAZE

Remember when the Harry Potter or Twilight book series swept the nation by storm? This time, the book craze dates back from your childhood and it is none other than the coloring books! Coloring books, adult coloring books to be exact, have been increasing sales due to its social media following as the adults claim the coloring activity to be a great stress reliever. In Popular Bookstore, its price ranges from S$8.43-16.08.

2. FROZEN YOGURT

Frozen yogurt is gaining fame and does not show any signs of stopping at the time being. Companies such as Yami Yogurt, Sogurt, Berrylite, and Llao llao have been forming long queues in their stores especially the last one. Frozen yogurt is a famous product due to its healthy ingredients and high nutritional value. I shall focus on the Instagram famous frozen yogurt called Llao llao.

Image Credits: facebook.com/llaollaoSingapore

Llao llao’s frozen yogurt is made with skimmed milk and finest toppings. I can attest that their frozen yogurt is delicious and smooth. But, the price of their products on average is S$6. That is not so cheap especially if you keep coming back for more.

Image Credits: facebook.com/llaollaoSingapore

3. ENERGY DRINKS

Energy drinks are designed to give you the temporary boost you need for the day. It is popularly consumed in bars, restaurants, and gas stations. The energy drink brand that is gaining momentum in Singapore today is called “ok.-“. Ok.-‘s variety of flavors and colorful packaging speaks volumes to the urban lifestyle we live in. Furthermore, they marketed the brand in crowded places such as the Orchard Road. One pop is sold at about S$2.25. Imagine the effect on your pocket if you need the extra elevation everyday!

Image Credits: facebook.com/okoksg

4. FAD DIETS

Every fad diets claim to be the most efficient solution to losing weight and to becoming healthier. In the recent years, the famed diets include South Beach Diet, Paleo Diet, and Atkins Diet. Celebrities have sworn their lives to juicing and vegan diet. But what’s hot now is the combination of Vegan and Paleo Diet called Pegan. It is consisted of low-carbohydrates Paleo Diet (i.e., including meat, fish, and vegetables only), as well as fruits and vegetables from the Vegan Diet.

The problem to committing to these types of diets is the unnecessary price tags attached to it. For instance, you can purchase a juicer that ranges from S$49-800 just to make fine, smooth, and healthy juices each day. Organic produces are not that cheap too! Unless, if you purchase them from the budget-friendly groceries – here.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

8 Teachers’ Day Promotion You Don’t Want To Miss

Happy Teachers’ Day!

Show appreciation to your teachers and honour them for their contribution this coming Teachers’ Day.

Here are some promotions that teachers in Singapore can look forward to!

From dining deals to hotel stays, you don’t want to miss this!

Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa

1-for-1 Buffet Dinner at Silver Shell Cafe

Krispy Kreme

Free Original Glazed® Dougnut

On 4 September, all Educators can come to Krispy Kreme Tangs Orchard store to redeem one free Original Glazed® Dougnut. 1,000 pieces available only. Redemption based on first-come first-served-basis and while stocks last. *Simply produce a valid ID or letter of employment for verification.

Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy

1-for-1 Buffet at Feast@East

Handsets and mobile plans deals

Zalora

18% off storewide with no minimum spend

issho izakaya

50% off ala-carte food

ALIVE Museum Singapore

50% off 2nd ticket

MINT Museum of Toys

50% OFF Museum Entry with a maximum of 4 other accompanying guests (U.P. $15)
20% OFF Mr Punch Restaurant & Rooftop Bar ala-carte menu.

Promotion valid only with MOE name-card / Civil Service Pass / any proof of being an educator. Valid for teachers, lecturers & educators with proof of ID. Promotion is valid only from 3 – 9 Sep 2014.

3 Ways To Go To An ArtScience Museum Exhibition (MBS) For Free

ArtScience Museum located at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) is the world’s first museum that focuses mainly on Art and Science. Exhibitions in this building exude creativity and curiosity as well as the role of these characteristics in shaping our society.

You might have seen the building from afar because of its iconic shape that has “10 fingers” anchored by a unique round base in the middle. The modern and exquisite detailing is perfect for the central themes of the museum. That said, you must visit it at least once.

If you are on a budget, you are in luck! Some exhibitions in the museum are free! You read that right. Not everything in MBS is expensive.

1. PICK UP YOUR FREE-ENTRY TICKET AT THE MUSEUM BOX OFFICE

To celebrate SG50 and Straits Times’ 170th anniversary, ArtScience Museum is showcasing an exhibition on their behalf that is free – for all visitors! From now until October 4, 2015, you must pick up your free-entry tickets to the “Singapore STories: Then, Now, Tomorrow Exhibition” at the museum foyer.

Straits Times (ST) has been the longest running English newspaper in the Lion City.

The exhibition recaptures the tales of our nation since ST’s founding in 1845 through significant articles, headlines, and pictures (i.e., including ones that the public has never been seen before). Imagine having to squeeze and filter through more than 40,000 issues of the newspaper just to give us the best ones! Furthermore, they added a futuristic element by envisioning what Singapore would be like 50 years down the road.

What I liked most about the exhibition are the interactive activities such as testing your knowledge on the Singaporean acronyms, sliding the pictures to see the before and after shots of different infrastructures, and the complementary paper dress-up wherein you can lean more about the different types of Singaporean dresses (e.g., Cheongsam, Sari, and Baju Kurung).

Image Credits: instagram.com/agoncilloanna

2. TAKE YOUR KIDS ON A FRIDAY FAMILY DAY

Every Fridays, families with children can enjoy enriching and engaging exhibitions for free. Only the children (maximum of four) of an adult who purchased a standard ticket will be given the free passes on the same exhibition/s. For the child to be honored with the free-entry ticket, he or she must be 12 years old or under. Furthermore, all tickets are issued for the same day at the museum box office only.

Imagine how much fun your children and your wallet would have when you take them to the DreamWorks Animation Exhibition or The Deep Exhibition. Not only are these exhibitions educational but also they are also interactive.

Read more about the Terms and Conditions, here.

3. JOIN ARTSCIENCE MUSEUM’S FACEBOOK COMPETITIONS

About 2 weeks ago, ArtScience Museum’s Facebook page hosted a competition wherein 10 winners received all-access passes to the exhibitions as well as goodie bags from the museum’s gift shop. The lucky winners have been announced last night. Worry not if you missed your chance because the museum guarantees that there are more giveaways in the future!

So, like them on Facebook at facebook.com/ArtScienceMuseum.

Image Credits: facebook.com/ArtScienceMuseum

Sources: 1 & 2

6 Best Places To Eat Delicious Local Dishes

Singaporeans really love to eat. It is one of the forces that hold our country of different races together. A chicken rice, chili crab, nasi lemak, and roti prata can share the same table with problem at all! So, for the newcomers and locals who want to experience good food at a budget, here are the best places to visit:

1. HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

One of my all time favorite local dishes is the chicken rice! It is so popular in the island that almost all the restaurants, hawker centers, and Singapore Airlines aircrafts serve this dish. When it comes to chicken rice, people expect the chicken to be as good as the rice. Both should be flavorful, tender, and smooth. Suggested places are as follows:

a. Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice

Known for its fragrant and delicious chicken rice, Tian Tian has been voted as the best chicken rice hawker stall in Singapore. A bowl of chicken broth and a plate of chicken rice cost about S$3.50. This is a great price for quality taste!

Location: 1 Kadayanallur Street, #01-10/11 Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore 069184

b. Wee Nam Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice

Wee Nam Kee has been named as the Top Hawker at AsiaOne People’s Choice Award in 2010. Its chicken rice is unique because of its dipping sauce. A plate of chicken rice is about S$4.80 while a half chicken is S$16.

Location: 101 Thomson Road, #01-08 United Square, Singapore 307591

2. CHILI CRAB

In 2011, CNNgo dubbed Chili Crab as one of the world’s most delicious food. Such a prestigious list, if you ask me. Chili Crab is one of the famed seafood delicacies for any travelers. Suggested places are as follows:

a. No Signboard Seafood Restaurant

No Signboard Seafood Restaurant is the home for unique white pepper crab. The peppery taste is strong but does not overpower the sweetness of the crab. And, the spiciness is paced at your own taste. The average price per person is S$40.

Location: 414 Geylang, Singapore 389392

b. Mellben Seafood

Mellben Seafood’s menu features a wide array of crab dishes such as chilli crab, claypot crab vermicelli soup, black pepper crab, butter crab, and shimmering sand crab. The average price per person is S$35.

Location: #01-1222, 232 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, Singapore 560232

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

3. SATAY

Also in CNNgo’s 50 of the world’s most delicious food is the satay. Satay is a dish with meat, cucumbers, and onions served with a thick peanut sauce on the side. Suggested places are as follows:

a. Chomp Chomp Satay

Chomp Chomp Satay’s satay is juicy and generously marinated. Besides that, they offer local street food dishes like fried oyster, carrot cake, and Hokkien mee. The price of satay is about S$0.50 per stick.

Location: 20 Kensington Park Road, Singapore 557269

b. Chuan Kee Satay

Since its inception in the 1970s, Chuan Kee Satay has been serving its traditional Hainanese satay. Its pork satay is complete with flavorful spices, tasty peanut sauce, and pineapple gravy. The price of satay is S$0.40-0.50 per stick but the minimum order is 10 sticks.

Location: Block 51 Old Airport Road, Singapore 390051

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

Sources: 1 & 2

5 Questions Educated Consumers Ask Before Purchase

Dreaming of a movie theatre-like experience at home? Few people turned that dream into reality by purchasing 3D television that includes 3D glasses, lifelike images, vivid colors, and 3D effects. But majority of these owners (i.e., almost 80%) in United Kingdom, regret their purchase. The leading complaint is that there is not enough 3D content to make ownership of the device worthwhile.

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

To avoid making regrettable purchases like the example above, you must use the available resources to educate yourself on the consumer data and product information before buying something. The power of communication will help you make quicker and smarter consumer decisions. Ask yourself these questions before purchasing something:

1. DOES THIS PRODUCT COME WITH WARRANTY?

In case an unforeseen event happens and your item does not function anymore, do you have to fork your own savings for repair or return it to the manufacturer under the warranty terms? We all know that the latter is better especially if your purchase is a costly one (e.g., a washing machine or an Apple laptop). Invest in products with warranty and confidence in its manufacturer’s shoulders.

2. DO I HAVE ONE OF THIS?

Some people forget where they place a certain item and would go to the store just to purchase one – again. If this happens to you often, it is about time that you organize your space. Toss or donate the stuff you do not need anymore then, discover useful items that you already own.

3. CAN I JUST BORROW THE SAME ITEM FROM SOMEONE ELSE?

Say you live in a small flat with 1 bedroom and you needed to vacuum. If the product is as common as a vacuum cleaner then, opt for borrowing the vacuum cleaner of your neighbor or friend. Why bother if the item is not really necessary to your home anyway? Furthermore, you can assess whether buying a secondhand version of the product is a brilliant idea.

4. DO I HAVE TO USE THE MONEY I DO NOT HAVE FOR THIS ITEM?

Using the credit card for your purchases should be your last resort. No matter how great a deal may seem, it may still add up to your credit card interest. So, ask yourself if the item is really worth it.

5. CAN THE PRODUCT’S USEFULNESS LAST FOR 6 MONTHS OR MORE?

Be realistic while envisioning yourself and the product. If you are still using it for six months and more then…it is a good purchase. You do not want to waste too much money on something that you would use for a day (e.g., Halloween costume)!

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

Sources: 1 & 2

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