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Avoid Impulse Buys And Save More Money Shopping This GSS

We had all been victims of impulsive purchase/s. And, this Great Singapore Sale (GSS) period where most shops have over 70% off, your power to resist may be tested! The good news is that, you can strengthen your power by following this simple ways:

1. NOTE DOWN A LIST

The oldest trick in the bag can just be the one that saves you! Making a list of the necessary gifts you to buy along with the names of the people you are wishing to give it to can help you avoid the temptation of overwhelming discounts. If you want, you can also dictate a budget per person (e.g., S$10 for a co-worker). No matter what, stick to this list.

2. SCORE GOOD DEALS BY SHOPPING ONLINE

To prevent the enticing visual stimulations, you can skip the malls all together and just shop online. By shopping online, you can not only compare price but also avoid the long queue. Who likes squeezing their way to the crowds anyway?

To get you started with your GSS shopping, here are the premier Singapore online shops you can browse: Lazada, Qoo10, and Zalora. Use coupon codes if applicable.

3. DO YOUR RESEARCH

As the glistening crimson sign of “GSS SALE” is parading across the country, it is good to do your research first before heading to the malls. This research requires you to browse the promotions of various shops and malls before you leave the house.

To get a comprehensive list of what is on sale, you may check out the Great Singapore Sale website at Greatsingaporesale.com.sg or browse the array of deals at Moneydigest.sg/category/deals.

4. PAY CASH

Having to pay with the money you already have is a wise decision that is accepted by most. Unless your credit card is rewarding you extra for shopping this GSS, you must shy away from it. A wallet full of your intended spending will force you to stay within the budget and prevent unnecessary buys.

5. BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF

Before buying anything, ask yourself several questions to help you evaluate if an item is worthy or not. Ask question such as: “Does the item simplify my life?” , “Am I going to feel better months after I buy this?”, or “Do I really need this?”. Be honest as honest with yourself as possible.

6. KNOW YOUR TRIGGERS

You must understand what brings about or triggers your impulse purchases. For instance, if your trigger is fragrant scents scattered in the malls then, shop online instead.

Image Credits: Giuseppe Milo via Flickr

Also, it takes no Jedi mind trick to tell that shopping on an empty stomach will make you tempted for more snacks. So, be sure to shop on a satiated state during the Great Singapore Sale!

How to make the best out of your last $300?

Experts estimate that more than 90% of the diseases are stress related. And rapid aging is probably another negative by-product of sustained elevated stress levels. While eradicating anxiety and stress altogether in fast-paced Singapore may be unrealistic, indulging in therapeutic treatments and one’s favourite hobbies can certainly help to manage stress.

Continuing from the article “How to maximise your life with a $3,000 paycheck”, this article is the last in a five-part series and it will zoom in to the ways of deriving the ultimate satisfaction and gratification from life with the last 10% or $300 of a $3,000 salary.

Image credit: taxisingapore.com

1. A short getaway to Johor Bahru

While it is a well-known fact that JB is a shopping and food haven, many may still feel that it is not worth a hassle to beat the checkpoints and commit to the distant travel. However, depending on one’s schedule and opportunity cost, the huge cost savings are hardly resistible. Indeed, food, accommodation, wares and massage services are priced at a steep discount to those in Singapore, especially when the favorable exchange rate persists. Therefore, it may be more sensible and economical to shop in the foreign land to maximize your spending power.

Image credit: outlet.com.sg

2. Go online shopping

Being economically vibrant and prosperous is honorable, but it is not without its costs. Prohibitively high rental and labour costs in Singapore have created much hardship for local businesses, and consequently, the consumers who have to bear the inflated price tags. However, it pays to be technologically savvy. The major growth spurt of online retailers has simply thrived on a low-cost but high-quality principle. Furthermore, online businesses are easily accessible, which enables effortless comparisons. And it is precisely this unmitigated flow of information that heightens competition and further drives down our bills. So, time to hitch on to this modern trend if you haven’t!

Image credit: appleandradish.com.au

3. Learn a fun skill

Learning is limitless. By continually expanding your knowledge and skills, you gain others’ respect while becoming an increasingly invaluable asset to their lives (and of course, you are the greatest beneficiary of your own abilities). It does not have to always be intellectual. It could be an indispensable skill that most people overlook. Thankfully, this gap is plugged by LessonsGoWhere, an online marketplace that brings exciting and enriching lessons covering a diverse blend of 9 categories from baking to photography to an aspiring community. Who knows if one day, the new skill may even change your entire course of life and carve out a rewarding career niche?

What do you need a $300 emergency fund for?

Unexpected events happen from time to time. Some could be delightful while others may be distressing. However, leaving things to luck may not always yield an optimal outcome. Indeed, it is prudent to set up an emergency fund to hedge against uncertainties. Since it is a form of protection, the earlier you recognise the need for this fund, the greater control you will have over your destiny.

Continuing from the article “How to maximise your life with a $3,000 paycheck”, this article is the fourth in a five-part series and it will be looking at the uses of the 10% or $300 emergency fund in coping with many of the life’s surprises – be it pleasant or unpleasant.

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1. Health Insurance

One of the most debilitating episodes in life is to be afflicted with a chronic or acute disease such as kidney failure or cancer. While the majority of people do not experience such traumatic events, it is nevertheless difficult – if not impossible – to predict if you are the ill-fated one. This is when health insurance is one of the best bets (in the legion of insurance products) before the tragedy strikes. For fresh graduates who are in their twenties, the premiums are pretty affordable and the payouts are formulated attractively. For example, PRUshield extra offers an all-round protection where the insured gets to enjoy coverage from the very first dollar.

Image credit: corp.nhg.com.sg

2. Medical Consultation

As a typical health insurance policy often does not insure against minor ailments such as the common flu, cough or fever, it is thus essential to save up an adequate amount for ad hoc medical expenses. Having said that, it is a heartening news that many employers provide subsidized medical care to their employees. Still, it is a virtuous practice to be readily available to render financial assistance to the medical needs of one’s family members.

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3. Repair Cost

Occasionally, humans may not be in good shape. But so do our ubiquitous electronic devices, ranging from smartphones to laptops. While most consumer electronics are covered with warranty, it usually excludes personal damage that may arise from negligence or other causes. Therefore, it is crucial to take such accidental cost into account.

Image credit: lesterchan.net

4. Celebration

Joyous parties and festivals occur periodically. It could be an invitation to your superior or colleague’s wedding or baby shower. It could also be part of the family or societal culture to soak in the fun for festivals such as the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is a time where close friends and families get together and wallow in the festive exuberance, developing stronger rapport and splurging on their loved ones and themselves.

3 ways to look for the best in people

Some people we know adopt generally negative and cynical attitudes towards others, but in doing so, they fail to realize that they have missed out on the joys of life. These people sometimes impose self-righteous beliefs on to others and form judgments of how others should behave. They keep close tabs on people’s mistakes rather than focusing on the positive experiences all of you can create and share. And such behaviours potentially strain friendships and social ties.

On the other hand, if everyone recognizes the fact that life has its own struggles, we could be more forgiving and compassionate. We can alleviate our own suffering while not adding to others’ emotional burden by being positive and looking for the best in people in 3 ways.

Image credit: fastcompany.com

Cultivate a compassionate attitude in which we are empathetic, receptive, understanding, and loving towards others. We all have independent minds that think differently due to disparate cultural and social influences. Most of the time, there isn’t a clearly superior or inferior viewpoint. It is thus often in our best interest to expose ourselves to the universe of diverse ideas and beliefs and learn the beneficial ones through methodical comparison and evaluation. At the same time, when we cultivate compassion instead of negativity, we become closer to the people we love and care about and experience a greater sense of moral fulfilment within ourselves.
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Understand everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses and seek to recognise and complement people’s strengths instead of being unduly obsessed with their weaknesses. More often than not, it reaps far more extraordinary results by spending one’s limited time and resources on building strengths than minimising weaknesses.
Image credit: themaritzinstitute.com
Put yourself in other’s shoes and think from their angle. Always think of how you would want to be treated. Do you like somebody to nitpick your mistakes? If not, the best way to solve a problem is rarely blame shifting or lashing out on others. Instead, maintaining a cool-headed composure and providing constructive (rather than destructive) feedback would be a much more effective remedy. This speeds up learning, resolves the issue and gains other’s favour.

It is important to accept that we create and shape the world we want to live in. If we want others to be compassionate, considerate and understanding, we have to first be comfortable with exhibiting these traits. If we want others to discover and augment our strengths, we should first have a stake in developing others’ strengths and bringing them success. The old adage “don’t do unto others what you don’t want others to do unto you” still holds unwaveringly. Start appreciating what others have as opposed to getting sore at what they lack could be the first step. Every effort to make the world a more congenial place to live in counts.

Eating Out? Make Healthier And Cheaper Choices In Just 5 Ways

With the influx and the variety of the restaurants, cafes, and other eateries island-wide, it is always a good time to dine out at the Red Dot. But…this does not mean that you can freely eat unhealthily or splurge a lot.

Here are 5 ways to work around it:

1. MAKE IT A HABIT TO SEARCH IN ADVANCE

Before dining in the restaurant, make it a habit to check their menu online. Websites such as sg.openrice.com, yelp.com.sg, or hungrygowhere.com can help you locate a restaurant, identify its menu, and give you an estimate of the average spending. This will help you make tastier, healthier, and cheaper decisions.

2. CONSIDER ORDERING A MEAL

Imagine being in an affordable buffet with all the calorie-rich food available at your arm’s length. It sounds tempting doesn’t it? Yet your health may be at cost. Instead of always opting for a buffet, consider ordering a single meal that is packed with nutrients!

3. DISTANCE YOURSELF FROM THE APPETIZERS

Even if the restaurant appetizers are free, do your best to skip it as some of it are packed with calories. Appetizers are also made to fool your brain unto consuming more food that you intend.

Image Credits: wEnDy via Flickr

4. CHEW SLOWLY

Indulge and savour the taste of your food. Eating slowly will help you realize that you are actually satiated. Thus, you will eat and purchase just enough or even less.

5. CHOOSE YOUR DESSERTS AND SALADS WISELY

I know I am not the only one who shares a deep fondness for desserts. A delectably sweet cake drizzled with tasty toppings can make you hungry for more. Although it is tempting, it is important to watch your sugar intake. Opt for lighter dessert choices such as sorbets or fruits. As for the salads, be mindful of the creamy toppings and the dressings.

Image Credits: Ralph Daily via Flickr

With these simple ways, your tummy and your wallet will definitely be happy!

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