Lifestyle & Hobbies Archives | Page 139 of 165

Amazing Date Ideas That Don’t Cost A Dollar

Dates can become a burden to the wallets of broke students. The idea of dating at a limited budget can sometimes be stressful and embarrassing. Well, not anymore! You can go on amazing dates without spending a dollar! Remember, there is absolutely nothing wrong about staying frugal while dating.

1. GO ON A TREETOP HIKE

Take your special someone to a morning hike while watching the sunrise at the MacRitchie Reservoir Park. MacRitchie Reservoir Park houses several long hiking routes including the famous TreeTop Walk. The TreeTop Walk consists of a freestanding suspension bridge that connects two highest points namely: Bukit Peirce and Bukit Kalang. This is the first of its kind. Your date will truly appreciate the unique experience of looking over the variety of plants and animals while being about 25 meters off the ground.

2. HAVE A GAME NIGHT

Turn your date night into a romantic game night. You can get to know each other while playing the infamous childhood game of Truth or Dare. Learn a lot about his or her boiling points while playing poker. Wage it with anything other than money (e.g., kisses or chocolates). Lastly, you can even play fun board games such as Monopoly, Scrabble, and Battleship.

Image Credits:
Anders Ruff Custom Designs via Flickr with CC Attribution-NoDerivs

3. CONDUCT A VIDEO GAME SHOWDOWN

Get your XBOX, Wii, or Play Station ready for a showdown. Nothing beats a date filled with enjoyable video games. What is even more interesting are old-school video games. If your old console or Nintendo hand-held game is still operating then, spend the night by facing each other into a classic brawl of Super Mario Brothers or Street Fighter. This is a sweet trip down the memory lane!

4. HAVE A MOVIE MARATHON

Looking for a perfect first date experience? Look no more as MovieMob brings you the premier outdoor movie screenings that would not cost you a cent! MovieMob, an acclaimed Outdoor Movie Specialist, screens movies to various locations around Singapore. Instead of heading to a fancy and pricey restaurant, plan a picnic while enjoying a free movie at the park. Stay updated by visiting: facebook.com/apemoviemob.

Alternatively, you can host a movie marathon by watching free movies at home. Catch a free flick or two in the comforts of your own home by watching at YouTube’s Movies playlist at youtube.com/user/YouTubeMoviesWW. Turn the romance on by switching to scented (and safe) candles instead of lamps and by heating up a bag of popcorn.

5. LEARN A SKILL TOGETHER

There is nothing more romantic than sharing your interests to your partner. If you are a fan of cooking and baking then, teach him or her the basic recipes and techniques. And, if neither of you have a special skill, you can look up free online tutorials and make a DIY project together.

Image Credits: Howard Holley via Flickr with CC License

Having tight finances should not stop you from spending quality time with your special someone! 🙂

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

Bored? Here Are 4 Ways You Can Make And Save Money Right Now!

Boredom is unavoidable. It can happen to anyone at some period of time. With this period, you can either waste your time on non-sense facades or get your creative juices flowing! I would rather choose the latter.

Do something productive with your time while earning and saving money with these 4 simple ways:

1. KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PERSONAL FINANCES

Having a good amount of time to spare can be efficient if you utilize it to organize your personal finances. Start by tracking your bi-weekly and monthly income and expenses. Then, review your monthly budget. Contemplate if the budget is enough or overboard.

Image Credit: 401 (K) 2012 via Flikr

Afterwards, you must review different strategies to improve your budget. These strategies may include cutting down expense categories, limiting your shopping trips, or using coupons.

2. INEXPENSIVE INTERACTIONS

If you are trying to defeat boredom while living frugally, you must practice inexpensive ways to socialize or interact with the people who are important to you.

For instance, you can save more money while having the equal amount of fun when you are having your friends over at your house.

Image Credits: Alex Bellink via Flickr with CC License

You can also score free and delicious home cooked meals at your parents’ house. Of course, that comes with having a quality time with them.

3. ANSWER ONLINE SURVEYS

Bring your boredom to your advantage by answering online surveys while making decent money out of it. Answering online surveys is a type of freelance work done during your own convenience. However, it is important to highlight that several companies pay a couple of dollars while others compensate you with gift cards or rewards (e.g., iTunes or Amazon gift card).

Image Credits: 401(K) 2012 via Flickr with CC License Attribution-ShareAlike

Suggested online companies that conduct surveys are: SurveyMonkey, Opinion Outpost, and SurveySpot.

4. BUILD A BLOG

Share your thoughts and the things you are passionate about while making loyal followers and extra money through a blog. In order to get started, your blog must have a thematic niche such as fashion, finance, or parenting. Preoccupy your time by improving the blog’s design and content. Then, start earning by placing advertisements or becoming an affiliate partner.

Curious on how much a successful blogger can make? Well, they can earn as much as S$5,000 a day. Not bad for something that might have been a by-product of boredom! 🙂

Image Credits: Mike Licht via Flickr with CC License

Sources: 1, 2 , & 3

There Is A Fine Line Between Frugality And Cheapness

Frugality and Cheapness are seemingly the same but are entirely different personas.

DEFINITION

According to freedictionary.com frugality is costing little why cheapness is being stingy. In order to analyze these two terms better, here is a concise list:

FRUGALITY

a. Taking advantage of great deals, promotions, or sales while planning for purchases.

b. Delaying gratification and pleasure to make huge purchases or decisions.

c. Does not obsess over brands.

d. Does not sacrifice the quality of the object because solely of the price.

CHEAPNESS

a. Being cheap affects the quality of life as well as everyday interactions.

b. Basic needs are of lesser quality than the norm.

c. Does not binge shop when one has money.

d. Will sacrifice the quality of the object just to by the cheapest one.

Simply, when you are willing to wait for the promotions on Singapore Airlines in order to get the best deal and good quality of flight then, you are frugal. But if you are refusing to spend more than S$150 on a ticket even when it is not feasible then, you are cheap.

TWO PRIMARY DIFFERENCES

There are two observable primary differences between frugality and cheapness. Namely:

1. FRUGAL PEOPLE MAXIMIZE THE WORTH OF THEIR MONEY AND TIME; CHEAP PEOPLE MAXIMIZE SAVING MONEY REGARDLESS OF THE COST

For instance, your group of friends decided to spend the weekend at Bali.

A frugal person will use various money saving strategies in order to build up a fund for future huge purchases or decisions. He or she may opt for in-house water at restaurants, packing lunch for work, and limiting buying new clothing in order to save up for a weekend at Bali. While, a cheap person will skip the trip all together until someone pays for his or her travel.

2. FRUGAL PEOPLE USE VALUE WHILE CHEAP PEOPLE USE PRICE

Say you are grocery shopping.

A frugal person will use accumulated coupons and purchase items that are only on his or her shopping list. On the other hand, a cheap person will highly decline to spend more than S$90 on a week’s groceries even though it is not sufficient for the whole family.

Image Credits: Paul Swee via Flickr Attribution-NoDerivs

With all this in mind, you can now ask yourself: “Do I want to be consistently frugal or just plain cheap?”

Sources:1,2 & 3

The Cost-Effective Dos and Don’ts for a Healthy Weight

Singapore was crowned the healthiest country in the world in 2012 by Bloomberg and has been ranked among the top 10 healthiest countries in the world in 2015 by 24/7 Wall St. Singapore’s obesity rate standing at 6.2% is among the lower rates globally, and exceptionally low compared to its healthiest counterparts. So is there a magic formula? Probably not. Must you necessarily break the bank to attain an ideal weight? Absolutely not! In fact, beverages laden with more calories tend to be pricier than the low-calorie counterparts!

According to the Institute of Medicine, an adequate intake (AI) of fluid for men is roughly about 13 cups (3 liters) a day while that of the women is about 9 cups (2.2 liters). Consequently, the effective management of one’s fluid intake would significantly affect one’s body weight. Therefore, here is a list of dos and don’ts that may help you to shed some extra flab and achieve your desired weight using natural yet economical ways. However, do consume the liquids on the side of the dos in moderation as there may be unwanted side effects.

Credits:

https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/check-the-facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/appearance/calories-in-alcohol

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/14/sugary-beverages-calories_n_1595014.html

http://authoritynutrition.com/coffee-increase-metabolism/

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/expert-answers/calories/faq-20058100

http://authoritynutrition.com/green-tea-and-weight-loss/

http://www.livestrong.com/article/344373-lemon-juice-hot-water-for-weight-loss/

http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/fitness/weight-loss/weight-loss-myths-will-drinking-lemon-water-help-you-lose-weight.html#b

http://www.menshealth.com.sg/weight-loss-nutrition/bursting-bubble-tea-fad

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/14/sugary-beverages-calories_n_1595014.html

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=561652

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256

http://chealth.canoe.com/channel_section_details.asp?text_id=4996&channel_id=44&relation_id=48476

https://www.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/generic/tea-green

4 Free Photo Editing Apps You Should Download Now

Do you want to share your beautiful memories captured on portraits but think that it needs extra filters or finishing touches? Fret not because many Photo Editing Apps that have near-professional quality are available for free on iTunes and Google Play Store. Check these 4 Free Photo Editing Apps to add the personal glamour to your photos…

1. VSCO CAM

Available on Android and iOS

Being an avid fan of Instagram, I can attest to seeing an abundance of VSCOCam and VSCO hash tags. What makes this photo-editing app so popular? For starters, it gives you a wide range of filters and a complete set of editing tools. The filters are coded in the format of letter and number such as X1, G3, B1, and my favorite C1. Its editing tools include contrast, brightness, fade, tint, crop, rotate, highlights, shadows, sharpness, and so much more. Certainly, these tools may be as efficient as paid studio editing! Not bad for something that is free. Lastly, what separates VSCO Cam from the most is that they have a community where you can share your portraits.

2. PHOTO EDITOR BY AVIARY

Available on Android, iOS, and Windows

If you own a Smartphone that operates on Windows then, this is one of the best editors you will meet! Photo Editor by Aviary includes a comprehensive set of basic editing tools such as crop and rotate as well as a set of lovely filters such as Arizona and Lucky. Unique features of this app include adding drawings, stickers, and text.

Image Credits: www.facebook.com/AviaryEditor

3. REPIX

Available on Android and iOS

Bring out your creative side with the Repix app. One of the editor’s choices, Repix allows you to artistically edit your photos by using filters, frames, and adjustment tools. Special effects can be added to your portrait by using the brushes. Furthermore, it supports the motion of Samsung’s S-Pen.

Image Credits: itunes.apple.com/sg/app/repix-inspiring-photo-editor/id597830453?mt=8

4. SNAPSEED

Available on Android and iOS

Google, one of the smartest companies in our generation, is the proud owner of the Snapseed app. Snapseed allows its users to beautify their photos by applying filters and tools. After adding images, select manual tuning to enable swiping upwards for increase in value or downwards for decrease in value. Value is in terms of several variables such as saturation and contrast. It is very user-friendly, especially for beginners!

Sources: 1 & 2

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