The Hidden Costs Of Owning A Pet

There is a reason why cat and dog videos flood the trending pages of YouTube and Instagram! They are so irresistibly adorable and hilarious. Moreover, these fur buddies serve as the best companions for people of all ages.

Taking care of your beloved companion is nowhere near as expensive as raising a child in Singapore. However, costs go beyond food and shelter. Prepare your funds as we introduce the “hidden costs of owning a pet”…

#1: PET GROOMING SERVICES

Bathing your pet and cutting its nails can only go so far! Whether you like it or not, you cannot simply get away with an at-home grooming kit. Only professionals can properly trim your beloved pet’s fur. This is especially true for dogs.

My aunt owns two dogs – a Cocker Spaniel and a Pomeranian. I can vividly recall when she got a rather disappointing grooming experience from a personnel who trimmed the Cocker Spaniel’s fur too short. She regrets that she did not gave specific instructions beforehand. While most dogs are groomed once every 2 months, these breeds need more maintenance. It is best to discuss your preferences to the groomers. Otherwise, you would waste S$40 to S$70 for small dogs and S$90 to S$200 for bigger dogs.

#2: PREMIUM PET FOOD

As you explore the aisles of the nearby supermarket, you will notice how affordable their selection of pet food is. These brands may be cheap, but are they healthy for your beloved buddy?

Most pet owners switch to premium brands to provide food rich in nutrients. Moreover, some pets may have developed medical conditions that require a change in diet. Switching diets come with a cost!

#3: EXPENSIVE MEDICAL COSTS

As your pet ages, your veterinary bills will undoubtedly shoot up! Your beloved cats and dogs may suffer from the same conditions that aging humans experience. From tumors to epilepsy, your furkid is vulnerable to unexpected veterinary attention. What should you do?

For starters, you can expect to pay around S$20 to S$60 for a basic veterinary consultation. This is why, it would help if you had an insurance policy to back up the costs. Take a gander at these pet insurance policies: My Paw Pal by CIMB Bank, Paw Safe by AIA, and Happy Tails by AON. Choose which policy suits your needs the best!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR PET’S BUDGET

#1: ESTIMATE HOW MUCH YOU NEED TO SAVE

The added responsibility of taking care of another being comes with a cost. Estimate the expenses of having a pet by breaking down how much you will need to save per month. For instance, you want to save around S$700 per year to cover unexpected medical bills. Consider saving S$60 per month.

#2: OPEN A SEPARATE PET FUND

A surefire way to separate your personal money to your pet funds is to open up a new bank account dedicated solely to it. Money inside this account is off-limits unless you are going to use it for the benefit of your furkid. Shop around to get the best savings account available in the market!

#3: CREATE A LINE BETWEEN NEEDS AND WANTS

Lastly, you must weigh whether an expense is necessary or not. Do you really need to buy a digital pet tag for your cat? Or, another bed to replace the one you just bought last week? What is important is that you take care of your pet’s health and wellness.

Sources: 1 & 2

 

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Which Makeup Products Should You Splurge On?

A study has shown that women spend approximately S$20,000 on beauty products in their entire lifetime. That is a lot of lipsticks! With a shocking number like that, you must weigh whether a beauty product is worth splurging for or not.

LIPS THAT KISS

If there is one thing that you should splurge on when it comes to luxury cosmetics – it is lipstick! I am not saying this merely because I am obsessed with this product. A reliable lipstick is important because you can apply it as a vibrant eye-shadow or a pigmented blush too. For instance, I use my MAC Russian Red (about S$30) to give a flush of crimson on my cheeks and on my lips. You can use the same technique to Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks and others alike. Gone are the days when multitasking sticks do not exist!

Experts believe that anything put around or on the mouth can make or break your look. A subtle lips can give off a natural aura while a red lipstick can be a showstopper. Moreover, a good lipstick stays for a long period of time. Less purchasing equates to more savings.

BASE THAT STAYS

Whether you like it or not, it all starts with a good base. Make sure you splurge on skincare and a really trusty primer. Think of your face as a room’s platform, you will not be able to build the room you desire without a sturdy surface. Having a good base will enable you to get away with a drugstore foundation. Do not get me started with how drugstore products are becoming more competitive now. That is a different conversation. Anyway, let us go back to skincare.

Many Singaporeans turn to Korean beauty for their skincare regimen. You can follow this too! Or, simply cleanse and exfoliate regularly. Personally, I prefer the sensitive formula of Cetaphil as a cleanser. Afterwards, I would put the NUXE body oil. I may also partake in an all-in-one lactic acid treatment by Sunday Riley (retails for S$223 at Sephora Singapore). It is a product that many skincare obsessed people shell out for. It brightens, soothes, and reduces your blemishes and fine lines. It leaves you with an even-toned radiant complexion!

BROWS THAT BOWS

Many makeup artists believe that eyebrows are the most important facial feature next to the teeth. They go the extra mile to shape one’s brows for a variety of reasons. Firstly, a nicely shaped brow can make someone look more youthful and fresh. The volume in your brows can make you look rested!

Secondly, it gives a subtle change without having to splurge on other cosmetics. You can either look edgy or feminine by shaping your brows. Lastly, even the Royal Duchess of Cambridge believes in a set of perfectly shaped brows. She uses the Bobbi Brown Brow Kit that retails for S$85 at Sephora. A cheaper alternative would be the cult classic – Anastasia Brow Wiz for S$40 at Sephora. Brow Wiz is a holy grail to many beauty fanatics due to its user-friendly wand and its natural finish.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Let me ask you one thing. Which luxury beauty products do you splurge on? Leave your comments below.

Sources: 1 & 2

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Everything You Need To Know About Daiso

Most of us have shopped in Yano Shoten without even knowing. You read right! Daiso, our go-to budget store, was once called Yano Shoten. It was named after its founder – Mr. Hirotake Yano.

ITS RICH HISTORY

From humble beginnings to a myriad of setbacks, Hirotake Yano’s path to success is not a straightforward route. He and his wife survived the economic downturn of the past decade and become one of Japan’s inspiring stories.

He has failed many times in past and thought that nothing he will ever try would succeed. He said: “During the inflation era, I thought many times about quitting. It seemed absurd to sell things at a fixed price. I kept going because I thought there was nothing else I could do.”

His willingness to move forward led him to multiple jobs and a chance encounter with a mobile merchandiser. He started working for him. Years later, he established his own store called Yano Shoten where goods were displayed on a wooden stand.

In 1977, he changed the company’s name to the brand we know and love – the Daiso Industries. Daiso introduced the universal price of ¥100. Why would he sell everything for ¥100? Well, he simply does not want to tag a number of products with different prices! Tagging was a time consuming task for him and his wife. Thanks to his effort to save time, we were able to save our money!

Daiso, which translates to “big warehouse, is far from ordinary. The company Yano founded has no business plan, no budget, and no quarterly results. Through it all, Yano believes that he is just an ordinary man.

ITS LOCAL PRICE

In Singapore, everything Daiso sells go for two dollars. Whether you are purchasing a bag of chips or a bulk of cotton buds, you can expect to pay the same price. This enables the shoppers to anticipate their total costs. Furthermore, your eyes will be spoiled with choices!

On the other hand, our neighboring country Malaysia has to pay RM5.90 (about S$1.93) per item. Imagine if the exchange rate is in our favor! This means that we can get cheaper Daiso items in Malaysia instead.

ITS SOURCE OF GOODS

Daiso has a wealth of outlets scattered throughout the globe and a wealth of goods scattered throughout the aisles. With over 100,000 goods offered, you can expect that a good portion comes from overseas. Although majority of the goods are made from Japan, approximately forty percent of goods are outsourced.

To save the cost of production, can you guess where most of the items come from? You are right! Many of which hail from China.

ITS DYNAMIC PRICES

Did you know that not every Daiso product is priced the same? Lucky for us, anything we pick up inside a Daiso costs S$2. However, overseas outlets experience dynamic pricing.

For instance, majority of the products in Daiso Australia are set at a standard price of AU$2.80. While, other items cost more. The same goes for Daiso Philippines. Consumers get to enjoy products from PHP88 and up.

Use the steady price of two dollars to your advantage by tracking the amount of items you fling inside your basket!

ITS SUCCESS STORY

Mr. Yano attributes his success to his ability to source out a variety of products. From quality essentials to quirky must-haves, everything sells for S$2! Moreover, people’s desire for deals remains to be the driving force of Daiso.

Image Credits: Flickr Creative Commons via Kai Hendry

Let me close this article with a nugget of wisdom from the man himself.

“Business is like climbing a mountain. The lesson of climbing a mountain is that there are always struggles and hard times. When you reach the top you get a sense of gratitude towards the mountain.”

Sources: 1, 2 & 3

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5 Sneaky Tricks Advertisers Use To Get Your Money

Subliminal messages exist for a reason. You see, most of our decisions are made on an unconscious level. This means that our behaviors are influenced by our wishes, interests, and motivations.

Say that you have been scrolling freely thru your Instagram feed and you saw a fast food ad. Days later, you caught yourself craving for a delicious cheeseburger.

Hidden persuasions are the driving force behind advertising. And, these persuasions happen more often than you think!

On that note, here are 5 Sneaky Tricks Advertisers Use To Get Your Money:

ILLUSION OF SCARCITY

Why are people so attracted to items that are limited edition? For starters, scarcity is usually linked to luxurious products. Talk about the limited supply of Yeezys and diamonds!

Scarcity also suggests that people want a product so bad that its supply depleted. I can vividly recall the time I visited a blogshop and saw this long black dress. At the bottom it displayed: “only one piece left”. I really wanted to purchase this dress, but I was contemplating on whether I need another black dress or not. Buying mode kicked in when the fear of missing out (#FOMO) emerged. I wanted to secure the last item left! This goes to show that scarcity technique works so well because it entails that our freedom of choice can be gone is a snap!

POWER OF SOCIAL PROOF

Word of mouth spreads like wildfire! When you want to purchase new products or try new services, you approach others for recommendation. We go to recommended doctors for health advise and to highly-raved hairstylists for a new ‘do. You are more likely to subscribe to something that has gotten a stamp of approval from a person you admire. So much for individuality, huh?

Image Credits: pixabay.com

When my significant other and I go on a date, we usually check out food review websites such as burpple.com and hungrygowhere.com. We tend to eat at places with higher reviews. This illustrates the power of social proofing. According to social proofing, we are more likely to buy something that the majority approves. This is why modern advertisers turn to Facebook and Instagram to get as much “likes” as possible!

ART OF REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY

Let’s face it! There is a reason why some people hide from sales representatives who follow them around. Nobody likes to be told on what to do, especially when they are about to make a purchase. This is where the Art of Reverse Psychology comes in handy.

Advertisers understand that you do not like to be blatantly persuaded. Which is why they try to convince you that you have a choice in the matter. They may say something along the lines of “you are free to try Brand X but…”. Their transparency can hook you into buying the product.

INFLUENCE OF THE DECOY EFFECT

Have you ever experienced shopping around for appliances and seeing the usual price as well as the discounted prices? Well, the discounted price sure is attractive! It makes me wonder how long has the usual price been there? Is the discounted price really a steal?

Dan Ariely, an Ivy-league professor of Psychology and Behavioral economics, did a study on the different price options. As it turns out, a company may include an additional price option just to make you think that you are getting a good deal.

His study included three magazine subscriptions: an online subscription for $59, a print subscription for $125, and a print-and-online subscription for $125. When Ariely offered the three options to the participants, most of them picked the combo option as it seemed like the best deal. However, things changed when only the print or online options remained. Most of them sticked to the cheapest option – the $59 online subscription.

RICHNESS OF ANECDOTES

Customer testimonials are powerful not only because of social proofing, but also because of the richness of anecdotes. Research suggests that stories and individual examples stick to our brains better than statistics. This make sense as stories transport us to a place where we are most likely to believe in something.

Simply watch this heartwarming video by a Thai Insurance company:

If you are more likely to be persuaded by emotional advertisements or stories, you may want to stay vigilant for your budget’s sake!

Sources: 1 & 2

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7 Ways To Make The Most Out Of Your Weekend

Who says you need to break the bank to have an awesome weekend? Here are seven weekend ideas that you can dive into:

1: CREATE A SCAVENGER HUNT

Spice up your weekend by creating an exciting scavenger hunt. Start by gathering group of people in one area. Then, divide the group into two. Act as the game master who will hide all the items around the vicinity.

Add an exciting twist to your scavenger hunt by letting each player bring a unique item related to a given theme. For instance, you may have a BTS-themed Scavenger Hunt complete with all the BT21 collectibles! Set a timer and enjoy the hunt. A friendly competition never hurt anybody!

2: VOLUNTEER TO BABYSIT

Parents, admit it! You all need a break every once in a while. Not to mention, many single parents hardly ever get a chance to unwind. This is why most of them would jump on a chance to let someone babysit their children for a day.

If you are passionate about taking care of kids and being surrounded by them, consider volunteering to babysit for a friend or a relative. Spend the day by doing arts and crafts or by visiting the nearby playground.

3: SHOP AT FLEA MARKETS

Expand your wardrobe without breaking your budget by investing in sustainable fashion. Fortunately for you, Singapore has a wealth of flea markets with items selling for as low as S$2.

Begin your search by checking out the Fleawhere and The Luggage Market. Fleawhere is a market organizer known for its regular flea parties at Lucky Plaza. In fact, it will be holding the 7th edition of the “Daebak Sale” this June 29 (Saturday). The Daebak Sale offers affordable items from your favorite Instagram Influencers. All items are under S$12! Check out www.fleawhere.com for more details.

Let us move on to The Luggage Market. As the name suggests, you will be greeted by a huge sight of vendors carrying luggages. These luggages are filled with preloved clothing ranging from S$2 to S$5. These insanely low prices attract crowds from far and wide. Visit the Grand Link Square on a Sunday to check it out!

4: GO ON A WALKING TOUR

See what is beyond the four walls of your cubicle by exploring the great outdoors! Get up close and personal with nature as you embark on any one of the National Parks’ walking or cycling trails.

Feast your eyes as you spot large numbers of biodiversity and hundreds of bird species that most trails provide. Whether you prefer a long seamless walk in a chain of hills or a peaceful cycling experience off the city, there is definitely a suitable trail for you. Learn more about the trails at
www.nparks.gov.sg.

5: MAKE A TIME CAPSULE

Treasure life’s precious moments by creating a time capsule that you will open a decade from now. A time capsule, often put in a small box, houses preserved articles or records of your present-day life. You can either put a polaroid selfie, a piece of clothing, or a heartfelt letter inside. Be as creative as you can when filling it up!

The fun never stops now! Imagine how you will react upon seeing the changes that happened in a span of 10 years.

6: REVAMP YOUR FLAT

There is a way to change your home’s entire look in a snap. You read that right! Simply rearrange the key elements – the furniture and decorations. Try moving the couch to a different wall or a table to a different corner.

You will be surprised to see how fresh a room looks just by moving a piece of furniture into different positions or angles.

7: PUSH STRESS AWAY

Whether you like it or not, stress is inescapable. Use the weekend to freshen up your mind in time for the weekday grind. One of the ways that you can overcome stress is by practicing the basic meditation technique. Best of all? It does not cost a cent!

Watch this short video to know the essential information on how to meditate:

Sources: 1 & 2

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