Here’s how single-income families can cope with financial anxieties

a woman facing financial anxiety

Every family out there is different, and we ought not to compare ourselves to others. But truth be told, single-income families can lead to a heightened amount of pressure on that sole breadwinner.

Carrie Casden, financial wellness coach and president of Summit Financial Management, said, “Quite often, feelings of fear and anxiety stem from… simply perceiving that we’re out of control of our circumstances, and these sentiments can be particularly prevalent when it comes to single-income families.”

Want to take better control of your mind and financials? Here’s how single-income families can cope with financial anxieties, according to the experts.

Reorder your priorities

Casden noted that families usually have quite a few financial goals they’re aiming for, and that’s okay. However, if there isn’t enough income to put a checkmark beside the various aims, one must learn how to make changes.

Reorder your priorities by keeping in view the items lowest on the list. You can always come back and reassess your financials every quarter of the year.

Be aware of your money views
Singapore money

Image Credits: internations.org

To review your financial anxieties, it’s essential that you’re aware of your views towards money. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

  • Are you cripplingly frugal or overzealous with spending?
  • Does a “spend too much” or “don’t make enough” mindset bother you?
  • Do you tend to avoid talking about money because they make you uneasy?

“There are different ways to reduce anxiety based on the actual issues at hand, which is why I work with clients to help them identify their specific money archetypes to understand the origin of their anxieties and behaviours around money,” said Casden.

Develop a spending plan and track your outputs

Ann James, an accredited financial counsellor and CEO of Financial Freedom Battle Buddies, recommends single-income families develop a spending plan. This will allow individuals to have a sense of control over their money and, in turn, reduce frustrations associated with the unknown.

When it comes to tracking outputs, some of us are experts with the excel sheet. But Dr Elizabeth Dunn, PhD, a happiness researcher, advises us to focus on how purchases make one feel.

“What purchases bring your family joy and which lead to feelings of regret or sadness? Maybe a long and expensive dinner out did not end up saving anyone time, and the regret over spending all of that money on one meal was not worth the spend. But your Hulu or Netflix subscription means the entire family can have a movie night together once a week, and that brings joy to the entire family,” she added.

If you’ve tried the above methods but can’t seem to get around the stress from worrying about money, ask for help.

“Seeking assistance from accredited financial counsellors, credit or housing counsellors, or financial therapists can help alleviate feelings of shame and ultimately reframe an individual’s thoughts and relationships with money,” advised James.

Do you know that the Singapore Counselling Centre offers Financial & Debt Counselling? Or you can also book a 1-to-1 Credit Counselling Session with Credit Counselling Singapore. Click through the links to find out more.

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Experts share answers to your common questions on IVF

IVF

It can be both worrying and frustrating for you and your partner when things don’t go according to plan.

Conceiving may be easy for some but can be a rugged mountain to climb for others. For folks considering in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), there must be some burning questions you can’t wait to get answers to.

Good news! In this article, we will hear from experts on IVF. Keep reading if you want more deets from Dr Roland Chieng, a specialist gynaecologist and director of Virtus Fertility Centre, and Dr Loh Seong Feei, the medical director at Thomson Fertility Centre.

#1: When is a good time to go for IVF?

According to Dr Loh, couples should go for a check-up if they aren’t successful after one year of regular, unprotected intercourse. The health professional will then evaluate the sperm’s condition, your fallopian tubes, and ovulation frequency.

Once the problem that causes infertility is identified, the doctor will recommend the most appropriate course of treatment. Other than IVF, they may suggest other methods, including inducing ovulation, surgical correction of endometriosis, and removing polyps.

#2: Is IVF an excruciating process?

Dr Chieng shares that IVF will involve daily injections of follicle-stimulating hormone under the skin. It’s pretty similar to the insulin jabs that some people with diabetes have to do daily.

While it largely depends on individual requirements, the whole procedure can take up to three weeks or even longer. It’s probably a little comforting to know that the injection needle is very fine, and there will be lesser pain after the initial apprehension.

#3: Are there any health risks with IVF?
bloatedness

Image Credits: everydayhealth.com

Ladies, unfortunately, you might encounter risks like ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and multiple pregnancies.

Dr Chieng noted that OHSS is a situation where an excessive response to IVF medication results in a high number of eggs and hormone levels. Some may even have to deal with excessive bloatedness and water accumulation in the lungs and abdomen in rare, severe cases.

#4: Is it true that babies conceived via IVF have a higher risk of birth defects?

Yes, in short. Dr Loh said that test-tube babies have a slightly higher risk of birth defects or congenital malformations. However, it cannot be entirely attributed to IVF.

Since many couples who opt for IVF are older, the risk of chromosomal and structural abnormalities in their newborns is higher. In addition, individuals may also face untypical sperms with underlying genetic problems that could pass on to the little lives conceived through IVF.

#5: Will we be expecting multiple babies at one go?

Based on Dr Loh’s advice, IVF treatment can lead to multiple pregnancies and births of twins or triplets. This is because more than one embryo is usually replaced in the womb during IVF to raise the chance of conception.

But it’s also good to know that under the Singapore Ministry of Health’s regulations, only up to three embryos are transferred back into the womb. Furthermore, the ministry’s co-funding regulation has advised couples to put only two embryos in the womb. This will lessen the possibility of higher-order multiple pregnancies and the birth of three or more babies.

Need some encouragement before embarking on your IVF? Read this Singapore mum’s story on her inspiring IVF journey with her partner. Take heart!

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Essential steps for new mums to take after realising a pregnancy

pregnancy scan

Congratulations on your pregnancy! It can be an overwhelming episode if you’re a new mum as you go through the joys of conceiving your first child to the nerves of having to mind your body from day one.

However, fret not as we show you the essential steps to take after realising your pregnancy. Stay on this page!

Find a doctor you can trust

Apart from the pregnancy being a delightful family affair, you will need a doctor you can work hand in hand with during your pregnancy.

You should ask for recommendations from friends or family members and schedule a visit as soon as possible. Do expect some blood tests, prenatal vitamins prescription, and miscellaneous information to help you prepare for your next 40 weeks.

According to Healthline, here’s a general guide on how often you will be seeing your doctor:

  • once per month until week 28
  • twice per month from weeks 28 to 36
  • weekly from week 36 to birth
Talk about medications with your doctor
pills

Image Credits: everydayhealth.com

Once you’ve decided on your preferred doctor, let the healthcare professional know about your existing medications and supplements.

Since some drugs can pass through the placenta, they may drastically affect your precious baby. However, do not simply stop taking them because some medications can cause severe side effects if stopped abruptly.

The safest way is to seek a medical opinion and follow through with whatever the doctor recommends. With a baby growing inside you, it’s best not to simply Google and heed online advice.

Make plans for your work schedule

Ladies who are working and plan to continue during your pregnancy and after giving birth must mind your work schedule.

Don’t forget that you will still need to keep up with your doctor appointments, and your employer should be kept in the loop of your need for time off from work. For working mums with higher-risk pregnancies, you may also wish to consider reducing your workload gradually.

Now’s also the time to start researching the child care centres near your house so your baby can be assured a place in infant care when they reach two months old.

Relook what goes into your mouth
a pregnant woman saying no to alcohol

Image Credits: walnuthillobgyn.com

Since you’re not walking alone anymore for the next few months, you’ve got to assume responsibility for the life inside you. One of the main ways to protect your growing baby is to pay close attention to what you eat.

In short, alcohol and tobacco are harmful for your little one. All forms of alcohol, including beer, can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, or even disabilities. As for tobacco, the nicotine inside it can damage your developing baby’s brain and lungs.

In addition, you should also decrease your caffeine intake to about just two cups a day. Anything more than that can increase your risk of miscarriage so stay away from that if you can. By caffeine, we’re not just referring to coffee, but tea, soda, and dark chocolates too.

While you must limit the harmful stuff, be sure to have balanced meals to get all the nutrition you need for a healthy baby. Here are some excellent foods to take:

  • Dairy
  • Legumes
  • Whole grains
  • Cooked lean meats
  • Fruits and vegetables

Have an incredible pregnancy journey and a smooth delivery!

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Looking for a Home Tutor in Singapore? Here's Why You Need One

In today’s extremely competitive world and educational system, one needs to perform well in academics to help one succeed. 

But the thing is, even the best schools fail to cater to the individual needs of their students. In fact, according to a report, 76% of students feel anxious when taking an exam even if they’re “well prepared.”

That’s because every student is different and has various learning capabilities. Some students can easily understand the lesson, while others need that extra guidance (and push!) to know the lesson well. 

In this post, we’ll walk you through the benefits of hiring a home tutor in Singapore: 

Learn At Your Own Convenience

One of the biggest benefits of home tuition is the convenience that it offers.

With education and learning right at your door, you’ll get to learn at the comforts of your home. This gives you the flexibility to decide what your preferred days are to get tuition.

Students can also discuss with their tutor things like the tuition place, time, and days.

Personal Attention

A home tutoring service is usually on a one-to-one basis. Meaning, students are getting full attention that’s otherwise available in a room packed with 20 or more students.

Students don’t have to worry about failing to grasp a concept as fast as their peers. By increasing focus on the student, a professional tutor can work on areas for improvement. This also allows them to work at the learning pace of the student.

Because of the undivided attention given to them, students can also clear out any misconceptions that they might have.

Positive Learning Environment

Many students usually hesitate to ask questions to a teacher. Some are embarrassed to let the teacher re-explain the concept to them.

This isn’t the same with home tutoring. A home tutor will be the one who will encourage a student to ask questions and will re-explain a concept if needed. As a result, students feel more confident and open up their concerns with the tutor.

Detailed Feedback

At school, a teacher might miss out on important subtleties. Often pressed for time, they might miss correcting every student’s faulty areas.

On the other hand, home tutoring allows the student to analyze and then work on their weak spots as they go.

A professional tutor will usually provide detailed productive feedback, which will motivate students to improve and do better on their work the next time.

Improve Performance

As mentioned earlier, if students are weak on a particular subject, they might need special attention to enhance their performance. But this doesn’t often happen in school.

With home tutoring, students can get their tutor’s undivided attention and have more time to work on a particular subject or concept.

Apart from tutoring on subjects, a home tutor can also mentor the student, helping them develop great time management and study skills. Doing so improves the students’ overall performance.

Work With The Best

More often than not, schools don’t give the students the chance to choose their teacher, affecting results.

One of the primary benefits of a home tutor is that one can pick the best tutor on a particular subject. You have the option to consult with home tuition agencies as you choose the best tutor.

This is important because a great tutor can easily understand the student’s needs and give them the right guidance.

Final Thoughts

If you’re struggling with your studies, home tuition may be necessary to help you get a quality education.

That’s why you need to work with the best professional tutors who will cater to your needs and assist you with your studies.

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Why It’s Ideal to Buy a Home Amidst the Ongoing Pandemic

Property buying has been a concern of many because of the pandemic. While some proceeded in purchasing their dream homes, there are also some who held back. If you’re one of the people who are still pondering whether to get that dream home now, here are some reasons why you should.

1. Competition is less fierce.

Many of your fellow prospective homebuyers are preoccupied with other things and aren’t looking at properties for the meantime. Consequently, you’ll have fewer people to compete with.

As such, you don’t have to rush your purchase. You don’t need to try outbidding others as well. Moreover, you don’t have to settle for properties that are cheap but in hostile communities.

Be confident at exploring housing options that are in peaceful communities but are still sold at affordable prices. Take your time studying their benefits, too.

2. Sellers offer great deals.

To entice more buyers, developers offer different promos and flexible payments schemes that would be of help for buyers to proceed with their real estate investment.

Consider the homeowners who are selling their properties right now as well. This could be due to financial issues brought about by the pandemic. To get funds sooner, some of them may sell at prices lower than what you would assume. The downside, however, is that the properties may be poorly maintained. This makes newly built homes an attractive choice. Check the house listings online to see the available houses you can choose from. Once you see a property to your liking, inquire about the available payment terms and promos they offer.

3. Impending Price Increases

Sooner or later, various industries have to recover from months of low revenue or even deficits. More often than not, the way to do so is to increase the prices of the goods and services they’re providing.

So, if manufacturers of construction materials raise their prices, the prices of property developments would also increase.

When values of properties increase, your monthly repayments for a mortgage loan may become too high. Another possibility is that the seller may maintain the same amount of monthly repayment pre-pandemic, but the repayment period will be longer.

Before the inflation rate becomes too high, it’s good to study the market now and make a purchase.

4. Home purchasing has become more convenient.

You don’t have to go out of your current home to look for new property investments. If you are an OFW, this is even more convenient for you. Nowadays, real estate developers like Lessandra has offered digital tools to help homebuyers purchase real estate without having to travel back to Philippines. If you are an OFW, you can visit their website or their YouTube Channel to see the virtual tours. You can also reserve your property of choice and make payments online!

See FAQs and Guides to know more on how to buy a property in the Philippines online.

Get a glimpse of the community through the virtual tours

Photo source: Lessandra website

Real estate is a huge investment. Even if you’re looking for an affordable house and lot, choose a reputable developer. For a quality and affordable house and lot developer, check Lessandra homes. Tagged by the London-based website Start Up Pill as one of the best residential start-up companies globally, Lessandra offers quality yet affordable homes worthy of your investment.

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