Whether you want to admit it or not, pregnancy is a costly ordeal. Aside from your hospital, maternity clothes, baby gears, and prenatal vitamins expenses you must consider your pregnancy diet.
As you plan a healthy and safe pregnancy diet, try to embrace the changes necessary and consider these expert recommended tips:
1. PLAN CAREFULLY
Planning your grocery list for the entire week can make or break your budget. This is why you must meticulously plan your meals for the week while browsing through several cookbooks such as Eat Yourself Pregnant and What to Eat When You’re Pregnant. Equip yourself with this list while shopping and do your best to stick with it.
2. AVOID THESE
Melinda Johnson, a registered dietitian and a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, warns pregnant women against soft cheeses and cold cuts. Soft cheeses such as blue cheese, feta, and Brie as well as non-heated deli meats (e.g., sausages and hams) can increase the risk of developing the food-borne illness called listeriosis—a. So avoid hospitalization expenses by staying away from these food beforehand.
3. PREFER GREENS
Kale, arugula, and spinach are some of the most nutritious and affordable foods you will find in a grocery store. As the color of the vegetable gets darker, the more nutritious it is because of its antioxidants and beta-carotene. If possible, buy the leafy greens that are not prepackaged because they are cheaper.
4. BUY YOGURTS
Yogurt is a great and inexpensive source of calcium. According to experts, any type of yogurt (as long as it is pasteurized) is safe and healthy for a pregnant woman.
Your growing baby needs substantial calcium in order for his or her bones and teeth to develop properly. In fact, the author of “Go Green, Stay Lean” – Kate Geagan says that the calcium in the mother’s bones can deplete if she does not take in enough calcium because the limited amount will only go to the baby.
5. GO ORGANIC
Growing your own food is the best way to avoid the harmful effects of pesticides. If you do not have a backyard or an apartment balcony there are community gardens for you to plant your own seed. Aside from being domestic, you can also save more money if you buy produce of the local supermarket’s brand (e.g. S$2.20 Mixed Vegetables by FairPrice)
Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)
I caught up with Valerie, who came back from her 3-day prewedding adventure in Bali. She booked a 4-hour prewedding photoshoot package via OneThreeOneFour.com. I invited her to share with us the tips and tricks and the details of her photoshoot. I’m sure soon-to-marry couples planning for an overseas wedding photoshoot would find her story below very useful.
— As told to Scott:
We chose to do the photoshoot on our 2nd day in Bali. We started with the makeup at about 12 noon and Maxtu Photography came to pick us up later.
Bonus Location: Sanur Beach
Although our US$700 photoshoot package only includes 2 locations within 4 hours, Maxtu’s team brought us to a beautiful tree near their villa for some shots too! What a pleasant surprise! It’s so apparent that they love what they do. Instead of cutting corners, they really went out of the way to think of what would be the best for us.
Location 1: Mangrove Forest
For this location, I wanted to do a vintage casual shoot with a little picnic styling. I started planning this in the weeks leading up to the shoot. My Pinterest board quickly got filled up with picnic ideas and casual vintage styles.
Casual + Vintage Outfits
I mixed a white lace top from H&M with a vintage midi skirt that I got from Haji Lane (S$45). And in my mad rush to the airport I had forgotten to bring my shoes from home so I had to buy a shoe on my 1st day in Bali (S$10.50). The flower headband that I got from Factorie costs only S$1; – S$2 after discount plus a 1 for 1 for sales item. I got 6 headbands in total, for my bridesmaid for my wedding day!
For John, he wore a vintage vest (S$20) over a white shirt. He paired it with his red bermudas and a cute checkered socks from Uniqlo.
Total Estimated: US$58.00
Styling
On top of that, I also added a little more flavour to the styling with some props! I got my Mason Jars from qoo10 (S$10 each), picnic mat from Spotlight (S$20), straw hat from Bali (S$5). The flowers, mini basket and buntings are all from Daiso for S$2 bucks each.
Total Estimated: US$35.00
Location 2: Canggu Beach
We met a traffic jam on our way to Canggu and I was worried that we would not be able to catch the sunset. The sky looked really dark like it was going to rain! I was praying like mad in the car trying to abate my anxiety. We managed to catch the sunset and thank GOD there was still some light when we arrived and we even had a pink sunset!
I had tried to find rental of horses on my own that are affordable and good but not to much success. I eventually approached Maxtu Photography to see if they had any suggestions and they did! The price was so much more affordable than anything I could find – the great thing about having local photographers! Gotta tip our hats to Maxtu for helping us to book the two horses at Canggu beach. We paid US$30 separately for one hour rental of the horses.
Formal Outfit
I got my own gown-looking dress from ASOS, for only S$80 after a 50% discount! I used the same pair of shoe from the casual vintage look! Hehe. As for the head accessories, I wished I had more time to plan for this because I bought it for S$20 from Lovisa.
As for John, we wore an existing suit which he tailored for when he was a groomsmen at a friend’s wedding. He bought his bow tie S$10 in Malacca, together with the vintage vest. It was not too bad at all! We did go to Benjamin Barker and bow ties costs like around S$30.
Total Estimated: US$77.00
I’m sooo happy with how these have turned out!
Even though I missed out to glam up myself, I didn’t give myself enough time to prepare for my OWN styling, instead cared more about the picnic and John, many people still complimented the look, saying that it looks more natural this way. I’m sooo happy with how these have turned out!
After the photoshoot, we got back to our villa at around 8pm. I felt really bad that Maxtu had to send us back to our Villa and drive up 2 hours to head back to Ubud area. Even though our photoshoot was only 4 hours, the travelling certainly took up more time and they were not calculative about it. So thankful to have met such kind and gracious photographers! We had interesting conversations in the car as well, it was like making new Balinese friends.
After Thoughts
All in all, I’m so stoked to have heard about OneThreeOneFour.com before going to Bali and when they asked for my feedback, I was naturally willing to give an enthusiastic thumbs-up! I praised them for breaking into this unique niche in the market and I think that this is going to revolutionize wedding photoshoot market.
Couples in Singapore who wants to go for overseas wedding photoshoots but are always intimidated by the idea of it being expensive, can simply browse through the price lists and portfolios, all available at one place! There’s no need to go to each photographer to ask for the rates and portfolios. This was a mega point for me because I could do all the comparison to my heart’s content and I LOVE IT! I’m honestly not sponsored or asked to write this by them, but this service has really benefited us so much!
Bali Wedding Photographer
And as for Maxtu Photography, they really over-delivered for our photoshoot in sooo many ways, looking out for us and made us look gorgeous. :’) These photos will stay with us until we are old and with grandchildren and we would be able to relive the good times we spent in Bali together for this experience.
Within 1.5 weeks, the edited photos came in and now we just have to find a good deal to print out the photos for display on our big wedding day / for our future home!!
Our Accommodation in Bali
We booked our awesome villa via Airbnb. It’s called Little Tree House and it costs only S$66 per night! A quiet hideaway in Sanur and 5 mins away from the beach! We also enjoyed the outdoor adjoining toilet in our room and the pool very much!
—
If you want to know more about the rest of Valerie’s Bali trip, head on over to her blog at valziekay.wordpress.com
About the Author: Scott is a writer from OneThreeOneFour.com, a wedding photography marketplace that connects couples with photographers based in different cities around the world. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for more updates.
“Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love.”
The great things we learn from our mothers are more than just tips – they are well-kept traditions, family secrets, and wonderful memories that we must treasure.
That said, here are 6 Tried and Tested Home Saving Tips As Told By Moms…
In cleaning:
1. RE-USE YOUR OLD SOCKS
I still remember the days when my cousins and I would slide through the slippery floor that we splashed with baby powder. Hit LIKE if you have done this fun activity too.
It brought us countless minutes of happiness but the mess scattered through the floor and furniture was the enemy our mothers had to face. Fortunately, you can save several bucks on furniture dusters by using your clean old socks. Simply slip a piece in your hand, spray the cleaning solution, and start cleaning!
2. KEEP THINGS NATURAL
Using DIY natural cleaning products will not only reduce the risks of toxins and environmental damage but also save you piles of cash. Make your own glass solution by mixing 1 teaspoon of dish soap, half cup of white vinegar, and 3 cups of distilled water in a bottle. Then, spray it directly to the windows and mirrors.
You can also use the mom-approved “microfiber cloth” to clean practically anything from rugs to glass, granite to stainless steel. Just damp it with water and you are ready to go! This magical cloth costs about S$15 you can get it for only S$5 at Qoo10.
In cooking:
3. SPRINKLE SOME SALT
One of the best cooking tips you can get from the mothers online is to sprinkle some salt to boiling water. “Why?” you may ask. Salt is a great and inexpensive way to add flavour to the broccoli, pasta, or anything you are boiling.
4. SAVE YOUR BACON FATS
Another way to add a wonderfully strong flavor is to cook with bacon fats. After frying the strips of bacon, you can save its fats for later. After which, use it to saute your roasted potatoes or vegetables.
In grocery shopping:
5. BUY THE IN-HOUSE LABEL
As much as possible, buy the store’s brand products for home items such as rice, sponge, bleach, and sugar. And if a better deal comes along, check the price tag and compare it with the in-house label. Doing the maths can go a long way!
6. MAKE A LIST AND STICK WITH IT
Instead of going with the flow, make a list of the items you need for the week and stick with it. This is an age-old trick used by my late grandmother. She plans the weekly menu first and sets a budget accordingly. If there is excess cash, we can buy the stuff we want such as ice cream. Who doesn’t love ice cream?
Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)
Let us all be real here…as adorable as babies are, having one is Singapore is not cheap!
In fact, the hefty expenses start before the baby is born. You will have to purchase new clothing, supplies, and furniture for the safety and comfort of your precious one. Adding these expenses to the hospital costs may shock the new parents in the first year alone!
This is why it is essential to save as much as you can. Start by considering these frugal alternatives to otherwise expensive purchases:
1. INFANT FORMULA
One of the empowering things that only women can do is to breastfeed their baby. As much as you can, opt for breastfeeding because it will not only be healthy but also be able to save you as low as S$1,500 per year.
If you want to save even more on breast pump, borrow from your family or friends but make sure to change the plastic attachments. You can buy those for far less than a brand new pump.
2. CHANGING TABLE
Is it really necessary to buy another table with S$300 price tag just for changing your baby’s diapers? Especially of you live in a small flat, space can be an issue. Instead, it is advisable to use your long dresser to double as a changing station. Some parents even change diapers on the bed or couch!
Simply put a soft blanket, mat, or pad over the spot so your baby can rest comfortably.
3. BABY CLOTHES
Believe me when I say that babies can have sudden growth spurts so, it is unnecessary to buy loads of baby clothes in advance. It goes the same for shoes, as socks will be sufficient to keep their cute toes warm.
Start saving for baby clothes by asking your friends and family if you can have their child’s outgrown clothes. You will not only help your friends or family members to de-clutter their space but you will also save more.
4. NURSERY DECOR
Some parents spend over a hundred dollars just for designer wall decals. A frugal alternative is to select from a wide range of free printable art available in the Internet.
For instance, this awesome post will give you over 100 designs from 89 talented artists. Just print your desired art and hang it on your nursery walls with the S$4.90 frames from IKEA.
Recently, it has been reported by Singapore’s mainstream media that the cost to send a child to an international school in Singapore could reach up to a jarring amount of $500,000. Most Singaporeans would probably wind up in disbelief since we have been accustomed to the affordable public school fees that are the result of generous government subsidies.
From the economic perspective, critics are quick to dismiss this exorbitant option as some believe that the cost of receiving such an education would far outstrip the financial benefits that are fraught with a great deal of uncertainties. Indeed, there may be some truth to it. However, this premise may be limited in scope at the same time since it has not considered the intangible benefits – realised in the intermediate or long term – that overshadow the financial outlay.
The economics of social networks
Unequivocally, the quintessence of studying in an international school is the development of invaluable and diverse social networks. This is an instrumental consideration for both the child and their parents where the former solidifies their friendships with like-minded peers who come from similar socio-economic backgrounds, thereafter lending support to the latter’s efforts in expanding or diversifying their business networks.
Nonetheless, the maxim “birds of a feather flock together” does not only apply to this context. The different tiers of public schools inherent in the MOE school system also serve the same function. However, the demographics of the student populations may differ significantly as international schools tend to include more diverse nationalities and ethnicities and are more likely to attract the high income groups.
The teachers
International schools tend to recruit teachers from different parts of the world, which could serve as a great eye-opener for the young and malleable minds. The diversified talent pool of teachers share their individual overseas living experience and introduce different cultures and multifaceted ways of thinking and communicating to the students, all of which are life skills that cannot be emphasised more. By doing so, they also bring seemingly irrelevant subjects such as history alive and abstract theories students commonly read in the textbooks applicable to life.
Sublime teachers are a great source of inspiration, motivation and discipline, attributes that are possessed by most – if not all – successful people. While they may not be omniscient, the fact that they aspire to impart the best education in terms of practical knowledge and the right mentality to their students is praiseworthy. They are relentless in enhancing their knowledge and forming vital networks to improve their teaching strategies and materials, in the hope of providing greater enlightenment to their students on the particular subject. And such intangible value cannot be easily measured by any dollar amount. Unsurprisingly, such teachers are few and far between.
The answer
Therefore, from the viewpoint of a discerning expatriate parent, it is likely that the parent (mainly through the feedback of the child) has found immense value in the social networks and the quality of the teachers that warrants the hefty educational investment.
