4 Budget-Friendly Healthy Snack Ideas

I have always wondered why my immediate eco-system is fueled by people who are conscious about their weight. They go to significant measures such as strict dieting or regular exercising to reach their desired figures. In their journey, I often ask about their eating habits. I found that they create rules to adhere to healthy snacking. What is healthy snacking, exactly?

Well, I rounded up the list of the snacks that they share in common. These snacks are not only pocket-friendly, but also travel-friendly.

GREEK YOGURT

I, for one, am obsessed with yogurt drizzled with sweet toppings. A healthier alternative to this is a cup of Greek Yogurt. Greek Yogurt is rich with protein – taking up 22 grams of protein in 8 ounces of it. It is also packed with calcium. What’s more? Flavored Greek yogurt only costs about S$3.95 at FairPrice.

Put a twist to your Greek yogurt by adding a teaspoon of honey, fresh fruits, and nuts. Prepare this mixture in small containers to save time. Worry not about consuming everything at once as you can keep it for about two months.

AIR-POPPED POPCORN

Who does not love Popcorn? Instead of buying bagged microwave popcorn, the healthiest way to eat it is to cook whole-grain popcorn at home. Whole-grain popcorn contains a lot of fiber and antioxidants. It works well as an afternoon or an evening snack, which can liven up your movie marathons. Best of all, it will not cost you a fortune!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Go old-school by drizzling your kernels with olive oil and sea salt. Or, give it a kick with cayenne pepper and maple syrup.

HUMMUS

One of the world’s oldest farmed food include the main ingredient of Hummus – the chickpeas. Chickpeas are high in protein, fiber, and folic acid. Reap these benefits by creating your own hummus.

Like many snacks, you can save more money when you make your own. Hummus is made of few ingredients including chickpeas, dried tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil. Nonetheless, you may purchase a tub at FairPrice for about S$6.25.

PICKLED VEGETABLES

What do pickled green beans, pickled cucumbers, and pickled cauliflower have in common? They have low calorie counts and they will not break your budget! Moreover, many pickled veggies have iron, vitamin A, and potassium.

Pair your pickled veggies with crackers or bread. Prices of pickled radish and cucumber start at S$1.50 in FairPrice.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

The healthy snack ideas above are just some great treats that you can take on the road! Can you suggest more?

Sources: 1 & 2

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How To Plan A Wedding Without Getting Fired

For many people, planning a wedding can be a time-exhausting task. It can feel like you are taking another full-time job on top of your current one. Do not fret just yet!

Proper organization, delegation, and time segregation can keep you sane throughout the planning process. Not to mention, you will still be able to keep your beloved job!

ORGANIZATION

To keep the boat afloat, organization is the key! You can either organize your wedding tasks traditionally (i.e., using paper and pen) or digitally (i.e., using computer software and apps). Traditionally, you must keep your wedding tasks and calendar in one notebook. Do not forget to give your partner a copy! Fortunately for you, you can easily update your partner or your wedding squad by creating a digital file.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Go digital to enjoy the ease of accessing your wedding tasks while you are at work or while you are on the go! Google Drive, its computer software and its phone app, is a good option to seamlessly keep everyone on the wedding planning loop. Remember to use your personal email when getting back and forth with the suppliers and other people. You do not want to use the company’s email to complain about your supplier!

DELEGATION

Whether you like it or not, your career should remain your top priority during the wedding planning process. As such, you must turn to your friends and relatives for help. Treat wedding planning similarly as a big project in the office. Delegate wedding tasks to your wedding squad and provide everyone with a clear description of what they are responsible for. Pass the tasks that you know they will be great! Then, keep the communication lines open to review their works.

It is more efficient to split the delegation with your partner by creating a wedding checklist that includes proposed deadlines. These deadlines will help you to accomplish everything on time.

TIME SEGREGATION

Time management begins by scheduling your couple calendar according to your wedding tasks. This way, you will know you set aside the necessary time to tackle important matters. Moreover, you will be able to set your phone’s alarm to keep track of everything.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Now, let us go to your downtime. Maximize the time you spent on commuting or relaxing by setting appointments with your wedding suppliers or by finalizing some details. It is better to search Facebook or Instagram with a goal in mind!

Sources: 1 & 2

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Home Renovation Hacks That Will Save You Money

As I enter the complex process of spearheading a school’s renovation, I am embroiled in a tedious task of finding the most cost-efficient options. I have been saving those picturesque renovations and design ides on my Pinterest mood board. However, a renovation design only works when you add the element of realistic budget.

When it comes to build-to-order HDB, the average spending on renovations is between S$30,000 to S$50,000. A resale flat can cost you around 50% more! Imagine that. The huge amount of money highlights the importance of preparation. You need to prepare for the upcoming costs! Moreover, you must find ways to save some money.

LESS IS MORE

When it comes to home renovation or alteration, many people turn to Pinterest for inspiration. A home with a minimalist interior is likely to be more affordable to renovate than a home with an opulent interior. Your renovation’s theme can dictate its costs and your savings. Having said that, you must go back to basics. You do not need to compromise style to save money! After all, simplicity is beauty.

WALLETS ARE TIGHTENED

Upon the completion of your desired theme, do your research on the items that you need to purchase. List down the prices of each essential purchase. As much as possible, compare the prices from online and physical retailers. Stick to this planned budget!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

There may be unforeseen circumstances whereby you need to address costs that exceed your planned budget. To tackle this issue, you must give yourself an allowance of about 20%. Who knows? You might end up with an unfinished kitchen.

RECYCLING AND REVAMPING

There are two types of home or flat owners, second-hand or first-hand owners. It is very tempting to customize every inch of your new flat. However, you must keep in mind that you will not be able to bring these customization to the next home that you will purchase. The same idea can be applied to second-hand owners.

For people moving in to a “new” home, consider the things that can be kept. Revamp furniture or structural elements that are still in relatively good condition.

PLANNING PURCHASES AHEAD

Much like the two types of owners, there are two types of purchases. There are often urgent items or an items that can wait. Nonetheless, you must look out for warehouse sales to enjoy bargain prices. Go to various fairs such as Home Planner Furniture and Renovation Fair, which attracts a range of merchants selling products you might need. Compare prices online and often you can find the best deals out there including tables, chairs and smart mirrors.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

You may also consider scheduling your purchases during special holidays such as the Great Singapore Sale, National Day, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Yuletide Season. These are the periods wherein retailers exhaust their efforts to provide attractive discounts. Planning ahead can save you a lot of money!

Sources:1 &2

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Why Is Bird’s Nest So Expensive?

There are interesting reasons why the Bird’s Nest delicacy is known as the “Caviar of the East”. For starters, it costs about S$40 to S$135 to get a single bowl of Bird’s Nest Soup. While, edible Bird’s Nest costs about S$5,600 per pound. You can finish polytechnic studies with that amount of money!

Do not get me started with the price of the highest grade of Bird’s Nest. The highest grade are the most expensive because it is the purest. It is 90% edible upon harvesting and requires little amount of processing.

Image Credits: baligraph via flickr.com

How do you store an expensive delicacy as such? Do not worry about consuming everything in one sitting as you can refrigerate it for about two weeks.

The high cost of the Bird’s Nest comes from its dangerous retrieval process, its painstaking cleaning process, and its expansive health benefits (according to Traditional Chinese Medicine).

The Bird’s Nest comes from the saliva of the Swiflets. Swiftlets live in limestone caves around South East Asia, Indian Ocean, North Australia, and Pacific Islands. These birds build their nests three times a year – in spring, summer, and autumn. Each nest takes about 30 to 35 days to build. Interestingly, males primarily build the nests by attaching them to the vertical walls of the limestone caves. Removing these nests can be dangerous! Retrievers will start by climbing the outside of the cave to attach the ropes. Then, they will drop down the ropes to the cave floor. These ropes will be tied to handmade ladders and poles to ease the collection process.

Image Credits: Francesco Veronesi via flickr.com

The tedious retrieval of the Bird’s Nest does not stop there! In fact, researchers observed that it can take a person approximately eight hours to clean 10 nests. Commercial cleaners often use bleaching agents to speed up the cleaning process. All these hours seem to pay off as consumers are hooked by it! Many of the demand comes from the traditional belief of its health benefits.

Bird’s Nest can be consumed alone or as an additive in dishes, beverages, and cosmetics. It is rich in protein, which contains essential amino acids. Moreover, it contains six hormones including testosterone and estradiol.

Previous research has indicated that the nests contain substances that can stimulate cell division and growth and enhance tissue growth. This is why many use it for their skincare or beauty regimen.

Now, you know why the soft and jellylike delicacy comes with a hefty price-tag!

Sources: 1 & 2

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The Power Of Marketing: Oscars Edition

The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, consist of a set of awards given annually to recognize the creative and technical talents in the film industry. The show is spearheaded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). The AMPAS is the organization that assesses one’s cinematic achievements through the votes of its members.

Interestingly, movies who won at the Oscars get an increase of about 38% more in sales. This translates to about US$35 million in box office dollars. This significant jump happened to the award-winning 2010 film entitled King’s Speech.

Now, let us focus on the actors. Do they get paid if they win at the Oscars? The award itself costs US$0. However, the effect of the Oscars in an actor’s portfolio and talent fee is positive. It can be boosted by 60% on average! Furthermore, winners get a gift bag worth hundreds of dollars.

The marketing potential of the Oscars is the reason why filmmakers, actors, and movie-making companies aggressively vie for these votes.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

CAMPAIGNS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE

To create an Oscar buzz, members of the film industry shelled out millions of dollars! Now more than ever, campaigns have been reaching an all time high. The mere campaigns for “A Star is Born,” “Green Book”, and “Black Panther” ran from about US$20 to US$30 million per film.

Netflix is in the buzz too! Promotional budget reach about US$25 million when Netflix campaigned for “Roma”. This was an uphill battle as some members of the Academy do not want a digital platform to win the Oscars. Nonetheless, its marketing strategies paid off as Netflix won multiple awards such as winning for the foreign language film category and directing/cinematography. It does not stop there! “Period. End of Sentence” also won in the documentary short category.

ADS ARE STILL SELLING

In spite of the social media widespread, advertisers are still dishing out to get ads on shows such as the Oscars. Despite the Academy Awards’ steady decline in ratings, ABC Network sold million-dollar ads as live shows are attractive to advertisers.

CNN media critic Brian Lowry told Business Insider: “If you’re a sponsor and you’re trying to reach any kind of mass appeal, you sort of grab at the platforms that can still do that. The Oscars is in the same way that sports have an advantage, if you are really into the Oscars, you don’t want to DVR it and watch the next day. ”

Image Credits: pixabay.com

It goes to show that having audience stream live shows plays an impact in marketing and advertising!

Sources: 1 ,2, & 3

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