Petrol pump prices have gone up after the Government has announced the hike of petrol duty rates on Tuesday (Feb 16).
The hike, which took immediate effect, has cause pump price to rise to what they were before the circuit breaker.
The duty for premium grade (98-octane and above) petrol will be raised by 15 cents a litre to 79 cents a litre and the duty for intermediate grade (92-octane and 95-octane) petrol will be raised by 10 cents a litre to 66 cents a litre.
This means that the most popular 95-octane petrol is now retailing at S$2.32 a litre at all stations, except SPC which charges a litre at S$2.25. The hike also see Shell V-Power tops at S$3.01 per litre.
Here are the latest fuel prices according to fuel price tracker Fuel Kaki.
Tesla is one of the most innovative companies out there, aiming to transition the world’s energy sources to renewable energy. One of its primary ways of doing so is through its iconic electric cars.
By owning one of these powerful vehicles, you no longer have to pay for petrol. Instead, you can charge your Tesla cars at charging stations wherever you go, just as you would power up your phone or electronic devices.
Here are the main features you need to know about the energy-efficient car if you’re planning to hit the road with a custom online order soon.
Built for safety
When you think of a car, safety may be one of the most critical features that come to mind. After all, your life is literally in its hands.
Thankfully, safety is an essential part of the Model 3 design. Its body and frame are made entirely out of steel and aluminium, making it the most robust metal structure yet.
The car can even withstand its weight stacked on top of itself four times, even with a glass roof! That’s the same as having two adult African elephants on top of your roof. Impressive, isn’t it?
Ultra-fast acceleration
To get to the places you want to go, you’re going to need the quickest acceleration possible. Model 3 can exceed your expectations by climbing from 0 to 100 km per hour in little as 3.3 seconds.
That’s all thanks to the option of a dual-motor all-wheel drive, and 20” Uberturbine Wheels and Performance Brakes that have lowered suspension. They give you complete control, no matter the weather condition.
Dual motor
The motor for the Tesla Model 3 is quite different from your average gas-powered car. It has two engines that run independently from each other, which provide better redundancy in just one moving part.
That also means it offers minimised maintenance needs, all while providing the most durability for your buck. Plus, the dual-motor lets you harness the power of complete flexibility when it comes to manoeuvring your car front and rear wheels for better traction and handling.
Range
Image Credits: The Straits Times
Because the Model 3 is fully electric, you can drive without worrying about stopping at a petrol station. Just by charging overnight, you’ll be set with a full battery every day.
But what if you’re growing old or simply absentminded? Fret not. Thirty minutes is all you need to charge for your vehicle to run for a 270 km distance.
With over 20,000 Superchargers across the world and more opening every week, convenience is just around the corner. Tesla drivers can look forward to more Supercharger locations on our sunny island in time to come.
Autopilot
The Tesla Model 3 not only brings you places but brings the future right before your eyes in the form of autopilot.
When stretches of roads make driving tedious, switching on autopilot will offer you advanced features such as twelve ultrasonic sensors to help you along the way.
Other features worth noting include the navigating guidance from highway on-ramp to off-ramp, single-touch auto parking, and automatic lane changes while on the highway.
Stunning interior
Forget what you know about your regular car. Get ready to step into a whole new interior with your Model 3.
Instead of carrying around a key, consider your smartphone the new replacement and controller hub for all the driver controls you need to work, together with the 15-inch touchscreen. The sleek modern interior also features an all-glass roof, which lets the sunlight in for a brighter and better drive experience.
Step 1: Partial Premium Interior vs Premium Interior
Take your pick from a Partial Premium Interior or Premium Interior. The latter will raise the cost to S$154,815 from S$112,845 (excluding COE).
However, the extra S$40,000+ you pay is not just for the interior. It also affects the performance in terms of the range (WLTP), top speed, and acceleration power.
Step 2: Colour & Wheels
Now, it’s time to put on some “clothes” for your Tesla Model 3. Take the default in pearl white multi-coat and 18’’ aero wheels, and there will be no extra charges.
Or you can also choose to have it in solid black, midnight silver metallic, or deep blue metallic for an extra S$1,500. A bright red multi-coat will cost you S$3,000. Next, you have the choice to upgrade to a set of 19’’ sport wheels for S$2,000.
Take some time to think it through before you proceed.
Step 3: Black vs Monochrome
By now, you should know that when you’re given the freedom to customise, it often comes with extra money. How would you like your interior? Stick with black if you don’t want to fork out another dollar. Or you can go for black & white by paying S$1,500.
Step 4: Autopilot
We’re almost done! This is the second last step to the payment page.
Those who want the most advanced safety and convenience features must be willing to pay S$11,500. The good news is that you can skip this now and choose to buy post-delivery. Just be mindful that with new features rolled out by Tesla in the future, prices may rise accordingly too.
Step 5: Payment
Congratulations on getting to this last page. Here, you just have to enter your account details, card, and billing information before placing an order. There is also a one-time S$150 non-refundable order fee to be charged.
Placed an order? Great! Now, sit back and relax. Your customised Tesla Model 3 will reach you in about 12 to 14 weeks. Click here to view a comprehensive list of FAQs and happy waiting!
The feeling of a satisfying meal in your stomach is a blissful experience, no doubt. For many people, warm and filling meals form a considerable part of our daily lives and can make our moods better than ever in just a few moments.
However, the same foods that taste so good can also leave behind some nasty bloating issues. They may cause our stomachs to swell with uncomfortable gas or pain that we can’t seem to get rid of. Let’s not forget the farts we release (or struggle to let out).
The subject of a famous fairy tale about this “magical pea”, beans are known to be a protein-rich food. Generally, beans are high in amino acids. They are also low in calories and contain high amounts of healthy fibre.
However, the fermentation process used to digest these beans in your system produces a considerable amount of gas that can trigger bloating. If you struggle with that, stay away from beans as much as possible. Or you may also consume tempeh and soybeans (edamame) that are easier to digest.
#2: Onions & Cabbages
Image Credits: Taste of Home
Onions are a staple ingredient for many Asian cuisines, so this might shock those who are reading. If you’re the sort that suffers from acid reflux, you want to steer clear of onions. It’s famous for causing a bloated feeling in the upper belly. Go for chives or scallions instead.
As for vegetables in the cabbage family, they are usually called cruciferous vegetables. You want to avoid brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli if you don’t want to suffer the effects of gassy carbohydrates. Bok choy makes a suitable replacement!
#3: Sweeteners
Image Credits: chriskresser.com
Selected artificial sweeteners are hard to digest. This thus leads to bacteria in the intestine fermenting it, which in turn results in gas.
Folks who are looking for alternatives can try Stevia. Tamara Duker Freuman, a New York City-based registered dietitian, said that Stevia is not a fermentable carbohydrate. This means that gas is not produced as a byproduct if consumed.
This one might seem a bit hard at first. Who’s guilty of gulping down carbonated drinks regularly to counter the summer-forever weather in Singapore? I know I do. Even when we’re unwell, it seems like staying away from that chilled can of cola is impossible.
But you need to know that the substance here that cause our favourite beverages to bubble and stay fresh is carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a gas that can get trapped in your digestive system and cause bloating or cramping. Stick to flat drinks to avoid this bloating threat.
#5: Wheat / Gluten
Image Credits: thrillist.com
For people who find themselves running to the bathroom after a good Subway sandwich, bread might be the unsuspecting culprit.
Wheat and the gluten it contains can be alright for some people, but for those with gluten sensitivity, intolerance, or celiac disease, ingesting gluten causes severe digestive issues, including gas, massive bloating, and other stomach discomforts.
Known as lactose intolerance, this type of dairy shut down means that you’re likely to experience bloating, gas, and pains when eating dairy products. If so, stick to dairy-free or lactose-free products to avoid this source of bloating.
Here are some alternatives:
Oat milk
Soy milk
Almond milk
Coconut milk
Lactose-free dairy milk
Hard cheese such as parmesan, cheddar, or swiss
#7: Beer
Image Credits: unsplash.com
Beer is the unfortunate combination of several bloat-heavy ingredients on this list. It is a carbonated and fermented beverage made of carbonated water, fermented gluten, and fermented carbohydrates.
All three of these cause your stomach to bloat tremendously, something that might contribute to the idea of a beer belly. If you’re looking to avoid bloating, cut beer out of your diet and stick to plainer alcoholic alternatives such as liquors, red wines, or hard spirits.
Cutting out the abovementioned foods and drinks is the quickest way to enjoy a satisfying diet that makes you feel and look your best. Or you can gradually reduce them and introduce other alternatives mentioned in this article into your meals.
In finance terms, we hear about inflation all the time. But what about lifestyle inflation? This is essentially a kind of habit, and both its presence and the problem it causes can be sneaky.
Simply put, lifestyle inflation happens when your pay increases or you undergo a promotion and your costs of living rise as a result. This alludes to those expenses that aren’t necessary. If you think “oh, that won’t happen to me”, be careful. It’s not called “lifestyle creep” for no reason because it creeps up on you!
Don’t fall into the trap of spending more money as your lifestyle changes. Here are some realistic tips to keep you on the lookout.
#1: Know your weaknesses
We’ve all got that one thing that we tend to splurge on. Perhaps it’s a shopping spree at weekends. Or it could be a weekly high-end restaurant date with boo. If you’re honest about the splurges you’re most likely to make, it will help you stay strong against them.
#2: Be careful with credit cards
Image Credits: AsiaOne
To keep your financial health in check, be careful not to overspend on credit cards. Be mindful that you’re going to have to pay it all back (with interest) one day, so think twice before that big swipe.
For folks contemplating getting a credit card, read this article to consider some situations before applying for one.
#3: Be ready for it by having a plan
The biggest mistake that many make is to underestimate its ability to be crafty. It’s just a few dollars here, and a few dollars there, so it shouldn’t be that big a deal? Well, that’s precisely what it means to get off on a wrong foot.
Make sure that you plan for lifestyle inflation to happen. Expect the unexpected because the only way you will notice it is when it starts to impact your financials. And trust us, it will.
#4: Stick to your budget
Image Credits: Forbes
One helpful advice to keep your spending in line is to stick with the same budget you’ve been using before your salary increases.
None of your other spending categories has a reason to increase, after all, so make sure your accounts match what they should be at the end of the month.
We like to use an excel sheet to watch our budget and spending habits. Having a document to pen down your expenses is a sure way to help you eye your monthly paychecks. With the extra savings, you can decide for yourself if you’re ready to venture into investments.
#5: Let yourself off the hook once in a while
Okay, so this goes against the tips above, but it’s essential!
If you set aside a small amount of money every week or month to feed your spending urges, you will be able to last through the entire marathon. That’s because you aren’t sacrificing anything and it’s only fair that you reward yourself after a tough week at work.
Think of it as a strictly monitored allowance.
Final thoughts
Image Credits: arktoswealth.com
Lifestyle inflation might be something that you notice after it has already snuck into your life. If that’s the case, that’s no reason for panic.
All you need to do is use the bits of advice shared in this article to deflate it back to where it should be again. Hold fast to it, and you will be on your way to significant savings that you can tuck away for a financially sound future.
As we ring in the new Year of the Ox, there are several personal and professional milestones that we can climb. You are not alone in the battlefield of job hunting. While some interviews are pleasant, others can leave you disappointed. Throughout my career in the education field, I have been in both sides of the story.
I was able to interview talented teachers as a Directress and was able to sit through countless of interviews myself. When an interview turns sour, what do you do? You can either run away to other opportunities or settle for less than what you deserve. It is easy to walk away from a bad interview when you feel that you have more opportunities waiting in store. However, there are some people who have taken positions despite the red flags. These people are worried that they might not get another job. Given the current situation, I cannot blame them!
If you are caught in this situation, it is likely that you will feel emotionally and physically worn out as the months pass. Consider politely refusing an offer and search for better opportunities instead. On that note, here are some red flags that will make you run away from an interview.
#1: WHEN THE INTERVIEWER IS LATE
It is understandable that hiring managers will encounter emergencies from time to time. Being late for a couple of minutes is forgivable. However, not respecting someone’s time is rude and bad for business. Most hiring managers need to give themselves at least 10 minutes of prep before the candidate comes in. They use this time to read the C.V. and to prepare the application forms of the candidates. If your interviewer is late during the appointment, imagine how they will act as your boss.
#2: WHEN THE INTERVIEWER SAYS INAPPROPRIATE WORDS ABOUT YOUR PREDECESSOR
While it is appropriate for the interviewer to describe the current roles in the department or how the company is structured, be cautious when the interviewer starts to badmouth the person who left. Speaking poorly about a person they are replacing shows a view of his or her character. I cannot guarantee that the interviewer will not do the same thing to you.
#3: WHEN THE SCHEDULING IS DISORGANIZED
It is common to experiences a few missteps when it comes to the interview scheduling process. It is not simple to coordinate multiple people with strict schedules. Moreover, managers and leaders are often pulled into last-minute meetings. These are normal. However, you need to be concerned when they reschedule over and over again. This shows that they do not value your time or that you must adjust your schedule to accommodate to their needs.
#4: WHEN THE COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION HAS A HIGH TURNOVER RATE
Do your research before a job interview. Check LinkedIn to see what the working culture is like and which of your friends may have worked at the given company before. If the interviewer mentions that they are refilling the role for the second time this year, it is important to ask why. If the turnover rate is high in an organization, please proceed with caution.
#5: WHEN THE INTERVIEWER DISPLAYS OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOR
Inclusion, diversity, and equity play a crucial role in a company. A workplace free from racism, sexism, harassment, discrimination, and political intolerance is ideal. In reality, these exists in varying degrees in different companies. Be observant when it comes to offensive behaviors during your interview. Exit politely, if necessary.
#6: WHEN THE INTERVIEWER IS CONFUSED ABOUT YOUR ROLE
Is the interviewer belittling your profession? Is he or she confused about your role? Be concerned! Your responsibilities and duties must be given to you clearly. The leaders and the rest of the team must be completely aligned with the company’s vision, mission, strategy, and roadmap.
