Protect Your Dream Home And The Contents You Value Most

Buying a home is often considered a big-ticket item purchase. It is also not uncommon to spend tens of thousands of dollars to renovate the house to bring it to the ideal living conditions. Having incurred such vast amounts of money on renovation and the purchase of new furniture, it is only prudent to protect them with comprehensive home contents insurance. A home contents insurance offers protection against physical loss of or damage to household contents and renovation.  Despite its importance, home contents insurance is often not purchased owing to common misconceptions about the coverage and the cost.

Dangerous Misconceptions

Majority of home owners believes that the basic fire insurance plans that they have purchased cover for everything. Add to the fact that they are often compulsory tends to lull home owners into a false sense of security. However, this cannot be further away from the truth. Basic fire insurance plans only cover for damage to the structure of the building. It is strictly a basic cover that does not insure home contents. In other words, the furniture, cost of renovation and personal belongings inside the homes are omitted.

Another common misconception amongst owners is to think that they will not suffer the misfortune of accidents happening to their homes. While a fire may not break out too often, burst water pipes or short circuiting of electrical appliances are actually not uncommon occurrences in a household. Although these typically only lead to localized damage in parts of the house, the cost needed to restore to the original state could turn out to be quite substantial. In trying to save the annual premiums on home contents insurance, such home owners could end up being penny wise and pound foolish.

The All-Encompassing GreatHome Distributed By OCBC Bank

To ensure that your cherished home gets the protection that it deserves, OCBC Bank is distributing the all-encompassing GreatHome insurance policy. GreatHome is a home contents insurance policy with an extensive coverage over renovation, home contents, personal liability, and personal accident. It complements fire insurance plans well since GreatHome covers the content and renovation while fire insurance plans cover the structure of the home. The personal legal liability clause covers for expenses or property damage caused by any of the household members, including live-in domestic helpers, up to a sum of S$750,000 under its Starter Plan.  Other helpful benefits include reimbursement for the cost of alternative accommodation when the insured property is undergoing repair. This reimbursement provides home-owners with a peace of mind during this trying period.

In addition, GreatHome is also competitively priced to provide great value for money. Home-owners get covered for their household contents and renovations for up to $75,000 from just S$128 for a 1-year Starter Plan. It gets even better as OCBC is promising home-owners mega savings with generous discounts on the premiums of GreatHome.

Discount On Premiums

OCBC is offering a discount on its premiums. From now till 31 December 2018, home-owners who apply for a GreatHome 1-year Starter Plan will receive $30 off the original S$128. The discounts get higher if home-owners elect for more comprehensive coverage for their cherished homes.

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As GreatHome has demonstrated, insuring the contents of your home costs very little and requires little effort with its auto-renewal option. It is a great complement to your existing home fire insurance to provide complete coverage for your cherished home. Visit www.ocbc.com/greathome to find out more!

GreatHome is underwritten by Great Eastern General Insurance Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Great Eastern Holdings Limited and member of the OCBC Group. GreatHome is not a bank deposit or obligation of, or guaranteed by OCBC Bank.

Policy Owners’ Protection Scheme

This plan is protected under the Policy Owners’ Protection Scheme which is administered by the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation (SDIC). Coverage for your policy is automatic and no further action is required from you. For more information on the types of benefits that are covered under the scheme as well as the limits of coverage, where applicable, please contact us or visit the General Insurance Association (GIA) or SDIC websites (www.gia.org.sg or www.sdic.org.sg).

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Exotic and Affordable Dishes In Singapore

Let me paint a common scenario in this day and age. One unsuspecting click to a single headline or YouTube video leads to another. It happens to the best of us! This rabbit hole of wonders led me to a video featuring celebrity’s favorite dishes. As it turns out, singer The Weeknd finds comfort in “Siga Wat”. Siga Wat is a traditional Ethiopian dish made with a spicy beef stew and a side-dish (e.g., bread).

Image Credits: The Come Up Show via flickr.com

Hearing about this dish opened my mind to other exotic dishes in the international scene. How adventurous are Singaporeans when it comes to their food? Well, many are eager to explore new things. On that note, here are deliciously exotic dishes that are under S$30.

#1: BRAISED SEA CUCUMBER WITH CHINESE MUSHROOM (S$26)

I was first introduced to the sea cucumber in my Biology class. My lecturer highlighted that sea cucumbers are marine animals from the animal class of Holothuroidea. It has a strong anti-inflammatory effects, which may help alleviate pain in patients suffering from tendonitis and arthritis. Furthermore, historical Chinese beliefs considered it as an aphrodisiac due to its resemblance to the male’s genitalia.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Sea cucumbers are eaten either fresh or dried up. Whichever way they are prepared, it has little to no taste and has a “fishy” smell. It is also rich in sand. A casual Cantonese restaurant in Singapore carries a dish that places it as their star. Cafe De Hong Kong serves Braised Sea Cucumber with Chinese Mushroom for S$26. Feel free to give it a try!

Location: 586 Balestier Road #01-01 Eastpac Building, Singapore 329898
Website: facebook.com/Cafe-De-Hong-Kong-48893444221

#2: CAUSA DEL MAR (S$19)

Contrary to popular belief, Peru holds more jewels aside from the renowned Machu Picchu! Its Peruvian cuisine fuses the Inca’s indigenous practices as well as the immigrant’s varied practices (i.e., immigrants from Asia, West Africa, and Europe). Corn and potatoes are staples to their dishes.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Taste authentic Peruvian dishes as you climb a vibrant rooftop joint – the Tiger’s Milk. Tiger’s Milk got its name after the traditional citrus-based marinade called “Leche de Tigre”. You must try the Causa Del Mar dish, which is a multicoloured potato-based starter filled with prawns, octopus, and avocado. Interesting combination, right?

Location: The Club, 28 Ann Siang Rd, Singapore 069708
Website: facebook.com/tigersmilksingapore

#3: GOBI MANCHURIAN (S$14.20) & STEAMED VEGETABLE MOMOS (S$9.80)

Centuries ago, the Chinese and Tibetans migrated to Bengal. The multicultural interactions brought dishes ranging from sweet to sour. Fifth Season Tangra Chinese is perfect for people who are deeply interested to witness the flavor play of Indian, Chinese, and Tibetan cuisine. The restaurant includes award-winning dishes such as the Tibetan Momos.

Image Credits: fifthseason.com.sg

Steamed vegetable momos consists of dumplings stuffed with minced vegetable. It is served with a special chili that is roasted in tomato sauce. Another exotic dish is Gobi Manchurian. It consists of crisp cauliflowers seasoned with garlic, ginger, and soy sauce. These dishes only prove that the restaurant will have you satiated with its extensive repertoire.

Location: 28 Race Course Road, Singapore 218550
Website: www.fifthseason.com.sg

Image Credits: Charles Haynes via flickr.com

“Exotic food is a term that is applied to culinary items which are considered unusual, novel, or taboo from the perspective of an individual’s native culture.” I, for one, am not afraid to try exciting and eccentric flavors. Some of the weirdest things that I have tried are Balut, crickets, frog’s legs, June beetles, and chicken’s intestines. Balut was my favorite among this exotic group.

How about you? How adventurous are you when it comes to food? Have you ever tasted or heard any of these dishes? Do not be shy to leave a comment below!

Sources: 1 & 2

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Don’t Share These Personal Issues In The Workplace!

Personal issues includes your family drama, emotional difficulties, boyfriend problems, and even your outstanding debt. These private issues can impact your ability to advance in your career. Thus, it is ideal to keep things on a balance beam. Put your “private life” on one end and the “work life” on another end.

It is inevitable to experience a crossover between these two, but you must deal with it in a healthy manner. Remember that oversharing is not always a good strategy!

#1: VARIOUS FINANCIAL WOES

As a financial writer, I respect the financial transparency between a husband and wife. I highly encourage open communication in a domestic setting. However, you must draw a thick line in a professional setting. Your co-workers do not want to hear about your financial woes as much as you do not want to hear theirs!

It is possible to earn similar salaries as your co-workers. Thus, you may perceive them as your allies who will emphatize with your financial circumstance. This is not always the case. Being in the same situation does not guarantee that they can provide decent advices to you. Seek professional help.

#2: PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT TURMOIL

Workplace dramas spread like wildfire. To prevent this, employers do their best to maintain group harmony. It goes without saying that you should skip stories revolving your previous workplace termoils. I can vividly remember staying away from my co-worker who was utterly open about her unhealthy sexual encounters.

Yes! Stories such as a cheating boss, a dishonest co-worker, and a crazy office party are juicy. However, employers and other individuals tend to frown upon staff members with these type of past. Letting out your dramatic past will affect other people’s perception of your character and your worth ethics. Are you willing to risk those?

#3: DEEPEST DARKEST WEAKNESSES

In the animal kingdom, a dog manifest its submission by rolling over and exposing its belly. The dog freely reveals his weakness to other trusted beings. You may unintentionally doing the same thing when you share too much about yourself.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Some of your subordinates may take advantage of your weaknesses by giving you tasks that are beyond your capabilities. Furthermore, it may influence your employer’s decision when considering you for a promotion. Seek to do the opposite by demonstrating your strengths. Demonstrate your worth to the company today!

#4: SERIOUS RELATIONSHIP DISASTERS

Let us face it – no marriage is perfect! Just listen to Beyonce’s “Lemonade” album. Not even Queen B and legendary Jay Z were spared from cheating scandals. A cheating party, a messy divorce, and a harsh breakup are all parts of life. You are bound to fight with these tides and thrive soon after.

No matter how seemingly acceptable these serious subjects are, you should not blurt out these issues to the workplace conversations. Digging up your relationship disasters communicates that you have a difficulty in separating your workplace and personal lives. This inability to discriminate between the two is a career-limiting trait.

#5: STRONG RELIGIOUS OR POLITICAL VIEWS

While I was in a recent reunion with my ex-colleagues, our random topics led to sharing our personal views. It was the first time that we talked about our political and religious stances. You see, we usually steer away from these hot-button topics that trigger distinct reactions. Our current social positions allowed us to be more open about these topics. However, sharing our thoughts may have a different impact back when we were in the same workplace.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

It is easy for a casual comment on a particular religious sector to turn into a negative commentary. The negative effect may affect your professional opportunities. As much as possible, you must exercise religious sensitivity and political correctness. Keep these strong beliefs out of the workplace!

Sources: 1& 2

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5 Mind Tricks That Restaurants Employ To Make You Spend

There are important things to consider while designing a new restaurant’s interior and its minor details such as the menu. One thing is for sure – you are building a business to boost your income. You may consider employing these Psychological tricks to help your sales.

#1: DROP THE DOLLAR SIGN

What I told you that you can entice your customers to spend more with minor alterations? Yes, it is possible! Simply drop the dollar signs found on your menu. Customers become more aware of their spending when they are bombarded with currency indicators (i.e., $ or S$).

Research suggests that customers who were given a menu without “$” significantly spent more than those who received a menu with currency indicators in them. You may write out the price in words too (e.g., ten dollars). These techniques reduce the negative feelings associated with paying.

#2: TRIGGER THE FAMILY TIES

The Asian culture puts a great value on the closeness of family. Most of us work to aid our family members’ expenses. Restaurant owners and managers can use this unified value to their advantage by tailoring their brand.

You may either put the “names” of the relatives on the menu or on the establishment. Having “grandma’s soup” or “uncle’s supreme burger” on the menu can add a hint of nostalgia. While, you can name your establishment something similar to Papa John’s Pizza or Auntie Anne’s.

#3: PUT THE APPETIZING COLORS

Whenever you are out to eat, you see wonderful colors that vary from the lightest to the darkest shades. It is no secret that colors can impact one’s spending. The sight of it automatically stimulates you and increases your memories, color-motivated behaviors, and social influences. For instance, green is associated with nature and other elicit relaxing feelings. It is used by cafes that want people to sit down for a long time. Just take a cue from Starbucks!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

From the logos to the interior, two colors seem to stay at almost every fast food chains. These two colors are red and yellow. Red and yellow stimulate appetite, which probably explains why your stomach starts to make noises as soon as you see the yellow arches or the red logo. You cannot resist spending more inside!

#4: PLACE EXPENSIVE DISHES FIRST

Previous research showed that customers scan through a menu and focus their attentions on the main course. With this in mind, you may influence the fixation of their eyes. Put the expensive dishes on the first page. People are likely to order the first few items that they are drawn to. You may add colorful pictures to tempt your customers with the dishes’ delectable flavors.

This technique works because of the Primacy Effect. Primacy Effect, in Psychology, is the tendency for the first items (presented in a series) to be remembered better than the rest. Another reason why this is effective is the utter comparison between the expensive dishes and the rest of the menu. The succeeding dishes seem to be reasonably priced compared to the aforementioned. People will pay more for good deals!

#5: MAKE YOUR FONTS FANCY

The beauty premium is the idea that attractive individuals receive higher salaries compared to the other side of the spectrum deemed as the “ugliness penalty”. Physical appearance is crucial to boosting a restaurant’s sales too. Having attractive fonts can add an irresistible tone to your menu and branding.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

You can highlight dishes using different colors or fancier fonts. The addition of pizzazz to the visual presentation increases its perceived specialty. However, high-end restaurants tend to avoid this technique. They tend to stick to minimalism as they do not want to appear “tasteless”.

Sources:  1,2 &3

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Shop Online And Save Money With BuyandShip!

With Chinese New Year just a month away, lots of us will be itching to get on our hands on new clothes to look extra good. From dresses and shirts to shoes, you’ll be spoilt for choice when you do an online search.

Most e-commerce merchants today do offer free international shipping, but you often have to hit a minimum amount spent, or pay a high shipping fee. They also cost in the weight of all the packaging – boxes, bubble wraps and styrofoam balls shavings included.

Enter BuyandShip! BuyandShip is a forwarding services company with established presence all across Asia, predominantly Hong Kong (their main outlet), Japan, Macau and Taiwan.

Here’s how BuyandShip helps to reduce the prices of your shipping – unlike others, BuyandShip consolidates all your packages into one before shipping them out. This way, you have the option to store your packages in the Hong Kong warehouse for up to 14 days (that gives you more time to do your shopping!).

Frequent online shoppers will be familiar with the feeling of opening your package, and realizing that you had actually paid more for the extra weight of the bubble packs, stuffing and boxes.

BuyandShip ensures that you will not be charged for the excess weight of the packaging! For instance, if you purchase a small item like a tube of lipstick, and it is delivered in a large box with tons of bubble pack and stuffings, BuyandShip ensures that you will only need to pay for the weight of the items you bought, and not its packaging. If necessary, they will even repackage the items and remove unnecessary packaging for you.

Also, BuyandShip charges you for the actual weight of your packages, not based on volume. If you were to have 3 packages shipping from USA to Singapore, each weighing 1.3lbs, you’ll only be charged 4lbs (rounded up weight from 3.9lbs) as compared to other companies who will charge you 6lbs (each 1.3lbs package will be rounded up to 2lbs instead). That saves you a good 2lbs worth of shipping fee!

It’s incredibly simple to use. Just register as a BuyandShip member and start your shopping spree. Declare your parcels for international shipping and you will soon be receiving it straight at your doorstep!

If you’re worried about losing your packages, fret not. You can easily track and trace the movement of all your packages with a click of a button. Also, with 5 daily checkout times for each of their warehouses worldwide, never worry about delays in shipments again.

What are you waiting for? You can now go on a Chinese New Year shopping spree without having to worry about shipping fees. Start your wardrobe makeover early this 2018 with BuyandShip and register now at https://www.buyandship.com.sg/!

Stand to get greater discounts when you use the promo code MONEYDIGEST2018 upon checkout. Hurry and start today!

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