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Indulge in Esplanade’s festive offerings without breaking your bank.

Come December, Esplanade offers a whole month of free programmes, activities, crafts workshops and roving performances for families, friends and lovers alike. There is even PJ Harvey to look forward to when January arrives.

Don’t miss Alan and Evan’s ukulele performance on 16 December. Together, they have over 12 years of experience playing the ukulele. Alan has performed at major festivals such as Bangkok Ukulele Festivals. At only 11 years old, Evan has already performed for three years. Let them take you through different eras and music genres on this traditional Hawaiian instrument.

Celebrate meaningful relationships and positivity with local singer-songwriters Audris Ho and Charlyn Too. There will also be a special guest appearance by Lily Goh, Founder of ExtraOrdinary Horizons (a social enterprise for the Deaf) on 18 December.

If you’re itching for some action, catch SherePunjab Bhangra (SPB) around Esplanade, as they teach you some Bhangra dance moves so you can groove along with them. Bhangra dance is a traditional dance originating from Punjab, and SherePunjab Bhangra has uniquely combined Punjabi folk traditions with Western pop music in their performances.

Introduce your little tots to a world of music with Vocal Fun!, a music workshop for ages 3 to 6. Angelina Choo from Urban Music Productions brings music in through various games and songs, and lets children experiment the endless possibilities they can do with their own voices. Don’t miss this one session held only on 10 December!

If you‘ve watched popular Taiwanese movie film Our Times《我的少女时代》, you don’t want to miss Arpeggione Quartet rendition of it. Happening on 29 & 30 December at the Esplanade Concourse, let this talented string quartet serenade you with an evening of classic jazz and local favourites.

And of course, countdown to the new year at Esplanade with some of the best views of the impressive 8-minute long fireworks display over the marina. With a total of 6 performances on New Year’s Eve, Singapore Char Siew Baos! And The Mad Company will be there to entertain you all night long at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre from 7pm to 1am. If you’ve watched MediaCorp Channel 5’s 2010 One Moment of Glory, The Singapore Char Siew Baos! would be familiar to you. They came in as semi-finalists in this reality competition. The Mad Company, on the other hand, consists of alumni from Republic Polytechnic who express their passion for music through unplugged music.

For the full list of upcoming events, please visit the Esplanade’s website here: www.esplanade.com/celebratedecember.

We can’t help but share other exciting news brewing in Esplanade this January. Usher in the new year with musician, poet, artist, and only two-time winner of the Mercury Music Prize, PJ Harvey. Harvey is an international icon who has commanded attention throughout her career of more than two decades. She has carved a name for herself in the international music industry, earning numerous Grammy and Brit Award nominations and Artist of the Year awards from Rolling Stone and Spin. Throughout her music journey, she has worked with various music veterans such as Thom Yorke, Nick Cave, Tricky, Björk, Mark Lanegan, and Gordon Gano of Violent Femmes.

At her only stop in Southeast Asia as part of her international tour, Harvey showcases music from her acclaimed latest release The Hope Six Demolition Project, together with her full 10-piece band on 13 January. Prices start from $68 ($45 for students, NSFs and seniors).

Get your tickets from: http://bit.ly/PJHarveyEsp

“If there were any rules about what makes a genuine rock god, then Polly Jean Harvey has torpedoed most of them by now…she is a powerhouse.”

– The Guardian

‘Tis the season of giving (& receiving)!

Win a trip to Club Med Maldives or Bali!

Purchase the Esplanade&Me Black or White Card and stand a chance to win a free holiday to Club Med Maldives or Bali! Valid from 1 – 31 Dec 2016.

Festive Specials

Enjoy festive deals and take a lucky dip to win special gifts such as limited edition esplanadeXsupermama porcelain plate sets, E&Me White cards, to #artsXlife experiences only at Esplanade Mall! Valid from 1-31 Dec 2016. *T&Cs apply.

Touching Lives with the Gift of Arts

Esplanade is a not-for-profit arts centre with a social mission. They believe in transforming lives through the arts. This December, join them as they bring the joy of the arts to even more people from different communities. Your contribution will help their beneficiaries from various VWOs to enjoy a hosted visit to a performance at Esplanade, as well as creative workshops conducted by artists. Find out how you can make a difference here.

Surefire Ways To Waste Your Money As A Parent

Many parents, including my own, are guilty of spoiling their children with affection and attention. They spend money on the things that would make their child happy. Do not get me wrong! This is a normal reaction. However, excessively giving in to these impulses can lead to serious monetary consequences.

Awareness is the first step!

Repair your spending habits by knowing the “Four Ways To Waste Money As A Parent”:

ELECTRONIC ENTERTAINMENT

Back when I was a child, coloring books and sticker albums were all the rage. My friends and I used to compare each other’s collections and artworks. Let us fast forward to the present age. The children of today are utterly obsessed with Smartphone apps and video game consoles. Downloading no-cost gaming apps are okay, but its extras come with costly price-tags. Furthermore, the unit upgrades of video game consoles are insanely rapid.

For instance, the Xbox One may potentially be the last generational console from Microsoft. The renowned brand is looking forward to re-imagining consoles by combining its features with a Windows-operated PC.

DESIGNER CLOTHING FOR CHILDREN

Children can have sudden growth spurts. Thus, it is unnecessary to purchase loads of baby or toddler clothes. This holds true for shoes and socks as well. Instead, you may ask your friends and family members if they still have their kid’s outgrown clothes.

A kid’s wardrobe is both temporary and cluttered. This is why you must not purchase designer or boutique apparel.

SPECIAL BATHROOM PRODUCTS

The people behind children’s bathroom products lure you with the vibrant array of cartoon characters in their packaging. Barbie bath bombs and Angry Birds toothpaste sounds attractive in theory. However, they may contain chemicals that are harmful to your beloved child. Look at the ingredients rather than focusing on the pictures.

If you really care for the well-being of your child, you will take care of his or her health first.

INFANT FORMULA

Breastfeeding is among the most empowering gifts that women can offer to their babies. 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.

You may also borrow a breast pump from your friends or family members, but ensure that you change the plastic attachments. You can buy those for far less than a brand new pump.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Whether you want to throw an extravagant birthday party or to purchase a domestic pet for your child, there are different ways to flush your money down the drain. It is time to make better choices for your family and your finances!

Sources: 1 & 2

Booming industries in Singapore

Singapore is one of the world’s leading countries in commerce and finance, as well as having been recently voted the top country for expats by HSBC. In fact, it is also the top voted country in the world for starting up a business because of the support available for entrepreneurs and their SMEs and SMBs. Added to that is the Singaporean work ethic and the success of financial tech companies currently holding offices there. It’s really no wonder that some of the biggest names in the world are setting up on the island.

Whilst recent years have seen a proliferation of tech companies across the world, there are some industries which are successfully thriving in Singapore. These include but are not limited to those listed below.

IT Services

Whilst this is a broad term for a huge umbrella of industries, there are some information tech services which are thriving more than others within Asia’s finance hub. For example, Twitter has headquarters in the city, a chain of international success stories such as Apple, Google and Microsoft have invested in offices, with Netflix opening their Asia division in Singapore next year. App creators and developers, cloud storage and cybersecurity are some of the divisions of tech which are really booming now.

The Singapore government knows and supports the value of tech industries and launched Smart Nation – an initiative to empower citizens through the use of tech and pervasive accessibility, to encourage growth in this key industry.

Automotive

Having pumped some serious money into R&D recently, the Singaporean government have encouraged experts from all over the world to research and develop all industries. One of the major players is the automotive industry, both Delphi and Bosch have set up R&D departments for the industry. With a workforce enriched with electronics and engineering, it is unsurprising that the automotive industry is racing to the forefront of successful sectors in Singapore.

Healthcare/ Biomedics

Again, the country’s provision for R&D makes Singapore a thriving hub of healthcare and many big pharma companies have offices in the city. SMEs from the medtech sector have been sprouting up all over Singapore, using the excellent support and resources to incubate their ideas before spreading to the whole of Asia. This means the markets in this area are very successful too, rendering it a solid investment.

Creative industries and arts

With the amount of tech developments happening within the country, Singapore is awash with creative agencies offering design services, game creation and development and animation to name just a few. The Singaporean government expect to see more of these companies as we head into 2017.

Arts and performing arts are respected in Singapore and have seen a steady increase in recent years, making it a cultural place, nurturing cultural interests.

Communications

Its thriving tech opportunities, educated workforce and the desire to be independent and self-sufficient have led to a proliferation of communications companies springing up throughout Singapore. From telecommunications to information marketing and internet comms. companies, the tech advancement in Singapore lends itself well to the ever expanding communications industry.

Beat The Christmas Shopping Rush With These 5 Tips

If you are a fan of late Christmas shopping and holiday parties, curb your spending by following these five savvy tips:

#1: ACCEPT THE REALITY

The first step to survive the Yuletide rush is to mentally prepare yourself for what is about to come. Recognize that you tackling one of the most stressful seasons of the year. Except the huge crowds and the long queues at the shopping centers. These are inevitable.

Do not try to convince yourself that you are collected when you are not. Instead, change your mindset by accepting the gravity or reality of the situation.

#2: CREATE A LIST AND CHECK IT TWICE

Create a comprehensive list, which contains the people whom you want to buy gifts for. Go through each name and allocate a specific amount beside it. Strictly follow this plan when you are shopping. If your budget still falls short, make necessary revisions.

For larger families, consider giving one present per married couple. Remember that you are not Santa Claus and it is not your duty to give everyone a gift!

#3: SHOP DURING OFF-PEAK HOURS

It does not take a sharp scientist to come into conclusion that shopping during the peak hours is a horrible idea! Prevent the rumination and nightmares about the hours-long frenzy in the mall by avoiding the weeknights and the weekends.

Come out victorious by frequenting your favorite shops during the early mornings and the weekdays.

#4: USE THE INTERNET TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

Use the power of technology to make your life easier. Firstly, do a comparative study to pinpoint the latest deals. It is worth spending the effort in order to stretch your dollar.

Secondly, buy your gifts directly from the online retailers. This will give you the convenience of not having to leave your home. More so, the items will be shipped on your doorstep.

Browse through the credible reviews to aid your search for the best brand at premium prices. Stuff Singapore provides reliable information regarding the latest gadgets while Renotalk focus on the latest in furnishing.

#5: OPT FOR OLDER MODELS

If you are planning to purchase gadgets or appliances for your parents, you can score greater savings by buying the older models. Sometimes, stores offer discounts on last year’s units to prepare for the upcoming release of the new one.

Since stores constantly rotate the models, the previous models are left at the sides or at the back. Look for those!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

It is important to work with how much money can afford to spend this Christmas. As soon as you start spending through credit, you will have the burden of paying it all back on the next year. That is not worth it!

Sources: 1 & 2

How To Be Financially Ready For Matrimony

My friends and I shared a significant night last Wednesday. You see, we witnessed the proposal that my friend had orchestrated. The only catch was that he intended to get married in two months. The relatively short amount of time to prepare shook everyone. I noticed that their resources were stretched due to the absence of a stable budget. This scenario made me realize how important it is to set the tone of the wedding earlier on.

Take control of your wedding by financially planning at least 6 months ahead. Relatives from both sides are more likely to state their opinions during the planning process. They will feel like they have the right to impose if they are contributing to the costs. Be open to their colorful suggestions, but remember that it is your special day.

Employ savvy steps such as these:

DISCUSS EACH OTHER’S FINANCIAL GOALS

Before tying the knot, one of the first steps that you must take is to discuss about each other’s short-term and long-term goals. Spare a portion of your weekend to openly converse about your thoughts on personal finance. Respect the opinion of your partner to reach a beneficial decision for your wedding and your future household.

Doing so will give you an opportunity to build joint financial goals. Whether you decide to save for a new car or for an early retirement, aligning your goals to a common plan will serve as a good bonding experience.

DECIDE YOUR OVERALL BUDGET

The overall budget can make or break your dream wedding. This is why you must arrange your plans ahead of time. Curate a list of all the items that you will need to purchase. Include miscellaneous and other expenses such as your airfare tickets for the honeymoon.

It is important to stick to what you can afford despite the expectations of your friends or family. For an informed decision, you may use this guideline:

Wedding banquet – 60%
Bridal package – 15%
Wedding ceremony – 5%
Honeymoon – 20%

CONSIDER THE SOLEMNISATION AND OTHER TRADITIONS

What type of customary ceremony do you want to uphold? For example, the Chinese tea ceremony occurs when the couple greets the elders of the family either around or on the wedding day itself. Extra costs may include refreshments and hong baos for the children and helpers.

On the other hand, it is compulsory to register the Civil Marriage at a solemnisation ceremony. The solemnisers are generally volunteers who officiate weddings at no cost. It is advisable to send your gratitude by giving a token or providing a reimbursement for the transportation costs. The ceremony may be held at the Registry of Marriage (ROM). To know more about ROM’s affordable fees, please visit: rom.gov.sg.

BORROW MONEY AS YOUR LAST RESORT

If the wedding that you envision will cost a fortune, consider making alterations. You may even hold the wedding at a later date in order to save money to fulfill your fantasy. A simple and intimate wedding can be great too. Remember that borrowing money shall be your last resort.

If you intend to borrow money, please shop around for the lowest Effective Interest Rate (EIR) on your loan.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Lavish venues and luxurious honeymoon are not really necessary for a fruitful marriage. What is more vital is that you celebrate the day with the people whom you love the most.

Sources: 1 & 2

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