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Confronting Singapore’s Baby Bust With The Baby Bonus Scheme

It does not take a genius to understand how money greatly affects the Singaporeans’ approach to marriage and parenthood. The leading reasons why most Singaporeans are hesitant to make immediate marital or child-rearing plans are related to finances. The country’s population is affected due to these circumstances.

Related Article: Why Many Singaporeans Are Not Tying The Knot

Although last year’s Golden Jubilee ushered about 33,793 babies, our fertility rate remains below the replacement rate of 2.1 (i.e., the rate to maintain the population levels). This is why the Government introduces different incentives to encourage couples to have more children.

Attractive incentives include the parental leave, childcare subsidizes, and baby bonus. This article is going to focus on the beaming Baby Bonus Scheme! It was started in 2001 to provide financial assistance and support Singaporean couples in their decision to raise more children. The scheme is part of the “Marriage and Parenthood Package”, which includes a cash gift and (or) contributions to the Child Development Account (CDA).

You are welcome to avail the Baby Bonus Scheme if your child:

a. is a Singapore citizen,
b. was born alive,
c. was born from lawfully married parents, and
d. was born on or after September 1, 2016 from unwed parents.

After careful examination, you found out that you eligible to reap the benefits of the Baby Bonus Scheme. Congratulations! Remember that it has two distinct forms – the cash gift and the CDA.

The cash gift, as the name suggests, is given in the form of tangible dollars. The purchasing power belongs to you as you can do anything you desire with it. Use it responsibly to cushion the hefty newborn costs. You shall receive a cash gift of S$8,000 for your 1st and 2nd child. While, your 3rd and 4th child shall receive S$10,000 each. This only pertains to babies born on or after January 1, 2015. The cash gift will be given to you within 7-10 working days or after completing the online form.

CDA is a special savings account that can only be opened at the government approved banks. You may use it to shoulder the costs of childcare, kindergartens, medical procedures, and private integrated shield plans. Upon opening the CDA, you will receive the Dollar-for-Dollar matching contributions and CDA First Step grant.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

The ultimate purpose of the BBS is to provide financial assistance to parents who will help build a brighter future for Singapore. For more information, go to the official website at babybonus.msf.gov.sg.

Sources: 1 & 2

How To Lure New Customers To Your Small Business

CURATE A DETAILED PROFILE OF YOUR AUDIENCE

Catching the attention of your potential customers is an easy task if you know exactly what you are searching for. So, begin by defining your target audience. Be as detailed as realistically possible. Include descriptors such as gender, occupation, NRIC number/FIN, hobbies, age group, and civil status.

Say you are selling Harry Potter merchandise to teens and other millennials. You noticed that they are immensely obsessed with social media platforms. Hence, you used Instagram and Snapchat to identify your potential customers.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

PROVIDE AN INVITING ATMOSPHERE

Charming your customers start as they enter your doorstep or website. Flashy signs may draw them in, but your accomodating gestures will make them stay. Send warm greetings and show new customers around your vicinity. This will make them feel appreciated and special.

This is certainly true if you are in the food business. Ushering your hangry customers with a friendly service can help them calm down. I cannot remember how many times this happened to me!

OFFER TEMPTING FREEBIES

Display an offer that new customers cannot resist by providing free trials. Fitness centers often distribute flyers that signify a week’s worth trial or a discounted package for first timers. This is a cost-effective way to get good reviews and honest testimonials.

There is nothing more powerful than giving your potential customers a good glimpse of what is to come!

LISTEN TO THEIR VALUABLE INSIGHTS

As you converse with your potential and existing customers, it is important to actively listen to their wants. Do not assume that you know their preferences! Many startups fail because they are selling products with a non-existent demand.

This is why you must encourage constructive feedback. These may be delivered thru social media platforms, focus group discussions, and online surveys. Take the appropriate actions to improve the operations of your small business.

LAUNCH A REFERRAL SYSTEM

My career path was carved when I became an administrative officer in a contemporary yoga studio. One of the studio’s promotions, which endured throughout year was the “Refer A Friend Campaign”. It encouraged the existing customers to invite their friends over to receive up to 20% discount on their next packages. The more people they refer, the higher the reward gets. You may launch the same campaign in your small business.

Remember that people love to be acknowledge. Use that to your advantage!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

New customers are the tools that enable your small business to flourish. If you want to attract more customers, you must consider these people in every step of your journey.

Watch 倦子2: PSLE GO to understand the pressures kids face when growing up

By Jaspar Lim

If you are reading this, be glad that something has not yet happened to your child.

Child suicides are on the rise, as youngsters were pushed beyond breaking point and ended their lives. 10 fingers 10 toes. That was all that mattered in the past.

Now children are measured by a different set of numbers. 70 marks implies lack of effort. 80 marks is not good enough. 90 marks means room for improvement. When is enough?

Stills: Zi Hui Journal, 倦子2: PSLE GO

倦子2: PSLE GO shouts out this message. Your child is tired, yet still trying. Remember, not regret.

As a parent, I urge you to help spread this message. Treasure your child, not their grades. It is not too late.

I was teleported back to a nostalgic era when I was invited to a premier screening of 倦子2: PSLE GO. The venue was perfect in echoing chapters of the past. Numerous movie posters of old greeted me as I entered. It reminded of my childhood, a much simpler time.

Every morning I looked forward to school to make new friends. Not to compete with my classmates. Each time the school bell rang, I dashed out of class to join my friends. It was a beautiful childhood. Do you remember those lovely memories? These moments made me a happy and balanced adult.

Your child may have been denied this privilege to feel happy. Do you remember when you first held your new born? Back then, your child was perfect. You do not remember. Your child became less every day, and had to try harder to achieve more just to make you happy.

10 fingers 10 toes. That was all that mattered in the past. Now children are measured by a different set of numbers. 70 marks implies lack of effort. 80 marks is not good enough. 90 marks means room for improvement. When is enough to satisfy your expectations?

Stills: Zi Hui depressed, 倦子2: PSLE GO

Would you relent only when you witness an irreversible end? Suicides are no longer uncommon among the young. Each news report is heart wrenching; deepest pain only the parent would feel. It is an inevitable end, a result because of our actions, our inaction in protecting our most loved from the harsh judgement of others (and ourselves).

As a professional working adult, every day is an exam. Every hour we endure endless challenges. Do we score 100 marks each time? At home, we comfort ourselves with rest. We pamper ourselves with rewards. Yet, we forcefully push our child through additional stress after school. Your child needs your encouragement, not your enforcement.

倦子2: PSLE GO shouts out this message. Your child is tired, yet still trying. Remember, not regret. A great team effort, displayed most selflessly as Splash Productions embarked on a non-profit filming journey. Splash is to hit something or someone with full impact. In that moment of contact, the origin spreads out and covers a larger area than anticipated.

Splash Productions did exactly that. Impact and Influence. Never once had I been so proud to see familiar names when the credits were rolling. As a parent, I urge you to help spread this message.

Treasure your child, not their grades.

You can watch the video here:

Website: http://www.juanzi.sg/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juanzi2pslego

HELPLINES

Samaritans of Singapore  (24-hour hotline): 1800-221-4444
Tinkle Friend: 1800-2744-788
Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019
Care Corner Counselling Centre  (in Mandarin): 1800-3535-800

Travel Hack: How To Keep Your Phone Bills Low When Travelling

By Akansha Priyadarshi

Despite being excited about your upcoming vacation, you can’t help but notice the lump in your throat when you remember the $1,000 inflated phone bill you faced after your last trip. Having your phone during your travels is essential; from finding cheap things to do in Phuket, looking at maps and snapping photos with your camera, the average traveler today can’t travel without their phones. However, keeping your phone bills low is a challenge when overseas. The cost of cellular data and phone calls can swell ridiculously the moment your phone goes on international roaming. Try using the following hacks to avoid moaning over your phone bill after your next vacation.

Switch off your data roaming

This is one of the simplest things you can do to avoid exorbitant additions to your phone bill if you don’t have an international data plan. Keep the data switched off by sliding off the cellular data in your phone. To turn off cellular data on most phones, go into settings and turn off cellular data and data roaming to avoid data roaming charges.

Buy a new local SIM

Buying a new local SIM when you visit a new country is the easiest and cheapest option. This is perfect if you know you’re going to need cellular services and internet. The new SIM card will provide you with a temporary local plan without slaying your account. Most networks have a counter at the airport after baggage claim to assist tourists, so be sure to keep a look out for those to get your local SIM card.

Disable push notifications

You don’t need push notifications while travelling. Who wants to know the growing number of emails piling up in that inbox when you are enjoying a day at a beach? To top it all, it costs you your data usage.

Source: Johan Larsson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/johanl/4412680795)

Download your maps in advance

It always pays off when you plan your trips in advance. You can download maps for the locations you are going to visit beforehand, when you have a planned itinerary. Use free Wi-Fi services in your hotel or any other place where free Wi-Fi is available to download the maps before you head out. It will save you from expensive cellular data costs. You can use apps like Citymapper or Google Maps that have functions for users to save maps for offline use and to navigate around without using unnecessary data. Here are more travel tips on using Google Maps.

Source: William Hook (https://www.flickr.com/photos/williamhook/4225307113)

Keep a check on your data usage

Last but not least, you can track your data usage. It is easy to forget how much data is being used when you’re watching YouTube videos and have numerous photos to post on your Instagram, Facebook and other social media accounts. You could save yourself a lot of trouble if you set a limit for data usage and be mindful of it. There are several data tracker apps such as 3G Watchdog, My Verizon Mobile, DataMan and My Data Manager, that can help you in tracking your usage. And if you use an iPhone, you can simply reset the data statistics by going on setting and adjusting your cellular usage.

Leave your holiday on a high note, knowing that you’ve kept your phone bill low.

Fantastic Fitness Tips For Busy Singaporeans

Most Singaporeans desire to improve their health, but many find it difficult to squeeze an adequate amount of time for a fitness regimen. Not for long! Money Digest has you covered.

#1: WORKOUT AT THE OFFICE

You will be surprised to know how much you can accomplish by merely spending 5 minutes to exercise at your desk. You may do a few lunges while you are waiting for the meeting to start or a few arm stretches while you are on the phone. There are a variety of quick workouts online. This is a good example of total body toning:

#2: CHOOSE A “HEALTHY” HOTEL

When you are travelling for business, choose a hotel that has its own gym. This ensures that you can practice your exercise routines outside from home. Alternatively, you may avail the “guest or tourist” pass at a local gym.

#3: PREPARE HEALTHY SNACKS

A surefire way to cut back some weight is to switch your junk food with healthy snacks. It takes less than 5 minutes to whip a pack of container filled with sliced fruits and assorted nuts. Keeping these healthy bites at a convenient reach will prevent you from indulging on the candy bars from the office’s vending machine. Also, these snacks will increase your energy to survive the day.

#4: EAT OATS FOR BREAKFAST

Whenever I am running late or feeling ill, one of my go-to healthy fixes is the oatmeal. Oatmeal contains soluble fiber which helps lower your cholesterol and your risk of heart disease. Embrace the power of oats by topping it off with grated apples, almonds, or honey.

Try the Quaker Quickcook Oatmeal Hearty Supreme as it retails for only S$2.95.

#5: RELAX WITH BREATHING EXERCISES

After a day of hustling through a mountain of tasks, your stress levels may be off the charts! This is something that you must wary of as prolonged stress may impact your overall well being. Thus, you must learn how to relax.

Spending 10 minutes or less in breathing exercises will help. Know about the 6 breathing exercises: Equal Breathing, Progressive Relaxation, Guided Visualization, Alternate Nostril Breathing, Skull Shining Breath, and Abdominal Breathing Technique by clicking this.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Go! Take the stairs for someone who is busier than you is exercising at this moment.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

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