Incredibly Free Things That You Can Get At Hotels

Whether you are a frugal Fred who wants to get your money’s worth or a forgetful Bessy who left some of your travel necessities at home, here are some hotel freebies that are both money-saving and useful:

1. BATH ESSENTIALS

Let us start with the obvious freebies that guests typically take home – the bath essentials. Although you packed a sufficient supply of bath essentials, it does not hurt to pack a little more for future use. Keeping the shampoo and conditioner bottles as well as the soaps can save you a decent amount of cash.

If you have sensitive skin and experience adverse effects with the hotel soap, use it for other purposes. Keep the bar of soap and use it as a freshener for your drawers or shoes at home. Or, you may use it to clean your cosmetic sponges.

2. NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES

The array of newspapers and magazines left at your room are not only free but also helpful. Firstly, you can use the valuable coupons inside to pay less in shopping for groceries, tickets, and more. Secondly, you can use these publications in the event that your child needs to cut pictures for his or her school projects. Lastly, you can use these publications as decorations to your dull office.

3. CURLING AND STRAIGHTENING IRONS

To all my fellow beautiful women out there who want to look their best but forgot to bring their trusty curling or straightening irons to the hotel, worry not! Many major hotels (i.e., large hotel chains such as Hyatt) offer loans for these hair styling items. Simply approach the front desk and ask politely for what you need.

4. SEWING KIT

Tailoring or sewing services in Singapore can range from S$5-40 depending on the type of clothing article. Some of the prices are too much if you asked me! You might as well buy a new one. Good thing there is a better and quicker option – altering clothes by yourself. But, how can you alter your clothing while on vacation?

Say you broke the straps of your backpack. Having a sewing kit can solve this problem right away. Thankfully, your Trump Hotel room has complementary sewing kits. Like Trump Hotel, many major hotels have free sewing kits on-hand. Remember to bring those kits before you checkout!

5. DENTAL CARE

The worst thing that I can forget while on a vacation is my own toothbrush. Unlike the couples who are comfortable with sharing one toothbrush, I will never use someone else’s! This is why I am very grateful that hotels provide basic dental care products such as toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, and floss.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Minty fresh breath does not always come in cheap packages! In fact, a bottle of mouthwash can cost you about S$4-14. Hence, I suggest that you pack that free mouthwash with you.
Sources:  1 & 2

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Travel Hacking: How to Score a Free Flight with Singapore Airlines

If travelling was free, you’d never see me again

Many of us love to travel, but the idea of parting away a significant portion of your salary on just the airfares alone is going to put off most of us. What most people don’t realize is that it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg to fly — and there’s a group of people who have been gaming frequent flyer programs to get free flights.

A concept known as travel hacking, if used correctly, can be used to save loads of money on your next air ticket to your dream destination. Then there’s this infamous story of how a civil engineer earned 1.25 million air miles by just buying pudding. Of course, you are not going to see that happen in Singapore.

There are many ways for you to earn miles in Singapore and the most straightforward way is through airline rewards credit cards. If you are new to this, you can start off with the FlyerTalk’s forum where you can see many discussion on what’s the best credit card to earn miles,

Choosing the right credit cardAmericanExpressKrisFlyerCreditCard-300x190

The next step is to choose the right credit card that meets your spending needs. For an entry-level card, we picked the American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Credit Card where you just need a minimum income requirement of S$30,000 to apply. You can earn 1.1 KrisFlyer miles per S$1 spent locally and 2 KrisFlyer miles per S$1 spent overseas on June and December.

Pick the low-hanging fruit first

American Express have several welcome offers that you should take advantage of. For example, they are giving away 5,000 KrisFlyer miles when you charge to your card for the very first time. You can basically swipe any amount to you card to earn this.

There is also a 3,000 KrisFlyer miles which you can easily earned when you spend at least S$700 in the first 6 months upon Card approval. It’s not that hard, really.

For a limited time only, make a Grab Ride booking with your card and you get another 500 KrisFlyer miles between 5 May 2016 and 4 May 2017.

Grab2

You should aim to pick up all these “easy” miles first and we are talking about a total of 8,500 KrisFlyer miles that doesn’t require you to spend too much money and time to achieve it. With that miles, you can already redeem for a free one-way Economy Saver flight to Bali with Singapore Airlines.

Work towards your goal

Now that you already have 8,500 KrisFlyer miles in your pocket, you can work towards your goal of redeeming higher-tiered awards such as a return tickets to Bangkok, Hong Kong and/or other popular destinations that you would like to travel. Check out the Singapore Airlines Awards Chart for more details. If you have a KrisFlyer’s account, you can use the miles calculator.

Start accumulating your miles

The key to accumulating your miles is to make your spending counts. Charge any daily expenses that you can think of to your credit card.  Assuming you diligently do it for a year, here’s a rough estimate on how much miles you can accumulate:

Transaction KrisFlyer miles earned
1st Transaction Welcome Bonus 5,000
Spend S$700 in 6 months 3,000
First Grab Ride booking 500
Pay for Starhub bills (Mobile, Broadband, etc) at S$120/month 1,584
Top-up EZ-Link Card using EZ-Reload at $80/month 1,056
Travelling to Hong Kong with AMEX-exclusive SQ fares at $188/pp (for 2 pax) 752
Hotels booked with Kaligo.com (3-night at Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel at $163/night) 3,490
Spending in Hong Kong (S$1,000) 2,000
Dining out with friends $250/month 3,300
Movie at Cathay Cineplexes (Twice a month for 2pax) 660
Pay for groceries at FairPrice $100/month 1,320
TOTAL 22,662

SG-SeoulA one-way economy saver ticket to Seoul costs 22,500 KrisFlyer miles, and you can redeem your miles without converting them as they are credited to your KrisFlyer’s account directly. Some miles cards requires you to pay a fee to do the conversion, so you enjoy the benefit of free conversion with this co-branded card.

Take advantage of other card benefits

American Express let you enjoy up to 50% savings with American Express Selects at a wide selection of restaurants in Singapore and around the world. On top of that, you enjoy exclusive fares to 8 destinations with Singapore Airlines including an all-in return ticket to Hong Kong from just S$188 — if you get your card approved by 15 Jul. Click here for the full list of destinations

8 exclusive

This American Express® Card is also eligible for use with Apple Pay.

Sign-up for a miles card today

There are many cards in the market which have higher rates such as the UOB PRVI Miles Card and Standard Charted Visa Infinite but requires a higher annual income of S$80,000 and S$150,000 per year. This will accelerate your accumulation process and you can consider upgrading your card once you meet the requirements.

For now, you can start off with the DBS Altitude Card or the American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Card which requires just a $30,000 annual income to be eligible.

Sign up for the American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Card before 31 Oct and you also receive S$80 worth of NTUC vouchers.

Apply online and get instant decision within 60 seconds.

Apply Now Button

How to get additional S$80 NTUC vouchers

Step 1: Click on the above products to apply

Step 2: Take a screenshot of the Thank You Page at the end of the application

See below for examples of Thank You Page of each bank

Step 3: Fill in the Form on SingSaver.com.sg

Fill in the form before 31 October 2016 to participate in the promotion! You will receive an email from SingSaver.com.sg after submitting the form. Reply with the screenshot of card approval from the bank after you receive it to claim the voucher!

form

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5 Surefire Ways To Waste Money

Many posts on financial websites concentrate on the positive topics such as the effective ways to spend money and the healthy financial habits of successful people. However, these articles may not highlight the negative habits and practices that cost you money. And some people really need a wake -up call!

To help prevent unhealthy behavior as well as to add in the scarce literature on this topic, here are 5 Possible Ways To Waste Your Money:

1. GIVING IN TO DESIGNER GOODS

As you walk past the Orchard Road, you saw the huge crimson sign that said: “SALE”! Your highly elated self rushed through the counter and bought the first branded bag you saw. The rush was amazing but it did not last for long. The next day, you saw an email from Zalora that they are having discounts on Michael Kors’ watches. The Silver Steel Bradshaw watch used to cost S$439 but it is retails for S$307.30 now. Again, you got excited and bought it right away.

Do really need a new designer watch and a new branded bag when you have dozens at home?

These deals may seem like a bargain at the moment; however, it is just excess spending in hindsight. This is why you must list down all your necessities and stick with it.

2. AVOIDING NEGOTIATION

Although most people know that they are worth more, they are afraid to negotiate for a higher salary. By doing so, they are letting an opportunity and hundreds of cash slide.

Negotiating your salary is a game with all of its players attempting to dominate each other. Dominate the game by researching all the needed information. Go in-depth about the complete aspects of the job and the company. Also, collect data about the average pay and accurate salary opportunities in your position.

3. SHOPPING AT ONE STORE

It may be convenient to complete your shopping list at one place but it can also cost you more. Instead of getting your produce, office supplies, and toiletries at the nearby grocery store (e.g., FairPrice or Cold Storage), consider exploring other options such as the bookstores (e.g., Popular or Kinokuniya) and dollar stores (e.g., Value Dollar or Daiso). Visit the dollar stores for trivial things such as cleaning supplies, greeting cards, clothes pegs, and pet accessories.

4. BUYING BABY CLOTHES REGULARLY

Believe me when I say that babies can have sudden growth spurts so, it is unnecessary to buy loads of baby clothes in advance. It goes the same for shoes, as socks will be sufficient to keep their cute toes warm.

Start saving for baby clothes by asking your friends and family if you can have their child’s outgrown clothes. You will not only help your friends or family members to de-clutter their space but you will also save more.

5. INDULGING ON LUXURY BEAUTY PRODUCTS

With the society’s obsession towards physical appearance, it is no surprise that people spend so much on beauty products. There is an abundance of luxury beauty products in countries such as Singapore, Dubai, United States, and Hong Kong. This is one example:

As you can see Tati, YouTube’s famous beauty guru, disliked her experience with the ridiculous US$330 (S$441) Givenchy Le Soin Noir Lace Face Mask. She could have just purchased a S$2 Korean Snail mask and achieved seemingly similar results.

Sources: 1 & 2

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6 Effortless Ways To Earn Money

As a kid, I remember asking my father to get me a new toy even though I had plenty of it back home. He looked at me and told me that he cannot purchase it at the moment because “money does not grow on trees.” This old Proverb implies that it is not easy to earn money. However, the modern times enlightened me to a revolutionary realization.

I realized that there are simple, unique, and effective ways to earn money without having to commit loads of your time and exhaust your physical or mental abilities. Hence, I give you the 6 “Effortless” Ways To Earn Money…

1. SHOP FOR FREE

Ever dream of getting paid to shop? I know I had at it was amazing!

The people that shop for a living are called Mystery Shoppers. Mystery Shoppers are paid by the company’s marketing department to report about their experiences as they try the said company’s products, eat at their restaurants, or buy their goods. If you accepted a “mystery shopping” job, you will be paid for your time as well as be reimbursed for anything you bought.

Eager to be one? Check out the current job openings at Gumtree and Jobstreet.

2. ENJOY A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP

Sleep has been proven to improve concentration, increase cognitive function, reduce stress levels, and increase one’s Emotional Quotient (EQ). But aside from these, it can also increase your salary! An additional hour of sleep per week has shown an increase in salary by 1.5% over the length of a season. This increase is due to the positive effect of sleep on productivity.

3. DISTRIBUTE FLYERS AND LEAFLETS

You do not have to exhaust your physical and mental skills in order to distribute flyers and leaflets to others. A go-to side job by many students, distributing paper advertisements might sound like a boring task but you can earn decent cash (about S$7/hour) in a span of a few hours. Simply search at Gumtree to apply for this “promotional gig” near you.

4. COMPLETE SMALL TASKS ONLINE

If you have an hour to spare, consider joining websites that pay you for completing small and easy tasks such as signing up for websites, searching articles, making a background image, or linking URL to websites. Creating an account at Fiverr will only take you 5 minutes. With Fiverr.com, you will be paid a minimum of US$5 (S$6.70) for every project you accomplish. Alternatively, you can create an account at Microworkers.com to join more than 600,000 workers worldwide.

5. SELL YOUR PHOTOS

If you love capturing moments and have a collection of creative images that are worthy to be featured on websites then, you can try selling your photos online. Companies are in constant need for images for their websites, brochures, cards, blogs, and other projects. Start by selling your stock photography on Shutterstock or Fotolia. Each website works differently so read through the guidelines first before you commit.

6. GET PAID TO TWEET

If your overactive Twitter page boasts with a relatively large following, you can get paid for posting sponsored tweets to your followers. The rate, which typically ranges from S$0.67 to S$26, depends on the number of your followers as well as other factors such as the creation “age” of your account. An example of this service is manifested by paidpertweet.com.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Sources: 1 & 2

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How Much Shall You Spend On A Gift Without Looking Cheap?

While scouring the land for the one-of-a-kind gift, keep in mind that you must remain financially savvy. You may be tempted to go over your budget since you want to make the recipient feel special or you do not want to come across as being cheap. However, your gifts need not to be expensive to put a smile on someone’s face.

It is hard to put an exact price tag on the perfect gift as it all depends on a set of factors, namely: the amount you can afford, the budget you set, the current occasion, and the giver’s relationship with the recipient.

THE AMOUNT YOU CAN AFFORD

I read a good financial nugget from Manisha Thakor of The BAM Alliance. She said that if you cannot afford to buy the item in cash at the very moment then, you cannot afford to buy it. Simply, she wants us to be realistic when it comes to what we can and cannot afford. So if you are shopping in the mall, it is best to use mainly cash to regulate your spending. And if you are shopping virtually, convert that money as a gift card. When the gift card is maxed out, you will be done shopping.

THE BUDGET YOU SET

Just because the person gave you a lavish gift does not mean that you must do the same. If you budget does not allow you to go beyond S$50 for a gift then stick with your limits. Being stuck on debt just to keep up with a superficial appearance is never worth it.

If you are following a strict budget, you can allow your creative juices to pump. For example, your make-up obsessed best-friend wants to purchase the ridiculously costly and highly sought-after Kylie Lip Kit. You know that the product and shipping costs will exceed S$50. Then, you searched online for quality yet affordable dupes (equivalents) such as the NYX’s Soft Matte Cream lipsticks. These only cost S$12 so you went to Sephora and purchase four beautiful colors!

THE CURRENT OCCASION

The current occasion also dictates how much you shall spend. To illustrate this, let us take the Singapore’s “red envelope” gifting tradition into the table. For Chinese New Year, an amount of S$2-20 is common to give for children while it ranges to about S$8-S$88 for adults. On the other hand, the minimum Ang Bao amount for wedding banquets is S$50. This is why it is important to take the nature of the occasion into account. For corporate events, you can consider shopping from specialized online stores that offer corporate gifts or door gifts.

THE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR RECIPIENT

To whom is the gift for? How close are you to him or her?

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

When it comes to giving the “perfect” present, it really is the thought that counts. If you are able to purchase a gift that translates how well you know and care about the person, you have done your job right. Start by determining what the person’s hobbies and interests are. From there, you can think of some gift ideas that will fit your budget.

Sources: 1 & 2

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