Since Singapore is geographically located near the equator, it is relatively hot all year round. With no particular period for summer, it is cool to dress the part while you go out and while you travel.
1. REVAMP YOUR DULL FLATS
Exude the summer vibe to your shoes by decorating it with bright laces or ribbons. Simply place a large amount of glue to your shoes and even it out with a bristled paint brush. Once everything is laid out nicely, push the lace down on the top. Place the “scalloped” portion of the lace on the curves to keep everything uniform and to avoid overlaps. Using your scissors, cut the excess lace around the edges of the shoes. Try to make all your lines as straight as possible.
Indulge on Cotton On’s sale items that are suitable for the hot weather. For women, you may purchase the Caged-back Cami that is fitted and detailed to stay cool and ready for spontaneous workouts. It retails for only S$5. Pair this with comfy denim shorts and gorgeous Coco Sandal. The Coco Sandal, that comes in multiple colors, retails for only S$10.
Men on the other hand can enjoy the breeze running through their slim Anchor Tank (S$10). You can pair it with just about anything from swimming shorts to skinny denim jeans.
3. PURCHASE TIMELY ACCESSORIES
To complete your overall look, purchase appropriate summer accessories such as sunglasses and hats. UV-protective tinted lenses are best to beat the hit. Adding a dash of style with the S$9.90 sunglasses from H&M would not hurt your wallets (for women and men)! And as for Bohemian hats and sun visors that will cost you less than S$10, shop at qoo10.sg.
4. BLEACH YOUR OLD SHORTS
Tired of your denim shorts? Turn it up a notch by giving it a stylish ombre look. To do so, soak your shorts in water first then dip it into a mixture of bleach and water. Let the mixture hit up to three inches below where you want it to reach as it will run upwards eventually. Set it in place for 30 minutes and rinse it out with white vinegar and water. Lastly, you must wash and dry your trendy ombre shorts. Pair it with jewel wedges or a neon top to embrace the summer colors!
A liter of bleach is sold for only S$1.10 at FairPrice.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Cybersecurity (or online security) is defined as the measures taken to protect a computer or a computer system against unauthorized access or attack. Those who gain unauthorized access to the data in the computer or the system are usually called as hackers.
Recently, I had been a victim of a Facebook malware attack. For those of you who are less tech savvy, a malware is any software used to collect sensitive information, harm computer operations, gain access to private devices or display undesired advertising. Needless to say, the experience was daunting and I had to take immediate actions. Firstly, I downloaded anti-malware softwares. Secondly, I changed all my passwords and added an extra layer of security. Lastly, I added other extensions that improved my privacy.
To avoid this scenario, here are some helpful ways to strengthen your virtual shield:
1. ADD THE PRIVACY BADGER
Remember the undesired advertising that I was talking about? You can block that as well as other third-party trackers by adding the browser extension called Privacy Badger for S$0. To the advertisers, it is as if you suddenly disappeared!
2. SCAN WITH MALWAREBYTES
As your information is golden, keep it safe with an internet security and anti-malware software called Malwarebytes. The free version will scan your entire computer, detect any malwares, and remove all the infections. Scans for the most dangerous and newest threats are done in the process.
3. FILTER YOUR EMAIL
Filter your email contents by not opening the spam mail. To avoid downloading virus or other malware, only open attachments that were given by your friends, family, partners, and clients. Delete the previous emails that are no longer needed so that no one can use them.
4. SECURE YOUR BROWSING
To make your browsing more secure, download the HTTPS Everywhere extension. It encrypts your communications to major websites on Firefox, Chrome, and Opera. Get it for free at eff.org/https-everywhere.
5. SEARCH WITH DUCKDUCKGO
Search engines, especially those with big names, track your search history and build personalized profiles to provide results based on your search history. To escape from this “filter bubble”, you must switch to a search engine that does not track your every move. Emphasizing on protecting the user’s privacy, DuckDuckGo is always my go-to safe search engine!
Image Credits: pixabay.com (CC0 Public Domain)
Yes! It is totally free with no sign-in requirements.
Singapore is considered to be one of the most expensive cities in the world. For outsiders, Singapore can come off as an exotic gateway to Asia. However, for all of us who live here, we feel crippled by the rising costs of daily lives, let alone spending on entertainment. We felt your pain, did some research and came up with the perfect list.
Here are twelve fun ways to blow off steam… all for under S$50.
Bring out Your Inner Hamilton at Kart World
For the price of $28, you can enjoy a 10 minute session around Kart World’s driving track behind the wheels of a furious Go-kart. Challenge your friends to a few rounds.
Hit the Sky at G-Max Reverse Bungy
For $45, you can hit the sky in heart-stopping seconds, with adrenaline gushing through your veins. Enjoy the breathtaking view of Singapore’s night lights over at Clarke Quay as you spin and whirl your way up.
Get the Ball Rolling at ZOVB
(Image: ZOVB Singapore)
Go zorbing at ZOVB Singapore and let your head spin wild as you roll down in your own zorba. For $50, you can roll down twice and for an additional $18, you can zorba your way down memory lane for another half hour.
Declare War with Crossfire Paintball
(Image: Crossfire Paintball Singapore)
Head down for a two hour paintball session at Crossfire Paintball for $40, with which you can buy yourself a whopping 250 pellet heavy ammunition. Don’t forget to take that friend along!
Pretend to Climb Everest at SAFRA Yishun Country Club
With 1,000 square meters of climbing and bouldering surface, SAFRA Yishun Country Club provides a wide range of rock climbing walls. The club is host to the first artificial ice-climbing wall in Southeast Asia.
If you get too bored, or tired, you can also get your adrenaline pumping with a parachute jump simulation from a height of 21 metres.
Get Your Observational Powers on at Tiger Sky Tower
Head over to Tiger Sky Tower in Sentosa, Asia’s tallest observatory tower, to get an unprecedented view of Singapore (S$18/Adult S$10/child).
Find Inner Peace at Gardens by the Bay
Reconnect with your natural self at the awe-inspiring and tranquil Gardens by the Bay. While all outdoor areas are free to wander, your credit card can buy an amazing $20 pass for it’s treasured conservatories.
Celebrate Independence with the SG50 Inter-Generational Package
Reconnect with your history by purchasing a treasured bundle of admission to Madame Tussauds Images of Singapore LIVE and an option of experiencing the Gogreen Segway Fun Ride (2 rounds) or Sentosa Merlion, all for $30.
Experience the Wildlife
For $28, you can buy yourself a 1 year unlimited entry pass to Jurong Bird Park. If birds aren’t your thing, then you can also choose to go for the exciting Night Safari for $42 or visit the local Singapore Zoo for $32. Go on, bring out your wild side!
Blow off Steam with Some Drinks
There’s nothing better than grabbing a few drinks on a friday evening in order to blow off some steam. Grab your friends and head over to the various bars and clubs which come alive as the sun sets to rest. Although a night out in Singapore is often expensive, there are still more than enough places that offer extremely attractive happy hour deals.
For example, For an approximate $30, men and women can buy themselves the right to drink all they can at Idle-bar/lounge/bistro. At Five Izakaya, you can get yourself a house pour or a snack for a measly $5++, while The Cider Pit provides you a pint of beer for $10, all day, everyday. Some other places with great deals consist of Loof at Odeon Towers, Lobby at 9, Wine Connection and Wine Bos on Stamford Road. So, take your pick!
Everywhere we go, all we see are malls and stores and malls and stores. Well, if you’re a shopper with a card, budget, and purpose, we recommend Far East Plaza. Located on Orchard Road, this mall has over 600 stores filled with affordable fashion.
We also recommend for you to go to the more manageable Editor’s Market. Also on Orchard Road, this is the only brick-and-mortar store which offers cheaper items with every extra purchase you make.That’s right, the more pieces you buy, the cheaper each piece gets! Now that’s a pie we’re willing to taste.
Eat Your Way through Singapore
There are so many ways to save money on dining in Singapore. If you would like a little bit of Paris on your plate, we recommend you head over to Saveur, a reasonably priced French restaurant with a simple ambiance and a beloved menu. The food is incredibly delicious and patrons swear by it.
If you’d like to head over to North America, then nothing spells Mexico like Piedra Negra, a charming little Mexican restaurant in the middle of Haji Lane.Much like Much like Saveur, the menu consists of dishes which mostly cost S$30 or less.
You can also cater to your oddly houred breakfast cravings at Club Street Social, where you can indulge in an all day breakfast menu, or your need for comfort Italian food at Prego and Pasta Brava. For under $40, Prego offers a festive four-course Italian set lunch at the Fairmont while Pasta Brava helps one indulge in fresh, handmade pastas.
(Image: brazilchurrasco.com)
We also recommend Brazil Churrascaria, a haven for meat lovers. For $40++, you are provided with delicious barbequed meat in unlimited quantities. Similarly, Shin Minori Japanese Restaurant provides one with an eat-all-you-can ala-carte Japanese buffet with an extensive selection of sake and shochu for the unbelievably reasonable price of $39++.
The best part about the list? It’s not exhaustive! That’s right, we’ve done our research and found an unimaginably large number of exciting things to do in Singapore, all for less than $50.
In the beginning of the year, the Monetary Authority of Singapore forewarned its citizens that the economy may go through a period of uncertainty as the likelihood for trading partners remain down in the dumps. This negative tone caused companies to be more cautious of hiring and even a bank as huge as Barclays axed about 100 Singaporean employees last January. Moreover, short-term contracts started to rise.
So if you are venturing off to a different field to maintain your career’s stability, please consider these things first:
1. DETERMINE YOUR VALUE
Before accepting any offers, you must determine your value earlier on. Your last salary does not only dictate what makes you valuable. Your skills and personality play a part too. How much is your potential employer willing to pay for those?
2. NEGOTIATE YOUR SALARY
You have the right to ask for better working conditions when negotiating for a new position. Negotiating a salary is a conversation that aims to reach an agreement with someone whose interests are not perfectly aligned with yours. Everyone with the right strategy and conversation tools can sway the opinion of another through a pleasant talk.
Start by conducting research on the company and their average salary offerings. Review the appropriate amount of wage on the online salary calculators such as Payscale.com and Hudson.sg. Then talk to the recruiters or the people on the same field as yours about the subject. The data collected will be your weapon throughout the negotiation.
3. KNOW THE WORK EXPENSES
Aside from the salary, know the expenses you might be spending in your “next” workplace. The transportation and food costs depend on the area you are eyeing on. If these benefits are included to your salary already, it will make a huge difference to how much you save.
4. WEIGH THE POSSIBILITY FOR RELOCATION
As you steer your career in a new direction, you may have applied for jobs outside the country. Before you land the overseas position, consider how it will affect your family and relationships. Furthermore, determine if the company willing to cover for your moving expenses.
Ending your relationship with someone you vowed to spend a lifetime with is never easy. Getting a divorce causes a significant life change that is often complex and stressful. It involves coping with several issues such as division of assets, discussion of maintenance, and custody of the children. These issues bring forth emotional, economic, and legal considerations.
Divorce is not simplistic wherein one solution fits everyone else’s circumstance. It is case-specific as it takes the needs and means of each person into account. Even the length of your marriage affects the division of assets. For instance, if your marriage is brief, the court may decide to part you with the money you had before coming in to the relationship.
According to the 2013 Population Trends by Statistics Singapore, marital dissolutions are escalating with 7,386 in 2009 from 7,216 in 2008. With this increasing number of divorced couples, it is important to discuss the financial matters to sort out after the breakup.
1. IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL CONCERN
Your first concern shall be the recurrent household bills. If you had been paying your bills through a joint account, you have to make some arrangements with your bank to dissolve this account and pay through your personal account instead. Remember to update your GIRO arrangements as well.
2. MAINTENANCE AFTER DIVORCE
Maintenance is intended to cover the living expenses and necessities of the wife and her children. Under Singapore’s law, maintenance for the wife continues until she remarried or passes away while the maintenance for the children continues until the age of 21 or until graduation. The husband can pay the wife in a lump sum but only monthly maintenance is allowed for the children.
There is no specific amount or length of maintenance as the Family Justice Courts examine the situation to arrive at a reasonable and fair decision.
3. THE FAMILY HOME
One of the most daunting decisions you have to make (especially if you used your CPF savings to buy a property with your ex-spouse) is the housing arrangement. Are you going to sell your family home? Or will you keep it while the other one moves out?
If you intend to sell your house wherein CPF savings were used to purchase it, you will need to apply for CPF refunds to your respective accounts. Please visit the CPF Board website for more information.
