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5 Things To Do When You Lose Your Wallet In Singapore

1. BE 100% SURE

Before you can confirm that your wallet is lost or stolen make sure that you did not just misplace it. Keep calm and carefully retrace your steps. Check if your wallet just fell out of your drawer at work, inside your car, or hidden at the sides of the couch.

Do not hesitate to call or to talk to the people in charge of the place you have recently been (e.g., restaurants or shops). And, if there is still no luck and you are 100% sure that it is gone then, you must proceed to number two.

2. CALL YOUR DEBIT AND CREDIT CARD ISSUERS

If your lost wallet contains your debit, credit, and ATM cards, you must immediately call your bank or card issuer. You will be happy that you acted swiftly and prevented any unauthorized withdrawals at the moment of your loss. Instead of canceling your cards, you must report your cards as lost or stolen. The bank or the card issuer has a procedure that will suspend the card to keep your wealth safe.

Then, you must replace your cards with new ones. According to a Singaporean blog, only POSB/DBS banks will deliver your new ATM card directly to you. While Maybank and UOB requires you to go down to their branches personally. They will require you to present your IC too and if you lost your IC, bring your passport along and proceed to number three.

3. REPLACE YOUR IDENTITY CARD

One of the most important things that you might have in your wallet is your Identity Card (IC). If you lose your IC and it is not stolen then, you may go straight to ICA to get a new one. Otherwise, you are required to have a police report or to present the completed Declaration Form NR 12. Bonded by the law, Singaporeans and Permanent Residents who lost their ICs are required to report it and apply for replacement within 14 days.

Please bring the following documents:

a. One recent passport sized photo (i.e., photo-taking services are available at the 2nd and 4th level of the building)

b. Police report or completed Declaration Form NR 12 if you are a victim of a crime

c. Passport

d. Entry and Re-Entry Permits

e. Malaysian IC (i.e., if it’s applicable)

Be ready to pay S$100 as a first timer. Subsequent losses will have to pay a fee of S$300.

4. FILE A POLICE REPORT TO THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES

Do not take your loss or theft too lightly. You must take this step in order to replace your IC if your wallet was really stolen. Furthermore, it will provide sufficient evidence if you become a victim of fraud or identity theft.

Be ready to answer the police officer’s questions such as:

When and where did you lose your wallet?

What are the articles inside your wallet?

If it is stolen, can you describe anyone suspicious?

Then, keep a copy of the report afterwards.

5. CHANGE YOUR LOCKS IF YOUR KEYS ARE INSIDE

If your keys are missing along with your wallet, you must change the locks to prevent the event of a break in. Even if your wallet was returned perfectly, someone could have easily made a copy of your keys and your information.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

It is better to be safe than sorry! 🙂

Sources: 1, 2 & 3

Tidy Up Your Family’s Life In 5 Professional Steps

With a house full of children, life can quickly get a little topsy-turvy! Juggling through the chaos of household chores, family relationships, and work responsibilities can become overwhelming. Luckily, you can adopt a professional system that has been present for centuries.

This system is none other than the “business system”. Businesses, enterprises, and firms are organized because they follow a synchronized structure. Apply this to your home life by following these simple tips:

1. DETERMINE YOUR FAMILY’S CORE VALUES

Core values exhibit what is important in the company and its members. In your case, you must consider what are the important beliefs and morals that you want your family members to uphold. Determine your family’s core values to help guide your every decision. For example, if your family values saving money and hard work then your plans for your next vacation will be based on those values. Furthermore, it will affect how much you will save (i.e., practices) and what you will spend your money on (i.e., strategies).

2. SET YOUR PRIORITIES

Spreading out your energy and time to things that are not necessary can be a waste of your resources. This is why efficient companies set their priorities straight and focus more of their resources on the top priority. Your priorities as a family can be anything that you would like to accomplish in the near future such as exercising together everyday. These priorities are personal and subjective to you.

3. ESTABLISH A SCHEDULE

Most of the firms follow a strict schedule for every employee. Apply this to your family by using a digital calendar to automate your family’s schedule. A beloved digital calendar by most is the Google Calendar, which is available if you have your own Gmail account. Establish a schedule that includes household chores, special events, school works, and etc. You can assign a different color for each child too.

Alternatively, you may use a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and assign a color and a row for each child. It is best to plan the week ahead by making the schedule every Sunday night.

4. PRACTICE TEAMWORK

Cooperation and teamwork can extend the walls of your home too! Join or organize a parenting group including the other parents in your children’s school. Aside from meeting new people, you can save more money by taking turns in babysitting each other’s children. Use WhatsApp or a private Facebook group to exchange your contacts for emergency purposes and to schedule events together. Taking care of each other’s kids are matters of trust so make sure that these newfound friends can be trusted.

5. REVIEW YOUR PROGRESS

As a whole, you must sit together once a week for at least 10 minutes to review your progress in terms of your priorities, your schedule, and your other issues. Talk openly and honestly.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

To increase the positivity and the sense of accomplishment, commend your children for their achievements that week (no matter how big or small it may be).

Sources: 1 & 2

Ways You Are Flushing Money Away Without Noticing It

1. BY NOT CLAIMING YOUR REWARDS

A credit card is utilized at the point of sale as means of paying for services or goods. Credit cards come in different looks and sizes, much like assorted chocolates. What’s more? They vary in the rewards they entail. Some give discounts whenever you shop while others give you travel miles. If you are confused with how the rewards scheme of your credit cards works, it is best to ask your issuer openly on how you can maximize its use.

Take a cash-back rewards card to your advantage by putting the sum to your emergency fund. Or, gather up all the miles you can get (e.g., by offering to pay for your friends and later reimbursing it with cash) to enjoy a free trip in your dream destination. To put your “power” into good use, utilize your rewards wisely.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

2. BY NOT CONTROLLING YOUR MOBILE PHONE USAGE

Millions of people around the world overpay for their postpaid plans because they underestimate their usage in minutes, in messages, and in bytes of data. When you are paying for minutes, messages, and gigabytes that you do not use then, you are flushing away money every single month.

For your convenience, I shall impart how much you will pay for excess usage in SingTel and StarHub plans. For Singtel users, excess local 3G data is charged up to S$10.70/1 GB and excess data beyond the bundled plan is charged at S$0.50/100 KB. While StarHub 4G users get to pay S$10.70/1 GB in excess. Considering that almost every place in Singapore have free WiFi, paying this much is really costly!

To intelligently estimate your total usage, analyze your mobile phone billing statements for the past few months and average each factor. Then, you can select a postpaid plan best suited for your needs. Keep track of your data usage better by installing an App like My Data Manager (free to download on iOS and Android). My Data Manager App enables you to know how much each App consumes and alerts you whenever you are close to hitting the limit.

3. BY NOT CHOOSING BUNDLED SERVICES OR POLICIES

If you are getting a TV, landline (home digital line), mobile phone, and a wireless broadband plan, it is best if you consider getting all of these services under the same provider. This process is called bundling.

By bundling the services or policies, the telecom companies are able to offer you discounts and promotional packages to help you save more. For example, SingTel’s Fiber Home Bundle will cost you as low as S$49.90 a month (Terms & Conditions apply)!

Image Credits: facebook.com/SingTel?fref=photo

With the help of this list, may you stop “flushing your money down the drain” by increasing buyer’s awareness. 🙂

Sources: 1, 2, 3, & 4

3 Affordable Online Pet Stores Offering The Best Services In Singapore

George Eliot once said: “Animals are such agreeable friends – they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms.”

Animals are creatures that love us genuinely without judgment that even words cannot describe the bond we form with our pets. Most of the times, the loyal and affectionate bond formed goes way beyond the “master and pet” relationship that people treat them as members of the family.

With that special bond, you only want what is best for your pet. This is why it is extremely important for you to find a store that sells the right food, accessories, and pet care products. Look no further, as this list will give you four of the best online pet stores in the country. Furthermore, these prices are inclusive of GST already (no hidden costs yay!).

1. DOGGY FRIEND

Doggy Friend maybe one of the cheapest online pet stores out there but their services are optimum. Looking at their user-friendly website that is easy to navigate, I saw a wide range of dog and cat food brands. You will definitely find a product and price that suits you best.

Doggy Friend, as a company, focuses on pet supplies such as clothing pieces, toys, dental accessories, and food supplements. Currently, they are having promotions on food including: Bow Wow Treats Mix N Match: 3 for $10 and Special Dog Wet Food (400g) for S$2.55. While their ongoing online sale is mainly on toys including: Qoo Santa Pet Toys for S$2.50 and JU-BE Bowling Pin for S$6.

Image Credits: facebook.com/Doggyfriend-1460708560842852/timeline/?ref=page_internal

And if you want to give a present for your pet loving friend but you do not know what to get him or her, you may buy a Doggy Friend gift certificate instead. Their gift certificates range from S$10-S$50.

Website: doggyfriend.com.sg

2. PETS’ STATION

One of the pet stores that date way back is Pets’ Station. From a family business that emerged in 1969, Pets’ Station had rapidly expanded over the years. With over thousands of products available at competitive prices, you can expect a variety of premium pet supplies that are exclusive to their shop alone. What is special about Pets’ Station is that they offer grooming services (for as low as S$45) and sell cute pets too at their 7 physical stores islandwide.

Are you eager to browse through their products? Then, grab the chance to participate in their warehouse sale this coming Saturday and Sunday!

Image Credits: petsstation.com.sg

Website: petsstation.com.sg

Outlets: 7 store locations

3. KOHE PETS

Where else can you find an online shop that is convenient, easy to navigate, accessible, and offers free samples?

Yes your read that right! Kohe Pets online shop regularly offers free samples for their products so you will find it easier to decide the perfect treat that your pet will truly like.

Furthermore, Kohe Pets has a huge selection of more than 2,500 reasonably priced products ranging from the popular brands to the unique brands that are hard to find in Singapore. Their focus leans more on healthy and whole pet foods. According to testimonials, their deliver is swift as customers receive their orders usually on the next day.

Image Credits: facebook.com/kohepets

Lastly, Kohe Pets are always generous with their promotions that some items are set to 20% off or Buy 1 Get 1 Free scheme!

Website: kohepets.com.sg

Sources:1 & 2

3 Times Color Significantly Affected Your Spending

Whenever you are out to shop, you see wonderful colors from the lightest to the darkest shades. The sale signs are bright red, the shopping bags are shocking yellow, and the labels are resonating the rainbow. Did you know that these colors are strategically placed to influence the way you spend?

Colors can impact one’s spending because the sight of it automatically stimulates you and increases your memories, color-motivated behaviors, and social influences. Here are three situations when color significantly affects your finances:

1. RIGHT SHADE FOR YOUR CAR

Burgundy is a shade of red that is often associated with wine. Cars with this color are usually more expensive that their white counterparts as burgundy exude luxury and refinement. Furthermore, red is a difficult color to see at night when people’s visions are somewhat distorted. Be careful as this may lead to involvements in accidents.

On the other hand, a white colored car has numerous benefits.

But before discussing this, I must acknowledge the existence of the age-old debate of whether white and black are colors. According to the available online resources, white is an achromatic color composed of all the frequencies of the light of the visible spectrum. While black is a color when you are referring to the coloring agents of tangible objects. For example, if you combine the primary colors using paint, you would get a shade of black.

Going back to white as a color for your car…light colored cars have better petroleum mileage because you can stay cooler without the use of air conditioning. Painting your car white can instantly lower the interior heat. Also, it is easier to see by other drivers at night.

2. ATTRACTIVE PACKAGING OF BEAUTY PRODUCTS

You enter Sephora and you see their in-house brand of lipsticks in sleek black tubes. Don’t they look expensive? Even if these lipsticks cost less than other brands they seem more upscale because of the color they come in. In packaging, black signifies sophistication.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Another color that can push people to spend more on beauty products especially the anti-aging ones is purple. Purple signifies royalty. This is why people are often convinced that there really are special properties inside the “purple box” and they are willing to pay more for it.

3. APPETITE-ENHANCING COLORS

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. And, you cannot resist spending more inside.

Image Credits: Mike Mozart via Flickr (CC License)

Interestingly, you can combat how colors affect the way you eat by controlling your own plate. Researchers at Cornell University found that when they reduced the contrast in their plates and tables or in their plates and the food itself, people tend to serve themselves less food. For example, to eat less, pair your white plate with your white table-cloth or a blue plate with a blue table-cloth.

Sources: 1,2, 3, & 4

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