There are countless joys in welcoming a new member to the family. A child’s cheery smile and mesmerising gaze have miraculous effects: they melt hearts and boil away the remnants of worry and misery.
However, raising a kid in Singapore is increasingly an uphill task. Singapore is known for its soaring cost of living and having one more mouth to feed does not make living in this overcrowded city any much easier.
In addition to the financial strain, parenthood also poses another competing use for time. Not surprisingly, it remains a constant struggle for dual-income households to balance work and family life.
Therefore, there lies no simple answer to the question of whether one should bear a child and, by extension, invest significant amount of resources, time and effort in the process of raising the child. Nonetheless, the flowchart below aims to delineate the emotional and financial considerations involved in parenting, though they are by no means prescriptive.
If you are looking for beauty products in Singapore, one store usually comes in mind – Sephora. The name Sephora originated from the Greek term for beauty: “Sephos” and the gorgeous wife of Exodus’ Moses: “Zipporah”.
Founded in France in the 70s, Sephora had become one of the world’s leading stores for quality bath, cosmetics, and other lifestyle products. It has become a home to many luxurious brands that shape the hottest trends today. In addition to that, they also have their own private label containing assorted products. But, beauty comes with a price tag, which is often at high cost.
So, as much as I love Sephora, I still value my frugality by following these few tips:
1. SIGN-UP FOR THEIR LOYALTY PROGRAM
One of the sure-fire ways to save while you shop at Sephora is to sign-up for their loyalty program – for free! The Loyalty program is called the Sephora Card program whereby you are able to earn points and receive as much as 10% discount and other exclusive benefits such as birthday gift surprises and news updates.
There are two types of Sephora Cards namely: White and Black. But, everyone starts of at with the White Card. Upon accumulating 250 points, you will be upgraded to the Black Card. To start, sign-up by filling a quick form at the cashier or by politely asking their staff.
2. DO YOUR RESEARCH
Before purchasing anything, it is good to read the reviews first so that your money would not go to waste. Do not shy away from Sephora’s products because they are well reviewed as well.
Image Credits: Pixabay (CC0 Public Domain)
Browse for yourself. 🙂
3. CONSIDER THE LOCATION
The location of products at any Sephora outlet says something about its price. Those that are far more expensive are clustered in the middle while the less-expensive brands including the in-house label are at the sides. Thus, as much as possible, avoid the center of the store.
4. FOLLOW THE DEALS
Stalk them on Facebook or Instagram to get an inside scoop of their great deals on cosmetics, skincare, fragrances, and so much more.
Currently, Sephora’s Facebook page shares that you can get discounted items from now until September 2 at the ION branch. For example, the once S$82 STILA Glam Gift Set retails for only S$50. The same goes for the once S$70 LAURA MERCIER Artist Palette for eyes & cheeks that are now sold for only S$50.
Knowing that pregnancy bills, documents, clothing, accessories, and so much more can cost more than S$10,000 in total, parents in Singapore must find savvy ways to manage their money because a baby will depend on them in everything. Here are some incredible ways to save money along the way:
1. SAY “YES” TO BREASTFEEDING
One of the empowering things that only women can do is to breastfeed their baby. 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.
To help you draw milk, you may use an electric breast pump but it comes with an expensive price tag of S$90-500. So, it is best to borrow a breast pump from a friend but make sure to change the plastic attachments. You can buy those for far less.
2. SAVE ON CLOTHES
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. 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.
Also, you may invest two big T-shirts rather than bibs. All you have to do is to look for T-shirts that fits a baby (i.e., 1-2 years older than yours) while you are in a flea market. Then, use these big T-shirts while your baby is feeding instead of a bib.
3. SAY “NO” TO FANCY BABY TOYS
Several parents came to the conclusion that babies are not hard to please. In fact, their favorite “toys” such as plastic cups, cardboard boxes, and utensils often come with friendly price tags. They are not even the traditional toys! Buying a toy for less and still make your baby happy is such a win-win situation. You may even try to make your own toys such as a rattle made with a jar and a few coins.
4. SAVE ON FOOD
Preparing homemade baby food is simple, quick, and less costly. Having this power over your child’s food choices, you will be able to know exactly how much nutrition he or she is getting.
Before you begin feeding your baby, make sure that he or she is ready for solid food. It is recommended to wait for at least 6 months to feed solid food while you must wait until 10 months to feed them with gas-inducing foods such as broccoli, wheat, cauliflower, garlic, onions, beans, and dairy products. Be cautious of the common allergens as well.
Nonetheless, here are the recipes you can try for babies aged 6 months and beyond:
In the celebration of Singapore’s 50 years of progress, several online and physical shops have been offering discounts of 50% or above. To name a few, New Look is having 50% on dresses, bags and Footwear in their Somerset, City Square and Westgate stores while Zalora offers 50% on local designers and international labels.
So, whether you are shopping online for the perfect holiday outfit or considering a huge appliance purchase, spend your money wisely and save along the way with the 5 Shopping Hacks Everyone Should Know:
1. COMPARE PRICES
Before purchasing anything, compare the different prices offered by various shops for a particular product you have been eyeing on. Do this by intelligently finding information in the comparison website called PricePanda Singapore. When shopping online, it is best to get the biggest discount by using a coupon code. You may use the coupon codes available at Singapore’s CupoNation.
2. READ THE MEASUREMENT GUIDES
You are just wasting money if you bought something online that is not true to its fit. This is why it is essential to read the footnotes or the measurement notes. It will tell you the size and measurements across an array of countries. Also, it will tell you if the garment is tight or loose. Then, get more information about the clothing article by reading the height and the size of the model.
3. SAVVY QUESTIONS TO ASK AT A STORE BEFORE YOU PURCHASE
a. Do you give rebates?
b. Is there a mailing list that announces the promotions or sales earlier?
c. Do you offer a loyalty or membership program to earn back points or cash on purchases?
d. What is the return policy?
4. ADD UP THE COSTS
Do not be fooled by the flashy “sale” sign on the window or on the website’s sidebar because some shops will make you spend extra for shipping, minimum purchases, restocking fees, return policies, or even discount exclusions. Therefore, you must add up the product price plus the extra fees first before making a purchase. Also, make sure that your online retailer is reliable.
5. EMPLOY THE “URGENCY TEST”
If you are on a physical store and you are thinking twice on purchasing an item, ask yourself if you are willing to try it on the dressing room at that very moment. If you are not really excited to wear it then, do not bother to buy it.
Image Credits: Pixabay (License: CC0 Public Domain)
ART. Whenever I hear this word, I picture beauty, expression, emotions, and empowerment. Truly, Art is a powerful medium that can produce all those. By definition, art is the application of one’s creative skill and imagination that is translated in tangible form such as a painting or a sculpture.
As you witness art in your daily lives, you may wonder what are the active ways you can appreciate it. Appreciation is not only in the knowledge of the different eras and style but is also in the understanding of its timeless qualities. If you think that art appreciation is expensive then, think again! There are a lot of budget-friendly ways you can start with…
1. READ MORE
If you know nothing about art, a good place to start small is by reading about it on the local library. Find books about painting, photography, performance arts, and so on. You can also save time by logging onto your computer or mobile device to search for videos that tackle art.
2. CAPTURE YOUR SURROUNDINGS
Step out of your comfort zone and be brave to take off your shoes and capture whatever you deem as pleasing. The country’s culturally diverse environment shall enrich your knowledge of art. For instance, you can snap the entertaining street performance of “the bead man” at Orchard Road.
Also, in the spirit of the National Poetry Festival, there is creative featured poetry on the different MRT platforms. Follow what catches your eyes – this can never go wrong!
3. VISIT THE LOCAL MUSEUMS
Indulge on the cultural art that is FREE for your viewing. Focusing on one genre that is Asian culture and arts, you can visit the two of the renowned museums in Singapore named Peranakan Museum and Asian Civilisations Museum.
Peranakan Museum is all about the Peranakan ethnic group that is a combination of the Chinese and Malay people. There you will see various documents, jewelries, furniture, textile, wedding accessories and so much more. Admission is free for Singapore citizens and P.R. while it starts at S$3 for children of foreign visitors.
On the other hand, the Asian Civilisations Museum showcases more than 1,300 artifacts from several Asian civilizations such as China, India, and Indonesia. Admission is free for Singapore citizens and P.R. while it starts at S$4 for children of foreign visitors.
4. MAKE DIY PROJECTS
Making art with your own hands is scientifically proven to be self-satisfactory. It makes you value the things you built even more. Also, it adds value to the object’s worth. You may start with simple Paint By Numbers Kit by Paintastic or Canvas Wall Art in these forms:
or
5. LEAVE GENUINE COMMENTS OR REVIEWS
Beyond appreciation, you can support the arts by leaving positive and sincere comments or reviews on the online products or videos by musicians, artisans, and writers. Each type of art is translated through personal taste; so do not be shy to state your own opinion.
