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Procrastination Costs You Money! Here’s How You Can Stop It.

You probably know how procrastination impacts some areas of your life such as being late for a reunion or getting scolded by your boss because you missed the deadline – again. However, you might not realize that constantly avoiding responsibilities can cost you not only with opportunities but also with money.

There are various reasons why people procrastinate with money and one of them is fear – fear of getting stuck or lost in the path. Then, the “avoider” in you will just make excuses in order to delay the tasks for a while or for a lifetime.

To illustrate how procrastination cause money loss, here are some examples:

1. WHEN PENALTIES PILE UP

Late payment fees, late return fees, reconnection fees, and other penalty charges may seem small at the moment but these things add up. For instance, if you borrowed a book in your school’s library and you failed to return it 1 month after the deadline then, the price you paid for late fees might be more costly than the book in the first place.

Also, being late in paying your credit card can cost you each day. Add that to the interest!

2. NOT TAKING PREVENTIVE ACTIONS

Preventive actions such as regularly going for health screening especially when you are in your 40s, can help detect or treat serious diseases. Waiting will do nothing but cost you for medical bills later. Some expensive repairs that can also be prevented by check-ups are: air conditioner’s filter maintenance and car’s tires maintenance.

3. LAST MINUTE SHOPPING

People are often to be less conscious of the price tag if they are shopping under pressure. Waiting the last-minute to purchase for anniversary gifts or weekend travel tickets can make you opt for the high-priced ones just to get it over and done with!

These examples are just some of the reasons why it is important to beat procrastination with all strength! Do it by following these tips:

1. AWARENESS

Constantly remind yourself that there are tasks to be accomplished and determine what phase you are on. It is easier to track your tasks by making a simple “to-do list” that even includes the tasks you are avoiding to pursue. Then, write the deadlines together with every task.

2. REMOVE THE DISTRACTIONS

The quickest way to stop procrastinating is by eliminating the possible distractions. Learning to reduce, ignore, and remove the unnecessary choices can be beneficial as you are able to make better choices.

For example: if you want others to read your blog, stop distracting them with buttons and ads. Also, if you want stronger arms, stop wasting your energy on Single-Leg Glute Bridge or other exercises that are not in lined with your goals.

3. REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS

Create a reward and punishment system. Rewards (e.g., eating your favorite dessert) should only be given if you finished a task while consequences (e.g., no access to ice cream for a week) should be given whenever you avoid your task.

4. GET SERIOUS

Ask a your friend or your partner to help you complete the task. They should guide you and warn you when you deter form the task at hand. Focus on the success and happiness you will achieve after you finished your “to-do list”.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (CC0 Public Domain)

Sources:1 & 2

Should I be an employee, a self-employed or an employer?

Many people aspire to be an employer as it entails freedom, independence and wealth. However, the path to entrepreneurship is hardly a bed of roses. In fact, a successful entrepreneur has to possess great fortitude and foresight in order to overcome all the uninvited obstacles coming his/her way. On the contrary, while employees generally do not enjoy as much flexibility as the company owners, they actually face significantly lower (downside) income risks. In addition, employees are often relieved of the heavy emotional and psychological burden that is tied to the complexity of overall business management.

Therefore, whether you are an employee, a self-employed or an employer, there are always pros and cons for any track you choose. At the end of the day, it boils down to what truly defines you and the resources you wield. The approach to searching for your personal identity (and supposed employment status) has thus been highly condensed into the diagram shown below.

Click to enlarge:

Disclaimer: This is just for easy reference.

Am I ready to invest in a child?

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.

Awesome Sephora Hacks You Wouldn’t Want To Miss

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.

Image Credits: facebook.com/sephorasingapore

Incredible Ways You Can Save As Parents Of A Newborn Baby

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:

a. Carrots Baby Food (Recipe costs as low as S$0.80)

b. Peach Purée Baby Food (Recipe costs as low as S$2)

c. Pea Puree (Recipe costs as low as S$1.80)

Image Credits: Kim Love via Flickr (CC Attribution-ShareAlike)

Sources: 1 ,2 & 3

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