While many people aspire to be their own bosses, few actually make the move to incorporate their own businesses and commit to the life of an entrepreneur. It may seem easy in the eyes of most people, but the truth is far from reality. After meeting and consulting various CEOs from diverse industries throughout my writing career, I begin to distill certain essential traits common to all of them. They are by no means prescriptive, but I believe that they serve as useful indicators for prospective entrepreneurs.
Have you ever desired to purchase something so bad but cannot afford it then, later you found out that a similar thing is available at a different store for a cheaper price? This circumstance can be prevented if you know how to spend wisely! Being a smart spender entails having enough knowledge to make the right purchase and to justify why it is the best choice.
1. SET A CLEAR PATH
It is important to develop a tangible and realistic savings goal that you can achieve little by little everyday. Yes! You must keep a small portion of your money regularly and add it to your savings account. Make it tangible by calculating the compound interest with the savings interval set to “daily”. Be amaze as you see how your small savings can increase through time. Truly, this tip will keep you motivated.
2. AVOID NEEDLESS EXPENDITURES
Have you ever shopped for a bikini (on sale) and realized that you already have one back home? Items that are usually seasonal such as swimming attires or winter coats are usually put at the back of your clothes and left forgotten. To avoid needless expenditures, make it a habit to check what you already have before buying. You can also organize your stuff as much as you can before a trip and be sure that you separated what you need that are still in mint condition.
3. COMPARE PRICES
Knowing you made the best purchase means you spend effort on comparing stores and its products in terms of price, design, quality, and so much more. Learning how to patiently browse through the nearby stores before buying something is smart. Also, you can shop around by comparing the prices online. There may be times when shopping online is cheaper especially with free shipping and clearance sales.
4. WORK FOR YOURSELF
If you are recently laid-off from work, one of your most practical options is to be self-employed. Certainly, when the conditions are suitable…it is much cheaper to hire yourself than to get someone to work for you. If you do not have enough money for transportation, food, clothing, or other expenses, working freelance can help you land back on your feet.
Wanting a wedding that is immensely personalized and stylish yet money-saving? Then, consider including a myriad of lovely Do-It-Yourself (DIY) crafts. These DIY crafts can be used in wedding ceremonies, bridal showers, and receptions. Budget for these elements depend on the type and quantity of materials necessary to fill in the needs of the guests.
Since time is of the essence, here are 3 wedding DIY ideas that are easy and quick to make:
1. PAPER FLOWERS
DIY paper flowers with beads or laces could be presented at the centerpiece, at the wedding shower, or given as souvenirs. To flourish an elegant touch to your big day without breaking the bank, you can make the classical wedding pomander:
2. RIBBONS
Ribbons are beautiful to look at, especially if they shine with vivid patterns. You can just hang these at the entrance arches, doors, or bouquets to add a dramatic flair.
What’s more? You can even decorate a chair with 9 shades of ribbon colors or 10 types of ribbon patterns. Here is how:
a. Gather either the 9 strips of ribbon or the 10 types of ribbon patterns.
b. Tie the strips sideways and rotate these toward the middle.
c. The excess shall create a pretty fringe effect cascading down to the center.
For a portrait of the ribbon arrangements, click here.
3. MASON JARS AND CANS
You need not to have a degree in design to brighten up the special reception. Just place several mason jars or cans on the table and put small candles inside.
Image Credits: sugarspiceandnice.wordpress.com
Alternatively, you may place your family’s old wedding photos or your pre-nuptial photos too.
Image Credits: sugarspiceandnice.wordpress.com
Look no further for the perfect candles and mason jars. IKEA sells a pack of 12 small scented candles for S$7.90 while mason jars are sold as low as S$2.90!
Relative to many other industries, the luxury business puts up little fight to preserve its sheen throughout history as it symbolizes prestige, exclusivity and wealth. As each human being strives to establish their personal identity and social status, the luxury sector flourishes by expediting this process of differentiation and labeling. This phenomenon is increasingly reinforced by the awakened economic giant, China, where Goldman Sachs had reported that it will become the top consumer of luxury goods globally by 2015.
However, as the rising middle classes in Asia embark on a buying binge, “luxury” inevitably loses its social appeal while such extravagant buying behavior soon spirals into a cycle of irrationality and wastefulness. Therefore, it is often prudent to understand the economics of a luxury item before splurging profligately on it.
The diagram shown below is a simple decision-making guide that may be useful for both existing and potential luxury seekers.
As shopping and payment transactions can be smoothly done through the power of your fingertips, about S$443 billion were spent in 2014’s mobile transactions – all over the world. But while digital wallets increase in popularity, so does the risk of scams.
What are handphone or mobile phone scams anyway? Handphone scams involve a variety of dishonest tactics, such as persuading you to buy a non-existent product or making you sign up to expensive subscription services, that are done for the scammer’s own profit.
According to Scams Singapore, a blog dedicated to identify and relay information about the existing frauds, common handphone scams occur when an unknown number contacts you and tells you to collect your prize or to pay for your kidnapped relative. With innovative ways to communicate and connect, the risk of scams rises. This is why it is important to stay vigilant and take preventative steps such as these:
1. PICKING PASSWORDS
When deciding which password you can use for your phone, do not choose the common ones such as 1234, 1111, or 0000. Also, you must change as often as possible.
For your mobile banking, maximize the use of your privacy settings by using two-factor authentication. Furthermore, do not make the security questions easy to answer because the scammers can just access your social media accounts.
2. OPENING ATTACHMENTS
To avoid downloading virus or other malware, only open attachments that were given by your friends, family, partners, and clients. Avoid phishing messages (i.e., when an unknown number asks for your bank account details). Simply, if you do not recognize the sender’s number and the area code is not +65 (i.e., Singapore’s area code) then, it is most likely a scam.
Image Credits: Antti Kultanen via Flickr with Creative Commons
3. DOWNLOADING APPS
When downloading Smartphone Apps, opt for the Apps that are available on the official retailers such as the iTunes or Google Play stores. Otherwise, there is a possibility of downloading bugs, virus or other malware. Downloading a tracking App for your devices is helpful in case you get robbed.
