Savings Archives | Page 8 of 16

6 Bulletproof Saving Hacks For Millennial Singaporeans

As a Millennial Singaporean, it is easy to be tempted to travel and to socialize (talk about #YOLO or #NOFOMO). You just want to make the most out of your youth. Enjoying the wonders of the present and preparing for financial freedom is a difficult job!

Hopefully, these saving hacks below will enable you to make the right monetary decisions and live a prosperous 2017.

MAXIMIZE YOUR CASHBACK

In this day and age, almost every purchase qualifies for a cashback or rebate. Do you need a new dress for work? Or, do you need to expand your health coverage? See if you can get a little cash back!

Try to make the most out of your credit card rebates to save a decent amount of money for emergencies.

AVOID THE EMOTIONAL SPENDING

Studies (like this) have shown that Millennials are prone to spending based on their emotional states. The four common emotions that lead you to overspend are hunger, anger, loneliness, and tiredness. These emotions may lead to purchasing something that you do not need or want.

Avoid experiencing “buyer’s remorse” by increasing your awareness while you shop.

SPOT THE BEST DEALS

As Millennials, we spend countless of hours online. Use its potency for the greater good by searching for the best deals, promo codes, coupons, and vouchers islandwide. Keep a close eye on the local websites such as Flipit.com Singapore, Groupon, and Money Digest.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

MAXIMIZE YOUR RESOURCES

As a young adult, you may feel the urge to keep up with the latest trends on fashion and technology. Who can blame you? Purchasing new clothes and devices can boost one’s confidence. However, your spending habits may take a toll on your finances. Choose to be practical instead!

Account your resources to know which areas you can cut cost. Ditch your underused cable television and switch to a Netflix or Toggle account on your laptop. You may also refrain from purchasing new shoes by revamping your simple shoes with laces and ribbons.

DO NOT TURN A BLIND EYE

Being in your 20’s does not guarantee that you are immune to financial woes. Red flags, such as outstanding bill notices, are there for a reason. Make it a habit to account how much money goes in and out.

Use money-tracking tools to aid you in this process!

USE THE POWER OF TECHNOLOGY

Most millennials are innately tech-savvy. Use the power of technology to boost your knowledge on investments, financial services, and personal finance. Appreciate how lucky we are to have the luxury of accessing information right at our fingertips!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

You may also seek guidance and support from the experienced financial advisers by interacting with them thru social media.

Sources: 1 & 2

Clever Ways To Build A Sufficient Emergency Fund

Emergency fund is an account utilized to set aside funds in the event of personal financial dilemma such as unemployment or theft. It is a safety net that will cushion emergency expenses against high interest debts and bankruptcy. It is not entirely for you as you can use it to provide for your family members who are in need.

In a fast-paced nation such as Singapore, a sufficient emergency fund is worth at least 6 months of your income. Build that by following some (or all) of these savvy ways:

TWICE THE CHARM

One of the major roadblocks to a workable emergency fund is your monthly salary. Earning below the minimum wage makes it difficult to save. Not to mention, you need to consider the CPF deductions. To leap through the hurdle by seeking a part-time job or additional sources of income.

Making extra hundreds on the side is enough to make a difference. You may work as a weekend receptionist or as an Uber driver. Use your creativity to grow your fund. You can even try pet sitting.

RELAX, IT’S AUTOMATED

As the age-old saying goes: “out of sight, out of mind”.

Avoid committing much of your willpower toward deciding whether to save or to spend by automatic your finances. Some institutions allow the employer to automate your salary in a bank account that is solely for your savings. Patronizing this method will lessen the temptation of immediate spending. Be able to grow the size of your bank account that is solely for emergency fund by embracing the power of technology.

BRING BANK THE COIN BANK

I, for one, dislike carrying a heavy wallet filled with coins. They just add a significant weight on my purse and my shoulder. Fortunately, my sister understands the value of loose change because she cultivated a coin bank. I started to contribute for my sister. We put all the unexpected cash (e.g., S$2 found in her pants) and the small change (e.g., S$0.50 from the Kopitiam) inside the jar. After 6 months of dedication, the jar is full!

Do the same thing for your prize winnings, rebates, and bonuses. You will be delighted to see your emergency fund grow as the weeks pass by.

SELL WELL ONLINE

Stop hoarding unnecessary items! Start selling these underused or unwanted items on online marketplaces instead. Gather them together and decide whether you want to toss, donate, or sell each one. Put all the cash that you will earn into your emergency fund.

If you want, you can host a garage sale this weekend!

WHAT SSB?

Once you have established an emergency fund, consider keeping it under the Singapore Savings Bonds (SSB). If you maintained your emergency fund for 10 years, you will earn about 2.6% per year. SSB allows you to cash out the money without losing the accumulated interest. Qualify for SSB by opening a bank account with DBS, POSB, UOB, or OCBC. Also, you need to have an individual CDP Securities account linked to any of your bank accounts through direct crediting service.

For more information, please visit: sgs.gov.sg.

INFORMATIVE SHORT

Learn the basics of emergency fund by watching this informative video:

Sources: 1, 2, 3, & 4

POSB LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE “BANK AND EARN” PROGRAMME

FIRST BANK IN SINGAPORE TO REWARD CUSTOMERS WITH MONTHLY CASHBACK FOR REGULAR BANKING TRANSACTIONS

With “POSB Cashback Bonus”, customers need only to fulfil three or more types of regular banking transactions to enjoy cashback rewards, without the need to make additional deposits

It pays to bank more with POSB – customers can earn up to SGD 130 per month via salary crediting, credit card spending, home loan instalments, insurance premiums, or investments

SINGAPORE, 17 October 2016 – POSB, Singapore’s oldest and most loved bank, today announced the launch of an innovative “bank and earn” programme which will reward customers with cashback every month through regular banking transactions. This programme is also the first-of-its-kind in Singapore which allows customers to earn straight cashback rewards without making additional funds deposits on their account balances.

The “POSB Cashback Bonus” programme is the first of its kind in Singapore to offer customers direct monthly cashback simply by fulfilling at least three types of regular banking transactions. This is a simple programme for customers to earn cashback as the majority of POSB/DBS customers are already conducting these transactions with the bank. For example, customers will only need to conduct at least three of the following transactions every month to earn up to SGD 130 per month in cashback rewards:
1. Credit their monthly salary (Minimum amount of SGD 2,500; cashback of 0.3%; monthly cashback cap of SGD 20)
2. Spend on their POSB/DBS credit cards (No minimum amount required; cashback of 0.3%; monthly cashback cap of SGD 20)
3. Pay their monthly home loan instalments (No minimum amount required; cashback of 3%; monthly cashback cap of SGD 30)
4. Pay their POSB/DBS insurance premiums (No minimum amount required; cashback of 3%; monthly cashback cap of SGD 30; insurance products should be purchased after signing up for the programme)
5. Invest through POSB/DBS (No minimum amount required; cashback of 3%; monthly cashback cap of SGD 30; investment products should be purchased after signing up for the programme)

See below for two examples of how a customer can earn generous cashback rewards from regular banking transactions:

Earlier this year, POSB conducted a survey among some 800 customers on their reward preferences based on their banking relationships. The majority of customers responded that they prefer the following features for their banking accounts:

· Rewards structure that is straightforward and simple to understand
· Cashback rewards which are credited to their accounts regularly
· Rewarded based on their multiple relationships and transactions done with the bank
· No requirement to make additional deposits to earn rewards

Said Jeremy Soo, Head of Consumer Banking Group Singapore, DBS Bank, “We are delighted to introduce this programme that rewards our customers based on their banking relationships with us. Currently, most of our customers are already conducting regular banking transactions with us and this means that customers can simply enjoy monthly cashbacks with ‘POSB Cashback Bonus’ without doing a lot more. As the ‘People’s Bank’, we are committed to offering our customers greater value through innovative products and services, and to providing superior deals for them to enjoy.”

To enroll in the “POSB Cashback Bonus” programme, customers simply have to log on to POSB/DBS iBanking to register, and nominate a deposit or credit card account to receive their monthly cashback. Visit www.posb.com.sg/cashbackbonus for more information on the programme.

In 2013, the bank launched the DBS Multiplier Programme to reward emerging affluent customers for consolidating their finances with DBS. With DBS Multiplier, which was recently enhanced in August 2016, customers are able to enjoy a higher interest of up to 2.68% p.a. on their account balances by fulfilling any three of the five transaction categories. The programme has been a hit with customers and the bank has now more than 90,000 accounts. For more information on the “DBS Multiplier Programme”, please visit www.dbs.com.sg/multi.

Start Saving Cash By Following These 18 Spectacular Tips

Saving money is a crucial step to financial independence. No matter what your current financial status is, you need to understand that it is possible for you to grow your wealth. There are simple money-saving ways that you can employ now.

Let the round-up begin!

1. Start by accepting your financial responsibility and devising a monthly budget that is suited for your lifestyle. When you continue to make excuses to saving money or altering your spending habits, you may end up broke.

2. Eliminate your consumption of junk food and beverages such as sodas, chips, and sweets. These things are not only unhealthy but they are also costly.

3. Figure out the saving goals that are most important to you. Organize your expenses based on your priorities and your goals.

4. Spend at least 6 minutes on examining the last month’s utilities bill and credit card statement. Use your vigilant eyes to spot one expense that you can either reduce or eliminate.

5. Before purchasing anything, it is good to read the reviews and to compare the prices so that your money will not go to waste.

6. If you are taking medications on a long-term basis, ask your physician if he or she can prescribe a cheaper yet equally efficient alternative.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

7. Surround yourself with financially literate friends. This is important as you can begin to adapt the attitudes and the beliefs of the people whom you are most exposed with. Know the 6 Kinds Of Friends Who Can Positively Influence Your Finances.

8. If possible, let your employer automate your salary in a separate bank account that is solely for your savings. This will lessen the temptation of immediate spending.

9. Give refurbished laptops a chance. Buy these from established and trusted retailers to ensure safety.

10. Save and reinvent the unconsumed food when you either ordered too much restaurant food or when you cooked excessively.

11. Your appliances and electronics will continue to consume energy and spike your tariff despite turning off the switches. This is why you must unplug your cables when not in use.

12. Save every last cent by putting it in a jar. If you collated your loose change of 50 cents a day, it can generate nearly S$200 a year.

13. There is no need to replace your torn clothing right away! Learning and mastering the basic sewing stitches can help you extend the life of your favorite clothing.

14. The sharing economy allowed people from all over the world to rent their own homes. Cut accommodation costs as well as energy consumption by availing the services of Airbnb, HomeExchange, or Couchsurfing when overseas*.

15. Stop hoarding or collecting unnecessary items. Start selling these items on global marketplaces instead.

16. What better message of gratitude can you convey when you pour your heart on handmade gifts? Consider creating your own gifts instead of buying them from the shops.

17. Limit your taxi rides. Using public transportation can save you at least S$5 per trip.

18. Rather than spending all your money on a fancy restaurant with your friends or co-workers, socialize by having a pot-luck.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

*Be cautious at all times. Read the reviews of the room or the house you are renting before paying for it.

Sources: 1 & 2

OCBC 360 Account Offers The Best Fixed Deposit Rates

This is a contribution by Alison, who blogs at www.heartlandboy.com

Readers may be surprised that Heartland Boy is suggesting that an actual banking account, as opposed to some plain-vanilla fixed deposit schemes, offers the best fixed deposit rates in town currently. Ever since DBS launched its DBS Multiplier Programme with headline grabbing interest rates, it has forced its key competitors to react accordingly. As a result, this has spawned a new type of hybrid savings account which typically rewards account holders with significantly higher interest rates than the moribund 0.05%. OCBC has its own OCBC 360 Account while UOB has its UOB One Account. After comparing the various bank offerings, Heartland Boy chose the OCBC 360 Account as he thinks it offers the best fixed deposit rates amongst the local banks.

HOW THE OCBC 360 ACCOUNT WORKS

OCBC rewards account holder bonus interests for completing a myriad of tasks. This is in addition to a base interest of 0.05% per annum. The respective bonus interests applicable to the first $60,000 of the account holder balances are:

1.2% per annum when your credit your salary of at least S$2,000 through GIRO
0.5% per annum when you pay any 3 bills online or though GIRO
0.5% per year when you spend at least S$500 monthly on OCBC Credit Cards
1% per annum when you purchase a new insurance (eg: Policies of at least S$2,000 in annual premium) or investment product (Unit Trusts or Structured Deposits of at least S$40,000) with OCBC

Source: http://www.ocbc.com/personal-banking/accounts/360-account.html

The bonus interest accumulates and pays when you do all of the above of any of the following. As an illustration, if you satisfy only criteria 1 and 2, you would still be eligible for 1.7% bonus interest per annum.

TIPS ON MAXIMISING THE OCBC 360 ACCOUNT

Make sure that the salary credited into your OCBC 360 Account uses a code recognised and approved by OCBC in order to earn the 1.2% bonus interest.

A working adult should easily satisfy the criteria of paying 3 bills online (mobile phone, credit cards, insurance premiums etc). If you do not meet the criteria of paying 3 bills online, offer to help pay some of the household bills, such as broadband or utility charges, online.

Whenever possible, apply for GIRO so that the bill payments are automated. This ensures that you will never forget and are guaranteed to complete that task.

OCBC offers plenty of attractive credit cards, such as the OCBC 365, OCBC FRANK, OCBC Robinsons etc. Choose a credit card that is most compatible to your spending habits. For instance, if you enjoy dining out on weekends, you may apply for the OCBC 365 credit card to earn 6% cashback. If you are an online shopaholic, you can earn 6% rebate on OCBC Frank credit card.
If you are paying bills to an organisation which OCBC Credit Card has a partnership with, you can apply to pay through GIRO for greater bang on your buck. For instance, Heartland Boy’s M1 bills are deducted monthly via GIRO on his OCBC 365 credit card. He gets a 3% cashbackfor setting up a recurring telco bill, as well as becoming closer to achieving the S$500 minimum spending on an OCBC credit card as required by the OCBC 360 Account. That is equivalent to killing 2 birds with 1 stone.

If you are capable of making your own investments, you may consider forgoing the 1% bonus interest applicable for new insurance or investment products. That is because the expenses and fees that these products typically charge may well exceed the incremental 1% bonus interest that you earn.

The bonus interest is calculated based on average daily balance, so you cannot “game” the system by withdrawing money at the beginning of the month and depositing money at the end of the month and still hope to get the full interest over the month.

WHAT HEARTLAND BOY LIKES ABOUT THE OCBC 360 ACCOUNT

Previously, Heartland Boy was using the POSB Savings Account, an account his parents set up for him after he got tired of playing with his piggy bank. This account was paying a miserable 0.05% per annum and yet Heartland Boy continued using it out of habit and convenience. This was despite Heartland Boy knowing that he was actually losing money in real terms as Singapore’s historical average inflation was probably 2% per annum. However, since switching over to OCBC 360 Account, Heartland Boy feels awesome whenever he sees the bonus interest roll into his OCBC 360 Account. It was the same feeling he had when he was a small kid collecting candies after accumulating a series of stamps at the funfair.

There is no lock-in period and you are free to utilize the savings inside the OCBC 360 Account whenever you need to. This is in contrast to the traditional fixed deposit schemes whereby there is a lock-in period.

Informing Heartland Boy’s Human Resources Department to change his salary crediting account was surprisingly straightforward. All it took was an email instruction and he only had to do it once!

If you are unconvinced and still fret over the hassle of changing your monetary habits, Heartland Boy can assure you that once you have done it, it will become habitual eventually and you will thank yourself for having done so!

HOW THE OCBC 360 ACCOUNT WORKS

TIPS ON MAXIMISING THE OCBC 360 ACCOUNT

WHAT HEARTLAND BOY LIKES ABOUT THE OCBC 360 ACCOUNT

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