Uncategorized

The size of all transactions within the foreign exchange market is substantially higher than stocks at around $5 trillion a day versus $200 billion a day. Investors or traders looking to take advantage of superior liquidity in a market open 24 hours are faced with an easy decision.

Importance Of Research

Given the sheer size of the global forex market, many brokerage firms across the world compete for your business. Many firms will offer rebates or promotions which gives the impression it is the best deal to be found.

However, some firms simply add on higher fees elsewhere making it an overall more expensive choice. It is very important for would-be customers to take their time and compare forex brokers with a focus on the different organizational structures and services each unique company offers.

Here is an overview of five tips to consider as part of the process of comparing forex brokers.

1. Safety

You work hard to earn your money and plan on investing or trading it diligently. Naturally, you need to make sure whoever you hand your money over to will keep it safe.

The good thing is multiple government agencies have done the homework for you. They are tasked with separating reputable and secure firms from those who won’t keep your money safe.

For example, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, commonly known as MAS, establishes rules and regulations for all entities in the country to follow. The MAS is responsible for licensing each Forex trading company to protect clients by offering a safe and secure investment environment.

2. Cost Of Doing Business

Every time an investor or trader enters into a forex transaction they will be charged a fee or transaction cost. While low transaction cost is important to everyone, some forex brokers will offer cheap transaction costs but with hidden fees elsewhere.

Everyone should evaluate all associated costs and compare it with their individual trading needs. Some traders could enter into dozens of transactions each day while an investor would oversee at most five transactions a month.

The cheapest per transaction cost could end up the most expensive option for some!

3. Sending And Receiving Money

Perhaps one of the scariest parts of opening a forex brokerage account involves wiring a deposit and requesting a withdrawal.

A reputable broker will make sure the initial wiring deposit is as smooth as possible with clear directions posted for everyone to see. Similarly, a broker should have a “no questions asked” policy about withdrawals.

It is your money and no forex broker should ask why you want some or all of it back.

Also important to consider is if a foreign exchange broker will add leverage to your deposit. This may be vital to experienced individuals but something novice investors and traders should avoid given its high level of risk.

4. The Platform

A forex trading platform needs to be fast, steady, stable, and free of any hiccups. The forex market moves fast and a trading platform needs to keep up with the speed of the exchange.

When selecting a forex trading platform, always look to see what options are included. Some platforms may offer a news feed while others would supply it for an extra fee. Make sure to find a platform which offers exactly what you want to avoid paying for something you don’t need.

If you can’t find some of the information you need, be sure to inquire with the forex broker.

Contacting a support team will also satisfy another component of testing a brokerage firm’s customer service. If a firm won’t take the proper time to answer your questions about a trading platform, chances are more likely they won’t take proper care of you when you are a paying client.

5. Speed Of Transaction

Perhaps more important than evaluating a forex trading platform is the actual speed of a transaction. The fastest and most high-tech trading platform is useless if a trade can’t be completed faster than a blink of an eye.

For example, if the EUR/USD pair is trading at 1.24500, you should be able to enter into or out of a transaction at that price or within micro-pips.

If your forex broker takes too long to complete a trade or it finalizes at a transaction that isn’t within micro-pips, it may be a sign to look elsewhere.

Using Comparison Websites

There are multiple comparison sites within the forex space but many recommend forex brokers that are not MAS regulated. Justin Grossbard from Compare Forex Brokers explained that it’s important to make sure that any comparison table factors in regulation, reputation, brokerage and forex trading platform. This should be customized for the forex traders location such as Singapore.

Conclusion

The process of choosing and selecting a foreign exchange broker is daunting and presents its set of challenges. The good thing is once a trader or investor finds a broker which works best for their individual needs, the process won’t need to be done again and you can focus on the markets.

As is often the case, the best method of conducting due diligence is to ask around. Find a reputable internet forum or group and chances are likely that it will be full of friendly people looking to offer a lending hand.

 

Read More...

One of the most important things that you have to consider when moving to a new home is finding the right mattress for your bedroom. The right mattress that will provide you a well-rested sleep is something that we all need nowadays given the hustle and bustle that we face every single day.

However, for younger new homeowners, this is one of the purchases that we don’t take much time in considering. We often have the thinking, ‘I’ll settle for the cheap one as long as I’m able to sleep on it”.

But did you know that having this line of thinking can really affect your daily lives? This may sound weird at first, but have you thought of just how much time we actually spend sleeping? According to studies, in an average lifetime, a person would spend around 24-26 years sleeping.

Knowing the actual numbers would make you think again about finding the right mattress. Which then leads us to the question: How should new homeowners choose their mattress?

In this article, we are going to look into the different factors that you should consider when choosing a new mattress for your new home. We will then identify the best places where you can get your next best mattress.

Are cheap mattresses any good?

There are times when shopping for cheap items makes you thrifty and there are times it won’t. When it comes to shopping for mattresses, it would be the latter. This is one example of “getting what you pay for” especially for cheap and non-branded mattresses that cost around $500.

Cheaper mattresses provide minimal comfort and tend to wear out fast when compared to branded mattresses. Most of these are the innerspring mattress types and often lose their quality within just months.

Still, if you are on a tight budget and really need to get a cheaper mattress, then the best thing that you can do is to make sure that you read customer reviews as much as you can. In this way, you will have an idea which would be the best one that can last you a bit longer.

But if you are one of those who would like to get your money’s worth, opt for quality branded mattresses. These mattresses are made with high quality and durable materials which give them a longer lifespan. A branded mattress, unlike their cheap counterparts, can last up to 10 years, which would actually save you money in the long run since you won’t have to change mattresses every 2-3 years.

What are the different mattress types to choose from?

If you are still torn and vaguely have an idea on what mattress you should buy for your new home, now is the tie to introduce you to the different types of mattresses around. Each mattress type provides different levels of comfort and support—two of the most important things that you should look for.

 Innerspring mattresses

This type of mattress are the traditional ones that have been around for a long time and make use of coil type springs all throughout the mattress area. It provides a springy and bouncy feel to the mattress but tend to create some noise when the mattress has been used for a long time.

Standard innerspring mattresses are the cheapest types around since they are made with lesser materials and wear out easily compared to other types. If you have back problems, an innerspring mattress would not be your best choice since they provide minimal support and tend to “bounce” with your every movement.

If you will also be sharing your bed with someone, an innerspring mattress can be annoying eventually since you will feel every movement while sleeping. Light sleepers tend t have difficulty in having a good sleep in innerspring mattresses since not only do they lack support, they bounce with every movement that you make.

Latex mattresses

Latex mattresses are a great choice for homeowners who live in warmer areas and want to keep cool at night since the latex material retains minimal heat. This material also provides a firmer comfort by contouring to your body shape so your body can get better support.

Another advantage of latex mattresses is that they are dust and dirt resistant, which makes it a great choice especially if you have kids around. They are made with natural materials, compared to the synthetic ones use in other mattress types, which makes them much pricier.

This is one good choice for your home if you will be sharing your bed since it has very minimal motion transfer. You can be assured that you can still get your good night’s sleep even if your partner moves around at night.

Memory foam mattress

Perhaps the most popular mattress in recent years, memory foam mattresses have been received well by homeowners because of the “hugging” feeling you get when you lie down on it. Much like the latex foam, a memory foam mattress conforms to your body shape, which is why it gives the feeling that you are “sinking” in it.

This is a great choice for you if you are looking for maximum support to your back and shoulders since it provides a pressure point relief by distributing your whole body weight. Another advantage of this type of mattress is that it also has minimal motion transfer to keep you asleep at night.

One thing to take not of when considering a memory foam mattress is that they retain heat as compared to latex mattresses. So if your area tends to be a lot warmer at night, you should consider how these can affect your sleep especially if you have a warm body temperature.

Hybrid mattresses

Another good option when shopping around for mattresses are the hybrid types that incorporate multiple layers of different materials like innerspring with either latex or memory foam. This type of mattress fits individuals who are looking for the right bounce that innerspring mattresses provide, but with the comfort and support of latex or memory foam materials.

This would be a great choice for homeowners who want to have the benefits of all the mattress types and still want to have the comfort and support they need while resting. The memory foam or latex top layer would give them the advantage of contouring to their body shape but still get the bounce that is provided by an innerspring mattress.

Pillow top mattress

Not really a whole mattress type, pillow top mattresses refers to any type of mattress but with an extra layer of foam on top. They provide additional comfort, especially if you are one who likes your bed to be a bit “fluffy”. Oftentimes, pillow top mattresses are paired with innerspring types as the base, much similar to the hybrid mattress type.

What are the different mattress sizes?

Now that we have looked into the different mattress types, and you probably already have an idea which type you would like to have in your new home, it’s time to consider the sizes.  Knowing the size and dimensions of your mattress would really help to ensure that you will have enough space in your bed to move around and sleep, especially if you tend to toss and turn at night. This would also ensure that you will get the correct mattress size for your bed frame and avoid the hassle of returning an incorrectly sized mattress.

Use this quick guide when choosing your mattress size for your new home:

Size	Dimensions	Best for
Single	190cm  x 90cm	1 child or small adult
Super Single	190cm x 107cm	1 adult
Queen	190cm x 152cm	2 adults
King	190cm x 183 cm	2 adults + 1 child

Top mattress choices in Singapore

Excited to get your new mattress for your new home but still can’t find which brand you should choose? Read on to find out the top mattress choices that you can choose from to ensure that you will really be getting only the best sleep ever. Here we will be looking at the best mattresses from each brand that has been getting great customer reviews.

Origin Hybrid Mattress

Getting rave reviews since they launched their first mattress, the Origin hybrid mattress provides the comfort and support that everyone wants without you breaking the bank. Designed in Germany, this mattress is made with pocket innersprings, multiple layers of latex foam, and cooling gel memory foam.

New homeowners who have tried and tested the Origin hybrid mattress were greatly satisfied with the technology of putting in together all the benefits of the different mattress types to provide maximum comfort for all types of sleepers. Its cooling gel memory foam is also guaranteed to keep you comfortable and cool al throughout the night, even during those warm and lazy summer nights.

They also provide a 120-Night trial so you can test out the mattress and find for yourself if this would be the perfect choice for you. Still, with its premium materials and a price of just below $1000 for a King-sized mattress, customers quickly decide to stick with this mattress the first night of sleeping on it, especially since every mattress comes with a 1-year warranty.

Order the Origin Hybrid Mattress from: https://originmattress.com.sg

HipVan Levitate Mattress

Launching their first mattress in 2016, the Levitate mattress is another great option with its combination of latex and memory foam that uses premium materials to provide great comfort and support. It comes with a sewn-in pillow top that provides additional comfort and plushness while still ensuring that it is firm enough for your back support.

The base of the Levitate mattress comes with individual pocket springs to provide bounce but limit motion transfer so you can still have a peaceful sleep even if you are sharing your bed with someone. It also comes with an adaptive fabric to provide cooling properties for those warm nights by diffusing the heat from the surface.

Each mattress comes with a 12-year guarantee as well as 100 nights free trial. This would be less than the 120 nights free trial from the Origin hybrid mattress, but you can still get to return the mattress if you feel like it’s not the right pick for you. Another service that they provide is their mattress disposal service so you won’t have to worry about disposing of your old mattress.

King Koil Mattress

Sold in 70 countries around the world, King Koil Mattress has gained quite a reputation of being a good-quality brand that provides comfort but at a pricier cost. They provide different options like pocketed spring, latex, or memory foam.

Ranging from $400 up to $2000, King Koil Mattresses lets homeowners choose mattress models based on the type of mattress that they prefer.

Haylee Mattress

Another good choice when shopping for mattresses comes from the Haylee brand that gives a medium rating when it comes to the firmness. This is actually a good choice for you if your preferred mattress to sleep on is not too firm.

Their mattresses also come with a cooling gel layer that guarantees to keep you cool all throughout the night, making it perfect for the weather in Singapore. They also boast of their high-density memory foam that ensures great support for your back and spinal region, as well as minimizing motion transfer. Haylee mattresses also come with 100-night free trial and a 10-year warranty.

Seahorse mattress

Being around since 1987, Seahorse mattresses are very well-known around Singapore. With mattresses around $2000, they are popular for being a luxury brand but delivers in the longevity of their mattresses.

They have a wide array of mattress types that you can choose from, so you can easily pick which one would work for you, especially if you are on a tight budget. Their cheapest mattress is around $600, making them a good mattress choice—if you have more dollars to spare.

Where to shop for a mattress?

Now that we have identified the important factors that we should consider when buying a mattress, the next question is—where should you shop for one? Good thing nowadays we have two options to choose from when shopping for mattresses. Let’s find out which one would work best for you.

In store

You can do the conventional way of shopping or mattresses by going to mattress stores or home depots if you are the type of person who would want to actually see and feel the mattress before making a purchase. Majority of stores offer free delivery and even removal of your old mattress which is very convenient.

One downside of shopping for mattresses in store is when it comes to comparing prices. Most of the time, stores only carry a limited number of brands to choose from, which doesn’t really give you the diversity to pick from the different types. There is also the tendency in some stores to prefer one brand over the other even if another mattress brand is what’s better for you.

For those who are rushing in buying, this can be a huge downside since you can easily be talked into buying a mattress and stick with it. So if you prefer to purchase your mattress in store, make sure to take a few minutes to actually lie down and recline on the mattress and see if you will feel any pressure or discomfort.

Online Shops

The wonders of online shopping! This newer way of shopping for mattresses has becoming more preferred by many since they can actually choose from a wide array of mattresses without having to deal with salesmen who talk you into buying a specific mattress brand.

When purchasing online, these mattresses are delivered to your preferred address within a few days. Another benefit from online shopping is they often provide free shipping and money-back guarantee since you can directly purchase from the supplier. This is actually great for new homeowners who still don’t have an idea what to look for in a mattress since you can get to try it out first then have the option to return it.

Just one downside of online shopping is that you won’t be able to actually feel the mattress until it is delivered to you. This is why it is important to check reviews from other customers to learn from their feedback.

After reading all the necessary information in getting a mattress for your new home, then you are now ready to pick which one would work best for you. Have great nights ahead!

Read More...

If you live in the USA, UK, or Europe at the moment, then you have likely noticed that savings and investment interest rates have declined. Many are providing just 1% or less, sometimes as low as 0.1%. This means that your money is actually losing value.

Singapore on the other hand, is a thriving center of business. Many choose not only to run their companies in Singapore, but to actually relocate themselves. While you may not be ready to make such a change at this time, you can consider taking advantage of the stable currency and great returns on savings that Singapore has to offer.

At the time of writing, secured savings (backed by the government of Singapore) provide returns of 2-5%. This provides a steady return and almost no risk other than the exchange rates, if you anticipate the need to return funds urgently. However, so long as you plan long term, even the exchange rates can actually work in your favour, if you time the transfer well.

Those willing to take risks can gain even higher returns. Although the investment itself may return as less (you can lose money), there is the possibility to get returns in the 7-15% range or higher. The key with this approach is to ensure that you do your due diligence before investing, and never invest money you can’t risk.

Of course, if you are going to invest your money long-term in Singapore or anywhere else, you should also consider backup plans. It is not always easy to get quick access to the funds that you invest, and so you need to have some ‘flexible’ financial options.

Backup Plans for Tight Times

Here we look at how you can cover temporary costs or unexpected expenses while your money is tied up in investments.

• Savings – Hopefully you are saving 20% of your monthly income, so this is the first option.
• Overdraft – Apply early so that it is there when you need it.
• Bank Loan – Can be useful, but remember that you ideally don’t want to borrow long term.
• Credit Cards – Only use this is you are on a promotional period, otherwise the interest can cost far more than your investment returns.
• Title Loan – Good for a quick loan and even available without needing good credit. However, again, work out your expenses and repayments carefully.
• Peep-to-Peer Lending – You will normally need good credit, but can get reasonable loans. However, some providers have been shutdown and debt recovery processes activated. So, be sure to research the provider first.

Summary

Ideally you won’t need to use the backup options, but it is good to plan out how you will get through tight times before you take on an investment. In order to get the best returns, normally money will need to be tied up from 3-30 years. This means that you need to seriously consider both how much you can invest now, and how to get through ‘if’ finances or the economy bites harder.

Read More...