Budget-friendly Gifts For Your Beloved Girlfriend, Under S$50

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Gift-giving is not always easy! If your partner is interested in gadgets, there are hundreds of options from kitchen gadgets to the latest iPhone 13. Apart from the wide variety of options, your gift will depend on the occasion. Fortunately for you, here is a list of gift ideas that you can present on any occasion. Most of these items are available online too!

#1: STARTER KIT FROM FENTY SKIN

Launched in 2020 by superstar Rihanna, Fenty Skin was created to fill in the gaps that exist across all skin types and tones. Fenty Skin is a cult favorite brand along with its predecessor Fenty Beauty. Give your special someone the gift of beauty by purchasing the Total Cleans’R Remove-It-All Cleanser. This is a 2-in-1 makeup remover and cleanser that gives you the luxurious deep clean you deserve. Its creamy lather removes dirt, oil, pollution, and long wear makeup without harming your skin. It costs S$21 at Sephora.

#2: HOMEMADE CHOCOLATES

The artisan chocolates that you can buy at specialty shops are a complete waste of money when you can make a box of chocolates by yourself. Even beginners can still make homemade chocolates as a gift.

Start by laying classic-shaped or square crunchy mini pretzels on a baking sheet. Then, place one bar of chocolate on top of each pretzel. Pop these in a pre-heated oven for about five minutes or until the chocolates begin to soften. Take these out of the oven and allow them to set. Do not worry about the price tags as the ingredients can cost you less than S$6 at your nearest supermarket.

#3: SURPRISE CAR CELEBRATION

Birthdays, anniversaries, or Valentine’s Day can be celebrated in your own home. Set up the surprise before your partner goes to work. Use the back of your car as your creative space and put banners, streamers, and balloons inside. These decorations cost less than S$10 at Shopee or Lazada.

#4: ENCHANTING DIFFUSER SET

Help your lover find her inner peace with different essential oils or diffuser sets. Gifting a diffuser will allow her to create an at-home spa vibe.

If you are looking for a classic calming aroma that can fill your space with relaxing notes, then you can get the HOOGA Reed Diffuser. It is non-electronic and extremely easy to use. The capacity is 200 ml. Price starts at S$19.90 at Lazada.

#5: BEAUTIFUL TRIO OF SUCCULENTS

Aspiring plant moms will be delighted with a trio of succulents. Marked by experts as the best type of plants for beginners, your girlfriend can enjoy fresh houseplants delivered straight to her doorstep.

The World Farm or Hua Hng Trading is one of the largest garden centers in Singapore. Prices here are usually cheaper than most nurseries and they readily stock the bestsellers such as succulents (from S$3), herbs (from S$5), and flowering plants (from S$9).

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Whether you are celebrating an anniversary or a birthday, the expectations can be high while your funds are low. If your bank account balance limits what you can spend on, consider the items on this list. Have a romantic day without spending too much!

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Co-parenting tips for couples going through a divorce

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a cat looking at its owners

Unless you have dealt with pressing concerns like violence or addiction problems, co-parenting, where both parents participate actively in their children’s lives is the best way to ensure that all of your kid’s needs are being met while also allowing them to maintain intimate ties with both parental figures.

The overall well-being of kids, as well as the prevalence of anxiety and panic attacks, are all influenced by the quality of co-parenting relationships. Without a doubt, laying relationship difficulties aside and agreeing to co-parent is often tricky, more specifically after a traumatic divorce when you’re busy picking up the pieces.

That is why we could all use some co-parenting tips for couples going through a divorce.

Give an explanation

It’s critical to explain what’s going on to your kids. Some couples are so distraught about their separation that they refuse to discuss it with their children. But it’s crucial to note that humans are naturally filled with curiosity, no matter their age, and want factual information to help them understand things.

Aim for disciplinary consistency

The rules set don’t have to be identical in both families, but if you and your ex-spouse create generally similar boundaries, your children won’t have to switch between two vastly distinct disciplinary contexts. This makes it less confusing for them as they potentially rotate between two households.

Put your negative emotions aside

When it comes to co-parenting, your negative feelings must take a second seat to your child’s welfare. Forgoing intense sentiments is undoubtedly the most challenging element of learning to work effectively with your ex, but it’s also the most important.

It’s normal to be wounded during the process, but you don’t have to let your emotions control your actions. Rather, let your actions be guided by what is best for your children. If you’re upset or spiteful, consider why you need to behave with intent for it’s in the best interest of your child. Whenever you need to get nasty thoughts off your mind, maybe a session with a counselor can help.

Never put your children in a tough spot
a sad child

Image Credits: unsplash.com

You may never be able to overcome your sentiments of animosity about your split, but you can isolate them and convince yourself that these are your problems, not your child’s. When you use your kids to communicate with your ex, they become stuck in the middle of your argument.

Aim to contact your ex personally if you want to keep your kids out of your marital conflict. It’s also a good idea to avoid saying anything unpleasant about your ex-spouse to your children or making them feel obligated to make a decision. Your kid has the right to have a bond with their other parent that is not heavily influenced by you.

The cornerstone for co-parenting should be simple etiquette. Allowing your ex to know about school activities, being accommodating with your scheduling when feasible, and considering their viewpoint thoroughly are all examples of being courteous. If you have a significant disagreement, you must continue to communicate. But keep in mind not to address your disagreements in front of your child. If you still can’t arrive at a consensus, you might need to see a third party, such as a mediator.

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Don’t accept the job offer if you face these circumstances

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job interview

Accepting an unsuitable job offer is a common blunder made by many job seekers. A large portion of this is attributable to the joy of receiving a contract in the first place. Finding out you’ve chosen the wrong job can be a self-searching or blaming experience later.

However, if you’ve been listening closely or questioning yourself in the right direction, you will notice warning signs along the way that point to a rotten egg. Here are some telltale indications that the job is a flop to help you avoid making a career-altering misstep.

High turnover rate

You don’t want to work for a corporation for less than a year, do you? While this is unfortunate, certain office environments are indeed unhealthy. Consider inquiring as to what happened to the former occupant of the same post. Start examining alternatives if your interviewer begins slamming past employees or mentions anything that suggests the organization has a high turnover rate.

Dodgy on inquiries

If an interviewer brushes off your questions, he or she may have something to conceal. Because an interview is a brief glimpse into what your life may be like at the organization, you should bring up both the exciting and challenging aspects of the job. Consider it a method of determining how open people at the company are. If the interviewer avoids answering any questions, it’s a warning indication that they’re intentionally concealing the facts.

Forced to compromise

Ask yourself ahead of time what attributes you want in a position, and then see if the proposed post meets all of your requirements. Don’t make a rash decision if you find yourself sacrificing on your must-haves and then justifying those sacrifices. You shouldn’t have to push yourself to fit the work in most case scenarios since it should be the other way round.

Unclear job requirements
a man drawing on a board

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The job description said that it was a marketing role when you applied. However, when you go for the job interview, you discover that it is a mixture of everything from PR to business development. Well, many current roles do combine several responsibilities into a single position.

However, gently decline the offer if your potential boss characterizes the work obligations so generically that it seems like three positions in one, and you believe they’re imprecise on essential specifics about the scope of the position.

Even if you need a position desperately, there are instances when you just have to decline and forgo those follow-up interview tests. Sometimes it’s a negative feeling, a shady interviewer, or something strange about the job requirements that give you the goosebumps. Though we can’t advise you not to accept a job because every occurrence is different, think about the above circumstances you could come across throughout your job hunt and make an informed choice before signing on the line.

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What You Need to Know about Freezing Eggs in Singapore

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Regardless of their marital status, women in Singapore will soon be allowed to freeze their eggs for non-medical purposes. Egg freezing is a method used to save a woman’s ability to get pregnant in the future. Eggs harvested from the ovaries are frozen and stored for later use.

The introduction of the Assisted Reproduction Services Regulations under the Healthcare Services Act will allow women (i.e., aged 21 to 35) to undergo elective egg freezing by 2023.

Only legally married couples can use their frozen eggs to complete the process of in-vitro fertilization (IVF). This is in line with the existing IVF rules. IVF occurs when the egg is fertilized by the sperm in a lab for implantation in the uterus.

The Minister of State for Social and Family Development, Ms. Sun Xueling highlighted:
We recognise that there may be women who are not able to find a suitable partner when they are younger, but they still wish to be able to preserve the likelihood of conceiving when they marry later.”

Sufficient safeguards will be put in place to ensure that women are making well-informed decisions when undergoing egg freezing and IVF. For instance, women will be counselled before they freeze their eggs to educate them about the invasive nature of the procedure and its limitations such as the risk of having babies at an older age.

Apart from this information, the frequent questions regarding egg freezing will be answered. These questions include the following:

1. How long can the eggs be stored?

There is no limit on how long eggs can be frozen for medical reasons in Singapore. As freezing helps preserve the eggs, these will be as young and healthy as they were during the time of freezing.

2. When is the best time to freeze your eggs?

It is recommended to freeze your eggs before the age of 35 because fertility starts to decline as you hit your late 30s. The decline affects both the quantity and quality of the eggs.

3. Where are the eggs stored?

Frozen eggs are kept in tanks filled with liquid nitrogen. These tanks, called dewars, are stored in assisted reproduction centres.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

4. Is the egg freezing process safe?

Existing literature has not shown an increased risk of babies having birth defects because of egg freezing.

5. How much will it cost to freeze your eggs in Singapore for medical purposes?

The estimated cost of one cycle of egg freezing is about S$10,000.

6. What are the chances of having a baby after IVF?

Medical research found that the chance of a frozen egg leading to a baby being born is about 2% to 12%, according to Ms. Sun.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

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How to Deal with a Micromanaging Boss

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Imagine watching a puppeteer manipulating an inanimate object for a show, except that show represents your professional life and the puppeteer is your boss. Isn’t it upsetting?

Having a micromanager as a boss can be a source of stress and frustration as it impacts your day-to-day life.

A micromanager tries to control every aspect of the work, no matter how small the detail can be. Employees can feel distrusted, dissatisfied, and disrespected. Prolonged control over all the aspects of an employee’s work may negatively affect his or her wellbeing and productivity. Quitting can be seen as a viable option if the employee can no longer deal with the situation.

However, it does not have to be this way!

#1: IDENTIFY THE TRIGGERS

Trying to understand the triggers for your boss’ micromanagement can help you be better equipped to deal with the situation. Start by identifying the reasons why he or she micromanages.

Often, micromanagers do not realize what they are doing. Perhaps, your boss micromanages because he is under a lot of stress, or he has a terrible experience with the previous employee.

Experts say that micromanaging can also be rooted from a personality trait. Individuals with strong organizational tendencies find it difficult to delegate tasks to others. These people find it hard to trust someone else to do the job as well as them, or to complete a task within their expected timeframe.

#2: ASK WHERE YOU CAN IMPROVE

Being polite and direct will serve you best. Ask your boss about the areas that you can improve on to address the company’s needs.

You can also be open about how your boss’ management behavior makes you feel by providing specific examples.

After sharing your thoughts on your intention to improve the collaboration and support, advise your boss that you are most productive when you are given the autonomy to meet those needs. You can also set weekly check-ins to alleviate the hovering.

#3: PROVIDE UPDATES REGULARLY

Micromanagers want to be in control. They want to check-in on your work to make sure that things are going smoothly to the schedule. Since micromanagers cannot do everything by themselves, they do their hardest to stay as involved as possible.

Try being proactive when sending regular updates before your boss has a chance to ask for these from you. List the things you want to accomplish within the day and email it to your boss. Regularly sending updates can serve multiple purposes.

Firstly, your boss knows exactly where your current workload stands. Questioning can be minimized. Secondly, your boss will realize how detail-oriented you are and that you can manage your own responsibilities without intervention. Lastly, it can help your boss address immediate concerns at one glance, which can reduce frequent check-ins.

#4: BUILD CONNECTION AND TRUST

Do you agree that trust is the key to any healthy relationship? Be it personal or professional, trust can build a solid foundation for you and your micromanaging boss.

When your boss does not trust your decisions and abilities, he or she will always monitor you. Developing synergy and building trust by creating time to connect and sharing what you are currently doing can help your situation. This allows your boss to create a space for growth.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Shifting your micromanaging boss’ leadership style is not easy, and change is not immediate. As an employee, you can show your boss that you are trustworthy and responsible to inspire that change over time.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

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