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Singapore Parents Spend More Money on Children’s Needs than Retirement

Starting a family requires careful planning. With a clear idea of what it entails and the schemes available to help ease new parents’ financial load, you will be able to embrace one of life’s greatest blessings.

As you allocate your budget, you must consider both your childcare expenses and your retirement fund. Prioritizing these two is easier said than done. A 2021 study by AIA Singapore revealed that young families in Singapore have deprioritized planning for their retirement to give way for the monthly expenses on their children.

The participants of the study (i.e., parents) were found to be spending 2.5 times more money on their children’s monthly expenses, rather than taking charge of their own retirement planning. These Singapore parents spend almost 20% of their income on their children’s needs and allocate less than 7% on their retirement fund. Furthermore, 70% shared that they intend to either increase or maintain the amount of income allocated to their children’s expenses. The increase of allocation to the children’s expenses is affected by the higher childcare costs amidst the pandemic.

Apart from this, the pandemic also affected their savings. One in three Singaporeans’ savings was negatively impacted in 2020, with a median amount of between S$251 to S$500 set aside monthly for retirement. It is challenging to find a balance between all the primary categories of your budget, but you must not overlook the importance of retirement planning.

“Retirement planning is an essential part of securing our longer-term financial security, not just for parents, but for the entire family, so everyone can look forward to a brighter future with peace of mind,” said Melita Teo. Melita Teo is AIA Singapore’s Chief Customer and Digital Officer.

As parents, you want to support your children by giving them the best opportunities to secure their future. Hence, you must consider creating a retirement plan to help navigate your seamless transition to the golden years. With this retirement plan, you will not need to fully rely on your children.

Start by reviewing your financial situation and financial plans. Establish a fresh budget for your household that will accommodate both your childcare costs and your retirement fund.

Talk to professionals, your trusted friends, and family members to have an idea of what it costs to pay for your child’s needs and your personal retirement needs.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Research on various government schemes such as Enhanced Baby Bonus, Enhanced MediSave Grant for Newborns, and other subsidies for center-based infant and childcare. Newborns who are registered as Singapore Citizens at birth are automatically insured under MediShield Life. These schemes and benefits can help free up some of your expenses to boost not only your childcare budget, but also your retirement fund.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

What is a prenuptial agreement and what should you include in it?

A prenuptial agreement, or prenup for short, is a legal document that couples in a relationship sign before getting married.

While prenuptial agreements are not required in most states, they can be extremely helpful in protecting both parties involved in a divorce.

In this post, we will delve deeper into what a prenup is, what you should include in it, and why it’s important.

What is a prenup?

A prenup is a contract between two people who are about to get married. In essence, it’s a way to protect each person’s assets in the event of a divorce.

Prenups can be incredibly helpful for couples who have a lot of money or property, as they can help to ensure that these things are fairly divided in the event of a split. However, they can also be useful for couples who are not as well-off. This is because a prenup can outline each person’s responsibilities during the marriage, such as who will be accountable for paying debts or issues related to property ownership.

If you’re preparing to get married, it’s important to think through whether or not a prenuptial agreement might be right for you. If you have any burning questions pertaining to your unique case, please don’t hesitate to contact an attorney.

What are the benefits of a prenup?

There are a few key benefits of a prenuptial agreement:

Avoid costly and time-consuming disputes during a divorce.
Help to protect your assets in the event of a split. This is especially significant if one or both of you have substantial assets that you would like to safeguard.
Ensure that both parties are aware of each other’s financial situation going into the marriage. This can help to avoid any nasty surprises months into tying the knot.

What should you include in a prenup?

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You and your partner should sit down and decide what you want to include in your prenuptial agreement. This document can be very detailed, or it can be more general. Some things you may want to consider before walking into a family lawyer’s office include:

How assets will be divided upon death
How property will be divided after a divorce
How custody of any children will be handled
Who will be liable for debts incurred during the marriage
What will happen to alimony payments in the event of a divorce

Are there any consequences of not having a prenup?

If you’re questioning whether or not you should have a prenuptial agreement, the answer is probably yes. Prenuptial agreements can seem daunting, but they’re an influential way to protect yourself and your future spouse in the event of a divorce.

There are a few things to keep in mind when creating a prenuptial agreement. First, both parties need to agree on what will be included in the agreement. It’s also important to make sure that both parties have a clear understanding of the consequences of not having a prenuptial agreement.

If you decide not to sign a prenuptial agreement, you could be opening yourself up to several risks. For example, you may be required to divide assets evenly in the event of a divorce, even if you don’t think that’s fair. You may also be responsible for your spouse’s debts in the event of a breakup.

As we come to a close, a prenup or prenuptial agreement is a contract entered into by couples before they get married. This document outlines what will happen to the couple’s assets in the event of a divorce. There are a few things you should include in your prenuptial agreement. For instance, you should list which assets will be considered separate property and which will be considered marital property. You should also decide how alimony and child support payments will be handled. If you’re considering getting married, it’s critical to discuss prenuptial agreements with your partner. This can help avoid any misunderstandings or disagreements in the future.

Reasons signaling you should not start a business

Are you considering launching your brand?

You’ve decided to create a business to be your boss because you no longer like your work as an employee. But do you understand what’s at risk? A sad reality is that not everyone has the innate ability to be an entrepreneur.

Before you take the plunge, there are a few things you should know. Here are some reasons signaling you should not start a business.

Unwilling to sacrifice

You’re not prepared to make sacrifices. You have the incorrect mindset that if you start your own business, you will be able to work from home in your PJs and take long vacations whenever you want.

But the truth is that starting a business takes a lot of time and effort. If you’re not willing to put in the hours and make the necessary sacrifices, then it’s probably not the right time for you to be an entrepreneur.

Not persistent enough

Image Credits: unsplash.com

You might be convinced that you have a great business idea, but starting a business is not as easy as it seems. There are a lot of things to take into account, from the initial planning stages to the day-to-day tasks of running the business.

One of the biggest mistakes people make when starting a business is not being persistent enough. They give up too easily when things get tough, or when they don’t see results straight away. But success doesn’t happen overnight—it takes hard work and dedication. So if you’re not prepared to persist, then starting a business is not for you.

Unprepared to slog it out

You might think that you’re ready to craft a brand for yourself, but there are a few things you need to take into account before you take the plunge. For one, starting a business is not all glamor and glory, and you will need to be prepared to slog it out day in, and day out if you want to make your business a success.

You will also need to be able to handle rejection, setbacks, and tough times with grace and resilience if you want to make it through. Do you have what it takes to start a business? It may seem that you do at the early stages when you’re all pumped for success, but it will become quite apparent soon enough if your motivation is short-lived.

To cut the long story short, you should not start a business if you’re not ready for hard work. There are no guarantees in the business world, and you could lose a lot of money. Furthermore, if you are not crazily passionate about it, you probably won’t be able to succeed. Only if you’re mentally ready to put in the time and effort and do whatever it takes to be successful, then maybe you should consider leaping into entrepreneurship.

World Happiness Report 2022: Top 10 happiest places

The World Happiness Report has been running for ten years now.

To create the Happiness World Report, 1,000 people from each nation are usually surveyed. On a range of zero to 10, with zero being the worst imaginable existence, participants are asked to assess and score their current lives. Six variables—corruption, generosity, independence, GDP per capita, social assistance, and healthy life expectancy—are used to justify the rankings.

And if you’re curious about our little red dot’s position on the list, we’ve come in at number 27, just behind Taiwan. Given that Singapore was listed as the 32nd happiest nation in the world in the same survey from 2021, that’s quite a shift. But going beyond our borders, don’t you want to know where the top 10 happiest locations are so you can plan a trip soon?

Let’s roll with the rankings!

#10: New Zealand

Image Credits: wellingtonnz.com

You may find anything in New Zealand, from a diverse culture to an untamable wilderness. Head to the sandy shores coiled around secluded bays, which are surrounded by fjords shrouded in mist, or make some new acquaintances in the little charming towns.

#9: Israel

Israel has an astounding variety of landscapes, from the wave-lashed beaches of Tel Aviv to the mirror-like vastness of the saline Dead Sea. Spend a few days enjoying all that the city has to offer before venturing out into the sun-baked wilderness to fill your social media feed.

#8: Norway

More than a thousand fjords may be found in Norway. Take out your wool sweater, and get set for a once-in-a-lifetime journey. If you decide to visit Norway, you will discover that it’s very different from everywhere else you’ve gone. Your memories of its stunning beauty will last for years.

#7: Sweden

The attractions in Sweden are countless. Visitors will find untouched nature, top-notch museums, and stunning cities and villages here. Whether you’re looking for urban sights, outdoor recreation, or a blend of the two, you will find it in Scandinavia’s biggest country.

#6: Luxembourg

One of the smaller nations in all of Europe is Luxembourg. Despite its advantageous location between France, Belgium, and Germany, it occasionally receives less attention than its larger neighbors. It’s a remarkable city, though, and since it’s very accessible, it’s easy to tick off your bucket list of places to visit.

#5: Netherlands

Image Credits: musement.com

The Netherlands is well-known for being a country of canals, tulips, and windmills, and today’s tourists will probably discover these among its many tourist sites. But the nation also has a wealth of beautiful parks and towns, as well as bustling cities like Amsterdam that are home to several museums showing the longstanding works of artists.

#4: Switzerland

Have you been daydreaming of the Swiss Alps, green meadows, and delicious cheese? There are many amazing things to do in Switzerland, which provides the ideal blend of heritage, natural splendor, and entertainment, from skiing and river rafting to picturesque train journeys and distinctive festivities that will keep you occupied all day long!

#3: Iceland

Iceland is a nation that appears to always be covered in snow and ice, but it is also one of the most volcanically active places in the world, with a large number of volcanoes that are waiting to explode. You may spot sparkling glaciers, subterranean caverns, and attractive national parks with roaming reindeer in addition to volcanoes and geothermal lakes.

#2: Denmark

Denmark is a little Scandinavian nation with breathtaking landscapes where visitors may take in the surrounding grandeur. It is endowed with an exquisite combination of innovative architecture, magnificent landscapes, medieval structures, and large and distinctive castles that rapidly enchant visitors.

#1: Finland

Image Credits: visitfinland.com

Three things make Finland famous across the world: the Northern Lights, snow-covered igloos, and its reputation as the world’s happiest nation. Not only that, but as per data from the World Health Organization, Finland has the finest quality of air worldwide. Take a stroll near a lake, through a forest, or just relax on a flat rock by the ocean, and have a wonderful quiet time all to yourself.

Asian markets soar as China shortens the COVID-19 quarantine period for international visitors

In a significant relaxation of one of the tightest COVID-19 limitations, China has cut the length of the quarantine period for incoming tourists by half.

The period of quarantine in centralized facilities has been shortened from 14 to seven days, and the subsequent period of at-home health monitoring has been shortened from seven to three days.

The most recent health authority recommendations also relaxed quarantine rules for persons who are near those who have tested positive for COVID-19. In addition, the three-week quarantine period that had been in effect throughout the epidemic, according to the authorities, has been reduced to ten days.

Tourism updates

This month, the Chinese aviation authority said that it has been in contact with a few nations to gradually raise the number of flights in the second half of 2022.

The Disneyland theme park, which had been closed for more than three months, would reopen on 30 June at the Shanghai Disney Resort. Experts in the industry predict that this year’s summer travel season will be buzzier than previous year’s due to the increased confidence being generated by the circumstances aimed at reducing the risk of outbreaks.

woman and daughter poses at Shanghai Disneyland

Image Credits: latimes.com

An uptick in Asian markets

On 28 June, most Asian markets recovered some of their earlier losses, and oil maintained its current uptrend after China shortened the visitor quarantine period, stoking hopes for a lifeline to the faltering economy.

The Hang Seng Index reversed losses and increased by around 0.4 percent, and the CSI300 Index increased by about 0.7 percent, leading to gains in the stock markets in China and Hong Kong. Seoul, Tokyo, and Shanghai turned up after spending the morning of 28 June in red, and there were also increases in Manila and Bangkok.

Inflation and interest rates will probably take a good turn

Some observers continue to be somewhat cheerful as the second half of the year draws near, even though the inflation and interest rate situation is still a concern, made worse by the conflict in Ukraine.

Although the first half of 2022 is the worst since 1970, a market expert pointed out that history shows that when the first half of the year is down at least 15 percent, the second half of the year is usually always up, with an average yield of 24 percent.

Another person said that dealers had already taken into account a considerable portion of the anticipated economic deterioration. It is possible for inflation concerns to be reduced gradually and for a “U-shaped” recovery to be driven by a slowdown rather than a recession.

And if there’s a tip for investors, that would be for individuals to concentrate on low-cost, defensive investments while addressing any risks in the midst of it all.