6 Tried & Tested Tips To Save Money On Shopee Singapore

E-commerce became a staple part of our lives due to the aftermath of the global pandemic. Personally, I only understood the Shopee craze in the recent months. Shopee is a Singaporean multinational technology company, which focuses on e-commerce.

For those who are not familiar with Shopee, it is an online marketplace that can be accessed through their website or their app. What separates it from the rest of the e-commerce websites is its interactive platform.

Save more money on your next Shopee shopping by following these tips.

#1: TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SHOPEEPAY

Sometimes, Shopee vouchers may require you to use its digital wallet called ShopeePay. ShopeePay often offers a higher percentage of cashback compared to non-ShopeePay vouchers.

If you are skeptical about using ShopeePay, you can simply transfer the exact amount you need for payment. ShopeePay lets you withdraw the leftover cash back into your bank account directly in case there are leftover funds.

#2: SHOP DURING EVENT SALES LIKE 8.8

For those who are not familiar with the event sales, online marketplaces have monthly sales on dates like 8.8 or 11.11. On top of the regular sales during occasions such as Christmas, you can enjoy discounted items with additional cashback in the form of exclusive Shopee vouchers.

Not to mention, Flash deals also occur during this period. It is up to you to make the best purchase for your family. The August sale is on 8.8, which is Shopee’s National Day sale.

#3: CHECK OUT THE SHOPEE MALL

If you want to invest on authentic products from your favorite brands such as Olay, adidas, or Samsung, you can go to the Shopee Mall. The Mall is a dedicated space that allows its users to request for a free return of product within its allowed period. It has a free shipping option too, which you can get if you meet the shop’s minimum spending requirements.

#4: DO NOT MISS THE FLASH DEALS

Look out for the Flash deals that happen throughout the day. These deals offer incredible discounts with products costing as low as S$0.50. As these are usually hourly sales, you can set reminders within the Shopee app.

Several stores (including big name brands) have constant deals too. Just click the dedicated deals section on the stores’ pages.

#5: APPLY VOUCHERS BEFORE CHECKING OUT

Vouchers replenish daily. Claim your vouchers to your heart’s content. Brands offer exclusive vouchers such as free delivery with a minimum amount of spending. You can follow these shops to get updated. Just remember to avail and apply the free delivery vouchers.

Best of all? Users are allowed to apply multiple vouchers upon check out. Enjoy more discounts when you apply the vouchers. You can claim as early as 12 AM.

#6: COMPARE THE TOTAL PRICES

As I was looking for an arts and crafts activity online, I was mesmerized with the colorful beads in the Diamond painting. Diamond painting is a new arts and crafts activity that fuses the dynamics of Paint By Numbers and Cross-stitch. It uses beads that correspond to numbers or symbols on the canvas. Since I am a beginner, I opt to search for affordable practice kits on Shopee. Two shops offer the cheapest prices. I decided to compare these two by clicking the “Add to Cart” button.

Image credits: pixabay.com

When you sort your results by price, the lower priced items will appear on top. Naturally, you will gravitate towards the cheapest ones. However, you must include the costs of shipping fee. The product price may be cheaper, but it could end up more expensive when you factor in the shipping fee. For instance, I can buy a cheaper Diamond painting kit in an overseas shop, but it will cost me more due to international shipping rates. Some merchants offer lower shipping fee or provide free shipping so, get the total cost of the purchase.

Sources: 1 & 2

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Here’s how single-income families can cope with financial anxieties

a woman facing financial anxiety

Every family out there is different, and we ought not to compare ourselves to others. But truth be told, single-income families can lead to a heightened amount of pressure on that sole breadwinner.

Carrie Casden, financial wellness coach and president of Summit Financial Management, said, “Quite often, feelings of fear and anxiety stem from… simply perceiving that we’re out of control of our circumstances, and these sentiments can be particularly prevalent when it comes to single-income families.”

Want to take better control of your mind and financials? Here’s how single-income families can cope with financial anxieties, according to the experts.

Reorder your priorities

Casden noted that families usually have quite a few financial goals they’re aiming for, and that’s okay. However, if there isn’t enough income to put a checkmark beside the various aims, one must learn how to make changes.

Reorder your priorities by keeping in view the items lowest on the list. You can always come back and reassess your financials every quarter of the year.

Be aware of your money views
Singapore money

Image Credits: internations.org

To review your financial anxieties, it’s essential that you’re aware of your views towards money. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

  • Are you cripplingly frugal or overzealous with spending?
  • Does a “spend too much” or “don’t make enough” mindset bother you?
  • Do you tend to avoid talking about money because they make you uneasy?

“There are different ways to reduce anxiety based on the actual issues at hand, which is why I work with clients to help them identify their specific money archetypes to understand the origin of their anxieties and behaviours around money,” said Casden.

Develop a spending plan and track your outputs

Ann James, an accredited financial counsellor and CEO of Financial Freedom Battle Buddies, recommends single-income families develop a spending plan. This will allow individuals to have a sense of control over their money and, in turn, reduce frustrations associated with the unknown.

When it comes to tracking outputs, some of us are experts with the excel sheet. But Dr Elizabeth Dunn, PhD, a happiness researcher, advises us to focus on how purchases make one feel.

“What purchases bring your family joy and which lead to feelings of regret or sadness? Maybe a long and expensive dinner out did not end up saving anyone time, and the regret over spending all of that money on one meal was not worth the spend. But your Hulu or Netflix subscription means the entire family can have a movie night together once a week, and that brings joy to the entire family,” she added.

If you’ve tried the above methods but can’t seem to get around the stress from worrying about money, ask for help.

“Seeking assistance from accredited financial counsellors, credit or housing counsellors, or financial therapists can help alleviate feelings of shame and ultimately reframe an individual’s thoughts and relationships with money,” advised James.

Do you know that the Singapore Counselling Centre offers Financial & Debt Counselling? Or you can also book a 1-to-1 Credit Counselling Session with Credit Counselling Singapore. Click through the links to find out more.

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6 Tried & Tested Tips To Save Money On Lazada Singapore

E-commerce became a staple part of our lives due to the aftermath of the global pandemic. Lazada has always been my go-to online marketplace because of its user-friendly interface and its variety of payment options. Lazada Group is a Singaporean multinational technology company, which centers on e-commerce.

Founded by Maximilian Bittner with the backing of Rocket Internet in 2012, Lazada Group is currently owned by the Alibaba Group after its acquisition in 2016.

Save more money on your next Lazada shopping by following these tips.

#1: SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

Are you new to Lazada? Subscribe to its newsletter to receive instant discount on the site. As a new subscriber, you will be welcomed with a coupon for your first purchase. You can also get access to the latest promotions and receive news of the trendiest products in the site.

#2: SHOP DURING EVENT SALES LIKE 8.8

For those who are not familiar with the event sales, online marketplaces have monthly sales on dates like 8.8 or 11.11. On top of the regular sales during occasions such as Christmas, you can enjoy discounted items during this time.

Not to mention, Flash deals also occur during this period. It is up to you to make the best purchase for your family. The August sale is on 8.8 (August 8 to 10), which is Lazada’s National Day sale.

#3: CHECK OUT THE LAZMALL

If you want to invest on authentic products from your favorite brands such as Philips, Casio, or Lysol, you can go to the LazMall. The Mall is a dedicated space that allows its users to request for a free return of product within its allowed period. You are expected to get 100% authentic products, or you can get your money back. Get two times money back if you get a non-authentic product from the LazMall (T&Cs apply).

#4: DO NOT MISS THE FLASH DEALS

Look out for the Flash deals that happen throughout the day. These deals offer incredible discounts with products costing as low as S$0.50. As these are timed sales, you can set reminders.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Several stores have constant deals too. Just click on the brands that you love.

#5: APPLY VOUCHERS BEFORE CHECKING OUT

Vouchers replenish daily. Claim your vouchers to your heart’s content. Brands offer exclusive vouchers such as free delivery with a minimum amount of spending. You can follow these shops to get updated. Just remember to avail and apply the free delivery vouchers.

Best of all? Lazada partners with different merchants and credit card issuers such as Citibank. You can spend S$250 to get S$250 back in the form of Lazada and RedMart vouchers when you apply for the Citi Lazada Credit Card (T&Cs apply).

#6: SHOP AROUND

It is important to do your research before purchasing anything from Lazada. Read up on the product you intend to buy to prevent buyer’s remorse. This is especially vital when you are making huge purchases such as home appliances or gadgets.

Please read the product description thoroughly and access the warranty and the customer reviews.

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What to eat when you’re dehydrated

Gazpacho

Live in Singapore long enough, and you will quickly agree on how easy it is to get dehydrated.

While our sunny island is expecting thundery showers in the first two weeks of August, the news reported that ​​residents could expect a few warm days with daily highs of around 34 degrees celsius. Well, not all that surprising.

Do you know that dehydration often occurs before you feel thirsty? In addition, if you often feel dizzy, fatigued, or have a dry mouth, it could be crying signals from your body begging for water. However, water is not the only solution.

Here’s what to eat when you’re dehydrated.

Gazpacho
summer gazpacho

Image Credits: bonappetit.com

Have you ever heard of gazpacho? A typical summer soup mainly in Spain and Portugal, it’s made with a combination of raw tomatoes and vegetables.

No cooking is involved in the process of making gazpacho. You can quickly prepare the refreshing dish by blending raw tomatoes with cucumbers. Add a little olive oil, garlic, onion, bell pepper, and a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. Click here if you need a step-by-step guide on making gazpacho.

Tzatziki
Tzatziki

Image Credits: inspiredtaste.net

Trust us; we’re not here to make your life difficult with uncommon foods in Singapore. We’re just offering some alternatives that are not so ordinary. After all, there’s no harm in trying something new!

Tzatziki is basically a fancy name for ​​a Greek dip made with yoghurt and cucumber. Do you know that the two ingredients are packed with a high water content of up to 85%? You can make it even tastier by adding olive oil, fresh herbs, garlic, lemon juice, and salt. Here’s a recipe on how to prepare Tzatziki.

Soups and bone broths
bone broth

Image Credits: seattletimes.com

Soups, especially bone broths, are usually not just high in water content but collagen too. This is a chance for you not just to counter dehydration but to keep up with tissue repair and healthy joints due to overexertion from your daily activities.

While it’s easy to dabao a container of soup from the kopitiam, we can’t guarantee the low sodium content and potential MSG added. If you have the time, make your own! Simply add water to your preferred ingredients and boil over low heat for more than 8 hours to increase its calcium and magnesium content.

Watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe
Watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe

Image Credits: Pinterest

For folks who find preparing foods a hassle with your hectic lifestyle, do load up on fruits like watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe.

To assure you with some statistics, a 152-gram cup serving of raw, diced watermelon contains about 92% of water. Following closely behind are honeydew and cantaloupe with about 90% water content in a given serving. Those prone to stomach discomfort can consider freezing melons in bite sizes and sucking on them slowly like sweets.

As we come to a close, it’s good to introduce “water breaks” into your work routines too. For those who tend to forget about time when they start working, schedule phone reminders and aim to drink about 250ml every hour during office hours. Make sure your water bottle is placed on a visible space on your desk so you can be reminded to reach out for it easily.

Drink as often as you can!

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Temasek Foundation Gets Ready For The Distribution Of Free Surgical & N95 Masks

Key Highlights

  • Temasek Foundation will soon provide free surgical and N95 masks to households in Singapore.
  • The Foundation is conducting trials before making it widely available.
  • Households will be able to claim the masks by presenting SP Group bills at various malls and supermarkets.

As new variants and cases emerge, Temasek Foundation is set to distribute free surgical and N95 masks by the end of August. Surgical masks and N95 respirators are examples of personal protective equipment that are used to shield the wearer from airborne particles and other liquid contaminating the face.

The Foundation recently clarified that there were no distribution exercises last August 4, despite the emergence of the banner advertising online. Temasek’s Chief Executive Ho Ching said in a Facebook post that the Foundation is working with CapitaLand malls and participating supermarkets to conduct trial exercises where masks will be distributed when people show their SP Group bills.

In these trial exercises, each household will be entitled to twenty-five pieces of N95 masks and fifty pieces of medical-grade surgical masks.

The mass distribution was intended to start after National Day, but it has since been postponed to the end of August. The distribution exercises could be pushed back to September, should there be any outstanding back-end issues that need to be resolved.

Nonetheless, household representatives are encouraged to reduce plastic waste by bringing their own bags to carry the boxes of masks when the collection begins.

CURBING THE SPREAD OF DELTA

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the world, public health officials are watching certain coronavirus variants and mutations that can be more contagious or fatal than the original strain. The Delta variant, also known as B.1.617.2, has been found to spread more easily.

As most of us know, the Delta variant is twice as contagious as the other variants that caused COVID-19 last year. This variant entails Singapore residents to wear more effective masks to help bring down the infection numbers.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Noting that each case has an infectivity rate of between five and six people, Ms. Ho Ching said that “80% of the population needs to wear 80% effective masks or better” to curb the spread of the virus. She added that N95 masks can be worn for high-risks jobs such as looking after COVID-19 patients.  The N95 respirator is a respiratory protective device designed to achieve a very close facial fit and an efficient filtration of airborne particles. The edges of this device are designed to form a seal around the mouth and the nose.

“With the medical grade surgical and N95 masks with effectiveness of 95% or better, we have an additional option for better protection.”

Furthermore, pharmacies will no longer be involved in the mask distribution exercises as these establishments do not have enough space to cater for it.

Sources: 1 & 2

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