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4 new property launches in Singapore to eyeball

Thanks to the pandemic, Singapore’s property market has been on a rollercoaster ride. With changing restrictions in place, this affected showflat and property viewings. As such, there was also a slowdown in new launch activity.

But as our tiny red dot takes small steps to reopen the economy, the property market is also expected to prosper in the months to come. For folks eyeing a new house, here are four new property launches to look out for!

#1: Klimt Cairnhill

Situated at district 9, Klimt Cairnhill will be sited at the former Cairnhill Mansions along Cairnhill Road. You will find the freehold property between Orchard and Newton, and an 8-minute walk to Far East Plaza. This also means that you’re just a short driving distance to other major shopping malls in Orchard.

Its developer is Glopeak Development, a subsidiary of Low Keng Huat, which has completed projects like South Bank, One-North Residences, and Paya Lebar Square. As a potential homeowner of Klimt Cairnhill, you can expect a 36-storey residential tower with over 130 units. There is also a single-storey bungalow clubhouse.

#2: Les Maisons Nassim

Les Maisons Nassim is also another property to consider if you’re planning to stay in the heart of Tanglin and Orchard in district 10. Similar to Klimt Cairnhill, it also has a freehold tenure. It’s sited at 14 Nassim Road and an 11-minute walk to Tanglin Mall. Singapore Botanic Gardens is just a mere 15-minute walk away.

The luxury condominium is developed by Shun Tak Holdings, with a portfolio of buildings like Park Nova and 111 Somerset Road. In fact, the developer also has an extensive record in construction projects in Macau, Hong Kong, and Mainland China. There will only be 2 penthouses and 14 meticulously crafted residences amid lush greenery.

#3: Perfect Ten

What an apt name for a building! Perfect Ten has a freehold tenure and will be located at 317 Bukit Timah Road, formerly home to City Towers. You can find it right at district 10, an alternative to consider other than Les Maisons Nassim. It’s just a 5-minute drive to United Square Shopping Mall.

Developed by Japura Development, you can look forward to 24-storey twin towers with over 200 units. There will be 1- to 4-bedroom options for you to choose from. Just so you know, Japura Development is affiliated with Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-Shing’s CK Asset Holdings. CK Asset Holdings has completed iconic buildings, including One Raffles Quay and Marina Bay Financial Centre.

#4: LIV @ MB

Last but not least, we have LIV @ MB. The 99 years tenure property is a redevelopment of the former Katong Park Towers along Arthur Road. Want to stay at district 15? LIV @ MB could be the project to keep your eyes on. You will just be a 3-minute drive to East Coast Park and a 7-minute drive to Katong V.

Bukit Sembawang Estates will be in charge of its development. If it sounds familiar, that’s because they are also the hands behind The Atelier along Makeway Avenue. Bukit Sembawang Estates has a portfolio of buildings like 8 St Thomas and The Vermont on Cairnhill, so you can expect standard facilities like a jacuzzi, yoga deck, sky garden, swimming pool, barbecue pavilion, and more to be built.

What to do on a financial detox

When you think of the word “detox”, what comes to your mind? For us, it’s something related to food. Similarly, shift this “food detox” idea to the financial realm, and you will somehow get it.

Financial detox is essentially a process where you take time to cleanse your finances and give your money habits a thorough review. If you want to know what to do on a financial detox, keep reading.

#1: Talk about money

Money is a sensitive topic; we get it. But there is no running away from it during a financial detox.

Before you find a friend, family member, or financial advisor, you will want to sit yourself down and take a good look at your financial goals. Then, see what aspects of your habits or personality are hindering you from reaching that aim. Once your outline is ready, speak with that trusted person and thrash it out.

#2: Settle your debts

You may not be able to settle your debts immediately but if that is part of your financial goal (which it should be), start thinking of ways to get there.

A wise way to start is to set a budget. You will want to refer to your salary, spending, and bad habits when setting a budget. While sticking to a strict budget is essential when clearing debts, be mindful that bad habits take time to change. Give yourself some (cash) space to breathe if necessary.

#3: Tackle bad habits

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Speaking of bad habits, you will want to tackle them before they start creeping back into your daily routine. Use these questions to help yourself understand the money mindset you hold:

What is your money stance?
Do you tend to spend when you’re sad or happy?
How do you feel about saving, borrowing, and spending?
Have you succumbed to the YOLO concept and spend impulsively without giving much thought to your budget?

The answers to the above questions will guide you in working out some methods to deal with bad money decisions.

For example, peeps who find themselves spending hastily should consider a “cool-off period”. Instead of making a purchase immediately, give yourself a day or two to think it through. If you can live without having that latest juice mixer in your possession, then don’t buy it.

#4: Take on a financial challenge

A financial challenge should help you to start saving. We have previously written an article on money-saving challenges, and these are some of the ideas you might be interested in:

Borrow, don’t buy
Exercise the 1% trial
Give yourself 52 weeks
Set aside your spare change
Introduce a “no extra spend” week

The above concepts may look weird without proper context so hop over to read more here. Ultimately, you know yourself best, so tweak those challenges mentioned above so you can stick to the plan till the end.

#5: Expand your wealth

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There will come a time where you will need to face retirement. Before that phase arrives, start venturing into expanding your wealth.

While savings are good, they will get depleted one day. Not sure if you want to get your hands into investing since the markets are volatile? What if we tell you there are options to start investing from $100? Whether it’s unit trusts, robo-investments, or exchange traded funds (ETFs), click through the link to find out more.

Final thoughts

Like how a food detox program is painful, a financial detox is equally tough. But it’s an absolutely vital process if you want to take hold of your finances and gain control of money on your life. You will get through it! Just take baby steps.

Telltale signs you have depression even if you’re not feeling down

According to Healthline, depression is a type of mood disorder. While many people might associate the illness with feelings of loss, anger, or sadness, it’s not always the case.

This means that a top performer at work can be undergoing their bout of depression silently, not outwardly displaying feelings of dejectedness. Similarly, the “influencer” you see on Instagram leading a satisfying, luxurious life might be in the midst of battling depression.

Especially so for folks who have not been through depression, it can be hard to recognise the condition for yourself or your loved ones around you. Here are some telltale signs you have depression even if you’re not feeling down.

#1: Extreme changes in appetite

Extreme changes in appetite don’t always necessarily refer to an increase in food intake. It could be a sudden decrease in eating quantities as well.

“It’s an easy (sign) to overlook because we live in a society that values diet culture and values restriction as a sign of control and discipline. That says something good about your character if you’re not gorging on food. I think that it can be easily missed, and it can be praised as that person somehow has it together, and they’re doing well,” noted Zamira Castro, a licensed psychologist in Florida.

#2: Withdrawals from social activities

Learn to identify the prodromal phase of depression. Castro highlights the state as a period between the initial onset of symptoms and the actual development of the condition.

Withdrawing from social activities can be an obvious indication that you’re starting to develop depression. This means that one does not have to completely shut themselves away in their room or avoid taking calls from friends and family members to be identified as depressed.

#3: Forgoing self-care routines

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Waking up from the wrong side of the bed and not wanting to iron your clothes is different from forgoing routines. Here, we’re talking about a disruption in your regular self-care practice.

If you’re seeing yourself skipping routines for weeks or losing interests in the things you used to enjoy, then that could be a sign of depression. “Depression is a loss of vitality, your energy, your pulses, (when) all of that is depressed… the lights have been dimmed,” mentioned Castro.

#4: Losing the sexual desire

Do you know that experts at Johns Hopkins Women’s Moods Disorders Center have likened lowered libido to one of the main symptoms for major depressive episodes?

Humans are all wired differently, and a temporary loss in sexual desire could be due to situational life changes. However, if your sexual appetite has plummeted to deficient levels for prolonged periods, then it could be a clear indication of depression.

#5: Can’t take “no” for an answer

Image Credits: careercontessa.com

As we come to a close, this final sign is an uncommon depression signal for many – being unable to accept rejection.

But remember that one should not confuse it with personal characteristics. We’re not referring to peeps who usually can’t take “no” for an answer generally. We’re talking about those who have become extremely sensitive to rejection over a period. It could be as simple as a major meltdown when left out from a group lunch.

Final thoughts

The above list of telltale signs is non-exhaustive because everyone experiences depression differently.

If you think you might be struggling with the condition, it’s wise that you seek medical opinions. While depression is incurable, it is treatable. With proper self-care, medication, and professional guidance by a doctor, you will be well on your way to recovery!

Do these things after you’ve sacked your boss

So you’ve finally dropped the resignation letter in your boss’ face after months of contemplating? We’re glad for you.

Now that you’re exiting hell, it’s time to slack your way through that one-month notice, not. Yes, you’ve read that right. Rather than wasting your time reporting for the last month at work doing nothing, there are tasks you need to tick off your checklist before you bid goodbye.

Here are the things to do after you’ve sacked your boss.

#1: Schedule meet-ups with colleagues

When a person chooses to leave the workplace, brains and mouths will start speculating the reasons why. Rather than allowing gossips to prosper, take this opportunity to schedule meet-ups with colleagues and explain your stance for leaving.

Other than your department colleagues you’ve worked with, you may also request to meet with other team members who’ve crossed paths and offered help. While you don’t need to speak to everyone, choose those that you would be glad to remain in contact with.

#2: Do a proper handover

If you’ve had gone through picking up a pile of mess from someone who has left the company before, be sure not to do the same when you leave.

What you can do is to draw up an instructional handover document detailing the ongoing projects under your watch. This will aid your manager and successor to pick up from where you’ve left and enable as few disruptions as possible from your exit. At the same time, you get to demonstrate your professionalism.

#3: Request for recommendations

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Rather than waiting months after you’ve left to seek a recommendation, request for one before you leave for good. It’s an apt time because your supervisors and colleagues still remember the excellent work you’ve put in during your time in the company.

It would be advisable that you approach them directly to ask for a recommendation. Sending an email might work too, but it’s not that personable. Don’t be afraid to have them comment on the specific skills you would like to be endorsed for.

#4: Back up your accomplishments

Certain documents won’t be accessible upon your exit from the company. Hence, don’t forget to do the necessary screenshots or capture evidence of your accomplishments. This is especially so for those who’ve been with the company for years and cannot readily recall the works you’ve executed when you’ve held various positions.

Depending on your contributions to the company, it may take more than a day or two to back up the important stuff. The last thing you want to do is leave it to the last day to do so and realise there’s not enough time.

#5: Mass send or customise farewell emails

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So we suppose who’ve done the things listed above and ready to leave the company on a positive note. On your last day, it’s good to send a mass email to everyone who’ve journeyed with you through the months and years.

Should you have the time to do so, customise farewell emails to show your sincerity towards the people you want to keep in your work and social connections. Say your thank-yous, share a big picture of your next venture, and let them know how to stay connected with you.

Here’s us wishing you all the best in your next endeavour!

4 Surefire Ways To Create Better Study Habits At Home

Ministry of Education announced that lower primary and lower secondary students will continue with home-based learning (HBL) after June holidays. These arrangements were made to “ease into full resumption of school” when Term 3 starts on June 28.

Studying from home can be challenging! All of us have study habits that we would like to break and others that we would like to develop. People often blame these unpleasant habits to laziness or unhealthy personality. However, Behaviorism dictates that we can learn and unlearn these habits.

Effectively reinforcing a positive behavior and not rewarding a negative one can help change various areas in one’s life. With this principle in mind, here are 4 things that you can do create better study habits at home.

#1: SET YOUR STUDY GOALS

It is not enough to say that you want to study more! You must set quantifiable and realistic goals to meet your objectives for the day. Setting your study goals includes two things – identifying your goals and knowing which resources you will need.

For instance, you want to study for 3 hours daily (i.e., quantifiable and realistic). You successfully meet this study goal by utilizing a conducive study space and by having school supplies on-hand.

#2: TAKE ACTION

After clearly setting your goals, you must bravely take your first attempt. If it is too much to drastically start with 3 hours of study time per day, you can start with at least 45 minutes daily. Gradually increase your study time as the weeks pass by.

Having a physical boundary between your study area and your relaxation area could be very helpful. This can also help you to contain your academic stress within the study space. Furthermore, you can stay focused when studying from home by following a routine. Establishing a routine will provide more structure to your life and more cues to your brain.

#3: MONITOR YOUR PROGRESS

Monitoring your progress includes tracking your milestones and altering your goals based on your evaluation of the current situation. To illustrate this, you can have a study log to record your study time and daily assignments.

You can also analyze the factors that hinder you from studying, such as distractions from external noises or social media. Then, add another goal that is fit to counteract these distractions such turning your handphone off for 3 hours. Use this time to take down notes during your online classes.

#4: REWARD YOURSELF

Positive reinforcement such as entertaining or monetary compensation can increase the repetition of the desired behavior. Therefore, different companies use positive reinforcement to attract you into purchasing more of their products.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

You must figure out a well-deserved reward for successfully studying during the allotted amount of time. You can indulge in your favorite dessert, have a relaxing bath, or call your friends via Zoom. For optimum results, keep the reward scheme consistent each time you reach a study goal.

Sources: 1 & 2