The COVID-19 vaccination programme is being progressively rolled out to all Singaporeans and long-term residents.
The Ministry of Health announced that they have extended the vaccination programme to Singapore citizens aged 12 to 39 years old. For individuals who have had an earlier Covid-19 infection from over six months ago are also recommended to receive a single dose of vaccine to boost their immunity against reinfection.
Those who fall in the above groups can register for Covid-19 vaccination from 11 June 2021. For individuals below 18 years of age, and who are not part of the MOE vaccination exercise, the parent/guardian should register on behalf of the individual.
As you enter your thirties, your focus is geared towards saving money and meeting your financial obligations. This is the time to figure out the future you want to have to lay its groundwork.
On that note, let this article give you an idea on some of the financial goals that you need to set when you are in your 30s.
#1: REVISIT YOUR BUDGET
Are you still following the same budget you set in your 20s? If so, it is time for an upgrade. Your responsibilities and financial capacities evolve as time passes. Food, housing, childcare, and medical expenses will require a different type of budgetary attention as you enter your 30s. Examine your current budget and make necessary changes.
#2: GROW YOUR EMERGENCY FUND
If you are still on the fence on whether you should start an emergency fund or not, just think about the uncertainties brought by the pandemic. It is a concrete example of why people need to have a cushion for unforeseen events.
Most financial experts recommend having a savings that will cover your expenses for a minimum of 6 months. However, this amount varies per person. Adults with dependents need to consider putting more money in their emergency fund. The more funds you put aside, the more money you can use for unexpected expenses.
#3: GET INSURANCE
Due to the many demands brought by your professional and personal life, prioritizing your health is vital in your thirties. Having health and life insurance plans will not only be beneficial for you, but also for your family. You see, insurance premiums increase as you age. It is cheaper to get an insurance plan now. Shop around for the best insurance plans that suit your needs and your budget.
#4: PAY OFF DEBTS
While you are building an emergency fund and revisiting your current budget, identify how much debt you still have. Debts can negatively impact your financial health and your ability to accomplish your long-term goals. Why not start paying off your debts? The sooner you can reduce or eliminate debts, the sooner you can focus on turning your dreams to reality.
#5: THINK ABOUT YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN
Although you are decades away from retirement, thinking about your retirement plan will help you to allocate your retirement funds. Whether your employer has a company retirement plan or not, it is a good idea to think about what you want to do once you stop working.
Image Credits: unsplash.com
How much you need to save for your retirement will rely on the kind of lifestyle you want to have when you retire. Fortunately for you, there are many financial resources online. Do your research!
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) announced that the Singapore Passport validity will be increased to 10 years, as compared to the current validity of 5 years. This will come into effect for applications submitted on or after October 2021.
The longer validity period applies to Singapore citizens aged 16 and above. If you qualify for this, please submit your application on or after October 1, 2021. Despite the increased validity period, the passport application fee in Singapore remains the same (i.e., S$70). Furthermore, applications submitted in person at Singapore’s Overseas Missions will be charged an equivalent of S$80 in foreign currency.
ICA highlighted that it “has assessed that it is now viable to increase the validity of the Singapore passport to 10 years without compromising security or global confidence in the Singapore passport.”
In a similar fashion, many countries have changed their passport validity period from 5 to 10 years. These countries include Australia, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, and the United States.
SPECIFIC EXEMPTIONS
Notice the age bracket qualified to the passport validity period extension. It starts at the age of 16. Those who are under the age of 16 will continue to have the passport validity of 5 years. The primary reason behind this is that children’s facial features typically change during the early years.
“As children’s facial features change more rapidly, renewing their passport every five years will allow the photograph in their passport to be updated more frequently, which will minimise identification problems when going through immigration,” the Authority said.
Apart from this, the passport validity has a limit too. The validity is capped at 10 years in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) recommendation. Any remaining validity in an old passport cannot be added to the new passport, with a 10-year validity period.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Singapore citizens can apply for new passports by going to ICA’s e-service website. Those without an internet access may either visit the Citizen Connect Centres or go to the ICA Building in Kallang.
Image Credits: pixabay.com
Ultimately, the changes in the passport validity aim to reduce the need for frequent passport renewals and to offer greater convenience to Singaporeans all over the world.
Swindlers and scammers are always on the lookout for opportunities to gain access to your money. Since the pandemic, many types of scams have emerged. As cashless payments became vital to the new normal, adding layers of cybersecurity to your debit and credit card transactions will reduce your chances of becoming their victims.
This article highlights the 5 steps that you can take to protect your debit and credit cards. Fraud is prevalent, but you can act now!
#1: NEVER DISCLOSE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
Fraudsters typically pretend to be bank representatives to steal personal information or to perform unauthorized transactions. Be smart when it comes to what you share online. Do not get too excited about sharing personal information, even via screenshots or through your 24-hour daily stories (e.g., sharing a snap of your QDL). Despite having restrictions with your target audience, you will never know how fraudsters can work their way around.
As much as possible, use different passwords for your online banking and social media accounts. Try using different email addresses for your online banking and social media accounts too.
#2: IDENTIFY WHETHER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AND HANDPHONE NUMBER WERE COMPROMISED
The personal data of over 500 million Facebook users was leaked online. You are vulnerable if you are using the same email address and handphone number for your online banking and social media accounts.
To know whether your email address or personal number has been compromised, you can visit helpful websites such as Have I Been Pwned. Have I Been Pwned allows you to know whether you experienced data breaching in the past or not.
#3: USE YOUR CARDS ON WEBSITES YOU TRUST
When you are shopping with your debit or credit card online, it is important that you only go to websites that you trust. Ensure that you typed in the correct website and not phony one. You can also print a copy of your online purchases for future reference.
While shopping in your favorite website, avoid clicking on email links and suspicious images because these could take you to a phony website whose sole purpose is to steal your credit card information.
#4: ACTIVATE THE OTP OR TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION
A one-time password (OTP) is a dynamic pin that is valid for a single login transaction on a digital device. It is an automatically generated alphanumeric or numeric string of characters that authenticates the user for a transaction. Activating this security feature will enable you to be notified whenever your accounts or cards are used. The OTP is usually sent via SMS or via email.
Similarly, the two-factor authentication (2FA) adds a layer of security by authenticating the credentials of the user. Most email providers such as Google and Yahoo! have this feature. Activate it to prevent other people from logging in to your email/s.
#5: BE VIGILANT AT ALL TIMES
Be vigilant when it comes to identifying phishing emails. Fraudsters may send you emails and newsletters that copy your bank’s promotional campaigns. Check the email sender to ensure that it is from the financial institution itself. Remember that most banks use corporate email addresses when sending newsletters and not personal Gmail or Yahoo Mail accounts.
Image Credits: pixabay.com
As mentioned above, avoid clicking links or buttons that can potentially lead you to unsecured websites. Keep your eye on the email address of the sender and the grammar of the message sent to you. If many words are misspelled, you can easily spot a red flag.
From dawn to dusk and beyond those times, you’re facing unbearable noise thanks to your inconsiderate neighbours.
With working from home as the default for many at the moment, it’s starting to get on your nerves. You’re unable to sleep well, and now you have to put up with the excessive giant thumping footsteps and dragging of furniture during the day.
Holes and cracks on your walls and floor could be the very reason for your restless days and sleepless nights. Check that you’ve covered them with sealant or gap fillers so noise won’t be able to enter. It’s also a relatively straightforward operation to do on your own so you can save your money on labour costs.
#2: Install wall panels
We’re sure you’ve been to studios and noticed the thick panels stuck to the wall. Yes, those will help absorb sounds both from noise disturbances from outside and within the confines of your walls. You can easily purchase them online from Shopee, Lazada, or Amazon and self-install them using spray glue or double-sided tape.
#3: Put up dense curtains
Image Credits rollingstone.com
Maybe it’s about time you give your home curtains a new look. But this time around, don’t go for the standard types you can buy from the supermarket. You want to invest in a soundproof curtain that is dense enough to reduce noise. Unsure of how to get those? Head down to the stores and ask to be introduced to curtains made from triple-weave fabric.
#4: Buy sound-dampening door strips
If you have the budget to spare, go ahead and replace your doors and windows. But since we’re looking at pocket-friendly solutions in this article, a better way is to purchase sound-dampening foam or rubber door strips. A one-metre long piece is usually under S$10, and you can cut it accordingly to fit your home doors.
#5: Add rugs and carpets
As we come to a close, do you know that sound waves can bounce off walls and floors? Sometimes, it may seem like the noise is coming from your neighbours above, but the primary source could from the apartment below you. Hence, an excellent way to counter it is to buy furry rugs or those with frays to help absorb unnecessary noise. Get them from Ikea; they won’t cost a lot.
