MoneyDigest - Personal Finance, Lifestyle, Money Saving Tips

Beat The Christmas Shopping Rush With These 5 Tips

If you are a fan of late Christmas shopping and holiday parties, curb your spending by following these five savvy tips:

#1: ACCEPT THE REALITY

The first step to survive the Yuletide rush is to mentally prepare yourself for what is about to come. Recognize that you tackling one of the most stressful seasons of the year. Except the huge crowds and the long queues at the shopping centers. These are inevitable.

Do not try to convince yourself that you are collected when you are not. Instead, change your mindset by accepting the gravity or reality of the situation.

#2: CREATE A LIST AND CHECK IT TWICE

Create a comprehensive list, which contains the people whom you want to buy gifts for. Go through each name and allocate a specific amount beside it. Strictly follow this plan when you are shopping. If your budget still falls short, make necessary revisions.

For larger families, consider giving one present per married couple. Remember that you are not Santa Claus and it is not your duty to give everyone a gift!

#3: SHOP DURING OFF-PEAK HOURS

It does not take a sharp scientist to come into conclusion that shopping during the peak hours is a horrible idea! Prevent the rumination and nightmares about the hours-long frenzy in the mall by avoiding the weeknights and the weekends.

Come out victorious by frequenting your favorite shops during the early mornings and the weekdays.

#4: USE THE INTERNET TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

Use the power of technology to make your life easier. Firstly, do a comparative study to pinpoint the latest deals. It is worth spending the effort in order to stretch your dollar.

Secondly, buy your gifts directly from the online retailers. This will give you the convenience of not having to leave your home. More so, the items will be shipped on your doorstep.

Browse through the credible reviews to aid your search for the best brand at premium prices. Stuff Singapore provides reliable information regarding the latest gadgets while Renotalk focus on the latest in furnishing.

#5: OPT FOR OLDER MODELS

If you are planning to purchase gadgets or appliances for your parents, you can score greater savings by buying the older models. Sometimes, stores offer discounts on last year’s units to prepare for the upcoming release of the new one.

Since stores constantly rotate the models, the previous models are left at the sides or at the back. Look for those!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

It is important to work with how much money can afford to spend this Christmas. As soon as you start spending through credit, you will have the burden of paying it all back on the next year. That is not worth it!

Sources: 1 & 2

How To Be Financially Ready For Matrimony

My friends and I shared a significant night last Wednesday. You see, we witnessed the proposal that my friend had orchestrated. The only catch was that he intended to get married in two months. The relatively short amount of time to prepare shook everyone. I noticed that their resources were stretched due to the absence of a stable budget. This scenario made me realize how important it is to set the tone of the wedding earlier on.

Take control of your wedding by financially planning at least 6 months ahead. Relatives from both sides are more likely to state their opinions during the planning process. They will feel like they have the right to impose if they are contributing to the costs. Be open to their colorful suggestions, but remember that it is your special day.

Employ savvy steps such as these:

DISCUSS EACH OTHER’S FINANCIAL GOALS

Before tying the knot, one of the first steps that you must take is to discuss about each other’s short-term and long-term goals. Spare a portion of your weekend to openly converse about your thoughts on personal finance. Respect the opinion of your partner to reach a beneficial decision for your wedding and your future household.

Doing so will give you an opportunity to build joint financial goals. Whether you decide to save for a new car or for an early retirement, aligning your goals to a common plan will serve as a good bonding experience.

DECIDE YOUR OVERALL BUDGET

The overall budget can make or break your dream wedding. This is why you must arrange your plans ahead of time. Curate a list of all the items that you will need to purchase. Include miscellaneous and other expenses such as your airfare tickets for the honeymoon.

It is important to stick to what you can afford despite the expectations of your friends or family. For an informed decision, you may use this guideline:

Wedding banquet – 60%
Bridal package – 15%
Wedding ceremony – 5%
Honeymoon – 20%

CONSIDER THE SOLEMNISATION AND OTHER TRADITIONS

What type of customary ceremony do you want to uphold? For example, the Chinese tea ceremony occurs when the couple greets the elders of the family either around or on the wedding day itself. Extra costs may include refreshments and hong baos for the children and helpers.

On the other hand, it is compulsory to register the Civil Marriage at a solemnisation ceremony. The solemnisers are generally volunteers who officiate weddings at no cost. It is advisable to send your gratitude by giving a token or providing a reimbursement for the transportation costs. The ceremony may be held at the Registry of Marriage (ROM). To know more about ROM’s affordable fees, please visit: rom.gov.sg.

BORROW MONEY AS YOUR LAST RESORT

If the wedding that you envision will cost a fortune, consider making alterations. You may even hold the wedding at a later date in order to save money to fulfill your fantasy. A simple and intimate wedding can be great too. Remember that borrowing money shall be your last resort.

If you intend to borrow money, please shop around for the lowest Effective Interest Rate (EIR) on your loan.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Lavish venues and luxurious honeymoon are not really necessary for a fruitful marriage. What is more vital is that you celebrate the day with the people whom you love the most.

Sources: 1 & 2

Confronting Singapore’s Baby Bust With The Baby Bonus Scheme

It does not take a genius to understand how money greatly affects the Singaporeans’ approach to marriage and parenthood. The leading reasons why most Singaporeans are hesitant to make immediate marital or child-rearing plans are related to finances. The country’s population is affected due to these circumstances.

Related Article: Why Many Singaporeans Are Not Tying The Knot

Although last year’s Golden Jubilee ushered about 33,793 babies, our fertility rate remains below the replacement rate of 2.1 (i.e., the rate to maintain the population levels). This is why the Government introduces different incentives to encourage couples to have more children.

Attractive incentives include the parental leave, childcare subsidizes, and baby bonus. This article is going to focus on the beaming Baby Bonus Scheme! It was started in 2001 to provide financial assistance and support Singaporean couples in their decision to raise more children. The scheme is part of the “Marriage and Parenthood Package”, which includes a cash gift and (or) contributions to the Child Development Account (CDA).

You are welcome to avail the Baby Bonus Scheme if your child:

a. is a Singapore citizen,
b. was born alive,
c. was born from lawfully married parents, and
d. was born on or after September 1, 2016 from unwed parents.

After careful examination, you found out that you eligible to reap the benefits of the Baby Bonus Scheme. Congratulations! Remember that it has two distinct forms – the cash gift and the CDA.

The cash gift, as the name suggests, is given in the form of tangible dollars. The purchasing power belongs to you as you can do anything you desire with it. Use it responsibly to cushion the hefty newborn costs. You shall receive a cash gift of S$8,000 for your 1st and 2nd child. While, your 3rd and 4th child shall receive S$10,000 each. This only pertains to babies born on or after January 1, 2015. The cash gift will be given to you within 7-10 working days or after completing the online form.

CDA is a special savings account that can only be opened at the government approved banks. You may use it to shoulder the costs of childcare, kindergartens, medical procedures, and private integrated shield plans. Upon opening the CDA, you will receive the Dollar-for-Dollar matching contributions and CDA First Step grant.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

The ultimate purpose of the BBS is to provide financial assistance to parents who will help build a brighter future for Singapore. For more information, go to the official website at babybonus.msf.gov.sg.

Sources: 1 & 2

A Dividend Investing Strategy

Singapore investors love their dividend stocks. According to the Investment Trends Singapore Broking Report 2015, 75% of investors polled stated that they usually invest in dividend stocks when trading on the Singapore market. And they are spoilt for choice! Many companies that list on SGX pay dividends. But with so many dividend-paying stocks out there, which stock would you consider?

A High Dividend Yield Stock: Better than a Low Dividend Yield Stock or?

That is the question. The stock with the highest dividend yield in the industry may look attractive now, but is a stock with 10% dividend yield better than one with 3% in the long run? Does a high yield stock always outperform a low yield stock?

High dividend yield should not be taken at face value. It always pays to dig deeper and find out the real story behind certain attractive numbers before deciding to invest.

Companies with a high dividend yield compared to the market average may not necessarily equate to companies with good financial performance. The high dividend yield could be the result of declining share price due to weak fundamental such as inconsistent earnings, high debt etc. Besides, high dividend yield may not be sustainable. If earnings fall, the management may cut dividends or eliminate the pay-out altogether. Hence, investors should also look at companies with consistent dividend payouts and with the cash flows coming from actual core operations.

A Dividend Growth Strategy

If a stock with a high dividend yield is not necessarily the best choice for long-term investors, then what other strategies are there? A dividend growth strategy for one, is something you might want to learn more about.

To clarify, dividend yield is the dividend amount divided by the share price. Dividend growth meanwhile is how much the dollar-amount of dividends given out increases each year.

Take this hypothetical example which compares the performance of two investors (based on certain assumptions where indicated).

Investor A: Invests in ABC Company which pays 7% dividend yield at the outset and every year after that.

Investor B: Invests in XYZ Company which pays 3% dividend yield at the outset.

XYZ Company has a lower dividend yield because they choose to reinvest some of their earnings into the business. The business grows, and so does their dividend pay-out – to the tune of 8% every year (e.g. $0.03 dividend per share in year 1, $0.032 in year 2).

Assume that the share prices for both of these companies remain unchanged for 25 years and both investors reinvested their dividends every year. Their performance can be found in the table below.

The Results
Investor A, the high yield investor, beats Investor B during the beginning years but the dividend pay-out and portfolio value of Investor B caught up in year 16 and 22 respectively. In the end, the total dividends received by Investor B are more than 3 times that of Investor A.

So, while Investor B received low pay-outs initially, he was rewarded with future growth. This is the underlying principle of the dividend growth investing strategy. Length of the period of investment would also affect the total dividends received.

Finding Dividend Growth Stocks

That will be the next question on your mind if you want to explore using a dividend growth strategy. Stock screeners come in useful here. A stock screener allows you to choose certain criteria, and to find stocks that fit the criteria you have selected.

Here is a set of criteria that could be used to pull dividend growth stocks:

Dividend yield>3%
Market capitalisation>200 million
Dividend growth rate (5-year average)>8%.

The stock screener below, for example, has found 17 stocks that match the above criteria. This provides a good starting point for investors to do further research into these specific stocks. Try to come up with your own set of criteria and see how it works.

Source: Recognia Strategy Builder on Maybank Kim Eng’s KE Trade platform as at March 2016

Disclaimer: This message is for general knowledge or information only. It is not an offer or invitation to buy or sell securities, futures or other products or services. Our products or services vary in different jurisdictions, subject to their respective terms and conditions and the licences our affiliates and us hold. This message is not an advice or recommendation for any financial planning, investment, legal, tax or other purposes and, accordingly, no responsibility or liability is assumed by us or our affiliates, whether directly or indirectly, from any person taking or not taking action

How To Lure New Customers To Your Small Business

CURATE A DETAILED PROFILE OF YOUR AUDIENCE

Catching the attention of your potential customers is an easy task if you know exactly what you are searching for. So, begin by defining your target audience. Be as detailed as realistically possible. Include descriptors such as gender, occupation, NRIC number/FIN, hobbies, age group, and civil status.

Say you are selling Harry Potter merchandise to teens and other millennials. You noticed that they are immensely obsessed with social media platforms. Hence, you used Instagram and Snapchat to identify your potential customers.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

PROVIDE AN INVITING ATMOSPHERE

Charming your customers start as they enter your doorstep or website. Flashy signs may draw them in, but your accomodating gestures will make them stay. Send warm greetings and show new customers around your vicinity. This will make them feel appreciated and special.

This is certainly true if you are in the food business. Ushering your hangry customers with a friendly service can help them calm down. I cannot remember how many times this happened to me!

OFFER TEMPTING FREEBIES

Display an offer that new customers cannot resist by providing free trials. Fitness centers often distribute flyers that signify a week’s worth trial or a discounted package for first timers. This is a cost-effective way to get good reviews and honest testimonials.

There is nothing more powerful than giving your potential customers a good glimpse of what is to come!

LISTEN TO THEIR VALUABLE INSIGHTS

As you converse with your potential and existing customers, it is important to actively listen to their wants. Do not assume that you know their preferences! Many startups fail because they are selling products with a non-existent demand.

This is why you must encourage constructive feedback. These may be delivered thru social media platforms, focus group discussions, and online surveys. Take the appropriate actions to improve the operations of your small business.

LAUNCH A REFERRAL SYSTEM

My career path was carved when I became an administrative officer in a contemporary yoga studio. One of the studio’s promotions, which endured throughout year was the “Refer A Friend Campaign”. It encouraged the existing customers to invite their friends over to receive up to 20% discount on their next packages. The more people they refer, the higher the reward gets. You may launch the same campaign in your small business.

Remember that people love to be acknowledge. Use that to your advantage!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

New customers are the tools that enable your small business to flourish. If you want to attract more customers, you must consider these people in every step of your journey.

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