Get your crisp new dollar notes for Chinese New Year at these POSB Pop-up ATMs from 9 January, 9am to 24 January 2020.
Denominations available are $2, $10 and $50:
$100 ($2 x 50 notes)
$300 ($10 x 30 notes)
$500 ($50 x 10 notes) and
$600 ($10 x 20 notes + $50 x 8 notes)
The Pop-up ATMs are located at the 20 Community Clubs listed below:
Alternatively, you can also reserve the notes online with your ATM / Debit Cards / Credit Cards and PIN. Simply login with your ATM / Debit Cards / Credit Cards and PIN to place your reservations.
Reservation starts from 09 January 2020, 7.00am and ends on 21 January 2020.
Collection starts on 13 January 2020 and ends on 23 January 2020.
From a wide selection of hotel buffets to hawker centers, Singaporeans just love to eat! If you are a devout food enthusiast such as I am, you will be able to relate to the sheer excitement that I get from seeing a well-stocked buffet table. Just think about all the vibrant and glorious food that you can eat in one seating!
What’s more? You can enjoy eating as much as you want without judgment from others. Such freedom comes with a price. Only a fool would walk out the door without ensuring that he or she actually got a good deal. On that note, here are some tricks you can apply to your next all-you-can eat buffet trip.
#1: DO YOUR RESEARCH
Singapore offers a decent amount of buffet options with varying food quality, price, and value. Do your research to find where you can get the best deal. Stay true to your preferences when it comes to the food selection. Go to a buffet whereby you can eat most of their offerings.
Researching will also help you learn about the fine print. Know what is included and what is not. You do not want any nasty surprises at the end of day!
#2: GET AN OVERVIEW
Plan your eating strategy by getting an overview of all the food options upon arriving. Yes! Salads or fresh vegetables may be ideal starters. However, do not get a mountain of lettuce and toppings if you are planning to survive the entire haul. Look around and focus on the premium stuff, which you can indulge on.
Image Credits: pixabay.com
#3: TAKE SMALL PORTIONS
Buffets typically have unlimited refills. You can always go back for more! Do not get stuck with a large serving of pasta that does not taste as pleasant as it looks. Instead, get small portions of everything you want to taste.
#4: TAKE DISHES YOU CANNOT COOK AT HOME
You are celebrating something special as you are blessed with rows and rows of savory food. Choose dishes that you do not or cannot cook at home.
It is rare for me to eat seafood at home. Recently, I devoured several salmon breads topped with caviar as well as all the seafood I can eat in the buffet to maximize my experience.
#5: DO NOT FAST
Most people starve themselves as way to eat as much as they can in a buffet. These people forget that their stomach needs to prepare prior to the battle. The stomach needs stretching before it prepares for any rigorous activities such as eating in bulk.
Drink water throughout the day to stretch it. Furthermore, it is recommended to eat a light meal before you enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet.
#6: STICK TO YOUR PREFERENCES
The Indian buffet place nearby may offer an amazing promotion on their signature dishes. However, it is not amazing if you do not like curry or spiced food.
Image Credits: pixabay.com
You are only trapping yourself if you focus on the price-to-food volume ratio! If you are not keen in eating a bulk of food from a specific cuisine, skip it.
#7: DO DAMAGE CONTROL
Once you are finished eating your glorious feast, the only thing left is damage control. Drinking probiotics is beneficial for your digestion. Another alternative is peppermint tea. Peppermint tea soothes the stomach, reduces bloating, and cures any nausea you may be experiencing.
Recently, my significant other opened the idea of discussing about whether it is worth getting a fiduciary and a financial adviser. I focused on the former. A fiduciary’s duties and responsibilities goes beyond directing the individual (i.e., beneficiary) to his or her financial goals. The fiduciary acts for or on behalf of the beneficiary in certain circumstances. This is a bond established by utmost confidence and trust.
A fiduciary is either a person or an organization who has the highest legal duty of being ethically bound to act in the beneficiary’s best interest. Fiduciary relationships include:
* Trustees (of a beneficiary);
* Directors (of a company);
* Agents (of a principal);
* Lawyers (to the client); and
* Partners (to each other).
Aside from this, the Courts may find a fiduciary relationship exists when the beneficiary is dependent on the fiduciary, when the fiduciary has the discretion to act unilaterally for the beneficiary, and when such power affects the beneficiary’s legal or practical interests.
Do you qualify for any of these? Are you a fiduciary? If so, here are your duties.
DUTIES
#1: First and foremost, the fiduciary needs to avoid conflict of interest and duty. For example, a company director must not put himself or herself in a position where personal interest will conflict with that of the company’s. Do everything in good faith.
#2: Secondly, you must avoid unauthorized profits. For example, your position as a company director may be in breach of your duty if you acquire a business opportunity (i.e., belonging to the company) for yourself.
#3: Lastly, the fiduciary must manage the assets of an individual for the benefits of the beneficiary himself or herself. You cannot benefit personally from the management of the beneficiary’s assets.
LAW
According to research, Singapore is part of the common law legal tradition. Thus, the decisions of precedent cases in the superior courts are binding on the lower courts. Moreover, the decisions in other Commonwealth jurisdictions (e.g., in UK, Australia, or Malaysia) can be persuasive in the Singapore courts.
Image Credits: pixabay.com
“When a fiduciary relationship is established in one of these cases, future cases are bound to follow what has been established before. Statutes that are passed by Parliament may also impose certain statutory duties akin to fiduciary duties between parties.”
As I receive my annual bank statements and credit card summaries, I realize how my financial year went by. January is a fantastic time to review your financial strengths and weaknesses. Where did you fall short? Not only is it a good way to reflect on your spending habits, but it is also a good way to craft your financial goals.
Use your year-end resources to establish your financial resolutions for the year 2020!
1: IDENTIFY YOUR FINANCIAL GOALS
Several articles from Money Digest highlighted how helpful it is to determine your financial goals. Start your journey by identifying both your short-term and your long-term financial goals. Are you hoping to earn a degree or to expand your retirement fund? Do you see yourself purchasing a new flat with your spouse? Or, do you want a to lead a different career?
To illustrate your path in a detailed manner, you may create a Financial Vision Board. Take some time to think about how to achieve your financial goals this year. Consider your outlook before your plan of attack.
2: SAVE MORE MONEY
How many times have you heard about “saving more money” as a resolution? This is a common financial resolution for many Singaporeans. However, most people do not know how to start. It is recommended to be specific to increase the chances of success. Increase the percentage of your monthly income that goes into your savings.
Save at least 15% or your monthly income and increase the percentage whenever you feel more comfortable. If you are already saving 20% of your income then, you are in good place. A person who is earning S$4,000 per month can reap the benefits of having S$9,600 by the end of the year. Raising the percentage to 30% will equate to having S$14,400 by December 2020. Saving more money gets you closer to achieving your financial goals.
3: PAY OFF YOUR DEBTS IN FULL
Two years ago, MAS estimated that there are 9 million credit cards in circulation in Singapore, with Singaporeans charging an average of S$555 per card. Imagine how much these numbers have grown since? Credit card debt is rising in the country as convenience is hard to resist.
Many credit card holders enjoy the attractive benefits or the good rewards programs of several issuers. While there is nothing wrong with paying using cashless methods, you need to be responsible with paying the hefty interest rates and balances. Commit to paying the full amount of your monthly debts this 2020!
4: GROW YOUR INVESTMENTS
Aside from increasing your savings, you can make your money work for you by investing each month. There are many ways to invest your money such as putting it in high-interest savings account. This can increase your earnings by 2% per annum.
Another approach is to sign-up for investment-linked insurance policy where a portion of your premiums will be invested in specific investment funds. Review your insurance policies and ask your financial adviser about this option.
5: GO ON A CASH-ONLY DIET
You have endured the back-to-back expenses brought by the Holiday season. Chances are, your credit card got exhausted due to the year-end sales and other Christmastime delights you spent for your beloved ones.
Cushion these expenses by going on a “cash-only” diet for a few weeks or a couple of months. Begin by allocating a monthly budget based on the money you have. Give yourself a specific cash amount per week and work your way around it. Doing this will challenge your self-control and your resourcefulness.
6: AUTOMATE YOUR SAVINGS
Transform your new year enthusiasm into something productive by automating your savings. Commit to this new habit by researching on the available services of the local bank institutions. For instance, I recently came across with the UOB Stash Account.
UOB Stash Account allows you to accumulate your savings for up up to 1% p.a. interest, simply by maintaining or increasing your previous month’s Monthly Average Balance. An initial deposit of S$1,000 is needed to open the account, which is open for all. You can apply for your Stash Account and get an approval within minutes by simply going to the website. Terms and conditions apply.
Consumed by the demands of your daily life, it is easy to lose track of the bigger picture. What are your financial goals? What are your dreams made of? A simple representation of all your hopes, dreams, and goals is a Vision Board.
A Vision Board helps you to clarify your financial goals to enable you to achieve them. Its mechanism is powered by the idea that if we put our desires out there, the universe will be able to bring it to us. It is powerful because it forces the person to be clear and decisive about the kind of life they want to lead. Visual images serve as daily reminders of what we really aspire to become.
A study showed that people were more likely to achieve their goals if they write them down. Vision boards take this notion one step further. It enables the person to be specific when it comes to his or her dreams. It makes your financial goals more concrete and detailed. Better results can be achieved by putting your vision board in a place where you constantly see it. Choose five to ten goals to focus on (e.g., getting a new job or paying all your debt). Put these financial goals on your vision board.
Here is an example of a financial vision board:
To create a vision board, you need:
* Poster board/Cork board
* Pins
* Colored markers
* Glue
* Tape
* Scissors
* Old magazines
Aside from these materials, it is important to follow these steps.
#1: DREAM A LITTLE DREAM
Social media and advertisements have conditioned us to want things we see around us. Material things can bring your short-term delight, but what can really bring you happiness? It is time for you to think about that. Daydream the improved life that you want for yourself and your family. A financial board needs to reflect your ideal reality.
#2: COLLECT AND SELECT
Begin flipping through your stack of old magazines and newspapers to cut anything that speaks to you. Use images or words that embody your goals. You can sort all these later once you get a sizable amount of cutouts.
Edit your cutouts into five to ten goals. Then, paste them on your board as you fit the puzzles together. You can even organize the images per theme or per time-frame.
#3: WISH YOUR HEART MAKES
Mentally commit to your financial goals by gluing or pinning them down on your board. This vision is cemented for the year. It may feel weird at first, but this is the first step toward making your dreams a reality.
Hang your vision board in a place where you can revisit your financial goals. Or, you may consider setting it as your wallpaper on your phone or your laptop.
#4: PLAN AND ACHIEVE
Lastly, you must reflect on your financial vision board and think of ways to achieve each one. Choose to focus on one goal at a time or on the smaller goals first.
