MoneyDigest - Personal Finance, Lifestyle, Money Saving Tips

Ideal Places To Visit For Year-End Travels

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure to spend quality time with my childhood friends. Our lengthy conversations led to a topic surrounding our itch to wander overseas. They were highlighting that they want to travel as a group, before the year ends. The brief cycle of months dawned on me!

In the blink of an eye, 2017 is coming to an end. Bid the fruitful year in the best way possible by arranging a memorable vacation or staycation. You do not have to break the bank to experience great adventures.

Consider these 3 ideal destinations:

THE IRRESISTIBLY WELL-ROUNDED BALI

Empty your mind and close your eyes. What is the first thought that pops into your mind when you visualize a relaxing getaway? Personally, I envision strolling at pristine beaches that overlooks the majestic mountains. Bali lets you experience this and more!

From historic temples to luxurious villas, Bali provides opportunities for interactive family sessions. You can climb the famous Mount Batur or take part in a rejuvenating yoga retreat.

Read Also: Tips For Hiking Alone

Saving Tip: Browse through the travel packages that your trusted financial institutions offer. For instance, UOB has the “3D2N Explore Bali Your Way” and “3D2N Ossotel Legian” packages. The former includes a round-trip airfare, airport transfer, accommodation, daily breakfast, and a 10-hour car disposal service. While the latter includes a tailored stay at a aesthetically-pleasing contemporary hotel. Prices for these said packages start at S$448.

THE BRIGHT CITY LIGHTS OF HONG KONG

One of the most accessible countries in the Southeast Asia is Hong Kong. If your fantasy vacation includes the vibrant nightlife and mouthwatering street food, Hong Kong is the place to be!

How can you think twice about going anywhere else when the tempting aroma of Cantonese food breezes past you? Well, delicious meals are hard to resist especially for food-loving Singaporeans. You can also shop until you drop as you discover its bargain shops and markets.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Saving Tip: Absorb the technique of travel agencies by using comparison sites such as skyscanner.com.sg and cheapflights.com.sg. Thanks to modern technology, you do not have to spend countless hours on the tedious search through every airline out there.

THE ECCENTRICALLY ARTISTIC MELBOURNE

Looking forward to showcase your collection of sweaters and coats? Experience the chilling winds brought by the South Pole as you explore the wonders of Melbourne. Navigate bravely through this city to be greeted by friendly inhabitants and culturally-rich establishments.

As an art junkie, I can recommend visiting their museums. You can drop by the Heide Museum of Modern Art or the Melbourne Museum. You do not want to miss the “Melbourne Cup” every November. This is a massive horse-race event that is celebrated throughout their nation.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Saving Tip: If you are a spontaneous traveler, consider spotting the last-minute bargains. Last-minute deals come in handy with an occupation of ever-changing schedules. Try visiting Expedia to book for a last-minute flight to Melbourne.

Make Instant Travel Insurance Claims at Changi Airport with HyfeAssure

Consumers typically grapple with various issues when trying to file travel claims with travel insurance providers. For instance, consumers might lack the knowledge with regards to the administrative process of filing claims. This could be due to a lack of provision of clear instructions from the travel insurance provider. It is just as likely that the consumer is not bothered to find out more about the claim process until the actual need arises. Even if the consumer successfully files a claim, the process can potentially be cumbersome due to the multiple verifications required and the lengthy time involved before a claim is successfully processed. As a result, the traveller might remember less about his or her wonderful holiday, but more about the unpleasant experience with the travel insurance provider. The good news is that travellers in Singapore can now cast such worries aside as instant travel insurance claims can now be made at Changi Airport with HyfeAssure.

For the first time in Singapore, HyfeAssure allows travellers instantly process their travel claims at the Changi Recommends counters located across all 4 terminals in Changi Airport. HyfeAssure is an innovative travel insurance product underwritten by HL Assurance for Changi Travel Services. With HyfeAssure, customers can now furnish the necessary supporting documents and submit travel claims for medical expenses, travel delays or misconnections, baggage delays and baggage damages and receive immediate payouts up to $200.

This is how HyfeAssure works:

Upon returning and touching down at Singapore Changi Airport, a HyfeAssure customer can proceed to any of the Changi Recommends counter located at any of the 4 terminals.
Travel claims for cases such as medical expenses, travel delays, baggage delays, baggage damage and travel misconnections can be processed immediately at the Changi Recommends counter.
Customer must furnish the relevant supporting documents such as original medical reports, invoices from medical clinics and baggage loss and travel delay reports from airlines.
Customer service officer at the Changi Recommends counter will make an immediate assessment of these claims. Once approved, the customer can get up to $200 in cash on the spot!

As the process has shown, HyfeAssure instantly brings travel convenience up another notch since its customers can now file and receive travel claims once they touch down.

Besides the convenience factor, HyfeAssure is also competitively priced. Travellers can enjoy 50% off travel insurance when they use the promotional code 50OFF. The low and competitive premium represents excellent value for holiday-goers who would like to have a greater peace of mind when travelling. Therefore, with HyfeAssure, travellers can now kiss goodbyes to bad travel claim experiences ruining their holidays ever again!

Practical Ways To Share The Bill With Friends

It is no secret that splitting the bill is a source of conflict among friends, especially if one person is trying to ditch the contribution at all costs. Most Singaporeans do not want to be perceived as cheap, nor do they want to embarrass themselves.

Run through these methods when caught up in this seemingly awkward situation:

#1: BE ASSERTIVE

The person who speaks first is usually on top of the social situation. With an independent persona, I am one of those people who are not afraid to decide in behalf of a group. I initially blurt out my suggestions concerning our dining experiences (e.g., eating at a restaurant versus eating at my flat). Agreeing upon a specific strategy beforehand avoids the potential conflicts.

Take matters to your own hands by brainstorming about the payment strategy prior to booking a table or ordering food online. You do not want to awkwardly stare at each other when the bill arrives!

#2: SHARE EVERYTHING EVENLY

If you have no qualms with maximizing your budget and sharing your food (unlike “Joey” from F•R•I•E•N•D•S) then, by all means, split the bill evenly. This communal approach welcomes the relatively equal consumption of appetizers, mains, desserts, drinks, and so on. You all pay for the service charge too.

Having a great time while sharing delectable experiences – isn’t that what friendship is for?

#3: REQUEST FOR SEPARATE BILLS

Looking for the most logical method to split the restaurant costs? Well, you can politely ask for separate bills or checks! Having separate bills makes it clear that you will only pay for the meals and drinks that you have consumed. The only downside is the added load you posed on the server, but you can always compensate by giving a generous tip.

This method comes in handy when you are leaving earlier than the rest of your friends.

#4: DOWNLOAD AN SMART APP

In these days, there is almost always an app for everything and anything. Consider leaning on technology for a helping hand. You read that right! There are several apps on the market that allows to ease this social situation. For instance, you may download the Splitwise app for free. Splitwise allows you to keep track of the total amount that your friends owe you. When they are ready to pay their debts, they just have to complete the transaction through PayPal.

Another no-cost app that has a similar function is the Venmo (for Android and iOS). Venmo allows you send payment requests to your friends without the awkward money conversations. You can also pay your friends back if they sent a request to you.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

No matter what method you end up employing, sensitivity is bound to be an element in this situation. Overcome the bill splitting by clearly communicating your expectations and opinions.

Makeup Addict’s Guide To Saving More Money

From all walks of life, makeup addicts are not afraid to widen their collection of beauty products. Fortunately, you do not have to spend too much to feel like a million bucks! Save money by employing these simple hacks below.

#1: EXPERIMENT WITH COLORS AND SHADES

Play the role of a beauty scientist without having to wear a lab gown by mixing your cosmetics. A YouTuber named Safiya Nyagaard explored the possibilities of fusing her nude lipsticks and her eye shadow palettes. It resulted to her favorite product – the Franken lipstick.

Without spending a cent on additional colors, you can achieve your dream products! Mix or melt a couple of your lipstick, eye shadow, and foundation together to create a new look. This will come in handy when you buy a product that you regret. For instance, I bought a “hot pink” lipstick recently. I bought it mainly due to its organic formulation. To make it more wearable, I layer it with a pinkish nude shade.

#2: USE YOUR BRUSH, NOT YOUR FINGERS

There is a reason why makeup artists have distinct brushes for specific purposes! For starters, using a brush allows you to precisely apply the product where you intend it to be. Furthermore, using fingers primarily may result to wastage of the product.

I have to admit that I am one of those people who find it easier to apply foundation using my fingers. I seem to control the blending better using this technique. However, I frequently have to wipe off a pea-sized amount with tissue. The seemingly small amounts add up!

#3: GIVE DRUGSTORE BRANDS A CHANCE

It is tempting to purchase the latest products available at Sephora, especially if you have a loyalty card. Constantly searching for high-end products can lead to overlooking the drugstore counterparts and its potential savings. Give drugstore products a fair chance!

A true makeup addict knows that the drugstore brands are stepping up their game as they launch quality collections with competitive formulas. You may notice that some drugstore brands collaborate with famous celebrities. Take a look at the neutral capsule created by Gigi Hadid for Maybelline.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Maybelline along with Wet n Wild, Essence, and L’oreal are some of the best drugstore brands out there. Do not be afraid to explore cheaper dupes of your favorite high-end products!

Sources: 1 & 2

The Future Of Cashless Payment

Much is known about the fact that Singapore is very much still a predominantly cash-based society. So much so that during the 2017 National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong mentioned that Singapore has lagged behind in terms of electronic payments. This comes at a time when other countries have already moved forward to embrace cashless transactions and accepting phone payments with a virtual terminal. This was a wake-up call as a slow adoption rate towards electronic payments has impeded Singapore’s progress towards a Smart Nation. Several organisations and fintech startups have heeded the clarion call and responded with their own cashless mobile apps. None so has delivered in a bigger and more promising way than OPG Asia has with its very own SpherePay.

What is SpherePay

SpherePay is an integrated mobile application that allows both consumers and merchants to process cashless transactions. With a fully equipped and QR-code based transaction system, it aims to promote an ecosystem of digital transactions such as micro loans and mobile wallets. SpherePay is developed by OPG Asia Pte Ltd, one of the world’s leading providers of financial innovation and payment services. OPG Asia is committed to the development of electronic business and operations to improve the operational efficiency of society as a whole. With data security as one of its operating principles, OPG Asia is certified by the Payment Card Industry (‘PCI’) Data Security Standards. This is an important step to gain credibility and trust amongst consumers and merchants.

How To Use SpherePay

For the consumers, SpherePay provides 4 main functions- a) Scan & Pay b) Collect Money c) Top Ups, Withdrawals and D) Advance Cash Credits.

To start using these amazing functions on the SpherePay mobile app, follow this step-by-step guide:

Download SpherePay on the Apple Store or on Google Play and sign up as a registered user.
To start using the Scan & Pay function, tap here to active camera to SCAN Merchant QR Code to pay. If you are transferring money to your peers on SpherePay, also tap this function to scan your peer’s unique QR code.
To collect money from others on SpherePay, click here to activate your own QR code to receive money transfer from others.
To top up or withdraw money on SpherePay, click either of these 2 buttons. Consumers can link their own debit cards or bank accounts to inject or withdraw funds from SpherePay.
To apply for advance cash credits, click here and obtain a quick loan to purchase items at merchant shops. This allows consumer to buy now and pay later. The advance cash credit will also be available on several online and e-commerce stores.

These 4 key functions effectively form the core of a digital wallet and bring with them countless advantages.

Why Go Cashless With SpherePay

SpherePay enables consumers to link all their credit and debit cards into a single app to pay for their purchases by scanning the merchant QR code. With hundreds of merchants island-wide, this means that users can now leave their wallets in the comforts of their homes without worrying about the need for cash.

When the moment arrives for bills to be split at the dining table, a SpherePay user can simply transfer money on the app by just scanning the QR code on his friend’s SpherePay app.

Going cashless with SpherePay allows the users to snag exclusive promotions and special offers listed by participating merchants on the SpherePay app. Be notified of such exclusive promotions on the SpherePay app with the Location Based Services push notification function.

SpherePay is rapidly expanding its footprint. By end of 2018, SpherePay aims to have over 5,000 offline and online merchants island wide. SpherePay’s expansion plans also includes regional footprints with Thailand and Indonesia opening in 1Q2018 and the rest of South-east Asia by end 2018. This means consumers can shop easily in multiple countries without having to worry on changing physical monies at the money changers.

Download SpherePay Today

SpherePay is available for download on Google Play or The Apple Store. Download immediately and you no longer have to worry about bringing your oversized wallet out the next time!

* Note that SpherePay is no longer functioning.

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