8 Money-Saving Hacks For Families In Singapore

#1: OPT FOR PRE-LOVED GOODS

Save money while contributing to a sustainable environment by exploring the thrift stores and second-hand markets in the country. From baby clothes to infant accessories, dig deeper to each pile to score some great finds.

#2: REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE

Reduce your waste by reusing empty containers or recycling products before throwing each one away. Maximize the use of your sandwich bags, plastic containers, disposable utensils, and water bottles.

#3: MAKE YOUR OWN CARDS

With the number of birthdays and holidays in Singapore, your expense for greeting cards will add up. Instead of purchasing a S$5 greeting card from a nearby bookstore, you can have your children create one for you. Children love to use their artistic skills through crafts and illustrations. Let their creativity shine while giving your wallet an extra boost.

#4: SHARE A RIDE

It goes without saying that owning and maintaining a vehicle in Singapore is a costly task. This is where carpooling and GrabShare come in. Save money on ERP tolls, parking fees, and petrol by encouraging a friend to share a ride.

#5: GET RID OF THE CABLE

If you cannot keep up with the television bills then, you may want to enjoy video streaming services instead. Netflix Singapore and Toggle.sg offers a wide array of series and movies. Choose an economic option that will best suit your needs.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

#6: SHOP WISELY

Grocery shopping is tempting for anyone. This is why many people end up buying more than what they intended. Please avoid shopping when you are angry or tired. Furthermore, you must not shop without a list in mind. The list will help you to prioritize your needs over your wants.

#7: WAIT FOR TEN

Shopping for every little item as soon as it runs out is a recipe for disaster! Wait until you need at least 10 items before heading to the store. You may also apply this strategy when shopping online.

#8: CONSIDER FAMILY MEMBERSHIPS

Spending quality time with your family is important. Who does not want to enjoy a pleasant day outside the house? By singing up to family memberships, you can take advantage of various group deals. These memberships are available at National Gallery of Singapore, Jurong Bird Park, Universal Studios, and so much more.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Sources: 1, 2, 3, & 4

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Where Did All Your Money Go?

“Where did all my money go?”, a friend of mine shouted in an open space.

Let us face it! People usually do not realize how much they are spending. You may not have a lavish lifestyle but, you seem to run out of money. Why is this so?

If you want to uncover the answer, tracking your spending comes in handy! Reach clarity by understanding how you manage your money. This step will help you to fully take control of your finances.

DETERMINE YOUR SPENDING HABITS

With the complexities of finances, where do you begin? Consider starting with identifying your spending habits. Do you pay to get your hair professionally dyed or do you dye it at home? Do you buy coffee from Starbucks or take advantage of the free-flowing coffee? Shed a light to your daily expenses and match these with your financial goals.

When you have identified a mismatch between your spending habits and financial goals, you can immediately plan the necessary alterations. Tracking your spending is essential to making better financial choices.

CATEGORIZE YOUR EXPENSES

Looking at your spending habits under a microscope entails that you have the ability to categorize each one. Complete your task by writing your expenses on a notebook or a ledger. Much like us, these expenses exist in a variety of ways. Some expenses are exclusively for students, while others are exclusively for working adults.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Begin tracking your expenses by dividing a piece of paper into several columns. Assign an expense category on top of each column and highlight the allotted amount for it. For instance, the “entertainment” expense category can only consume S$100 of your monthly income.

TAKE SMALL STEPS

It goes without saying that you cannot force things. Forcing someone to love you reeks of desperation and displays no self-respect. Attraction comes naturally. Same with your finances. Taking control of your finances must not be a forceful act. Forcing success may lead to shutting down opportunities that you could have had. Try taking small steps first.

After categorizing each expense, commit yourself to recording your daily spending. Awareness of your daily spending helps you to keep track of how much you have left on each category. Simply deduct the amount that you spent today from the category’s “allotted budget”. A savvy shopper equips himself or herself with these information.

DOWNLOAD AN APP

Embrace modern technology by downloading an app or a software to keep track of your expenses. I, for one, use the free Spendee app. This user-friendly finance app allows me to categorize my expenses and to illustrate the entirety through graphs or charts. Entering a budget is as simple as pie!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Some apps or programs allow you to sync your device to the computer. This way, your partner can examine your spending habits too. As a team, you may prevent overspending and stay within your bounds.

Source: The Balance

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12 Reasons Why You Aren’t Financially Ready To Get Married

1. Your present goals are mainly self-motivated (e.g., discovering oneself by traveling to several countries in Europe).

2. You are an undergraduate student who does not have an adequate amount of savings. Not to mention, you have to pay your student debts too.

3. You still depend on your parents to cover your monthly bills.

4. You are mortified with the idea of having a someone influence your ability to borrow money. Having a spouse with poor credit score may diminish your chances of getting the best car loan or joint credit card deals.

5. You have pushed the idea of marriage aside to build a career. Furthermore, you believe that attaining success at work will appeal to many potential partners.

6. “No money, no marriage” seems to encapsulate the fact that matrimony requires money, time, and effort. Thanks to the Singaporean wedding industry, couples spend an average cost of S$30,000 on their nuptials.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

7. You cannot afford to face higher insurance premiums. For instance, marrying a partner whose track record with cars is unappealing may negatively influence your car insurance premiums.

8. Your financial resources cannot cover the expenses that come with raising a family. Expectant mothers need to visit the OB/GYNs or gynecologists regularly. As a result, you will have to pay about S$60-75 per visit.

9. Your savings and insurance cannot match the overwhelming hospitalization fees of pregnancy. Can you imagine paying about S$3,000 for a two-day hospitalization in a private room of a private hospital?

10. You and your significant other have differing attitudes and beliefs towards money. Understanding each other’s spending habits and attaining compromise is one thing. But, continuously arguing about money is another.

11. You do not have a clear financial path at the moment. Consider seeking professional help.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

12. You are protecting your properties. Furthermore, you have not figured out how to divide your assets.

Whatever the reason might be, matrimony is a huge decision that you shall make when you are holistically prepared to face the next step. You may not be ready at the moment but, that is alright. No one knows what lies ahead!

Sources:  1, 2, & 3

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Want Healthier Hair? Pay more attention to your scalp

Healthy hair and non-greasy scalp is the goal that many people want to achieve. Nothing beats the charm of a lustrous hair and oil free scalp, with that you can style your hair and look great in any way you want it.

Healthy hair and scalp are difficult to maintain as they tend to get exposed to chemicals and pollution. But with advanced technology at TK Trichokare, fighting an unhealthy scalp has never been this easier.

Trichology – A Scientific Approach to Hair Care

Trichology is the medical term for the study of the health of hair and scalp, and a trichologist is someone who specialises in hair and scalp problems.

Did you know that the word Trichology comes from the Greek word “Trikhos” which means hair?

A trichologist often takes a holistic approach to treating your hair problems by considering your lifestyle, diet and general well-being, and then recommends lifestyle changes you should take to improve your scalp’s condition.

Trichologists treat wide range of common hair problems, such as thinning, breakage, shedding and dry or itchy scalp.

Combing Science with Nature

European herbs are known to be beneficial for your skin and are often used for its medicinal properties. Did you know, they are also beneficial for your scalp and hair growth?

Uniquely formulated with pure bio-extracts, TrichoKare European Herbal Hair Remedy is specially tested and prepared under stringent laboratory standards to fit all hair and scalp conditions. At TrichoKare, hair remedies are extracted carefully from European plant actives right from Nature’s source, so that you can indulge in the gentle care that these herbs bring while being free of harsh chemicals.

Premium herbs are used to strengthen hair follicles, darken your hair and for treatment in hair loss. These include:

Sage

Sage is known to use for treating inflammations, strengthening immune systems and skincare. It is also known as sage moisturise and darken hair that aid in hair loss prevention and dandruff treatment.

Nettle

Nettle is mainly used to help detoxify the body, promotes healthy blood circulation and alleviates allergic reactions. You may have heard that it also helps to nourish hair follicles and encourages healthy hair as it is effective in hair loss treatment.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is commonly present in skincare products but are you aware that they are also used for hair treatments? Aloe Vera is used to improve blood circulation under the scalp and deliver nutrients to the hair follicles.

“Only went for one treatment, I am amazed by the difference in my scalp condition. Say goodbye to itchy scalp, thanks to TK Trichokare for their effective customized hair treatment. I have tried many off the shelf products but none seems to be working for me. But with one treatment at Trichokare, the results are immediately visible.” – Kim, a satisfied customer of Trichokare

Intensive Hair Regeneration Treatment

Intensive Hair Regeneration treatment is a customized programme offered by TrichoKare that is tailored to each individual need, which includes a detox session involving a masque, deep cleansing wash, and TrichoKare’s newest technology – Oxyspray and infrared therapy.

The Intensive Hair Regeneration helps prevent hair loss, stimulate hair growth and promote cellular activity.

Favoured By Many

With over a decade of experience, TrichoKare has established their credibility promoting healthy hair growth, preventing hair fall and hair loss, with public figures such as Xiaxue, Jaynesh and Anand experiencing first-hand their services.

For a Limited Time only –
Try out TrichoKare’s Award Winning Intensive Hair Regeneration Treatment @ $40 NETT + FREE Tricho Tech + FREE FolliGRO Ampoule (total worth $758).

P.S. Did I mention that you can stand to win 2D1N staycation at MBS (worth $680), after your trial treatment?

Visit http://tk-hair.com/mdmay/ to sign up for this exclusive deal now!

 

 

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Essential Tips On Finding The Right Loan For Your Needs

You have a stable job right now, but since you’re thinking of embarking on a new business soon, you’ll need to acquire a loan. You need the money to purchase your supplies, to hire people and to market your business’ existence. And while you’re certain that you need a loan for this endeavour, you still don’t know how to actually to find the right loan for your needs. In your mind, you think this decision is crucial because the success of your business relies on it – and you’re right. To help you out with your dilemma, consider the essential tips below to find the right loan for you:

  1. How much do you really need?

Just because a lender offers you a loan worth thousands of dollars, doesn’t mean you should take it immediately. Keep in mind that the bigger amount you borrow, the bigger your payments will be – and this can become an issue if your business isn’t as successful as you’d like it to be. On the other side of the coin, if your loan is too small, it might not help you in any way, and you’ll end up paying for high-interest rates. To avoid being placed in this kind of situation, carefully think how much you need for your business and look for a lender which can give you that amount.

  1. What is the interest rates?

Aside from the loan amount itself, you should also consider the interest rates associated with it. Is the lender offering you the amount you need but has very high-interest rates? Are there any lenders in the market who can give you a lesser interest rate? Think about these things first before choosing a loan. It’s also essential to ask the lender if there are any other fees or penalties to be paid after you received the loan. All of the processes involved in the loan should be transparent to you to avoid problems in the future.

  1. What’s the term?

Different loans have different terms. Some loans can be paid for six months while others, in ten years. Since you’re still starting a business, it might be best to settle for a loan which will require you to repay within an extended period of time. This will allow you to save up for the interest rates and the loan, without putting your business’ operations at risk.

Aside from the things you’ve read from this article, it’ll also help if you can actually work with experts when it comes to finding the right loan for your needs. Places like oinkmoney.com may be a good starting point.

Be A Responsible Borrower

Finding the right loan for your needs is never easy. There are several things to think about to come up with the best possible decision. You also have to keep in mind that your responsibility as a borrower doesn’t end the moment you receive the money – you should pour in your time and effort in order to pay all of these in time. If not, your life may be affected negatively. Remember all the things presented in this article, and for sure, you’ll come up with a decision on which loan to get without compromising your financial health in the long run.

Sarah Porter

Sarah Porter is a money-savvy writer and mum of two based in Manchester, UK. She is the Brand and Marketing Manager at the UK loan website Oink Money (oinkmoney.com), as well as the founder of a well known money-saving website. Sarah is originally from Edinburgh where she studied Business and later worked in finance for a FTSE 100 company. She left her career in finance to pursue her passion for writing, a move which allowed her to travel the world with her laptop while running her blog.

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