Many people believe that the “student life” is golden. I firmly agree! The holistic experiences and social exposures you receive during the course of your tertiary education are heavily treasured. You cannot get these things anywhere else!
Ease your financial load by following these tips:
JUST KEEP PEDALING
Automobile companies lure us with their promise of privacy and convenience during our daily commute. Owning a car may add a level of prestige, but it comes with a hefty price! You must cover several expenses such as gas, parking, and maintenance. Just thinking about my car’s maintenance gives me a headache!
As a thriving student, it is a good idea to steer away from this financial burden. Consider the alternative types of commute such as public transportation, cycling, and walking. You are eligible to apply for an Undergraduate Concession Card as a full-time undergraduate from a government or government-aided tertiary institution (T&Cs apply). This card allows you to save a decent amount of cash for your entire matriculation.
Image Credits: pixabay.com
Secondly, cycling to school is beneficial for the environment and for your health. The same benefits apply to walking. When I was a university student, I spared 40 minutes of my day for travelling. I walked to school every morning with music in my ears. I can either feel the breeze or focus on my thoughts. Do the same thing if you are going to travel short distances.
As a friendly reminder, stay safe by having someone accompany you while walking to isolated areas. Let a family member or a friend know about your whereabouts at all times.
SELL YOUR BOOKS
It goes without saying that the product of one’s intellect comes with a price. Reference books or textbooks suited for tertiary students costs as low as S$50 each. It is a significant price to pay for a book that you will use for barely 3-4 months. Thus, students must employ different strategies to save money on their books.
Firstly, you can rent a book for free at the National Library. Secondly, you can purchase second-hand books online. Lastly, you may sell your old books to afford another one. Aim to sell your books to the next batch of students.
I am well aware that some people refuse to discard their belongings, including the ones that are seemingly useless (e.g., old newspapers). Hoarding can harm your chances of getting the best deals as the books’ resale value lessens in time.
EARN ON THE SIDE
In general, tertiary students are divided into two financial groups. The first group of people can survive solely with their allowance. While, the second group survives by earning money on the side. It is easy to immerse yourself with your academic responsibilities without having to worry about your finances. However, you may want to invest on your financial freedom. Extra money entails that you can build a travel or an emergency fund.
Image Credits: pixabay.com
I belonged to the first group. During the first year of my tertiary education, I underestimated the weight of earning my own money. I handpicked the friendly gatherings that I will attend to maximize my allowance. My perception all changed when my friend pointed out that I must choose the restaurant to eat at. I was given the tasked as she perceived me to be the “poorest”. I decided to boost my financial capacity by working as a secretary at my mother’s workplace. This experience has exposed me to the diverse work culture in the country. Not to mention, it benefited my career profile.
Make money on the side by working part-time at a restaurant, by distributing flowers, or by opening a blog shop. Find part-time jobs at freelancezone.com.sg.
What are your financial resolutions for the next year? Here are some ideas to get you started.
#1: BE DEBT-FREE
When it comes to minimizing your debts, it pays to be strategic! You can either conquer a volume of smaller debts or a decent amount of high-interest debts. The important thing is to restructure your debts in order for payments to go towards your principal rather than the interest.
#2: CANCEL UNNECESSARY ACCOUNTS
Look into your current financial situation. Keep an eye on the redundant and unnecessary elements. Do you really need to pay for everything with your several accounts (i.e., both credit and savings accounts)? In most cases, the answer is “NO”! Financial institutions charges fees for the simplest of things. Consider closing down or canceling your unnecessary accounts.
#3: IMPROVE YOUR DEFENSE
No one knows when the next financial crisis will hit! To help ease the burden of unexpected costs, your first line of defense is the emergency fund. Modify your budget in such a way that you would have an excess amount of cash for emergencies.
#4: BOOST YOUR GOLDEN NEST
Now is the perfect time to invest for your needs beyond retirement. As a Singaporean Citizen or a Permanent Resident, you are privileged to have a straightforward retirement plan. Just ensure that your company’s terms are in lined with the CPF’s. Grow your “golden nest” to its full potential by maximizing your personal contributions.
#5: GIVE MONEY AWAY
Fulfilling someone’s monetary plea is one of the most positive ways to start the year 2018! If you are capable of shelling out a portion of your savings without hurting your budget then, you may donate to a good cause. You will realize the true value of your money as you see it transform someone else’s life.
#6: BE A BOOKWORM
Knowledge is definitely powerful! Particularly, printed media allows you to directly interact with some of the century’s brilliant minds. You may want to explore the different non-fiction topics including the wonders of Investments as a renewed bookworm. Look into the interesting titles such as “The Intelligent Investor” or “Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits”.
Image Credits: pixabay.com
These books and similar ones will allow you to learn the basics directly from the people who were most successful in the field.
As consumers get savvier about insurance, the Do-It-Yourself (‘DIY’) approach of “Buy Term and Invest the Difference” is gradually gaining in popularity. Briefly, it is the combination of buying a term life insurance and investing the “savings” from the lower premiums being paid. This contrasts with Investment-Linked Policy (‘ILP’) which has both life insurance and investment components. An example would be the AIA Pro Achiever which has been designed to include both insurance and investment elements in the most optimal manner. In general, ILP is preferred by consumers who want more exposure to investments than what other life insurance products may be able to provide. Therefore, it will be too foolhardy to dismiss ILP altogether. It definitely still has its merits and exists to benefit certain groups of consumers and situations.
ILP invests in a methodological and structured manner
One of the biggest merits of purchasing an ILP is to have investment professionals take over the actual investing. An example would be Mercer’s partnership with AIA to manage the investments under the AIA Pro Achiever policy. As a leading global investment consultant, Mercer possess the requisite expertise and rigor to manage and grow the investments in a methodological and structured manner.
Furthermore, the premiums collected under the AIA Pro Achiever policy will be fully earmarked for investment right from the start. Expenses for this ILP are also low since no sales charge will be levied. Bid-offer spread is also not applicable. What these imply are that every dollar contributed will have the potential to experience investment growth. Therefore, policyholders can afford more time with their loved ones with the knowledge that their investment portfolios are under the experienced hands of Mercer.
On the other hand, the DIY approach is prone to possible lapses. That is because it is not uncommon for one to juggle multiple roles (eg: the hardworking worker, the responsible parent) simultaneously today. During stressful periods, emotions could go on overdrive while investment may take a backseat instead. As a result, a case of “overwhelming emotions” or “absent-mindedness” could potentially ruin any well-planned investment strategy. However, by buying an ILP, such incidents can be avoided since the investment component has been outsourced to professionals. Regular-premium ILPs also employ a dollar-cost average approach that helps to even out market volatility. Over the long term, it allows the policyholder to fully reap the benefits of staying invested in the market.
ILP is a flexible finance instrument
ILP is a flexible finance instrument that can be catered to investors according to their risk-appetite profiles. For instance, the AIA Pro Achiever policy offers 3 types of portfolios; Adventurous, Balanced or Cautious. This provides a choice for policyholder to select a portfolio that best matches his or her expected returns/risk profile. The flexibility extends further as policyholders are able to switch or rebalance their funds from time to time at no additional fee. This is critical as risk appetites would naturally evolve when certain life milestones are reached.
In addition, AIA provides leeway for policyholders to adjust monthly premiums especially since one’s cashflow could fluctuate from time to time. For instance, during an unexpected windfall or upon receipt of annual bonuses, policyholders have the option of topping up their premiums. Likewise, when liquidity gets tight, policyholders are at liberty to take a premium holiday. Finally, there is always the option of making withdrawals when a critical need or emergency arises.
ILP also serves as a life insurance
Let’s not forget that ILP also doubles up as a life insurance which means that there is a death benefit attached to it. On this, investment-linked policyholders are typically covered up to the policy value or to the amount that they have invested. This offers an extra peace of mind as immediate family members would be able to receive the sum assured in the event of an untimely passing. A noteworthy feature of the AIA Pro Achiever is the additional death benefit payout of 100% total regular premium paid in the event of accidental death during the first 2 policy years.
AIA also recognises that with increased life expectancies, policyholders may prefer to stay invested longer. Therefore, AIA Pro Achiever allows policyholders to stay invested till age 100 (also the policy maturity)! Furthermore, AIA Pro Achiever actively rewards policyholder that stays invested for the long term. Firstly, charges for premium holidays, partial withdrawals etc are waived after the 13th year of paying premiums. Upon reaching this milestone, policyholders are also awarded an extra 5% allocation on their premiums annually. Such loyalty features suggest that the AIA Pro Achiever provides even more value for money for policyholders that stay invested longer.
Get in touch with an AIA appointed representative to find out more about the AIA Pro Achiever today!
Nothing in this article should be construed as constitute or form a recommendation, financial advice, or an offer, invitation or solicitation from Money Digest to buy or subscribe for any securities and/or investment products. Any past performance, projection, forecast or simulation of results is not necessarily indicative of the future or likely performance of any company or investment. The content and materials made available are for informational purposes only and should not be relied on without obtaining the necessary independent financial or other advice in connection therewith before making an investment or other decision as may be appropriate.
Weigh the advantages and disadvantages of owning a credit card, before signing up for one!
WHY YOU MIGHT NEED IT
Here are some of the convincing points that highlight how useful owning a credit card is:
1. Practical for Globetrotters
Singaporeans desire to discover the world’s wonders beyond its concrete jungle. As travelling became increasingly convenient nowadays, there are several options for payment. One is through credit. There are three primary reasons why travelling with a credit card is practical.
Firstly, travel arrangements such as room reservation and car rental are usually done with a credit or debit card. Secondly, it adds a proof of financial capacity when trying to acquire a Multiple Entry Visa in some countries. Lastly, there is a sense of relief to know that you always have access to emergency funds while travelling.
Image Credits: pixabay.com
2. Protection against Crooks
I was once robbed when I was young. I let my guards down as I was accompanied by my friend. After watching a fantastic film, I noticed that my wallet was missing. My friend and I frantically searched for it for hours. I even left my contact details to the cinema staff, but I had no luck! I had to accept that a decent amount of cash was gone. The unfortunate ordeal applies to my house keys as well as my debit card. To prevent identity theft, I had to immediately contact my bank. The process took two days.
If I only carried a credit card, the gravity of the situation may lessen. Credit cards are not tangible as cash. It is also not linked to your savings account. Many establishments ask for further identification for significant purchases. Furthermore, you can simply report a lost card thru a phone call.
3. Essential for Good Credit Report
Gone are the days when you solely think about budgeting your allowance. Welcome to the adult world whereby property owners and automotive establishments judge you by your credit report. Some of the best interest rates are offered to the people who carry impressive credit report.
It takes no genius to realize that using your credit card sensibly builds a good credit report. If you are suffering from a bad one, it is time to rehabilitate through a realistic financial plan.
WHY YOU DO NOT NEED IT
Here are some of the convincing points that highlight how owning a credit card is a recipe for disaster:
1. Tempting for Impulsive Buyers
Whether you believe it or not, we all have a control over our shopping habits. You can either be a frugal shopper who regularly reads consumer reviews or an impulsive shopper who regularly submits to tempting offers. For a person who has a difficult time in resisting a purchase, equipping yourself with a credit card may be harmful for your finances.
Using a credit card diminishes the sense of awareness as you are spending the money that you do not have. You are likely to shop based on your wants than on its costs. On the other hand, shopping with cash may allow to contemplate about your purchase. You buy what you can only afford to pay for now.
2. Solely for Smaller Purchases
If your primary purpose for owning a credit card is to cover your fondness for retail therapy, owning a credit card is not necessary. It is a good idea to save up for purchases costing S$250 or less. The delayed gratification allows you to contemplate about the coveted product.
Swiping a credit card is helpful for bigger purchases that you want to pay in several chunks such as purchasing a new laptop as well as financing your child’s education.
3. Unnecessary for Savvy Planners
One of the famous tests involving Typology highlights the dichotomous nature of people who are calculated and people who are spontaneous. The latter plans out several areas of their lives before jumping into a decision. While, the former enthusiastically goes with the flow.
I, for one, plan out my entire budget for the month as well as the funds that will go to savings and the emergency fund. Setting up an emergency fund entails keeping at least 6 months’ worth of your salary. If you have a strong emergency fund, it is unnecessary to have a credit card for emergencies.
Printing T Shirts in Singapore is definitely one tasks that many people have experienced. This is no surprise as t-shirts and apparels are customizable items that is commonly used for CCA t-shirts, events, corporate wear, promotional and many more uses. Many people prefer t-shirts when casually dressed in Singapore. It is a very common perception that t-shirts give a casual look and are very comfortable. T-shirts can serve as perfect giveaways and getting same t-shirts for the whole team is has also become a common trend. T-shirts are becoming more and more common with time.
T-Shirt Printing in Singapore:
Many people believe that there are not many benefits of ordering customized shirts when there are plenty of prints and designs available in the market. You might not know it yet but there are numerous benefits of buying customized printed tees. Some of these benefits include;
i. Highlighting the Personal Styling:
One major advantage of opting for a customized t-shirt is that a person can define his/her personal styling. The ready-made shirts and designs are pretty good too but these somehow limit the styling of people ordering a customized shirt which allows people to show their style the way they want. These personal styling can be easily achieved via the silk screen printing process.
ii. Money Saved:
When buying ready-made t-shirts, often people end up putting the shirts away but in case of the customized shirt, there are no such chances. This is because customizing provides them a way to get rid of designs they don’t want and make alterations to existing design. The chances of the money being wasted are negligible in this case.
iii. Provide a Way of Marketing:
With the passage of time, the marketers are coming up with new, fresh ideas for marketing. One of the ways you can market your business or brand is through customized t-shirts. You can make your team member wear t-shirts with your company or brand logos printed along with an eye-catching illustration or phrases. This is an easy, simple and cheaper way to market and publicize your brand.Want T-shirts for your team? Or as a giveaway at a corporate event? Or for a competition? The big question is, where do we go to save money to get the best & cheapest t-shirt printing in Singapore?
At Meowprint, you can get any type of t-shirts printed be that in a small quantity or in a bulk quantity at great prices. They are one of the leading and most reliable T-shirt printing Singapore hub which has a vast variety of shirts to choose from. There are many other options for you to choose from when buying printed t-shirts in Singapore as the t-shirt printing industry has been prevailing in the country. Being the leading provider allows them to provide competitive prices to the market.
Why Choose Meowprint?
Have you ever googled “T-shirt printing Singapore” and yet find it very frustrating and time-consuming going to different vendors trying to find the best items and prices for your needs? For a start, Meowprint has the largest t shirt printing catalog and this will save you time from browsing different websites altogether. Get what’s available in Singapore from Meowprint alone. Below are some of the items they provide.
General T-shirts:
The general t-shirts category includes; plain cotton round neck t-shirts, plain dri-fit round neck t-shirts, multi-tone dri-fit t-shirts, v-neck t-shirts, raglan-sleeves t-shirts, long-sleeves t-shirts, ringer t-shirts, Muslimah wear, anvil long sleeve hooded tee, tultex blend tee, and anvil camouflage tee.
Polo Shirts:
Polo shirts are also very popular among the people of Singapore and that is why they provide a various category of these shirts including; plain cotton polo t-shirts, plain dri-fit polo t-shirts, multi-tone polo t-shirts, multi-tone dri-fit polo t-shirts, mandarin collar t-shirts and long-sleeves polo t-shirts.
Outerwear:
In the category of outwear, Meowprint offers many options to choose from. The options include; hoodies, windbreakers, jackets, sweatshirts, varsity jackets and bomber jackets.
Singlets:
Following are the types of singlets available ; dri-fit singlets and cotton singlets.
Workwear:
Shirts, F1 uniforms, work jackets, and vests are all available in the category of workwear.
Design Lab:
There are many forums and platforms in Singapore from where people can get their customized tees. But with Meowprint, people get a chance to design their own tees. People can use their ideas and artistic skills to design their own t-shirt prints. There is no such thing as choosing from the available designs as the people are given a chance to make their own designs. This way the risk of a specific design being out-of-stock is reduced. This is an amazing service being offered by the most reliable tee shirt printing Singapore hub.
This service is not offered by any other clothing brand any t-shirt printing hub in Singapore and this is the reason why many people has chosen Meowprint t-shirt printing services. The shirt is your canvas, design the shirts according to your taste and personality, and let no one limit your styling ability. With this platform, they can also then extract the designs you wish to print and incorporate them really quickly. You can even enquire directly via this platform.
There are many features within the design lab. Some of these features include
i. Add Text:
This tool is a very helpful tool if you wish to add a little text such as a famous quote, two-liner or a cool tag to your shirts. You can now write anything you wish was on your shirt in whichever font, color or size you want.
ii. Add Clipart:
This option allows the customers to add images of any available designs and if you wish to get an image of your choice printed on the shirts than you can simply browse and add the desired image. This is a very amazing feature.
iii. Your Design:
This is a feature which provides the customer the option to use the shirt as a canvas and show their artistic skills. You can make whatever you like with any colors and designs you want.
iv. Design Ideas:
With this option, the customers can use any of the available designs from the platform if they cannot think of something cool or sober.
Transparent Instant Quotes:
They also provide transparent instant price quotes on their website. Unlike any other online retailer in Singapore, they provide this service to help people calculate the amount they are going to spend on their t-shirts and apparels. This saves customers a lot of time by having an estimated price in their budget consideration without even having the hassle to get in touch with 10 different suppliers. By being transparent, they are confident they provide very competitive rates in the market to ensure you get cheap and high quality apparels& printswith no worries.
Customer Feedback:
Nothing can be more convincing than hearing the review of genuine customers. That is the place where you can actually know the real feedback from the customers. They have been rated five on five stars in customer reviews, a platform powered by Facebook. You can navigate to the reviews webpage of their website and there you can see the long list of positive feedback from the customers. The team practices professionalism and patience with all their customers.
Recent Projects:
The recent projects being worked upon or already completed are a proof of how reliable this online retailer is. The largest tee shirt printing Singapore catalogue providers are one of the most professional online retailers of Singapore.
Some of their recent projects include;
i. Singapore Airlines:
This was a very important project for the company. The logo of the company was to be printed on the shirts. This project was completed on 26th September 2017.
ii. Google Asia Pacific:
This project is an example of the shirts that are used in the events for the core teams. It is the choice of the customer to provide an already designed logo other than this the customer has an option to design the logo using the design lab. This project was completed on 12th October 2017.
iii. Roadbull Logistics Pte Ltd
This project was completed on 26th September 2017. We provide shirts with the creative design of a bull and vehicles combined.
There are many other projects on which they are currently working. The team tries their best not to delay any orders to ensure that the customers do not have to go through any inconvenience.
Conclusion:
These are the top-most reasons why one should choose Meowprint as their t-shirt printing shop stop. Not only do they provide cheap t-shirt printing to help you save money, many of the attributes being practiced here cannot be found in many other online retailers. Once you order from here and try out their service, you will know why they are the largest and the most trusted tee shirt printing online retailer in Singapore. The team practices exceptional business ethics attributes such as professionalism and dedication.
