Budget-friendly Gifts For Your Beloved Girlfriend, Under S$50

Gift-giving is not always easy! If your partner is interested in gadgets, there are hundreds of options from kitchen gadgets to the latest iPhone 13. Apart from the wide variety of options, your gift will depend on the occasion. Fortunately for you, here is a list of gift ideas that you can present on any occasion. Most of these items are available online too!

#1: STARTER KIT FROM FENTY SKIN

Launched in 2020 by superstar Rihanna, Fenty Skin was created to fill in the gaps that exist across all skin types and tones. Fenty Skin is a cult favorite brand along with its predecessor Fenty Beauty. Give your special someone the gift of beauty by purchasing the Total Cleans’R Remove-It-All Cleanser. This is a 2-in-1 makeup remover and cleanser that gives you the luxurious deep clean you deserve. Its creamy lather removes dirt, oil, pollution, and long wear makeup without harming your skin. It costs S$21 at Sephora.

#2: HOMEMADE CHOCOLATES

The artisan chocolates that you can buy at specialty shops are a complete waste of money when you can make a box of chocolates by yourself. Even beginners can still make homemade chocolates as a gift.

Start by laying classic-shaped or square crunchy mini pretzels on a baking sheet. Then, place one bar of chocolate on top of each pretzel. Pop these in a pre-heated oven for about five minutes or until the chocolates begin to soften. Take these out of the oven and allow them to set. Do not worry about the price tags as the ingredients can cost you less than S$6 at your nearest supermarket.

#3: SURPRISE CAR CELEBRATION

Birthdays, anniversaries, or Valentine’s Day can be celebrated in your own home. Set up the surprise before your partner goes to work. Use the back of your car as your creative space and put banners, streamers, and balloons inside. These decorations cost less than S$10 at Shopee or Lazada.

#4: ENCHANTING DIFFUSER SET

Help your lover find her inner peace with different essential oils or diffuser sets. Gifting a diffuser will allow her to create an at-home spa vibe.

If you are looking for a classic calming aroma that can fill your space with relaxing notes, then you can get the HOOGA Reed Diffuser. It is non-electronic and extremely easy to use. The capacity is 200 ml. Price starts at S$19.90 at Lazada.

#5: BEAUTIFUL TRIO OF SUCCULENTS

Aspiring plant moms will be delighted with a trio of succulents. Marked by experts as the best type of plants for beginners, your girlfriend can enjoy fresh houseplants delivered straight to her doorstep.

The World Farm or Hua Hng Trading is one of the largest garden centers in Singapore. Prices here are usually cheaper than most nurseries and they readily stock the bestsellers such as succulents (from S$3), herbs (from S$5), and flowering plants (from S$9).

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Whether you are celebrating an anniversary or a birthday, the expectations can be high while your funds are low. If your bank account balance limits what you can spend on, consider the items on this list. Have a romantic day without spending too much!

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What You Need to Know about Freezing Eggs in Singapore

Regardless of their marital status, women in Singapore will soon be allowed to freeze their eggs for non-medical purposes. Egg freezing is a method used to save a woman’s ability to get pregnant in the future. Eggs harvested from the ovaries are frozen and stored for later use.

The introduction of the Assisted Reproduction Services Regulations under the Healthcare Services Act will allow women (i.e., aged 21 to 35) to undergo elective egg freezing by 2023.

Only legally married couples can use their frozen eggs to complete the process of in-vitro fertilization (IVF). This is in line with the existing IVF rules. IVF occurs when the egg is fertilized by the sperm in a lab for implantation in the uterus.

The Minister of State for Social and Family Development, Ms. Sun Xueling highlighted:
We recognise that there may be women who are not able to find a suitable partner when they are younger, but they still wish to be able to preserve the likelihood of conceiving when they marry later.”

Sufficient safeguards will be put in place to ensure that women are making well-informed decisions when undergoing egg freezing and IVF. For instance, women will be counselled before they freeze their eggs to educate them about the invasive nature of the procedure and its limitations such as the risk of having babies at an older age.

Apart from this information, the frequent questions regarding egg freezing will be answered. These questions include the following:

1. How long can the eggs be stored?

There is no limit on how long eggs can be frozen for medical reasons in Singapore. As freezing helps preserve the eggs, these will be as young and healthy as they were during the time of freezing.

2. When is the best time to freeze your eggs?

It is recommended to freeze your eggs before the age of 35 because fertility starts to decline as you hit your late 30s. The decline affects both the quantity and quality of the eggs.

3. Where are the eggs stored?

Frozen eggs are kept in tanks filled with liquid nitrogen. These tanks, called dewars, are stored in assisted reproduction centres.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

4. Is the egg freezing process safe?

Existing literature has not shown an increased risk of babies having birth defects because of egg freezing.

5. How much will it cost to freeze your eggs in Singapore for medical purposes?

The estimated cost of one cycle of egg freezing is about S$10,000.

6. What are the chances of having a baby after IVF?

Medical research found that the chance of a frozen egg leading to a baby being born is about 2% to 12%, according to Ms. Sun.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

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Visit These 5 Places To Buy Real Christmas Trees & Decorations In Singapore

All of us have different memories of Christmas that we hold close to our hearts. As time passes, our relationship with the Yuletide season evolves. However, one thing remains the same. There’s nothing quite like the smell of Christmas in your home to lift your holiday spirit.

What exactly, is the smell of Christmas? Fresh wreath and trees of course!

For newbies, take this friendly words of advice. If you want to score a fresh tree, you must get it early. Don’t worry about the upkeep because these trees normally last the whole season. Little fading may occur due to being in the tropics. Check out our top picks to buy one in Singapore.

#1: PETITE FLEUR

Spruce up your home with a Christmas wreath meant to be hung on your front door or in the living room to welcome guests and loved ones. Boutique florist Petite Fleur’s 26cm Christmas wreaths will make you stand out from the crowd as it is carefully arranged for you. No two wreaths look exactly alike!

Apart from this, they are selling mini pine trees measuring 30cm to 60cm. These mini-Christmas trees come with fairy lights and fresh decorations.

Image Credits: petitefleursg.com

Price: S$120 for wreaths and S$120-210 for trees, excluding 7% GST

Order online at petitefleursg.com and get free delivery.

#2: IKEA

IKEA not only houses the famous Swedish meatballs and DIY furniture, but also the Vinter 2021. The Vinter 2021 consists of live Christmas trees that retail for S$59 to S$79 at their Alexandra store. Accompany it with a tree stand for only S$25.

Image Credits: Image Credits: ikea.com/sg

Price: S$59 for a 1.6m tree and S$79 for a 2m tree

Purchase at the IKEA Alexandra store. Delivery rates range from S$15 to S$70.

#3: FAR EAST FLORA

When traveling along Thomson Road, it is hard to miss the Far East Flora. Far East Flora is known for its massive selection of flowers and plants. Local plant enthusiasts should be aware of its existence and its huge nurseries. Quickly visit to see their selection of noble fir trees, which were imported from Europe.

Trees that measure 2 to 2.5 meters come with a tree stand. It costs about S$379.45 including GST. If this is beyond your budget, consider purchasing smaller trees or mini trees to bring home the holiday spirit.

Image Credits: facebook.com/FarEastFlora

Price: S$379.45++ for 2-2.5m tree with a tree stand

Location: 565 Thomson Road, Singapore 298184

Purchase online or in store, with a delivery fee of S$25.

#4: SING SEE SOON

Searching for affordable Christmas trees that are as tall as you? The search is over. Sing See Soon has Fraser fir Christmas trees that range from 1.52m to 1.83m, which are sold without a stand. Due to its straight horizontal branches, these Canadian variety of fir trees are pleasing to the eyes.

Image Credits:
singseesoon.com/collections/christmas-tree/products/faser-fir-christmas-tree-5-6ft

Price: S$188

Location: 5 Simei Lane, Singapore 528710

Get yours online or in store, with a delivery fee of S$30.

#5: WONDERLAND BOTANICALS

You don’t have to sacrifice the festive decorations just because you live in a smaller space. Rather than putting your items in the storage area, you can opt for a tabletop Christmas tree. Join a tabletop Christmas tree workshop on 17 Dec to learn how to make your own tree. This 2-hour workshop costs about S$150.

For those who want to save time and money, you can simply buy a Christmas wreath decorated with classic berries for S$135 or a bouquet of nobilis fir branches for S$25.

Image Credits: wonderland.com.sg

Price: S$25 for the bouquet, S$135 for the wreath, and S$150 for the workshop

Location: 1M Yong Siak Street, Singapore 168641

You can order online and get it delivered to your doorstep!

Sources: 1 & 2

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6 Clever Tricks To Help Singaporeans Spend Less On Groceries

Perfecting your grocery budget can help you make serious contributions to your savings. Best of all? Saving on groceries does not have to mean skipping on delicious meals or depriving yourselves of quality produce. Read the following backs before you complete your grocery shopping trip.

#1: BRING A SHOPPING LIST

Whether you want to write down your grocery list on a piece of paper or bring a portable list through a mobile app, you can save time and money by sticking to this list. Free apps such as rShopping List (available on Android) and AnyList (available iOS & Android) let you create customizable lists to help you avoid unnecessary purchases. Some of these apps have built-in calculators too! Use this app to help you split the list when shopping with friends or family members.

#2: SHOP WITH A BASKET

Believe it or not, study showed that consumers tend to spend 40% more money than usual when the size of their shopping carts were doubled. Simply put, people tend to feel more comfortable with filling up trolleys due to its larger size. Trick yourself to narrow down what you need by carrying a basket instead. It may be easier to push a trolley but carrying a basket can help you spend less time and money in the supermarket. What’s more? You can enjoy a free arm workout.

#3: FIND CHEAPER-PRICED ITEMS

Supermarkets strategically put their pricier and popular items at the eye-level so you can get tempted easily. Next time you shop, give yourself the opportunity to comprehensively look at the shelves from top to bottom. While you are at the fresh meats section, filter through the displays to spot the reduced-price items. These packaged meats may be on the display for a few days, but they are still good for the same-day cooking.

#4: LOOK AROUND

Since every aspect of the grocery stores are meant to entice you to buy more, you must not buy the first brand you see. Chances are, products in the lower shelves are of the same quality, but they are cheaper. House brands are typically placed there. Moreover, fresh milks that expire next week are usually hidden behind the carton that expires tomorrow. Feel free to look around.

#5: BUY A WHOLE CHICKEN

A fresh whole chicken retails for about S$6 at the supermarket, whereas buying separate parts of the chicken can cost twice that amount. So, do not be afraid to cut the whole chicken by yourself. There are useful and free tutorials on YouTube. All you need is a sharp knife!

#6: EARN CASH BACK REBATES

Whether you are living with your kids or by yourself, groceries can cause a huge dent to your wallet. Since they are essentials, you cannot exactly cut down so much on the costs. However, you can still get cash rebates.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

If you have a grocery credit card, you can earn cash back rebates whenever you shop.  While some cards can help you save money on Giant, others can increase your savings at NTUC FairPrice or Sheng Siong. Get the best grocery credit card that suits your needs and your grocery preferences to save up to 8%!

Sources: 1 & 2

 

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How To Spend Money Using The 5 Love Languages

Making a conscious effort to speak your partner’s love language allows you to understand each other better and to make him or her feel loved. Dr. Gary Chapman is the renowned author of the “5 Love Languages”. He highlights that there are five ways that we can communicate love namely through: words of affirmation, receiving gifts, quality time, acts of service, or physical touch.

With the continued practice of communicating each other’s love language, a happy and loving relationship will solidify.

WORDS OF AFFIRMATION

People who have “words of affirmation” as their love language value sweet and encouraging words. To them, whispering “I love you” brings more happiness than any expensive give that you can buy. On the other hand, they will feel unappreciated if you do not verbally convey your emotions or if you do not praise them for their accomplishments.

This person will appreciate a handwritten card. A book can be a good choice too. Moreover, you may gift an artwork or a decorative sign with empowering or loving words in it.

RECEIVING GIFTS

For some people, receiving gifts make them feel most appreciated. This does not mean that they are materialistic. They simply love the thought behind every gift. They have special fondness for special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries. Forgetting the special dates and not showing you care can become issues to these people.

If your loved one has this as his or her love language, spend your money on a gift that is important and personal. Buy something that has special significance to your relationship. Also, pay attention to any hints your partner drops.

ACTS OF SERVICE

For many people, actions speak louder than words. To make your partner with this love language feel loved, help him or her with the household chores or with anything that will ease one’s burden. Laziness, broken commitments, and creating more work for them indicates that their feelings do not matter.

Serve your partner by giving a set of “love coupons”. These coupons may contain the following acts: free housecleaning services or free candlelit dinner. Do all the planning and preparing!

QUALITY TIME

For this people, they find the greatest gesture of love in spending undivided attention with the ones they love. It does not matter where you take your partner! What matters most is that you listen actively and you are free from any distractions.

Consider booking a weekend getaway with just the two of you. If it is a family member, go out for a dinner or roam the Botanical Gardens. Make sure you spend an ample amount of time with your loved one. Do not make him or her feel rushed.

PHYSICAL TOUCH

Lastly, people who have physical touch as their love language value appropriate gestures such as holding hands or hugs. If your significant other speaks this language, it is important to appreciate them through your touch. Physical touch fosters a sense of security and care in any relationship. Neglect or abuse can be unforgivable for this people.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

An ideal gift for this person is a massage or manicure. Another option is to book a cuddle session at home while watching Netflix in bed and drinking some hot chocolate.

Sources: 1 & 2

 

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