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How Frugal People Can Save On Home Improvements

Many people dream of reinventing their nests to blissfully usher the New Year. Whether you intend to make DIY projects or something massive, you will need more money and consideration.

On that note, here are four tips to help you save as much of your hard earned cash as you possibly can:

WHY WALLPAPER MAY NOT DO THE TRICK

Owing to its unique geographical location near the equator, Singapore experiences a tropical climate characterized with high humidity and abundant rainfall. It is not advisable to decorate your walls with wallpaper as the distinct climate can make it discolored or curled up.

Bestowing your walls with wallpaper is not only expensive, but it can also face the risk of discontinuation of products. You will have to endure the sight of inconsistent patterns or the hefty cost of redoing your entire flat. Prevent this from happening by opting for painting instead.

PLAN YOUR BUDGET IN ADVANCE

Planning ahead can be a lifesaver! Just imagine a driver who ignored the steps of adjusting the side mirrors, locking the doors, and fastening the seat belt. Accidents occur everyday and you must not take the risk. It may seem rehearsed or limiting at first glance. But, you will reap its benefits soon after.

Know what renovations you desire to make. Getting a LED mirror might be more cost effective than buying a separate light to pair with your mirror. Prevent going beyond what you can realistically afford by researching the costs of the materials and labor. Shop around the physical and virtual stores if you have to! Lastly, add a cushion of at least 20% to your intended spending. Say you want to repaint your walls for S$2,000. Be prepared to spend about S$2,400 as additional costs may rise.

SHOP DURING SALES AND CLEARANCES

Frequent your local home improvement, hardware, and home decor stores as much as possible. Expect that your first couple of trips can be overwhelming. You may not find significant bargains right away! Do not give up just yet.

Take your time to review the prices of the materials or products that you intend to buy and compare these with the online retailers. For instance, Horme Hardware has an ongoing “Chinese New Year Promotion” until January 18, 2017. Shoppers will be rewarded with free delivery.

NEGOTIATE WITH THE CONTRACTORS

Before committing to a team of contractors, negotiate well to earn the best deal. Avoid partnering with contractors who offer insanely low prices for their services. You may end up hiring a different contractor to fix the flaws of your previous contractor. Follow your common sense! It may know when things are getting “too shady”.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Collect at least three quotations from reputable contractors in Singapore. Then, discuss about the probable discounts that can compete with the raging market.

Sources: 1 & 2

Grand Home & Living – The Largest Furniture Fair is happening at Singapore Expo till 26 Dec. Enjoy 50% off mattresses, lowest price sofa, furniture and more!

Grand Home & Living will be held at Singapore Expo Hall 4 from 17 to 26 December 2016, 12pm to 10pm, Free admission.

Customers can get the latest home makeover ideas at Grand Home & Living, a one-stop solution for interior design, sofa, dining, mattress, and furnishings. The fair offers the widest range of furniture and furnishings at amazing discounts, including sofa at guaranteed lowest price. International branded mattresses are at 50% off, an exclusive deal only at Grand Home & Living, the largest year-end furniture fair.

Mattress brands include Dunlopillo, Simmons, BIA, Slumberland, Englander and many more.

Customers can expect a wide sofa collection from brands such as Novena, Wynn Furniture, Weltmeister, Nova and many more.

The official interior design showflats for Grand Home & Living are Ciseern and Rezt & Relax Interior. Other interior design firms include Koong Yee Renovation Works, The Orange Cube, De Style, One Design Werkz and Add Space Werkz.

Furnishings solutions are also available for customers, including curtain, flooring, carpet, Korea wallpaper and home & décor.

Customers can stand a chance to win $11,888 cash in our grand draw. Customers are also entitled to free gifts with a minimum deposit of $1,000 and above. Deposit more to get more free gifts.

Save more with us this year end!

Grand Home & Living Super Sale

17 – 26 December 2016

12pm – 10pm daily

Singapore Expo Hall 4

Are You Ready To Stake Your Claim On A Property?

How many times have you heard the statement: “housing is one of the biggest investments that one can make”? It is true!

Whether you want to become a successful property investor or a proud flat owner, you must use a logical and a practical buying system to make good decisions. For starters, it is ideal to choose a unit that has attractive features, wide appeal, and low maintenance.

There are many factors that can pinpoint whether you are ready to stake your claim. Here are some of them:

1. YOU CLARIFIED YOUR PURPOSES.

In the business perspective, the needs assessment is one of the first steps to building a strategy. Do the same thing when you are hunting for a new pad! Know your needs, intentions and purposes in order to guide your decisions.

Do you desire to move right away, to rent it out, or to sell it in the future? You do not want to dive in the market unprepared as everything may sound good to you at first sight.

2. YOU DID YOUR RESEARCH.

You know you are in the process of getting all the aspects settled when you have done substantial research. Use both the Internet and a pool of professionals (i.e., reliable real estate agent or lawyer) as your resource. Compare essential factors such as unit layouts, transport systems, unit locations, and building amenities.

It is ideal to move to a flat that has easy access to the shops, schools, and public transportation. And if you are renting a property, find a layout that can attract diverse groups of individuals, couples, and families.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

3. YOU DETERMINED YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION.

It is crucial to know where you stand financially before purchasing a property. Who wants to be stuck in a mountain of debts, anyway?

This is why you must know how much you can realistically afford, how much you are willing to loan, and how much you can shell out immediately. Research about the various payment schemes that are available in the country. Do not forget to prepare a fund for additional (mandatory) costs too!

4. YOU KNOW WHICH TYPE OF PROPERTY YOU DESIRE.

Much like the abundant number of gyms in the Pokémon universe, there are numerous real estate options which one can choose from. You must equip yourself with the knowledge of knowing the differences between these options. Let me define three types, namely: Build-To-Order (BTO), Design, Build, and Sell Scheme (DBSS), and Executive Condominiums (EC).

a. BTO allows locals to apply for flats at a location of their choice. The construction work begins once about 65% of the flats are booked.

b. DBSS is a public housing scheme under the HDB (Housing and Development Board) system, which is curated by private developers. It can be found in Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, and Tampines.

c. ECs are sold by private developers and have the facilities that are comparable to that of the private condominiums.

5. YOU SAVED ENOUGH MONEY FOR THE HIDDEN COSTS.

Aside from allocating money for the total price-tag of the property, you know you are ready when you saved a great deal of money for the hidden costs. I am talking about the late payment fee and its similar expenses. As an example, developers may charge you for insurance and maintenance costs. Be prepared!

Image Credits: wikihow.com/Buy-Property-in-Singapore

There are more factors that can affect your buying decision. However, may aforementioned factors give you a head start in figuring out your dream property!

Extremely Wrong Reasons To Buy A Home

If you are updated with the latest in property, you will know that Singapore housing prices are trending down. In fact, the private residential property index decreased by 3.83% (or 3.45% when adjusted for inflation) in Q1 2015. However, the downward shift in pricing does not automatically mean that it is a good time to buy your own space.

Buying a home is one of the greatest financial commitment for most Singaporeans. It is a long-term commitment and responsibility that you must carefully plan for. Start by determining what you can afford as well as what you need to pay for. What you can afford depends on your total income, existing debts, savings on-hand, and loan eligibility.

Upon figuring these things out, examine if you are committing to a home for the right reasons. Otherwise, you will be a victim of these extremely wrong decisions…

1. TO EXHAUST ALL THE CONTENTS OF YOUR CPF ACCOUNT

If you are thinking of purchasing a home because you can simply deduct almost all the expenses from your CPF savings, think again! You can use your CPF savings to pay for a part of the home and to service the loan but not for the monthly expenses (e.g. mortgage insurance or conservancy and management service fees). You need to have sufficient cash to pay for these ongoing payments in addition to meeting your current monthly living expenses (e.g., rent and telecom bills).

A better reason to purchase a home is the fact that you already have savings to cover for the upfront payments such as the down-payment, agent’s fees, and stamp fees.

2. TO SUPPLEMENT YOUR “STABLE” JOB

Are you fond of your current occupation? How long have you been in the organization? Are you confident that your position is stable for the next couple of years?

The truth is, you can never be 100% sure that your job is secure. You can argue that CEOs or founders of the company can keep their jobs for the longest time but then again there’s the case of the Lehman Brothers. When deciding on whether or not you shall buy a flat, consider your current job situation as well as the workplace climate. To be sure, hold off a few years and grow your savings first before making this important investment.

3. TO SATISFY YOUR NEED TO MOVE

If you love the thrill of moving to a fresh nest and constantly changing your neighborhood, you will realize how difficult it is to sell your relatively new home in a short period of time without encountering a big loss. This is because most people prefer homes with better home equity. You cannot build a high value of ownership for your flat overnight!

4. TO COHABITATE WITH YOUR CURRENT PARTNER

As Nelly’s song goes: “Lovers to friends…why do all good things come to an end?”

With relationships, you have little to no certainty about what happens in the future. You may be in the best terms now but who can really be sure that you will end up together forever?

If purchasing a flat together is your solution to fixing an unstable relationship (even if you are engaged), what will you do if your partner suddenly vanishes? Or perhaps if he or she goes unemployed after a few months? You will have to carry the burden of the mortgage and all the monthly costs on your own. This poor reason for housing commitment will affect your credit.

Sources: 1 & 2

Tried and Tested Home Saving Tips Taught By Moms

The legendary Stevie Wonder once said:

“Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love.”

The great things we learn from our mothers are more than just tips – they are well-kept traditions, family secrets, and wonderful memories that we must treasure.

That said, here are 6 Tried and Tested Home Saving Tips As Told By Moms…

In cleaning:

1. RE-USE YOUR OLD SOCKS

I still remember the days when my cousins and I would slide through the slippery floor that we splashed with baby powder. Hit LIKE if you have done this fun activity too.

It brought us countless minutes of happiness but the mess scattered through the floor and furniture was the enemy our mothers had to face. Fortunately, you can save several bucks on furniture dusters by using your clean old socks. Simply slip a piece in your hand, spray the cleaning solution, and start cleaning!

2. KEEP THINGS NATURAL

Using DIY natural cleaning products will not only reduce the risks of toxins and environmental damage but also save you piles of cash. Make your own glass solution by mixing 1 teaspoon of dish soap, half cup of white vinegar, and 3 cups of distilled water in a bottle. Then, spray it directly to the windows and mirrors.

You can also use the mom-approved “microfiber cloth” to clean practically anything from rugs to glass, granite to stainless steel. Just damp it with water and you are ready to go! This magical cloth costs about S$15 you can get it for only S$5 at Qoo10.

In cooking:

3. SPRINKLE SOME SALT

One of the best cooking tips you can get from the mothers online is to sprinkle some salt to boiling water. “Why?” you may ask. Salt is a great and inexpensive way to add flavour to the broccoli, pasta, or anything you are boiling.

4. SAVE YOUR BACON FATS

Another way to add a wonderfully strong flavor is to cook with bacon fats. After frying the strips of bacon, you can save its fats for later. After which, use it to saute your roasted potatoes or vegetables.

In grocery shopping:

5. BUY THE IN-HOUSE LABEL

As much as possible, buy the store’s brand products for home items such as rice, sponge, bleach, and sugar. And if a better deal comes along, check the price tag and compare it with the in-house label. Doing the maths can go a long way!

6. MAKE A LIST AND STICK WITH IT

Instead of going with the flow, make a list of the items you need for the week and stick with it. This is an age-old trick used by my late grandmother. She plans the weekly menu first and sets a budget accordingly. If there is excess cash, we can buy the stuff we want such as ice cream. Who doesn’t love ice cream?

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Sources: 1, 2, 3,4, & 5

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