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Budget-Friendly Ways To Amuse Your Children

Spending quality time with your children need not be costly! What is important is to shower them with your unconditional love and undivided attention. Here is a list of “Budget-Friendly Ways To Amuse Your Children” especially this upcoming school break…

1. FAMILY GAME DAY

Entertain your kids with a solid hour of board games, cards, and puzzles. If you need to purchase a board game, you may check out Toys “R” Us. Toys “R” Us provides huge selection of toys and infant products that, are priced to give you value for you money.

Round up your kids and play the Disney Assorted Inlay Wood Puzzles (S$9.95), UNO® Disney Frozen Cards (S$11.90), or the Pavilion Wooden Snakes and Ladders (S$19.95).

2. EXPLORE THE PARKS OR PLAYGROUNDS

Going to the nearby playground and watching your child get active would not cost you a cent! Alternatively, you may take your child to the nearby parks (e.g., East Coast Park, Bishan Park, and Lower Seletar Reservoir Park) to have a simple picnic or to play outdoor games and sports such as Frisbee, Hula Hooping, and Cycling.

For a complete list of parks in Singapore, visit: nparks.gov.sg.

3. GO TO BEACH

Nothing screams fun with kids more than a sunny day at the Palawan Beach at Sentosa. Enjoy building sand castles, splashing water, and running around on the shore with your children. It is not only fun for them but it will definitely send them to a peaceful sleep afterwards. And if your child is still fueled with energy, experience the beauty of nature and the variety of its species as you go to Imbiah Lookout, Sentosa’s Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom. An admission rate for children aged 3-12 is S$10 while it is S$16 for adults.

4. BRING YOUR CRAFTS ON

Gather the available Arts and Crafts you have at your house to make a crafts box. If you fall short with items such as scissors, glue, crayons, stickers, and assorted colored papers, you can always go to Daiso as everything is priced at S$2 only. Each kid has a unique artistic expression so it is best to introduce your child to the different outlets such as drawing, singing, music, or dancing. The cost of these outlets is less than S$10!

5. EDUCATE AND AMAZE THEM

Activate your child’s imagination by going to the libraries or museums. At the libraries, you can save more money by borrowing books and graphic novels rather than buying them. At the museum, you can ask your children to imagine that they are traveling in a different place as an archeologist, a historical writer, or an adventurer.

Image Credits: chriskay via Flickr

Extend The Products’ Longevity And Save More Money

Stretching the use of a product as much as possible will not only reduce waste but also save you a couple of dollars. These hacks ahead will help you extend the lifespan of your soaps, printer inks, laptop batteries, and more.

1. SAVE MORE BY SPENDING LESS

The basic mindset that you should adopt is to regulate the consumption of household products. For example, to ensure that you would not waste your dishwashing liquid, use an olive oil bottle as its container. Just make sure to label it correctly to prevent confusion.

2. BE WISE WITH SOAPS

Use only the necessary amount of soap. No more and no less. If you are using a hand soap dispenser and there are still left over soap at the bottom that you cannot squeeze then, add few drops of water inside by unscrewing the top. Use this leftover soap before refilling it.

3. USE FONTS THAT HELP SAVE PRINTER INK AND TONER

If you want to save money on printer ink or toner, one thing you should do is to change the font size and the fonts that you use for printing. Ecofont, Century Gothic, Times New Roman, Garamond, and Courier are some of the fonts that naturally use less ink. Also, you can print fewer pages by converting the file’s format to PDF.

4. MAXIMIZE YOUR LAPTOP’S BATTERY LIFE

A few steps can maximize your laptop’s battery life (i.e., the amount of time your device spans before it must recharge). You may bring down your screen’s brightness, turn off the Bluetooth connection, and calibrate your battery every 2 to 3 months. To calibrate your battery, follow these simple steps. For MacBook or Apple laptop users, Apple suggests to upgrade to the latest software as the updates often include advanced energy-saving technologies.

5. STRETCH THE USE OF YOUR DISPOSABLE RAZOR

Disposable razor maybe cheap but if you have to constantly replace it, is it really worth it? The good news is that your may extend its use by keeping it sharp. To maintain its sharpness you can try to rub the razor backwards across an old pair of blue jeans. Also, always dry your razor after use.

Image Credits: wikihow.com/Make-a-Disposable-Razor-Last-Longer

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

4 Amazing Ways To Use Social Media To Save Cash

Bring your social media craze to your advantage by exposing yourself to its opportunities. “Liking” the Facebook page of your favorite airlines is just one way to save cash when you shop. Other than that, here are 4 Amazing Ways To Use Social Media To Save Cash…

1. GET FREE PRINTOUTS AND TUTORIALS

You do not need to spend S$5 for a decent looking greeting card, all you have to do is to browse through the free printouts available on Pinterest – a global photo sharing website. Users such as Mique Provost 30daysblog and Amber Price: Crazy Little Projects Amber Price: Crazy Little Projects can give you simple Do-It-Yourself ideas such as a Photo Paper Flower Bouquet Printable and a Free Printable: Inspirational Quotes.

For your make-up needs, Youtube sensation Michelle Phan freely offers low-cost product recommendations and Do-It-Yourself cosmetics in her Pinterest account.

Image Credits: michellephan.com/diy-lip-balm

2. SELL YOUR STUFF

Social media, defined as websites or applications that enable the users to share content and to network, allows daily access of many consumers…all over the world. With this knowledge, you can supplement your Ad with a social media post.

For example, you may clean up the clutter in your closet and find the things that you deem to be unused or underused and sell them to your friends and family through Facebook or Instagram. Alternatively, you can turn your hobbies (e.g., baking cupcakes or making jewelries) into your home-based business.

3. SAVE ON PHONE BILLS

Save money and time by taking your customer complaints or issues on Twitter or Facebook. This will prevent the countless hours on the helpline only to be transferred to different departments. If the matter is more personal, you may message them directly without posting on their timeline.

4. FOLLOW THE SHOPS OR COMPANIES YOU PATRONIZE

You signed up to your favorite shop’s website mailing list but, do you check your inbox regularly? If not then, you might have missed out on some special deals. To prevent this, you can follow the shops or companies you like such as Forever 21 Singapore or Kinokoniya Bookstore Singapore. Retailers often put coupon or discount codes online so, stay social!

If you want to follow a single timeline that will deliver great deals, tips, and guides relating to money then, follow Money Digest on Facebook today. 🙂

Most Profitable Savings Accounts In Singapore To Date

Savings Account is an account managed by the bank, which provides principal security and a moderate interest rate. This account lets the client set aside a portion of his or her liquid assets while earning a monetary return. Personally, I value this financial tool because it serves as an accessible shield to cover the immediate expenses with its facilities such as Internet banking and online transactions.

In Singapore, savings accounts predominately require a minimum amount of deposit. The amount ranges from S$0-1000. To get most of the benefits of your savings account some encourage you to transact more while others encourage you to withdraw less. That being said, here are the Most Profitable Savings Accounts In Singapore To Date as they offer the highest interest rates…

4. CIMB STARSAVER SAVINGS ACCOUNT

CIMB StarSaver Savings Account requires a minimum deposit of S$1,000 with S$0 maintaining balance. With this savings account you can get up to 0.8% of interest per year as long as you deposit at least S$100 more to your account every month. On the other hand, you will get an interest of 0.5% per year for balance under S$100. There is more! Funds transfer to CIMB Malaysia is free. Also, there are no withdrawal fees from CIMB Group ATMs across ASEAN countries.

But wait, there is still more…sign-up for CIMB StarSaver Savings Account from now until June 30, 2015 online to be rewarded with S$20 worth of shopping vouchers. Apply here.

3. MAYBANK ISAVVY SAVINGS PLUS ACCOUNT

For people who are very diligent and disciplined savers, Maybank iSAVvy Savings Plus Account is the perfect partner for you. With this savings account, you will not only earn an interest of 0.38% a year but you will also be rewarded with additional interest with every dollar you save. You see, an additional interest rate of 1.56% per year will be rewarded as long as the average daily balance increases every month. The base interest rate, depending on how much money you have, ranges from 0.19% and 0.38% per year. That is not all! Being a super saver with a minimum account balance of S$100,000 will get you a free insurance coverage.

All you have to do is to deposit a minimum amount of S$500 and apply here.

2. DBS MULTIPLIER PROGRAMME

In contrast of Maybank’s iSavvy, DBS Multiplier Programme rewards you for regularly using your account. The more you use your account for transactions, the higher interest you shall receive. Specifically, if you’re banking transactions adds up to S$7,500 a month then, you are eligible for an interest up to 2.08%. It offers a starting rate of 1.08% per annum. Enjoy the flexibility to withdraw and deposit anytime, as there is no lock-in period.

With a minimum balance of S$3,000, you can apply here.

1. OCBC HIGHER-INTEREST DEPOSIT ACCOUNT- BONUS PLUS

As the name suggests, OCBC Higher-Interest Deposit Account – Bonus Plus offers its clients the higher interest rates for up to 2.35% a year. But, there are conditions attached to it. First, the initial deposit required is a fresh fund of S$10,000 with a minimum balance of S$3,000 every month. Second, you will earn higher interest rates if you do not make any withdrawals every month or every quarter. Here is a detailed illustration of how the system works:

Image Credits: www.ocbc.com.sg

Nonetheless, they offer secure online banking or mobile banking, and no lock-in period for your transactions. Apply here.

Sources: Investopedia and iMoney

As you park your money inside the bank, consider the savings account that suits your lifestyle and needs. 🙂

3 Investments You Should Immediately Consider

Investment is an asset purchased with a purpose to generate more income in the future or to sell it for a higher price. There are a myriad of investment selections available in the market today but here are a few 3 simple investments you can start with…

1. MUTUAL FUNDS

Being a newbie in the investment scene is not a problem anymore. With Mutual Funds, you can entrust a professional investment manager to produce capital gains for you and your co-investors. Mutual funds are investments that gather the investors’ money into a pool to make multiple types of investments, known as the portfolio. Shareholders participate proportionally in the gains and losses. Lastly, it gives the budding investors the access to professionally manage, diversified portfolios of equities, bonds and so on. This can be difficult and nearly impossible to create with a small amount of money.

2. CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND INVESTMENT SCHEME

The Central Provident Fund (CPF) Investment Scheme is a way to invest your CPF savings to various banks such as OCBC, DBS, or UOB. This will enhance your retirement or housing money. Simply, the money you will generate from your investments will eventually go to your CPF account and not your pockets. To be eligible, you need to be above 18 years old and have over S$20,000 in your Ordinary Account (i.e., used for housing, education, investment, and insurance) and over S$40,000 in your Special Account (i.e., used for retirement). Compare the investment options and their charges. Instead of complaining about the CPF, why don’t you start investing?

3. REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) allows you to invest your money to a range of properties. REIT investors pool their money to buy buildings then, they divide the rental returns. This is a cheaper alternative to buying a property. Furthermore, REITs receive special tax considerations and mostly offer investors high yields and liquid method (i.e., converting your assets into cash) of investing in real estate. Although there are benefits, it is important to hire a trusted REIT Manager. One REIT in Singapore is CapitaMall Trust including properties such as Plaza Singapura, Junction 8, and JCube.

Image Credits: www.rentalrealities.com via Flickr

Sources: Central Provident Fund Board, MoneySense, and Investopedia

This article does not form part of any offer or recommendation, or have any regard to the investment objectives, financial situation or needs of any specific person. Before committing to an investment, please seek advice from a financial or other professional adviser.

This article does not form part of any offer or recommendation, or have any regard to the investment objectives, financial situation or needs of any specific person. Before committing to an investment, please seek advice from a financial or other professional adviser.

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