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7 Household Troubles to Fix Yourself and Save More

1. HOLES IN THE WALL

To fix the white wall blemishes that are smaller than 1/4 inch wide then try covering it up with plain toothpaste. Put enough to fill in the whole and scrape off the excess with a knife. If the imperfection is still evident then sand it flat and re paint. For larger cracks you will have to cover it up with “wall filler or spackling compound” that is available for about S$5-7 at the hardware store.

2. UNEVEN WOODEN FURNITURE AND FLOORS

To avoid sanding the whole floor or table to smoothen it up, try this simple solution. Spread a wet towel over the scratched or uneven area then place a hot flat iron on the top then move it in a circular motion for 3-5 minutes. Color it with varnish afterwards if you want.

3. CLOGGED DRAIN

To clear the drain, avoid chemical cleaners as much as possible. Most clogs are in the P-trap (curved pipe below your sink), which is usually easy to access yourself. Place a bucket below to catch any overflow and unscrew the two connections. Clean any debris inside then, screw everything to place.

4. WOBBLY CHAIRS

To silence the creaks and to stabilize the chair’s frame, tighten all the screws first. If the chair has interlocking joints, disassemble the joints. Fill the cracks with an adhesive to bring the parts together.

5. LOOSE CABINET DOORS

Loosen the cabinet screws on the hinge to adjust the door up and down. Adjust accordingly then, retighten once again. A worn out or a bent latch can be replaced by a new one.

6. DIFFICULT SLIDING DOORS

To smoothen the move of the sliding door, you must clean the debris that are jammed within the track and the wheels. Clear it all by running a paintbrush or vacuum along the track.

7. CLOGGED TOILET

This is one of the usual issues faced in the house. To unclog your toilet, use a plunger that is completely submerged. Plunge vigorously! If this does not work, then buy a toilet auger or plumber’s snake in hardware stores that cost about S$13-15. Insert the flexible tool into your toilet drain then rotate it around.

Image Credits: Gary J. Wood via Flickr

There you have it. See, you can solve household problems without calling for backup!

7 Golden Insurance Tips Every Newlywed Should Know

The vow of “for better or worse…for richer or for poorer” entails an important promise to live in a financially able home. Managing your money on your own can be challenging enough so adding your spouse’s finances may be overwhelming at times. With that in mind, here are 7 Insurance Tips for Newlyweds…

1. DISCUSS YOUR FINANCES AND SET YOUR GOALS

Discuss your finances with your new spouse as soon and as open as possible. You will need to communicate about your bank accounts and about your debts. Set up goals together in order to see which insurance suits your intentions.

2. LOCATION IS EVERYTHING

Housing insurance often pays for destruction, damage, and theft of your possessions. In the event of fire, your insurance will help pay to repair and replace your expensive belongings. Homes close to fire hydrants and fire stations cost less to insure. This is why location of your house is important.

3. TRY THE LUCKY SEVEN

If you are wondering how much life insurance coverage you need, then seek the experts help. Some experts suggest multiplying your annual income by seven so that your spouse is covered for at least 5 to 10 years.

4. CONTINUE DRIVING RED CARS

It is a myth that car insurance companies charge more for red cars. Higher charges come from the age of the client, client’s claims history, and age and model of the car.

5. CONSIDER FLOOD INSURANCE

Housing insurance cover damage caused by pipe overflows but, natural disaster flood are covered by flood insurance. Findings suggest that almost 25% of flood insurance claims are made from low-risk areas, so consider this policy.

6. HOME IS YOUR BIGGEST INVESTMENT

Your home is your biggest investment because unlike cars that depreciate its value the minute you drive them, your house increases its value over time. Houses that are less than 10 years old or those that are renovated within the last 10 years cost less to insure. What’s more? If the house is made of fire-resistant materials such as brick, you can save even more money.

7. BE FIT TO SAVE MORE

Live a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise and a balanced diet. Hop on the scale to see if your body weight is the ideal BMI for your age. This is because life insurance companies charge more for people who are overweight since they develop more health problems as time passes. So, stepping on the gym will not only give you a sexy body but it will also help you save more insurance money.

Image Credits: Alan Cleaver via Flickr

Reuse These 7 Household Items To Increase Savings

Stop throwing things out and try these 7 Ways To Reuse Household Items To Increase Your Savings. It not only saves money but it also shapes your creativity.

1. BROWN PAPER BAGS

Want to scratch off plastic book cover to your school supplies list? Then, reuse the brown paper bags you carried from the grocery store to cover your children’s textbooks. You may also cover their notebooks and label it easily with a marker.

2. PLACE MATS

Your place mats can be transformed into colorful drink coasters. Just cut your place mats into circular coasters and place it on the table. Most place mats are water-resistant, plastic, and made for wear-and-tear, so no extra steps are needed.

3. OLD AND UNWANTED T-SHIRTS

Put your worn-out, old, and unwanted shirts into use by cutting it into handy rags. Your arsenal of cleaning supplies will not only expand but your closet will be free from space also.

4. CEREAL BAGS

If you’re a family who loves cereal, then you can avoid buying wax paper again. Wash the cereal bags that come with the box because it can be reused to wrap sandwiches, cold cuts, or freeze meats.

5. CONTACT LENS CASES

Old contact lens cases that no longer hold the lenses can be filled with your daily vitamins. Just wash the cases carefully before using it. This will be a handy way to take your pills wherever you go.

6. CANDLES AND CANDLE WAXES

No need to throw away burnt candles or candle waxes since you can convert them to pincushions. Roll up the wax into a round shape to house your pins and needles.

7. COFFEE MUGS

Being a clumsy menace myself, chipping off the handle of a coffee mug is unavoidable.

Image Credits: EUNOIA via Flickr

Do not throw these mugs just yet because they can be used as perfect homes for your small flowers or herbs. Fill up the mug with soil, plant the seeds or flowers, and place it on the windowsill to have your own portable garden!

Shopping Intervention: 7 Things You’re Doing Wrong

1. GETTING TEMPTED WITH THE EXTRAS

You may go shopping during a huge Laptop sale and save big time on what you need but find yourself purchasing its costly accessories. Extras for laptop, computer, Smartphone, and so on can be purchased at a bargain price online on Ebay or Carousell rather than from the shop itself. Shop for the necessary, weight your options when buying extras, and look at the bigger picture.

2. COMPARING PRICES BY SHOPPING

Compare prices online or through magazines and newspapers instead for buying the items yourself. Also, when comparing prices, give yourself a time limit (e.g., 20-30 minutes). This is because people who can’t stop looking for the next best deal are never satisfied.

3. LETTING IMPULSE TAKE OVER

When impulse takes over your shopping, you regret purchasing an item the minute it arrives. To know if you really need and want something, walk away from it and you will save money. As most heard: “if you love something, set it free”. And, if you find yourself thinking about it after 24 hours then go back and buy it.

4. OVERSPENDING DUE TO AN ATTRACTIVE DEAL

Online shoppers are found to spend over 1/3 more when the shipping is offered for free. This is because the attractive deal catches you. Avoid overspending by writing down the things you need to buy and sticking to it.

5. NOT NEGOTIATING

Most goods are negotiable these days. You would not know if there is a sweeter deal if you do not ask. You do not have to say: “Can you give me a discount?” directly if you are shy…use “Can you work with the price with me?” instead. Before negotiating, be sure that you did your homework about the competitors’ prices first.

6. TRYING IT ON

If you are not prepared to buy an item for its price, do not try it on. Psychology suggests that physically touching a product makes you desire to buy it more. Touching a product can lead to lingering and prolonged feelings of ownership. This is why clothing stores have an abundance of changing rooms or why more expensive grocery items are just within your reach.

7. GOING FOR RETAIL THERAPY

People often know that you must not shop hungry in a grocery store because you would end up buying everything that satisfies your hunger.

Image Credits: Pedro Ribeiro Simões via Flickr

Same goes for other aspects of shopping, it is best not to shop angry or sad. Shopping while you are angry makes you more likely to take risks. While, shopping while your sad may fill up the void in your heart but empty your wallet along the way. Making retail therapy a habit can turn in an unhealthy and costly addiction.

6 Tips To Save Big On Your Car

Owning and maintaining a car in any country especially Singapore can get very expensive. This is why pays to know how to save on your car costs.

Insurance and petrol costs may feel like fixed, but you can cut them down without sacrificing your safety and comfort. Try these 6 tips.

1. DRIVE SAFELY AND STEADILY

Being a speedster may cost you a lot on fuel and accidents. Accelerating quickly and kicking on the breaks hastily only wastes fuel. It also makes your brake pads and suspension system wear out faster. So, drive in a steady pace in top gear.

2. SEARCH THE BEST REBATE CARD FOR YOUR PETROL

With several petroleum companies in Singapore, you may wonder which company offers the cheapest petrol. Money Digest made things easier for you by comparing the credit cards that offer petrol discount in the market today. To see the full table and complete list, click here.

3. SHOP FOR CAR INSURANCE REGULARLY

It really pays to compare prices and switching your car insurance company (every year or every two years) to get the best deal. Get quotes from several companies and let the experts diagnose your car to save more. You may also want to raise your deductible to save more in case an accident or a major repair occurs.

4. GET RID OF THE SECOND CAR

If one car is enough and you are using your other car only to commute to work, consider public transportation or carpooling instead.

5. DITCH THE CAR WITH HIGHER ENGINE

To avoid accidents from happening, prevent them. Statistically cars with a higher engine are more likely to crash. More so, the bigger the engine of the car, the higher is its amount on insurance policies.

6. GET SERVICES FROM A REVIEW WORTHY GOOD MECHANIC

If you are not sure why your car is acting strangely, do not diagnose and solve the problem by yourself. Saying “it needs a new battery” might urge a shop to install one even if that is not the problem. This will only cost you more. Let the experts handle it.

Image Credits: Bob n Renee via Flickr

Now, your job is to find a good mechanic and a nice repair deal by getting estimates from three or more repair shops by gathering referrals from friends and surfing online for reviews. Try Yelp.com or Singapore car forums.

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