6 Tried & Tested Tips To Save Money On Lazada Singapore

E-commerce became a staple part of our lives due to the aftermath of the global pandemic. Lazada has always been my go-to online marketplace because of its user-friendly interface and its variety of payment options. Lazada Group is a Singaporean multinational technology company, which centers on e-commerce.

Founded by Maximilian Bittner with the backing of Rocket Internet in 2012, Lazada Group is currently owned by the Alibaba Group after its acquisition in 2016.

Save more money on your next Lazada shopping by following these tips.

#1: SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

Are you new to Lazada? Subscribe to its newsletter to receive instant discount on the site. As a new subscriber, you will be welcomed with a coupon for your first purchase. You can also get access to the latest promotions and receive news of the trendiest products in the site.

#2: SHOP DURING EVENT SALES LIKE 8.8

For those who are not familiar with the event sales, online marketplaces have monthly sales on dates like 8.8 or 11.11. On top of the regular sales during occasions such as Christmas, you can enjoy discounted items during this time.

Not to mention, Flash deals also occur during this period. It is up to you to make the best purchase for your family. The August sale is on 8.8 (August 8 to 10), which is Lazada’s National Day sale.

#3: CHECK OUT THE LAZMALL

If you want to invest on authentic products from your favorite brands such as Philips, Casio, or Lysol, you can go to the LazMall. The Mall is a dedicated space that allows its users to request for a free return of product within its allowed period. You are expected to get 100% authentic products, or you can get your money back. Get two times money back if you get a non-authentic product from the LazMall (T&Cs apply).

#4: DO NOT MISS THE FLASH DEALS

Look out for the Flash deals that happen throughout the day. These deals offer incredible discounts with products costing as low as S$0.50. As these are timed sales, you can set reminders.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Several stores have constant deals too. Just click on the brands that you love.

#5: APPLY VOUCHERS BEFORE CHECKING OUT

Vouchers replenish daily. Claim your vouchers to your heart’s content. Brands offer exclusive vouchers such as free delivery with a minimum amount of spending. You can follow these shops to get updated. Just remember to avail and apply the free delivery vouchers.

Best of all? Lazada partners with different merchants and credit card issuers such as Citibank. You can spend S$250 to get S$250 back in the form of Lazada and RedMart vouchers when you apply for the Citi Lazada Credit Card (T&Cs apply).

#6: SHOP AROUND

It is important to do your research before purchasing anything from Lazada. Read up on the product you intend to buy to prevent buyer’s remorse. This is especially vital when you are making huge purchases such as home appliances or gadgets.

Please read the product description thoroughly and access the warranty and the customer reviews.

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How To Cope With Job Loss

Speak from the heart and try to answer this question: “What do you do?”

Many of us may respond to this query by elaborating on our professions. I would do the same thing too. You see, our jobs are deeply integrated into our identities. Work helps us to satisfy our needs to earn money, to achieve goals, and to connect with others. It gives a sense of purpose and greatly affects our means of living. Therefore, job loss can be overwhelming.

It is common to feel like a part of you was lost. This loss can take a toll on your mental and physical health. As you through the process of adjustment, the next phase needs to be intentional. Let this article help you with that. Here are some of the steps that you may take after losing your job.

GIVE YOURSELF TIME TO GRIEVE AND ADJUST

The latest figures released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) showed an increase in the country’s annual unemployment rate. The overall Annual Average Unemployment Rate in 2020 was 3%, compared to 2.3% in 2019. Many people have experienced unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adjusting to unemployment and grieving over job loss takes time. If you recently lost your job, it is important to accept that the process cannot be rushed. Rushing your feelings may lead to projecting unpleasant emotions during a job interview. Let everything simmer down first.

Losing your job may feel the same way as losing an integral part of yourself. You will undergo the grieving process and may feel the following stages: denial, anger, depression, bargaining, and acceptance. Do not be too hard on yourself. Accepting that these changes take time can help ease the healing process.

CHANGE YOUR MINDSET

There are two ways to perceive your current situation. In most cases, losing your job or your source of income is difficult. Whether it has something to do with your performance or with the current economic situation, it is normal to feel worried about the future after job loss.

You can either look at it as a career barrier or a temporary setback. If you look at things in a bird’s eye view, you will realize that success in life is measured by how we respond to its challenges and setbacks. It is up to you to alter your mindset.

PRIORITIZE SELF-CARE

At first, taking care of yourself is easier said than done. It is tempting to grab a bag of chips and wallow in self-pity as you sit in front of the television. The feelings you may experience in the first couple of weeks or months may be overwhelming. However, you must not neglect your own well-being.

The healing of your mental health requires physical resilience. It takes a lot of effort to take care of yourself and to build healthy habits that will keep your immune system strong. Start by being intentional with what you eat. You may even grow your own greens at home. Furthermore, you can plan out an exercise routine that will work best for you. Use your energy to fulfill productive tasks such as gardening and job hunting.

SEEK SOCIAL SUPPORT

As you are dealing with a range of emotions, refrain from isolating yourself. Having social support is crucial in times of struggle. It will help you overcome the loneliness you feel during the grieving process. Moreover, talking to someone about your current situation will help you acknowledge your feelings.

Talk to the people whom you trust. Your confidant does not have to offer upfront solutions, he or she just needs to be a good listener. Good listeners listen actively without passing judgment or being distracted. Alternatively, you may join support groups online.

ESTABLISH A DAILY ROUTINE

Maintaining a daily routine goes together with taking care of yourself. While it is possible for you to stay in bed the whole day, setting a regular schedule can help regulate your mood. Studies have shown that following a routine can help ward off depression. A routine will give you a sense of purpose and accomplishment as you complete your daily household tasks. Furthermore, not setting boundaries for yourself may lead to eating poorly or other unhealthy habits.

Write down the tasks that you aim to fulfill within the day. Maintain a body clock by setting up a timer. The timer will give you an external cue to wake up and to sleep on scheduled hours. This will help you create a sense of normalcy and prevent you from staying up all night. Additionally, you may incorporate your meal preparations, family visits, skin care regimens, and exercise plans within your daily routine. Remember that practicing self-care and maintaining good hygiene can help boost your mood.

SET LIMITS ON YOUR JOB SEARCH

Try not to add unnecessary pressure on yourself! You are already going through a lot. Despite how anxious you are to get a new job, spending all your time on job search can be stressful and frustrating. Know that you are doing your best.

Try setting aside a certain number of hours within a day for your job applications. The remaining parts of your day may be dedicated to self-care, taking care of your family, and to other productive tasks. The unexpected time off can be challenging, but you may use it as an opportunity to do something that you have always been busy for.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

What are some of the things that you have put aside because you were too busy with your job? Whether you want to learn a new language or to clean out your closet, find hobbies and projects that will occupy your time. Now is your chance to focus on the things you are passionate about!

Sources: 1, 2, 3, & 4

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What To Do When You Feel That You’re Not Good Enough

Your heart is racing. You wanted to say something during an important meeting at work. As you open your mouth, an inner critic stumbles you with doubts. “What if you are wrong?”, says the voice inside you. You saved yourself from embarrassment by keeping your mouth shut. You felt that you were not good enough.

Moreover, you want to ask your longtime partner to take the next step. Something inside you keeps you from taking action. You doubt that she will agree. When doubts brew, you tend to fear the outcome and undermine your abilities. Self-doubt will stop you from reaching your goals. Identifying these false beliefs is the first step to eliminating them.

Believing in yourself is essential in reaching your dreams. On that note, here are some things that you can do when you feel that you are not good enough.

#1: QUIT COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS

My uncle usually stresses how comparison is the thief of all joy. We get so caught up in comparing our lives with everyone else’s highlight moments. This is the reason why we struggle with insecurities. It is important to know that the people you compare yourself to compare themselves to other people too. These people may seem to have it all but, they do not!

They are beautifully imperfect human beings going through the same challenges as you. Instead of comparing yourself to others, you must try to connect with others. Connecting with others can be as simple as greeting your neighbors. Be kind without being submissive. You do not have to agree with others all the time. Everyone has a right to their own perspective and opinion.

#2: KNOW THAT YOUR MIND CAN BE VERY CONVINCING

Do not believe everything you think. There are times when your brain may trick you into thinking that you are less capable of what you can accomplish. Notice your thoughts. It is unhealthy to give so much power to the negative ones. Instead, you must train your inner critic to shift into a coach that challenges you to be better.

Encourage yourself to transform the negative thoughts into positive thoughts. If you do not deem yourself to be worthy, you will deprive yourself of many opportunities.

#3: BELIEVE THAT THERE IS MORE RIGHT WITH YOU THAN WRONG

Jon Kabat-Zinn once said: “Until you stop breathing, there’s more right with you than wrong with you.” You are a testament of how beautiful life can be. There are lots of things in your life that most people pray for.

Identify the internal and external qualities that you like about yourself. This will help you put things into perspective. For starters, you are alive and are able to create new paths whenever you choose to.

#4: NOTICE THE POWER OF YOUR SCARS

Your past experiences shape who you are today. Moreover, your scar is a symbol of your strength. It is a reminder of whatever hurt you has now healed. Be proud of the scars that life has left you with. You conquered the pain and grew stronger on the other side.

Accept what you have gone through and appreciate the lessons you have learned along the way. If you have an opportunity to talk about your scars or to share your wisdom to others, do so.

#5: EMBRACE FAILURES AND MISTAKES

Failures are necessary in life. The mistakes during your first year at work help you become more successful during your second year. Failure helps us to be more compassionate, empathic, and kind to others. Without failure, we would not grow. It is through our failures that we learn the greatest lessons that life has to offer. These struggles help us to appreciate our successes.

“Just because you fail once, doesn’t mean you’re gonna fail at everything. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don’t, then who will, sweetie?” -Marilyn Monroe

#6: MAKE PEACE WITH THE NOW AND ACCEPT YOUR PAST

If you do not accept your past and make peace with the present, you will not be able to enjoy your future. As you make changes in your life and reach for the next step in the professional or personal ladder, you must acknowledge the importance of being appreciative with where you are now.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Life is a journey. It is up to you to walk towards something you feel rewarding and satisfying. Know that you are good enough!

Sources: 1 & 2

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How To Manage Your New Year Expectations

It is hard to believe the unprecedented year 2020 has come to a close. While things have certainly changed, people still develop expectations about future events. However, many people see the new year as a means to refresh a “frozen browser”. Change does not come overnight. View 2021 as a timeline for change. You will morph into the person you want to be as the days go by.

On that note, here are several tips to help you manage your life expectations.

LIFE HAS MEANING

Viktor Frankl was an Austrian Holocaust survivor, a neurologist, a psychiatrist, a philosopher and an author. He founded Logotherapy, which looks at the beauty in suffering. He believes in man’s dedicated search for meaning. Defining what matters to you can help you manage your expectations. Working at home or being trapped in your own space can make you feel helpless. It helps to adapt to the situation that you are in. Humans are incredibly resilient and challenging circumstances such as the pandemic help as foster and nurture our relationships. Focus on that.

WORK RELATIONSHIPS TAKE TIME

If you have a specific list of expectations about how your co-workers should respond or behave around you, your work relationships will suffer. I am not referring to acceptable (e.g., meeting the deadlines) and unacceptable behaviors (e.g., sexual harassment) here. Instead, you must not expect the person to behave a certain way just because you desire them to. For instance, you cannot expect your co-worker who is not a “morning person” to greet you with a cheerful high-five every morning. You will be disappointed. Accept your co-workers as they are.

STAY IN THE MOMENT

Sports Psychology highlights that the body is capable of far more than what we believe. Athletes who applied Sports Psychology to their routines have practiced visualization for success. It is good to visualize a pleasant future, but being anxious about the future can diminish your well-being. Avoid contemplating about what the future effects of the pandemic. Instead, do your best to stay in the moment. Try meditation. Mindful meditation is the process of actively and openly observing one’s physical, mental, and emotional experiences.

SET SMALL TREATS

Open your 2021 calendar and set your monthly goals. Accomplishing each goal entails getting a small treat. As many of our plans for the year have been postponed, you may allow each family member to choose a monthly treat to boost their motivation.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

Year 2020 taught us that not everything goes as planned. Instead of hitching your wagon to the assumptions of the future, re-direct your mind to the present moment. It takes self-acceptance, patience, and will to manage your expectations.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

What are your financial expectations for year 2021? Be flexible enough to embrace life’s surprises!

Sources: 1 & 2

 

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10 Powerful Micro Habits That Can Change Your Life

Habits are powerful. From cycling every morning to praying every night, habits are frequent patterns of behaviors that reflect who we are. It is the selective repetition of activities that shapes our lives. Inevitably, our habits become significant parts of our lifestyles.

We often fail at building habits by setting unrealistic and unsustainable goals. Starting small makes habit building more manageable. Benjamin Hardy compares this concept (micro habits) to compounding interest. When given choice, people would opt to take a million dollars in the bank as opposed to a cent that doubles in value over the course of the month. What most people do not realize is that they will get more payout by taking the second option.

He said: “The doubling penny actually ends up being $10.7 million dollars. Yet, the majority of the growth happens at the very end, and most people aren’t patient enough for the big return. The live for the moment culture of today stops people from investing.”

Micro habits can change your life. It is up to you to strategize which habits you are willing to integrate in your routine. Here are some of the examples.

#1: WRITE A PARAGRAPH

Whether you are building a robust business plan or a non-fiction book, start by writing a few sentences each day. Make it a goal to write a paragraph by the end of the week. The momentum will build on its own and you will find yourself effortlessly writing more and more as the days go by. In fact, I have written my second book in less than two months. Beginnings are always the hardest.

#2: LISTEN TO UPLIFTING PODCASTS OR SONGS

Open your Spotify or music app and listen to podcasts and songs that inspire you. Children typically benefit from having background music while they learn. You may consider listening to a financial podcast as you travel to work. Great music can put you in an energized working state.

#3: RESPOND TO TEXTS AND EMAILS

As much as possible, respond to important emails and texts as they come in. This way, you will not be left with a backlog of tasks to attend to.

#4: BE LESS REACTIVE

Train your mind to be calmer. When you see or hear something that immediately frustrates or upsets you, avoid reacting first. Analyze your thoughts and take a deep breath. Learning to take small pauses will help you figure out where your emotions come from and what your next action should be.

#5: PREPARE FOR YOUR NEXT DAY

Always come to work or school prepared. Prepare for the next day by allotting a few minutes of your night routine to preparation. Make a simple list of the things you need to bring or tasks that you need to accomplish tomorrow. Then, plan your attire. This can take you about 5 to 10 minutes.

#6: TAKE A POWER NAP

A power nap that can span for 15 minutes is all you need to get back to your optimum performance. It is a skill that you can master for a period of time. You will find yourself accomplishing more by napping once or twice a day.

#7: PRACTICE SAYING “NO”

Our energy levels are limited per day. More often than not, you will come across some of the most demanding people. Ensure that you spend your energy to the things and people that you truly care about. Do not feel bad for saying “no”. Ultimately, it is a means of self-preservation.

#8: DRINK MORE WATER

It is recommended to drink about 8 cups of water a day. Just focus on drinking one more glass a day. Then, it will become a part of your routine.

#9: EAT ONE LESS UNHEALTHY SNACK A DAY

It is easier to skip one unhealthy snack a day than to overhaul one’s entire diet. Focus on one unhealthy item that you can live without that day. Just one!

#10: CELEBRATE SMALL WINS

This year has been all about counting our blessings. Big wins do not come by often. Boost your morale by celebrating small wins. There is a reason why people rush to go to the game’s “boss level”. We constantly want to be rewarded. So, every time a small positive event happens in your life, consider it a “win”. You may treat yourself to a hearty lunch or write it down in your “success journal”.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Celebrate small wins. You deserve it!

Sources: 1 & 2

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