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How Much To Tip When Traveling In These 10 Countries

Tipping is a practice of gratitude and recognition to those who have provided you with excellent service. In Singapore, they automatically have service charges in restaurants but you can still leave about 5% for great service.

Not all countries welcome tipping. In fact, some parts of China and Japan may be offended when you give them tips. Before leaving your hotel, it is important to research on the country’s tipping practices. Here are 10 countries you can start with…

1. AUSTRALIA

Tipping of 10-15% of your bill is appreciated for waiters and waitresses especially those who are serving you from expensive restaurants. It is customary to tip the hotel bellman at least AU$1 per bag.

2. FRANCE

A service charge of 15% is always included in your restaurant or bar tab. So, typing beyond that is not a must. For taxi drivers, you may tip at least 1 Euro and the hotel bellman should get at least 1 Euro per bag.

3. GERMANY

Like France, a service charge is included but, you may leave at least 5-10% of tip for good service. At least 1 Euro should be left for the hotel’s bellman per bag and the hotel’s maid per day.

4. HONG KONG

Tipping is certainly acceptable in Hong Kong. Offer your bellman at least HK$2-3 per bag.

5. ARGENTINA

You may tip at least 10% in restaurants but, do not tip your taxi drivers. Your bellman should get at least 2 Pesos per bag.

6. SOUTH AFRICA

Tip at least 10% in restaurants and taxis for gratitude. Group tours should receive at least R 10/tour guide while private tours should receive R 50/guide for half-day tours and R 100/guide for whole day tours. Hotel maids should get R 50 per day while the hotel bellman should get about R 5 per bag.

7. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Consider at least 10% of tip for restaurants. Your bellman should get at least 5 Dirhams per bag.

8. UNITED STATES, CANADA, AND MEXICO

It is common to tip the person who assisted you with your baggage in the airport or the hotel with at least US$1 per bag. Bellman should receive about US$1 per bag too. And, the hotel maid should be tipped at least US$2-5 per day.

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Since some hospitality workers are paid less, they will truly appreciate a tip. Tipping per day will not only be a gesture of gratitude but it will help you to receive continued shower of good service.

Source: Fodors

Use These Brain Techniques To Save More And Spend Less

1. EMPLOY THE “URGENCY TEST” WHILE SHOPPING

When you are thinking twice on purchasing an item, ask yourself if you are willing to try it on the dressing room at that very moment. If you are not really excited to wear it then, do not bother to buy it.

2. AVOID “GIVING UP”, USE “SAVORING” INSTEAD

You will only feel deprived if your perspective is to give up something in order to save more. So, change your perspective and start “savoring” the moments that you indulge on lavish things. The goal is to change your frequency of indulgence and not to hinder you from enjoying life’s goodness.

3. WHEN YOU ARE NOT EARNING, YOU ARE SPENDING

Keep in mind that when you are not earning, you are just losing the money you earned. If there are opportunities to work more and your body feels okay then, take on the challenge. Sometimes, the feeling of losing money is more painful than missing it.

4. MAKE TIME A CURRENCY

To get a clearer perspective, break down the monetary value of things by the hour. For example, if you make S$10 an hour and a bowl of bean curd is S$2 then that is 12 minutes of your work and life. This technique will help a lot to cut down your impulse purchases.

5. BE MOTIVATED WITH A SLOGAN

If you are struggling to be frugal, make a tangible slogan or a poster that you can hang on to. For example, you can use this slogan to help you think critically when purchasing: “Use it up, Wear it out, Make it happen, or Do without it”.

6. UTILIZE THE “GAS OR BREAK METHOD”

Compare your financial progress to driving. In every decision you can either get closer to where you want to be (gas) or slow down (brakes).

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So, the next time you have to make a monetary decision then ask yourself this: “Am I stepping on the gas or the brake? Is it worth it?”

How To Earn Extra Cash While Growing Your Business Empire

As an entrepreneur, you may be aware that you can get financially unstable at times due to the market’s condition and other factors. So, consider ways to get income on the side that will help alleviate some of the financial stress. Try these 5 ways…

1. CAR FOR RENT

Rent your personal vehicle to others in need. You may post an Ad for free at Gumtree or spread the word through self-printed flyers. Get acquainted with the user first to have a firm and trusting agreement regarding the car’s usage. This will allow you to focus on your business while your car is making money on its own.

2. RENT YOUR GUEST ROOM

If you are okay with sharing your house with other tenants then rent out the empty room/s. Once again, get to know the tenants first (i.e., personality or cleaning habits) and set some ground rules because you might be living with them for more than a month. In an event that you need to go overseas for business, then you may rent the whole house to them and charge them more.

3. TRY ONLINE OUTSOURCING

Some online websites allow users to outsource their skills on a freelance basis. If you can do website development, clerical jobs, writing an essay, video editing, or any other skill…try signing up for Odesk to get decent extra income. Salary payment in Odesk is painless because Credit Cards, PayPal accounts, and Bank Accounts are accepted.

4. INVEST IN REAL ESTATE

There are a lot of methods for making money in real estate that do not require your full-time effort so you can focus more on your growing business. You can consider purchasing properties and resell them for profit (flipping houses) or real estate wholesaling. If this area is unknown to you, find your friends or people in your area with the expertise that you do not have and partner with them.

5. CREATE A NETWORKING EVENT

Image Credits: Image Credits: Cydcor Offices via Flickr

Organize networking events to help young professionals interact with the environment. You not only help others to make valuable connections but you also make money by charging the participants for the food or the registration fee.

Smart Investment And Retirement Strategies From 20s And Beyond

IN YOUR 20s

1. EDUCATE YOURSELF.

Read and understand materials about self-empowerment, investment, and money management. Here are four books to get you started with:

“The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield
“Why Stocks Go Up and Down” by William Pike
“The Intelligent Investor” by Benjamin Graham
“Turning Pro” by Steven Pressfield

2. CONNECT AND DISCONNECT MORE.

Networking is very important especially if you will be dabbling in the field of business. Meeting people with shared interests will not only bring a life of fun but also a life of opportunities. Your network may refer you to your first job or even challenge you to be a business partner. On the other hand, you must disconnect with the distractions such as excessive amounts of alcohol or other vices that are harmful to your body.

IN YOUR 30s

3. BEGIN NOW.

The sooner you start, the more money you part with. In order to retire on 80% of an income, a 30-year-old must save 10% of his or her salary.

4. INVEST IN STOCKS.

Even if the economy suffers badly, your account will have time to recover. For instance, The Fidelity Select Software and Computer fund has yielded more than 11% a year since 1996. Keep it basic with a low-cost index fund.

IN YOUR 40s

5. PUT VALUE TO YOURSELF.

You may want to put your retirement savings into hold because of your child’s college fund. But, keep in mind that you cannot load for retirement yet you can loan for college fees or even get a scholarship.

6. SEEK THE EXPERT’S ADVICE.

To reach the maximum level of your retirement savings, sit down with a financial planner. Create a financial goal together and learn how to save more, spend wisely, and invest to reach it.

IN YOUR 50s

7. STAY WITH STOCKS.

You may increase your percentage of savings by investing in bonds but do not totally quit on stocks. To battle inflation, you must lean on the stocks’ higher growth potential.

Image Credits: American Advisors Group via Flickr

Important Things You Must Know About Money And Happiness

The aged old question of “Does Money Buy Happiness” has been puzzling the minds of many over the past decades. A current research by University of British Columbia and Michigan State University showed that while more money decreases sadness, it might not increase joy.

The researchers named Elizabeth Dunn, Kostadin Kushlev, and Richard Lucas said: “having more money provides more options for dealing with adversity”. Hence, wealthier people may feel a greater sense of control on a difficult situation that poorer people.

1. MONEY RELATIVELY INCREASES HAPPINESS FOR SOME PEOPLE

Princeton researchers released a study in 2010 showing that happiness increases as the income increases until US$75, 000. After this certain point, it plateaus. It is due to the fact that stress and financial difficulties get harder and harder as your income descends in the five-figure realm.

Image Credits: Aaron Patterson via Flickr

For those who are struggling to make ends meet, making more money generally increases happiness. But, once a person has enough money to provide for the family and oneself, more money doesn’t lead to increased happiness.

2. YOU CONTROL THE EFFECT OF MONEY ON YOUR HAPPINESS

Having a balanced life, being able to practice your hobby, and volunteering certainly increases happiness. If you apply these ideals to money, you can generate happiness.

Studies show that you will get more satisfaction if you spend your cash towards memorable experiences such as vacations than towards material things such as a new table. Likewise, lending out possessions can help you enjoy the material things that your money bought.

3. DOES OWNING MORE AND ACHIEVING MORE MAKE YOU HAPPIER

If more money comes at a cost of more responsibility and heightened stress in the workplace, then that person will not experience added happiness. Owning more or shopping more only increases happiness for a short run. Spending more on others generates more happiness than splurging on you.

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