We are about 3 weeks away from Easter. It is the time for egg hunting, Easter bunny, and family gatherings. Celebrate this special occasion of hope and fun with these 7 affordable Easter-themed Kitchen and Dining ideas…
Crate & Barrel is full of beautiful festive items for Easter. Kicking it off with a set of four assorted colored plates with lovely bunnies pattern that will truly make dining delicious. These plates are 100% porcelain with dimensions of 8″ diameter and 0.75″ height. What’s more? It is dishwasher, oven, and microwave safe.
This egg cup designed by Olivia Barry can be a center piece to show off your decorative easter egg or you may fill the table with a couple of this sculptural blue glass egg cup. It is made with 100% pressed soda lime glass and is dishwasher safe.
3. WILTON HOP AND TWEET EASTER BUNNY EGG AND TREAT STAND
This two-tiered treat stand serves as an entertaining piece to showcase your plain or painted Easter eggs along with sweets or cupcakes. It can hold about 16 cupcakes and a dozen of mini treats that the kids would really want. It is easy to assemble with a manual included.
The ceramic mini bunnies come in the smooth shade of yellow and blue. What an adorable display to bring an extra Easter flare to your simple table! To clean, just wipe it off with damp cloth.
Designed by Olivia Barry, the 100% porcelain salt and pepper shakers are both charming and elegant pieces. As it comes with a designed box, you may either place it on your kitchen or give it as a gift for your family and friends. Simply hand wash this set to clean.
Located at Holland Village, Lemon Zest has a wide array of stylish kitchen products that they constantly update. This sunflower baking mould goes well with Easter bunny cookies or egg treats. It comes in assorted colors at an affordable price.
7. WILTON TEXTURED COMFORT GRIP BUNNY WITH MINI COOKIE CUTTER
The textured cushion grip makes the bunny cutter safe and easy to handle. It also comes with a bunny tail or flower cookie cutter. Since it has a stainless steel cutter, it makes it possible to cut other treats such as brownies and sandwiches. Best of all? The cute set is rust-resistant so it would last long.
In the first half of the year, many families make travel plans for December when kids are on school holidays and after a year long of slog – for a short getaway to escape the monotonous life in Singapore.
Factors that come into consideration are whether the place is child-friendly and if there are enough activities for the kids to keep them occupied whilst still enjoying the trip with your partner.
There is one important thing that is often overlooked in the planning: what accommodation to book for the entire family?
As December is a peak season where everyone is travelling, you would expect demands for hotel rooms to go up and prices will follow suit.
A family suite in a hotel is going to stretch your budget – so why not save the money and check out hostels and other affordable accommodations?
What? But does that means less comfort and services?
Well, not really.
Global PR and Content Manager at HotelsCombined, Alycia Simons said in a media release that demands for such affordable family accommodation are increasing and so are hostel options. They can accommodate many people in the same room and are centrally located. What’s even better is you can essentially save more money with free shuttle buses, laundry rooms and self catering kitchens.
Gone are the days when families with young kids were relegated to theme park destinations and buffet restaurants. Holidaying families are growing increasingly adventurous and are interested in an ever-expanding assortment of experiences – nothing is off limits anymore.
According to HotelsCombined, these are the features to look for when booking a family-friendly hostel:
Family rooms (ideally located on a separate floor from other door rooms for noise control)
Ensuite bathrooms
Child-friendly amenities (cots, highchairs, etc.)
Entertainment offerings (video games, board games, a pool, etc)
With a database of over 800,000 properties, the search filters on Money Digest’s Search Engine make it particularly easy to locate family-friendly properties.
Here are some of the world’s top family friendly hostels found using our search engine:
Chungmuro Residences is located 6-mins away from the subway station, providing easy access to the city’s attractions. The duplex rooms are fitted with sleek wooden flooring, a seating area and even your own laundry machine! Rooms are ensuite and comes with a small kitchen making it a perfect solution for a family’s vacation. It’s even better when they are 10-minute walk from Namsan Korean Hanok Village which features numerous dining options and cultural spots. Heard of Dongdaemun Market and Namdaemun? Yes, Korea’s biggest shopping area are just 5-minute drive away. Great for a family trip.
Lub d Bangkok Silom Hostel is a contemporary modern hostel that is just five-minute walk away from Si Lom. Besides free Wi-Fi, other features of the hostels include a 24-hour reception, laundry services and facilities, free luggage storage and a tour desk. Room are decorated in a cozy and spacious layout with chic red furnitures. A breakfast is provided eveyr morning or if you like you can always dine at the cafes and eateries nearby. Bangkok’s MahaNakon is just 10-minute walk away and you should visit the Patpong, Empire Tower and the Bangkok Folk Musuem.
Febris Hotel And Spa is recommended as one of the best family hotels because of its family-friendly facilities. The rooms are spacious enough for families of any size. With a kids pool and a playground, your kids will love their stay while you enjoy your spa and massage in the outdoor. Each room comes with a refrigerator, flat-screen TV, private balcony and a private bathroom. There is also a bicycle hiring service should you want to take your family out for some leisure and cycling activities.
Offering four locations across the country – Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Osaka and Tokyo – this Japanese hostel group happily welcomes kids and babies, with games and cartoons available for tots in common areas. Bonus: the properties all score high guest reviews on the HotelsCombined website!
Boasting 26 Dutch properties, this Hostelling International-affiliated group keep kids amused with various sports fields and indoor recreation options. Travelling clans can also take advantage of the hostel chain’s family card, which for a nominal annual fee provides discounts on accommodation, bike rentals and tours.
The great thing about this cost hostel is that it has a maximm capacity of 50 people and isn’t directly surrounded by any late-night venues – so no worries of little ones being kept up at night by rowdy backpackers! The property will also loan out bicycles, DVDs and Frisbees (for the nearby Frisbee golf course)
The Valley House Holiday Hostel, Achill Island, Ireland
Offering an onsite pitch and putt golf course and plenty of nature trails, this friendly hostels is a great place for kids to burn off energy. Did we mention there’s also a picturesque beach just a 10 minute walk away?
A private 6-bed dorm with bathroom starts from $182.04 a night
Situated in Melbourne’s trendy St Kilda neighbourhood, Habitat HQ is a perfect choice for families on a road trip as it offers guests free, secure car parks. It also has the advantage of being the first carbon neutral backpacker hostel in the city.
Now it makes more sense to travel more often with less money spent on hotels. Do you know that you can essentially save up to 50% of the cost with hostels? Furthermore, why pay top dollars for a luxury hotel if most of the time you are out visiting attractions?
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”.
Masked in Singapore streets are fuel-efficient cars. One of them is the exciting Toyota Prius. It has been one of the first mass-produced hybrid vehicles.
Image Credits: M 93: „Dein Nordrhein-Westfalen“ via Flickr
The annual fuel cost is about S$1, 816.
5. Peugeot 508 RXH Diesel Hybrid4
Peugeot 508 is a large family car launched in 2010. It has a strong engine, a roomy space, and a fuel-economy. Since it runs in Diesel, it will cost you about S$1, 299 for its fuel annually.
4. Mercedes-Benz E-Class E300 BT Hybrid Sedan
If you don’t want to sacrifice beauty over fuel efficiency, then Mercedes-Benz E-Class E300 BT Hybrid Sedan is the car to be! It is equipped with high-tech safety features such as radar cruise control. Surprisingly, its fuel will only cost you about S$1, 300 annually.
This one-ton transportation that comes in candy colors has a maximum fuel-economy rating of 44-mpg highway. Aside from being fuel efficient, it is also loan efficient.
It costs about S$18, 280 to own it in United States.
2. Ford Fiesta
Ford’s smallest sedan is a Diesel saver as it goes to about 45-mpg in the highway. You can choose between two engines: a standard 120-hp four-cylinder or an optional 123-hp turbocharged three-cylinder. Not only is the ride balanced but its braking is good also.
You will need about S$18, 639 to own it in United States.
1. Chevrolet Cruze
If you value comfort and practicality then this car is for you. The Cruze will take you to a maximum of 46 mpg in the highway once Diesel is under its hood.
Image Credits: ChevroletCruze via Flickr
Its Smartphone integration and onboard Wi-Fi features will keep you connected throughout your journey. It costs about S$24, 529 to own it in United States.
It’s a fresh year, and you know what this means – an entirely new season of concert line ups!
With the latest acts such as Ed Sheeran and Charli XCX hitting Singapore’s shores in the upcoming few months, the concert buzz is certainly spreading fast on our Facebook and Twitter feeds. Naturally, there is good reason for such palpable excitement. In cosy little Singapore, it’s not everyday that you see big-name international artistes gracing our lands (in fact, it’s still a common misconception that Singapore is a part of China – read: we are most certainly not!!)
Perhaps it is for this very reason that not many international performers actually do stop by Singapore for a quick vocal display, and coupled with the dire lack of space in our lovely little red dot, that leads us to the tiresome problem of exorbitant concert tickets. In fact, a single Category E ticket can cost as much as $88! While the anticipation may be understandable, a night out at a concert in Singapore can easily set you back a hundred or two if you are not careful with your finances. This certainly does not bode well, especially if you do not have the spare cash to spend, or if you’ve been strung on a tight budget.
Of course, the most financially savvy method would be to not attend a concert at all.
But hey, if you’re a huge fan of that particular artiste or band, the temptation to get down to see their performance live can certainly be a difficult one to resist indeed! If you have sufficient loose change lying around – I say, go for it, or you might regret having missed out on a chance to see your favourite band performing live three years down the road (lord knows how many regrets I have held back in my concert-attending indecisions).
That being said, being willing to set down a hundred bucks or two to attend a concert should definitely not equate to letting your financial senses go for the night. In fact, when the concert adrenaline sets in, it will only be too easy for you to make the wrong financial choices and spend beyond your means!
As such, here’s how to save money for the typical concert goer! After all, nobody ever said that you can’t have your concert euphoria, and yet save yourself from spending unnecessarily at the same time. Read on for tips to save money at concerts!
Concert shows are usually announced well before the actual show dates themselves. As such, there are usually 3 to 4 months for you to purchase your tickets before the concert actually begins.
For shows that are smaller in scale – in which the organisers expect good attendance at best, but not necessarily a sell-out arena, there are typically early bird promotions in which you can get your concert tickets at $10-$20 off their usual prices!
These early bird promotions usually apply only for the first 2 weeks window, after the ticket sales first open. Or perhaps, the promotion may only be limited to the first 100 seats or so – it really boils down to the organiser’s discretion, but it’s a good chance for you to save some money if you’re an avid fan of that particular performer.
As such, if you happen to get wind of an upcoming performance, note down the date at which the box office opens, and purchase your concert tickets as soon as possible to take advantage of any early bird ticket deals! Plus, buying your tickets early would also mean getting access to better seats. Unless, of course, you’re getting tickets for a moshpit – no helping you there, let’s just hope that you’re really adept at squeezing under people’s arms – but on the brighter side, you still get to save an easy 10 bucks!
2. If you can’t get your tickets early, then buy them reaaaaally late
If you’re a hardcore fan who happened to miss the early bird promotion, but you have a dire wish to attend the concert, then you might wish to ignore this bullet point, and go ahead to purchase your tickets at full price!
On the contrary, if you are in no way desperate to attend the show (perhaps merely keen, but not over eager), then maybe you might want to take a chance, and buy your concert tickets only a day or two before the performance itself. Now, this is certainly not a foolproof method – in fact, it’s entirely subject to your luck. But if you’re truly lucky, you may be able to manage to secure a good ticket at a significantly lower price!
See, there are many people who often purchase concert tickets on a whim, only to realise much later that the show coincides with another important event; say, the driving test that they have been awaiting for half a year! In such cases, they will probably attempt to sell off their tickets before the show itself to try to salvage some money, and not let the ticket go entirely to waste.
If you know a friend who is trying to sell off a pair of tickets for a performance by a band you like at a lower price, you can most certainly consider buying them! In fact, you are on very close terms with said friends, you may even muster an attempt to shamelessly bargain for further discounts (note: you might incur some short-term wrath, but what are friends for, right?)
Alternatively, you can try your luck on platforms such as Ebay or Carousell where last minute sellers might be desperately trying to peddle off tickets which they will not use. As a word of advice, always request for a meetup to receive the tickets in person. If the tickets are being sent through mail, it would be direly unpleasant if they were to go missing due to mishandling, or if you’ve just become the fresh victim of an online scam. Uh-oh.
During performances, it can be easy to succumb to the urge to get a large box of crunchy popcorn, or a refreshing swig of ice cold beer. While this may be entirely appealing in concept, it is only after the spontaneity and concert hype has worn off that you’ll realise you’ve been completely ripped off.
Concert venues often retail snacks and drinks, but at astoundingly high prices that are way beyond their worth. In fact, such snack fronts often sell simple popcorn boxes for as much as $8, or a basic can of soft drinks for an exorbitant $3 or more!
Instead, have a good, filling meal before the concert itself. Being sufficiently sated would help to dispel any urges to further indulge in any finger food or gassy drinks – all of which could add up to unnecessary costs.
Personally, I see no reason why – just switch on the torchlight in your phone and wave it about as a faux light stick, and you’ll achieve the same effect. Then again, if lightsticks are totally straight up your alley, don’t let me stop you!
But here’s how you can avoid getting ripped off at concert venues.
You can buy your own lightsticks prior to the start of the concert for a better deal. In fact, for just $2, you can purchase a pack of two large lightsticks that can last up to several hours on end. Why buy lightsticks for $10 each at concert venues, when you can easily get them for one-fifth of the price at Daiso!
If you’re a solo concert goer, you can even offer up the spare lightstick in the pack to a random stranger and make a fast friend or two at the concert!
5. Buy your concert merchandise only after the concert
(Image credit: flickr.com)
Admittedly, concert merchandise can be part of the hype – there’s just something oddly appealing about owning an exclusive concert band tee that lends you some fan credit.
However, concert merchandise sold at concerts held in Singapore can be terrifyingly expensive. In fact, a simple tshirt can cost as much as $60! Not to mention, other apparels such as hoodies, or parkas, may be sold, and these apparels may cost even more to as much as $100. If you’re out to save money, perhaps buying concert merchandise wouldn’t be your best bet to building up a loaded bank account.
That being said, if you’ve been hankering to own a piece of band merch for ages, here’s how you can get them at a lower price – buy your concert merch only after the concert!
If the merchandise does not sell well, it is likely that stockists will be desperate to clear stock while everyone is well on their way home. As such, you might find that some band merch booths may have slashed the prices down slightly, and you’ll be able to get a piece of the merch pie at a good deal.
Else, you can opt for surfing through second hand platforms like Carousell or Ebay to purchase merchandise that some fans may have bought on a whim, but no longer seem to need. In fact, you may even attempt to haggle the price down slightly to secure yourself a fantastic buy!
6. Better yet, don’t buy any concert merchandise!
(Image credit: wikimedia.org)
Alternatively, you may search up any local fanclubs a month or two before the concert. If you’re in luck, the fanclub may have came up with some self-designed band merch for wear at the concert. While such merchandise may not be authentic, you’ll still have something tangible to commemorate your concert experience with.
Plus, such novelty items that have been conjured up by fanclubs usually sell for much less – around the $10-$15 range, as most fanclubs are not out to profit.
In fact, some of the ‘merchandise’ designed by local fanclubs may be more artistic in design than the actual band tees you’ll find at the concert venue itself – truly a great way to pay less, for more!
