savings Archives | Page 20 of 25

What Is Financial Well-Being And How Does One Boost It?

Early this year, the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau conducted a study on 59 consumers as well as 30 professionals to define what financial well-being actually is. Through their in-depth interviews they found that your income does not matter; consumers can experience financial well-being or the lack of it because it is highly personal. Therefore, financial well-being is defined as having financial freedom of choice and financial security in the present and in the future.

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE FINANCIAL WELL-BEING

a. Social and economic environment,

b. Personality and attitudes,

c. Decision context,

d. Knowledge and skills,

e. Available opportunities,

f. and Behavior.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (CC0 Public Domain)

FINANCIAL WELL-BEING’S FOUR ELEMENTS

1. PRESENT SECURITY

You are able to pay your bills on time and do not have to worry about having enough money. You manage your finances and not the other way around.

2. FUTURE SECURITY

You are prepared to handle any financial emergencies or shocks that when it strikes, you have sufficient insurance, savings, and support from your family and friends.

3. PRESENT FREEDOM OF CHOICE

You have control over your life because you have financial freedom. Taking holidays, going out for dinner, and being generous to your family are done as you wish.

4. FUTURE FREEDOM OF CHOICE

You have short-term and long-term financial goals and you know how to meet them.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (CC0 Public Domain)

WAYS TO BOOST YOUR FINANCIAL WELL-BEING

1. EARN IT

Many people cut expenses but only a few examine ways to increase income. In the event of job loss, it is still important to do whatever it takes to provide for yourself and your family.

2. PROTECT IT

Do research (e.g., from newspapers, Internet, and financial experts) to ensure that all your monetary efforts are not wasted.

3. MANAGE IT

After you retire, the bottom line is not how much you make but how much you keep.

4. GROW IT

With careful financial planning, money will grow even in a slower economy.

5. ENJOY IT

A comprehensive plan will allow you to go for vacations, new car, and so much more. With this, you can transfer some funds to your heirs or to charitable causes.

Take each day as an opportunity to work towards improving your financial well-being! 🙂

6 Money Hacks To Keep You On Budget

Are you having a difficulty to stay on budget every month? Perhaps it is about time to try a new approach. Here are just some ways to improve your financial situation…

1. MAKE SAVINGS THE FOCAL POINT

I am assuming that you are already set with your budget. You know how much money is coming in and how much money you have now. To grow that money and to prepare for major spending (e.g., buying a property or a car), you must focus on saving. Set up a savings account to make things easier for you. Then, allot an amount to save each month. Seeing your savings balance increase will be a treat to your eyes.

2. SPEND THE CASH YOU HAVE

Whenever I am going out, I leave my credit/debit cards behind and put a relatively small amount of cash in my wallet. This amount is enough for me to survive the day. Furthermore, I am not tempted to buy unnecessary things even if there are several shopping malls along the way.

You can also apply this trick to stay on your budget and be mindful about how much you spend. Try it for a few weeks first to get used to it.

3. REVAMP AND RECYCLE YOUR STUFF

Fix, refurbish, or recycle your furniture, decor, or appliance that are still in good condition instead of saving up money to replace these. As you revamp your stuff, use warm colored paints to brighten up the mood! Or, recycle your old drawer and turn it into a shelf. There are many ways you can think of to upgrade the look of your home without having to spend so, get your creative juices going!

Image Credits: Sean and Lauren via Flickr with Creative Commons License

4. CUT DOWN ON UNHEALTHY HABITS

Unhealthy habits, such as drinking alcohol or smoking tobacco, that you enjoy on a regular basis can not only increase your insurance premiums but also your daily expenses. When you decide to stop drinking and smoking entirely, you will see your bills going down and you will feel improvements in your health – in no time.

5. PRESERVE THE RECEIPTS

To make a budget, you probably stored a bunch of receipts and monitored your expenses for a month. But, you still need to keep an eye on it in order to stick on your budget. Save up all your receipts and categorize them. If you find something that you spend too much on, analyze if you lower your spending on it. For instance, frequent restaurant take-outs can put a toll on your budget.

6. REWARD YOURSELF

One of the quickest ways to adapt a new approach is to have a reward system. Reward yourself each time you reach your financial goal. You do not have to spend a hefty amount to indulge. Have a sleepover with your friends or read a delightful book. Finding ways to associate the budgeting process to a positive feeling will help you reinforce more good habits and get rid of the unhealthy ones.

Image Credits: Vox Efx via Flickr with Creative Commons License

Sources: 1 & 2

Preparing For Retirement: Should You Spend Less Or Earn More?

In order to make your dream of retiring early a reality, you generally have two options: to spend less or to earn more. If you are an avid reader of personal articles, it is no surprise that spending less is included in “Ways To Save For Retirement”. But, when you want to focus on maximizing your earning potential then, you will have to do several measures to earn more.

SPENDING LESS

Pros:

Spending less gives an a more instantaneous result compared to earning more due to its direct nature. It is easier to accomplish because of money management and budgeting techniques.

Cons:

There is a limit to when you can spend less before you hit a boiling point. For instance, some people restrict their way of life to the point that it is extremely uncomfortable and unsatisfactory.

Tips:

Lower your utility bills by unplugging cables, turning off the lights, and minimizing the air conditioner temperature.
Cancel your hand phone plans and switch to prepaid in order to regulate your telecom bills.
It is important to track where your money is going through the last month’s bank statements and receipts. Notice what you have spending too much on and reduce it.
Cut down your T.V. bill by canceling your cable subscription and opting for watching at Toggle.sg. Toggle.sg lets you watch episodes of your favorite shows at Channel 5, Channel 8, Channel U, Okto, Suria, and Vasantham – for free! But, viewing of premium content is on a subscription basis.
Lastly, if you are buying a new appliance, make sure that it is an energy efficient model. Smaller appliances not only help you save more on space but on bills also.

EARNING MORE

Pros:

The ways you can earn are endless. Ultimately, it is based on your good financial choices, a ton of effort, and a sprinkle of luck. Additionally, here is no limitation in the amount you can possibly earn.

Cons:

Making more money takes time and effort. You will need to find a better job or to work more hours in order get a start-up capital for your small business. The flow of profit after the initial business launch takes time too.

Tips:

Increase your earnings by upgrading your skills. To upgrade your skills, you can enroll to workshops or courses. Consider going down to your community centre (CC) and find out the affordable courses they offer. Transform the awesome skills you learned into viable freelance businesses or part-time occupations.

Start your own small business such as an online clothing shop. Online business allows you to sell your product or service at the convenience of your own home and your own time.

Lastly, contemplate on proposing a salary increase or a leaving the company for a better company.

WHICH ONE WEIGHS MORE?

On your way to save for your retirement fund, frugality or spending less is the first step. Once you are financially stable, it makes more sense to seek for higher income.
You can earn millions of dollars but if you are spending irrationally, you can get into financial problems. And, even if you are cutting down your spending, you may not reach your goal if you do not earn a decent amount of money. So, the best way to reach your retirement goal is to have a combination of both options.

(Image Credits: 401(K) 2012 via Flickr)

Source: 1

Leading Fixed Deposit Rates In Singapore

First, you must know the nature of fixed deposits (FD), its advantages, and disadvantages. A fixed deposit is a financial tool offered by the bank, which, provides clients (like YOU) with a higher rate of interest than a savings account.

In Singapore, a minimum deposit of S$1, 000 is required to open an account. The fixed deposit rate will only be given within a maturity term. The term ranging from 1 to 36 months depends upon your bank here. Once the money matures, you will get back your initial deposit with the interest.

FD’S ADVANTAGES

a. SAFETY

Fixed deposit is a more stable and safe route than other investments. Since not everyone is willing to risk it all with bonds and property investments, fixed deposits offer guaranteed money back.

b. WORKABILITY

Because the rates vary based on the time on hold, the amount you put in, and the bank you chose…there is a good chance to get the highest interest rate possible. All you have to do is to research and compare the workability or flexibility of the FDs available.

c. LIQUIDITY

Your money that resides in a fixed deposit account is a surefire liquid asset (i.e., can be converted to cash). So, after the money matures, you can withdraw cash for any purpose such as weddings or medical emergencies.

FD’S DISADVANTAGES

a. NO DIVERSIFICATION

If you invest all of your wealth to FDs then, you will not indulge on the benefits of diversification. Diversification is having investments in real estate, gold, and stock markets.

b. VULNERABILITY TO INFLATION

The returns of the FDs are lower if the inflation is very high. To put it in perspective, the interest rate may not change but you will still lose money if the Singapore dollar significantly drops.

To the most exciting part, we shall go…

LEADING FIXED DEPOSIT RATES IN SINGAPORE

Here are the banks that provides the best interest rates if your savings is S$10, 000 within an annum:

1. RHB Singapore Dollar Time Deposit

Interest Rate: 0.63%

Returns: S$63

2. CIMB Why Wait Fixed Deposit-i Account

Interest Rate: 0.50%

Returns: S$50

3. UOB Grand Senior Citizens Fixed Deposit

Interest Rate: 0.38%

Returns: S$38

4. Standard Chartered Singapore Dollar Time Deposits

Interest Rate: 0.35%

Returns: S$35

Here are the banks that provides the best interest rates if your savings is S$100, 000 within an annum:

1. CIMB SGD Fixed Deposit

Interest Rate: 1.30%

Returns: S$1,300

2. Maybank iSaVvy Time Deposit

Interest Rate: 0.85%

Returns: S$850

3. Maybank Singapore Dollar Time Deposit

Interest Rate: 0.70%

Returns: S$700

4. Bank of China SGD Time Deposit Account

Interest Rate: 0.60%

Returns: S$600

Image Credits: Will Clayton via Flickr

The data above goes to show that the strength of the fixed deposit rate truly varies upon the amount you saved and the bank you chose. Hence, it is important to educate yourself first before diving in. ☺

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

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

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