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Fastest Ways To Drain Your Money In Singapore

1. Visit the nearby grocery while you are hungry. Shopping hungry typically leads to adding unnecessary items to your cart. You will be amazed by the length of your receipt!

2. ATMs are easily accessible in Singapore. So, draw more money that what you actually need. Your S$40 can disappear as quickly as drawing only S$20.

3. Embrace tardiness! Paying the bills late takes you back by a decent amount due to the late fees and surge in interest rates. Doing this regularly may potentially damage your credit score too.

4. Promotions and other good deals are everywhere these days. Nothing will flush your money faster than becoming an impulse buyer. See something you like while window shopping? Grab it and worry about the cost later.

5. Shower your pets with #OOTD options by purchasing clothing for all occasions. From a fairy ensemble to a Santa costume, pet clothing and accessories can cost about S$3 to S$30.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

6. Get additional S$10 or more on your teleco bill by exceeding your data limit. Some network providers apply the charges even if you exceeded your data capacity by 0.000001GB!

7. Many of us depend on a trusty cup of coffee to keep us energized throughout the day. With branded coffee chains at every turn, it is hard not to be tempted. Spending at least S$6 a day will add up to S$42 in a week. The same idea applies for artisan water.

8. Be hooked on a smartphone app! An addicting game can lead you to scoring some in-app purchases. You really need that power-ups from Candy Crush, right?

9. Do you have a thirst for excitement? Be surprised by the variety of fees and penalties that you can acquire by not reading a contract. You signed on the dotted lines thus, you are obligated to pay for all of them.

10. Watch your money fly by regularly purchasing disposable razors. Disposable razors tend to lose its sharpness and durability quickly. You will end up buying this product frequently.

11. Go to the grocery store at least twice a week. Making this a routine suggests that you are not properly tracking your food consumption or adjusting your expense categories.

12. During rush hour, you can either book a regular taxi or a Grab taxi. The latter offers a flat fee that is calculated upfront without hidden fees. While, the former is decked with extra charges for traffic conditions or bad weather.

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As obvious as this may sound, you must avoid the items written above. Alter your spending habits and stick to your realistic budget!

Sources: 1, 2,3, & 4

Worst Things To Purchase At Dollar Stores

Dollar stores or variety stores house a myriad of inexpensive goods. Examples of dollar stores include Daiso, Japan Home, and Value Dollar. Seeing S$1 on the price tag does not make it an instant bargain! Sometimes, these products are actually cheaper elsewhere.

Consider these 4 Worst Things To Purchase At Dollar Stores:

BATTERIES

My sister asked for the Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 for her birthday. To her surprise, her wish was granted. This instant camera required two AA batteries. She was delighted that it came with a free (and seemingly cheap) set of batteries. She stored the device in her cabinet after using it for several months. The next day, she saw the battery leaked and seeped into the device. It is important to note that used batteries are more prone to leakage than new ones. Furthermore, this is dangerous for the skin.

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As tempting as a dollar for a pack of AA batteries sounds like, its longevity is mediocre compared to the branded alkaline batteries. It may even leak and damage your devices. Let my sister’s story serve as an example.

WET WIPES

Savvy marketing strategies apply to dollar stores too! Notice the vast counters at Daiso’s queuing area. These are filled with items that you can conveniently pick up. For instance, it sells 10 pieces of wipes for S$2. For a single pack, that is not cheap at all!

Weigh your options as you can get 3 packs of Kleenex wipes for only S$2.85. This promo is valid until July 31, 2017.

TOOLS

Similar to the reasons why you must not buy batteries at dollar stores, you must not purchase your tools there. The quality of said tools are seemingly low. You would have to buy the same thing again and again.

Imagine hitting your hands by mistake because your hammer broke after a few strikes! Safety is a good reason why you must purchase your tools at the nearby hardware. Some hardwares offer life guarantee for their items. Moreover, you can wait for the Father’s Day deals around June.

MARKERS AND OTHER STATIONARY

Students with tight pockets frequent Daiso or Value Dollar for stationary items such as pens and markers. They often re-purchase due to its poor quality. You shall not expect the markers to have sufficient ink or stay on the surfaces as advertised.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Take time to shop around or to ask about the bookstore’s membership fees.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

3 Things That Uni Students Should Not Spend Their Allowance On

Many university students have the discipline to save their allowance, but this does not mean that they are spending their money on the “right” things.

#1: FANCY DESIGNER GOODS

While I was completing my tertiary education, I noticed how some people flaunted their LOUIS VUITTON or MCM Worldwide bags. I wondered how there were able to afford such a splurge as mere students. With limited financial capacity, it is not practical to collect luxury items. Invest on a quality backpack instead.

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Not to mention, it is seldom that somebody cares about what you are wearing.

A friend of mine rarely showers before going to school. She rationalized her actions as a typical behavior from the norm. Everybody was doing it so, why cannot she? The point was that majority of students would not care about how you present yourself. You are not there to treat the school as your catwalk! Your top priority is to learn after all.

#2: FLASHY ROOM DECOR

As a young adult, you have the privilege to decorate your own room. You definitely want to feel relaxed in your own space – be it a dorm or a hostel. However, you do not have to shell out too much to do so. Mount some family pictures and make your own ornaments. There is no need to buy a lot of new things as you will not keep your furniture for long.

#3: FREQUENT EAT OUTS

It is impressive how Singapore embraces racial harmony. That said, it is common to be friends with international students. Many of these students reside in the school’s approved hostels. Due to their living situation, some opt to dine out. Who can blame them? Dining out is utterly convenient. You do not need to prepare your food or wash the dishes. However, frequent trips to the nearest restaurant or pub can quickly exhaust your allowance.

You would not even realize how much you are spending until it is too late! Put a realistic budget in action, if you do not want your finances to wore out.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

BONUS: Let us talk about textbooks. This expense category can be uncertain at times. Universities tend to provide a long list of reading materials. The mandatory and recommended books may not be clearly written out. Before you spend your entire allowance on the comprehensive list, be sure to buy what you will actually use for the course. Find second-hand books from the last year’s students or from the Bras Basah Complex. There are free online resources too!

Sources: 1 & 2

You’re Flushing Money Away With These Grocery Habits

Since most of us consume food at least three times a day, a weekly trip to the grocery store is unavoidable. We do it on a regular basis until our actions steer into autopilot. More often than not, we idly shove familiar items into our carts and neglect better judgement. It is time for change!

You are flushing your money away with these automatic grocery habits…

#1: NEGLECTING THE EXPIRATION DATES

Say you entered the nearby grocery store and noticed the flashy brand deals. Oh! It is surely tempting to see your favorite items in the “marked down” section. However, some brands lower their prices to get rid of items that are reaching its due date. This is why you must allot a few seconds to check the expiration dates of the items before placing them into your cart. Doing so will save you an additional trip to the store and prevent the buyer’s remorse.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

#2: SHOPPING WHILE YOU’RE EMOTIONAL

If you want to fill your cart with unnecessary items, shop while you are emotional. Grocery shopping when you are “hangry” (i.e., frustrated due to hunger) is a recipe for disaster! It will not only make you reach for more items, but it will also make you lean towards unhealthy ones. An empty stomach may puncture a hole into your pocket just to satisfy its cravings.

#3: FALLING FOR THE BRANDS

Many people stick to the same brands as these have worked for them in the past. Shopping with raging brand loyalty makes you miss out the competitive products of other brands. Other brands may carry the same product quality with significant improvements and attractive deals. So, shake things up every now and then. Do not be afraid to explore the store brand or the generics too!

#4: SHOPPING WITHOUT A PLAN

You will not be able to control your spending habits (and transportation costs) if you enter the grocery store without a plan. Customize a meal plan for the week to set the tone of your shopping list.

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When money is tight, you cannot afford to go to the store spontaneously. Trust me, it rarely works!

Sources: 1 & 2

5 Fashion Trends That Are Worth Investing On

EXUDE THE FESTIVAL VIBES

Sunglasses, fedora hats, and loose fabrics can be found at music festivals. One of its key fashion elements is the “off-the-shoulder” top. This is the chicest way to show some skin as shoulders almost always look good. People who are close to me know how much I am obsessed with this trend.

This trend started in the mid-1800s when Couturier Charles Frederick Worth designed elaborate dresses which featured off-the-shoulder sleeves. In 1960s, French actress Brigitte Bardot put her own spin by wearing off-the-shoulder tops with pants and skirts. Nowadays, you can wear this look from day to night. Best of all? Off-the-shoulder tops and dresses are suited for the Singapore weather.

BUY THE WARDROBE STAPLE

From a runway flair to a corporate queen, you can transform a white button-down shirt a variety of ways. It is worth paying for a decent white button-down shirt as it beautifully complements all skin tones. So, feel free to play around with this trend by exploring different textures. Fabrics such as linen and cotton make for the most comfortable Singapore-weather clothing.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

INTRODUCING THE MILLENNIAL PINK

Pale Dogwood (or Millennial Pink) is the Pantone color of 2017. It is a shade of pink that signifies purity and innocence. This muted hue was used by many celebrities to signal women empowerment.

Join the bandwagon by adding subtle touches of pink to your attire. Wear a sheer pink blouse with a bolder jacket or pair your outfit with a pink handbag. There are number of ways to follow this trend without having to look bold!

SLIP INTO THE SULTRY LOOK

Slip dresses have been the rage since late 2016. You cannot go wrong with this trend, because you can layer it up. Add a plain tee underneath your silk slip for a sexy outfit without being too uncomfortable. For a sultry look, you can accessorize a slip dress with a neck scarf. This simple article of clothing brings together a seamless attire.

MIX THE ELEMENTS

The rules of fashion have been in favor of matching your shoes with your belt. It forces you to buy a colored belt just to match your flashy sneakers. Thankfully, the contemporary style arena embraces mixing and matching.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Bust out your favorite multi-patterned ensemble to create a mesmerizing combination. You may even pair your checkered blouse with your neutral shoes!

Sources: 1, 2, 3, & 4

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