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36 Things You Can Do In Singapore, Aside From Spending Too Much Money

Your wallet must be exhausted after the weeklong festivities in celebration of Singapore’s golden jubilee. Give your wallet a break and ease its pressure by doing budget-friendly or free things in the weeks to come. Start with these:

1. Read a book or a series at the nearest public library.

2. Take advantage of the free Wi-Fi at MRT platforms.

3. Catch up with your friend through video chat.

4. Daydream about the future.

5. Purchase and play Frisbee outdoors

6. Create your homemade pizza with affordable ingredients.

7. Make and eat different homemade desserts such as s’mores.

8. Play dress-up with your children.

9. Have a volleyball game at the Siloso Beach.

10. Enjoy a sleepover with your friends.

11. Update your social media profiles (e.g, change profile photos).

12. Upgrade your C.V. or Resume.

13. Creatively arrange your decorative flowers.

14. Make your own recycled vase.

15. Host a movie marathon with your friends or family.

16. Craft lovely DIY gifts.

17. Write an essay, a journal, a poem, or a short story.

18. Listen to your favorite music.

19. Watch the sunset with your special someone.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (CC0 Public Domain)

20. Gaze alone night sky.

21. Play old-school video games.

22. Go for a neighborhood run.

23. Take pictures of sights.

24. Build a free music playlist at Spotify.

25. Organize your drawers and closets.

26. Book a free tour at NUS Baba House (A Preserved Heritage House).

27. Enjoy the fantastic view of the Supertrees at Gardens By The Bay.

28. Indulge in Changi Airport’s freebies.

29. Walk high at the MacRitchie Reservoir’s Treetop Walk.

30. See higher at magnificent ION Orchard’s 55th level.

31. Bike and chill out at the East Coast Park.

32. Hunt all the eight Merlions in Singapore.

33. Visit the largest and oldest cathedral in Singapore – St. Andrew’s Cathedral.

34. Jalan-Jalan at the Changi Point Boardwalk.

35. Have a beautiful time with homemade DIY spa treatments.

36. Appreciate amazing art at the Gillman Barracks.

Sources:1, 2, & 3

Free Investment Resources Singaporeans Can Benefit From

1. BORROW BOOKS FROM THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES

The best way to fish in an unfamiliar territory is to research about it first. Know the basics in investing and trading by visiting your local or regional public library and borrowing their books. A few examples of the books you may find are “The Resilient Investor”, “Trading Options for Dummies”, and “7 Simple Strategies of Highly Effective Traders”.

The National Library Board (NLB) ensures that the information given in the public libraries are trusted, accessible, and comprehensive. Their genuine aim is to build a knowledgeable nation with generations of readers.

What is great about NLB’s website is that you can browse the availability of the book as well as find the list of libraries where it is located. This way, you do not have to go to a nearby library only to find out that what you are looking for is not there. For instance, you can find the 7 Simple Strategies of Highly Effective Traders book in 12 public libraries including Toa Payoh Public Library – our nearby library. Start searching by yourself, here.

2. ATTEND A NO-COST WORKSHOP ABOUT INCOME INVESTING

Last Tuesday, I had an opportunity to attend a workshop named: “Get Rich Slowly, The Income Investing Way”. Terence Tan led it. Terence Tan is the creator of the first Income Investing Programme in Asia-Pacific called Income Mastery Programme (IMP). Also, he is the chief investment strategist in Giants Learning Technologies as well as the founder of First Traders Network.

With a guy whose experience in stocks spans over 16 years, I thought to myself that I could certainly learn a thing or two. To get things straightened out, if you are looking for a method to get rich quickly through investing, this talk is not for you. Instead, this is for people who seek financial freedom by patiently and diligently pouring their resources for years on end.

Image Credits: facebook.com/IncomeMasteryProgramme

What you can expect from this free 2-hour workshop is to gain a glimpse of the mindsets of some investors such as the renowned Warren Edward Buffett, to uncover the principles of income investing, and to determine the right stocks in 15 minutes or less. Furthermore, he will introduce you to his own methodology called the Income Mastery Programme. My impression of IMP after the workshop was it was a feasible yet gradual way to generate profits while in the midst of low-risk trades. By lowering down the risk, you will be confident that the stocks make money over time. If you are interested to know more, you can register for their upcoming talk on August 18, here.

3. TAKE PART IN A HUGE INVESTMENT FAIR – FOR FREE

Dating back from 2007, Invest Fair Singapore is ShareInvestor’s annual event for investors and traders alike. Enjoy the presence of world-class speakers, key stakeholders, and other experts in the financial industry by registering here.

The list of featured speakers include Marc Faber (Investment Expert and Best-Selling Author), Kathy Lien (World-renowned Currency Strategist and Best-Selling Author), Roger Monthomery (Chairman and CIO of Montgomery Investment Management), and one of Forbes’ 2014 list of Singapore’s 50 Richest men – John Lim.

The seminars start with “Simple Trading Strategies for Fast Profits” on August 15 and ends with “Portfolio Allocation” on August 16. Best of all? You can get exclusive promotions from their exhibitors and stand a chance to win prizes at their lucky draw.

Image Credits: facebook.com/ShareInvestorSG

Awesome Sephora Hacks You Wouldn’t Want To Miss

If you are looking for beauty products in Singapore, one store usually comes in mind – Sephora. The name Sephora originated from the Greek term for beauty: “Sephos” and the gorgeous wife of Exodus’ Moses: “Zipporah”.

Founded in France in the 70s, Sephora had become one of the world’s leading stores for quality bath, cosmetics, and other lifestyle products. It has become a home to many luxurious brands that shape the hottest trends today. In addition to that, they also have their own private label containing assorted products. But, beauty comes with a price tag, which is often at high cost.

So, as much as I love Sephora, I still value my frugality by following these few tips:

1. SIGN-UP FOR THEIR LOYALTY PROGRAM

One of the sure-fire ways to save while you shop at Sephora is to sign-up for their loyalty program – for free! The Loyalty program is called the Sephora Card program whereby you are able to earn points and receive as much as 10% discount and other exclusive benefits such as birthday gift surprises and news updates.

There are two types of Sephora Cards namely: White and Black. But, everyone starts of at with the White Card. Upon accumulating 250 points, you will be upgraded to the Black Card. To start, sign-up by filling a quick form at the cashier or by politely asking their staff.

2. DO YOUR RESEARCH

Before purchasing anything, it is good to read the reviews first so that your money would not go to waste. Do not shy away from Sephora’s products because they are well reviewed as well.

Image Credits: Pixabay (CC0 Public Domain)

Browse for yourself. 🙂

3. CONSIDER THE LOCATION

The location of products at any Sephora outlet says something about its price. Those that are far more expensive are clustered in the middle while the less-expensive brands including the in-house label are at the sides. Thus, as much as possible, avoid the center of the store.

4. FOLLOW THE DEALS

Stalk them on Facebook or Instagram to get an inside scoop of their great deals on cosmetics, skincare, fragrances, and so much more.

Currently, Sephora’s Facebook page shares that you can get discounted items from now until September 2 at the ION branch. For example, the once S$82 STILA Glam Gift Set retails for only S$50. The same goes for the once S$70 LAURA MERCIER Artist Palette for eyes & cheeks that are now sold for only S$50.

Image Credits: facebook.com/sephorasingapore

Incredible Ways You Can Save As Parents Of A Newborn Baby

Knowing that pregnancy bills, documents, clothing, accessories, and so much more can cost more than S$10,000 in total, parents in Singapore must find savvy ways to manage their money because a baby will depend on them in everything. Here are some incredible ways to save money along the way:

1. SAY “YES” TO BREASTFEEDING

One of the empowering things that only women can do is to breastfeed their baby. As much as you can, opt for breastfeeding because it will not only be healthy but also be able to save you as low as S$1,500 per year.

To help you draw milk, you may use an electric breast pump but it comes with an expensive price tag of S$90-500. So, it is best to borrow a breast pump from a friend but make sure to change the plastic attachments. You can buy those for far less.

2. SAVE ON CLOTHES

Start saving for baby clothes by asking your friends and family if you can have their child’s outgrown clothes. You will not only help your friends or family members to de-clutter their space but you will also save more. Believe me when I say that babies can have sudden growth spurts so, it is unnecessary to buy loads of baby clothes in advance. It goes the same for shoes, as socks will be sufficient to keep their cute toes warm.

Also, you may invest two big T-shirts rather than bibs. All you have to do is to look for T-shirts that fits a baby (i.e., 1-2 years older than yours) while you are in a flea market. Then, use these big T-shirts while your baby is feeding instead of a bib.

3. SAY “NO” TO FANCY BABY TOYS

Several parents came to the conclusion that babies are not hard to please. In fact, their favorite “toys” such as plastic cups, cardboard boxes, and utensils often come with friendly price tags. They are not even the traditional toys! Buying a toy for less and still make your baby happy is such a win-win situation. You may even try to make your own toys such as a rattle made with a jar and a few coins.

4. SAVE ON FOOD

Preparing homemade baby food is simple, quick, and less costly. Having this power over your child’s food choices, you will be able to know exactly how much nutrition he or she is getting.

Before you begin feeding your baby, make sure that he or she is ready for solid food. It is recommended to wait for at least 6 months to feed solid food while you must wait until 10 months to feed them with gas-inducing foods such as broccoli, wheat, cauliflower, garlic, onions, beans, and dairy products. Be cautious of the common allergens as well.

Nonetheless, here are the recipes you can try for babies aged 6 months and beyond:

a. Carrots Baby Food (Recipe costs as low as S$0.80)

b. Peach Purée Baby Food (Recipe costs as low as S$2)

c. Pea Puree (Recipe costs as low as S$1.80)

Image Credits: Kim Love via Flickr (CC Attribution-ShareAlike)

Sources: 1 ,2 & 3

5 Shopping Hacks Everyone Should Know

In the celebration of Singapore’s 50 years of progress, several online and physical shops have been offering discounts of 50% or above. To name a few, New Look is having 50% on dresses, bags and Footwear in their Somerset, City Square and Westgate stores while Zalora offers 50% on local designers and international labels.

So, whether you are shopping online for the perfect holiday outfit or considering a huge appliance purchase, spend your money wisely and save along the way with the 5 Shopping Hacks Everyone Should Know:

1. COMPARE PRICES

Before purchasing anything, compare the different prices offered by various shops for a particular product you have been eyeing on. Do this by intelligently finding information in the comparison website called PricePanda Singapore. When shopping online, it is best to get the biggest discount by using a coupon code. You may use the coupon codes available at Singapore’s CupoNation.

2. READ THE MEASUREMENT GUIDES

You are just wasting money if you bought something online that is not true to its fit. This is why it is essential to read the footnotes or the measurement notes. It will tell you the size and measurements across an array of countries. Also, it will tell you if the garment is tight or loose. Then, get more information about the clothing article by reading the height and the size of the model.

3. SAVVY QUESTIONS TO ASK AT A STORE BEFORE YOU PURCHASE

a. Do you give rebates?

b. Is there a mailing list that announces the promotions or sales earlier?

c. Do you offer a loyalty or membership program to earn back points or cash on purchases?

d. What is the return policy?

4. ADD UP THE COSTS

Do not be fooled by the flashy “sale” sign on the window or on the website’s sidebar because some shops will make you spend extra for shipping, minimum purchases, restocking fees, return policies, or even discount exclusions. Therefore, you must add up the product price plus the extra fees first before making a purchase. Also, make sure that your online retailer is reliable.

5. EMPLOY THE “URGENCY TEST”

If you are on a physical store and 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.

Image Credits: Pixabay (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Sources: 1 & 2

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