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5 Christmas Eve Dinner Buffets That Cost S$100++ Or Less

With the festive season soon arriving, it’s time to start planning ahead on where to dine with your families or loved ones during Christmas or Christmas Eve. Eating out during this period can be expensive as restaurants prepare themselves for greater demands for their celebratory feasts. If you want to snag the best deal or a table in a popular restaurant in Singapore, it’s best to start researching now. Some restaurants even offer you an early bird price if you can confirm and make payment weeks ahead of the celebration.

Here is a roundup of 5 Christmas Eve Dinner Buffets that are S$100++ or less.

1. Brizo Restaurant & Bar

We start off with Brizo Restaurant & Bar on our list because it offers one of the most affordable buffet on Christmas Eve. That doesn’t mean a less sumptuous spread though. At $72++ per person, you are getting your money worth when they are offering premium seafood items such as fresh Maine lobsters, oysters and snow crab legs on their Ice Crustacean Bar. Wait, hold your horses, look out for other highlights of the yuletide spread such as the Roasted Whole Suckling Pig, Angus Striploin with Red Wine & Foie Gras and Seafood Paella with Chorizo Sausage.

Highlights: Oysters and Snow Crab Legs, Angus Striploin with Red Wine & Foie Gras

2. Makan@Jen

Nested in the new Hotel Jen at Orchard Gateway, Makan@Jen is a relatively new restaurant that has slowly picked up fans since 2014 — with 79% up votes on Singapore’s no.1 food site Hungrygowhere. Makan@Jen is located at level 10 of the hotel lobby which promises a decent view of the the city, in its spacious and cosy environment. This Christmas Eve, look forward to an abundant spread of international and local favourites. In their festive menu, they also offer the Maine lobsters (Canadian), snow crabs and freshly shucked oysters. In their roast section, there are items such as Roast Australian Lamb with Tandoori Spices and Roast Prime US Ribeye with Rosemary and Herbs. Priced at $88++ per person.

Highlights: Maine lobsters, Oysters, Roasted Australian Lamb, Roast Prime US Rib

Enjoy Early Bird Specials of 15% off when you make your reservations before 22 Dec 2015.

3. Indulge at Park

Have a Citrus Christmas at Indulge at Park! Well, don’t worry you will not be served oranges, lemon and grapefruits. Instead you’ll be in for an unique experience as they prepare to delight you with dishes infused with citrus flavours. Look out for dishes such as Calamansi Scented Salmon Tartar in Martini Glass, Dried Orange Peel Smoked Turkey Carpaccio, 8-hours Slow Roasted Citrus Brine Marinate Christmas Turkey, Tangerine Cheesecake and more. Their seafood section includes items such as Half Shell Scallop and Mussels, King Crab Legs, Boston Lobster, Live Oysters and White Clam. For only $80++ per person, it’s value for your money.

Highlights: Citrus-inspired menu, good spread of seafood on ice, wide selection of international cheese, live carving station and Christmas Dessert House (For the full menu, click here.)

4. Café Swiss

If ambience and settings are important to you, check out Café Swiss. Sitting in the atrium of Swissotel The Stamford, the 210-seater restaurant boasts modern European architecture that sets itself apart from the rest. Its festive menu is priced at $90++ per person and it has a large variety of food including a Japanese counter that serves salmon sashimi, sushi and soba and a Live Station for your Roasted Turkey and Honey Glazed Ham. Price includes free flow soft drink and a glass of Moët & Chandon Impérial

Highlights: Freshly Shucked Oysters (opened live), Japanese Half Shell Scallop, Slipper Lobster, Pan Seared Scallop, Cheese Selection, Festive Desserts such as Chocolate Brandy Log Cake & more. (Download full menu: here)

5. Carousel

Carousel has won the AsiaOne People’s Choice Awards for the Best Buffet Restaurant in Singapore for the sixth consecutive year. Reviews on Hungrygowhere are hugely positive and many praise the good service by the staffs there. Besides commendable services, they boasts a huge (really huge) spread of food. They have a wide selection of sashimi from your standard salmon to Tuna, Tai and Hokkigai (Surf Clam) and more. If you are a fan of oysters, they have the Live Canadian Oysters and the famous French Fine de Claires Oysters. In addition, they also have a live Teppanyaki station, Steamed Boat with Thai Tom Yam Stock, Indian Cuisine and a Dessert Station.

Highlights: 6 selections of fresh sashimi, Teppanyaki Live Station, Fine de Claires Oysters, Halal Cheese, Mediterranean selection, Chocolate Fountain & More.(View full menu: here)

Priced at $92++ per person. Enjoy 10% off when you make your payment with UOB, DBS/POSB, Citibank, OCBC, UnionPay or AMEX credit cards.

Make your table reservation here.

4 Crowdfunding Platforms In Singapore – What Are Their Risks And Returns?

Crowdfunding is a relatively new concept that has rapidly gained popularity in Singapore. It is a means by which a large number of people can finance a business via a platform.

There are four distinct types of crowdfunding, each of which caters to different requirements:

Pre-wedding Photoshoot in Bali, under $1000

I caught up with Valerie, who came back from her 3-day prewedding adventure in Bali. She booked a 4-hour prewedding photoshoot package via OneThreeOneFour.com. I invited her to share with us the tips and tricks and the details of her photoshoot. I’m sure soon-to-marry couples planning for an overseas wedding photoshoot would find her story below very useful.

— As told to Scott:

We chose to do the photoshoot on our 2nd day in Bali. We started with the makeup at about 12 noon and Maxtu Photography came to pick us up later.

Bonus Location: Sanur Beach

Although our US$700 photoshoot package only includes 2 locations within 4 hours, Maxtu’s team brought us to a beautiful tree near their villa for some shots too! What a pleasant surprise! It’s so apparent that they love what they do. Instead of cutting corners, they really went out of the way to think of what would be the best for us.

Location 1: Mangrove Forest

For this location, I wanted to do a vintage casual shoot with a little picnic styling. I started planning this in the weeks leading up to the shoot. My Pinterest board quickly got filled up with picnic ideas and casual vintage styles.

Casual + Vintage Outfits

I mixed a white lace top from H&M with a vintage midi skirt that I got from Haji Lane (S$45). And in my mad rush to the airport I had forgotten to bring my shoes from home so I had to buy a shoe on my 1st day in Bali (S$10.50). The flower headband that I got from Factorie costs only S$1; – S$2 after discount plus a 1 for 1 for sales item. I got 6 headbands in total, for my bridesmaid for my wedding day!

For John, he wore a vintage vest (S$20) over a white shirt. He paired it with his red bermudas and a cute checkered socks from Uniqlo.

Total Estimated: US$58.00

Styling

On top of that, I also added a little more flavour to the styling with some props! I got my Mason Jars from qoo10 (S$10 each), picnic mat from Spotlight (S$20), straw hat from Bali (S$5). The flowers, mini basket and buntings are all from Daiso for S$2 bucks each.

Total Estimated: US$35.00

Location 2: Canggu Beach

We met a traffic jam on our way to Canggu and I was worried that we would not be able to catch the sunset. The sky looked really dark like it was going to rain! I was praying like mad in the car trying to abate my anxiety. We managed to catch the sunset and thank GOD there was still some light when we arrived and we even had a pink sunset!

I had tried to find rental of horses on my own that are affordable and good but not to much success. I eventually approached Maxtu Photography to see if they had any suggestions and they did! The price was so much more affordable than anything I could find – the great thing about having local photographers! Gotta tip our hats to Maxtu for helping us to book the two horses at Canggu beach. We paid US$30 separately for one hour rental of the horses.

Formal Outfit

I got my own gown-looking dress from ASOS, for only S$80 after a 50% discount! I used the same pair of shoe from the casual vintage look! Hehe. As for the head accessories, I wished I had more time to plan for this because I bought it for S$20 from Lovisa.

As for John, we wore an existing suit which he tailored for when he was a groomsmen at a friend’s wedding. He bought his bow tie S$10 in Malacca, together with the vintage vest. It was not too bad at all! We did go to Benjamin Barker and bow ties costs like around S$30.

Total Estimated: US$77.00

I’m sooo happy with how these have turned out!
Even though I missed out to glam up myself, I didn’t give myself enough time to prepare for my OWN styling, instead cared more about the picnic and John, many people still complimented the look, saying that it looks more natural this way. I’m sooo happy with how these have turned out!

After the photoshoot, we got back to our villa at around 8pm. I felt really bad that Maxtu had to send us back to our Villa and drive up 2 hours to head back to Ubud area. Even though our photoshoot was only 4 hours, the travelling certainly took up more time and they were not calculative about it. So thankful to have met such kind and gracious photographers! We had interesting conversations in the car as well, it was like making new Balinese friends.

After Thoughts

All in all, I’m so stoked to have heard about OneThreeOneFour.com before going to Bali and when they asked for my feedback, I was naturally willing to give an enthusiastic thumbs-up! I praised them for breaking into this unique niche in the market and I think that this is going to revolutionize wedding photoshoot market.

Couples in Singapore who wants to go for overseas wedding photoshoots but are always intimidated by the idea of it being expensive, can simply browse through the price lists and portfolios, all available at one place! There’s no need to go to each photographer to ask for the rates and portfolios. This was a mega point for me because I could do all the comparison to my heart’s content and I LOVE IT! I’m honestly not sponsored or asked to write this by them, but this service has really benefited us so much!

Bali Wedding Photographer

And as for Maxtu Photography, they really over-delivered for our photoshoot in sooo many ways, looking out for us and made us look gorgeous. :’) These photos will stay with us until we are old and with grandchildren and we would be able to relive the good times we spent in Bali together for this experience.

Within 1.5 weeks, the edited photos came in and now we just have to find a good deal to print out the photos for display on our big wedding day / for our future home!!

Our Accommodation in Bali

We booked our awesome villa via Airbnb. It’s called Little Tree House and it costs only S$66 per night! A quiet hideaway in Sanur and 5 mins away from the beach! We also enjoyed the outdoor adjoining toilet in our room and the pool very much!

—

If you want to know more about the rest of Valerie’s Bali trip, head on over to her blog at valziekay.wordpress.com

About the Author: Scott is a writer from OneThreeOneFour.com, a wedding photography marketplace that connects couples with photographers based in different cities around the world. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for more updates.

(This is a guest post by OneThreeOneFour.)

The Most Overlooked Principle of Investment in a Weak Economy

In my years as a consultant, I have advised and been mentored by many brilliant individuals including the CEO of major corporations and household names. Risk / return ratio was always the centrepiece of major decisions. While regulators and financial institutions are taking up more responsibility in the post-crisis world with Dodd-Frank and Basel III, we as individual investors should view investment return with a risk lens too, for risk is the shadow of return, the two sides of the same coin.

Many are attracted by the idea of “guaranteed investment return” or “maximum return minimum investment.” A Google search of these keywords gives us 3.2 million and 216 million results respectively. However, these pursuits are inspirational but not aspirational. In financial markets and many commercial activities, if one wants to achieve higher returns on average, one often has to assume more risk. The key question is then not “How can I make the most return?” but rather “How can I make the most return at a risk I’m comfortable with?”

Four Common Approaches in Risk Management

In the practice of risk management, there are 4 common approaches towards risk i.e., avoid, transfer, mitigate and keep. Most would inadvertently take the approach of avoid or keep i.e., avoid investment risk and not invest at all, or invest and face the full risk. In fact, based on an internal survey Funding Societies has conducted with 500 members of the public, 50% of the respondents across all segments keep their funds in saving accounts and do not invest. 19% of respondents consider returns but not safety of capital as critical investment criteria. Avoid and keep are common not because of ignorance, but because of convenience.

Importance of Diversification

Investing has to be deliberate. For most, we believe the right approach is to mitigate risk by systematically diversifying investment. While a focus strategy may be suitable for experts who dedicate hours into analyzing and monitoring investments, diversification is tremendously valuable for regular investors who prefer to “invest and forget”. Effective diversification is not only about making more investments, but also investing in areas less correlated with each other by geography, industry and asset class etc. This is especially true in a weak economic environment that is fraught with uncertainty.

I have personally invested in equity, investment fund, real estate and alternative investment, with of course always 6 months of savings as contingency. I began with Asia equity and bond investment funds to achieve diversification even with limited capital. As I accumulated more capital, I ventured into US equity and Singapore real estate for further diversification. Diversification has helped me through many financial crises. By strategically allocating funds into a portfolio suitable for me, I only have to check my investments once a month and still enjoy reasonable returns.

P2P Lending Platform – A New Way to Diversify Your Investments

The recent rise in alternative investments such as peer-to-peer (P2P) lending in US, UK, Australia and China provides a new, proven opportunity for higher return and diversification. While higher return clearly comes with higher risk, it is at a level suitable for working professionals like me, especially given the shorter term and hassle-free nature of P2P lending. Investing on P2P lending has become my new favorite. A few P2P lending platforms have since launched in Singapore. An example is Funding Societies that focuses on small-medium enterprise (SME) loans.

Of course, diversification takes capital, cost and effort. Undue diversification could spread us too thin across investments. The key is to select uncorrelated investments. The less correlated the investments are, the better the diversification effect. One may ask: how do we know whether the investments are correlated? Without going into a statistical model or correlation matrix, basic intuition is a good start.

As risk guru Michel Crouhy aptly summarized, “The future cannot be predicted. However, the financial risk that arises from uncertainty can be managed.” We need to be deliberate in our risk / return decisions and be diligent in diversification because if we don’t decide them for ourselves, the market will decide for us.

Tried and Tested Home Saving Tips Taught By Moms

The legendary Stevie Wonder once said:

“Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love.”

The great things we learn from our mothers are more than just tips – they are well-kept traditions, family secrets, and wonderful memories that we must treasure.

That said, here are 6 Tried and Tested Home Saving Tips As Told By Moms…

In cleaning:

1. RE-USE YOUR OLD SOCKS

I still remember the days when my cousins and I would slide through the slippery floor that we splashed with baby powder. Hit LIKE if you have done this fun activity too.

It brought us countless minutes of happiness but the mess scattered through the floor and furniture was the enemy our mothers had to face. Fortunately, you can save several bucks on furniture dusters by using your clean old socks. Simply slip a piece in your hand, spray the cleaning solution, and start cleaning!

2. KEEP THINGS NATURAL

Using DIY natural cleaning products will not only reduce the risks of toxins and environmental damage but also save you piles of cash. Make your own glass solution by mixing 1 teaspoon of dish soap, half cup of white vinegar, and 3 cups of distilled water in a bottle. Then, spray it directly to the windows and mirrors.

You can also use the mom-approved “microfiber cloth” to clean practically anything from rugs to glass, granite to stainless steel. Just damp it with water and you are ready to go! This magical cloth costs about S$15 you can get it for only S$5 at Qoo10.

In cooking:

3. SPRINKLE SOME SALT

One of the best cooking tips you can get from the mothers online is to sprinkle some salt to boiling water. “Why?” you may ask. Salt is a great and inexpensive way to add flavour to the broccoli, pasta, or anything you are boiling.

4. SAVE YOUR BACON FATS

Another way to add a wonderfully strong flavor is to cook with bacon fats. After frying the strips of bacon, you can save its fats for later. After which, use it to saute your roasted potatoes or vegetables.

In grocery shopping:

5. BUY THE IN-HOUSE LABEL

As much as possible, buy the store’s brand products for home items such as rice, sponge, bleach, and sugar. And if a better deal comes along, check the price tag and compare it with the in-house label. Doing the maths can go a long way!

6. MAKE A LIST AND STICK WITH IT

Instead of going with the flow, make a list of the items you need for the week and stick with it. This is an age-old trick used by my late grandmother. She plans the weekly menu first and sets a budget accordingly. If there is excess cash, we can buy the stuff we want such as ice cream. Who doesn’t love ice cream?

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Sources: 1, 2, 3,4, & 5

2. Makan@Jen

3. Indulge at Park

4. Café Swiss

5. Carousel

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