MoneyDigest - Personal Finance, Lifestyle, Money Saving Tips

Is Home Office Heaven Or Hell For You?

Working from home used to be an idea that graced infomercials few years ago but in the new generation, it has become increasingly common. According to the data collated by Global Workplace Analytics, there are approximately 10 to 15 million home-based businesses. Before making any decisions to jump on the “home office” bandwagon, you must first weigh its advantages and disadvantages.

ADVANTAGES

Given the opportunity to be your own boss, you may be able to do things you love and get paid for it. Since you do not have a supervisor beside you, your passion will fuel your creativity and productivity. In fact, a Stanford University study showed that call center employees from China reported increased performance by 12% and higher work satisfaction as they worked from home.

Aside from this, having a home office can give you one thing that you might be itching for – freedom! You start by building your own working environment that you are most comfortable with. With this power of autonomy, you will notice that little things you do can make a huge difference.

Freedom also entails that you hold your own work schedule. Setting your own hours can mean that you get to drive your children to school, you can go out for private errands during lunch, and you won’t miss out on your children’s school presentations. This means that you are able to do more of what you really love.

DISADVANTAGES

After hearing its advantages, working from home may sound like a dream come true but you have to take note of its disadvantages too. One prominent downside to many home offices is the vulnerability to distractions such as accessible electronic devices, noisy family members, and many household tasks.

Another disadvantage is higher utility costs, especially if you barely leave your home. This is why you should make it a habit to conserve energy through simple strategies such as scheduling your air conditioning use, reducing indoor heat by painting your rooms white, or working at the brightest part of the house.

Lastly, since most people meet new people and make friends in the workplace, professionals who are working from home may experience loneliness, isolation, and depression. As they are plucked away from their previous co-workers and bosses, staying in touch with them can remedy the situation.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (CC0 Public Domain)

Bottom line: When you are shifting towards the home office, you must consider all its possible factors – both good and bad. If possible, you may split your time between the home office and the workplace.

Sources: 1,2,3,& 4

Genius Cleaning Hacks To Save You Money And Time

USE VINEGAR TO CLEAN THE BATHROOM

Your S$2-3 bottle of white vinegar have uses that are beyond the kitchen! To clean the toilet, pour a cup of distilled white vinegar into the bowl and let it stay there for 5 hours or overnight. Then, scrub it well and flush. To clean your tub and kill the germs, spray white vinegar around the tub. Then, wipe it with wet cloth to clean.

USE BLOW DRYER TO REMOVE WATER STAINS

Spills from your mugs, glasses, bottles, and cans can leave a whitened “ring” that can be easily visible on furniture. Before you replace or repaint some tables, a simple yet efficient shortcut is to use a blow dryer to clean it. Hold the blow dryer (high heat) close to the ring and see it disappear in a few minutes. Once it evaporates, add a small amount of olive oil to re-condition the wooden table.

USE A DRY TOWEL TO SPEED UP THE DRYER

To save money on electricity, you must reduce the amount of time it takes to dry your wet laundry load. Simply add a dry towel to your dryer with other wet clothes. This trick works because the dry towel absorbs the excess moisture around your dryer.

USE AN IRON TO ELIMINATE CARPET STAINS

To eliminate nasty carpet stains without professional help, clean it with white vinegar, iron, and water. Start by mixing 2 parts of water with 1 part of white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray this solution on the stain. Then, iron the rag (steam setting) for about 30 seconds or more. This shall remove the stain as well as its unpleasant odor.

USE A DIRECTORY OF THE CLEANING SERVICES IN SINGAPORE

If all else fails, save time and effort by having a directory of the top cleaning services in Singapore.

a. NTUC Domestic Cleaning Service
Location: 75 Bras Basah Road, NTUC Income Centre, Singapore 189557
Contact: 6788 8788

b. House Cleaner Singapore
Location: 538 Bedok North Street 3 Singapore, Singapore 460538
Contact: 6844 3382

c. Home Cleanz Cleaning & Laundry Services
Location: 332 Changi Road, Singapore 419807
Contact: 6440 3342

d. Domestic One Cleaning Service
Location: 47 Hill Street, #06-06 Singapore 179365
Contact: 6100 2388

Image Credits: pixabay.com (CC0 Public Domain)

Sources: 1 & 2

Student’s Guide To Part-Time Job Hunting In Singapore

In Singapore, it is ordinary for students to gravitate toward part-time jobs. These part-time jobs either add a boost to their travel fund or to their school allowance. Whatever the reason may be, job hunting in the modern age has definitely changed!

That said, here are some places you have to browse when job hunting:

1. NEWSPAPER CLASSIFIEDS

Go back to the tried and tested strategy of grabbing the latest newspaper publication right from your doorstep. In particular, the leading English newspaper in Singapore called The Straits Times has its weekend supplement containing a section for “Classified Jobs”.

2. ONLINE CLASSIFIEDS

If you cannot find the job you want on the newspaper ads, try looking for some opportunities at the online classifieds namely: Gumtree and Craigslist Singapore. Renowned as Singapore’s Number 1 Free Classifieds Site, Gumtree Singapore is well-known for providing good classified services with one of the largest visibility. Check out the “Jobs” category or type the keywords of your desired job. With its user-friendly functionalities that is both available online and on the mobile app, you can search for a job at your own convenience.

An even more simplistic website is one of the oldest classifieds portals in the world called Craigslist. Established in 1996, Craigslist provides services for more than 70 countries including sunny Singapore. Posting job ads and browsing through them is totally free!

Friendly Reminder: Please be careful as some of the ads posted are merely scams or spams.

3. NETWORK REFERRAL

Everybody is bound to know somebody. Within your existing network, there are probably a handful of part-time jobs that are perfectly in lined to your capacity. Do not hesitate to ask your classmates and friends if they can recommend a job for you.

And here are the common part-time jobs suitable for students:

1. F&B STAFF

Becoming an F&B Staff requires a whole lot of energy and patience. Despite the average salary, it can be a rewarding experience that will help you learn the skills you need further down the road. No to mention, there is a possibility of taking home free food.

Average Rates: S$6-10/hour

2. RECEPTIONIST

Clinics, spas, and fitness centers are often on a lookout for part-time receptionists whose main job is to book appointments, answer phone calls, and sell products. Being computer and social media literate is a must if you are planning to apply for this job. Luckily, almost every millennial fits the bill!

Average Rates: S$6.5-10/hour

3. FLYERS DISTRIBUTOR

One of the most tiring yet technically simple part-time jobs available is the “flyers distributor”. Just imagine yourself distributing some papers while standing in a spot for hours and braving Singapore’s heat.

Average Rates: S$5-6/hour

Image Credits: MuseScore (CC License Attribution 2.0 Generic)

Sources: 1 & 2

How To Save And Travel Like A Local In Hong Kong With The Changi Recommends’ Wi-Fi Router

Granted with a couple of days of vacation, you chose to travel to Hong Kong. Hong Kong – the bustling country that is home to busy neighborhoods, amazing museums, rich heritage sites, and best shopping malls.

To ensure that you get wireless data connection throughout your stay, equip yourself with Changi Recommends’ Wi-Fi Router. It is a budget-friendly solution to meet all your travel needs!

Here is why:

1. Use Taxi Apps To Get From One Place To Another

Say it is your first time in Hong Kong and you are not familiar with their public transportation, a better way to reach your accommodation safely is by riding a taxi. But hailing one can be difficult if your arrival is scheduled at inconvenient timings (e.g., at midnight or at rush hour). Fortunately, you can always get a ride with the Uber app and your Changi Recommends’ Wi-Fi Router.

Simply connect your smartphone online and travel around the island anytime and anywhere.

2. Navigate And Never Get Lost With Google Maps

If you are a person like me who has absolutely little to no sense of direction, equipping yourself with Google Maps is a must!

Save money and time on transportation by connecting online and finding the shortest way possible. And if you want to maximize your budget even more, you can enjoy the wonderful sceneries by walking as much as possible.

3. Stay Connected Anywhere Even Without Free Wireless Hotspots

Some people throw a couple of dollars at the local cafe just to use their free wireless hotspot for a couple of minutes. Do not be one of those people!

Instead of going to the nearby Starbucks or Mcdonalds just to check your work email, accomplish your tasks by connecting your devices to the Changi Recommends’ Wi-Fi Router. Connect securely wherever your itinerary takes you by carrying it inside your bag or pocket.

4. Update Your Social Media Accounts And Have Your Friends Greening With Envy

In the era where social media reigns supreme, our generation has embraced the culture of photo sharing. And as you travel in Hong Kong’s religious sites and cityscapes, it is inevitable to take countless selfies and Instagrammable images. Share these images while avoiding the horrific expenses of data roaming by keeping your pocket Wi-Fi device handy at all times.

Wouldn’t it be nice if all of your travel buddies posted your fun memories on the day itself? For as low as S$5 per day Changi Recommends’ Wi-Fi Router lets you connect to 8 devices simultaneously.

5. Search For The Cheapest And Best Local Food With One App

There is a greater chance that the breakfast from the hotel is expensive. So immerse yourself to the place, the people, and the culture better by trying their local cuisine.

Clueless about what Hong Kong cuisine has to offer? Consider connecting to your OpenRice app online to find the latest food promotions and book a table fast! Keep in mind that locally made food and beverage are often cheaper.

Eager to get your own Changi Recommends’ Wi-Fi Router?

Reserve yours by completing the form at changirecommends.com for at least 3 days prior to your departure. Aside from reserving the unit online, you can call +65 6701 1185 or WhatsApp to +65 9427 6977 to inquire and reserve.

After reserving your set, you can collect it at any Changi Recommends’ 24/7 booth at Changi Airport T1, T2, and T3!

The Do’s And Don’ts Of Spending Money In Your 20s

For most people, 20s was the decade that defined who they became for the rest of their lives. It is the era of endless exploration and distinctive decision-making. Not to mention, it is the time that you establish your spending habits.

If you are in your 20s right now…take the time to invest in yourself, to learn about personal finance, and to get on the right track. Start by observing the healthy financial habits and diminishing the unhealthy financial habits.

THE DO’S

1. DO THIS FIRST OF ALL

The first step you must take is to establish a realistic and beneficial budget. Instead of perceiving it as something that limits your spending, perceive it as a tool that encourages you to live within your means.

Begin by listing down your expenses (i.e., fixed and variable), your income, and debts. Your cash flow for the previous weeks will help you setup your budget. Do not panic if you still have to pay your student loan because your budget will help you plan your income allocation.

2. DO EDUCATE YOURSELF

Read and understand materials about self-empowerment, investment, and money management. Here are four books to get you started with:

“The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield
“Why Stocks Go Up and Down” by William Pike
“The Intelligent Investor” by Benjamin Graham
“Turning Pro” by Steven Pressfield

3. DO PRACTICE COOKING

With the pervasive technology, it is possible to learn just about anything! If you want to save money on eating out (especially if you are living on your own), it is best to learn how to cook. Convince your 20-something self that it is about time to practice cooking simple meals such as Omelet, Carbonara, and Chicken Rice. Remember that aside from rent, your food expenses make the largest impact on your budget.

Image Credits: crateandbarrel.com

THE DON’TS

1. DO NOT SPEND TOO MUCH ON CIGARETTES

As you know, Singapore is one of the cities that sell expensive cigarettes. And if you are caught smoking one in a restricted place, you are bound to pay a hefty price of S$200-1,000. Aside from its high cost, you are at risk of paying costly health care fees (e.g.,due to lung cancer). So think twice before you light one!

2. DO NOT BOOST YOUR CREDIT CARD DEBT

Aside from splurging your money, another unhealthy habit that you have to stop is not paying off your credit card. The bad credit decisions you made in your 20s can haunt you in the future. For example, it can affect whether or not you are able to get a loan to buy a car.

3. DO NOT SPLURGE FOR “EXPERIENCES” ALONE

Millennials have shifted their spending patterns to experiences rather than material goods. However, if you solely spend your hard-earned cash to pay for your travel without the consideration of your savings, everything can go down hill. Saving money is important not only because emergencies happen but also because retirement is inevitable.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (CC0 Public Domain)

Sources: 1 & 2

Search the site