MoneyDigest - Personal Finance, Lifestyle, Money Saving Tips

Smart, Simple, and Swift Ways To Save Money Now

Would you rather spend your six minutes to check the latest gossip on Facebook, to stalk the recent celebrity updates on Instagram, or to save a decent amount of money?

The last choice proves to be healthy not only to your finances but also to your life in general.

So start allocating at least 6 minutes of every day to do 1 of these money-saving steps:

1. UNPLUG THE TELEVISION

Did you know that the electricity cost for households is 20.35 cents per kWh? Thus, the monthly cost of a 40″ LCD television (TV) running for 6 hours daily is about S$7.69.

In reality, you cannot maintain the energy consumption of the television constant due to social events. There may be days when you alone time with yourself the remote and other days when you want to go out with friends. Also, free previews during holidays can make you want to use the cable TV even more.

To keep the tariff into a minimum, it is important to switch off and unplug your TV when no one is watching. Instead of leaving the TV on as a background noise, consider your hand phone as a radio. This small daily acts can save you a whole month’s worth of major electricity.

2. LOOK FOR ONE EXPENSE TO ELIMINATE

Spend your 6 minutes by examining your last month’s utilities bill or last month’s credit card statement. Use your hawk eyes to look for one expense you can reduce or eliminate. Whether it is the unusable Yoga studio membership or the expensive dinners at the restaurants, there is a surefire way to cut and save!

For example:

Say you have different telecom provider for your hand phone, landline, and cable TV. Cut them all and save money by getting a promotional bundle from one provider.

3. ALTER AND FIX YOUR CLOTHING BY YOURSELF

Tailoring or sewing services in Singapore can range from S$5-40 depending on the type of clothing article. Some of the prices are too much if you asked me. You might as well buy a new one. Good thing there is a better and quicker option – altering clothes by yourself.

Instead of tossing away your favorite shirt because of several broken or missing buttons, sew new ones into the fabric one by one. Learning how to sew a button is quick and uncomplicated. The first thing you must do is to choose a suitable button and a matching thread. Then, be guided by this short video:

Aside from sewing buttons, master the basics stitches now by browsing through the free tutorial videos available online or by reading this post.

4. COMPILE THE BEST FINANCIAL RESOURCES ON THE WEB

Make a concise list of the premium financial resources on the Internet that are both free and objective. Upon making the list, subscribe to their email or Facebook notifications so you are constantly reminded of the money-saving tips, great deals, online coupon codes, and other financial news. Rather than using your personal email, it is advisable to make a separate email for this.

This simple step can save you money regularly in 6 minutes or less! Begin the list by including Money Digest and MoneySENSE (the national financial resource made by the government).

Image Credits: facebook.com/MoneyDigest

Sources: 1, 2, 3, & 4

Essential Insurance You Need As A Young Working Adult

Finally! After grueling years of hard work and burning the midnight oil, you have graduated. You are bound to face the next chapter of your life – transitioning to the workforce.

Aside from dressing professionally, meeting the deadlines, helping your boss, and socializing with your fellow colleagues, it is your responsibility to create an effective financial plan.

Financial planning is a process of managing your finances and knowing where you want to go. It protects you from all the potential pressures such as taxes and unexpected fees. And, an effective financial plan shall include a savings account and an insurance.

What if an unforeseen event happened to you in your first few months on the job and you have to be confined at the hospital for a week? Restoring your health to its full strength is overwhelming enough and the last thing you want to think of is whether you can afford the medical bills! Medisave and Medishield may alleviate the impact however, having an insurance policy would have been a better option to offset the charges.

This is why it is important to protect your future with a reliable insurance policy!

In fact, a study showed that the average amount of life insurance coverage a working adult needs (minus his personal and Central Provident Fund savings) is approximately equivalent to 3.7 times his annual income.

The good news is…there is an insurance company who have young working adults at heart. It is no other than DIYInsurance. DIYInsurance, Singapore’s first online insurance comparison web portal, insures young working adults with S$1,000,000 in protection and 75% of the starting job’s salary should you be unfit to work.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

DIYInsurance compared and analyzed policies across several insurers such as NTUC, Aviva, AXA, and Tokio Marine, to put together a package that is tailored to provide you with a comprehensive coverage. This package is called the “Young Working Adult Package”.

The Young Working Adult Package consists of:

S$1,000,000 assured in death and total permanent disability protection.

S$150,000 assured in critical illness.

S$50,000 assured in early critical illness.

75% of your income assured in occupational disability.

Here is an illustration:

This potent package that can easily be purchased in one go, will cover you during your working years till you turn 65!

What’s more? You can customize the plan according to your budget and needs!

In one amazing package, you get to protect your income stream, cover your hospital bills, have enough money for alternative cancer or stroke treatments, and provide your dependents with a substantial amount of money should you pass away!

So, what is the total cost of it all? An estimated amount of only S$220 per month (for a 25 year old non-smoker who is working on a desk job). If you must know, this starter pack will also reimburse you about S$350 in commissions.

This price makes DIYInsurance’s Young Working Adult Package ideal for working adults who want their essentials protected yet keep their expenses to a minimum.

Enquire or apply now at http://www.diyinsurance.com.sg/portal/packages/young-working-adult.

With a perfectly tailored insurance package that includes fuss-free processing and reliable after-sales service, what more can a working adult ask for?

*Aside from the package above, DIYInsurance launched the Price Beater option that guarantees to offer you with the best insurance deals out there! Simply email them the quote and benefit illustration you have been offered at [email protected]. Aside from offering you with a better price, they will give you up to S$50 in shopping vouchers (until 31 Dec 2015 only) !

(This article is brought to you by DIYInsurance.)

Financial Tips For Quiet And Reserved People

Whether you are known to be the quiet or reserved one, you most likely belong to a special group of people who are known as the INTROVERTS.

A common misconception of introverts is that the dislike socializing. Contrary to the popular belief, introverts are drained by social interaction. Many introverts can socialize easily…they just prefer not to.

In fact, you can be more interpersonally connected and emphatic than others. Use these and your other magnificent qualities to your advantage as you enhance your financial life.

To get started, here are some things you can do:

1. ACTIVELY LISTEN

Introverts, in general, tend to be great at listening. This skill can make you a good investor. Before investing your wealth, you must actively listen to what others have done or will do. Analyze the results of their strategies and actions. Then, make your own strategy based on the successful predecessors.

2. STUDY WHAT YOUR ARE SELLING THOROUGHLY

In order to increase your profits in sales, you must know what you are selling in a deeper level. Study your products and services thoroughly so that you can efficiently aid in the client’s needs. And if someone new approaches you, determine if he or she is a potentially good client. As an introvert you understand that it takes more than a wallet to make the sales flowing.

3. REMAIN CALM

Aside from being great at listening, introverts are usually among the calmest people in the world. This quality can be applied in different financial events, especially the unforeseen ones.

So when an unexpected bill arrives, use your natural calm then, come up with a way to pay it. When the market tumbles down, do not sell it right away because of fear; use your innate calmness to contemplate on the situation. As others panic to the unfortunate monetary events, you make levelheaded decisions.

4. WELCOME THE SOCIAL MEDIA

For an introvert, social media is a brilliant manner to communicate with other people in the safety of their own home. Embracing social media can help you to save cash in many ways such as selling your unused or underused items through Facebook, Instagram, or Carousell. You can also browse free tutorials to learn new skills so you would not have to ask a bunch of people in real life.

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

The downside to social media is that it can overwhelm you. This is why it is important to spend a minimum amount of time (e.g., 10 minutes/day) so it does not take over your wonderfully humble life!

Sources: 1 ,2,3,4,5,& 6

Be The Best Traveler You Can Be Without Spending A Cent

If you are a seasoned traveler, backpacker, or hiker, you must be aware of the saying: “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, and kill nothing but time.”

Sometimes, we get too engrossed with our desire to have a great time that we forget that we responsible for taking care of the environment for the future generations to come. The statement above simply encapsulates that responsibility.

You do not need to spend hundreds of dollars to become good stewards of Mother Nature and have unforgettable experiences in return, all you have to do is follow these steps:

1. TAKING NOTHING BUT PICTURES

Bringing a piece of nature’s paradise from your trip may seem like a good idea at first. But it is not! Keeping a bottle of Boracay, Philippines’ glorious white sands would only tarnish its beauty. Commercial establishments had already taken up some of the island’s resources; do you want to continue what they started?

To ensure that untouched destinations such as Penghu Islands (Taiwan) and Yaeyama Islands (Japan) are maintained, it is important to take pictures and nothing else. Besides, getting “souvenirs” without permission can be punishable by the laws of that country. You would not want to pay a hefty fine!

2. LEAVING NOTHING BUT FOOTPRINTS

In 20 years, I picture a world filled with diverse species that are vividly scattered across the globe! I think you want to share the same vision too. I mean…would you rather see majestic birds fly through the air or birds covered with dirt due to an unfortunate oil spill?

Image Credits: Marine Photobank via Flickr (CC license)

It is our obligation to leave nothing but shoe (not carbon) footprints wherever we go. For instance, if you want to go snorkeling in Thailand’s Ko Lipe, do not forget to throw your trash in the rubbish bin and not in its beautiful waters. Do not carve your “couple name” on the walls either as vandalizing can ruin historical landmarks. Simply, do your best to contribute to the cleanliness of the place you are visiting.

3. KILLING NOTHING BUT TIME

Ambon (Indonesia) was an essential island during the heyday of the Dutch East India Company because it was used as a source of spices. Aside from spices, Ambon is famous for their eels. Imagine if people would pay to kill those eels? Fortunately, they do not!

However, that is not the case in Africa. People pay Africans to get the tusks of the helpless elephants in order to sell them internationally. Believe it or not, thousands of elephants are being killed each year for their tusks! When you purchase ivory necklaces, you may not be the one holding the knife but you just promoted the market for the illegal killings. Let us face it; do you really need that ivory tusk necklace or that tortoise-shell keychain?

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

So please, while enjoying your travels, kill nothing but negativity and time.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

Excellent Ways To Showcase “Singlish” With Pride

Singapore is unique melting pot of diverse cultures such as Chinese, Malay, and Indian. These cultures fused together to build the unofficial common language of all Singaporeans – the Singlish. Despite one’s efforts to speak fluent English, one cannot help it when Singlish phrases kicks in so naturally. You get so comfortable with it that your foreign friends look at you with total perplexity.

How do exactly explain what “leh”, “liao”, or “lah” is?

Well, you can start by (affordably) wearing it with pride!

1. THE LITTLE DRÖM STORE

Keychains: S$13.90 & Badges: S$20. Buy here.

From badges to keychains, you name it…they have it! The Little Dröm Store sells local items for several types of Singaporean.

Their gold-plated keychains have 30 different designs like Huat ah, Chope, Kopi Uncle, and Shiok. With that many choices, you will surely find one you like. While the badges have 16 different designs. From the Precise (Zhun zhun guni hoon), to the Champion (Kiasu), and the Composed Singaporean (Steady Pom Pipi), this store has it all for you!

Image Credits: http://shop.thelittledromstore.com/product/chope-kc

Image Credits: shop.thelittledromstore.com/product/chope-kc

2. NAIISE.

Singlish Poster (A3 Size): S$15. Buy here.

Nothing screams your pride for Singlish even more than a poster hanged in your home or office. Aside from posting your precious family portraits, post this printed Singlish words and phrases by angmohdan. Also, you may share it with your loved ones who are overseas to remind them of our beautiful land!

Image Credits: www.angmohdan.com

3. SIMITAIJI

Uniquely Singaporean Phrases: S$25. Buy here.

Sprinkled with Singaporean humor, Simitaiji presents the Uniquely Singaporean Phrases unisex tees that are available in two nationalistic colors. Simitaiji was founded by two designers from diverse backgrounds and was brought together by their love of the country.

Image Credits: facebook.com/hello.simitaiji

Worry not if you fit the tee as they come in XXS-L!

4. HOSAY!

Hosay! Itunes App: Free. Buy here.

If you want to master your “mother-tongue” even more, do it with this free yet cool app! It comes with 80 unique Singaporean expressions and their meanings. Learn how to pronounce phrases such as “Wah Lau” or “Jialat”. A review by Kitty966 even added that this really funny App has accurate pronunciations.

Complete with insults, kopitiam, gambling, and character lingo – this App will surely brush up your Singlish skills while tickling your funny bone.

Image Credits: Hosay! via Itunes

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