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3 Ways To Go To An ArtScience Museum Exhibition (MBS) For Free

ArtScience Museum located at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) is the world’s first museum that focuses mainly on Art and Science. Exhibitions in this building exude creativity and curiosity as well as the role of these characteristics in shaping our society.

You might have seen the building from afar because of its iconic shape that has “10 fingers” anchored by a unique round base in the middle. The modern and exquisite detailing is perfect for the central themes of the museum. That said, you must visit it at least once.

If you are on a budget, you are in luck! Some exhibitions in the museum are free! You read that right. Not everything in MBS is expensive.

1. PICK UP YOUR FREE-ENTRY TICKET AT THE MUSEUM BOX OFFICE

To celebrate SG50 and Straits Times’ 170th anniversary, ArtScience Museum is showcasing an exhibition on their behalf that is free – for all visitors! From now until October 4, 2015, you must pick up your free-entry tickets to the “Singapore STories: Then, Now, Tomorrow Exhibition” at the museum foyer.

Straits Times (ST) has been the longest running English newspaper in the Lion City.

The exhibition recaptures the tales of our nation since ST’s founding in 1845 through significant articles, headlines, and pictures (i.e., including ones that the public has never been seen before). Imagine having to squeeze and filter through more than 40,000 issues of the newspaper just to give us the best ones! Furthermore, they added a futuristic element by envisioning what Singapore would be like 50 years down the road.

What I liked most about the exhibition are the interactive activities such as testing your knowledge on the Singaporean acronyms, sliding the pictures to see the before and after shots of different infrastructures, and the complementary paper dress-up wherein you can lean more about the different types of Singaporean dresses (e.g., Cheongsam, Sari, and Baju Kurung).

Image Credits: instagram.com/agoncilloanna

2. TAKE YOUR KIDS ON A FRIDAY FAMILY DAY

Every Fridays, families with children can enjoy enriching and engaging exhibitions for free. Only the children (maximum of four) of an adult who purchased a standard ticket will be given the free passes on the same exhibition/s. For the child to be honored with the free-entry ticket, he or she must be 12 years old or under. Furthermore, all tickets are issued for the same day at the museum box office only.

Imagine how much fun your children and your wallet would have when you take them to the DreamWorks Animation Exhibition or The Deep Exhibition. Not only are these exhibitions educational but also they are also interactive.

Read more about the Terms and Conditions, here.

3. JOIN ARTSCIENCE MUSEUM’S FACEBOOK COMPETITIONS

About 2 weeks ago, ArtScience Museum’s Facebook page hosted a competition wherein 10 winners received all-access passes to the exhibitions as well as goodie bags from the museum’s gift shop. The lucky winners have been announced last night. Worry not if you missed your chance because the museum guarantees that there are more giveaways in the future!

So, like them on Facebook at facebook.com/ArtScienceMuseum.

Image Credits: facebook.com/ArtScienceMuseum

Sources: 1 & 2

Newbie’s Guide To The Dynamics Of Debt And Credit

DEFINITION

Before anything else, we must define two terms: debt and credit. Debt is the amount borrowed by one party (e.g., corporations or individuals) from another (e.g., banks). While Credit is the lawful agreement in which a borrower receives something of value today and agrees to repay later on in the future, usually with interest. Simply, when you use your credit card, you create debt. Debt here is the result from your ability to borrow – from your credit.

Now that you know the definitions and the differences between these two terms, you must discover the pros and cons of using credit as well as the 3 C’s of worthiness. All these are according to the Credit Bureau Singapore. Credit Bureau Singapore was set up in lined with the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s vision to enhance the public’s risk management abilities.

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

PROS AND CONS OF USING CREDIT

The pros and cons of using credit or credit card are plain and straightforward.

Pros

Being able to buy what you need right away

Not having to carry cash

Automatic record of purchases

More convenient than cheques

Cons

Interest especially for items of higher cost

Have additional fees

Financial difficulties may arise

Elevation in impulse purchases may occur

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

3 C’S OF WORTHINESS

Before swimming in a pile of credit, know if you are worthy to take the plunge by asking yourself a set of questions.

1. Character (Are you the type of person who will repay his or her debt?)

Does your credit history show that you are honest and reliable in paying debts?

Do you pay bills on time? Do you have a good credit score/report?

Can you provide a couple of character references?

How long have you been at your present occupation?

How long have you lived at your present home?

2. Capacity (Are you able to repay the debt?)

Is your job income enough to support your credit usage?

Is your job stable and steady?

How much is your salary?

How many loan payments do you have in total?

What are your current debts?

How many people are dependent on you?

3. Capital (Do you have back-up if you cannot repay the debt?)

Do you have a savings account?

Do you have various investments to use as a collateral?

Can you enumerate the properties that you own to help secure loans?

What other valuable assets do you have that could be used to repay debts?

It is essential to know all these to assess whether you are truly fit to apply for a credit card or loan. Furthermore, you may use the information to guide you in your responsibilities as a borrower. 🙂

Sources: 1 , 2 & 3

6 Best Places To Eat Delicious Local Dishes

Singaporeans really love to eat. It is one of the forces that hold our country of different races together. A chicken rice, chili crab, nasi lemak, and roti prata can share the same table with problem at all! So, for the newcomers and locals who want to experience good food at a budget, here are the best places to visit:

1. HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE

One of my all time favorite local dishes is the chicken rice! It is so popular in the island that almost all the restaurants, hawker centers, and Singapore Airlines aircrafts serve this dish. When it comes to chicken rice, people expect the chicken to be as good as the rice. Both should be flavorful, tender, and smooth. Suggested places are as follows:

a. Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice

Known for its fragrant and delicious chicken rice, Tian Tian has been voted as the best chicken rice hawker stall in Singapore. A bowl of chicken broth and a plate of chicken rice cost about S$3.50. This is a great price for quality taste!

Location: 1 Kadayanallur Street, #01-10/11 Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore 069184

b. Wee Nam Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice

Wee Nam Kee has been named as the Top Hawker at AsiaOne People’s Choice Award in 2010. Its chicken rice is unique because of its dipping sauce. A plate of chicken rice is about S$4.80 while a half chicken is S$16.

Location: 101 Thomson Road, #01-08 United Square, Singapore 307591

2. CHILI CRAB

In 2011, CNNgo dubbed Chili Crab as one of the world’s most delicious food. Such a prestigious list, if you ask me. Chili Crab is one of the famed seafood delicacies for any travelers. Suggested places are as follows:

a. No Signboard Seafood Restaurant

No Signboard Seafood Restaurant is the home for unique white pepper crab. The peppery taste is strong but does not overpower the sweetness of the crab. And, the spiciness is paced at your own taste. The average price per person is S$40.

Location: 414 Geylang, Singapore 389392

b. Mellben Seafood

Mellben Seafood’s menu features a wide array of crab dishes such as chilli crab, claypot crab vermicelli soup, black pepper crab, butter crab, and shimmering sand crab. The average price per person is S$35.

Location: #01-1222, 232 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, Singapore 560232

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

3. SATAY

Also in CNNgo’s 50 of the world’s most delicious food is the satay. Satay is a dish with meat, cucumbers, and onions served with a thick peanut sauce on the side. Suggested places are as follows:

a. Chomp Chomp Satay

Chomp Chomp Satay’s satay is juicy and generously marinated. Besides that, they offer local street food dishes like fried oyster, carrot cake, and Hokkien mee. The price of satay is about S$0.50 per stick.

Location: 20 Kensington Park Road, Singapore 557269

b. Chuan Kee Satay

Since its inception in the 1970s, Chuan Kee Satay has been serving its traditional Hainanese satay. Its pork satay is complete with flavorful spices, tasty peanut sauce, and pineapple gravy. The price of satay is S$0.40-0.50 per stick but the minimum order is 10 sticks.

Location: Block 51 Old Airport Road, Singapore 390051

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

Sources: 1 & 2

5 Questions Educated Consumers Ask Before Purchase

Dreaming of a movie theatre-like experience at home? Few people turned that dream into reality by purchasing 3D television that includes 3D glasses, lifelike images, vivid colors, and 3D effects. But majority of these owners (i.e., almost 80%) in United Kingdom, regret their purchase. The leading complaint is that there is not enough 3D content to make ownership of the device worthwhile.

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

To avoid making regrettable purchases like the example above, you must use the available resources to educate yourself on the consumer data and product information before buying something. The power of communication will help you make quicker and smarter consumer decisions. Ask yourself these questions before purchasing something:

1. DOES THIS PRODUCT COME WITH WARRANTY?

In case an unforeseen event happens and your item does not function anymore, do you have to fork your own savings for repair or return it to the manufacturer under the warranty terms? We all know that the latter is better especially if your purchase is a costly one (e.g., a washing machine or an Apple laptop). Invest in products with warranty and confidence in its manufacturer’s shoulders.

2. DO I HAVE ONE OF THIS?

Some people forget where they place a certain item and would go to the store just to purchase one – again. If this happens to you often, it is about time that you organize your space. Toss or donate the stuff you do not need anymore then, discover useful items that you already own.

3. CAN I JUST BORROW THE SAME ITEM FROM SOMEONE ELSE?

Say you live in a small flat with 1 bedroom and you needed to vacuum. If the product is as common as a vacuum cleaner then, opt for borrowing the vacuum cleaner of your neighbor or friend. Why bother if the item is not really necessary to your home anyway? Furthermore, you can assess whether buying a secondhand version of the product is a brilliant idea.

4. DO I HAVE TO USE THE MONEY I DO NOT HAVE FOR THIS ITEM?

Using the credit card for your purchases should be your last resort. No matter how great a deal may seem, it may still add up to your credit card interest. So, ask yourself if the item is really worth it.

5. CAN THE PRODUCT’S USEFULNESS LAST FOR 6 MONTHS OR MORE?

Be realistic while envisioning yourself and the product. If you are still using it for six months and more then…it is a good purchase. You do not want to waste too much money on something that you would use for a day (e.g., Halloween costume)!

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

Sources: 1 & 2

How to Earn Extra Cash in Singapore

Growing your side-income is way better than thrift. Why? Because there is a limit to how much you can cut from your cost of living, but not how much you can earn. Here’s a quick rundown on how to earn a bit of extra cash on the side:

For “Quick Fix” Cash, Think Service and Not Skills

If you need quick cash (not a long term side income or business), focus on what people immediately around you want. Don’t just fixate on finding something that matches your skills or forte. For example:

Say you are a qualified accountant. Your first impulse, when it comes to making a spot of extra cash, might be to offer accounting services. Or it may be something closely related, such as offering tutoring services for someone trying to pass business accounting.

However, in your fixation on keeping it “skills oriented”, you may miss more immediate opportunities. These opportunities can be as simple as painting someone’s walls for S$500, being a mystery shopper for insurance companies, or even helping to install Windows in a bunch of workstations. Look for simple, one-off things that people around you need all the time.

Invest for Dividends

You don’t need to be a stock market expert to make money with shares. An easy way to generate passive income is to identify shares with high dividend yields, and then buy and hold.

(Some shares provide dividend pay-outs, often every six months.)

A financial advisor can help you identify such shares. Alternatively, you might choose to buy a simple index fund (e.g. the Straits Times Index Fund). There is no trading (having to buy low and sell high) in this approach to stocks, so you will not need to track stocks all day and get stressed out.

Provide Referrals

Many companies pay referrals when you bring in a customer. These companies can range from financial services to even specialist retailers. Think of it as being an unofficial, commissioned salesperson – when you refer someone to the company, and they buy something, you get a small cut of it.

This can also work in business to business (B2B) dealings. For example, many small courier services will be willing to give you a small referral fee, if you find a shop willing to sign a service contract with them.

It is best to do this with businesses you know well or have worked with before. While lucrative, it may not be worth your time to learn about a product from scratch to sell it.

Use a Credit Card with Cash Rebates

If you pay your credit card in full (and you should) try using a cashback card. This returns a percentage of what you spend as a rebate, typically 3 – 6%. Assuming you use the card for essential purchases, and make full repayment each month, you would be getting money for an expenditure you had to make anyway.
You do need to make sure the cashback card matches your purchases, and the cashback limit (the maximum possible rebate) is not too low. You can find the best cashback credit card for your needs on SingSaver.com.sg.

(This article is brought to you by SingSaver.com.sg)

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