You always see a long queue of diverse people in Singapore Pools outlet. Whether they are young or old, women or men, they all want one thing – to win the jackpot. The truth is, no one really knows what happens next after the winner had claimed the hefty load of cash. Lucky for us, some of the past lottery winners shared their personal experiences.
1. WINNERS ARE STILL BETTING
Past winners are not giving up in hitting the jackpot once more even though they are aware that the chances of winning are remote.
2. IN COMPARISON, MUCH SEEMS LIKE LESS
According to the past winners, after winning they find themselves in a room full of other lottery winners. Some won more than the others. This perceived inferiority made some of them feel poor again.
3. MONEY DISAPPEARS IN A SPAN OF 5 YEARS
Whether the winners won hundred million or a million, about 70% lose the money in five years or less. This is why I suggest you to plan your financial expenditures, make smart consumer choices, and invest in the stock market in case you won. This will help you grow your money and maintain your lavish lifestyle.
4. FIGHT THE IMPULSE
Having loads of money made several of the winners spend it right away. I am not talking of small impulse purchases rather they are serious life choices such as buying a mansion. Now, some of them are selling these said impulse purchases because of its impracticality. The take away from this is that although it is very tempting to spend your money right away, we must handle our money wisely whether it is hundreds or millions. Identify long-term goals first and purchase accordingly.
5. YOUR FRIENDS MAY CHANGE
Due to the sudden change in the winners’ lifestyles, some of their friends seem uninterested in the things they can afford such as flying overseas for the weekend. Also, some so-called friends came up to them with a depressing story and asked for money. Be careful, pretty soon you will know who your true friends are.
6. SHARE YOUR BLESSINGS
What really matters most to the winners is the fact that they are able to help others. When donating money to charity, they suggest to never giving it all at once. This is done one can make sure that the money is spent well.
Take control of your financial future and join many others in the SMART Investment & International Property Expo. With over 11 years of organizing investment expo in other parts of Asia, SMART Expo has invited hundreds of industry experts in their fields to provide useful advice and motivational talks to investors.
This year, Singapore will be its first stop in Asia, followed by Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai in later parts of the year.
There are different seminars held in this 2 days event, so whether you are someone who is looking for investment opportunities or one who wants to learn more about investing, you will definitely benefit from the insights shared by these quality professionals.
Property investment
If you have been following the news, you would have been aware of a slew of currency swings that are happening in the market.
The U.S. Dollar has been appreciating ferociously against other major currencies like the Euro, GBP and AUD.
Fortunately, the Singapore Dollar has strengthen against a basket of currencies. With a stronger S$, it makes properties investing abroad attractive as it costs less in dollar terms. This has been reported in the Straits Time recently and some of the overseas properties in Malaysia, Australia and Britain are popular among Singapore’s investors.
Some economists says that the central bank will likely keep its stance of letting the Singdollar appreciate against other currencies in the April meeting, albeit at a lower pace. This could be a good opportunity to leverage on for property investors.
If you one who plans to buy a retirement property or a weekend home to retreat to across the Causeway, look forward to Mike Chau’s seminar on “Why is Landed Property the Preferred Investment Choice in Iskandar, Malaysia for 2015?” on 28 March 2015 from 13:00 to 13:45. Mike is the managing director of eBizway Research Sdn Bhd and has invested in the Iskandar since 2008.
With the decline of the Aussie dollar, parents who are planning to purchase a property in Australia for their children who wishes to study or work abroad may find it a better deal now. Christian Numa from LK Property Group will share with you some tips and hindsight on how and why you should invest in properties in Melbourne – the World’s Most Liveable City. And Omar Butt from Find My Work Space will talk about the burgeoning marketing for flexible workspaces in the city.
You should also not missed Vina Ip’s talk on “Dirty Truths and Profitable Secrets to Building Wealth Through Properties” on the second day of the seminar. Vina is a founder of Property Club Singapore, and she blogs at PropertySoul.com where she shares her property investing experience on how she grows her wealth from one to five property in 4½ years. In 2014, she published a book “No B.S. Guide to Property Investment.” and was sold out in Kinokuniya and Times bookstores within 8 weeks.
If you are already planning to invest in some properties, there is a good selection of overseas properties that you can check out during the event.
There are many other seminars conducted by senior level industry experts giving their expert advice on property investment and how to succeed in the property market. If property investment is what you are interested in, check out the seminar’s timetable here: http://www.smartexpos.com/2015/MarSG/timetable.html
Personal Finance & Investment
Who say the SMART Expo is all about talks on property investments? For keen and young investors, look forward to some of the talks from renowned traders and professionals as they show you how to detect market trends, basics of assets allocation and how to create an ideal portfolio.
Jeff Sun is a professional trader and specialises in high probability trading strategies in index futures and equities trading of Singapore and US shares. He will show you his hindsight on proper risk and money management strategy and how to turn your portfolio into profits every month using some trading principles.
With over 15 years of experience in stocks, 11 years with options and futures and 8 years in Forex and CFDs as a full time investment manager, Terrence Tan will give you an overview on how to create a profitable portfolio yourself and how to achieve financial freedom without the need of experts.
For new investors, learn how to diversify your portfolio with Calvin’s enriching talk on “How To Setup Basic Asset Allocation“. Find out how each investment vehicles can make up an ideal portfolio from the experience of a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) holder. It is also worth mentioning that Calvin has managed deal size of over US$2 billion dollars as an investment banker in New York. He is now the managing director and co-founder of DrWealth.com.
Feng Shui and Fortune Telling
If you are a believer on Feng Shui, don’t miss the talk from Grandmaster Chang Qing Yuan where he share with you some Feng Shui Tips and Forecast for the year 2015. Being an expert in the fraternity, Grandmaster Chang is known for his practice of “Finger Divination” which allows him to accurately predict current and future issues of an individual. He also boasts the likes of looking at the fortunes and Feng Shui of some of the millionaires and billionaires in China and Taiwan. Grandmaster Chang will speak in the first day of the seminar, from 12pm.
If you are heading to the Expo on the second day, there is also a Feng Shui and Astrology talk by Master Trainer Kevin Foong. Kevin Foong is the founder of Kevin Foong Consulting Group and is devoted to using the “Four Pillars of Destiny 子平八字” to provide Life Readings.
Besides Feng Shui, you can also get your fortune told by Chinese Masters on both days of the event. Get a brief consultation to find out more about your future wealth prospects, health and how the interior design of your house affects Feng Shui.
Whether you are a seasoned investor or someone who wants to gain some insights from the professionals, there are so much activities and events to look forward to.
There will also be a lucky draw conducted during the events, and you can win exciting prizes such as digital cameras, watches, vouchers and gift cards.
Prevent exceeding your monthly budget by taking control over your mobile or hand phone bills. May these tips help you save some of your hard earned money…
1. IDENTIFY YOUR MONTHLY USAGE
Look onto your carrier’s usage information or last month’s billing statement and check your monthly usage. Identify what you really need in terms of number of texts, call minutes, and Internet data each month. Then, start comparing the telecommunication plans available to get the best and cheapest deal.
2. CONTEMPLATE ON YOUR MOBILE PLAN
Examine your plan carefully. What is your telecommunication’s limit for your local and overseas calls, texts, and data usage per month? Does it harmonize with your actual usage? The truth is, majority of people do not maximize the use of their plans. Most under consume and over paying for the phone service they are using. So, consider switching to a lower plan or going on prepaid to save more money and to actually stretch your dollar’s worth.
3. AVOID EXTRA FEE BY COMMITTING TO YOUR CONTRACT
Before you switch to a new telecom, honor your current contract term first. Most companies have a two-year contract. Doing your research on the terms and conditions can save you from paying additional fees.
4. SAVE ON INTERNET DATA USAGE
Avoid exceeding your monthly data allowance by regulating the phone’s settings. For Android users, go to settings then, click data usage to set a limit for a month. If you are using iOS, go to settings then, click cellular to track your cellular data usage every month.
5. USE WI-FI AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
Using 3G or 4G does not only cost you more but it also decreases your battery life easily. Instead, use Wi-Fi whenever possible. Take advantage of the free Internet network services provided by your school or workplace and save money.
6. REDUCE YOUR CALLS AND TEXTS
Use Free Apps that provide call and text services without adding extra charges to your plan since you are using Wi-Fi connection anyway. These free online Apps are Line, Viber, Tango, and Facebook Messenger among others.
Whenever we see people with blue or green eyes, we get mesmerized because having these pair of eyes are considered unique in comparison with the norm. Eye color determined by two factors: the pigmentation of the iris and the frequency-dependence of the scattering of light.
If you want to change your eye color temporarily then, you will have to purchase colored contact lenses. For decades it is a characteristic that we cannot change permanently…until now.
A company named Strōma Medical, based in United States, developed a revolutionary technique to permanently alter one’s brown eyes to blue. Inventor and scientist Gregg Homer, JSD (PhD) has patented a non-invasive procedure of using laser through the eyes and it can be performed in under a minute!
PROCEDURE
Dr. Homer said that fundamental principle that makes all this possible is the fact that under every brown eyes are blue eyes. There is just a thin layer of brown pigment that covers the front surface of the iris giving it the color brown. So, the laser will disrupt the layer of pigment and take it away by the innate and gradual process of tissue removal.
For the first few weeks, the irises will become darker. Then once the tissue is totally removed, an underlying natural and permanent set of blue eyes will show. This process takes about several weeks.
SAFETY
Strōma Medical yet to be given the go signal to perform its procedures in the United States but it has performed a number of procedures in Mexico and Costa Rica. As of the present, no adverse effects have been reported. No effect was shown on the patient’s vision since it only treats the patient’s iris. And, pigmentary glaucoma did not occur in their pre-clinical or clinical studies.
Image Credits: Look Into My Eyes via Flickr
Interested to get yours done? Well, you have to pay a fee of about US$5,000 or S$6,945.
Good thing 2 sets of blue colored contact lenses are S$6,900 cheaper than this procedure!
Looking for good price deals that match your budget may seem like an impossible task at times – but it need not be. Wedding planners and other experts such as Robin Weil showed ways to make most of your special day without over spending.
1. BE HONEST
It is best to be honest while organizing your wedding so that the businesses can give you every price options to explore. It is okay to have different suppliers; in fact most couples have seven. Keep your payments on track by having an Excel spreadsheet for it.
2. COMMUNICATE WITH TRANSPARENCY
Fear not if you are going to ask for what you really want. The wedding organizer or the suppliers’ are responsible to give you options and to tell you if your ideal wedding may work on your given budget. Communicate clearly and with transparency.
3. GET FREE OR AFFORDABLE MUSIC
Do you want a live band without the hefty costs? Try hiring students from a music college or an independent band. How about saving on music but still having the power over the song selection? Then, consider free music streaming services and make your own playlist.
4. BE VIGILANT IN VENUE HUNTING
Venues can take up most of the couples’ budgets. Some venues have hidden service charges such as corkage fee (fee for bringing your own beverage or alcohol). So, carefully check the quote and have a written agreement.
5. VALUE THE GUESTS
Before settling for a venue, get the approximate number of the guests and wedding crew. It is a rule of thumb to allot about 25 square feet per guest. And, if you really want to cut down on your budget then, narrow your guest list. Eliminating a table of 10 can save you as much as S$1,400.
6. BE DECISIVE
The wedding crew and the suppliers value their time. To help lower the costs, be decisive and support them in spending minimum about of time to achieve the best results.
