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4 Incredibly Premium Websites For Free Music Downloads

Music is something that transcends over the generations. And, if you were a passionate music listener, you would want to download songs legally to support the artists, labels, and distributors.Thankfully, the Internet has made it possible by hosting premium websites that allow you to legally stream and download songs.

Although most of the no-cost songs are by independent or rising musicians that does not mean that it sounds bad! With a myriad of genres and music collections, I am sure that you will find a song that hits your taste.

1. MP3.COM

Kicking it off with the veteran on the list, MP3.com was first established on 1997. It is one of the most popular websites that offer free music sharing services, especially for the independent artists who want to share their works. With years of experience, it has a good collection of songs from pop, jazz, metal, country, and so much more.

2. AMAZON.COM

An established household name, Amazon proves its efficiency by offering a comprehensive list of over 46,000 songs. To make your searching experience easier, Amazon has classified the free tunes by genres, by artists, and by ratings. Simply navigate your mouse here to get started.

3. PUREVOLUME.COM

Since 2003, PureVolume is dedicated to bring new music from several rising artists. Acting as a networking platform, PureVolume allows both artists and listeners to create music profiles and discuss musical tastes. All the song downloads are legal and majority of it is free but there are some premium songs that users can buy.

4. JAMENDO.COM

Over 400,000 songs from more than 40,000 artists awaits you at Jamendo. With that vast amount of collection, it has been one of the biggest repositories of free music to date. You do not have to waste loads of time to find music that pleases your ears because you can quickly browse through by popularity, genre, most played, or most downloaded. The greatest thing about Jamendo is that it allows unlimited downloads of free MP3s and unlimited listening with the in-page music player.

Image Credits: epSos .de via Flickr with Creative Commons License

Sources: 1 & 2

5 Insider Tricks for Scoring Online Discounts

Katie Paterson from Flipit.com gives the inside scoop on how to get creative in ensuring you pay the lowest price online. Flipit.com is Singapore’s number one promo code portal and all round money-saving platform.

We all love the fun, flexibility and convenience of shopping online, but the biggest perk has got to be the fact you can pretty much guarantee you’ll always be paying the lowest price possible – that is, if you know how to shop online like a pro! Here are a few sneaky insider tips and tricks to help you score a discount each and every time you spend money online.

Bookmark a good coupon code provider – Discount codes almost always have a limited time span (which makes it all the more rewarding when you catch it in time!). The best way to ensure you keep up to date with all the best codes as soon as they’re available is by bookmarking the homepage of a reputable coupon code provider such as Flipit.com. Homepages are updated daily, so checking this page out regularly will ensure you never miss a beat!

Tease webstores by pretending to abandon your cart – Brands who notice and take offence to this kind of move are likely to get in touch and ask why you didn’t see your purchase through, offering a discount (usually around 10%) to encourage you back and make the final payment. Similarly, brands who are being particularly innovative with understanding customer behaviour have been known to install cursor movement detectors which are triggered when you swipe upwards to close the window, revealing a ‘leaving so soon?’ pop-up window. Give it a try!

Sign up to webstore newsletters – Signing up to newsletters can be really useful for online stores. Of course, some can end up bombarding you with emails on a daily basis, but unsubscribing in these situations is simply a matter of clicking a button. It’s worth signing up to newsletters of brands that you love, as those on the mail list are considered a priority, and are always first to be notified of sales, special events or exclusive discounts.

Use a price comparison site – Price comparison sites are the epitome of everything that’s great about shopping online. Shopping around various stores in person to find the cheapest price is an exhausting and time-consuming task, but with price comparison sites such as Priceme.com.sg you can guarantee you’re always paying the lowest possible price available.

Never pay shipping – Shipping costs are a nuisance. Hopefully soon enough they will become a thing of the past, as more brands begin to realise that making the sale and gaining loyal customers is way more important than covering a few dollars postage cost. Unless you’re seeking certain shipping privileges such as same- or next-day delivery, there are a number of ways that you can avoid paying for the delivery of your purchase. For example, some stores offer free shipping if you reach beyond a certain purchase total, so it might be worth buying more (perhaps two of the same item but in different sizes to ensure a perfect fit) and returning whatever isn’t suitable, free of charge. Alternatively, many stores offer shipping voucher codes, and you can always try chancing your luck and reaching out to the brand to ask for free shipping – sometimes being bold pays off, and what have you got to lose?

(This article is brought to you by Flipit.com)

The best hotels to catch a glimpse of Singapore’s spectacular SG50 celebrations

It is exactly one month away to mark Singapore’s 50th year of independence .

As this is the Golden Jubilee year, expect a massive celebration you had never experience before. It pays to start planning early if you want create an indelible experience for both your loved ones and yourself – and nothing beats the comfort of being in a hotel room that comes with an exceptional view of the National Day Parade and the magnificent fireworks and aerial displays. A glass of wine to go with it, perhaps?

KAYAK.sg has came up with a list of best staycation hotels that offer you the best panoramic view of the Padang and The Float@Marina Bay, where the celebration will take place.

They have ranked the hotels from the lowest to highest price for the National Day Jubilee Weekend from 7th to 10th August 2015. Average Nightly Rate starts from S$293 at Marina Mandarin to S$883 for a night stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore.

For those who want to enjoy the experience but are not willing to loosen your purse strings can consider a staycation over the National Day Preview weekend (31st July – 2nd August 2015). KAYAK.sg has also ranked the hotels from the lowest priced to the highest.

For spectacular views of the Padang:

This photo of Swissotel The Stamford is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Swissotel The Stamford Singapore

Be treated at one of the tallest hotels in Southeast Asia, Swissotel The Stamford. The thoughtful service, amazing dining options and dazzling views of the Singapore landscape should not be missed! Prices start from $342 a night on average.

For jaw-dropping views of the Marina Bay area:

View from Marina Mandarin (Image credit: tobiwei, via Flickr)

Marina Mandarin

Undeniably plush, the distinguished 5-star Marina Mandarin is known for contemporary elegance and breath-taking views of the Marina bay area. Prices start from just $293 a night on average.

Conrad Centennial Singapore

Feel the pulse of the Marina Bay at Conrad Centennial Singapore. Spectacularly decorated, the hotel boasts local and international art pieces and is home to two awarding winning restaurants more than worthy of a visit. Prices start from $426 a night on average.

The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore

With 608 guest rooms featuring unobstructed views of the Singapore skyline, the award winning Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore is home to a 4,200 piece art collection and a seven-acre oasis filled with landscaped gardens and tropical plants. Prices start at $883 a night on average.

The Fullerton Hotel Singapore

Dip into the past at The Fullerton Hotel, a historic landmark known for its elegance and luxury, as well as its amazing panoramic views of the city’s landscape. Prices start from $383 a night on average.

Debby Soo, KAYAK Vice President APAC, said: “Celebrating Singapore’s 50th birthday is an amazing feat and what better way to do it than at the centre of all of the celebrations, in comfort and style, surrounded by your loved ones. KAYAK has put together a list of hotels for a National Day weekend staycation, perfect for individuals and families seeking a special setting to be a part of the celebrations without the hustle and bustle of crowds. What’s more, when using KAYAK.sg or our mobile app, you can have even more control over finding the best deals.”

For inspiration or simply to search and compare prices for hotels, flights, cars and much more, visit http://www.kayak.sg or download the app at http://www.kayak.sg/mobile.

Budget-Friendly Ways To Flatten And Tone Your Belly

1. GO FOR CARDIO

Cardio or aerobic exercises aid increases both your oxygen intake and heart rate. This is why it is no surprise that cardio workouts help in sculpting your belly. According to Duke University study, if you want to burn loads of visceral belly fat, go for cardio or aerobic exercises. Furthermore, it burns 67% more calories than resistance exercises.

Also try aerobic kickboxing indoors, as the arm thrusts and high kicks firm the abs well.

2. WALK MORE

Bring walking to your favor by engaging your abdomen while you walk. To do this, imagine a magnet pulling your belly button backward toward your spine as you walk. Practice this tucking movement until you become comfortable. Then, you may invite an exercise buddy or two.

3. CONSUME MORE OF THESE

Eat more of the fibrous foods such as apples, artichokes, pinto beans, and broccoli because your stomach will carry about 4% less fat for every 10 grams of fiber intake daily. 10 grams is not too much if you ask me!

Image Credits: threelayercake via Flickr with Creative Commons License (ND)

Additionally, eating half a cup of avocado can help flatten your belly. Avocado contains Monounsaturated fatty acids that stop blood sugar spikes to store fat around your belly area. Friendly reminder: consume more of these foods without overdoing it.

4. CONSUME LESS OF THESE

Alcohol intake raises the cortisol levels, which can lead to sending fats straight to your belly. While the bubbles from carbonated drinks including diet sodas accumulate on your belly too. So, it is best to shy away from alcohol and carbonated drinks.

5. SLEEP AWAY THE BELLY FATS

According to a study from University of Chicago, participants who slept for 7 hours or more lost twice as many fats and are less hungry that those who sleep for a brief hours. Having a good night’s sleep is always beneficial. Check out the “Have A Good Night’s Sleep Without Breaking The Bank” article to get quality sleep and to manage the daily challenges ahead.

6. TARGET EVERY ANGLE OF YOUR CORE

Do quick and doable exercises that target every angle of your core namely: Transversus abdominis, Rectus abdominis, Obliques, and Lower back to Glutes. Doing so will not only give you toned abs, but also reduce the risk of injury and improve your overall posture. Choose one move for every angle. Click here for the illustrated guide.

Alternatively, you may follow this “4 Best Exercises for a Flat Stomach” video that takes less than 7 minutes to complete!

Sources: 1 & 2

How To Shop On Groupon Like A Pro

Call me a penny pincher.

I love to shop and i do so almost every day – that, however, doesn’t seems synonymous with my attitude towards saving money.

How would a stingy person (if you’d like to call it) like myself still have the tenacity to do shopping everyday? And I don’t mean buying groceries but rather spending on a “want” that is not what you deemed as daily necessities. I do my shopping from the brick and mortar shops to online shopping and i never fail to keep my credit card away for a day.

Here’s the secret: I achieved a sense of satisfaction for being able to spot deals and maximize the utility value of my money. I often make advance purchase, say a voucher on Groupon that would allow me to redeem the offer within a stipulated period.

Being a frequent shopper, i would need to make sure i don’t pay more for what is required right? Every dollar saved is a dollar earned.

How does the idea of saving up to 70% or more on a deal sounds? Too good to be true?

Here’s how:

1. Every month, Groupon will usually (well, at least for the past few months) conduct a 3 hour sale where you can enjoy additional discounts of 10 to 20% if you enter an exclusive promo code.

That’s usually the time i spend a few hours on my computer searching Groupon for items that i need.

Wait. Pause and rewind.

(Skip this if you want to buy the CEO of Groupon a cup of Starbucks’s Caffè Latte)

2. Before you even go directly to the Groupon’s website, first create an account on ShopBack. (a website that provide you with cashbacks) Shopback provides you with cashbacks for over 100 online retailers and for Groupon, you have a neat 4 per cent cashback that you can enjoy. All you need to do is to launch the Groupon’s page from Shopback’s website before doing your shopping.

3. That is not all. You can save even further by using a credit card that provides you with rebates on your purchase. A good one you can consider using is the OCBC Frank Card which allows you to earn a 6 per cent rebate on Groupon. (There is a $60 cap and you need to make a $500 min spend a month)

How much have you saved? Now do your maths.

Using the $49.90 for $100 Cash Voucher for Dim Sum at Wo Peng Cuisine as an example:

To summarise:

Shop during Groupon’s 3 hour sale and get 18% additional discount. ($49.90 * 18% = $9.00 discount)
Use ShopBack to earn cashback of 4%. (4% * ($49.90 * 0.82) = $1.60 cashback)
Use OCBC Frank Card to make payment (6% * ($49.90 * 0.82) = $2.50 cashback)

Instead of paying $100 to dine at Wo Peng Cuisine, i paid only $36.80 after taking into account of the discounts and cashbacks. That is a whopping 73.2% of savings.

I have already accumulated a few hundred dollars in cashbacks without much effort.

For now, sign up for an account on ShopBack and make use of Groupon’s 3 hour sale from 7 – 8 July 2015 and save up to 18% on Dining, Beauty and Leisure Deals with the promo code: “PROMO18“. Arm yourself with a credit card that gives you the best benefits.

(This article is contributed by Jenny, a reader of Money Digest)

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