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Enjoy A Rejuvenating Retreat For Less Than S$15

After months of wrestling with tight deadlines, multiple assignments, and crucial projects…you deserve a peaceful rest. A weekend retreat will help! There are different kinds of retreat. While some are spiritually rooted (e.g., in Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Sufi communities), others are for recreational purposes.

A recreational and wellness retreat is a short getaway with a goal to improve your overall health. Activities such as Yoga, meditation, workshops, and organic dining are usually included in the mix. Its average price ranges from S$700-3,000.

Luckily for you, you can take your mind and body to a rejuvenating retreat without flying off the shores of Bali or spending more than S$15. All you have to do is to create your own retreat within the walls of your own home.

1. SET THE POSITIVE MOOD

Kick off your weekend of relaxation by setting up a positive mood. Aromatherapy has been proven to enhance one’s physical and psychological well being. Scented candles ranging from S$2.90-4.90 are available at IKEA.

Image Credits: ikea.com/sg/en/catalog/products/90283207

2. PRACTICE YOGA TWICE A DAY

Eliminate your daily stress by practicing Yoga in the morning and before you end the day. Practicing at home along with a video or audio guide is definitely more cost-effective than attending classes. Websites such as doyogawithme.com and kinoyoga.com have abundant collection of Free Yoga videos and health information that you may use.

If you are in need of yoga props, here are some tips as shared by Abby Lentz (Founder of HeavyWeight Yoga classes):

a. Yoga Blocks

Make a handcrafted Yoga Block with bulky, unused, or old books, yellow pages, phone books, and dictionaries. Just slip a pace of hard cardboard halfway between the pages of the book to make it sturdy and tightly tape the entire areas close.

b. Yoga Straps

Make your own Yoga strap by knotting two neckties together. You may also use a second-hand bathrobe sash from the thrift shop as branded Yoga straps are merely made with cotton straps and buckles.

3. TAKE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

Include at least 30 minutes of cardio exercises such as jogging, brisk walking, and cycling outdoors. These no-cost exercises done in the nearest park will help lower your blood pressure and improve your outlook in life.

4. LOCK DOWN ALL DEVICES

In the spirit of a true retreat, turn off all your devices for the whole weekend but, inform your boss prior to it. Avoid the laptops, tablets, and hand phones to decrease your worries and improve your sleep.

5. MEDITATE FOR 10 MINUTES

Through meditation and mindfulness, you will be focusing yourself to your present state. This improves your quality of life. In fact, a study showed that there was a reduction of grey matter’s amount in the brain after 8 weeks of meditation. This later resulted to less stress and anxiety.

Image Credits: misspsychobabble.blogspot.com

6. EAT HEALTHY FOOD

To detox your body even more, it is a must to eat healthy food for the entire weekend. Shy away from alcohol, tobacco, caffeine and too much sugar. Make an affordable yet healthy smoothie by following these steps by Jasmith1:

a. Pour 300 ml of Apple juice into the measuring jug.

b. Peel a Banana and break it into pieces. Add this to the jug.

c. Grab a handful of frozen Berries and add this to the jug.

d. Liquidate everything using a hand blender until it is fully blended.

e. Presto! You can now enjoy your smoothie. 🙂

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

4 Amazing Ways To Use Social Media To Save Cash

Bring your social media craze to your advantage by exposing yourself to its opportunities. “Liking” the Facebook page of your favorite airlines is just one way to save cash when you shop. Other than that, here are 4 Amazing Ways To Use Social Media To Save Cash…

1. GET FREE PRINTOUTS AND TUTORIALS

You do not need to spend S$5 for a decent looking greeting card, all you have to do is to browse through the free printouts available on Pinterest – a global photo sharing website. Users such as Mique Provost 30daysblog and Amber Price: Crazy Little Projects Amber Price: Crazy Little Projects can give you simple Do-It-Yourself ideas such as a Photo Paper Flower Bouquet Printable and a Free Printable: Inspirational Quotes.

For your make-up needs, Youtube sensation Michelle Phan freely offers low-cost product recommendations and Do-It-Yourself cosmetics in her Pinterest account.

Image Credits: michellephan.com/diy-lip-balm

2. SELL YOUR STUFF

Social media, defined as websites or applications that enable the users to share content and to network, allows daily access of many consumers…all over the world. With this knowledge, you can supplement your Ad with a social media post.

For example, you may clean up the clutter in your closet and find the things that you deem to be unused or underused and sell them to your friends and family through Facebook or Instagram. Alternatively, you can turn your hobbies (e.g., baking cupcakes or making jewelries) into your home-based business.

3. SAVE ON PHONE BILLS

Save money and time by taking your customer complaints or issues on Twitter or Facebook. This will prevent the countless hours on the helpline only to be transferred to different departments. If the matter is more personal, you may message them directly without posting on their timeline.

4. FOLLOW THE SHOPS OR COMPANIES YOU PATRONIZE

You signed up to your favorite shop’s website mailing list but, do you check your inbox regularly? If not then, you might have missed out on some special deals. To prevent this, you can follow the shops or companies you like such as Forever 21 Singapore or Kinokoniya Bookstore Singapore. Retailers often put coupon or discount codes online so, stay social!

If you want to follow a single timeline that will deliver great deals, tips, and guides relating to money then, follow Money Digest on Facebook today. 🙂

5 Ways To Have Flawless Skin For Less

Skip Skin or Face Treatments that cost for more than S$300 by rejuvenating your skin with simple kitchen ingredients available at your own home. Isn’t it amazing that you can get flawless skin for less?

1. FIGHT BUG BITES, PIMPLES, AND RASHES

Aside from cleaning your teeth or fixing small holes in your walls, toothpaste can be used as a handy tool to remove bug bites, reduce pimples, and eliminate itchy skin rashes. All you have to do is apply an ample amount of plain white toothpaste on your bug bites or pimple and allow it to stay on your skin over night. Rinse it off immediately in the morning.

2. FRESHEN YOUR SKIN

Consisting of 95% water, it comes as no surprise that cucumbers help freshen and moisturize the skin. Also, cucumber pulp can help improve your skin’s complexion especially if you have redness or irritation. So, place at least two cucumber slices in a plastic bag and let it freeze in the fridge overnight. Remove it from the fridge the next morning and place two slices in your eyes for 10 minutes. Guaranteed instant freshness and less puffy eyes indeed!

3. EXFOLIATE YOUR SKIN

Coffee is not only delicious but also skin smoothening. Exfoliate your skin by mixing coffee grounds with your body lotion. Just dip a wet cloth into your leftover coffee grounds. Massage it from your neck down to your body to wash off the dead skin.

4. REDUCE ACNE, WRINKLES, AND AGE SPOTS

A natural antiseptic (i.e., prevents the growth of disease-causing microorganisms), sea salt helps to reduce acne, wrinkles, and age spots. What a powerful ingredient! Try it at home by adding one tablespoon of sea salt in a 16-ounce bottle of warm water. Spray the solution to a cloth then apply it on your skin. Buy the Origins organic sea salt (500g) for only S$2.80 at Natural.sg.

5. HELP MAKE SKIN LESS OILY

Lemon and sugar are the perfect duo to help make your skin less oily. Like sea salt, lemon is a natural antiseptic that is good for removing bacteria and dirt from the pores. While sugar acts as an active ingredient to open up the pores so that the lemon’s juice can seep in. Simply use half of the lemon and sprinkle sugar on top. Apply this on your face to help get rid of blackheads and acne – leaving you to look more radiant than ever before!

Image Credits: Heather via Flickr

Sources: AllYou and Lifehack

Do-It-Yourself Gift Ideas Your BFF Would Love

As Samuel Butler once said: “Friendship is like money, easier made than kept.”

This is why it is so special to have a best friend whom is there with you for the longest time. What better message of gratitude can you convey when you pour your heart on handmade gifts? The good news is that you do not have to spend loads of cash since you can just use the materials you already have at home!

1. FOR YOUR BOOKWORM BFF

If you have beautiful earrings but you lost the other piece, do not throw it away. You can still use it as vintage looking bookmarks. Simply follow these instructions by Jewelry designer, Andrea Singarella. You can buy a meter of ribbons for only S$1.50-3 at any Spotlight or Daiso store.

Image Credits: www.countryliving.com

2. FOR YOUR JEWELS LOVING BFF

So you bought an inexpensive and simple gloves in the Flea Market or in the online shops such as Zalora and Forever 21 but you realize that it is so plain. You can make a DIY present by adding jewel embellishments that you can buy in Daiso for S$2.

Image Credits: www.clonesnclowns.com

3. FOR YOUR WORKAHOLIC BFF

The best way to reward your workaholic BFF is by giving the present of an enjoyable bath time filled with relaxing fragrance. Achieve that by making bath bombs that are similar to the ones sold at Lush Singapore.

Image Credits: www.lushsg.com

Here are four ways you can make different types of bath bombs from basic to herbal type.

4. FOR YOUR FORGETFUL BFF

Does your friend misplace his or her keys a lot? Well, you can make a special keychain for her that is easy to find. Turn your printed fabric extras or used clothing into fabric keychains. To personalize these keychains even more, you can add some finish touches such as the first letter of your BFF’s name or assorted buttons and sequins.

Image Credits: www.craftinessisnotoptional.com

Full instructions are available here.

5. FOR YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY-JUNKIE BFF

Bring your wonderful memories to life by turning photos into very personal greeting cards. Print his or her favorite Instagram photos in JPEG format using glossy or matte photo papers available for as low as S$2 at Popular bookstores.

Image Credits: www.sayyes.com

Have fun crafting!

7 Household Troubles to Fix Yourself and Save More

1. HOLES IN THE WALL

To fix the white wall blemishes that are smaller than 1/4 inch wide then try covering it up with plain toothpaste. Put enough to fill in the whole and scrape off the excess with a knife. If the imperfection is still evident then sand it flat and re paint. For larger cracks you will have to cover it up with “wall filler or spackling compound” that is available for about S$5-7 at the hardware store.

2. UNEVEN WOODEN FURNITURE AND FLOORS

To avoid sanding the whole floor or table to smoothen it up, try this simple solution. Spread a wet towel over the scratched or uneven area then place a hot flat iron on the top then move it in a circular motion for 3-5 minutes. Color it with varnish afterwards if you want.

3. CLOGGED DRAIN

To clear the drain, avoid chemical cleaners as much as possible. Most clogs are in the P-trap (curved pipe below your sink), which is usually easy to access yourself. Place a bucket below to catch any overflow and unscrew the two connections. Clean any debris inside then, screw everything to place.

4. WOBBLY CHAIRS

To silence the creaks and to stabilize the chair’s frame, tighten all the screws first. If the chair has interlocking joints, disassemble the joints. Fill the cracks with an adhesive to bring the parts together.

5. LOOSE CABINET DOORS

Loosen the cabinet screws on the hinge to adjust the door up and down. Adjust accordingly then, retighten once again. A worn out or a bent latch can be replaced by a new one.

6. DIFFICULT SLIDING DOORS

To smoothen the move of the sliding door, you must clean the debris that are jammed within the track and the wheels. Clear it all by running a paintbrush or vacuum along the track.

7. CLOGGED TOILET

This is one of the usual issues faced in the house. To unclog your toilet, use a plunger that is completely submerged. Plunge vigorously! If this does not work, then buy a toilet auger or plumber’s snake in hardware stores that cost about S$13-15. Insert the flexible tool into your toilet drain then rotate it around.

Image Credits: Gary J. Wood via Flickr

There you have it. See, you can solve household problems without calling for backup!

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