Amazing Date Ideas That Don’t Cost A Dollar

Dates can become a burden to the wallets of broke students. The idea of dating at a limited budget can sometimes be stressful and embarrassing. Well, not anymore! You can go on amazing dates without spending a dollar! Remember, there is absolutely nothing wrong about staying frugal while dating.

1. GO ON A TREETOP HIKE

Take your special someone to a morning hike while watching the sunrise at the MacRitchie Reservoir Park. MacRitchie Reservoir Park houses several long hiking routes including the famous TreeTop Walk. The TreeTop Walk consists of a freestanding suspension bridge that connects two highest points namely: Bukit Peirce and Bukit Kalang. This is the first of its kind. Your date will truly appreciate the unique experience of looking over the variety of plants and animals while being about 25 meters off the ground.

2. HAVE A GAME NIGHT

Turn your date night into a romantic game night. You can get to know each other while playing the infamous childhood game of Truth or Dare. Learn a lot about his or her boiling points while playing poker. Wage it with anything other than money (e.g., kisses or chocolates). Lastly, you can even play fun board games such as Monopoly, Scrabble, and Battleship.

Image Credits: Anders Ruff Custom Designs via Flickr with CC Attribution-NoDerivs

Image Credits:
Anders Ruff Custom Designs via Flickr with CC Attribution-NoDerivs

3. CONDUCT A VIDEO GAME SHOWDOWN

Get your XBOX, Wii, or Play Station ready for a showdown. Nothing beats a date filled with enjoyable video games. What is even more interesting are old-school video games. If your old console or Nintendo hand-held game is still operating then, spend the night by facing each other into a classic brawl of Super Mario Brothers or Street Fighter. This is a sweet trip down the memory lane!

4. HAVE A MOVIE MARATHON

Looking for a perfect first date experience? Look no more as MovieMob brings you the premier outdoor movie screenings that would not cost you a cent! MovieMob, an acclaimed Outdoor Movie Specialist, screens movies to various locations around Singapore. Instead of heading to a fancy and pricey restaurant, plan a picnic while enjoying a free movie at the park. Stay updated by visiting: facebook.com/apemoviemob.

Alternatively, you can host a movie marathon by watching free movies at home. Catch a free flick or two in the comforts of your own home by watching at YouTube’s Movies playlist at youtube.com/user/YouTubeMoviesWW. Turn the romance on by switching to scented (and safe) candles instead of lamps and by heating up a bag of popcorn.

5. LEARN A SKILL TOGETHER

There is nothing more romantic than sharing your interests to your partner. If you are a fan of cooking and baking then, teach him or her the basic recipes and techniques. And, if neither of you have a special skill, you can look up free online tutorials and make a DIY project together.

Image Credits: Howard Holley via Flickr with CC License

Image Credits: Howard Holley via Flickr with CC License

Having tight finances should not stop you from spending quality time with your special someone! 🙂

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

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Have A Selfie Spree At The Most Picturesque Places In Singapore

Are you an aspiring model or photographer looking for the perfect photo-shoot location? If you do not have the access to a professional studio, fret not because there are a lot of picturesque outdoor spots that are worth visiting. These spots are not only limited to models or photographers; if you want to savor the scene, you can too! You can always take great photos for fun! Just have your selfie stick ready as you go to the Most Picturesque (Yet No-Cost) Places In Singapore…

1. FOR THE HERITAGE NOSTALGIA

About 15 minutes away from the Eunos MRT is your first potential photo-shoot location – the Koon Seng Road. It is filled with traditional Peranakan shophouses that are pastel colored and intricately embellished. Be in awe with the rich architecture background as you take a beautiful selfie.

2. FOR THE ARTISTIC TOUCH

I was one of the lucky few people who witnessed the halls of National Gallery Singapore before its grand unveiling later this year. All I can say about it is that, every corner and every room is undeniably Instagram worthy. This is because the place used to be the halls of the Supreme Court and the City Hall. Starting it off with the elegantly white entrance that used to be a car park. Instead of going inside the traditional doors, we went inside the windows.

This majestic space is the #Singapore Courtyard at the @nationalgallerysingapore❕

A photo posted by Registered Psychometrician (@agoncilloanna) on

Simply, they took something old and added a creative modern twist. An aesthetically pleasing background is perfect for snaps!

3. FOR THE CHILD IN YOU

Travel to Toa Payoh to see the Dragon Sand Playground…this might be the last of its kind. As its name says, the playground is dragon shaped and sand based. These were the popular playgrounds in the 70s-80s. After 1993, they were phased out due to safety concerns. Take a trip down to memory lane and reminisce your childhood memories as you take photos of your #OOTD (Outfit Of The Day).

Image Credits: http://remembersingapore.org

Image Credits: remembersingapore.org

4. FOR THE NATURE JUNKIE

Punggol Waterway Park as is one of the favorite locations of wedding photographers. It is located at the heart of the Punggol Eco-town – the first eco-friendly town in Singapore. That said, you could take unforgettable pictures along the Punggol Waterway Bridge and the Punggol Waterway Park Tree.

5. FOR THE TOTALLY HIPSTER

Two of the hippest spots in Singapore can house the most pleasing photo-shoots. These are namely: the Haji Lane and the Orchard Gateway Bridge. Haji Lane has a myriad of vintage shophouses that sell contemporary and quirky items such as accessories and clothing. The road is also filled with textile shops that have been in business since the 50s! And, my favorite corner is that of the Piedra Negra Restaurant’s because of its vibrant graffiti.

Image Credits: Luke Ma via Flickr with CC License

Image Credits: Luke Ma via Flickr with CC License

On the other hand, Orchard Gateway Bridge gives a modern vibe as its futuristic glass bridge joins the orchardgateway@emerald and Orchard Gateway. Always have your camera with you so you can stop and snap some selfies while you are walking along. 🙂

Sources: 1 & 2

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4 Free Photo Editing Apps You Should Download Now

Do you want to share your beautiful memories captured on portraits but think that it needs extra filters or finishing touches? Fret not because many Photo Editing Apps that have near-professional quality are available for free on iTunes and Google Play Store. Check these 4 Free Photo Editing Apps to add the personal glamour to your photos…

1. VSCO CAM 

Available on Android and iOS

Being an avid fan of Instagram, I can attest to seeing an abundance of VSCOCam and VSCO hash tags. What makes this photo-editing app so popular? For starters, it gives you a wide range of filters and a complete set of editing tools. The filters are coded in the format of letter and number such as X1, G3, B1, and my favorite C1. Its editing tools include contrast, brightness, fade, tint, crop, rotate, highlights, shadows, sharpness, and so much more. Certainly, these tools may be as efficient as paid studio editing! Not bad for something that is free. Lastly, what separates VSCO Cam from the most is that they have a community where you can share your portraits.

2. PHOTO EDITOR BY AVIARY 

Available on Android, iOS, and Windows

If you own a Smartphone that operates on Windows then, this is one of the best editors you will meet! Photo Editor by Aviary includes a comprehensive set of basic editing tools such as crop and rotate as well as a set of lovely filters such as Arizona and Lucky. Unique features of this app include adding drawings, stickers, and text.

3. REPIX 

Available on Android and iOS

Bring out your creative side with the Repix app. One of the editor’s choices, Repix allows you to artistically edit your photos by using filters, frames, and adjustment tools. Special effects can be added to your portrait by using the brushes. Furthermore, it supports the motion of Samsung’s S-Pen.

Image Credits: itunes.apple.com/sg/app/repix-inspiring-photo-editor/id597830453?mt=8

Image Credits: itunes.apple.com/sg/app/repix-inspiring-photo-editor/id597830453?mt=8

 

4. SNAPSEED 

Available on Android and iOS

Google, one of the smartest companies in our generation, is the proud owner of the Snapseed app. Snapseed allows its users to beautify their photos by applying filters and tools. After adding images, select manual tuning to enable swiping upwards for increase in value or downwards for decrease in value. Value is in terms of several variables such as saturation and contrast. It is very user-friendly, especially for beginners!

Sources: 1 & 2

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How To Keep Employees Happy And Efficient At The Workplace

Beyond costly monetary benefits, you can keep your employees happy and productive at the workplace by knowing the underlying factors that induce motivation. Daniel Pink, the renowned author of “Drive” book, highlighted that the three elements of motivation include purpose, autonomy, and mastery.

Applying these elements realistically, here are the three key ways to keep your employees efficient and happy:

1. HAVE A SOCIAL PURPOSE

Having a meaningful cause larger than oneself drives the deepest motivation. Generation Y employees, in particular, want to feel that their work is making a difference. This is why they are drawn to work or patronize products of TOMS. TOMS is company that equates their sales into helping people in developing countries. For example, whenever they sell a pair of shoes, a new pair of shoes will be given to a needy child.

Even if your company does not include a direct social mission in the system, you must do your best to practice altruism. Have the social responsibility to donate to charity whenever possible.

2. MAKE ROOM FOR EMPLOYEE AUTONOMY

I am sure that no one enjoys being micromanaged especially in a small business! Employees work happiest and most efficient when they have personal control over the situation as they can freely express their creativity and solve the problems by themselves. When employees feel that they are able to make tangible impact to the company through regular brainstorming, they are more likely to give their all for the company.

3. GIVE EDUCATION AND FEEDBACK

Mastery is formed when there is a comprehensive knowledge or skill built in the company. Employers can hone mastery by encouraging further training or education as well as conducting regular performance feedback. A sense of progress in oneself contributes to the inner workplace motivation. Allow your employees to grow by empowering a new responsibility. Everyone wants to feel that they are getting better at things.

Image Credits: AJC ajcann.wordpress.com via Flickr With Creative Commons License Attribution-ShareAlike

Image Credits: AJC ajcann.wordpress.com via Flickr With Creative Commons License Attribution-ShareAlike

Sources: 1 & 2

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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

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

Sources: 1 & 2

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