5 Things To Consider When Switching Banks

Before you finalize your switch from one bank to another, ensure that you understand what you are signing up for. Here are five questions you need to answer before you decide.

DO YOU WANT A HIGHER SAVINGS ACCOUNT INTEREST RATE?

You get what you think you deserve. If you are earning nearly nothing in your savings account then, it is worth evaluating the alternatives. Moving your funds elsewhere makes sense only when you can earn significantly more in another account.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

For instance, switching might not be worth the trouble in this scenario. Say you only have around S$1,000 in your savings account and the extra 0.5% interest gets you about S$5 additional on your monthly total. If you are generally satisfied with your current bank, why bother?

DO YOU WANT TO SIMPLIFY YOUR FINANCES?

Some Singaporeans have accumulated multiple accounts over the years. So? Switching banks can be an opportunity to organize your finances. Organizing your finances allows you to minimize your online bank account and to move your money as quickly as possible. Have everything in one place by choosing a premium bank.

This bank must cater to all your deposit needs, offer low fees, and provide competitive interest-bearing accounts.

DO YOU PREFER TO HAVE AN UPGRADE IN ONLINE AND MOBILE BANKING?

Whether you want to acquire DBS Paylah! or UOB Mighty, most banks offer online and mobile banking tools to smoothen your transactions. You may consider all these tools as a means to weigh whether you watch to switch banks or not. Contemplate on the features you need and the ones that are available thru your chosen banks.

If you often transfer funds between a local and an overseas account. Then? You have to find an online banking app that enables you to do this. Take note of the charges that come with every deposit.

DO YOU WANT A BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE?

How is the bank personnel treating you after you sign-up? Dissatisfied customers may receive better service in another bank. Look for online reviews and friend recommendations when reviewing a bank’s customer service prowess.

It is best to talk to someone credible to assess their issues in the bank staff and service.

DO YOU PREFER A BANK WITH BRANCHES NEARBY?

Accessibility is important when considering which bank to choose. You must survey the nearby banks and notice which ones are more accessible. You may also walk up to the teller to ask about their safe deposit box or their online banking tools.

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Who knows? Your chosen bank may allow you to transfer or deposit funds with a few swipes of the finger!

Sources: 1 & 2

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How To Spoil Your Wealth As A Singaporean Millennial

Prove how wrong the older generations are! Being relatively young does not necessarily equate to ignorance and carelessness. Exude financial readiness by avoiding these scenarios:

BY BEING TOO CONSERVATIVE

Millennials have a distinct currency that many people cannot afford to lose – time. The more time you have, the more powerful the compound interest is. The only problem is that many Millennials are too risk averse. Why is this so?

Well, they had experienced at least two financial crises in the course of their life. Recall the great recession of 2008. The downfall of the economy in United States contributed to the ripple effects that stressed the Singapore economy. It was the first East Asian country to succumb into recession.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Despite these events, it is important to focus on your long-term plan before you retire. Consider investing in stocks and take advantage of it over time. Failing to invest may cause you to have an insufficient fund during your golden years.

BY COLLECTING PASSPORT STAMPS

It is no secret that many Singaporean Millennials are globetrotters. Collecting passport stamps is not a cheap hobby! This is why some of them take up part-time jobs in order to finance their passion for travelling.

The places to explore in our humble island may be limited, but there is no shortage of things to spend on. Some Millennials waste their money on the frequent trips to the themed restaurants or hippie cafes. While, others spend their paycheck on bargain hunting. Notice the flashy “sale” signs in Orchard Road. These are very tempting, if you ask me. It is only later that they realize the essence of cutting back.

BY FAILING TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

Knowing the facts on young Singaporeans and retirement may trigger anxiety. It is alarming how many people hold their retirement plans due to fulfilling short-term goals such as purchasing a nice car or creating a fantastic wedding. Not to mention, there are numerous reports that highlight how poor the retirement readiness of Singaporeans are. A 2016 survey showed that 1 in 3 working citizens were not planning for retirement at all!

Just because you are young does not mean that you can put off your plans for the future. Do not solely rely on your CPF account to cushion your foreseen expenses. Start your retirement fund as early as your first paycheck.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

The bottom line is to keep your finances simple by focusing on saving your excess money and earning more cash. Planning for a comfortable lifestyle is crucial too!

Sources: 1 & 2

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Trending Instagram Hobbies Within Your Budget

Where else can you showcase your coolest talents, delicious meals, cutest pets, greatest adventures, and oddest interests better than at Instagram (IG)?

As I browse through my IG feed, I noticed these 5 hobbies that are within each individual’s tight budget:

1. EDITING

Some people are naturally gifted with visual arts while others see it as a hobby that they have to practice. If you want to share your beautiful memories captured on portraits, showcase your photography and editing skills on IG.

Fit in the crowd by ensuring that you edited your photos with extra filters and finishing touches. Use this “4 Free Photo Editing Apps” list to help you out!

2. SINGING

I have to admit, a bunch of my IG friends are good at singing. And a fun way to get their followers connected is by posting a preview of their “full cover/song video” and linking it to their bio.

For emerging and establish artists, it is a no-cost way to advertise and stay in touch with the fans.

3. EATING

Some people love to watch movies as much as others love to read books. But my favorite people love to go on “food trips”. To be on a food trip means that you are on-board a stimulating and exciting food experience. Whether it will be a good or a bad one, you can easily post your food photography or video clips on IG for your friends to see.

4. CRAFTING

On the top of making a Facebook page of your artworks, you can manifest your artistic side by posting it on IG. This can not only support your passion but also boost your followers and your brand. You can either show daily clips of your artwork’s progress or make a short timelapse video of it from start to finish.

5. SHOPPING

If your interests involve window shopping (like many Singaporeans), take it up a notch by virtually browsing on IG. Save time, effort, and money by looking through a range of local labels while at home. Check out @gsews for bags, @wontyouburnbitch for accessories, and @lovebonito for clothes!

Screen-grabbed from instagram.com/lovebonito/

Screen-grabbed from instagram.com/lovebonito

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Everything You Need To Grasp About Compound Interest

As an investor, the longer you keep your money on the account, the more you will make out of it. Elevation of your wealth each year is possible because of COMPOUND INTEREST.

With Compound Interest, you will not only earn interest on your principal deposit but also on any interest that is credited to your account. It helps your money to grow at an accelerating rate!

To better understand the concept, here is an illustration:

Say you invested S$50,000 to an account with a 5% interest per year. With the gains you made from compounding, how much would you earn in 3 years?

Year 1: S$50,000+ (S$50,000 x 5%) = S$52,500
Year 2: S$52,500+ (S$52,500 x 5%) = S$55,125
Year 3: S$55,125+ (S$55,125 x 5%) = S$57,881.25

Compounding adds up faster than you may think. As you can see, you earned S$7,881.25 in just three years!

Aside from its definition, here are some things you really need to know about Compound Interest:

1. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE

The longer you keep your money invested, the greater the rate at which your initial investment produces returns. This is why it is advantageous if you started young. And if your “younger years” passed, the next best thing is to start now.

Calculate the possibilities of your accumulated wealth through a Compound Interest Calculator that is available here.

2. PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE CAN BENEFIT FROM IT

You do not need to be as financially literate as the people on Wall Street or as rich as Bill Gates because almost any investment will earn a Compound Interest if you leave your account untouched. The same principle and rules apply whether you invested S$1,000 or S$1,000,000.

3. TAKE CALCULATED RISKS

Yes! Compounding is powerful in almost all the circumstances but, you must not fall into the temptation of getting higher returns through higher risks. Unless you know what you are doing, taking on the higher risks can potentially lead to a chain of bad decisions from now until you retire. It is important to take well-informed and calculated risks to prevent destroying everything you once built.

4. PATIENCE IS TRULY IMPORTANT

Compound Interest requires you to sacrifice today to obtain its benefits tomorrow. It only works if you allotted time and effort in growing investment. The results may seem small at first but, you must persevere.

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

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

Certainly, its future rewards are greater than the sacrifice.

Sources: 1 , 2 , & 3

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