life hacks Archives | Page 11 of 28

Financial Tips For People Dating In Retirement

Dating later in life can be a challenge not only because of your limited income resource but also because of the ever-so-changing dating landscape. In the era of Tinder and online dating sites, dating is entirely different from your first time. However, I believe that if your health permits (i.e.,you have no chronic illnesses or serious health concerns), it is never too late to fall in love again!

Despite its challenges, persevere with these 4 Financial Tips For People Dating In Retirement:

1. REKINDLE THE OLD FLAMES

Use modern technology to your advantage by embracing the power of social networking. Free sites such as Facebook and Twitter, allow you to look up your old friends whom you lost touch with. Do not be afraid to reconnect with your previous secondary school, university, and workmates by instant messaging or even e-mailing them. This way, you are expanding your social circle and increasing your chances of finding a date.

2. CONSIDER ONLINE DATING

If rekindling did not work for you, another inexpensive yet tricky strategy is to consider online dating. For many dating sites, you need not spend a cent as they offer free memberships. But you must proceed with caution as there may be scammers and imposters.

The leading online dating sites in Singapore include SingaporeCupid.com and
SingaporeLoveLinks.com. SingaporeCupid.com offers their services to more than 14,000 members. It has a rather retro design that may seem messy at first but you will soon get a hang of it. With its practical options, you can search for matches based on ages, locations, and other keywords. Members can either be free or deluxe. Deluxe members pay about S$16.95 for 1-month membership.

While SingaporeLoveLinks.com is operated by one of the largest niche dating networks in the world – Cupid Media. What is special about this site is that they bring together the singles of different nationalities. Also, they offer useful functions such as video exchange and instant messaging to its paid members. Members can either be gold or platinum. Gold members pay about S$29.98 for 1-month membership and platinum members pay about S$39.99 for the same time.

3. KNOW EACH OTHER’S MONETARY VALUES

Once you meet someone new, it is important to understand and know each other’s values about money. No need to talk about the specific numbers at first but you need to get an idea of how your date likes to save and spend.

Learn to put yourself in your date’s situation (i.e., spender or saver) by recognizing his or her financial strengths. For example, if your date is a saver then, he or she may view money as an important currency that shall not be wasted.

4. SET CLEAR EXPECTATIONS

After several dates, solidify your bond by maintaining good communication with your date. You must set clear expectations about who pays for what as this notion changes over time.

Time has led to both genders being relatively equals. In fact, a poll by Cosmopolitan showed that less than 25% of women believe that their partners should always pay for the bill and about 40% of women think that couples shall always split the bill.

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

Gone are the days when men pay for all the bills!

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

Creative Ways To Reinvent Your Home Without Breaking The Bank

It is 12 noon at our house and all I hear are the sounds of drills and hammers, all I see are tiles and dust, tools and materials are scattered everywhere. The entire part of the house is under renovation.

Television shows may portray home renovations as something instant and glamorous but in reality, it takes time and effort. Reinventing your home usually consists of unwanted costs and unexpected prices. So here are 4 ways to avoid it:

1. WORK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

One of the most efficient yet no-cost ways to reinvent your nest is to creatively reuse the things you already have. Search your house and think of the items you can rearrange. Or look for items that you can repurpose such as adding new fabric covers and paint to your kitchen chairs.

2. DO IT YOURSELF

If you and your partner or roommate have a knack for visual arts, consider getting free home inspirations from the Internet rather than hiring an interior designer.

Do an image search of specific keywords such as “modern design wall mounted shelves” to narrow down choices and save more time. Do not copy the entire layout as it may not complement the overall look of your home. Simply take the features that blend with your vision and deduct the things that do not.

3. GET PRICE LISTS FROM DIFFERENT SUPPLIERS

At some point, you will have to hire professionals to accomplish some work for you. To get the best rates, ask your peers and family if they can recommend good contractors and suppliers to you. Your real estate agent may also refer one to you.

Upon getting these contacts, ask them for estimated price lists or quotes then, compare the rates to find the most advantageous. And if you are good at communicating, you can try negotiating for better prices. Additionally, do check out this helpful list to see a guide on your total renovation cost.

4. REVAMP THE WALLS

One of the fastest ways to make your house look luxurious is by giving the walls a new look. As you contemplate on whether painting it or covering it with wallpaper, consider its interlacing factors.

Since Singapore is a tropical country, the heat can make your wallpaper curl up or experience discoloration. Keep in mind that the wallpaper you purchased a couple of years back can be discontinued as time passes. When this happens, you will have to replace your walls all over again. This makes painting more practical and less expensive.

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

5. GET A BATHROOM MIRROR WITH LIGHTS

Stop paying your contractor to fit LED lights with your bathroom mirror. You are often charged a premium for such custom service. Get a built-in bathroom mirror with lights that are available in different sizes and shapes. Most importantly, you are paying just a fraction than what the contractor is going to quote you.

Sources: 1 & 2

Powerful Tips To Conquer Your Financial Stress

Losing your primary source of income, drowning in a sea of debt, and other money problems can affect both your financial circumstance and your self-esteem. It is normal to feel anxious, stressed, and worried when times are hard but that does not mean that you are suffering from depression or anxiety disorders.

In fact, according to an international poll by Reader’s Digest back in 2009, Singapore was one of the countries most worried about money. When not managed, the financial stress can be detrimental to one’s health.

Here are some tips to conquer your inner beast:

BREATHE IN AND OUT

Avoid excessive thinking by slowing down. Whenever you feel like you are going to burst, calm yourself down. Breathe in and out, hold your breath for a while, breathe slowly and repeat. A higher form of this practice is called meditation.

If you need a guided tutorial to aid you through meditation, you can download the free “Take a Break! Guided Meditations for Stress Relief” app on your iOS or Android device. You can choose to listen with or without the music as you listen to the 7-13 minutes of guided meditation. No prior experience required!

LIVING IN THE PRESENT

Several financial woes come from the anticipation of unfortunate future events. Sometimes, these anticipation is more than just pure exaggeration. This is why you must remind yourself that you are living in the present moment – not in the past, nor in the future.

Stay active in the present by being completely in control. Keep your C.V. updated, pay the bills on time, and jog outdoors!

RECOGNIZE YOUR STRENGTH

In general, the uncertainty and perceived lack of control can make the person feel more stressful. But as I said, you are living in the present moment where you are in absolute control of your actions and your thoughts. Recognize that your decisions exist for you to improve any financial dilemma.

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES

When your financial circumstances is too hard to handle, seek refuge from the people who can offer you the listening ears (e.g. friends, family, support group or financial professional). These people can offer sound solutions and make you feel better. Personally, I find this tip therapeutic as I can freely express and let go of my worries and share it to a person who affirms and understands me the most.

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

Before you go to sleep or the after you wake up, think of three things you are thankful about. This changes your focus from your financial stress to the beautiful things that you might have taken for granted. It does not have to be a big and lavish thing as you can be thankful for the picturesque sunset.

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

Practicing this activity often will help you gain a positive outlook in life and an increase in overall satisfaction.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

5 Ways To Return To Work And Combat The Post-Holiday Blues

Whether you like it or not, the Holiday Season is almost over.

After a substantial amount of time away from the hustle and bustle of the city, it is time to get back to your “normal” life. Gone are the few days of feast and serenity!

As you return to your regular routines at work, school, or home…you may feel stressed, uncomfortable, and disoriented. This unwanted feeling is called Post-Holiday or Post-Vacation Blues. However, with a bit of conscious planning and other strategies, you can actually ease back to normalcy without feeling its burden.

1. PLAN AHEAD

Instead of having the stress of last-minute preparations, it is best to come back from your overseas trip on Saturday instead of Sunday. The extra day will give you enough time to fix your things, to pick up a few essentials, and to browse your emails. Thus, it will lessen the impact and load of your “first” working day.

2. REVIEW YOUR CALENDAR

Since you have been away for quite some time, you will probably need to be reminded about what is going on. Regularly browse and mark your calendar for the next couple of days to stay updated with the upcoming projects, meetings, and other concerns. By doing so, you will be able to come prepared and avoid the embarrassment of being caught off guard.

3. CLEAN YOUR WORKSPACE

Upon entering your cubicle or desk, you may see stacks of unopened documents, scattered files, and untidy stationery items. Take a few minutes to take it all in. After which have a rubbish bin near you while you filter through the envelopes, emails, and files. Recognize what needs to be junked and what needs to kept. The earlier you complete this, the more time you have for other important tasks.

4. REMOVE DISTRACTIONS

To make your work as quicker and as efficiently as possible, you must remove all the unnecessary distractions such as electronic devices. Turn off your handphone and close your social media accounts for at least 20 minutes.

Use a productive writing tool such as Q10 to allow you to scribe without interruptions from your desktop clutter. Or you may install a free site blocking extension such as StayFocusd. With fewer or no distractions, use your time to focus on the task at hand!

5. SEEK HELP

In the early days of your transition, keeping up with your daily workloads may feel like a circus. Do not fret, as it is unavoidable. Ask for your co-worker or manager’s help. A well-staffed business should be more than capable to assist or even absorb your task.

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

Remember, you do not always have to do everything by yourself!

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

Create An Irresistible Window Display To Improve Your Sales In 5 Ways

When you walk pass a shop at Orchard Road, the window display is the first thing that leaves an impression on you and other potential customers.

Visual merchandising, that includes window dressing, is an important tool to engage the customers to go inside and to encourage them to purchase more. Thus, it optimizes the product presentations and the market sales. Aside from this, the significance of window dressing is more than improving sales – it is about building an image!

That said, here are 5 ways to create an eye-catching window display:

1. CHOOSE A THEME

As you are planning your window display, choose a unified theme or message you want to convey. For example, since 2016 is the Year of the Monkey, dress the mannequins with glittery or formal outfits perfect for the parties then fill the backdrop with banana trees and monkeys hanging around them.

Image Credits: displayhunter2.blogspot.com

This uniquely festive jungle theme surely caught some eyes!

2. SHOWCASE A VISIBLE SIGNAGE

An effective signage can bring customers that both walk and drive by. Get the attention of passing motorists and shoppers by making your display larger and by making the colors contrasting.

For example, it is advisable to use yellow background especially with black lettering to convey an informative message as it works best in visually crowded environments. It can also be used with contrasting colors of red and blue.

3. BE DIFFERENT

People love to snap and share aesthetically pleasing places and products on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms. Thus, to get noticed and to bring more people in the shop, dress your window in a non-traditional fashion. Put your mannequins upside down or have a music festival backdrop – your imagination is the limit!

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

As window displays change frequently, you must not be afraid to try new ideas and new themes.

4. MAKE A CLEAR FOCAL POINT

Remember those commercial advertisements that stick to people but they forget the product itself? Do not make the same mistake with your window display!

Highlight the products you want to introduce or to feature by strategically grouping products together. For example, if you are featuring a huge tote bag, group it together with smaller purses so it can stand out. When dressing your window, ask yourself where you want the shopper’s eyes to go first and what you want them to view next.

5. BE BOLD

Debbe Hamada, owner of Tilde shop, makes sure that her window display can be see from a distance even though she usually spends less than S$42 (US$30) on it. She uses bold colors and shapes to attract more people in. In fact, 2 out of 10 customers go inside simply because they have seen something colorful in their windows.

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

You do not need to be crafty to make a bold statement, simply put the most vibrant products together and create a structure with it such as a pyramid or a diamond.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, & 4

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