life hacks Archives | Page 14 of 28

Cosmic Ways To Save Money Like A Jedi

Sometimes, useful financial advice can come from the unlikeliest places. Take Star Wars, for example. It is not only an epic Science fiction film series but also a good place for frugal inspiration.

Learn to save money like a Jedi with these five universal ways:

1. BUILD THINGS FROM SCRATCH

Luke Skywalker, one of the greatest Jedi in the galaxy, spend no expense by making his own lightsaber (laser sword). Like Luke, do not be afraid to Do-It-Yourself!

Start from simple crafts such as making your own shower cleaner or personalized key-chain. After which, turn the difficulty up a notch by making all the crafts for your dream wedding. This can help you save loads of cash.

2. SIZE MATTERS NOT

In “Star Wars:The Empire Strikes Back” movie, Luke was tasked to raise his X-wing (aircraft) from the swap and he complains that it is too big. This frustrates Yoda, a wise Jedi Master. Yoda then explains that size does not matter and excuses are not welcome.

In life, obstacles to saving money can seem unbearable at the moment but, it shall not stop you from pushing through. Furthermore, you must understand that the size of your salary does not matter. What matters most is how you spend and manage it.

3. SHARE AND BE BLESSED

A Jedi shares his knowledge and skills to others with no charge. Apply the hippie-like concept of sharing to your life. Share resources to your fellow classmates and you will not have to buy expensive reference books ever again. Also, you can carpool with your friends to save on gas.

4. KEEP YOUR WARDROBE SIMPLE

Much like Jedi Knights who mostly wear “brown sack-cloths with hoods” or Facebook’s founder Mark Zuckerberg who mostly wears grey shirts, you can save more money by keeping your wardrobe simple. You do not have to wear the same shirt or same outfit everyday! Just avoid hefty designer clothing by purchasing clothes from thrift shops or year-round sales.

5. DO OR DO NOT. THERE IS NO TRY.

When Luke was making excuses about his inability to levitate objects with his mind, Yoda told him these famous words: “Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.”

When you continue to make excuses to saving money or altering your spending habits, you can end up retiring broke. So, start accepting the responsibility and create a monthly budget that is suited for you. In due time, you will see that eliminating your excuses produces meaningful results.

Sources: 1, 2 , & 3

Don’t Be Fooled By The Con: 5 Ways To Avoid Rip-Offs

With the technological advances in this day and age, scammers are becoming more sophisticated and effective. But, no matter how charismatic and persuasive a con artist can be, you can avoid losing money by following these 5 ways:

1. DO NOT GIVE YOUR BANK DETAILS OVER THE PHONE

Most of the phones today have caller ID that shows you the number of the person or the company on the other end of the line. If you do not recognize the number or the caller and he or she asked you for your valued bank details, say you will call back. Wait for a few minutes then, try to call the number again to access the validity of the caller.

It is better to not give any sensitive details over the phone, unless if you initiated the call. Simply, if you do not recognize the caller’s number and the area code is not +65 (Singapore’s area code) then, it is most likely a scam.

2. BE CAREFUL WITH THE LINKS

To avoid downloading virus or other malware, only open attachments and links that were given by your friends, family, partners, and clients.

Apply this rule for emails and social media messaging. For instance, there was a scam that used a fake Facebook game based on the popular “Twilight” series to gather the personal information of the Twilight fans.

3. BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR EMAILS

There are three “Don’ts” that you must follow to avoid becoming the target of an online scam:

a. Do not provide your personal email address freely.
b. Do not respond to emails that are asking for your personal information.
c. Do not answer emails whose senders are unknown.

Image Credits: Wikiphoto (Creative Commons License)

4. KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR DEBIT AND CREDIT CARD REPORTS

If someone else assumes your identity or steals your wealth, a good way to find evidence of the crime is by checking your credit card statements. I am sure that most of the banks have online banking now so, you will have the convenience to track your spendings anytime and anywhere. Report any suspicious activity to your bank right away.

Aside from credit card fraud, you can lose more money if you are a victim of debit card fraud. Since your debit card is connected directly to your savings, losses can be more extensive. And, money will be harder to recover. This is why you must check your account frequently and be vigilant of the people who stand close to you while you are using your debit card.

5. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO DISCUSS WITH OTHERS

Con artists seek those individuals who are perceived as solitary, trusting, and gullible. If an opportunity (e.g., a new business venture or a new insurance scheme) arrives at your doorstep, do not hesitate to ask for more time to think things through.

Before making a huge decision, it is important to consider the situation and the consequences carefully. Tell the agent or the potential con artist this: “I will discuss this with my lawyer and my partner. After which, I will get back to you.”

Sources: 1 & 2

7 Ways To Brighten Someone’s Day Without Spending A Fortune

1. START THE WORK DAY RIGHT. Take your co-worker to a hilarious storytelling session at lunch. Laughter has been proven to relax your muscles, trigger the flow of endorphins (happy hormones), and lessen the flow of your stress hormones.

2. MAKE YOUR SISTER SMILE by giving her a color-therapy infused lipstick. Infuse color therapy by picking suitable colors for each mood. If you want to boost your sister’s energy, choose red or orange but, if you want to keep her relaxed choose pink or lavender.

3. SPOIL YOUR SPECIAL SOMEONE. Give your beloved mother or partner the foot spa he or she deserves! Simply, squeeze and release each toe individually from the front to the back and in the spaces. Then, stroke the sole of the foot in crisscross diagonal lines. Continue to do this until the feet feels energized.

4. LEAVE SWEET NOTES FOR YOUR FAMILY.

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

Place sticky notes saying thoughtful messages of love and appreciation in your spouse’s wallet, child’s school bag, or your partner’s car. These will surely bring a smile to their faces.

5. BE THE BEST NEIGHBOR YOU CAN BE by bringing your neighbor’s newspaper closer to their door, by baking them cookies during special occasions, and by sharing them great deals you found at Money Digest.

6. BE GOOD TO STRANGERS by holding the door for others especially the elderly. Also, you may the intern at work on how you can help him or her. And, if you see a person who seems to be lost, offer your assistance. It may seem simple at the moment, but not to the people you helped.

7. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

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

In order to brighten someone else’s day, you must be in a cheerful disposition. Start by stocking your bedside drawer with pleasurable items such as your favorite scents, your personal keepsakes, and your favorite food. Then, purchase supplies to revisit or encourage a hobby of yours.

Sources: 1 & 2

6 Things That Will Sabotage Your Chances At Job Interviews

Knowing how to smoothly glide through a job interview with grace is highly desirable.

Avoid common interview mistakes by following these six tips:

1. SHOWING UP LATE

It is certainly obvious why showing up late can blow your chances of getting the job. It gives a sense of irresponsibility. Counter this by scheduling your arrival at least 20 minutes in advance so you can find a parking spot or have leeway in case you get lost. Also, the extra 5 to 10 minutes will give you the enough head start to prepare for the challenge ahead.

2. COMING CLUELESS

Coming unprepared is unacceptable that you might as well just walk out of the room. Take some time to learn about the company and the duties of the position you are applying for. Gather data on the company’s basics such as the its mission and vision because this will help you answer the questions later on. Also, prepare extra copies of your C.V. or resume.

3. LEAVING YOUR PHONE ON

It is very disruptive if your Smartphone or mobile device rings in the middle of the interview. Not to mention, it is rude. So if you want to please your interviewer, remember to turn your phone off or to keep it on silent mode.

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

4. TALKING ABOUT MONEY

Talking about your potential salary or potential raise can send a wrong message to your “would be employer”. Thus, you must not speak about money unless you are asked.

5. NOT TALKING AT ALL

Talking about money is one thing, not talking is another. Skipping the interviewer’s questions is undesirable. Do not be shy to ask for the interviewer to repeat the question if you did not understand it at first. Then, speak up. Speaking up will show that you are interested in the job.

6. SAYING THAT YOU HAVE OTHER OFFERS

Do not go rumbling about your other offers or mention that you are in the early stages of screening in other companies. You must show the interviewer that you are 100% passionate about the position you are applying for!

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

Good luck! 🙂

Sources: 1 & 2

A Physician Shares How You Can Save Money On Medications

If you visited the doctor lately and you realized that you have been spending a lot of money on prescription drugs then, you are not alone. Millions of people around the world are spending more than they should. This is why I sat down with Dr. Andre Agoncillo, an experienced Physician, to unlock a few ways to cut costs on medications.

1. SWITCH TO THE GENERIC DRUGS

New prescription drugs are expensive because they are patented. Having a patent ensures that only a certain company can manufacture that drugs within a period of time. Afterwards, other companies are free to make a generic version of it.

Generic medicines are certainly cheaper and as efficacious as the patented medicines! Why is that so? New generic medicines are examined by the Health Sciences Authority to ensure that they have the same safety and quality standards as the patented ones. They must not only be chemically equivalent but also biologically equivalent in its effects within the patient’s body.

Interestingly, Singapore General Hospital once saved about S$900,000 after switching to the generic options of Gabapentin (for nerve pain), Alendronate (for osteoporosis), and Clindamycin (an antibiotic).

2. STICK TO THE REQUIRED DOSAGE

Some people go to further lengths in saving money by splitting the tablet into two and having twice the number of supply. But, doing so will only hinder the recovery process. In fact, Dr. Andre said that you may not recover at all. This is due to the fact that the prescribed dosage us their for a reason. Furthermore, to inhibit the harmful load of organisms, the threshold of efficacy for antibiotics must be reached by taking a specific volume of medications. Thus, it is important to stick to your prescribed dosage.

3. SHOP AROUND

When prescribed with medications, carefully compare the prices from the different providers to get the best price. According to Ministry of Health guidelines, every patient must get an itemized medication bill. Use this bill as a guide while shopping.

If you want to save more, ask your physician if there is a cheaper yet equally efficient alternative especially if you are taking medications on a long-term basis.

4. BE HONEST AND OPEN TO YOUR DOCTOR

The most important step you must take is having an open and honest talk with your doctor. Tell them everything that happened prior to your illness and do not beat around the bush because they are on a mission to understand what is happening inside your body. If you are open and honest, they can easily identify all your signs and symptoms and prescribe the right medications so that you will recover faster. By recovering at a slower rate, you would have saved money on medications and other hospital bills.

Moreover, if you delayed the full disclosure, your doctor may not be able to give you the proper treatment. So, do not be afraid or worried because your Physician is bounded by the rules of confidentiality.

Image Credits: https://www.facebook.com/agoncillo?fref=ts

For more information kindly email Dr. Andre Agoncillo at [email protected]. 🙂

Sources: 1 & 2

Search the site