How To Settle In A New Job With Ease

Getting ready for your first day at work can mimic your experience on your first day in a new school. As butterflies roam your stomach, your first day in a new school is both terrifying and exciting. You walk in the grounds of an unfamiliar hallway with a schedule in hand. You try your best not to trip or to embarrass yourself in front of other kids. Years later, those similar emotions can be felt as you show up to a new workplace.

You do not know what expect! The first couple of months can be confusing, exciting, and terrifying. These months can make or break your time at a particular company. Start adjusting to a new job by preparing for your first day.

PREPARE FOR YOUR FIRST DAY

Use the weeks leading up to your first day wisely by preparing yourself mentally and physically. Accomplish as many errands as possible such as medical checkups, car maintenance, and visits to relatives. Get adequate amount of sleep and renew your fitness regimen. If time permits, you may freshen up your mind by taking a short staycation.

Prepare for the position by researching about the company and its business press. You can search through its social media accounts to get a grasp of their branding. You can also request for a list of readings from your future boss. He or she will be impressed that you want to start work well-informed and educated.

MAKE A GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION

Your first impression counts. Show up on your first day well-dressed and with enthusiasm to work. Come early and put your mobile phone away to stay focused on the tasks at hand. Take notes on the tasks and the people around. What are their names? It is important to write them down. You can learn a lot from these people.

ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS

It is easier to assume that we know what to do. Sometimes, we are just too afraid to admit that we cannot do something. However, asking for assistance is the best way to resolve an issue. You are in a new environment. Admitting your lack of knowledge in certain realms may show your eagerness to learn. Take notes.

DO NOT COMPARE THINGS TO YOUR PREVIOUS JOB

No matter how skilled you were in your previous company, it is unpleasant to brag about it in your current working environment. Instead, let your actions speak for itself. Take this opportunity to learn new things, to contribute new ideas, and to share your experience with your co-workers. Find the right platform to air your concerns.

LISTEN TO CULTURAL CLUES

To help you get a grasp of the company’s culture, listen and observe at all times. Building rapport with your new co-workers is important because it lets you assimilate to their culture faster. Be wary. Do not let your desire to fit in encourage you to engage in gossip. You do not want to employ socially destructive behaviors. Listen to cultural clues, but avoid gossips.

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You are the new employee. Smile and make the effort to reach out to them by offering coffee or lunch. This way, you will be able to break the ice.

Sources: 1 & 2

 

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How To Fool Yourself Into Saving Money

If money could talk, my wallet would be having a farewell party. I am not exaggerating! The weight of the Yuletide Season has been hard on my budget. You see, we are constantly bombarded with flashy sales and social gatherings.

The materialistic temptations becomes harder to resist due to the year-end bargains. Not to mention, the convenience of swiping a credit card makes spending easy!

Fortunately for you, there are other strategies that you can employ to save money. See how much you can potentially save with these four money tricks!

PUSH THE AUTOPILOT

How can you spend money that you do not see? This is no “vanishing coin act”! Instead, I am referring to automating your savings. Setting up an automatic transfer to your savings account can help you fulfill your financial goals. Whether you are looking forward to the night market or the BTS concert in Thailand, your expenses can be covered by your savings.

There is truth to the phrase: pay yourself first. Allotting a portion of your income to personal savings is as easy as allocating a budget for your phone bill. Upon getting into the habit of saving, you will be able to resist the temptation of spending. Ask your bank for guidance in automating your transactions.

EVERY CENT COUNTS

As I was walking to a dollar store, I saw an elderly man leaning towards the coin he just dropped. No matter how small a currency may seem, every cent counts. It is only logical to say that keeping your loose change in the course of the year can add up to a few hundreds of dollars! So, consider developing the habit of growing your cents.

Begin by getting an empty jar. You may turn it into an arts and crafts activity by having your child decorate the surface of your jar. Afterwards, empty the contents of your wallet every three days. Pour all the loose change into your decorated money jar. By December, you may exchange these coins for bills at your local bank. Growing your money jar will not only declutter your wallet, but also grow your wealth.

REMOVE THESE NUMBERS

Let us face it! Online shopping has been more prevalent than ever. The mere fact that you can get a blanket set from IKEA Singapore within three business days only shows how convenient it is to shop. The virtual market’s prompt gratification can breed addiction. Personally speaking, a friend of mine gets various packages sent on a weekly basis. It is crazy how each one comes from different parts of the world!

You open more rooms for financial vulnerability by setting up a customer account and saving your credit card information. So, consider deleting your online shopping accounts.

Adding an extra layer of difficulty while shopping gives you more time to weigh whether you really need to purchase an item or not. If you lack courage to delete the information on your own, you may ask the help of your trusted spouse. Who knows? This third party intervention may just be the solution to avoid impulse purchases.

A SINGLE QUESTION

As I was walking inside a fast-fashion store, I realized how random purchases can take a toll into my finances. Stocking up on adorable yet unnecessary items on Daiso can affect my budget for the next day. If only you can ask yourself a single question!

Do you believe that a single question can change your spending outlook? Well, it sure is possible! Who knew that a sequence of words can convince you to leave a shop without a cart full of non-essential items.

Simply ask yourself this: “Did I need it yesterday?” If you do not need it yesterday, you probably do not need to buy it today. By asking acknowledging whether an item is a need or want can help you stick to your budget.

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Saving money does not have to be a chore! May these easy tricks help you reach your savings faster than you would have thought.

Sources: 1 & 2 

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How To Survive Awkward Holiday Gatherings

This is the season when party invitations pour in. From family gatherings to company celebrations, the holiday cheer assails you from every angle. Not everyone holds the cheerful tune in the same manner.

If you have social anxiety or have a tendency to be awkward during parties, then you are not alone. Many people experience “holiday anxiety”. Here are some ways to deal with it…

#1: EMBRACE THE SMALL TALK

Whether you like it or not, small talk is the core of social gatherings. If you label yourself as a person who is not good at conversation, you might be so stressed about the things you say that you end up saying nothing at all. Navigate through casual conversations by preparing for it.

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Share at least two interests or experiences. Or better yet, dwell on the new things that you can learn from the person that you are talking to. Focus on the other person. Ask simple questions such as “What keeps you busy?” or “How do you see your field changing a few years time?” You may also ask a couple about the story of how they met.

#2: ACCEPT THE PARTY DYNAMICS

Be honest with yourself! You probably get along better with your friends than your family or co-workers. That is completely understandable. You have chosen your friends based on your compatibilities. Being with them this holiday season can be a breeze!

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While, family members are fixed whether you are like-minded or not. Accepting this fact can help you quit expecting to get along with everyone. Instead, focus on loving your family in spite of your differences.

#3: BE OPEN TO STRANGERS

Parties are the breeding grounds of strangers. I know that you are way beyond the “stranger danger” stage, but you might be worried about meeting new people. The anticipation of interacting with strangers can stimulate personal questions such as will you be boring or weird during the conversation. Stop ruminating about these thoughts!

Remember that a conversation is a two-way street. It is not your duty to carry the talk the entire night! If the person seems uninterested or less chatty, he or she may be tired or preoccupied. Who knows? This person may be socially awkward too.

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Above all else, you must do your best to stay present in the moment. Post your holiday photos a day or two later. You do not need to compete online or keep up with the people who brag about how amazing their holiday experiences are!

Sources: 1 & 2

 

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How To Deal With A Stingy Boss

Frugality is an admirable trait, in most cases. Frugal people are typically prepared to tackle the bumps ahead. They are also able to cut down their environmental wastes. However, giving a reaction is essential if the frugality of your boss pulls down your productivity and lowers your workplace morale.

Keep these things in mind before approaching your boss:

WHEN DISCUSSING ABOUT MONEY

As most of the things in life, timing is everything. Choose the appropriate time and place to approach your boss. For instance, you must not discuss about the loss of a major account after your boss got into a car accident. It is not appropriate to discuss serious matter over a phone call either. Remember to equip yourself with respectfulness when discussing money matters.

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Be polite when asking your boss for what you need or want. Be prepared to graciously accept whatever his or her answer is. Do not whine!

WHEN RUMORS CIRCULATE

It goes without saying that the portability of social media influenced how gossips can circulate on a wider scale. With rumor mills running on hyper-drive, people rarely invest their time into validating each one.

Say that there is a rumor about how your supervisor’s errors plummeted the sales of your company. Without adequate research and lack of communication, you can easily make negative assumptions. This is why learning the full story is important.

WHEN ASKING FOR GROWTH

Loyalty is a two-way street. There is a fine line between sacrificing for a company that you love and recognizing that you are taken advantaged of. If you are offering your continued loyalty to an employer for over 5 years then, you deserve to be compensated.

When a cheap boss fails to recognize your value, it can stroke a sizzling fire of discontent.

WHEN YOU FEEL UNDERPAID

If it seems as though your employer is exhausting you in unnecessary proportions then, you may approach him or her for a pay raise (or a better schedule at the very least). You do not need to let your emotions get in the way! You will only sound conceited and demanding. Instead, start the conversation on a positive note. Praise how well the company is doing in the past quarter or the recent months. Afterwards, you may ask how this affects the employees.

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The next step is to do your research. Be prepared to show your employer how your salary stacks up in comparison with people with similar jobs. You are more valuable than you think; otherwise, they would have fired you a long time ago!

Sources: 1 & 2

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12 Reasons Why You Aren’t Financially Ready To Get Married

1. Your present goals are mainly self-motivated (e.g., discovering oneself by traveling to several countries in Europe).

2. You are an undergraduate student who does not have an adequate amount of savings. Not to mention, you have to pay your student debts too.

3. You still depend on your parents to cover your monthly bills.

4. You are mortified with the idea of having a someone influence your ability to borrow money. Having a spouse with poor credit score may diminish your chances of getting the best car loan or joint credit card deals.

5. You have pushed the idea of marriage aside to build a career. Furthermore, you believe that attaining success at work will appeal to many potential partners.

6. “No money, no marriage” seems to encapsulate the fact that matrimony requires money, time, and effort. Thanks to the Singaporean wedding industry, couples spend an average cost of S$30,000 on their nuptials.

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7. You cannot afford to face higher insurance premiums. For instance, marrying a partner whose track record with cars is unappealing may negatively influence your car insurance premiums.

8. Your financial resources cannot cover the expenses that come with raising a family. Expectant mothers need to visit the OB/GYNs or gynecologists regularly. As a result, you will have to pay about S$60-75 per visit.

9. Your savings and insurance cannot match the overwhelming hospitalization fees of pregnancy. Can you imagine paying about S$3,000 for a two-day hospitalization in a private room of a private hospital?

10. You and your significant other have differing attitudes and beliefs towards money. Understanding each other’s spending habits and attaining compromise is one thing. But, continuously arguing about money is another.

11. You do not have a clear financial path at the moment. Consider seeking professional help.

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12. You are protecting your properties. Furthermore, you have not figured out how to divide your assets.

Whatever the reason might be, matrimony is a huge decision that you shall make when you are holistically prepared to face the next step. You may not be ready at the moment but, that is alright. No one knows what lies ahead!

Sources:  1, 2, & 3

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