Lifestyle Archives | Page 23 of 55

Hunt For A Roommate While Keeping Your Sanity

With the soaring property rates, shared accommodation has become more and more popular in Singapore. Living with roommates is an economical choice, which is often necessary. However, living with someone else is complicated. You need to strike a balance between different personalities and accept the differences in living habits. It may be challenging at first, but you will get the hang of it.

To help you keep your sanity, here are three “roommate hunting” tips:

THE SELECTION PROCESS

They say that prevention is better than cure. Prevent personality conflicts from brewing by choosing a roommate carefully. Get to know the person or people that you are moving in with before you make a decision. Are your living habits compatible to the other tenants? Make sure that you like the space for what it is.

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Alternatively, you may visit websites that offer information about your potential roommates. For instance, Easy Roommate lets you upload a profile of yourself and contact some possible roommates. Its search feature can easily provide you an idea of the desirable locations and its local amenities. Give it a try!

THE SHOWDOWN OF EXPECTATIONS

Whenever two or more people are interacting on a regular basis, conflicts are bound to happen. Whether you are settling with your partner or sharing a room with a friend, that is just how life goes. When this happens, remain calm and deal with the conflict in a healthy manner. Discuss the matter with him or her and reach a compromise.

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Manage your expectations by clearing everything out. If you need or want something from your roommate, you must speak up. Setting up rules and expectations earlier on is the best thing to do.

THE SERIOUS TALK

You must talk about management of space in the beginning of your relationship with the roomies. Many people assume that they can leave their items in a shared space, while others find it annoying. Others are happy to share their food in the common fridge, while most people demand permission. Some people may be okay with you walking in when the door is unlocked. However, others would appreciate a knock before opening a door. These are just of the differences that you may encounter.

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So, establish your needs and wants regarding space and encourage others to do the same. They shall reciprocate the amount of respect you give.

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Pricey Perfume

Whether you are attracted to musky or floral scents, your perfume is your signature. Get the most out of your money by lengthening your perfume’s longevity. Here are seven tips to help you in your quest.

1. KNOW WHERE TO SHOP

Saving money starts with shopping for perfume at bargain prices. A list of top places to raid will not be complete without mentioning Mustafa Centre. Mustafa Centre offers an array of product selections. If you are buying fragrances in bulk, go to Level 1. There, you will find different fragrances, household items, books, cosmetics, electronics, shoes, watches, and so much more.

Most people go to Mustafa to shop in bulk due to its competitive prices. This way, they had increased their savings.

2. THRIVE IN THE DARK

Some things thrive in the dark. Extend the privilege of going “incognito” to your fragrance. By storing your perfume in dark and cool places (e.g., inside cabinets or shelves), you are ensuring its longevity. Exposing your products to heat and humidity can break down its components. So, avoid damp or warm places such as your bathroom.

3. FOCUS ON PULSE POINTS

Let me take a quick moment to enlighten you about pulse points. Pulse points highlight the areas where your blood vessels are the closest to the skin. Heat activates the perfume. Thus, the pulse points on your body are the best places to spritz a scent due to the warmth of your blood. Choose two target areas to which you can apply your scent on.

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Do not over do it! Personally, I prefer putting some on my wrists and on the back of my knees. The aforementioned warmth shall aid in evaporating the alcoholic carrier that most perfumes come in. Moreover, it will help release the fragrance more effectively.

4. PUT SOME PETROLEUM JELLY

Pure petroleum jelly such as Vaseline seem to be a holy grail for many beauty enthusiasts. It can be used in lash extensions, lip balms, and fragrances. Yes! You read that right. You can make your scent last longer by rubbing this product on your pulse points before spraying a layer of perfume on top. This quick hack will only use a minute of your time.

Perfume gets stronger when put on “oily” skin. It works by trapping moisture of your skin and by trapping the alcohol-based scents.

5. CHOOSE THE WOODSY BASE

Perfumes are made up of notes, which are separated into three layers: top, middle, and base. The top note is the first scent that is activated upon spraying the fragrance. It typically fades away in a minute. Then, the middle or heart note will stay for a longer period of time. When both notes evaporate, the base note shall remain.

For a better staying power, stick to perfumes with woodsy base notes. Scents with citrus base notes tend to disappear the fastest!

6. SPRITZ IT ON YOUR BRUSH

Whether you believe it or not, your hair has the ability to trap scents better than your skin. Spraying some of your signature scent on your hair will help it linger throughout the day. I am not saying that you must directly apply the perfume on your scalp. I, for one, have a sensitive scalp. Instead, you must spray it on your hairbrush and wait for it to dry up.

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Comb the smell through your hair strands. Doing this will still distribute the scent evenly and will minimize the contact of alcohol to your scalp.

7. BONUS TIP: STOP RUBBING THE SCENT ON YOUR WRISTS

Rubbing the scent on one’s wrists and distributing it on the neck is a typical move that your mother or grandmother employs. Stop doing this! Rubbing your wrists together forces the top notes to break down. The scent will disappear at a faster rate. Please, just let your perfume sit.

Sources: 1 & 2

Apple Company’s Most Expensive Fails

Despite how devoted you are to Apple and its products, your beloved company has its flaws. It is far from perfect! Even the most luxurious iPhone of all time has its decent share of criticism from its first buyers. Thus, this list will shed a light to its darkest paths.

1980: APPLE III

Imagine being instructed to lift and drop your computer about 6 inches to reset the chips that are coming out of the circuit board. It sounds ridiculous to perform this task at a time where Genius Bars exist. However, Apple III users were madly disappointed in the 80’s. You see, Apple III was plagued with hardware issues including faulty circuit boards and heating issues. The company had to recall every existing machine on the market (about 14,000 units). Then, the machine was re-marketed with new parts a year later.

1983: THE LISA

Every possible list of Apple flops will include “The Lisa”. Released in 1983, the Apple Lisa was known for being the first commercial computer to be sold with a graphical user interface and a mouse. The main drawback of this machine is its insane price-tag of US$9,995 (about S$13,700).

The steep price proved to be unreachable for many customers! It only sold 100,000 units before the model was discontinued. Furthermore, Apple released one of its most iconic products in 1984. This product is none other than the first Macintosh computer.

1993: MACINTOSH TV

The Macintosh TV was a failed product attempt that launched in 1993. On paper, combining a computer hardware with the experience of watching a television sounds like a great idea. However, they were not able to execute it well.

The Macintosh TV resembled a Macintosh LC 500 series computer with a TV tuner card. Users were able to hook it up to a cable line or an antenna. The major problem is: you cannot use the television while using the computer. As expected, Apple only sold 10,000 Macintosh TVs. The product was discontinued in three months time.

1993: NEWTON MESSAGEPAD

When your product gets mocked by a cartoon as popular as The Simpsons, you will realize what type of impact you evoke on your users. Take Apple’s Newton MessagePad as an example. The company’s take on the PDA was innovative, but it was pretty expensive. It retailed for S$700 (S$960) in 1993. Moreover, its handwriting recognition feature rarely works!

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When Steve Jobs returned in the late 90’s, he focused much of his energy on phones and tablets. You will see this pan out throughout the years.

Sources: 1 & 2

Budget-Friendly Ways To Look Taller

Wearing heeled leather shoes or skyscraper stilettos is not the only solution to a taller figure. Consider these affordable tips:

#1: MEET YOUR BEST FRIEND

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When choosing a style for your skirt or dress, A-line is the best way to go. An a-line cut exudes glamour and class that does not require too much fabric. You see, a pleated ball gown can make you appear smaller. A-line garments suit a petite bride better. Guests should put a focus on you and not what you are wearing.

#2: GET EVERYTHING FITTED

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Dropping by the fitting room to try an article of clothing is a good practice when shopping. Doing so ensures that the clothes you buy fit you perfectly. Choosing clothes that stay close to your body can make you appear taller. In contrast, baggy clothes will stretch the silhouette horizontally and make you seem wider. You do not want that! So, a shorter man must opt for streamlined silhouette.

#3: EMBRACE ONE COLOR

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As obvious as this may seem, dressing in a monochromatic manner can make you look longer. A head-to-toe outfit in one color won’t be breaking up your body in sections. A single hue will act as a continuous length that keeps on flowing.

#4: OPT FOR THE V

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What better way to accompany your a-line skirt than pairing it with a v-neck top? A v-neck top gives an illusion of a longer torso. It does not chop your shoulders away like wearing a tube top. Instead, it creates extra inches with skin exposure. Complete the look with chunky heels, stilettos, or platform sandals.

#5: DITCH THE WAISTCOATS AND BELTS

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Belts and waistcoasts have the same shorterining effect by creating a middle-section of the body. The horizontal line it creates cuts your body in half. It draws attention away from your overall “long” vertical line. After all, you do not need these accessories if your suit is tailored properly to your figure.

#6: WEAR NUDE SHOES

Lastly, wearing nude shoes create a leg-lengthening effect. They may have fallen out of the wagon with some of the high-fashion labels, but there is a reason why nude shoes are still popular with the masses. It is timeless.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Sources: 1,2, & 3

You Don’t Want To Miss These Online Shopping Hacks

THE INCOGNITO MODE

If you keep clicking on a particular item, a website is likely to offer it at a higher price. Furthermore, it may bombard you with advertisements of that item. The incognito window will help you save money through private browsing. It blocks third-party cookies and disables search history. This way, websites such as Hotels.com and Expedia cannot practice price discrimination.

CHECK ITEM AVAILABILITY

The Editor’s Market is one of my favorite stores due to its emphasis on modern street-wear. However, their items sell out fast! Fortunately for me, consumers can check out the item availability and reserve it via the online shop. Simply become a member by answering this form: theeditorsmarket.com/membership.

GET FREE SAMPLES

Free beauty samples are usually given at checkout. It gives you the opportunity to test out products without having to waste your money on a full-sized bottle. Sephora, a mecca for makeup addicts, offers free samples in its online store. Go to sephora.sg/pages/free-samples and follow the basic rules.

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a. Add a sample to your bag at checkout.
b. Only one sample may be added to each order.
c. Samples are available while supplies last.
d. If a sample goes out of stock, Sephora will provide a substitute.
e. Samples are not available during sale periods.

ENJOY FREE RETURNS

Whether you admit it or not, you do not always like what you purchase online. That is alright! International brands such as ASOS and MANGO allow you to process free returns. For ASOS, returning an item is a hassle-free task. Start by filling out the return form and printing out the shipping label. Then, drop it off at your local SingPost branch.

For MANGO, the prices on its website is the same as the prices in its physical stores in Singapore. You can return an item at any of its multiple outlets. It saves you the effort of heading down to the post office.

THE 24-HOUR WAIT

Last but not the least, you can subscribe to delayed gratification. Leaving your items in the shopping cart for at least 24 hours can help you decide whether you really want or need to purchase it. Some companies such as ZALORA Singapore will lure you with a special discount code to encourage you to checkout your cart. Apply this savvy shopping tip then.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Sources: 1 & 2

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