FUNtastic Ideas To Spice Up Your Dates

I am not familiar about your dating habits, but predictability is not a part of my book! My significant other and I are actively browsing through online articles and asking for recommendations. We make it a point to “shake things up” every once in a while.

On that note, here are just some of the romantic and fantastic ideas that we have gathered throughout the years:

1. Let us start with a nostalgic date. Share your most intimate memories with your beloved by exchanging family albums. Then, reminisce the milestones you had as a couple by going back to where you first met.

2. Take the slang “Netflix and Chill” in its literal sense by streaming your favorite shows while indulging on ice cream. Eat as many ice cream flavors as you want! Personally, Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough is my guilty pleasure.

3. Stay in touch with your artsy side by attending craft workshops. From Calligraphy to Bento Box classes, there are many interesting workshops in Singapore! For starters, you can create a spectacular keepsake by Pottery Painting for as low as S$15 at Goodman Ceramic Studio.

4. Be the star of your own editorial by pretending to be famous photographers for a day. You can either take turns in modelling or find a stranger to do the work for you. Snap pictures of your model at the picturesque spots in Singapore (e.g., Haji Lane and National Gallery of Singapore are totally Instagram-worthy).

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

5. Immerse yourself into the art of storytelling by attending poetry slams. Artists gather together to eloquently spread their messages out to the public. Considering reserving a free spot at the “Slam: A One Man Show by Neil Basu” on September 30 or October 1!

6. We might be known as a concrete city, but that does not mean that we lack furry companions! Spend a day with adorable felines as you drop by The Cat Cafe. Unlike other establishments, The Cat Cafe only charges for the entry fee of S$15 (i.e.,including a complimentary drink).

7. Aside from furry cuteness, you can get up close with over 100,000 marine animals at the S.E.A Aquarium. Be dazzled with one of the world’s largest acrylic panel that houses over 800 marine species. Their interactive displays will entertain you too! Prices for adults start at S$30 (T&Cs apply).

8. Celebrate your love for sultry Jazz music by visiting the Blu Jaz Cafe. The establishment hosts free-flowing jazz bands that are open to improvisations. Check out their menu to know how to keep your tummies full while you heart sings with glee!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

9. Reconnect with nature by visiting the highest pedestrian bridge in the country – the Henderson Waves. Jog in the Mount Faber Park before watching the sun set in this creative spiral bridge. The wonderful reflection of the the sun shall set the romantic mood for your outdoors date.

10. Inspire each other to reach the optimum physical health by joining fun runs or marathons. Engaging in these activities will not only give you a fitness boost, but it will also allow you to consistently motivate each other along the way.

11. Tired of seeing your partner glued to his or her gaming console? Well, you can ditch the virtual games and immerse yourselves in an intense reality game with Exit Plan. Exit Plan is a local escape room that offers thrilling rooms for friendly prices. Admission starts at S$15 for off-peak hours.

12. Strengthen your bond by revealing your inner self to your partner. Start by writing ten personal questions. Test how well your partner knows you by throwing said questions to him or her. The person who gets the highest score wins, while the loser will have to do a consequence.

Sources: 1 & 2

Read More...

How Married Couples Can Deal With Huge Salary Gaps

Whether you want to admit it or not, income plays an integral part in the society’s perception of your worth and success. Fusing the the topic of finances to relationships makes things more complicated.

To some degree, your paycheck determines your role in a romantic relationship. An imbalance is created when your spouse earns more than you or the other way around. It is believed that the person who has a higher salary has increased options and financial freedom. Nonetheless, you must address the huge salary gap between you and your partner.

Here are just some tips to help you deal with your current situation:

COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY

Practicing open communication is one of the best ways to resolve issues in marriage (or any romantic relationship). If you are frustrated with your spouse because he or she is not making an effort to find a new job then, talk about it. If you feel guilty for spending more money than your spouse then, talk about it.

Start your financial discussion in a loving manner without accusing the other of anything. You are a family. You should not treat this like a heated battle or a boiling competition. The end goal is to help each other out.

ESTABLISH A BUDGET

Imagine taking a long ride in an unfamiliar place. Your journey can take you into different directions. To create a distinct path, you must follow a map. The same idea applies to your finances. To create a distinct path to your financial goal, you must set a budget.

Establishing a budget lets you allocate a specific amount to each member of the family. Also, you will be able to determine each other’s spending habits. Beginners in budgeting are recommended to use the envelope system.

RESPECT ONE’S ABILITY TO EARN

Before I went to bed, I came across a online discussion at Reddit. The thread surrounded the issue of having any significant achievement gaps between couples. Interestingly, these couples live in harmony.Reddit user pecrh001‘s story caught my attention.

“I have 2 degrees and work as a lawyer. My husband never finished uni but has a job that he loves. He’s a great father and husband. It doesn’t really matter that I earn more than him because it’s all just family money. We’re both working hard and supporting each other and our kids.”

Finding someone who respects you as a person and your ability to earn is more important than the degree that you are holding. Being successful on paper does not translate to your character. Each other’s money is valuable. Forget keeping score!

GIVE AND TAKE

Another important practice that the Reddit thread highlighted is the balance between the two individuals. You must have the chance to give and take. Reddit user The_Superbus illustrated this by posting:

“I worked two jobs while she was in medical school and one job while she was in residency. Now I work no jobs while she is an attending. She likes the fact that I do most of the work around the house so she doesn’t have to. I like the fact that I haven’t had to go to work for the last few years. It also lets us raise our own kid without relying on daycare for 9 hours a day, which is nice.”

EMPLOY A REWARD SYSTEM

After months and months of hard work, you may feel exhausted and overwhelmed. Break the cycle by motivating with reasonable rewards. For instance, you may go to a fancy dinner when your money exceed your budget or when you achieve a financial goal.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Rewarding each other is a way to remind yourselves that the money you make belongs to the both of you.

Sources: 1 & 2

Read More...

Five Secrets To Handling Your Finances As A Couple

Managing your finances together can be tricky when you are in a committed or serious relationship. However, you can employ several strategies to avoid headaches and arguments surrounding money.

#1: DISCUSS ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL GOALS

There are a handful of Singaporeans who tackle life from paycheck to paycheck. These people deal with the expenses as they come without forethought about their retirement fund. Do you want to be in the same situation?

You have to realize that financial stability is important in strengthening the future that you want to build together. So, start by establishing at least three financial goals. These initial goals are short-term and realistic. Whether you want to save up for a getaway in Bali or a broadband bundle, your short-term goals will serve as an encouragement to take on bigger goals that will lead up to financial security.

#2: KNOW EACH OTHER’S FINANCIAL STATE

Tying the knot or living with someone who has a bad credit score may affect your finances. Imagine taking out a mortgage. Your partner’s credit rating may affect the potency of your combined credit score. This is not good!

Mutual disclosure can help you reduce conflicts over financial matters. As early as possible, carefully examine each other’s financial state and exchange useful tips. Are there any spending habits that you want to help your partner with? Do you have some outstanding student debts? Familiarize yourself with his or her deeply rooted attitudes and habits toward money.

#3: CREATE A MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING

As a couple, aim to distribute the control of your finances equally. Educate your partner about the facets of personal finance no matter how uninterested he or she might be. Financial literacy is necessary.

Aside from mutual disclosure, mutual understanding is crucial to your success. This means that you need to be aware of what you two can and cannot afford. Furthermore, you must contemplate on the process of dealing with unfortunate events.

#4: MAINTAIN JOINT AND INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS

A couple’s joint account is primarily used for shared expenses such as groceries, utility bills, phone bills, and mortgage repayments. Maintain this along with your individual accounts. You are entitled to a separate account because you must treat yourself or your partner personally without affecting the “household fund”.

You might say that this burns the bridges of sharing, but not really. The foundation of having individual accounts is that both would have access to each other’s account to prevent from keeping secrets. Spending beyond the threshold of your personal account is something that you need to discuss with your beloved first.

#5: DIVIDE YOUR MONETARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Compromise could be your best bet when you are sharing the responsibility for your finances. This goes hand in hand with the above statement. Having a joint account and two separate accounts helps to keep your independence and to stick with your budget.

Here are just some things that you must contemplate on when you are dividing your monetary responsibilities:

a. What are the bills that you want to pay using your joint account?

b. How much shall each one contribute to the joint account?

c. Which of your partner’s spending habits do you want to keep and to ditch?

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

May these tips help you to foster good financial management habits as a team!

Sources:  1 & 2

Read More...

Bad Money Habits That You Need To Drop When In A Relationship

Maintaining a healthy relationship with your significant other entails stabilizing the disposition of your finances.

Read thru this article to know how bad monetary habits can potentially harm your relationship. Furthermore, you will get an idea on how to conquer these habits.

#1: AVOIDING FINANCIAL CONVERSATIONS

A healthy long-term relationship is built on trust and transparency. As things get serious with your partner and marriage becomes a viable option, consider discussing about finances. You need to resolve your potential spouse’s money problems before it is too late.

Fully disclosing about your financial circumstance to your partner can be uncomfortable at first but, you have to at least try. Tell your partner about your outstanding debts, financial obligations, income sources, and other assets. This will make you empathize with each other more. From time to time, do not forget to check if your goals are in lined with each other.

#2: STICKING TO YOUR OUTDATED BUDGET

Improve your financial state this 2017 by establishing a robust budget. The budget that you created when you were single may be efficient, but you are now budgeting for two. Being in a committed relationship means that you have to take on more expenses with more resources. Begin by studying each other’s spending habits. Then, trim down unnecessary expenses after compromising. You may also adapt the budgeting techniques of your partner.

I, for one, allocate a small portion of my income to date nights. Let us face it! We belong in a generation where it is acceptable for women to split the tabs with their dates. Give this new perspective a chance as a loving relationship is a two-way street.

#3: LOANING YOUR VACATIONS

I know how much travelling can ease the stress of a hard working Singaporean. However, consistently deducting your romantic vacations on your credit card can take a toll on your wealth. Spending money that you do not have is a dangerous habit to possess. Imagine the arguments that boil down due to the frustration of not being able to meet up with the outstanding debts. This is why you must cultivate a travel fund in advance.

#4: SKIPPING THE BUDGET FOR GIFTS

According to the internationally-acclaimed book by Gary Chapman, there are five ways to express your love to your partner. These five ways include gift giving, quality time, words of affirmation, physical touch, and acts of service. Understanding your partner’s love language will help you to strengthen your bond.

I am only going to focus on one love language – the gift giving. For people who place importance on the tangible symbols of affection, it is important to remember your special dates. You are bound to celebrate various occasions together such as anniversaries and birthdays. Not to mention, Valentine’s Day is coming up soon. Is your wallet ready?

It is a good idea to allocate a budget for gifts before buying one. Otherwise, you have to face budget trimming and other financial woes.

#5: KEEPING A MONETARY SECRET

Secrecy is rarely beneficial to a relationship. Research showed that 1 in 10 people considered breaking up with their partners upon the discovery of a financial secret. Millennial participants were even less forgiving as reaped a figure of 1 in 5. These numbers convey how secrets can strain a “loving” relationship.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

The impact of keeping a monetary secret depends on the couple’s income, the item purchased, and the frequency of purchases. Another significant monetary secret is having a stash for escaping the relationship. Having undisclosed assets and secret bank accounts can affect the level of trust given by your partner. The primary source of damage is not money on its own, but it is the unpleasant habit of concealing the truth.

Sources: 1 & 2

Read More...

Incredible Saving Tips That You Must Know Before Buying An Engagement Ring

Take A Chance On The Pawn Shops

In a gloomy night in November, my friend proposed to his long-term girlfriend. The surprise does not stop there as they are expecting an adorable edition to their family. Due to the urgency of the situation and his tight budget, he considered purchasing from the pawn shops along the Little India. The varying rates of the rings here are slightly lower than those offered by the chain jewellers. He grabbed this opportunity ferociously!

You see, unlike some Singaporeans, my friend is not superstitious. He does not believe that purchasing a second-hand ring can induce bad luck. It is a surefire way to stretch your dollar if you hold the same perspective as him.

Negotiate With The Craftsman

I cannot deny the fact that going to a commercial jeweler follows a swifter process. You simply have to step inside the likes of “Love & Co.” and “Lee Hwa Jewellery” and purchase a ring right away. However, convenience comes with a hefty price tag. Consider buying personalized rings from local or online craftsman.

Negotiate with the jeweler and ask if he or she is willing to change the settings of your desired ring. Settings include the 4C’s: carat, cut, color, and clarity.

Opt For The Color Yellow

Different hues grace the very essence of the diamond rings. Since colored diamonds are extremely rare, they are priced handsomely. The supply and demand dictates the varying prices of the said fancy colored diamonds. There is still hope for your pocket as the least popular hues are less expensive.

This is why you must go for the most underrated colors such as Grey, Brown, and Orange. Asians shy away from Yellow diamonds due to the common misconception that it does not suit our skin tones. Try out intense and fancy Yellow diamonds first before believing the majority. Do not be too quick to judge!

Use Your Beneficial Card

Subscribing to the “married club” entails costs that exceed thousands of dollars. How often will this happen to you? Well, you better maximize your purchase! Get as many discounts or rebates as possible by charging your engagement ring in your credit card.

For instance, you may use your American Express True Cashback Card. It offers 3% cashback on the first S$5,000 that you spend. And, there is no limit on your earnings. Isn’t that amazing?

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Image Credits: pixabay.com

May these tips help you to save enough money to buy your dream engagement ring. The only thing that you may worry about is your ability to gather your guts in order to ask one of the most significant questions in your life.

Sources: 1 & 2

Read More...