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Will Mixing Other Brands Of Petrol Harm Your Car?

As you may know, petrol prices in Singapore remain unchanged despite the plunge in oil prices. According to Bloomberg, a barrel of West Texas Intermediate crude was at a record low of US$1.69 last Monday (April 20). While, Brent crude was at US$25.92 compared to the US$74 usual price 12 months ago.

If you are happy with the performance of your usual petrol, that is great! You can stay loyal to that brand. However, unsatisfied customers may still search for another brand. To save money during tough economic crisis, will mixing other brands of petrol harm your car?

A short answer – it will not. Usually, any commercially available gasoline that passes industry standards would suffice for almost any gasoline-powered vehicle. Putting a higher-octane petrol into your car will neither help nor hurt your car’s performance despite the variations among engines.

The answer may vary from person to person, even among drivers who own the same vehicular models. You see, some people are strictly following the required octane fuel that their vehicles need. This is often due to the engine incompatibility with additive packages in premium fuels. Nonetheless, the brand that will give you the best fuel economy for your driving habits is the best one for your car.

To determine this, you need to monitor your fuel consumption over two to four full tanks. How often do you have to refill your car’s petrol on a monthly basis? Throughout this time, make the conscious effort to note down any driving conditions that you may encounter. The objective is to establish an average of your fuel consumption. The next step is to factor the cost per liter of your chosen fuel and switch to the other brand. Consider significant differences between the two.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

For safety purposes, please do not let your fuel run down the manufacturer’s recommended rating for your car. Check your owner’s manual thoroughly beforehand to cover all your bases. At the end of the day, it is all about choosing the petrol that will best suit your car and your needs. Most of the time, brands have very little to do with it.

Sources: 1 & 2

Transportation Hacks For Every Singaporean

Getting around Singapore can either be a breeze or a storm. It is up to you to weigh your options. Nonetheless, you may use this guide to travel from one place to another without a personal vehicle.

PLAN YOUR TRIP AHEAD

To budget your transportation expenses, you may plan your trip ahead of time. You can use fare calculators to complete the task. With an extensive collection of MRT lines and bus services, you may not be able to memorize each route or fare.

Know the most affordable way to get to your destination by checking GoThere.sg. You may also download the lite version of the app for free or plan your route the latest MRT map.

DO NOT TAP OUT

There will be days when you cannot hold your pee any longer! Not to mention, there will be times when nature calls at the worst places.

If you find yourself within the CBD area, simply alight at Bugis station and use the toilet within its gantry area. This will save you money without having to tap out. As this toilet is meant for the people who need it most (e.g., PWDs), please exercise courtesy.

CHOOSE YOUR CABIN WISELY

All our movements inside the train station are fueled by time. There are times when you have to settle with the cabin in front of you. Otherwise, the door will shut! Then, you have to endure the distance from your cabin to the escalator.

When you have time to spare, choose your cabin wisely. Avoid the mini “pilgrimage” by entering the cabin that opens directly to the escalator at your exit. A nifty app called Singapore MRT Lah 2.0 may help you. This app lists the quickest routes out of the train station. See for yourself!

ENJOY FREE WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY

Commuting can be boring for some. Thus, these people may turn to their phones for entertainment. Spiraled into the online abyss, you may encounter some ads. You do not know how much data a video ad can consume! So, reduce your mobile data consumption by tapping into areas that offer free WiFi spots.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Simply download the Wireless@SG app via the App Store or Google Play. Register to enjoy free wireless connectivity at a variety of stations.

Sources: 1 & 2

How To Shield Yourself From Grab’s Surge Pricing

As a country whose location is near the Equator, Singapore experiences “dry and wet days” throughout the years. Generally speaking, the dry months last from March to August. While, the wet months typically span from September to February. Its tropical climate makes the weather unpredictable.

The most convenient way to travel while it is raining is through a personal or a public car. There is no denying that hailing a cab becomes difficult when it is raining! What’s more? You may experience surge pricing when hailing a cab or booking a Grab car. Surge pricing is the adjustment of ride prices to match driver supply and rider demand. During periods of excessive demand where there are not enough drivers on the road (i.e., rainy weather), Grab increases its normal fares.

To combat this issue, insurance cooperative NTUC Income launched the product Droplet last October. Droplet is a pioneer when it comes to protecting the commuters against unpredictable surge pricing on ride-hailing platforms. Further down the road, it aims to cover other platforms aside from Grab. Just wait for their announcements by the end of the year.

HOW DOES IT WORK

Reap the benefits of Droplet by purchasing the rainsurance at least a day ahead of your rides. The premium will be no more than S$9.60 for the day. You can submit as many ride receipts for claim and receive a maximum of S$50 in a day. Commuters who buy the Droplet coverage closer to the forecast of rain are likely to pay a higher premium that those who purchase the premium cover in advance.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

To buy the insurance, you must select a date range that you would like to receive coverage. Then, you must send your claims by forwarding your E-Receipt through email (to [email protected]).

As of now, Droplet only covers rides booked on the Grab app. It will pay up to 60% of your trip fare or the cancellation fee should it be raining at the point of pickup.

THE BOTTOM-LINE

This post shall end with a statement from NTUC Income.

“Droplet is a blue-sky response to consumers’ pain point – surge pricing due to rain – when they book a ride on ride-hailing platforms. In Singapore, where an average of 167 days of rainfall can be expected a year, consumers can now meaningfully address this pain point with insurance cover by Droplet.”

It is exciting to see how insurance products sync with the modern times. Hopefully, other insurers will be as innovative as this one for the commuters to enjoy the benefits of having options.

Sources: 1 & 2

4 Ways To Significantly Decrease Your Living Costs In Singapore

According to Investopedia, “Cost of Living” is the amount needed to sustain a certain level of living that includes basic expenses such as food, taxes, housing, and healthcare. This factor can make a difference especially if your salary is sustained in an expensive city such as ours. Your salary can go further at a developing city but it may barely go buy at a developed one. Logically, it is important to take measures that help you decrease the costs. Start with these four ways:

1. SAVE ON EDUCATION FEES

Aside from transportation, housing, and food, one of the family’s major expenses is the education fee. Childcare as well as tertiary education is costly for the parents especially if they have two or more students in the family. Topping the fees are the pile of miscellaneous such as school supplies, uniforms, camps, and other extracurricular activity expenses. Fortunately, there are some organizations that offer student grants.

The NTUC Bright Horizons Fund offers financial assistance to children from underprivileged families. The amount of assistance varies according to the gross household income or per capita income. Also, there is a minimum co-payment fee of 2% and an additional S$20 for Union Members.

While adults’ aged 35 and above that earn not more than S$1,900 can upgrade their skills with the Workfare Training Support (WTS) scheme. These adults can benefit from 95% course fee funding on various courses including part-time diploma or specialist diploma at the five local Polytechnics. Imagine how many opportunities you can get after!

2. SAVE ON TAXES

Each year, hundreds of tax deductions and credits may go unclaimed due to the lack of taxing knowledge. Be sure to maximize the tax reloads that are applicable to you by checking out the information provided by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, here.

3. SAVE ON TRANSPORTATION

The good news just keeps on rolling! Early commuters can board the MRT for free before 7:45 am on the weekdays (i.e., excluding public holidays)! The no-cost rides are available at 18 MRT stations namely: Somerset, Bayfront, Bras Basah, Bugis, Orchard, Chinatown, City Hall, Clarke Quay, Dhoby Ghaut, Downtown, Esplanade, Lavender, Marina Bay, Outram Park, Raffles Place, Tanjong Pagar, Promenade, and Telok Ayer.

If you missed the cut-off timing for a few minutes, fret not. You can still indulge on 50 cents off your fare if you exited the designated stations. To be eligible for these, you must not enter from the 18 stations mentioned above. Your savings on transportation can pile up as time goes by.

4. SAVE ON WATER

We cannot live without clean water. Therefore, you must employ saving habits to lower down your bills. Learn a thing or two from this illustration:

Image Credits: pub.gov.sg/CONSERVE/HOUSEHOLDS/Pages/Watersavinghabits.aspx

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

How To Not Go Over Budget While Traveling

After working tremendously for a year, a vacation is a well-deserved reward. However, it is easy to become complacent and carefree over your budget. Going over board your budget when on a relaxing getaway is simple, but there are many ways to save money too! Here are just some of them:

1. DO PRIOR RESEARCH

The places you can go to heavily depend on your travel budget. For instance, if you have a considerable amount of money then, go to Europe than limiting yourself to Southeast Asian countries. Choosing an affordable destination that is suited to your travel budget is the first step. Do your research by comparing the accommodations, activities, transportation, and food costs of two preferred countries. Then, narrow it down to one.

2. IDENTIFY YOUR BUDGET

Once you know where to go and how long you are going to be there, you need to figure out how much your travel budget is. Start by identifying how much your spending will be per day. Include unforeseen expenses as well as food and travel costs.

3. BE SMART IN GETTING CASH

If you are still torn between two countries, compare their exchange rates. Sometimes, they make the largest difference. Since some of the foreign exchange centers have poorer rates, it is better to get the currency at the airport or at the ATMs (e.g., in Taiwan and France).

4. SET ASIDE MONEY FOR EMERGENCY

Speaking of unforeseen expenses, it is necessary to prepare for unforeseen circumstances too! If you have travel insurance then, this is only secondary. Money for emergency is important but try not to use it unless the situation absolutely requires it. You have to stick to your travel budget as much as possible!

5. SAVE ON FOOD

There is a greater chance that the breakfast from the hotel is expensive. So, it is better to walk out the door and find a nice local cafe in the mornings. You can immerse yourself to the place, the people, and the culture better by trying their local cuisine. Keep in mind that locally made food and beverage are often cheaper.

Alternatively, you may cook for yourself. Cooking in a new environment, even on a vacation, can be fun!

Image Credits: Nicole Abalde via Flickr Attribution-NoDerivs

Sources: 1 & 2

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