5 Ways to Eat Healthy Even on Budget
Most people see healthy eating as an expensive habit to maintain. Healthier food options tend to cost more and if you’re struggling to make the ends meet, even a single dollar can already make a huge difference. Still, the cost of eating healthy meals shouldn’t come in between you and your health. With that in mind, we listed some of the best ways on how you could eat healthy while saving your hard-earned money.
Create a Weekly Meal Plan and Grocery List
After knowing what items are on sale or in season, schedule a time each week to create your grocery list and meal plan. Doing this will help in ensuring that you’ll only purchase what you need, as well as in keeping you from spending money on things that’ll just go to waste.
Know What Foods are in Season
Visit the website of your favourite grocery store to see what foods are on sale and are in season so you could plan your meals accordingly. Also, check goods that are in season, and if possible, purchase local produce to cut back on your expenses.
Opt for Marked Down Goods
Most grocery stores in Singapore have a dedicated area for marked down goods that are closing in with their expiration date. Don’t be afraid to purchase and consume these products though. If you’re going to freeze the products within the next few days, check out this deal the next time you visit your local grocery store.
Choose Plant-Based Protein Sources
Meat is the number one source of protein, but it can get really expensive. So rather than having meat as your primary source of protein, opt for non-animal sources like lentils, chickpeas and beans instead. They can be cooked in different, delicious ways and are very affordable. With this, you’ll be able to get your daily dose of protein sans spending too much.
Repurpose Your Leftovers
Avoid throwing your leftovers in the garbage. Instead, store them in a clean container and eat them the next day. If you have the skills, repurpose your leftovers into a salad, a soup or a wrap. Just make sure that you use proper storage containers so your repurposed dish will last longer.
Healthy eating doesn’t always have to be expensive. All you need to do is be smart in purchasing your groceries and in planning your meals, and you’ll definitely be able to enjoy affordable and healthy meals.
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Where Can You Keep Your Money Safe and Sound?
The road to financial stability is not an easy road to take. You are bound to deal with setbacks in the long run, and there may even be times when your finances run staggeringly low. In order to avoid getting yourself in such risky situations, it is important that you figure out the best option you have in storing away your money and savings.
Why should you not consider placing your money under the mattress?
While this is one way to hide your money, it is a very unwise decision to make. In the event of a thief break-in, your mattress is among the places which will be inspected. The same thing goes with digging up a hole in your backyard to stow away your cash savings in a glass jar. Your money isn’t gold that should be put under the ground.
If anything, you are signing yourself up for the destruction of your money’s physical condition — and you can think of it as wasting your money instead.
Have a safety deposit box
Stashing your cash in a safety deposit box is a smarter move than hiding it under the mattress or burying it under the cold hard ground. Having a safety box is ideal if you want to be secure, but it still doesn’t do much. It doesn’t earn you interest from your money and it only makes it stink. In the event someone successfully hacks their way through your passcode combination, your money is at risk to be stolen as well.
Sign up for a savings account
Trusting the bank with your money is still encouraged especially if you want to generate interests in the long run. A savings account is a good place to start. Though it doesn’t pay high interests compared to other accounts, you can still be ensured your money is in good hands. A savings account can also enable you to go around cashless, meaning you can withdraw money only when you need it. You can also use your savings account card to pay in some major establishments.
Convert to a high-interest savings account
After years of working, the income you’re generating may enable you to convert to a high-interest savings account. This is ideal if you want to generate greater interests over the course of time since this type of account yields a higher interest rate compared to your standard savings account. The money you can get off interests can be used for investments, starting a small business, availing a life plan, among others. Regardless, it also requires a larger amount for your initial deposit — and you might want to prepare for that.
5 Spending Habits That May Be Draining Out Your Savings
We all have good intentions when it comes to our money, but there are situations that makes us reach out for our savings account. If you are among the people who strictly abide with their budget and have extra savings for emergencies, then kudos to you. But if you always find yourself struggling just to maintain your funds, then you might be doing these bad spending habits that may be causing havoc in your savings account.
- Spending Over Your Budget. One of the main reason why you often find yourself draining your savings is because you often fail to stick to the daily and weekly budget that you allocated. You often spend beyond your means just to purchase trivial items. While you may reason out that you’ve only spent a few bucks, such spending will still accumulate and before you even know it, you’re already dipping your hands into your savings because you’re already short on budget.
- Indulging in Impulsive Buying. Another habit that may be causing your savings to drain out is frequently giving in to the urge of making big and unplanned purchases. Luckily, this habit can still be remedied. Every time you’re faced with the dilemma of whether or not you should use your credit card or ATM card to buy a particular item, ask yourself this: “Do I just want it, or do I really need it?” Once you’ve distinguished your needs and wants, the decision-making will surely be a lot easier.
- Following Food or Fashion Trends. If a particular trend has been flooding your newsfeed, there’s a big chance that you’ll try it at least once. Although this is fine, you should still remember to not fall too deep into its hype that you end spending much more than you should. Remember, it’s a fad and its time in the spotlight will surely end too. Wait for the time when it’ll be cheaper than the price it was originally sold.
- Dining Out Frequently. These days, food isn’t cheap and even if you’ve set to only spend several bucks for it daily, that will still be several bucks less than your budget within a given work week. So instead of dining in the nearest restaurant for lunch, why not cook and bring your own food in the office. Not only will this save you some bucks, it’ll also give you the assurance that you’re munching on a healthy and clean chow.
- Paying Past Your Due Dates. One reason why people who love swiping their cards end up having huge debts is because they often fail to pay their dues on time. Keep in mind that late charges often compound on interest that could result to more trouble when you miss another pay period. So before you start using your credit card again, ensure that you have everything settled to avoid problems in clearing your bills.
Establishing a good savings is actually easy. Just practise good spending habits, and you’ll be surprised as to how much your savings have grown in just a short span of time.
Bad Money Habits You Need to Discontinue
Humans as we are, we all have bad habits. Since it is bad, there will always be consequences but you know what bad habit makes a long-lasting consequence? The answer is simple – bad money habits. If you poorly managed your finances because of bad money habits, you are in great trouble. You will not live in prosperity for long.
Here in Singapore, there are many who successfully managed their finances and as a result, they became successful but there are others who still struggle every day to make both ends meet. For Singaporeans who are suffering from bad money habits, it is time that they break or discontinue it before it takes a toll in their life. The good news is that bad money habits can be broken. Here are some ways on overcoming it:
- Do not live beyond your means: The secret of successful people is not spending or living beyond their means. You will know if you are living beyond your means if you have a lot of debts and out of cash. Your desire to keep up with your neighbours can have an impact on your finances. In simple words, do not overspend.
- Do not buy items you will not use: You have to think before you avail or buy things. Buying things that you will not use will be useless and a waste of money. For example, you signed for a gym membership that you rarely use or paying a cable package when you seldom watch it. The best solution is to write an inventory of where your money is going. You have to think of what to continue or discontinue.
- Do away with impulsive buying: Impulsive buying is purchasing a good or service without thinking whether you need it or you can afford it. Yes, resisting the urge to shop is challenging but you have to overcome it if you do not want to live in poverty.
- Do think about your savings: There are people who ignore the importance of saving. This is not good. You have to see and realize the importance of saving. When you put money aside for “rainy days”, you will not have problems. For a start, you can cut costs.
Hopefully the things above can help you with your money problems. We all struggle at some point in time but the difference is that there are people who manage it better than us. If you are really serious about breaking your bad money habits, it is time to act.
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How to Deal with Unlicensed Moneylenders
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) is seriously reminding the public to stay away from unlicensed moneylenders. In colloquial term, unlicensed moneylenders or loan sharks are called Ah Long. SPF announced that harassments made by Ah Longs reduced since 2009. In the last three years, SPF managed to arrest a number of people for illegal money lending and harassment. This is the proof that SPF is relentless to tackle the situation and eradicate the menace caused by these people.
Loansharking is the business of lending money at extremely high interest rates. This is illegal. Since this is illegal, you should not participate by lending money. SPF is doing its best to tackle the problem but it will not end as long as the public welcomes Ah Longs in their homes. If you are dealing with difficult times, do not consider Ah Longs. Here are some avenues of help that you can consider:
- Family Service Centre (FSC)
The FSC can be a great help for families dealing with debts and gambling problems. This is not a financial or banking institution but the organization will help families with their debts by providing counselling. You can call them at 1800-222-0000.
- Credit Counselling Singapore
If you need of credit counselling, you should look for Credit Counselling Singapore. The organization will help you with your credit issues. Do not hesitate to ask for help. You can call them at 1800-225-5227 for more information.
- National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG)
The NCPG is an institution that can help you with your gambling problems. Dealing with gambling problems is not easy. You need all the help you can get before you lose everything you own at the end of the day. You can call them at 1800-6-668-668.
- National Addictions Management Service (NAMS)
NAMS will help you with your addictions. You need people that can understand you and help you to be better. You can call them at 6-6732-6837. Do not hesitate to come to them for help.
If you have information about loansharking activities, you should call the police. You can reach them at 1800-255-000 or you can simply dial 999 if you need immediate assistance. If you are worried that Ah Longs will get back on you, do not worry because the police can keep it confidential. You only need to call the NCPC (National Crime Prevention Council) number at 1800-924-5664.
The best way to keep away from Ah Longs is not to deal with them at all. They may provide easy solutions to your money problems but you have to think of what it will cost you.
