15 TIPS ON HOW TO LIVE FRUGALLY

1. Eat cheap breakfast - You can choose to get a lighter breakfast in the morning. Instead of having a heavy breakfast containing carbs, you can opt to have just toasts with peanut butter/strawberry jam/cream cheese and a cup of low fat coffee like me. Or you can choose to have the occasional oats with strawberries/blueberries/banana. Use more brain-based energy instead of physical energy. And for lunch you can have salad or noodles soup and round off your day with a hearty dinner.
2. Cut down on your transport expenses - You can apply for SimplyGo from your company to save on public transportation. You can choose to walk or car sharing whenever possible. Opt for Zoom meeting to save the hassle of travelling to work.
3. Eat out frugally - Try not to eat out too often. You can pack your own lunch or dinner or cook at home whenever possible. My mother cooked either extra pasta or japanese curry rice packed in tupperware to be microwaved. This allows us to save the hassle of eating out too often and also save money too. 
4. Declutter - Declutter your stuffs once in a while. You can dig out good stuff which you can sell on carousell and earn some money. Or you can opt for free gifting and gift those good stuff to your friends or family during the holiday season or on their birthdays and therefore saving money...
5. Stay home - By staying home, you cut down on impulse buying at shopping malls. Find free entertainment like watching DVDs.
6. Wait for sale - You can visit a thrift shop to hunt down some good buys. Ask around first, namely your friends or family if they have that sweater, trench coat, designer bags which they can lend or give to you. Shop online once a month. They offer a lot of trendy items at a cheaper price than shopping at physical stores.
7. Become a minimalist - You can build a capsule wardrobe with a few classic pieces to lessen your impulse buying. Opt for more earth tone clothes and shoes. I buy lesser shoes now as I'm sticking to only black, white or brown sandals and plimsolls.
8. Borrow books from the library
9. Stay healthy - Exercise and keep yourself healthy to save on medical bills
10. Quit smoking and drinking at bars and clubs
11. Save on desserts and travels which are not mandatory
12. Fixed or DIY your own things
13. Save energy and gas ie. lessen the wash load of your washing machine, switch off all lights in the day and switch off the air-con/fan as much as possible
14. Plan ahead for meals and travel ie cheaper flight tickets
15. Invest more in quality items

HOW TO SAVE WATER AND ELECTRICITY

1. Shampoo your hair every 2-3 days without using conditioner
2. Half the flow of water coming out of the tap when washing dishes and cutleries. Wash them slowly. Your crockeries will be cleaner and it saves water
3. Turn off all the lights in the day and allow natural sunlight in
4. Switch off your router before you go to bed at night. There's less radiation which can be unhealthy for your health
5. Set your phone to airplane mode in the night before you sleep to save battery
6. Only use half flush for urination
7. Use energy saving LED lights for reading and turn off all other lights in the room
8. You may want to repeat your clothing before you throw it into the washing machine to lessen the wash load
9. Those who lived in landed properties can place 3 pails outside the garden to catch rainwater and used it to water the plants when it's sunny
10. Avoid switching on the heater for too long and take cold showers instead.

Remember when you practice the above methods, you are not just saving money but you are also saving the environment too!

HOW TO AVOID GETTING SCAMMED

Being in an everchanging advanced technology digital world we are always at the risks of getting scammed.

Scammers can easily access our data and information via the internet.

I for one are constantly being bombarded with scam messages through whatsapp and other channels...

Here are 5 ways you can avoid being scammed:

1. Do not keep large amount of money in your bank account
2. Always update your firewall using AntiVirus software
3. Manage your cashflow wisely
4. Stay updated regarding the latest news on phishing alerts
5. Stay updated by going for courses on cyber security

HAPPY 4TH ANNIVERSARY!

 

To all my dear readers:

It's been 4 years of PINK // CARAMEL // COFFEE|A BEAUTY & LIFESTYLE BLOG|!!! Time flies when you're having fun huh?

Just wanna thank all my readers for all the love and support for the past 4 years! I would not have done it without you!

For the future of PINK // CARAMEL // COFFEE,  you'd hopefully see more collaborations for advertisements and holidays posts!

If you'd like to show your support to PINK // CARAMEL // COFFEE, do send me money by clicking on the button below!

So do check back often for more updates!

30 DAYS WRITING CHALLENGE #03

Hi there!

Today 30 days writing challenge question is what 4 lessons would you like your children to learn from you?

I'll began to elaborate the 4 points below:

• Growth
• Changes
• Happiness
• Money

Starting from growth; Personal growth is the ongoing process of understanding and developing oneself in order to acheive one's fullest potential. Personal development is a vital part in a person's growth, maturity, success and happiness... Personal growth has a profound effect on every single aspect of our life. Growth in life means challenging the obstacles that are present in your life and how you overcome them... There will be different stages in your life namely in your 20s, 30s and 40s. In your 20s, you might be face with the challenge of just graduating from college or university and getting a stable job and earning a living. In your 30s, you might face difficulties with your job or falling sick and even retrenchment. These are just some possibilities you might faced in your 30s. And in your 40s, you might be looking for a prospective partner to set up a family and stabilize your life. All these leads to growth.

Changes can happen very fast in life... A significant life change can be an event or occurrence, a loss or gain, positive or negative, but one which after it happens, a person's life is never quite the same, and cannot go back to the way life was before the event. Be it work, relationships or even fashion! You have to adapt quickly to changes and not get fallen behind. Instead of expecting the surroundings to fit you, you need to change in order to move on in life! We learn from the past and realize everything changes! Life is about change... Sometimes it's painful and sometimes it's beautiful but most of the time it's both!

After you move on in life and not looking back, you will find joy and happiness... The experience can be positive or negative, all you need to do is to see the good in it and choose to be happy at the end of the day... Happiness does not necessary comes in money form, it can be the insignificant things in life that makes you happy... Life is about trusting your feelings, taking chances and finding happiness!

I'd like to teach my children the importance of money. I understand not everyone knows how to manage their finances but for me, it's better to use your money wisely and not land yourself in debts. It's important to save money for a rainy day and after you settle the most important criteria - money; you will be able to lead a happy and fulfilled life!

MOVIES REVIEWS: CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC

Hi there!

Today I'm gonna review about this 2009 chick flick - Confessions of a Shopaholic adapted from the same title novel by Sophie Kinsella. Although I've never read any of her books the title appeal to me as I myself used to be a shopaholic lol... 

Isla Fisher plays Rebecca Bloomwood a journalist at Successful Savings and Girl in the Green Scarf who wrote a column that attracts the interests from the public.

I feel butterflies in my stomach when I see stores like Rebecca Bloomwood and I can shop at Orchard Road for the entire day! Thankfully I'm no longer a shopaholic and I stop buying stuffs that I don't really need! Gone were the days when I think more beautiful things = more happiness... I'm more frugal and discerning about the things I buy now and I've lessen my spendings on my credit card from $200 per month to only $50 per month... 

Rebecca met his handsome boss Luke Brandon, they work together and go through highs and lows together... So romantic. Except the debt collector is constantly hounding her for money and a best friend who gets upset at her for selling her bridesmaid dress to the thrift store!

I am no movie critic but this is one of my all time favourite chick flick as it rings a bell in me. Thumbs up!

30 DAYS WRITING CHALLENGE #01

Hi there!

How's the preparation for CNY going??? I'll be kicking off my 30 days writing challenge blog post! Today question is: Write about 5 blessings in your life... I'd say all the questions are interesting but hard for me but I'll try to elaborate as much as possible! So here goes...

1. RECOVERY - I have been suffering from mental illness since 2009. I sunk into depression after I failed to find a job for a few years... I'm glad and proud to say I've made significant progress like doing housework, cooking, baking and finally going back to work... I pushed myself very hard and I'm glad I made it this far... There's less disturbances and more joy. I also obtain my certification from Singapore Anglican Community Service and made a lot of new friends there... I went travelling and get to relax more during my free time. I'll like to encourage others who have mental illness to stay positive and never give up!
2. FAMILY - I'm glad my family is close to me and our bond is stronger now... I have a new cute baby nephew which I'm so thrilled about... They bring me to places for my birthdays and had helped me along the way in my recovery... I'd like to thank them and send a big hug to them especially my mum and sis! I haven't been seeing my relatives much but hopefully I'll get better...
3. FINANCIAL SITUATION - I'd say I'm a person who is debt free and I'm super proud of that! I had never been a spendthrift and I guess my mum does not have to worry so much! I just surrendered my insurance policy and got paid a sum of money which can aid me in my daily expenses for now... I get $20 from my mum daily by helping out in the housework and taking care of my brothers.... I'd like to find a job and earn some pocket money so my mum can have a peace of mind... Just want to emphasize to people how important it is to save! Especially in this economic situation where everyone is clamouring for jobs but only a few job openings...
4. INTERESTS - I'd say my current addiction is watching DVDs! I also like baking, cooking and doing housework... I'd also like to play around with my social media during my free time and I'm currently into listening to radio when I'm free... I also go out to the malls every once in a while...
5. WORK - I'm super crazy about blogging now... I keep having ideas that I'd like to share with you and I can say I love this job! My dream is to study at School of Style in Los Angeles and have at least 10 blog hits per day! I'd like to earn revenue using my blog to advertise for people... And hopefully blogging will bring me to places like New York City ala Andy Sachs from The Devil Wears Prada LOL. 

And that's all for my ranting... Hope to see you another time soon!

5 TIPS TO MANAGE YOUR FINANCES~

Hi there! Welcome to my blog! Today I'm gonna share with you how I manage my everyday finances... Hopefully these tips can be useful to you!

1. SAVE - Do you have the habit of saving money every month? I do... I save $100 every month in my savings insurance policy. If you don't have insurance savings, why not meet up with a financial consultant to help you manage your finances? They can help assess your financial situation and give useful advice to you...

2. SCRIMP - Do you have a habit of buying stuff without thinking? I do... But I manage to learn how to scrimp on stuff I don't really need! When you think of buying that $50 or $100 beauty products, clothes you don't really wear or food that you don't really eat, think first... You can changed to bar soaps rather than shower gels that are more expensive... Or save on clothes and buy them only when on sale and beauty products that you've tried before which you do not need. 

3. SPLURGE - Have you think of splurging once in awhile? I do... Be it travel or luxury spendings, sometimes I do splurge... Been eyeing that LV bag, Tiffany & Co ring or iPhone? Be sure that you have the ability to pay them off... And also, take into account expenses for your massages, hair, nails and facial. I understand that when I splurge on designer items, I feel happy, fulfilled and less burdened.

4. WORK AND EARN - Enough said

5. FRIENDS AND FAMILY - Friends and family are a huge part of our life and they are here to stay... If family and friends are important to you, save some money for them when they need or vice versa...