Italiani a Singapore

Top 3 Singapore Business Bank Accounts

2015-11-30T16:00:00.000+08:00

Source: LadyBoss

One of the first things to do when you start a company is to open a bank account. Compared to personal accounts, bank accounts can be far more expensive to maintain. Annual fees and minimum balance fees can be really annoying especially when you are not really making profits yet. So here are the top 3 business banking accounts in Singapore.

1. MayBank FlexiBiz Account
Maybank has got to be the top of the list for Business Banking Accounts due to the no minimum balance.

Minimum Balance: $0
Fall Below Fee: $0
Minimum Initial Deposit: $1,000

2. UOB eBusiness Account
UOB has a low cost account which is geared for entrepreneurs who mainly use internet banking.

Minimum Balance: $5,000
Fall Below Fee: $15
Minimum Initial Deposit: $1,000

3. OCBC Business First Account
OCBC waives the fall below fee for the first 6 months, however it does have an annual fee of $38.

Minimum Balance: $5,000
Fall Below Fee: $35
Minimum Initial Deposit: $3,000
Annual Fees: $38

MayBank has grown significantly in Singapore with a wide network of branches across the country. With the no minimum balance, their FlexiBiz account is the top choice for entrepreneurs. OCBC’s main strength is their wide outreach of branches compared to UOB and MayBank, but if you do mostly internet banking, then UOB eBusiness account is a good choice as well.

Things to do in SG - Watch Free Concerts at the Esplanade

2015-08-21T17:28:00.001+08:00

Source: The Smart Local

Source: Archifest

The Esplanade is the place to go to catch free concerts. These are typically held in the indoor concourse area or the outdoor theatre. A myriad of performances spanning dance, theatre, vocals, recitals and music are all showcased.

For more details about which acts will be playing, check this link out.

Last #SG50 tech offers you should grab before they are gone

2015-08-13T15:56:00.000+08:00

From HWZ

SG50 tech deals around the island

This year's National Day in Singapore is extra special as the country marks 50 years of indepenance. We are fortunate that the goverment has marked this occasion in a big way with several National Day celebration festivities, free entry to several museums and exhibits, and much more with an extra long four-day weekend. If you've been busy with family and checking out the various SG50 festivities the last few days, it's unlikely that you would have had time to shop and catch the several island-wide offers that went hand-in-hand with this occasion. As such, we've put together a compilation of SG50 tech deals that several vendors are still running till the end of this week or later for your consideration.

Click here to catch all the deals

Buy as many books as you want for $50

2015-08-08T15:51:00.000+08:00

It's the Jubilee Weekend and SG50 deals are popping up

SGAsiaCity suggests this

Everything is free and discounted this SG50 weekend, But we're particularly excited about this epic book sale book sale by SG Book Deals happening from now through Aug 10, from 11:00am-2:00pm (weekdays) and 11:00am-7:00pm (weekends and public holidays), at Pansing Building (Level 3, 438 Ang Mo Kio Ave. 10, Industrial Park 1). Titles ranging from fiction to self-help are selling from $0.50 but if you want to stock up, then purchase a box for $50 and you can fill it up with as many books as it can hold.
Those aged 50 years and above can redeem a free book of any title by presenting their NRIC. More here.

Things to do in SG - The MacRitchie Treetop Walk

2015-07-22T15:18:00.000+08:00

From TheSmartLocal

Source: Calvin Cheng

Whoever said there’s no lush greenery in Singapore has never been to MacRitchie. This is literally greenery on a whole new level. Take the chance to check out the community of animals and plants at the canopy level, something that wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for this suspension bridge.

Note that the Tree Top Walk is only accessible from MacRitchie Reservoir Park via MacRitchie Nature Trail or from Venus Drive.

Tip: Avoid during stormy, rainy days.

Official Website at NParks.gov.sg

Italian Gourmet & Culture Tour to Perth, Australia

2015-07-13T16:29:00.000+08:00

Italian Gourmet & Culture Tour to Perth, Australia

7 Days / 6 Nights for SGD$1,700 From 8th – 14th September 2015
Includes return flight to Perth on Scoot, single room accommodation, breakfast, transport and entrance fees to all attractions, such as the Perth Italian Festival.

CONTACT ITALIANI A SINGAPORE FOR MORE DETAILS

Things to do in SG - Get soaked at Sembawang hot springs

2015-06-26T16:15:00.000+08:00

From TheSmartLocal.sg

Tucked away in the northern tip of Singapore of Sembawang Air Base, this natural hot spring evokes a rustic element for those who come for its water. The waters here are believed to have healing properties, so it is a common sight to see visitors collecting pails of hot spring water to soak in.

This is a far cry from the luxurious hot springs you visit when you travel overseas but why complain when you don’t need to fork out a single cent?

Tip: To get the whole jacuzzi-esque experience, you could lie on the ground and wait for the water to shoot out onto your back.

Getting Here: We visited Sembawang Hot Springs earlier this year so read about our experience here.

10 Forgotten Singapore Islands To Explore Without Your Passport

2015-06-24T14:41:00.000+08:00

From TheSmartLocal.sg

10 Singapore Off-Shore Islands To Visit

You just concluded your year-end trip yet you’re itching to get away again. Plus, the monsoon season is coming to a close! As sunny days creep back up on us, here are 10 islands off the Singapore shore you can spend a day at - without a passport!

This article is part of our #sG50 series where we highlight parts of Singapore you never knew. Happy 50th Birthday Singapore!

1. Pulau Semakau

Source: Wordpress

The Story: Pulau Semakau, or as it is more popularly known, Semakau Landfill, is Singapore’s first and only remaining offshore landfill site.

Things To Do: I know, a landfill site is nothing worth visiting, but don’t exclude this just yet. The landfill activities here only occupy the eastern side of the island, keeping the rest of the island full of untouched flora and fauna. Perfect for the eco-adventurer, interested visitors can book a tour with NEA who conducts guided nature walks.

With rich mangrove habitats and a healthy coral population, the island has become a site for nature research with a coral nursery on the island. Wait, corals have babies?!

Getting There: Depart on a ferry from Marina South Pier when you book a tour with the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research (NUS) at $52.50/pax.

2. Pulau Satumu

The Story: The only towering feature that is visible from a distance is the Raffles Lighthouse in shining white. The Lighthouse has been operational since 1855 to warn incoming ships at night when they are reaching the shore or shallow waters.

Things To Do: Truth be told, a glimpse of this makes me think of Shutter Island. You know, that movie with Leonardo DiCaprio in it and everyone on the island is perpetually crazy? But hey, I'm not saying this is the same thing.

The island has restricted access to the public but the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore organises the Singapore Maritime Week every year. The SMW is Singapore’s biggest maritime event hosting conferences and numerous activities. It is through this event that the island is open to the public with a guided tour. Visitors get a historical tour of the lighthouse and revel in crystal clear waters by the rocky shore.

Getting There: Depart on a ferry from Pasir Panjang Ferry Terminal when you sign up for a guided tour held annually organised by MPA. Check their full calendar of events for 2015 here.

3. Coney Island

The Story: Nah, this is not the theme park in New York. In fact, a few entrepreneurs had plans to develop the island into the now famous Brooklyn theme park back in 1950. These plans didn’t see the light of day but the name stuck. Thereafter, the island was a popular picnic ground for locals. The Aw brothers of Haw Par Villa also once owned the island and built a mansion which now stands abandoned.

Also known as Pulau Serangoon, this island is scheduled to be launched as part of the new Watertown Punggol that is located next to Punggol Waterway. The 45ha area will be made into a commercial and residential site, with half of the island sporting a beach that faces the Johor Strait.

Things To Do: So there isn't a ferris wheel or a carnival but it is instead a rustic slice of what could have been. The existing evergreens create natural forested walkways in the serenity where bird-watching is strongly recommended. There is also a small stretch of beach with a view of Pulau Ubin in the distance.

I know what it sounds like ... a recreational AND residential site on an island? Talk about a B-grade Sentosa. Then again, island living could be the next big thing.

Getting There: To launch in 2015. Walk across the connecting walkway from Punggol Promenade Nature Walk.

4. Lazarus Island & Pulau Seringat

Source: thecuratedblackbook

The Story: Call it St. John’s secret. An offshoot of St. John's Island, Lazarus Island is Singapore’s best-kept beach. Like the biblical character, Lazarus, who was raised from the dead, the existing 800-metre stretch Pulau Seringat is now a reclaimed beach overlooking a beautiful lagoon that is perfect for swimming in.

Things To Do: The next time you’re craving for white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters, forget the Maldives and head to a replica just a boat ride away. Fool your friends with a Boracay geotag when you snap a photo on Instagram. They'll never know the difference. *wink* Except, now that it's on here ...

Getting There: Take a round-trip ferry ride from Marina South Pier ($18), and turn left upon disembarkation at St. John’s jetty.

5. Pulau Ubin

The Story: The most popular offshore island in Singapore after Sentosa, Pulau Ubin is a small island brimming with rich history. In direct translation, Pulau Ubin is Malay for ‘Granite Island’, attributed to the granite quarries that used to be in operation back in the day. This rustic slice of Singapore is what’s left to remind mainland residents of its origins 50 years back.

Things To Do: Relieve the rural flora and fauna with a tour of the Chek Jawa Wetlands ($60 for a group of 15 pax). And of course, you can never explore the island without going village-style.

Rent a bicycle at $3-$7 per hour and catch glimpses of hornbills and wild boars. For the more seasoned cyclists, Ketam Mountain Bike Park, Free Ride Skills Park and Dirt Skills Park are open areas for you to test those wheels.

Overnight stays are also available on the island. Book a room at the Celestial Resort or, since you’re in the camping mood, bring a tent to sleep in with a permit from the Pulau Ubin Police Post. Choose your spot wisely. #justsaying

The Smart Local team held their first #InstaWalk at Pulau Ubin last November in collaboration with MND. Find out how we spent our day here. Check out more Singapore youtube videos from our channel here!

Getting There: Take a bumboat ride from Changi Point Ferry Terminal ($2)

6. Kusu Island

Source: Sentosa

The Story: In Hokkien, ‘kusu’ means ‘tortoise’ and Kusu Island is therefore named due to its shape resembling a turtle before land reclamation. Its mythical origin is believed to stem from a giant tortoise which saved a Malay and Chinese man who were shipwrecked. In gratitude, the men then built a temple and a shrine respectively. The island then has become a sanctuary for Muslim and Taoist worshippers who come here to pay their respects.

Things To Do: There is a literal meaning to the island, as it has various tortoise exhibitions as well. I'm not a big fan of the reptiles and watching them must seem so exciting. Then again, it's not everyday one gets to witness a tortoise invasion.

A guided marine tour is available when you sign up with the Blue Water Volunteers in which you can get up close and personal with corals, shrimps, and possibly a sea turtle!

In spite of it being a site of rich heritage, there is also a beach and a couple of lagoons to swim in.

Getting There: Take a round trip from Marina South Pier ($18)

7. Sisters’ Islands

Source: singapat

The Story: These islands talk about blood over water - literally. Legend has it that the Sisters' Islands got their name from two sisters who were about to be forced into marriage by pirates. The girls swam away in attempt to escape but unfortunately drowned, and two islands emerged from the spots where they were last seen.

Things To Do: These days, the islands are good for a day of leisurely water activities. Get under the sea in your snorkelling gear and explore hard and soft corals while witnessing giant clams, sea horses, octopuses, and even black-tip reef sharks! A word of caution though - the currents can get really strong so take care not to get washed away lest you become an island of your own. *shudders*

Overnight camping is allowed on the island with a permit from Sentosa Leisure Group. Guided walk tours are available for booking with NParks. Having recently underwent a revamp, the island is now a marine park. Take a look at TSL's photojournal of Sisters' Islands Marine Park here and decide if it's worth a visit!

Getting There: Take a round-trip ferry ride from Marina South Pier ($18)

8. St. John’s Island

Source: Flickr

The Story: Once home to cholera patients, lepers, and other misfits, St. John's was once a quarantine station for fellow ill-stricken immigrants from Mecca returning to Singapore. Thereafter, for better or for worse, the island became a rehabilitation centre for opium addicts.

Things To Do: Will you find traces of opium, you wonder? I kid. Don't let its history scare you - St. John's Island is now home to three of the cleanest swimming lagoons of all the offshore islands.

Feel free to take a dip around the island's shores and watch marine life surround you with its colourful corals and various sea creatures. Or, for those not looking to get wet, picnic grounds and trekking routes are also available on the island where you can catch a view of the mainland’s skyline.

Staying overnight is made possible with chalets that include a kitchen at a rental cost of $133.75 per week and accommodates up to 10 people. For 6 times the company, Holiday Camp 5 offers accommodation with basic cooking facilities suitable for a BBQ party at $64.20 per day on weekdays and $107 per day on weekends.

Getting There: Take a round-trip ferry ride from Marina South Pier ($18)

9. Pulau Hantu

Source: Wordpress

The Story: Literally meaning “ghost island” in Malay, there’s nothing supernatural to this story. In fact, its name is in reference to the middle part of the island which disappears under water during high tide.

Things To Do: The island is popular with diving enthusiasts, namely the Hantu Divers who organise diving trips on their website. I have a friend who frequently travels all the way to neighbouring SEA islands just to do the exact same activity right here. Sure, it's nothing like Into the Blue where you get to find treasure and have a bikini-clad Jessica Alba, but no one's stopping you from doing the same.

If you’re not the diving sort like yours truly, the waters are also perfect to snorkel in and watch marine life such as clownfish and seahorses. Camping overnight is also available with permit from Sentosa Leisure Group.

Getting There: There are no public ferry charters to the island unless you sign up for a dive with the Hantu Divers with whom travel arrangements are included. An alternative would be to charter a private boat from the West Coast or Marina South Pier at negotiable rates.

10. Sentosa Island

The Story: Last but not least, who could forget Asia’s Favourite Playground? Sentosa has had a rich history way before the Japanese Occupation in 1945. Today, the country’s most popular island is visited by approximately 20 million people a year and is home to its best beaches, hotels, the Resorts World Sentosa, Universal Studios Singapore and the like.

Things To Do: At Sentosa, it’s fun at every corner. Go sunbathing, swim in the ocean, visit heritage sites, party on a yacht, play golf, ride roller coasters, go to a beach club … and many more! “I’ve never been to Sentosa” said no Singaporean ever. Many people still have never visited Quayside isle. We recommend checking this sweet enclave out. It's like a little ang moh colony. The end of our video here has a bit of Quayside Isle.

Getting There: Hop on the Sentosa Express ($4) from VivoCity, walk through the Sentosa Boardwalk or, if you’re looking to kick off your island adventure with a bang, sit on the Cable Car departing from Harbourfront Tower II ($29).

Visit Singapore’s Off-Islands!

Officially, Singapore has over 60 natural and man-made islands off the mainland! Also, did you know that Christmas Island located in the waters north-west of Australia was once owned by Singapore before handing over the sovereignty to Australia in 1957?

How we’ll ever get there, I’ll never know. If you know any off-shore islands of Singapore worth visiting to, let us know in the comments below! In the mean time, do have a look at the coverage we are doing for #SG50.

We're continue to show you parts of our beautiful country that you never knew!

Things to do in SG - Have a view of Singapore from 55th level at ION Orchard

2015-06-22T14:27:00.000+08:00

From The SmartLocal.sg

Credit: Vitaliy Raskalov

No, you don't have to sneak illegally at the top of Swissôtel for this picture like this famous roof topper. There's a much safer way to get an amazing view of Singapore.

If you’ve been to ION Orchard a gazillion times but have never headed to its 56th storey, you need to check it out now. Surprise your next date the next time you're here with this hidden gem in the middle of town!

Source: ION Orchard

Getting Here: You can get to the observatory from ION Orchard next to Orchard MRT. Get to ION Art Gallery on Level 4, then take the lift from there to Level 55.

Happy 2 Giugno

2015-06-02T21:04:00.000+08:00

Italiani a Singapore vi augura una buona Festa della Repubblica Italiana

AAA Chef italiano cercasi

2015-05-15T15:00:00.000+08:00

Riceviamo e volentieri pubblichiamo:

Ristorante Italiano con sedi in Tanjon Pagar e East Coast ricerca uno Chef Italiano per lavorare full time in una delle due sedi. Ambiente lavorativo positivo con maggioranza di italiani compresi i proprietari. Richiesta esperienza di almeno due anni. Salario tra i 4k e 8k mensili in base all'esperienza maturata. Orari di lavoro dalle 11.00 alle 14.30 e dalle 17.30 alle 22.30, totale 8 ore lavorative per sei giorni settimanali. Candidati residenti sono preferibili ma sono accettati anche coloro che richiedono un visto lavorativo. Candidati interessanti posso inviare il proprio CV all'indirizzo: naomi@careerstar.com.sg o contattare Naomi Du al numero 9322 5121.

3 Hacks to Use on Public Transport in Singapore

2015-05-06T14:30:00.000+08:00

Source: Money$mart.sg

Every time someone declares haughtily that the Singapore public transport system is way better that in London/New York/Timbuktu, I bristle a little inside, because these people are never one of those damned souls that have to rely entirely on public transport to get to work during rush hour every.single.day. Amongst those who do commute daily during rush hour, I never once heard it said that public transport is comfortable or, unless they live beside an MRT station, fast.

Still, for many of us, there are few alternatives save for buying a skate scooter or learning how to teleport. Other than yet another MRT delay or a missed bus, there’s a deluge of factors that insidiously combine to turn a tedious commute into a ride from hell—trying to catch your balance on a bus so full you’re channelling Cirque du Soleil on the steps, standing in the rain for an hour because the cab drivers are all behaving as if you’re a pontianak or simply having to stand on the MRT from Tampines all the way to Jurong.

While we’re not sure anything can make constant use of Singapore’s public transportation system comfortable, here are some hacks that can reduce a bit of your frustration.

When you call a cab, don’t mention an inaccessible destination

My friend Lynn lives in Yishun. Apparently, taxi drivers don’t like to go to Yishun. Every time she tries to get a cab using the Comfort Del Gro app, she is made to wait for hours because the taxi company can’t find a driver who’s willing to go to Yishun.

So one day, after trying in vain for 45 minutes to book a cab, she decided to change her destination to Ang Mo Kio instead. Within 2 minutes, a cab was on the way. When she got into the cab she told the driver she was actually going to Yishun. “Not that far away la, uncle!” she pleaded, and left with few choices the driver agreed to take her there.

When asked why it was so hard to find a cab willing to go to Yishun, the taxi uncle told her that his fellow drivers hate going to what they consider inaccessible areas (Yishun being one of them) because after dropping the passenger off they need to drive all the way to a more central area in order to find another passenger. This makes living in the boondocks all the more frustrating because hello! The whole reason people need to take cabs to these areas is because they’re inaccessible! (Yes, I live in the boondocks.)

So if you find you’re constantly being ignored by the taxi apps, tell them you’re going to a more convenient location that’s vaguely in the direction of your actual destination—instead of Bukit Panjang say Upper Bukit Timah, instead of Punggol say Hougang, instead of Sembawang say Upper Thomson.

Bonus tip: If you’re calling the taxi companies’ hotline directly, when asked to select your language don’t pick English, as everyone else and their mother is trying to get through to the English-speaking customer service officers. It’s not like the customer service officers on the Chinese line can’t speak English anyway.

Move to the centre of the MRT cabin if you want a chance to get a seat

I still remember the embarrassment I felt when a foreign friend whom I had just picked up at the airport got onto the MRT at the Changi Airport station, only to have his seat snatched from under his butt by some uncle who squirreled his way in just seconds before he friend could sit down. Welcome to Singapore, I said.

MRT seats are such sought-after real estate that even throwing a stink bomb or giving people lap dances is not going to induce abandonment of their seats. Fights occasionally erupt over MRT seats. There’s no better illustration of the Singaporean scarcity mentality than the battle for MRT seats.

But despite the fact that people are so desperate to get seats, based on the crowds I see jamming up the area in front of the MRT doors, it’s obvious that most of them aren’t being very smart. I’m not even talking about the people who need to get out at the next stop, either, but the ones who want to lean on the glass panel beside the doors or, worse, the pole in the centre.

The advice to move to the centre of the cabin or to the back of the bus doesn’t just help people get into and out of the vehicle when they have to, but also gives you access to seats should they get freed up. Even if there is already one row of people standing in between the two rows of seats on the MRT, there technically is enough space for two rows so feel free to squeeze right in. Each person can only face one direction anyway unless they can do the Exorcist head-spin, so the row of seats behind them is fair game.

When I return to Singapore from overseas I almost always have to take the MRT, an excruciating 1 hour+ ride from Changi Airport all the way to the West. Even during peak hour when all the office workers in the East are taking the train to the CBD, I’ve found that wedging yourself in the centre of the cabin directly in front of a row of seats statistically increases your chances of getting to sit down. Bonus points if you are large enough or have a huge bag or suitcase, as you then get tabs on a wider area of seats.

Memorise where the stairs and escalators are at the MRT interchanges

If you have to transfer to another line at one of the intercharges like Dhoby Ghaut or Paya Lebar, you might have realised that the transfers alone can suck up 5 to 10 minutes of your time, especially when you have to practically crowd surf just to get to the stairs or escalator.

Memorise where the stairs and escalators are at the stations you frequent and then calculate which MRT cabin you have to get into to minimise walking distance. This can save you quite a few minutes each day.

For example, if you’re travelling from East to West and have to get on the Circle Line at Paya Lebar, you should try to board at the front of the train.

When the train doors open, swarms of people will start pouring out through the doors, and being able to get to the escalators before them will save you from potentially being trampled to death, help you escape from the bottleneck in human traffic and get you to the corridors you need to walk through to get on the next line faster.

Also, if you are going to take public transport everyday, you might as well be trying to make a little change off it. Check out this recent article on Travel Smart Rewards in Singapore and how you can benefit from it!

9 Weird and Quirky Things You Can Buy at Daiso for $2

2015-05-02T15:14:00.000+08:00

From Money$mart.sg:

There are many things I wish they sold at Daiso, like car COEs and Macbooks. Instead, Daiso chooses to fill their shelves with household items, food, stationery and… some items that are just downright bizarre.

I’m not sure why anyone would want to buy these items even if they are only $2, but somewhere in the forests of Japan where the head honchos of Daiso probably preside in some shrine, it was decided that the product mix would include a bunch of items that would have shoppers questioning their reason for living. Here are some of the weirdest.

1. Fake money

In Singapore, the only fake money you can find is the kind that’s destined for the realm of the undead… except at Daiso, that is. Other than the fact that these creepy little packets of fake Japanese money, together with rather realistic looking plastic coins, might come in handy the next time the seventh month rolls around, they appear to exist only as a ticket to jail.

2. Comic book storage bag

This nondescript foldable bag looks like it could be used to store a variety of items, from dirty laundry to your victims’ body parts. But no, in actual fact they are to be used only for comic books. Try to put anything else in and they will burst into flames. In fact, they might burst into flames the minute they come into contact with someone who isn’t familiar with the Naruto canon.

3. Cartoon character fan covers

Maybe, just maybe, there are people out there who loathe the sight of their electric fans with the white-hot intensity of a thousand suns. Just one look at that hideous fan and their entire day is ruined. And that’s why Daiso decided to bring in fan covers, emblazoned with the garish faces of Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh, presumably to divert our eyes from the bone chilling sight of the fan’s dastardly blades.

4. Fake microphone

If you secretly spend your evenings jumping around on your the bed pretending to be Taylor Swift, a hairbrush in your hand subbing for a microphone, don’t be such a tightwad and just spend that $2 on an actual fake microphone.

5. Earmuffs

We’re not sure what you would do with a pair of earmuffs in Singapore. Even if your only motivation for purchasing this black, furry pair of stuffed balls connected by a brittle faux-pearl band is to drown out the howls of laughter from anyone who sees you wearing them, we still think they’re worth less than the $2 you pay.

6. Stained glass window decals

This product was designed for all those people who’ve always wished they could transform their homes into medieval churches. All three of them. Just peel the sticker off the backing, paste it on your windows and voilà, you can practically hear the Gregorian chanting.

7. Chair socks

So you spent tens of thousands of dollars on your parquet flooring and now you wish you could just keep everyone off the floor. If you had it your way you would keep your kids in a cage just so they could just keep off the expensive floor for crying out loud. Minimise the damgage your chairs inflict on your beloved floor by making them wear these cutesy socks. Human and pet versions sold separately.

8. Animal clothes

Christmas might have been three months ago, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dress your pooch up like Santa anyway. For just $2 apiece, you get to build a varied wardrobe for your horrified pooch. Just don’t be surprised if he tries to check himself into the SPCA.

9. Walking stick

We all grow old and more limited in terms of mobility as the years go by. In Singapore, many of us also get poorer. The solution? How about saving on the cost of a walking stick by getting it for $2 at Daiso? Caveat: we’re not so sure that’s such a good idea as these contraptions are alarmingly flimsy and also appear to have been designed for someone the height of a garden gnome.

Free data today 1st of May for all Singtel Postpaid plan subscribers

2015-05-01T09:00:00.000+08:00

From Cheaponana

There have been much problems with our Telcos in the past year, with frequent breakdown causing data and call disruption. As a result of the recent data disruption on 22 Apr, Singtel will offer all postpaid mobile subscribers free data on 1 May 2015. Feel free to surf your instagram and facebook when out on Labour Day!

Can You Pull Off a Destination Wedding for Under $10,000?

2015-04-29T11:58:00.000+08:00

Source: Money$mart.sg

People usually associate destination weddings with newlywed celebrities frolicking on private islands for millions of dollars. In short, not for normal people. But surprise, surprise—destination weddings can actually be comparable to or even cheaper than getting married in Singapore.

There are three reasons for this:

The first is that many of the people you invite are going to turn white at the thought of having to spend so much money on top of the ang bao and will turn down your invitation, meaning you’ll have to cater for fewer guests.

The second is that Singapore is just so darned expensive that taking things to a more inexpensive neighbouring country can help to save on costs.

And finally, an exotic location encourages people to consider more unconventional options, such as a Thai-style buffet, instead of throwing another of those “wait, where have I seen that prawn before?” shindigs you get in Singapore.

Tips

Wedding packages: Many hotels and resorts provide wedding packages that include a ceremony and seating for guests, as well as other frills like live music and wedding bouquets. If you book through a hotel or resort, you often also get a one night stay on their premises—I mean, you and your new spouse, that is, not your entire party.

Consider buffet-style catering: The cost of feeding and putting up your guests is not included in a basic wedding package. Some hotels and resorts let you order catering for your guests, and buffet-style meals tend to be cheaper than sit-down dinners.

Consider eating out: Even if you’re exchanging vows at a fancy resort, it’s completely okay to take your wedding dinner or lunch somewhere cheaper. Book a restaurant overlooking the rice fields in Bali and you will almost certainly end up paying less than you would for a yawn-inducing hotel banquet in Singapore.

Accommodation for your guests: How much you intend to subsidise your guests’ trip is of course up to you, but it is nice to at least arrange for accommodation for them. Just because your wedding is the most romantic day of your life, blah blah, doesn’t mean everybody has to drop everything for you. This doesn’t necessarily have to cost millions; just putting your guests up in a simple, clean hotel might cost you no more than S$50 per couple but will be much appreciated.

Bali, Indonesia

Bali is by far one of Singaporeans’ favourite wedding destinations. Most of the five star resorts look like palaces, but even if you opt for something cheaper at least you know the beach will be better than Sentosa’s.

Cost of flights: $200 per person

Wedding ceremony: At the extremely fancy Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, wedding packages cost about US$2,900 (S$3,687) to US$4,475 (S$5,691) including taxes and service charge. All packages include floral decorations and bridal bouquet, a musical performance during the ceremony and one night’s stay in a one bedroom villa.

At the St Regis Bali Resort, a wedding package costs from US$3,350 (S$4,260) nett to a gag-inducing US$8850 (S$11,255) nett for the ceremony.

On the other hand, if you don’t mind forgoing the fancy resorts, you can organise a beach wedding at a relatively affordable price.

Legong Keraton Beach Hotel conducts ceremonies for US$680 (S$865). You can also get married on Benoa Beach for US$490 without going through a hotel.

Dinner: Can be as cheap as US$30 (S$38) per head for buffet catering at a restaurant or as expensive as US$150+ (S$191) for a sit-down dinner at a 5 star hotel.

Da Nang, Vietnam

While most people get married in Da Nang only if their prospective spouse is a Vietnamese, Da Nang is home to stunning beaches and usually offers cheaper wedding packages than Bali. Plus, you won’t have to worry about your guests getting smashed at Potato Head and forgetting to show up at the wedding.

Cost of flights: $300 per person

Wedding ceremony: Hyatt Regency Danang Resport and Spa charges U$3,162.50 (S$4,022) for a ceremony including bouquets, background music and a wedding celebrant. This includes a one night stay in a room with an ocean view, a wedding cake and a standard set or buffet menu, so you can skip the wedding banquet in favour of a beach rave for your guests. Well, if you want to.

Pullman Danang Beach Resort charges the equivalent of S$2,262 for a wedding package including service, bouquet and champagne, but no accommodation.

Dinner: Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa’s standard package costs US$80.50 (S$102) per guest with a minimum of 50 guests, including taxes and service charge.

Phuket, Thailand

Maybe you met your fiancee when one of you picked the other up in a seedy bar in Phuket. Or maybe you’ve actually visited the pristine beaches miles from the dodgy party area on Bangla Road. Whatever your ties to the place, Phuket is a fairly affordable and very scenic option for weddings.

Cost of flights: S$100 per person

Wedding Ceremony: Many packages in Phuket don’t include accommodation for the bride and groom, although you might be entitled to discounts or upgrades.

Wedding packages at the modern-looking Twinpalms Phuket start from 98,000 baht (S$3,845) and include a bridal bouquet, professional wedding photographer, wedding cake and ceremony.

Laguna Wedding Chapel conducts Buddhist wedding ceremonies, including a private ferry ride and bridal bouquet, for 69,000 baht (S$2,706).

At Rocky’s Boutique Resort, a wedding package costing S$3,988++ also includes makeup.

If you’re on a budget, don’t despair, as there are simple wedding packages at wallet-friendlier prices like 37,000 baht (S$1,452)

Dinner: Arranging for a Thai buffet at the Regent Phuket Cape Panwa costs 2,000 baht (S$78) per person, while the Thai set menu is an affordable 1,500 baht (S$59) per person. A 3 course international dinner costs 1,600 baht (S$63) per person.

Can you afford it?

With wedding costs in Singapore often escalating to ridiculous prices of between $30,000 to $80,000 (!!!), a destination wedding looks cheap in comparison.

To have a fairly lavish wedding in Bali, you can anticipate the following:

Flights for the couple and their families: $200 x 10 = $2,000
Wedding reception and ceremony including one night’s accommodation: $3,000
Wedding banquet for 50: $7,000
2 extra nights’ accommodation: $600
One night’s accommodation for 20 guests: $2,000

Total: $14,600

On the other hand, a budget wedding in Phuket would cost the following:

Flights for the couple and their families: $100 x 10 = $1,000
Wedding reception and ceremony: $1,500
Wedding buffet for 30: $2,000
3 extra nights’ accommodation: $300
One night’s accommodation for 20 guests: $500

Total: $5,300

The verdict

Because the cost of weddings is just so insane in Singapore and having a wedding at home usually means inviting the entire country, from the kopi aunty to the couple’s primary school teachers, destination weddings don’t look so bad in comparison.

If you’re one of that special breed of people who can take an otherwise overpriced event and turn it into a bargain, this is definitely something you can pull off.

Have you ever attended or planned a destination wedding? Tell us about your experience in the comments.

Image Credits:
Pandu Adnyana, dn.zeroproductions, Shahzeb Ihsan

6 Educational Courses in Singapore That Will Help You Save a Lot of Money

2015-04-28T16:10:00.000+08:00

From: Money$mart.sg

Back in the old days, people did everything themselves—from mending holes in their shirts to cooking their own meals. As the country grew more prosperous and more modern, people started losing many of the skills that had helped their ancestors survive.

The irony is that as the cost of living in Singapore rises these days and ordinary people get squeezed more tightly, a lot of the skills people used to have are becoming more useful than ever. Here are some DIY courses that can help reduce the cost of living and make you a more self-reliant person.

1. Air Con Maintenance

Virtually everyone in Singapore has an air con, famously dubbed by Lee Kwan Yew as the greatest invention of all time. Whether you only turn it on when the weather makes you start seeing stars or can’t fall asleep without it, there’s no denying that air con servicing is a pain. If you have multiple air con units at home, the cost can really add up.

Where?: ITE College West runs a 20 hour air-conditioning maintenance course that you can pay for in full using your SkillsFuture credit.

2. Car Maintenance

If you’re a driver who’s trying to save money, good luck. Each time something goes wrong with your car, you drive to the workshop with that sinking feeling that the mechanic is once again going to fleece you of hundreds or thousands of dollars. And there’s nothing you can do because you have no idea what’s going on. Take a course in car maintenance and at the very least, you’ll be able to save a bit of money on routine oil changes and the like.

Where?: Community centres run car maintenance workshops from time to time–Geylang West CC and Bedok CC have courses lined up in April and May. For something more comprehensive, ITE College West has a part-time course in Automotive Technology, which will enable you to troubleshoot and do basic car servicing.

3. Sewing

If you have an interesting body shape or tend to be shorter than average, you’re probably no stranger to the need to make clothing alterations. And every now and then we all experience annoying little holes or tears that could be easily fixed if only we didn’t have to pay $5 just to get the tailor at the market to do it. If like me you didn’t have the privilege of taking home ec back in lower sec, you can still pick up a few sewing skills by watching YouTube or enrolling in a basic sewing class. If you’re really ambitious, you might want to take things one step further by learning how to sew from patterns, which means you might even be able to make your own clothes from scratch.

Where?: Community centres tend to run the cheapest and most basic sewing classes at about $65 for a full course. Astitchworks runs sewing and dressmaking classes at $690 for 8 lessons of 3 hours each.

4. Gardening

You might not be able to cultivate a pumpkin patch or similar in Singapore, but you can supplement your diet with organic vegetables grown in your flat if you know how. Fresh herbs like basil aren’t that cheap to buy at the supermarket and can be quite easily grown on your windowsill, while vegetables like kang kong can be grown on your balcony. The problem is that getting into gardening usually involves quite a bit of wasted money at the start as you struggle to keep your plants alive.

Where?: Kampong Glam CC is conducting an organic vegetable growing workshop in April for $48. Eco City Hydroponics runs a WDA-approved (SkillsFuture credit… cha-ching!) one-dayhydroponics course for $198, which includes a kit that you can use at home. The Landscape Industry Association runs gardening courses for beginners at $430 for 6 sessions of 2 hours.

5. Cooking

Much has been said about the money-saving benefits of being able to cook, so we shan’t belabour the point. Cooking classes come in all shapes and sizes, from the ridiculously expensive and insanely exotic to cheap basic classes that teach you to make simple foods.

Where?: Community centres tend to run numerous inexpensive cooking classes at about $20 to $25 per session. Project Dignity runs an affordable WSQ cooking course that teaches you how to prepare Malay dishes like mee rebus, mee siam and laksa, all on your SkillsFuture credit if you wish.

6. Beer Brewing

While many people might not think learning how to brew beer a necessity, if you routinely spend tons of money on a heavily-taxed post-work pint, learning to brew your own beer helps to keep your money out of the government’s coffers.

Where?: HomeBrew Co-Op conducts 1-day and 4-day beer brewing workshops.

Stop Getting Ripped Off for Data Roaming With These Packages From Singapore Telcos

2015-04-24T12:25:00.000+08:00

From Money$mart.sg:

If you see a bunch of bewildered looking tourists searching for wi-fi hotspots while on holiday, there’s a high chance they’re Singaporean. Apparently, we’ve all become so used to staring at our smartphones on those grinding MRT rides and during boring meetings that we’re completely unable to disconnect even on holiday.

But there’s a reason why on a drive to Malaysia everyone scrambles to put their phones in airplane mode before crossing the border—data roaming fees are insanely expensive. And we’re not talking about expensive in the way chicken rice now costs $6 at some food courts. We’re talking change-your-name-and-go-into-hiding levels of expensive, as experienced by this womanwho got charged $2,080 after a single day in Malacca.

While pay-as-you-go data roaming charges are so insane the only people who end up using them are the ones who do so by accident, telcos have rolled out pay-per-day packages that are much less heart attack-inducing.

M1

Name	Cost	Countries
Unlimited Data Roaming	$0.20 per 10KB up to a maximum of $15 per day	Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, USA
Wifi Roaming	$12 per day (Asia Pacific & Americas) / $19 per day (rest of the world)	All countries with wifi hotspots here

StarHub

Name Cost	Countries
RoamEasyDaily	$10 a day per 50 MB	Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, U.K and USA.
DataRoam Daily Unlimited	$0.02 per KB up to a maximum of $30 a day	53 countries including Albania, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finalnd, France, Germany, Greece, Hungry, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UAE, UK, USA

Singtel

Name Cost	Countries
DataRoam Pass	$15 a day	Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea Taiwan, Thailand
DataRoam Saver	Varies from country to country	Various, check here if network is available in your country of choice.

Tips

Starhub’s DataRoam Daily Unlimited plan is technically the cheapest per KB. Depending on which of the 53 eligible countries you visit, the maximum you’ll be charged for data is $15, $18 or $30 per day. This means that even if you upload an entire album of holiday photos to Facebook, you won’t need to worry about exorbitant bills.
If you’re planning to be using a lot of data overseas, M1’s Unlimited Data Roaming Plan is the cheaper option for those travelling to the US, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Cambodia because it’s capped at $15 per day.
Do note, however, that you WILL need to manually choose M1 or Starhub’s partner network in your destination country. In Malaysia, for example, M1’s partner is Celcom and Starhub’s partner is Digi. Choose the wrong network, and you’ll end up paying the regular roaming fees, without the price cap.
The plans are charged on a per-day basis. A day is from 12 midnight to 11:59pm Singapore time. This means that if you use data roaming for two minutes from 11:59pm to 12:01am, you’ll be charged for two days’ worth of data. Always keep tabs on what time it is in Singapore and try to squeeze your data roaming use into as few days as possible.
If you really want to save money and can afford to not be contactable (in terms of phone calls), you could always buy a prepaid SIM card in the country you are travelling to. Most countries around the region offer much cheaper packages than the per-day packages offered by Singapore telcos.

5 tricks to save some money when you order from Amazon

2015-04-22T16:52:00.000+08:00

From Money$mart.sg

I cringe whenever another mall pops up in Singapore. But Amazon… that’s another story. If you know where to look, you can get a whole ton of stuff on Amazon at much lower prices than you pay at retail stores here. Whether you’re sourcing for electronics or just want a pack of American Apparel tshirts, Amazon has the answer. Here are some tricks that any Amazon fan must know.

1. Get free shipping with Amazon GlobalSaver

If you haven’t already heard, Amazon now offers free shipping to Singapore on certain products (generally those being sold directly from Amazon rather than through a third party seller) if your orders add up to at least 125 USD. I’ve used this and I have to say it’s super fast and way more efficient than using a third party delivery service.

2. Get a shipping refund if your package is late

If you’ve bought a lot of stuff on Amazon, you might have noticed a guaranteed delivery date on some items when you were about to check out. If that happens, make sure you watch the calendar like a hawk. If the item doesn’t reach you by the guaranteed delivery date and you’re sharp enough to find out, you get your shipping refunded or an Amazon Prime extension if you’re a current subscriber. If you’re using a delivery service like vPost, you’ll want to check with them to see when the package arrives. vPost

3. Get a price match refund if you buy something that gets cheaper within 7 days

If you purchase a particular item and then the price falls within 7 days, Amazon will refund you the price difference. That’s their way of curbing price speculation. Now, you might ask, how the heck do you know if the price has fallen? That’s where Camelcamelcamel comes in. The website helps you to track price drops so you know when you’re entitled to a refund.

4. Get a refund if your item is lost, stolen or defective

Amazon is pretty generous with its refund policy, so don’t hestitate to give them a call using Skype if you need to speak with someone. I ordered an electric moka pot from them last year that stopped working after a few days, and they gave me a full refund, including the cost of shipping the item back to them. They’ll usually let you choose between receiving a refund or having them ship the item to you again free of charge. Some people claim they’ve gotten refunds even without having to send defective items back to them.

5. Buy from Amazon Warehouse and Amazon Outlet

If you’ve ever shopped at a factory outlet store or bought refurbished Apple products, you already know the awesome feeling of having cheated the system by not paying retail prices.Amazon Warehouse and Amazon Outlet are awesome places to find returned or refurbished items. Head to MyHabit for discounted clothes and accessories. You can get the best discounts on electronics, outdoor stuff and musical instruments/accessories.

3 Tricks That Can Get You a Discount On Your Rent in Singapore

2015-04-21T16:18:00.000+08:00

From Money$mart.sg:

While most adult Singaporeans still continue to live with their parents until they get married, renting is becoming an option for more and more locals. Whether they’re married couples in need of a place to stay until their HDB flats or condos are ready, simply have had enough of living at home or don’t have a family here to fall back on, renters are growing in number.

Unfortunately, most people’s strategy for renting a place consists solely of calling up an agent and then praying something good will come along. And that’s why they end up paying $2000 for a tiny room in a suburban condo. Whether you’re doing your own research or relying on an agent to do the legwork, here are a couple of things you can do in order to lower the price.

1. Budget based on your own research

Relying 100% on an agent to do all the necessary research is going to result in your paying more than necessary 90% of the time. Your agent has to handle a ton of properties each day and obviously won’t be able to devote as much time to the analysis of price and competition as you can.

A quick search on the following will help you determine how much you should be paying for a particular property:

X-value – The X-value indicates the sale and market value of any residential property in Singapore. Check the X-value here by entering your address and square footage. At the moment, rents are declining, so you can probably afford to bargain for a little less than the X-value. In a period in which rents are on an upswing, you might have to accept a slightly higher price instead.
Competition – Get your agent to check how much competition a particular unit has in the same block and housing complex, filtering out the fake listings from the real.
Your own alternatives – The more alternatives you have, the more you can afford to bargain the price down. Obviously, it’s in your best interests to amass more alternatives.

Offer to go without air conditioning

If utilities will be included as part of the rent and you’re the sort of person who can handle Singapore weather without air conditioning, tell the landlord you won’t use it and see if you can get the rent lowered based on that. The landlord simply has to confiscate the air con remote controls to your room or unit to prevent you from turning on the air con units.

Experienced landlords are often wary of tenants using the air conditioning excessively as it can get mighty expensive. I once visited the rental flat of an acquaintance and discovered they left the air con on almost 24/7, which must have been a nightmare for the landlord.

If you’re wondering how you’re going to survive without air conditioning, the obvious answer would be to rely on fans. I don’t use the air con anymore because of sinus issues and can confirm that it’s really not that bad once you get used to it.

Offer to pay the rent several months in advance

While not everyone experiences problems collecting their rent, the lure of getting a big lump sump upfront is often enough to convince a landlord to knock a little bit off your monthly figure.

Offer to pay your rent 3 or 6 months in advance in exchange for a discount on the monthly sum. Make sure this is incorporated into your rental agreement so you don’t end up in an ugly dispute later on.

Of course, you take on a bit of the risk yourself, as if you get evicted or decide to move out suddenly because of problems with the landlord or property, you might have a hard time trying to get your money back, although technically if the contract allows you to a lawyer can probably wrangle it back for you.

Your Savings Account Sucks. Here Are Some That Don’t – 2015 Edition

2015-04-20T12:52:00.000+08:00

From Money$mart.sg:

It’s been a year since we published our last list of savings accounts that don’t suck, and a bit has changed. Some of you have eschewed traditional savings accounts in favour of multiplier accounts that reward you with high interest rates when you bank with them. Others have done, well, nothing and are still using the same tired old savings accounts with their “modest” interest rates of 0.0000001%. Well done.

So we’ve decided to consolidate all your savings options into one handy post. The main thing that will help you determine which account is best is whether you are able to fulfil the criteria to qualify for the higher tiers of interest.

OCBC 360 Deposit Account

Deposit	Minimum Monthly Balance	Interest Rate	Notes
$1,000	$3,000	0.05% for balances up to $200,000 (base interest) extra 1% when you credit your salary every month-end (minimum $2,000) extra 0.5% when you pay 3 bills using OCBC Online Banking or GIRO extra 0.5% when you spend at least $500 on OCBC credit cards in a month MAX: 2.05% (on first $50,000)

Pick this if:

You’re an employee
Your take home pay is at least $2,000

OCBC Bonus

Deposit	Minimum Monthly Balance	Interest Rate	Notes
$10,000	$3,000	0.6% if no withdrawals made in a month 1.15% in third month of each quarter if no withdrawals made in a quarter 2.35% in third month of each quarter if top up of fresh funds of $10,000 with no withdrawals made in a quarter MAX: 1.18% per year

Pick this if:

You are a student or self-employed
You are not prepared to spend $500 a month on the Standard Chartered Bonus$aver credit or debit card
You save at least $10,000 each quarter
You don’t have to make withdrawals from this account

Standard Chartered Bonus$aver Account

Deposit	Minimum Monthly Balance	Interest Rate	Notes
$3,000	$3,000	0.1% on balances under $200,000 0.2% on $200,000 and above 1.88% if $500 is spent on Bonus$aver credit or debit card card per month (up to first $25,000)

Pick this if:

You are a student or self employed
You are prepared to spend $500 a month using the Bonus$aver credit or debit card

DBS Multiplier Programme

Deposit	Minimum Monthly Balance	Interest Rate	Notes
NIL	$3,000	0.05% with total monthly banking of under $7,500 1.08% with total monthly banking of $7,500 1.2% with total monthly banking of $10,000 to $12,500 1.48% with totally monthly banking of $12,500 to $15,000 1.68% with total monthly banking of $15,000 to %20,000 2.08% with total monthly banking of $20,000 and above Above interest rates only applicable to first $50,000	Total monthly banking includes: Crediting of salary to ANY POSB/DBS account Crediting of dividends to any POSB/DBS account Credit card spending Home loan installment

Pick this if:

You experience a high in-flow and/or out-flow of cash each month
You have a home loan with DBS, as well as other banking relationships

CIMB StarSaver Account

Deposit	Minimum Monthly Balance	Interest Rate	Notes
$5,000	$5,000	- 0.8% if you make an incremental deposit $500 or more - 0.5% if your incremental deposits are less than $500 - Above interest rates are only applicable to the first $750,000

Pick this if:

You are a student or self-employed OR an employee whose take-home pay is under $2,000 a month
You can save at least $500 a month
You don’t want to spend $500 a month on Standard Charter’s Bonus$aver credit or debit card

Maybank Privilege Plus

Deposit	Minimum Monthly Balance	Interest Rate	Notes
$500 for Singaporeans $1,000 for foreigners	$1,000	0.4375% on first $3,000 0.4375% on next $47,000 0.5% on remaining balance above $50,000	Free personal accident insurance with minimum balance of $30,000

Pick this if:

You are a senior, aged 50 and above
You save less than $500 a month
You don’t want to spend $500 a month on Standard Charter’s Bonus$aver credit or debit card

Here’s How To Save Money With the Singapore Dollar Weakening Against the US Dollar

2015-04-18T16:53:00.000+08:00

From Money$mart.sg

If you went to the Woodbury factory outlets or Disneyland Orlando recently, be glad you had the chance to go, because the US dollar is now worth 1.38 SGD, a figure that looks set to rise the rest of the year. We’ve been enjoying a great exchange rate the past couple of years, but it looks like those days are at an end. Online shoppers and students studying abroad in the US look set to be hit the hardest . Here are some tips for cutting costs as the greenback gets stronger.

Know where to go on holiday

If you’re planning a holiday or planning to further your studies overseas for a year or two, avoid the US and instead pick a country with a weaker exchange rate. While the Singapore dollar is faring poorly against currencies like the US dollar, Thai baht, Hong Kong dollar and Ren Min Bi, it’s still performing strongly against the Australian Dollar and the Euro.

Australia is a particularly good choice as the Aussie dollar hasn’t been this low in many years, while despite speculation of a rebound the Euro still remains low. This means swapping out Disneyland Orlando for Disneyland Paris and admiring street art in Melbourne instead of San Francisco is the way to go.

Check prices before shopping on US websites

During the good years when the US dollar was low, lots of products were cheaper to buy online even on sites that required the use of a shipping service like vPost. Now that prices have risen, it’s wise to check the cost of the items you usually buy online to see if they’re still the cheapest option available.

If you buy skincare products on Amazon, check if they’re now cheaper on local online stores like Feel Beautiful when you factor in shipping.
Those who buy vitamins and organic products on iHerb might want to check if their usual products are now cheaper in local stores or switch to an Australian online retailer. I get the sense that most of the health supplements should still be cheaper on iHerb though.
If you buy computer hardware on Newegg, cross-check the prices at local retailers. A lot of items are now going to be cheaper locally since the price difference wasn’t that great to begin with.

Check the interest rates on your existing loans

Thanks to the weakening of the Singapore dollar against the US dollar, interest rates in Singapore have been rising slowly but surely. If you’ve got a home loan to repay, you’ve probably already noted to some alarm that the SIBOR has been rising. That means you could end up paying a lot more in the long run for your property.

While we hope you did lots of research at the time you signed up for your home loan, it might be time to look at what else is being offered on the market. If you find a home loan at a much better price, refinancing your loan (which basically means jumping ship to another loan provider) can save you a lot of money in a long run.

Read this article elsewhere on MoneySmart to get a better sense of whether you’re a suitable candidate for refinancing. Then check out our home loan comparison tool to see just how much cheaper the other home loans being offered are.

Come dine with the Italians

2015-04-17T17:38:00.000+08:00

Source: TheLocal.it

The concept of people throwing dinner parties for strangers has been popular in other countries for a few years now, but the trend is starting to take off in Italy. The Local explores.

It was with a mixture of trepidation and curiosity that I ventured to San Giovanni, a neighbourhood in Rome, on a cold February night.

Apart from the friend I’d brought along, I was about to dine with four strangers at the home of an Italian family.

We arrived late, Italian-style, and were immediately greeted with a glass of prosecco while being introduced to the others.

Simona Moreno, the host, has signed herself up to what has been widely referred to elsewhere in the world as a “supper club”.

Websites like the hugely successful AirBnb, which provides a marketplace for people to rent out spare rooms or their entire home, have drastically altered where people stay when they travel.

Now others are trying to replicate that model when it comes to eating while travelling.

The concept has been brought to Italy by the Singapore-based online company, BonAppetour. The idea came together when co-founders Rinita Vanjre Ravi and Inez Wihardjo were backpacking around Europe.

“We often found ourselves at a loss when deciding which restaurants to dine in, or even what to order at the restaurants, and ended up ordering familiar dishes,” Ravi tells The Local.

“We were inspired by services like Airbnb, which really allow a traveller to experience living in a local home, and that inspired us to create a platform that could link travellers up with local hosts and families for authentic dining experiences.”

Moreno grew up in Naples as part of a large, traditional family, where cooking and eating together at a leisurely pace – and at home - was the norm.

It is therefore no surprise that she picked up her passion and skills for cooking by watching her grand-mother and mother in the kitchen.

Until she had her son, Moreno worked for an environmental research company, but then decided she could combine motherhood and cooking, while earning an income.

“I love cooking and meeting people, so this is not like work to me,” she tells The Local.

Most of her dishes are traditional to Naples and the Campania region. On the night I attended, we ate a four-course meal, accompanied by plenty of wine and a post-meal Limoncello.

Conversation also flowed easily throughout the evening, and we were made to feel at home.

With its world-famous food culture, Italy was an obvious place for BonAppetour to start its venture in Europe, Ravi says.

Along with Rome, the company now connects hosts with diners in Florence, Bologna, Milan, Venice, Turin, Naples and Palermo. France, Sweden, Spain, The Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK soon followed.

As for how it works: when a host organizes a dinner party, they post an announcement on the BonAppetour website, with details of timing, menu and price. The cost of the meal is paid online.

There are now between 150 and 200 hosts in Italy. They are vetted beforehand, while diners can leave post-meal reviews on the site. Some of the hosts, including Moreno, also give cooking classes.

“We have received an incredible response and enthusiasm from hosts in Italy,” Ravi adds.

“They feel that it's one of the best ways to showcase their culture and cuisine to the rest of the world.”

Whether you’re travelling in Italy or living here, it’s a great way to sample Italian food that goes beyond the tourist menus, while experiencing the culture and making new friends.

To find out where the dinner parties are happening, go towww.bonappetour.com.

Buon appetito!

Singapore no longer in the blacklist for Italy

2015-04-16T15:36:00.000+08:00

From Tax-news

Italy Amends Country 'Black Lists'

by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Washington

06 April 2015

On April 1, Italy's Minister of the Economy and Finance, Pier Carlo Padoan, signed two decrees that modify Italy's "black lists," and announced on the same day that Italy and the Vatican had signed their previously agreed tax information exchange agreement (TIEA).

The two decrees follow the guidelines laid down in Italy's 2015 Stability (Budget) Law, which established amended criteria for the production of two black lists that, it is hoped, will boost economic ties with foreign countries.

Under the framework of Italy's controlled foreign company (CFC) regime, the black list now operates under two criteria: First, a territory will be included on the black list if the jurisdiction does not have an adequate TIEA with Italy and if it has an effective corporate tax rate that is at least 50 percent lower than the effective tax rate that would be applicable if the company was an Italian resident. Jurisdictions that have now been eliminated from the "CFC" list (in which profits realized by a foreign enterprise are deemed to be the profits of an Italian resident) are Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore.

The Stability Law specified another black list under which expenses incurred in transactions with residents in a jurisdiction would not be deductible. For this list, the criterion that such a jurisdiction should not have a privileged tax regime has been eliminated, leaving only the presence of an adequate TIEA with Italy as the determining factor.

The "non-deductibility of costs" list now therefore includes only 46 tax jurisdictions. 21 have been cancelled as already having TIEAs in effect, namely: Alderney, Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar, the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, the Netherlands Antilles, Aruba, Belize, Bermuda, Costa Rica, the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines, the Cayman Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Malaysia, Mauritius, Montserrat, and Singapore.

This second list still includes Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Monaco, despite the fact that all have recently signed TIEAs with Italy. At the time it was indicated that completion of those TIEAs would be a prerequisite for Italians with undeclared assets in those countries to be able to enter into Italy's current voluntary disclosure program.

A statement from the Ministry pointed out that the signing of Italy's TIEA with the Holy See on April 1, which will be effective for fiscal periods after January 1, 2009, has a similar importance in that "certain Italian resident individuals and entities with financial assets held in the Vatican's financial institutions" will also be able to regularize those assets through the voluntary disclosure program.

Carecci & Figli Trading - Italian delicacies at your doorstep

2015-04-09T15:34:00.000+08:00

Carecci & Figli Trading (pronounced as kar-reh-chee & fee-lee) was established in 1990 with the initial role of the production of pasta and sauces due to the tremendous growth and demands of Pasta Fresca restaurants. Carecci & Figli has developed a winning formula that allows it to produce a high volume of fresh pastas, sauces and other ingredients for the outlets. Over the years, it has diversified laterally and now networks with Italian companies to import and produce a range of high quality gourmet products and wines. If you love the taste of authentic Italian fares by Pasta Fresca Da Salvatore, know that you can now whip up the same Italian goodness at home. Get your affordable imported Italian produce at a click of a button and they deliver right to your doorstep. The best quality is assured as Carecci & Figli produces fresh pasta not only for Pasta Fresca’s use but for distribution to major hotels, commercial airlines and ships and other F&B establishments. Carecci & Figli source for only the best key ingredients from Italy. No need to make a trip to a specialty supermarket. Get your fresh pasta, Italian cheese, olive oil, truffles, parma ham and wines produced from the finest native grapes of Italy in the confines of your home. www.carecci.com

Isaac Newton International Upper School and Hwa Chong International School announce students’ exchange programs

2014-03-26T16:30:00.000+08:00

By Stefano Anzuinelli

Brescia, Italy – Locally owned Isaac Newton International Upper School (INIUS) and Singapore based Hwa Chong International School announced today that they have started a partnership plan of students’ exchanges coming into effect on May 20^th 2014, when a first group of 20 Singaporean students will be hosted by the Italian counterpart. Schools administrators across the two continents have been carefully devising such venture for over two years and expect this ambitious project of consistent exchanges in the upcoming years to improve internationality and cross cultural relations.

The exchange program will allow dozens of students to feel, savor and experience cultural and educational diversities, get to know new social backgrounds and finally become true worldwide citizens.

More information is expected to be released following a meeting with local institutions on April 23^rd, 2014, less than a month prior to first delegation arrival in Brescia.

The upcoming step will take place next July 14^th through August 6^th when the second class of 20 Italian students is hosted at the outstanding Singaporean campus of Bukit Timah Rd of HCIS.

About Isaac Newton International Upper School

INIUS is the international division of Licei Paritari Isaac Newton, which started the education activity back in 1972. It has enjoyed over 42 years of independent ownership with an ever increasing number of students and an array of new activities which spans from Double Diploma (Italian and American), cross cultural exchanges with partner schools and digitally driven education for digital natives.

INIUS will uphold its promise to stimulate the local economy through rich international education. Known for its culturally rich and exciting curriculum, the school also intends to maintain its commitment to nurturing the theory of multiple intelligences applied to high school education. For more information, please visit www.liceinewton.com or www.liceoisaacnewton.it.

About Hwa Chong International School

HCIS is a Singapore-based, co-educational secondary international school, a member school of the Hwa Chong Family of Schools, catering to both local and foreign students.All subjects are taught in English, except for Chinese. The school’s mission is to provide a holistic education by means of "rigorous academic lessons, structured co-curricular activities and customized school programs".

HCIS has recently launched a building expansion project of more than SG$30 million. When fully completed in 2015, the 4-storey teaching wing and the new tower block will host a full range of teaching and co-curricular facilities including, to provide students with an enriched learning environment that fully supports their academic and holistic development. For more information, please visit www.hcis.edu.sg.

Contact

To learn more about this project, please contact

Stefano Anzuinelli, Communication and Media Relations

Office: +39 030 3762798

Mobile. +39 344 0911774

stefano.anzuinelli@me.com