6 Things We Do that Funds the Next Holiday Adventure

I just booked a Siem Reap Trip, which doesn't come from my savings! It is a thin line between being money minded, and being financially literate. For the past years I have probably wasted a thousand or so a year simply because as a working adult, and of course my careless nature, I have little energies to go into the nitty gritty of finances. They are actually good habits! So here are several things done to save (get) a penny here and there. Mind you, they add up!

#1 Redeem your rewards points

We all pay for mobile phone bills. Call in and redeem rewards. I got a $10 rebate for the next bill, while all the starbub points that wasn't redeemed for my dad's end adds up to $50 rebates!

#2 Redeem credit card rebates

Citibank SMRT Card entitles me to $40 vouchers, for groceries, dining and transport.

#3 Apply when there is credit card promotion

So I have a Manhattan Card which credits $138 directly in the card, immediately offsetting the first month's bill. (No I don't need that huge free luggage worth 950 bucks to just take up another space in the store room! Low utility and storage waste)

And I've got an ANZ card which gives $168 cash back, in form of optimum$ that has to be redeemed. This is slightly cumbersome as the credits only come in three months after application, in form of offsetting your subsequent bills. (Note that  DBS has bought ANZ and all redemptions and expenditure has better be done before third quarter!)

HSBC revolution offers a movie card, upon application. Enough to give me my year's worth of movie entertainment.

#4 Pay with Paywave instead of cash 

The different credit cards are best utilized for different expenses. For e.g NTUC plus! works best for my mum's grocery shopping, ANZ for dining which I opted for, gives 5% rebate cashback 1% on everything else, Citibank SMRT gives 5% rebate for Popular Bookshop purchase etc. So instead of having a chunky wallet with notes and coins, cashless helps to generate cashback. Some friends of mine utilize these perks to cut wedding costs.

#5 Exercise for Free

Friends have been asking me to sign up for yoga classes or aerobic class with fitness centres. The membership fee is so expensive. So instead, I make full use of the available facilities, Punggol waterway has such scenic tracks, and ActiveSG allows me my twice weekly swim for free. I can't resist the offer to exercise for free and enjoy the fresh air!

#6 Use promo codes

When Grab and Uber fights for market share, consumers gain! Whee, and so my sister and I got a free ride right when it was pouring, while making our way home. Check out singpromos and make it your Facebook feed so it will update you with promotions :)

Walah! These extra dollars and cents generated has paid for my 4D3N Cambodia trip and accommodation, and travelling expenses, $300 ++ 

#cheapthrillsbuthowhardisthatreally

The power, lies in exchange of information! Please share with me on ways to live within the means and live richly. Yes, pun intended. Emotionally rich, Mentally rich, and Pocket rich.

# PS: Anyone keen to travel to Siem Reap on 7-10 Mar PM me! 

Rounding Up

It's been six days into the new year. A whirlwind of events in the last few months means a dive into motion leaves little time for reflections. Has 2016 been cruel? Yes. Has 2016 been kind? Yes again. And many times over, especially providing that reflection period for me to gather how to move into the next phase of life.

Now, 2016 in pictures. Had been tidying up the PNA forms for submission. 2016 has been a many grueling moments with the students. And the systematic day-to-day, week-to-week events adds up. How very heartening to be with the Guides, the form class and my chinese graduating class. It was a year I find myself most comfortable in my skin as a teacher. Yet it was also a year where I experience most strain with administrative communication and managing relationships. Owell, it was all in good faith that the joyful moments are remembered.

# The Students.

When they finally pass out! (Pun intended) 

Outdoor cooking chicken and creating a lot of pollution in the midst of haze. Special mention of comrade Huiching putting it together, always wring that towel dry instead of throwing it aside like a wilful Shiyun. 

The very needed hug for the broken hearted.

 Moments when you actually get to bully your student. And they succumb to it! XD

That CNY party when various School KPs are around and the boys messed up Lou Hei by dishing food onto each others' faces and all around the table. I almost fainted. It ended off with a wrestling session. One of the students cried and we salvaged the situation, by allowing for a class showtime, off records. Thankfully the roof didn't collapse.

The Chinese class which pulled through 2 weeks of 6 hours daily Chinese intensive lessons before O levels. So intense it caused throbbing headaches (real physical headaches) after each day's lesson. 

And they finally graduated,with not too shabby Chinese Results. Well, most of them at least!

Quite a lovely bunch, if you discount the occasional cheeky stuff teenagers indulge in, which sometimes, makes me feel like slitting my wrists.

#The Newly Weds.

This year saw a whooping SIX weddings attended! Many of which are couples for half their lifetime. While basking in their blissful moments, it also prompt the question of: What is love really? Well, that topic deserves a post in itself some other day. 

#The Hobbies. 

 Yes, first time from scratch. 

Paper Craft bought in Korea when on immersion

                                           Beginning of the year when life was at its busiest.

And that castle from Japan

The domestication which went on amidst craziness at work. 

I suppose 2016 wasn't as rockin' it as the many years before. In fact it was melancholy at best and grief at worst. Feeling strained mainly. But it was also kind to me. My graduating classes boost the best results from my 5 years in teaching. And at the very least I have experienced the euphoria of love and learnt more about myself and what ticks. I get to set foot on the next stage in life which will see me abandoning that frustrated state, and doing more of what I find fulfilling. 

Thank you all who had offered joy and support, you know, sometimes it means that little hug, tearing together at a corner no one sees, hearing me out or even cooking a meal together! 

We shall all see better days ahead! I promise!