The sooner the better when you get rid these 3 inconspicuous bad financial habits

Your future financial situation is tied to your habits. It is almost everyone's dream to not be troubled by money, but most office workers are still worried about financial management. If this is the case for you, you might as well re-examine yourself now and quit bad financial habits to take back control of your money.

Bad financial habits are like a toxic relationship.

You know you should break up with him, but you hold on tight.

But the question remains - why is it so hard to break out of these destructive financial habits?

Sometimes we know nothing about them, and sometimes we are afraid to face the unknown. But wouldn't we be able to stand it without these habits? Can't we live without a Starbucks once a week?

I know a thing or two about money matters. I also lost all my money a few years ago due to a stupid financial mistake.

But I also learned that quitting some bad spending habits is actually a lot easier than you might think.

In fact, you can save yourself hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars a year by quitting these three common financial habits.

1. Procrastination on financial decisions

I always procrastinate when I need to make an important financial decision because I'm afraid of making the wrong choice.

I would spend hours browsing the web for articles and videos on personal finance, trying to train myself as well as possible before taking action.

But inevitably, by the time I was ready to make a decision, the opportunity had passed and I had missed it.

I've since learned that procrastinating on financial decisions is one of the worst things. It keeps you from taking advantage of those opportunities, and it makes you miss important information that could help you make the right decisions.

If you are also procrastinating making financial decisions, ask yourself two questions:

Are you afraid of making the wrong choice?

Are you worried about the consequences?

Once you've identified where your fear spots are, you can address them. Depending on your needs and goals, there are many great investment options.

For example, if you're looking for a short-term investment, consider opening a high-yield savings account.

If you're looking for long-term investments, consider stocks, bonds, or mutual funds.

Investing can be scary, but there's no need to delay making a decision about it.

The sooner you start, the sooner you'll see results.

 2. Not diversifying your income streams

When life hit me hard, I learned the importance of having multiple income streams.

I used to rely on only one source of income.

I live on a paycheck and don't have much savings for a rainy day. When the pandemic hit and I was suddenly laid off and lost my income, I was stuck.

This has taught me the importance of having different sources of income so that if one goes down, I have other sources to fall back on.

Start increasing your income stream.

Having multiple income streams is important for two reasons:

It can provide you with a buffer if one of your sources of income goes down.

It can help you grow your income faster.

Best of all, you don't need to go to great lengths for this.

If you want to have multiple income streams, then you need to consider what skills or assets you have that you can profit from.

For example:

Do you have writing skills? Then you can start a blog, make money with ads, or become a freelance writer. (That's my choice. When the time came, I quit my 9-to-5 job because my side hustle was already generating more income for me and I could develop multiple income streams from it).

Do you have a house that you can rent out?

Or do you have a car that you can use for your ride-hailing business?

There are many different ways to make money, so take some time to brainstorm and see what you can do.

Remember, it's never too late to start!

It might take a little more work at first, but it will be worth it in the end!

3. Spending consumption habits

Growing up, I always liked eating out and spending money on new clothes.

As a result, I quickly developed the bad habit of overspending on entertainment and unnecessary luxuries, and it was inevitable that I would not be able to make ends meet each month.

But thankfully, I was able to recognize my bad spending habits and develop a plan to correct them.

If you're struggling with overspending too, here are a few tips to help.

1. Follow the 50:30:20 rule

50% of income is used for basic expenses/needs: eg rent, insurance, utility bills, groceries, etc.

30% of your income goes to things you want: e.g. dining out, gym memberships, entertainment.

20% of your income goes towards saving and paying down debt.

2. Delay your gratification

Wait at least one to two weeks before purchasing any non-essential items online or offline. If it's really needed, it's still there. If it's just something you want at the time, it will gradually disappear from your life.

3. Don’t do window shopping

My psychologist friend told me: Window shopping is more dangerous than you might think (window shopping means just wandering the streets without buying anything). When your body touches an object, the brain is tempted to take pleasure in it.

So you end up buying something you don't really need.

By doing these three things, you can break the cycle of overspending and get your finances back on track.

Now you know the three most common bad financial habits that can wreak havoc on your savings.

But don't worry, these habits can be changed.

All you need is the conscious improvement and small steps you can take to get yourself back on track.

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Fatty liver?

Fatty liver?

I did my full medical check up a few months ago and the result was I got fatty liver. It was quite shocking to me because I never associated myself to obesity. I went to read up more on the issue of fatty liver and how I can reverse fatty liver.

The liver is a very important organ of the human body. However, in recent years, the incidence of liver diseases, especially fatty liver, has not only increased, but has even shown a trend of younger people.

Experts believe that there are many factors that induce fatty liver, such as unreasonable dietary structure, frequent drinking, prolonged Sit still and wait.

After suffering from fatty liver, the patient will not only encounter various uncomfortable symptoms, but with the passage of time, the disease will worsen, and even induce liver cirrhosis and even liver cancer, which is life-threatening. It must be treated quickly.

At the same time, it is necessary to change bad habits, such as the followings.

1. Pay attention to your diet

The factors that lead to the appearance of fatty liver above, includes the unreasonable diet structure. Therefore, in order to prevent fatty liver from getting worse, I must first adjust the diet structure.

I stay away from fatty meat, animal organs and other high-cholesterol, high-fat foods. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, supplement vitamins and at the same time improve the metabolic rate and help the burning of fat.

The second is to consume a moderate amount of high-protein foods, such as eggs, lean meat, and milk, because protein can promote the regeneration and recovery of liver cells, which has a relatively good effect on the recovery of fatty liver.

2. Insist on exercising

Clinical data show that among people with fatty liver, many people also have obesity problems, and this symptom is clinically called obese fatty liver. .

I choose to exercise 3 times a week.

Normally, I will choose to jog or practice yoga, because these two kinds of sports do not have high requirements on the body. Persistence can not only improve metabolism, but also promote the improvement of fat burning in the body and insulin resistance, which is conducive to the development of fatty liver disease. get better.

3. Stay away from alcohol

Long-term heavy drinking is the behavior that causes alcoholic fatty liver, so I cut down on alcohol.

Relevant research data show that when fatty liver patients quit drinking for about a few weeks, the fat in liver cells will gradually disappear.

And even if there is already cirrhosis of the liver, if you insist on abstinence from alcohol, you can slow down the rate of progress and gain opportunities for further treatment.

4. Avoid staying up late

For people with fatty liver, it is also very important to ensure enough rest time. It is recommended to fall asleep before 11 o'clock and ensure 7-8 hours of sleep.

Because from 11:00 in the evening to 3:00 in the morning is the stage of liver self-metabolism and repair, if you stay up late for a long time, it will inevitably affect the liver and aggravate the disease. Thus I also make sure I make the effort to go to bed earlier rather than surfing the social media.

In general, although fatty liver is a common clinical liver disease, it does not have a great impact on the human body when it is mild, but if it is not treated; fatty liver will further develop into severe fatty liver or even liver cirrhosis.

Therefore, no matter how fatty liver develops, you must seek medical attention in time, and do 4 things at the same time, including not staying up late, staying away from alcohol, sticking to exercise and having a balanced diet.

 

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Do you have these 2 types of personalities to get promoted quickly?

How can young people get rid of "money pressure"?

Money is often the biggest cause of stress in people.

As the saying goes, rich people are not necessarily happy, and happy people are not necessarily rich. A different "money view" will bring about a completely different state of life. Having the right understanding of money can not only make us more financially free, but also make our lives happier.

According to the American Psychological Association, money is the biggest cause of stress in the United States. Medical statistics show that 75% to 90% of doctor visits are for stress-related illnesses and discomforts, including chest pain, headaches, high blood pressure, insomnia and depression.

Money stress can make people physically and mentally uncomfortable, and we have two options for this:

1. Complaining, resisting, worrying

2. Fix the problem

 

I will choose the latter. We cannot fundamentally change capitalism, but we do not have to be its victims. We can understand how money works and be immune to the mental health problems it brings.

Change starts with awareness. It can only be solved when we know exactly what causes money stress.

What causes economic stress and how we can address them

Most people think the answer is: make more money.

But simply having more income won't solve your money problems. While everyone wants to earn more, we need to address some deeper underlying issues first.

The first step in escaping financial stress and living a healthier, happier life is to identify the specific cause of your concern. Here are some common causes and how to fix them.

1. Lack of financial literacy

So-called "financial management" is not something we usually learn in school. If a person grows up in an environment that lacks the concept of financial management, it can be difficult as an adult to make informed financial decisions.

I didn't really use a savings account until I was in my late twenties. Until then, I keep all my cash in a savings account and spend it as I want.

School didn't teach me how to manage money. It took me a long time to understand this. This meant that I wasted a lot of time before I learned how to do things right.

Solution: Learn about personal finance.

How you spend, save, indebted and invest is up to you. How other people manage their money has nothing to do with you. Can your ex-college friends afford an exotic trip, but you can't even pay the rent? Who cares about this except you.

Everyone is at a different stage of their personal finance journey. It is important that the advice you take should be the most relevant and effective for you.

The more you know about money, investments, and wealth, the better at managing your finances.

2. Unrealistic expectations about life

Many of us have all kinds of unrealistic wishes. It's okay to have big dreams, but you should never think that life is good only when you achieve big dreams. We might think like this:

"At this stage of my life, I should have a house/car/overseas trip!"

"I'm so old now and should be making at least six figures."

It's easy to feel stressed when we don't meet expectations. In today's world, everyone seems to have extremely high expectations.

This is unrealistic and unimportant. What's wrong with living a simple life?

The Solution: Focus on the Process, Not the Results

When you're setting goals, it's easy to think about the outcome first. Everyone wants to get in better shape, travel to great places, make more money, etc.

But these results are driven by long-term, ongoing work. Warren Buffett didn't get rich by making one big deal in one year, but it took decades of tireless work to get to where he is now.

So, what you have to do is focus on a process that can be sustained and the results will follow. If not, at least you can be proud of the work you do.

3. Short-term thinking

I have a friend who has been doing a job he hates because of the so-called "welfare" because he places a high value on stability and the welfare in his company is not good. But at the same time, he also "passes the time" by shopping online at work, so naturally he got into credit card debt.

A lot of us are in a situation where we hate our job but need such a job or income to live on because we are used to a certain way of life.

But sometimes, you need to take a step back in the short term to achieve long-term growth. Why? Because if you keep this short-sighted thinking, you will end up wasting your own life.

Solution: Focus on long-term quality of life.

For me, quality of life is the most important measure. Do you really enjoy your life? Do you like your job? Do you wake up feeling excited?

Focus on these metrics, not job title or salary. "Avoid money stress by not prioritizing money" may sound counterintuitive, but that's not the point. You have to consider your quality of life. As we all know, the best things in life are free. But mortgages and rents are not. But there's nothing wrong with choosing to earn relatively less in order to live better.

4. No emergency fund

56% of Americans don't have a one-time emergency expense of $1,000.

However, emergencies are bound to happen. It's not a question of if, but when. For example, your washing machine breaks, you slip and hurt, your loved one is sick, etc.

It's hard to be at peace when you don't have enough money for simple emergencies. Without the protection of a safety net, one adverse situation can turn your entire life upside down.

The fix: Build your own emergency fund bit by bit and make saving a habit.

An emergency fund is not something that can be created suddenly, you can try to save a portion of your income every month, and as long as you stick with it, it will happen sooner or later. I want to have at least six months of living expenses in my emergency fund. Knowing that I had this money in my savings account gave me peace of mind. Because I know I can handle the financial challenges of my life, and if something happens, I have plenty of time to get back on my feet.

One thing I've discovered over the years is that the urge to make more money never completely goes away.

That's why we remind ourselves that making more money is not a good goal. Our goal should be freedom:

Money can buy many things, but the most precious of them is freedom. Freedom to do what you want and work for people you respect.

When I see a job that pays more but drastically reduces freedom, I don't apply. Because my priority is to live a simple and balanced life.

Isn't that exactly what we want in the end?

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Your Money Matters: A Comprehensive Guide to Financial Planning

How to get better and better in the workplace

Time never waits for anyone. By the time you realize it, it has slipped away from your hands quietly.

After the epidemic, we have experienced a lot of changes, and have seen many touching and heart-wrenching scenes. The warmth of the world have been displayed in this period of time. During this period of time, I believe that everyone is thinking, what else can we do to change ourselves and make our life better, even if it is only a small change?

An epidemic has made us see the cruelty of society and the indifference in the workplace. The following three pieces of advice apply to young people entering the workforce, middle-aged people, and even seniors approaching retirement.

Advice #1: Health is more important than making money

After experiencing the pandemic, everyone has realized how important their own health is. When we face the epidemic, our opponents are some viruses that we cannot see with the naked eye, but can penetrate into our body ubiquitously. "Your own health is always the most important thing." This is what the elders have said to us, but there are very few people who can really listen to them.

Only when people lose can they know the importance of cherishing. In order to make money, many people ignore the capital of their own bodies. From time to time in the society, there are employees who died suddenly due to overwork

But in any case, we cannot forget the importance of health.

Advice #2: the poorer you are, the more humble you need to be

When many people are poor, the more they value their own face. Thinking that face is your only capital. But this kind of mentality will make people place too much emphasis on their own self-esteem.

The poorer a person is, the more he has to learn to let go of his face. Only by letting go of face can you have the opportunity to see more opportunities, to be able to pay attention to the details that you usually ignore, and to pinpoint the point of your failure. Prescribe the right medicine for a breakthrough. Only by letting go of your own face can you truly regain your confidence, help yourself turn over again, and go further and better.

Advice #3: Say good things about others

If you want to be in the society, you have to deal with people. Therefore, maintaining good interpersonal relationships with others is a knowledge that a person must study and study all his life. Many people like to hear good things about themselves, but they don't want to hear others say bad things about them behind their backs and slander themselves.

Therefore, if there is no conflict or enmity between you, then you should say less bad things about others and more praises. In this way, the other party will listen to you comfortably, and their attitude towards you will be much better, and they will have a good impression of you, instead of swearing at you from the beginning.

Summary: Life is very long, everything you have experienced is your precious experience and wealth; hold them firmly in your hands, and one day they will be transformed into your precious resources.

Get a free copy of "Your Money Matters: A Comprehensive Guide to Financial Planning" now. Limited time only.

Do you have these 2 types of personalities to get promoted quickly?

We found that people who grow fast in the workplace can change their roles at any time. They are good subordinates in front of the boss, a good partner in the team, and a good leader in front of their subordinates. To be "good", you need to switch at any time. own role in the workplace.

Good students in the workplace will steal from their teachers

A good student, a person who can grow rapidly in the workplace, must be a person who is good at discovering and summarizing the advantages of others, and using them to benefit himself.

People who are good at learning will abandon all personal preferences, discover the advantages of others, ignore the shortcomings, and then let themselves have the same advantages and grow.

For example, colleague A is good at writing PPT. He is rigorous and rigid, but his work is well-organized. Some people can learn from colleague A's "organized" working attitude and ignore his "rigidity", while some people will infinitely magnify his rigidity and ignore his advantages. People who can discover the advantages of others can not only turn the advantages of others into their own, but also avoid the minefields of others. For example, when dealing with colleague A, they must take into account his rigidity and seriousness, and respect his rigor at work. , Don't make jokes that he doesn't like in life.

People who can't find the advantages of others have such a mentality: they always feel that other people's achievements are easy. For example, I often hear things like "He's just lucky, it's my turn, so can I", "It's all a lie, he just can talk", "He's just related to the boss and has no strengths at all" and so on. But in real life it is that "luck", "emotional intelligence" and "personal connections" that work in the workplace, and these are not what everyone is born with, they are all painstakingly managed over time.

Don't let your lack of effort and inadequacy in learning turn into jealousy, which will lead to slower growth.

Good worker makes plans

We found that there is a type of people who are always clear in the workplace, clearly know their career direction, know what stage they are in in the workplace, know where they should work hard, know how to create conditions, and know how to achieve their goals step by step. .

This is rare. Because more than 90% of people don't know what they want to do in the future, they always take one step at a time, and many people have high ambitions, but they don't know how to operate when it comes to the specific practical part.

So how do you make yourself a person with clear direction? First, a general direction is required, then a plan is made according to the direction, and finally the plan is implemented step by step. For example, just like taking a long vacation to travel abroad (general direction), how to go, where to stay, which attractions to visit (plan), buy air tickets, book hotels (specific implementation methods), as long as you go according to your own plan. Taking small steps to implement it will get closer and closer to the ultimate goal.

See the big from the small, when you really learn how to do something and learn to be a person with clear direction, the career path will become more and more clear.

To sum up, if you want to run faster than others in the workplace, firstly, you must learn to improve yourself, secondly, you must have the direction to work hard and know how to persevere. As long as you improve yourself in these 2 areas, your career path will get better and better.​

 

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What is Your Annual Pay Raise?

It is the time of the year to see your report card of the performance for the entire year, at least for most of the companies.

The target salary increment in Singapore can vary depending on several factors, including the individual's job role, industry, and level of experience. According to a survey by Mercer, the average salary increase for employees in Singapore was 3.6% in 2019, and the projected salary increase for 2022 is 3.65%. It is going to be higher in 2023 with 3.75%, surpassing pre pandemic levels.

However, it's important to note that these are just averages, and the actual target salary increment can vary widely based on individual circumstances. For example, employees who have performed exceptionally well may be eligible for a higher salary increase, while those in industries experiencing economic challenges may receive a smaller increase.

Ultimately, the target salary increment should be based on a realistic assessment of the individual's skills and experience, as well as the market rate for their job role and industry. It's a good idea to do research on salary ranges and to have open and honest conversations with your employer about your expectations and goals.

Here are some strategies to increase your chances of getting a higher salary increment:

1. Perform well in your job: Consistently meeting or exceeding performance expectations and taking on additional responsibilities can demonstrate your value to the organization.

2. Build a strong case for a higher salary: Gather information on the market rate for your job role and industry and highlight your accomplishments and contributions to the organization.

3. Negotiate effectively: Be prepared to discuss your salary goals with your employer and be willing to compromise if necessary. Focus on the value you bring to the organization and the contributions you have made.

4. Expand your skillset: Developing new skills and taking on additional responsibilities can make you a more valuable employee and increase your chances of a higher salary.

5. Network and seek out opportunities: Building a strong professional network and seeking out new opportunities can help you identify positions with higher salaries or advance your career within your current organization.

Remember that salary negotiations are a two-way street, and both you and your employer should feel that the offer is fair and reasonable. Be prepared to have open and honest conversations and to be flexible and willing to compromise.

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Cheap and effective 18 tips to live easier and easier

1.   Make the rice nice and fragrant

After washing the rice, add a few drops of lemon juice to the water to make the rice nice and fragrant. Add a few drops of oil to the rice that has been washed and ready to cook, and cook with the rice to make the rice fragrant!

2.   How to “unyellow” white clothes

First apply shampoo with a brush, or apply shaving cream and let it sit for four to five minutes before washing, and you can wash it off smoothly

3.    What should I do if I eat spicy food and cry?

Eating spicy food to tears, drinking water will not relieve the pain, but will make it spicier. The best way to relieve spiciness is to drink milk, which can ease the spiciness.

4.    What if the soup is too salty?

If you accidentally add too much salt to the soup, The remedy at this point is to add the potatoes and cook for a few more minutes. Since the potatoes will absorb the salt, just remove the potatoes when you want to serve.

5.    How to make tofu less delicate?

Soft tofu is very easy to break during the cooking process. If you want to keep the tofu intact, you can soak it in salt water for about 30 minutes before cooking.

6.    How to remove wax from apple surface?

If you like to eat apples with the skin, you need to remove the wax on the surface:

1) Put the apple into hot water (the highest temperature that the hand can accept), the wax of the apple will faint at this time.

2) Apply toothpaste on the apple as a cleaning agent, then rinse it off with water, and then eat it.

7.    keep cookies crunchy

When tinning the cookies, add a sugar cube at the same time. Because the sugar cube will absorb the moisture in the jar, it will keep the cookies crispy and delicious.

8.    What should I do if my shoes stink?

Put a small amount of baking soda directly into boots, sneakers, or shoes that are often worn and are prone to odour and moisture. Under the action of baking soda, it will absorb moisture and odour, and soon you will have a dry pair shoes.

9.    fresh-keeping method

In a vase with flowers, adding a little beer can prolong the fresh-keeping period of the flowers. Because beer contains ethanol, it can cut the flower branches, disinfect and prevent corrosion, and also contains sugar and other nutrients, which can provide nutrients for the branches and leaves.

10.  Sharpen scissors

Using aluminum foil, stack two or three sheets of aluminum foil together and cut them with scissors. The scissors will be surprisingly sharp immediately.

11.  Use Hair Dryer on Labels

When buying a gift, the price tag is difficult to tear off. If you use a hair dryer to heat it up and tear it off, it will be easily torn off without leaving any traces!

12.  Cut Chilli

Washing hands with toothpaste works really well.

13.  Preserve bananas

For those who love bananas, the most worrying thing is that the bananas get spoilt easily. However, you can try wrapping the roots of the bananas with plastic wrap, which can prolong its preservation time.

14.  Make Old photos look new

If the photo is old or dirty, wipe it with cotton dipped in alcohol, and it will look like new after wiping.

15.  Use pillow to support your foot for cramps

Put a pillow under your feet every night to prevent cramps from occurring while you sleep.

16.  Remove the musty smell of furniture

When there is a musty smell in the drawer, closet and wardrobe, put a bar of soap in it to remove it.

17.  Keep new hairstyle intact

Just laying a smooth silk scarf on your pillow before going to bed with your freshly done hair will keep your hair from getting mesy.

18.  Make Jewellery look new

If the surface of gold jewellery looks old, use soft leather  with a little toothpaste to gently wipe it, and it will be as bright as new.

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