Drawing some wisdom from a great sage

Summer Lotus Oct 23 rd 5 min read

Looking back, if I had made the right type of friends, I would have become an infinitely wiser and effective person. As a teenager, not all parents have the foresight or intelligence to guide you. They may even give you the wrong advice.

Living in a competitive and real world, where you have to account for your results and behavior, who or what can guide you? I found wisdom when reading about Confucius and his philosophy.

Confucius (551–479BC) was a great teacher and had his teachings written down by his pupils who transcribed them and they became known as the “Analects”.

In it, among many important principles, he taught about the way of friendship. Friends are important in our lives. They influence and affect us in many ways. The old adage “Birds of a feather flock together” rings true. It is direct reflection of yourself when looking at your friends surrounding you.

What makes a good friend, worthy of making his acquaintance? Who are the bad ones whom one should avoid until they change their ways?

There is a common Chinese saying; A fence needs the support of three stakes, an able fellow needs the help of three other people. When one is dizzy with success, a good friend will serve you caution, when one is down, a good friend offers his shoulder for you to cry on.

Confucius listed three types of good friends; In short, they are straightforward, forgiving, and knowledgeable.

1 Upright /straightforward— -A friend who is upright is honest and sincere. He or she is transparent without a hint of flattery or fakeness. He will not lead you down the slippery road where there is a chance of you breaking the law and is sincerely caring about your welfare. He will advise you to take the right path and be bold because of that. The trust is mutual.

2 Forgiving — -The ability to forgive your friend’s mistakes is a powerful virtue. No amount of scolding, criticism, and punishment can turn a regrettable situation around. When you are not chided and you deserved to be, it is a mighty force that energizes you to want to do better instead of focusing on what had been done. It encourages the doer to double up and seek remedy in ways unimaginable. In other words, the feeling of ‘There is light at the end of the tunnel‘ will spur one to do better.

3 Knowledgeable — -A good friend is one in the know. He reads and has life experiences that he can impart to you when needed. Given today’s intellectual reach, there is no excuse for a person to be ignorant.

A knowledgeable friend is a joy because he can share tips and ways to unravel problems that may seem insurmountable to us. He is like a walking encyclopedia that instantly resolves some problems. He is also a role model for us to follow so that we can help others in the same way.

What makes a bad friend? Confucius also listed three characteristics of bad friends we should avoid preventing trouble.

1 Lack of temperance — -Avoid someone who is aggressive and quick to anger. We have witnessed street fights where it started because of one person. His friends joined in the assault, believing it is a form of support for their friend. In the heat of the moment, injuries result in even death. The whole group is drawn in as accomplices and subsequently punished.

This happens because team support has overwhelmed the reason of the fellow friends. A good friend would highlight the danger and caution one against blind fury. A good friend is cool and makes you stay away from trouble. This friend has wisdom besides temperance.

2 Indecisive — — An indecisive person wastes time and resources. He may be happy in his comfort zone and likes to see things in a status quo. When approached with an idea, indecisive people may shoot it down as they do not see the positivity in it. Opportunity lost may never come again.

It is better to depend on one’s own thoughts and reasoning to make decisions. At least you have tried and not leave room for regrets later.

3 Cunning — — This type of friend usually has his own interests in mind but often appears caring and kind. Confucius was wary of glib people and he believed in what people did rather than what they said.

These people are usually braggarts with no real talent or skill but they are convincing. They may even turn on you to get out of a sticky situation.

How do we find good friends?

Confucius related two qualities; benevolence and wisdom.

Being benevolent means loving people, being kind but being able to discriminate.

Having wisdom is knowing people. He did not advocate taking up with rich people but those who can perfect your moral character, increase your self-cultivation and enrich your mind.

Having the desired qualities of those good friends, the onus is on you to keep them so that it is a win-win relationship. It is not too late to start making good friends and supporting each other in life happily.

This involves communication. Speaking too much without consideration about others can be annoying. Most people are concerned about their own affairs, so when it is time for your turn, then say your piece. Otherwise, listening out may be more rewarding for a friendship to flourish.

Secondly, keeping silent when spoken to is not welcome either. Confucius calls this evasive and excludes others. It may even be construed as rude.

The third situation is speaking without being able to read people, which Confucius called ‘blind’. Without watching the reactions of others on the topics discussed, whether they have grated on some nerves and dug up some painful memories, one is bound to lose friends.

Confucius dished out a very important point; “ When giving advice, do it to the best of your ability, guide them properly but stop when there is no hope of success. Do not ask to be snubbed”.

I would like to add that one should not gripe too much in front of friends.No one likes a complaining, miserable person. Only miserable people love the company of other miserable people. Focus on the good and the wondrous world.

We all need good friends to set the tone together to move forward and achieve our individual goals. Good friends are like good food. They nourish you and make it a worthwhile life journey.

Speaking as a Toastmaster member of more than 35 years…….

Summer Lotus Oct 12 4 min read

Why are you so busy? Why are some people burning both ends of the candle and filling every waking hour with some activity or another? You can say that they are looking for opportunities to better themselves and prove their worth.

I think that many are not looking in the best place.

What has Toastmasters got to do with this? Well, Toastmasters activity presents “opportunities”.

It is the opportunity to discover your passions, capabilities, and motivations. As a dentist, being a Toastmasters member has benefited me immensely. During work, I do not delve very much into a chat with the patient that is not related to their dental problems.

We don’t get to jaw all day unlike some professions as the patients have discomfort and pain issues to solve. We ask standard questions, listen well and provide accurate diagnosis and treatment plans. There are really no social speaking skills to develop as dental patients are often too nervous to strike up any conversations. They just want their problems solved.

What Opportunities do Toastmasters offer?

1 Hence, I joined Toastmasters for the opportunity to hone my communication skills and do good presentations. Toastmasters program called ‘pathways’ today is so structured to improve one’s communication skills project by project. The objectives are clear and there is guidance online and sample videos to watch. One gets to grade our own performance besides being formally evaluated by an experienced member. The improvement is insidious but clearly progressing.

It is a very safe environment to make mistakes at speaking and spruce your communication skills. Everyone learns at the meeting and becomes more adept at each project.

Good communication skills encompass the fields of speaking, body language, delivery style, speech content, voice, the employment of appropriate phrases and words, the proper use of the time allotted, etc.

2 Toastmasters present the opportunity to develop leadership skills too. By joining the committee, one learns to lead others, run meetings smoothly, and fulfill the responsibilities associated with each role. My role as a President was kind of life-changing for a reticent dentist. I discovered that I could come up with almost twenty President’s opening speeches for my term! And I became a ‘recycled’ President for a second time after 10 years, with the opportunity to improve my craft further.

Personally, it has made me more confident, speak more coherently, and think more critically. At least my patients do not seem to have any questions to ask about their conditions as I was relevant and comprehensive about my diagnosis and treatment plan. I attribute my skills to Toastmasters training.

3 Toastmasters present the opportunity to engage in a mentor-mentee relationship which is very important to help a new member grow. New members who feel handicapped by communication skills are assigned mentors who would guide them with the requirements of their new projects until they are comfortable with the system.

4 The opportunity to develop critical thinking skills is due to the need to write one’s script. Based on the manuals, it would be a speech that is structured with an opening, body, and conclusion. It uses good use of the English Language and is to the point, backed up by research, evidence, and/or experience. A good script that meets the objectives would mean that your presentations at your company meetings or events would be relevant and outstanding. It also helps you to analyze a situation in a better light.

5 Toastmasters also provide the opportunity to develop listening skills which are of paramount importance to move ahead. Only by listening well, can we pick up what’s good and what’s erroneous and improve accordingly. The habit to listen well bodes well in business. Toastmasters are required to evaluate the project speeches of fellow members at the meeting so listening skills are gradually enhanced. The opportunity to evaluate and encourage others all lead to remarkable personal growth.

I feel that I am a testament to this growth after 35 years of being a Toastmaster. My thinking has more clarity, my speeches have more structure and appropriate choice of words, and my demeanor is more confident. We witness this amazing change in new members after they have completed a certain number of project speeches. After that, it is all uphill growth and maturity.

6 Toastmasters present an amazing opportunity to network. Being in a mixed bag so to speak, as members are from diverse backgrounds, we share our experiences and knowledge at each meeting. We learn from each other every time and develop life-long friendships. Some members found passion in other jobs when we got to know each other better.

Many members improved immensely and this was shown in their career paths which have gone north. Understandably, the ability to communicate succinctly helped to spur their careers forward. Who knows of a high-ranking employee who cannot speak?

Conclusion;

Toastmasters offer myriad opportunities for improving and developing communication skills, leadership skills, mento-mentee relationships, critical thinking, listening abilities, and plenty of networking chances.

It’s the secret to success in your personal, family, and career. Join a Toastmaster club if you are not a member. If you are, actively participate to benefit more from Toastmasters!

May the peace be with you……

Summer Lotus ·3 min read

A story goes like this; There was a young monk who started to practice meditation but he could not remain still. During each session, he would envision a spider appearing before him and he was perturbed.

The young monk told his master that he could not chase away the spider away. His master then suggested that during each session, he was to carry a pen and then circle the spider to see where it was exactly.

During meditation, the young monk indeed drew a circle around the spider and felt settled after that. When he opened his eyes later, he found that he had circled his own belly.

The master told him, “ Young man, you need to have a quiet mind and heart. Only in this way, you can stay detached from the rest of the happenings and enjoy your life in peace.”

When you reach a state of inner quiet, you can then enter a peaceful realm. Only then, when faced with whatever situations, we will secure an inner peace that is more likely to help us to overcome adversities.

How?

1 Read something positive every day.

Choose to switch your focus to more positive news in these days of the pandemic, climate change, and other global crises. Do your part to alleviate the situation and note that steps are being taken globally to solve the problems. Remarkable progress is being made on a daily basis and the world is not about to be extinguished. Things will get better.

2 Quit whining and seize the moments.

More than 2 years have gone by since the pandemic started. During this period, assess how much you have done to adapt to this situation improving your own lot and others too.

Quit whining and complaining that the authorities are not doing enough or not doing well. Believe that they have the pride to do a good job. Whining only saps up our time and one is none the wiser. Some people have emerged victorious, bonding more with loved ones, learning new skills, and starting alternative careers as well.

3 Slow down

The pandemic has resulted in new ways of doing things as one is thrown out of the comfort zone. During this time, look around you and see how you could better your life and others. Declutter the house, meditate, listen to music, call an old friend, look at nature around you, etc

There are so many things to be enjoyed but in our hurry, hurry world, most of us put off loads of meaningful activities. We may realize that in our past, we have had a few rushed vacations and thought that we have been there, done that. Look back at the pictures and decide what you could have done better to truly enjoy that vacation with your loved ones or your friends. Savor every moment, even if it is just a cup of coffee.

4 Exercise

Any form of exercise even if it is just a stretch relaxes your body and mind. Exercise releases endorphins which are feel-good hormones. In addition to staving off illnesses, it is a desirable goal to look good in our clothes. Make it a routine, a habit, and an enjoyment.

For example, I find that stationary biking while watching the TV yields results without me realizing it. Stretching while on the couch watching my program relieves any back sores from seating too long. Talking to my friends while walking does make walking many rounds easier to accomplish.

Life will always have its ups and downs but when we feel disquiet, we will feel disconnected and isolated. Attain your peace of mind, keep it quiet and solutions will surface in one form or another. Sometimes it was not a problem at all but it is due to your own perspective of life.

My views as a dentist

Summer Lotus 5 min read

Everything is a double edge sword. While the pandemic has sowed a lot of confusion in everyday living, incurs inconveniences, and undermines businesses, it has also led to many unprecedented changes in products, services, and ideas.

Human beings are the most intelligent and adaptive of all creatures. We should be proud of this fact and not despair as we become overwhelmed by negative news all too often. Staying positive and in the know is the essence of a bright future that continues to beckon us.

Let’s look at what changes have blossomed and improved our lives so far. The list is not exhaustive.

1 Digitisation – the pandemic has given many people a beneficial jolt by disrupting old-world practices.

For instance, because of Covid-19, we are able to make things more contactless and convenient. You need not bring documents for your clients to sign. You can hold meetings online, do your presentations and get your clients to electronically sign the deal. People, otherwise resistant to change are coerced to adopt technology that is moving forward in any case.

You do not need to be present when doing transactions at the bank when some clicks with safe multi-level authentication would help. You can arrange to have food, goods, and services brought to your doorstep. This proves safe and useful in such times and those companies who quickly went digital benefit from being first movers in this respect.

In my practice, going digital has helped immensely. For example, it has cut down my patients’ waiting time by sending the registration forms to them by email where they can fill in their details and pre-sign before visiting the clinic.

No more storage of paper registrations. Data are now recorded digitally cutting out the need for physical handling and storage of treatment cards.

2. Innovations and creativity – The pandemic resulted in the birth of leaders with vision, decision-making ability, and leadership because of the challenge to cope with the changes.

In the dental practice, many things have gone contactless like using the digital scanner to take a digital impression of the teeth and gums. No more use of the conventional gluey stuff that dentists put in patients’ mouths and they had to cast them and arrange for delivery to the laboratory. By using a digital scanner, the data is immediately despatched to the lab where the models are printed out using a digital printer, reducing mess and increasing speed and productivity.

Dental digital X-rays allow instant images to be seen on the monitor with a dosage that may be less than 1 second. Digital scans and 3 D scans allow an instant clear picture of a patient’s bone and teeth condition as well as vital structures such as the proximity of the sinus and the dental nerve. The images are stored for posterity without risks of them turning fuzzy compared with conventional films.

In healthcare, telemedicine where patients can seek medical care remotely will soon become a common tool. Lately, some doctors are already using the internet to speak to patients and reviewing their general conditions through zoom. This cuts the necessity for unnecessary travel in these Covid times and keeps the hospital available for more urgent cases.

3 Improvement in hygiene practices and lifestyle

The pandemic is a wake-up call to people who have neglected their health. Covid-19 has a predilection for people with an immune-compromised system like diabetes and other chronic illnesses and if you are not aware, poor oral health as well.

The latter is due to the fact that the mouth, besides the nose is a portal of entry to bacteria and viruses hence the use of masks.

I have noted more people exercising and taking care of their health and hygiene practices.

What is not lacking is the defeatist attitude of some people who continues to be spooked by the pandemic into a state of paralysis. And whining to boot.

I worry about their mental health. No amount of ranting and raving against the government or neighbors would help. Everyone only needs to do what is best and let providence do the rest.

As a dentist, we have observed more awareness of dental health care which is an important aspect as digestion begins in the mouth. Dental diseases are usually asymptomatic such as chronic gum disease but with hygiene being strongly emphasized these days because of the pandemic, we would see patients with better oral health which contributes to general well-being.

4 Positive educational gains virtually.

Innumerable, informative, and important talks and seminars of all industries become accessible online. They have been brought to our attention and it is up to us to make time to participate in continuous learning.

As a dentist, there is a sudden uptick in the number of dental educational webinars online that impart a remarkable amount of knowledge by renowned surgeons and practitioners all over the world. In the past, one would have to take a flight, book a hotel, and pay an exorbitant fee to attend these seminars, world exhibitions, and workshops.

Now, it is accessible through the meeting number and assigned password online at the time and date stated. The good news is that many of these courses and talks are free! It has really provided important insights into how dentistry is being practiced at a high standard all over the world. Speakers generously share their knowledge with some conducting live surgeries as well.

5 Slowing down the pace of life

With mandatory safe distancing and the wearing of masks, people have become more well behaved, so to speak. No more pushing and shoving at bus stops and train stations as people queue up systematically and patiently. They cough with restraint fearing angry stares from fellow commuters. Generally, mobile phones have become silent during travel as talking is discouraged.

At the dental clinic, appointments are spaced out so that the waiting room does not get crowded and patients feel comfortable. More time is allocated to each patient as the need for proper safe entry, hand sanitizing, digital record taking, and preparation of surgery rooms takes time.

Procedures become less hurried. Practitioners, assistants, and patients benefit from the slowdown of this ‘daily chase’ that has been unknowingly plaquing people in this hurry, hurry world. There is a perceptible sense of peace and happiness these days. Things are going well at the dental clinic. Life was not meant to be a numbers game.

Undoubtedly, the pandemic has hurt many industries but there are options to explore to beat the change or at least adapt to it. Given time, many will emerge victoriously or resume with some amazing ideas. Human beings, from time immemorial, have always overcome adversities.

Now is a difficult time but we must agree that “Difficulty is the mother of invention.” and we will prevail.

Thanks to my renewed interest in reading.

Recently, I developed a penchant for Mandarin.

I grew up in an environment where half of my siblings were schooled in Mandarin. My dad hailed from China in the 1920s as a young immigrant. He was a teacher and I used to be intrigued by his Mandarin accent.

When I was young, I sat in his class sometimes as a kid while he taught in the now-defunct Mandarin Hakka clan school but the language never did catch my fancy.

Until I reach this retiring age.

As I delve into reading about some Chinese idioms and common phrases, I started to fall in love with the metaphors of these expressions of which I am elaborating only three.

They became very meaningful to me and I often applied them in my daily living.

1 我们要雪中送炭不要雪上加霜。

Translated, this beautiful metaphor means we should try to bring charcoal to the snow and not add frost to the snow.

It sounds quite weird in English but the meaning is as follows ;

雪中送炭 – Bringing charcoal to the snow. In this scenario, the charcoal is brought to warm the snow and hence relieves the coldness.

In a difficult situation, it is to do something to alleviate somebody’s pain or discomfort.

For instance, if someone is in trouble and asks you for help, would you ignore or see if you can help? In my case, I will assess if it is within my capacity to assist. If not I could refer to someone who has the knowledge, resources, and willingness to help. By turning away, you are allowing the person to ‘freeze in the snow’, so to speak. Helping him is likened to bringing charcoal to his freezing state.

It would be most distressing to the person to launch into a lecture or a tirade against what he or she has or has not done. Because he has come to sought help in the first place.

If you bring charcoal to the snow ie you help in some way, you will see the relief, the smile, and the peace when the affected person is given hope and you feel happy and fulfilled in return.

In other words, do not bring frost to the snow 雪上加霜. This is putting frost on the snow, making it colder.

This is by nagging and scolding the person who is already distraught when he seeks help from you ie you are kicking a person who is already down.

In short, bring solutions and not add to the problems. I tried to apply this principle every day and found my peace of mind that I do not aggravate others. Even leaving a few words of kindness and encouragement is also a form of charcoal.

2 不要一口吃胖子 – Literal meaning is that ‘ Do not eat a fat person in one mouthful ‘

Again, it sounds awkward but this is one principle that already exists in the English lexicon. The English equivalent is “Do not bite off more than you can chew”.

However, I like the ‘fat person’ metaphor in Mandarin because it is more graphic and hence it sticks with me. It is my constant reminder to seek balance and not to overdo things.

For example, if I am overwhelmed by work, I would begin to space out my appointments so that the fewer patients have my undivided attention and the job gets done well even if it means less income.

My goal is to achieve 100% satisfaction in solving patients’ complaints.

Cramping a whole list of goals in a day is likened to eating up a fat person.

A classic eg; You want to hit 10,000 steps every day, have your diary of appointments back to back, close as many deals as possible and finish all your assignments by the end of the day and expect a full commitment for your family.

This puts a huge strain and stress on yourself and all the steps taken may be mediocre as there is a time crunch. Something or most of it will buckle. Maybe your sanity.

Spending excessively without saving at all is also a similar scenario. Landing yourself in a dire financial situation due to overspending is the result. Overeating is also like eating a fat person except you look like one.

The third Mandarin phrase of interest to me is 冰冻三尺非一日之寒。

Translated, it means three feet of ice does not form in a day. This idiom in English is known popularly as “ Rome was not built in a day”

This is another principle which I need to drum into my head every day.

Naturally impatient, I expected success but what I get is mediocrity sometimes either due to poor timing or due to being in a rush.

Everything takes time. Haste makes waste, it’s been proven.

To do a job or anything well, there are no shortcuts. We need to take action, understanding the basics, the structure, the intricacies of what makes anything tick.

Watch an apprentice work then compare his work to his master. The master has honed his skills for ages, probably made many mistakes, and corrected his ways until he arrives at the ultimate skill to produce his craft. He has reached the pink of perfection.

By the same token, when observing how someone is skillful at his job or anything else, we must remember that he must be an industrious, patient, and persistent person. The good news is that we all can become what we want to become given time and the tenacity to pursue our goals.

These three common expressions sound innocuous but they have helped me smoothen out my ice journey. Every time that I am caught in a sticky situation, I asked myself “Am I bringing charcoal to the snow or adding frost to the snow”? Am I eating a ‘fat man’. Do I know that “three feet of ice does not form in one day”?

By abiding by these are simple principles, I have largely stayed on course in my relationship with others, maintain balance in my life and stay calm in my pursuits.

Summer Lotus Sep 5 6 min read

Some steps that we may have overlooked in busy Singapore

Singapore is one of the most expensive cities to live in. However, the advantages of living in Singapore are many and it remains one of the most coveted cities in the world despite the high living costs.

In this era of global warming and climate change, it behooves everyone to do their part to conserve resources starting from the home. These habits should be adopted and will make a significant change in your bottom line.

To ameliorate these high-cost factors, one could exercise some effort to cut corners so to speak but legally of course. It requires us to be mindful of our way of living.

Here are a few suggestions (by no means exhaustive);

1 Water Usage —

Water is not cheap. In Singapore, water is not only imported and they incur costs to be purified. There are also treatment costs to produce water from our local catchment areas and unconventional sources, specifically Newater and desalinated water. In addition, there are storage and distribution costs to the population and the factories.

Considering the fact that Singapore cannot be reliant on the neighboring countries to supply water, it is our national duty to ‘save’ ourselves in times of urgency. Here are some ways, common but often overlooked.

1) Do not wash dishes under running water. At best, it could be a steady stream and the dishes could be soaked in a bigger container.

2) Wipe food off plates before soaping all dishes. It is cleaner hence is easier and faster to wash.

3) Oily pots and pans should be presoaked with soap water to make them easier to wash.

4) If you have a garden, collect rainwater which you can use to wash the backyard and toilet floors. Water can also be used for watering indoor plants and washing cars.

However, collected water should be utilized within two days to avoid breeding mosquitoes.

5) Use a cup when brushing teeth and a basin for washing your face which also collects water.

2 Electricity Usage

1) Use air-con only on very unbearably hot days. It should be set at 25 to 27 degrees in summer to ensure maximum energy efficiency. Switch to fans as far as possible. Also, set the timer on air-cons to be more precise.

2) Switch off all appliances when not in use.

3) Use LED (light-emitting diode) lights which save up to 90% compared to the traditional bulbs when using the same light output. Reasons:

a) LED panel lighting is highly energy-efficient and can save around 90% electricity as compared to incandescent lights and 50% as compared to CFLs(Compact Fluorescent lamps)

b) Reduce “light pollution” as the LED light is highly focused and so there is less scattered light in the environment.

c) LED lights do emit negligible heat to the environment because of their high efficiency to convert electricity to light. Consequently, they are good for plant growth as they do not add heat to the environment like conventional bulbs.

d)There is less emission of greenhouse gases.

e)They also do not contain some mercury like CFLs. CFLs contain about 4 mg of mercury which may be released if the latter is broken.

f) LED lights may last between 35,000 and 50,000 hours. This means that it would take a long time before the next replacement. It degrades and dims over time and is very safe.

4) Solar light is free energy and worth exploring. If they are charged adequately in direct sunlight, they will automatically function after dusk. They are dependent on weather conditions so may not be so bright after a cloudy or rainy day due to inadequate charging.

They are simple to install as they could be left out in the sun to charge but rechargeable batteries are used. Generally, the lights are less powerful but they provide great ambiance lights for the garden and walkway. They do not last as long as LED lights and need to be cleaned so that sunlight can be absorbed.

3 Cutting expenses on a daily basis

1 Choosing water as the beverage over cafe’s coffee and tea. Water is healthy and cheap. It is not only a very good habit to hydrate yourself, but it also makes your occasional trip to the cafe a rare and enjoyable one. Assuming that it cost $1 a bottle and you are bottling from home, that would be a saving of $350 a year.

2 Search for good buys on the internet using mobile apps. Whether it is goods or services, the internet offers innumerable websites where you can shop for things economically. Many enterprises have a presence on the internet as mobile apps which may be downloaded and you can find great deals ranging from clothes to food to services, etc.

The Fave mobile app has fave deals and fave pay. Fave deals offer discounted prices of items from many categories. These are pre-paid purchases that customers can redeem online or at physical stores.

Fave pay allows you to pay quickly at participating stores by scanning the store’s QR code with your smartphone and receive instant cashback. At the same time, you may earn partner cashback as much as 20% which is applied automatically on your next purchase at the same partner outlet. It does have an expiry date.

Grab App has many options that range from affordable travel rides to having your food delivered to your doorstep, saving time, petrol, and parking. You may also have a whole host of household necessities delivered to your home without hassle. Each Grabpay transaction will earn you more Grabreward points which can be used to redeem more goodies.

In Singapore (and several Asian countries), Carousell App is a marvelous platform that enables a user to sell underutilized or unused stuff that can generate some cash for customers. You may also come across good bargains from other sellers. It is really a win-win situation for buyers and sellers and helps save money.

4 Use your Credit cards wisely.

Knowing your budget and spending within your means enables you to save money.

Credit cards are a great convenience when it comes to payment. You can pay online, not carry a wad of dollars in your wallet and earn reward points. Many cards give cashback on purchase and some convert your spending into miles for your travel purposes.

All this is to your benefit if you spend within your means and pay off the outstanding balance by the due date. Otherwise, the amount one owes can become a runaway train. This snowball effect can lead to poor credit scores.

As a clear example, we have a bank’s credit card whose interest rate is 25% a year (many banks have increased their rates).

Assuming, your credit card bill is $5000 and the minimum sum is $50 a month.

You have decided to only pay the minimum sum of $50. Any unpaid balance and interest continue to be charged. At this rate, you would take 14.5 years to pay off and the total amount would be $13,500 or 3 X the original debt!

If you don’t pay the minimum sum by the due date, there will be a late fee and finance charge added to your next bill that attracts interest.

In addition, be aware that a credit card has an annual fee subscription(though the first year is free) and this is added to your bill. It may be reversed out if you contact your bank. Replacement cards also may be charged and any advance withdrawal of cash also attracts fees.

In short, credit cards are for short-term payments and not long-term loans. Being mindful of how a credit card works can help one to tap on its conveniences and benefits without getting into financial trouble.

5 Remortgage your housing loan

Unless you are flushed with cash, most people in Singaporeans are on a housing loan as the cost of housing is exorbitant by any world standard. It is not uncommon as we are busy with our daily lives, that payments are drawn from our accounts to pay off the loan without us realizing that we could pay the loan at a cheaper, prevailing rate.

Refinancing your house saves money as you may get a lower interest rate or reduce the loan term without changing the amount much. The best person to speak with is your bank officer.

6 Take care of your health

Health is Wealth as they say. Though you may be covered by insurance that protects you from the inevitable, taking care of your health in all the ways that we already know goes a long way to save costs.

In conclusion, it is about living smart with your money. This list is by no means exhaustive but they are practical everyday activities that we could perform to reduce unnecessary high bills. Living in Singapore may be expensive but not exercising caution in the way we live our lives can make it expensive anywhere we stay in the world.