IM-Myth - A limited period opportunity!

I came across this IM-Myth as something that has spread across many PTC sites. As usual, who bothers to read the sites that they clicked? However, this one caught my attention.. with this line that says..

"..we'll also send you $1 for everyone you refer to this report!.."

This is the line that caught my attention. I was thinking, if the report was free, how can he sustain the distribution to the internet population which boast millions or billions or surfers each day? Then I saw the catch: This opportunity last for few days only. Then I think about it, paced up and down the room, and decided that this could be a viable opportunity. Afterall, what's the cost of trying? Nothing. Perhaps a few hours of your time trying to refer to friends over MSN or Email?

Therefore what are you waiting for? Do some referring work for the next few days and see if you can grab some bucks over the weekend!

1. Earn $1 for each person you refer
2. Earn $0.50 for each person your referral refers

Just try to hit this target. Refer 10 people yourself. And encourage them to refer 10 too. How much will you earn? $60! Need I say more?

Such lucrative payout rates are hard to come by, especially for something that cost you nothing.
There is no time to lose as this is a limited period opportunity!

Sign up here for a free account now! Start referring your friends! :)

Earnings Associated With Socializing - SGClub

Have the habit of socializing via online forums? Why not get paid for doing so? SGClub pays SGC$1.20 per post and SGC$3.50 per thread started! Every SGC$1000 will be converted into S$10!

SGClub has many sub-forums with topics ranging from travel to current affairs. You can talk about anything under the sun! However, they are very strict on spammers. Please post only content of value to other readers.

Personal opinions

I personally enjoyed socializing in this forum because of the many many topics available. I've learnt something new everyday since I participated in this forum. The latest news, opinions on business models, shopping deals, delicious food etc..

SGClub rewards your referring efforts! You earn 20% of your referrals' SGC$. Please do not see this as a get-rick-quick scheme. Instead, see this as an opportunity to widen your social circle and expose yourself to differing opinions by the many SGClubbers in the forum. The monetary reward is just an incentive to encourage participation.

If your primary aim is to make big bucks out of this, please do not join. Otherwise, you will be disappointed.

For those who are interested to mingle around and make more friends in forums, this is the opportunity for you! Its absolutely free! You can't pay even if you want to.

Click Here to Sign Up Now!

P.S The red line is really important.

Make Your Savings Go A Longer Way!

Savings is an essential financial aspect in everyone's life. Who can afford not to save? We never know what tomorrow will bring. We save for emergencies, future needs or even to pass on to our next generation.

Singapore's savings interest rates is regarded as low compared to many other countries. However, we have limited choice. While people in other countries are able to live off interest from a large principal sum for the rest of their lives, it is practically impossible in Singapore, unless you are a multi-millionaire. Despite the low interest rates, people are still finding means and ways to maximize their returns from their savings.

For average people like us, where do we maximize our savings?

Savings <$5000:
Standard Chartered Bank e$aver Account
Interest rate: 1.5% per annum

Savings $5000-$49999:
MayBank iSavvy Account
Interest rate: 1.68% per annum

Savings >$50000:
Standard Chartered Bank e$aver Account
Interest rate: 2.0% per annum

Each of the above accounts comes with different set of terms and conditions, and possesses advantages as well as disadvantages over one another. Do read up more on the account before signing up for an account.

For a well-balanced account, I will strongly recommend FairPrice Plus Savings account, NTUC FairPrice's partnership with OCBC which offers 1.0% per annum interest rate for all balances.

While traditional big banks like POSB/DBS and UOB are still the natural choice for most savers, people who would like to maximize their savings may consider the few accounts I suggested above.

"Savings goes a long way" Make it go even further. Maximize your savings now!

Is Degree That Important?

The previous generation often emphasizes on the importance of education in order to land a good-paying and secure job. In the past, it may be true. A degree 30 years ago was seen as a pre-requisite criteria to achieve success or a passport to high-paying jobs. However, does this belief hold in today's volatile world?

I grew up in a middle class family. My parents often tell me to do well in school and get a degree in order get a job in the office. Wear nice clothes, air-conditioned workplace... which appealed very much to me then as I saw my dad returning home from his job as a contractor feeling exhausted everyday.

Lack of maturity during my childhood years led me to believing that degree will eventually lead me to a comfortable life in future. It motivated me to study hard and achieve good grades to a certain extent. However, as time passed by, I realized the world was more complicated. The picture was not as rosy as painted by my parents. Especially after I entered University, where I learnt that companies looked out for many other factors besides your academic performance.

So why are the degree papers so highly sought after?

Education only serves as a headstart for most people. A better education profile will probably improve your chances of employment and secure a higher salary. I can't think of any further benefits. From the point you are employed, you are judged on your performance. No longer is the degree your trump card.

Have you heard of someone being promoted because he has scored 3As in his 'A' levels in the past? Or received a bonus due to excellent academic performance in the past? Promotion, pay increments or bonuses are based on performance. Its your performance that counts, not your degree.

Therefore, in my view, the degree is not really as important as made out to be. What truly matters is your work performance, not your paper qualifications.

P.S Please do not take this as an excuse for not doing well in school. There are still benefits of education.

Metro Closing Sale!

After the GST hike, the word "SALE" appealed to ever more people. And the phrase "50% and another further 30% discount!" literally send waves of people to jam up the place, as if the items were give-aways.

During my not-so-wise trip on a saturday afternoon, I managed to snapped up a Pierre Cardin top and belt plus a Goldlion top. Indeed, my total savings exceeded my spending. Pleased with my buys, I made my way to the exit and accidentally overheard this conversation.

Auntie #1: "Hey, Metro got sale! 80% discount!"
Auntie #2: "Really? So cheap?"
Auntie #1: "Ya. See the board? 50% plus further 30%"

I won't blame the education system for teaching them addition. However, they lack the understanding of simple financial concepts like discount. That is sheer financial illiteracy or pure ignorance. Please note, I am not criticizing their level of intelligence. And I am sure there are many others who are as gullible as them.

Effectively, the discount was 65%, not 80%. The word "further" made a big difference to the whole meaning. Though most people will see through the marketing strategy deployed by Metro, few are still in the dark.

Anyway, be it 65% or 80%, we are subconsciously practising the concept of minimizing expenses, which is beneficial to anyone except impulsive shoppers. I being a very calculative person where money matters (trait of an accountant), spent $170 for 7 items in few receipts over 2 days. Total savings that I've enjoyed amounts to nearly $300.

If you have any apparels or clothings to buy, don't hesitate! Go to Metro now! Just don't go in the belief of an 80% discount. :P

P.S. The discount does not apply store-wide.

Asset vs Liability

I have heard many positive reviews about the book "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" written by Robert Kiyosaki. Driven by my interest and curiosity in financial success recently, I picked up the book at Times, and never regretted.

Being a thrifty saver (in other words a miser), I never buy the book. Not because it is not worth it, but due to the price. However, I have been dropping by Times to read the book using the identity of a perfectly random browser in the store.

One of the greatest lessons I have picked up (so far) is the building of one's asset column.

Asset (noun)
1. a useful and desirable thing or quality
2. a single item of ownership having exchange value
3. items of ownership convertible into cash

The aforementioned definition belongs to the dictionary. However, according to Rich Dad, asset is something that brings about future economic benefit. To put it simply, it puts money into your pocket in future. On the other hand, he defines liability as something that takes money away from you in future.

He went on further to explain why the rich gets richer whereas the poor gets poorer. It is all but a simple logic. The poor mistakes liability as an asset, and incurs costs in future, reducing the purchasing power for real asset. The rich correctly identifies and buys assets, and generate more money which in turn is used to purchase more asset.

Therefore, according to Rich Dad, to get rich, one must build a good foundation of assets in order to generate future cashflows. This is perhaps what they call "making your money work for you". Effortless money isn't it?

Now the trick is, can you identify assets correctly?

Where's the income?

As a full-time undergraduate, the income options are limited. By income, I exclude allowance, which is what your parents give for no work exchanged.

Passive income is one option. Network Marketing or Insurance are just some of the opportunities to build passive income. However, to build a steady stream of passive income, a lot of attention and effort is required in the starting phase. As undergrads, we probably cannot afford the time, energy and attention.

While full-time jobs are almost impossible, what are the common jobs that generates income for undergraduates?

Weekend sales promoters are rather common, especially in the IT-products market. Brands like Canon, Epson, Acer have weekend sales promoter to push sales during weekends.

Temporary sales promoters are also very common e.g. roadshows and IT fairs. You are only required to commit for a few days.

I've worked in PC-SHOWs before, earning around $500 in 4 days. Although the pay is good, the income is not regular. How long can the one-time $500 last you?
In my opinion, Tuition is by far the best option available to any undergraduate. If you have good time management, earning a regular yet attractive income from tuition is possible.

Good pay-per-hour ensures a decent pay despite the short hours worked. Flexible schedule allows the undergraduate to manage time efficiently.

Moreover, as undergrads, we have higher credibility, and naturally higher chances of being engaged. I was paid $33/hr for three of my six tuition students in the past few months! The monthly income was hovering in the lucrative region of $2K.

There are many other options available too. I merely discussed about the common opportunities that is available.

The challenge is, how well can you manage your time in order to earn yet achieve the desired grades?