A few scattered coins

Buying yourself more time… literally!

Some things in life simply don’t make sense – for example I recently read that it’s possible to sail faster than the wind. Think about it: how can you go faster than the thing that’s pushing you without introducing an external force? Yes, it’s possible. Another counterintuition I’ve discovered, this time relevant to everyday life, is that money can buy time. I was brought up with Asian values, which is to say practicality trumps everything when it comes to finances. A perfect illustration of this is if one of your grandparents overseas died, and you don’t attend the funeral because […]

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Jolly good time to shop, wot wot!

With the Aussie Dollar currently trading at a 25-year high against the Pound Stirling, it’s the perfect time to grab a bargain. Here are a few places you’ll want to check out: Book Depository For seasoned Internet shoppers, the Book Depository would probably have been the first place that came to mind. Offering prices cheaper than almost anywhere else on- or off-line, and with free international shipping, it’s a popular destination for book lovers and students alike. Amazon UK Everybody knows about its brother in the US, but Amazon also has a presence in other countries (including Japan and China). […]

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Bloomin’ generosity

I’ve spoken a lot about saving money on THRIFTerrific, but as they say: you can’t take it with you to the grave. I believe that generosity is an act that doesn’t have returns that can be measured in dollars; it’s an investment in your own humanity, which some might say has spiritual benefits. Far be it for me to tell you how to spend your time and money, but I would occasionally like to use this blog to highlight various charities or non-profit organisations that I feel are worth contributing to, especially in this season when you’re likely to be […]

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Conjure up the savings on foreign exchange

[Update: As of November 2010, the Wizard Clear Advantage Mastercard was rebranded as 28 degrees Mastercard due to GE Money no longer having the rights to the name after selling Wizard Home Loans back in 2009. Other than the branding change, the card functions in exactly the same way as the old one.] Need a break? I certainly do. Luckily for me I’m going on holiday next week, and as part of the trip we’ll be visiting a couple of the major Asian destinations, Hong Kong and Korea. Of course shopping will be very high on the list of things […]