You can’t stop shopping — even when you are breaking the bank or fighting with your spouse over spending habits. Honey, it’s time to understand why you’re burning up your cash, and how to start doing something about it. By: Ng Lin-Li The words “Sale” and “Half Off” get you most excited. But even without discounts, the prospect of buying something (though you know you shouldn’t) makes your heart pound. While it is natural to like new and beautiful things, compulsive spending habits can spell trouble in the long run. They can seriously...

Job loss or unexpected costs from a medical crisis or car accident may leave you heavily in debt. It helps to have an emergency fund stashed away for times of crisis. Nanz Inc explains how to save for contingencies. By: Ng Lin-Li Why do I need an emergency fund? Life is unpredictable and you need to be prepared to weather the rainy days. An emergency stash exists to tide you over in lean times and help you to survive. With a sizeable emergency stash, you would have sufficient funds to provide for your family while finding another job, or while...

With a little bundle of joy on its way, additional expenses are inevitable. This is a good time as any to review your lifestyle to figure out how to wisely trim spending and yet be able to provide a good quality of life for your offspring. Here are some ways to get started. By: Ng Lin-Li 1) Clear out the house and make some money along the way. You need to clear out that room to fix it up for Baby anyway. Do you have an old wireless router or television lying around? List them for sale online on websites such as Mocca.com or have a garage sale...

The most fundamental step towards financial independence is to keep track of every cent that comes into or goes out of your life. By getting a better understanding of your spending habits and financial resources, you will be able to take better control of your bank account. By: Melanie Lee “Now, where did all my money go?” If you’re asking yourself this every month, it’s time to take control of your expenditure. While most of us think that tracking expenses is a tedious, effort-intensive task, the fact is, you really don’t need a lot...

With Christmas coming up, who wouldn’t love some spare shopping cash? Nanz Inc.Com suggests some smart ways you can start increasing your inflow of money — not just for this season but every month. By: Audra Lim Most spend their lives chasing it, while others never seem to have enough of it. Money. The Holy Grail that supposedly brings with it promises of everlasting happiness, pleasure and excitement. While those promises aren’t entirely true, it is always nice to have a little extra cash, just for that decadent Ritz Carlton Champagne...

The first step to gaining control of your finances is to get out of debt. Here are some practical tips to go from red to black. By Melanie Lee Face the music. At some point, you need to face the harsh reality of the extent of your debt. Ignoring unpaid bills and avoiding creditor calls is no the way to deal with the issue.  Consolidate your bills and work out how much you owe in total.  An honest assessment of the debt situation is the start towards a debt-free life! Get your facts straight. Be fully aware of your resources.  Take note of how...

Here are some valuable tips on how to get your children on the right financial track. For Ryan Soh, CEO of MoneyTree (an organization that provides financial educational programmes for children), it’s never too early to get children to manage their finances. “The economy is moving at a rapid pace and understanding how money works become a basic requirement in order to effectively improve our lives and plan for our future,” he explains. In addition, there’s also been the worrying trend of many young adults below 30 in Asia finding themselves...

It may take a few minutes out of your day, but making a habit of organizing your financial life will save you money and help you gain control of your finances. Sherry makes $8,000 a month. Yet, she finds herself with less than $50 in her account by the end of the next month. “I don’t understand it, I don’t know where it all goes!” she says in frustration. That might sound familiar: making money is one thing; keeping it is another thing altogether. Many people think that the trick is to make more money than you can spend — but that line...

Are you headed for a financial storm, but still in complete denial? Are you part of the 10% of Singaporean women who have planned for their future, or one of the 90% who are totally unprepared? It’s time to stop and smell the truth about money. The average earning power of a woman in Singapore is $0.73 to every $1 a man makes, according to a 2008 Report on Wages by the Ministry of Manpower. But that women are paid less for what looks like the same job is not the key issue. The looming problem is that women in Singapore are growing poorer...

It doesn’t have to be your money or your life — you can have both if you know how to manage your finances smartly. With the global economy in a slump, it is apparent that financial independence for the modern Asian woman is not a luxury, but a necessity. As we become more educated and are provided with more opportunities to have viable careers in the workforce, it is important to think about what we do with our earnings. To sustain financial health and success, and to simply live better, we must be aware of our tendencies and fears when it...