Category: Branding

Buy and Sell Gold

Gold is one of the most popular precious metal investments of all time. Gold was once used as the golden standard and relatively standard for currency equivalents for economy.  Gold has been the most effective standards across other precious metals.

Gold Prices Today

Pure gold or 999 gold is going for the market rate of S$87/gm.  This can be purchased or invested through UOB Bank or GoldPrice Org or Bullion Star. 

Maxicash at retail is selling 999 gold at the rate of $103/gm and SK Jewellery, Goldheart and Poh Heng Retail is going or the rate of $108/gm.

916 gold is at $97/gm at Maxicash retail while $102/gm at SK Jewellery & Goldheart & Poh Heng.

Gold Design and Labour Costs

Many of us purchase from retail and spend a lot more on not just the retail value of the gold but also the labour costs imposed by the retailers on the items. Sometimes labour costs can amount to about 10-30% of the total price of the gold item.

Gold Jewelries and Deco for Daily Or Ocassional Wear

If you are buying gold jewelry or gold bars for everyday or occasional wear and deco, buying from retailers seem to be the easiest methods.  That is because they are easily available and you get to choose and pick the designs and styles that you like.  Moreover, as these are lifetime investments and you do not plan to sell them, the price paid that seems reasonable to you should suffice and is justified in such purchases.

Gold For Investments

However, if you are buying gold for long term investments or future resale, then it is good to hunt for the best gold price.

As gold in Singapore and Malaysia are pretty similar, I usually try to hunt for gold and their good designs online.  There are a few gold shops online that you can check out for reference of gold prices available to you for purchase.

Are you an avid coins or notes collector? If you are, check out the new $10 coin to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of Lee Kuan Yew.

MAS launched this limited edition of the gold-coloured LKY100 coin at the MAS website. Each coin is sold at face value of S$10. However, the application for purchase is through ballot application, with maximum coin application of 5 coins per person. Depending on the number of applications, each applicant may be getting one coin to five coins.

The application for purchase are open to Singaporeans and Singapore PR from now till 9 June.

How To Purchase Online

You can submit your application to purchase the LKY100 coin online, and choose where to collect your coins. On completion of your application, a sms message will be sent to your registered mobile immediately to inform you that an official notification of your successful bid will be sent to you from mid August 2023 through sms, with collection starting in September.

No upfront payment is required, payment can be made at the time of collection at your selected bank branch. once you receive the sms confirmation in August.

You are reminded that the message will be sent to you with no clickable link and purchase or collections will be via the outlet that you choose at the application.

Collection of the coins can be made at the nearest outlet in DBS and POSB, OCBC and UOB as well as the Bank of China, HSBC, Maybank and Standard Chartered.

In fact, people who require in-person assistance can also submit their applications via any community club or community centre, or the ServiceSG centres at Our Tampines Hub and One Punggol.

LKY100 Coin at Face Value of S$10 per piece

The coins will be minted in aluminium bronze. The coins will have a diameter of 30mm, making them about 22 per cent larger than the Third Series S$1 coins currently in circulation.

“The coin pays tribute to his strategic vision, boldness and indomitable spirit that transformed Singapore from a regional trading port to a global manufacturing, business and financial hub, creating opportunities for all Singaporeans,” MAS said in a news release.

This special coin was designed by local artist Weng Ziyan, whose previous works include banknotes commemorating Singapore’s 50th year of independence, Singapore’s bicentennial and the 50th anniversary of the Brunei-Singapore Currency Interchangeability Agreement.

Remember to submit your application before 9 June 2023.

You should be receiving your sms by today, 22 August or the next few days, to inform you of the success of your application. The sms will have information of the number of coins allocated for purchase, place and time of collection. You are to show your successful sms and NRIC at the point of collection.

Supplies of goods or services that you make on or after 1 Jan 2023, you must charge GST at 8%. For instance, if you issue an invoice and receive payments for your supply on or after 1 Jan 2023, you must account for GST at 8%. 

If you are a GST-registered business that is subject to reverse charge (“RC business”), you must account for GST at 8% on the services you procure from overseas suppliers (“imported services”) on or after 1 Jan 2023.  

They called it smart shopping. Singaporeans go on their shopping spree for big tickets items, these last few days of 2022.  This is due to the GST hike from 7-8%, a mere 1 % hike.

To many, that means a lot. If you are purchasing big ticket items like houses, cars, renovations, furnitures, savings can be substantial.

With this GST hike many are spending more than they need, in order to mere savings of the 1% hike.  The upbeat shopping spree can be seen offline and online. Consumers can be seen, attempting to get their purchases before the hike. Despite the negative impact of pandemic to the economy, many are seen shopping.

As many can see, the pandemic did not make any damages of assets to the rich.  In fact, the rich becomes richer and the poor poorer.  How is that so?  That is because the rich does their purchases all year long. The rich only buy necessary merchandise or profit earning merchandises, while the poor stack their purchases in order to flaunt their extra cash or to save the mere 1% tax hike.

So, please do not rush into shopping and spending thousands and tens of thousands of dollars, just to save a mere few hundred or few dollars.  Think smart, act smart!  

I must say I am pretty impressed with the better services provided by foodpanda. The app and delivery service used to be 3 stars and have recently improved and personally, i feel their service is as good, if not better than grab delivery service.

Grab and foodpanda are two companies who have been benefitting and enjoying growth and expansion, since the pandemic.

Food Vendors

Many food vendors and shop had no choice, but to move to online platforms, in order to bring the income in and ensure that their food are sold if not sold out. Now, food delivery platforms like grab, foodpanda and deliveroo have managed to grasps this opportunity.

Food Delivery Staff

In fact, these delivery suppliers have grew the working population. People of all ages, races and gender can simply sign up to be their delivery staff.

Though hard work and lots of physical movements required, many have jumped onto this bandwagons that provide good employment for many , regardless of the pandemic situation. The hard earned money is decent, and if one is hardworking, can earn up to S$3K to S$4K per month.

Cost to Consumer for Convenience Offered

And though these online delivery services company offer the best alternative for remote ordering and clearing of food for food vendors, who if not, would have to suffer a much more wounded income, the companies charge the vendors and consumers a fee, in order to provide this convenient service.

I mean sometimes, if I cater in my transport fee, it is quite worth the while to pay some difference to benefit the convenience and hassle free service. And moreover, I get to have more time to do other stuff.

Fees & Convenience

In fact, some vendors hike up their unit prices in order to cover the fees, passing on the charges to the paying consumers.

Consumers being able to enjoy the convenience of not travelling to purchase food and receiving their orders piping hot, while they enjoy the comfort of their home or office, bears the costs,

Hence, sometimes it is quite interesting to check on different food delivery service company and see the differences in prices for the same food ordered.

Good Enhanced Service

Oh ya, this post was triggered by the good service that food panda has given. I ordered three packets of laksa and rojak, few days ago and experienced delayed order. It was about 3.45 pm and I was ok with the delay as I ordered the food for dinner. When the food arrived, I noticed that the rojak sauce spilled and messed up my laksa packs.

Though it was not a big deal, I took a picture and sent it to the cs for feedback, hoping that the future packaging would improve. So, I was surprised when I received a response from them that they regretted this incident and would give me 100% refund on my order!

Of course this would be paid by the food vendor, but it is a good feedback loop for them to pack their items properly, in order to prevent spillage when transported by the grab delivery service guys/gals.

Repeat Customers due to Good CS Provided

Yes, I was so pleasantly surprised. And of course, the following day, I ordered from them again and double the quantity ordered as I had this positive experience with them.

So, their good customer service gained them repeated customers again. For the platform as well as the food provider, as I do enjoy the laksa and rojak a lot.

I am not sure if I am biased due to the good service I received from foodpanda or not. But, I realised that foodpanda platform service fees seems to be lower than grab’s these days!

What are your thoughts on the foodpanda, grab or deliveroo service provider in your area?

Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2021! May you enjoy good health, excellent well being, happy home and relationships and prosperous manifestation! Huattt ahhh!! Huattt ah!!

2020 has been a special year that all of us will remember for ever. It has been a year filled with unique trials and experiences. Regardless of all the changes and restrictions imposed upon us on 2020, we must admit that it has been a year where we really focus on what really matters to us, our life, our health and our happiness. Thank you 2020! Thank you covid-19! Thank you frontliners! Thank you governments! Thank you fellow citizens and friends who have been keeping each other safe, amidst the chaos we saw in 2020!

So, what is your resolutions for 2021? Will you be re-cycling your resolutions from 2020?

Will you be focusing more on health and happiness? Or will you be focusing on building your wealth this year? Or will you be focusing on education and upgrading of your skills and knowledge? Whatever, it may be, we wish you all the best and may you enjoy every moments of your journey in this wonderful 2021!

Be Healthy and Happy!

2021 is the year for you! A year to be healthy and happy. Re-discover how you can start your year by enhancing on your overall well-being.

Be Prosperous!

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