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Rent or Buy: Which Is the Better Decision for You?

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Whether you are for buying or renting a piece of property, this argument—about whether to purchase or lease a place to live in—is almost as old as time. Some claim that buying a home is a wise decision because it means that you will eventually stop having to pay for rent at some point in your life, and you gain equity. On the other hand, people say that renting is a much wiser option because it means you will not be stuck paying the same mortgage for the rest of your life.

Both arguments definitely have their own pros and cons, but how will you then know which one you should go for? While there is no one answer that can suit every single person on the planet, there are certain factors that you have to consider so that the answer can become much clearer to you. In this article, we will talk about the pros and cons of buying and renting, and why you would want to choose one option over the other.

The Case for Buying Your Own Place to Live In

Pro: You will eventually have a place of your own, filed under your own name.

This one may seem like more of a form of having some bragging rights, but it is hard to deny the social status that you can gain if you can say that you have bought your own home with your own hard-earned money. Plus, at a certain point, you will eventually no longer have to shell out any additional money in order to stay there, compared to renting a place, where you will have to put down money for a long period of time to stay there, and you will not end up with a property that you can call your very own.

Con: Your house might not actually be worth all that much in terms of today’s money.

Sure, at least you can say that you fought off the effects of inflation in some way, so that your money did not end up simply depreciating in the bank. However, that is assuming that your home actually did increase in value, and did not depreciate, either. That can be hard to tell, especially given the housing crisis that shook the world a few years ago. Who says that the same scenario would not happen again? Plus, your house is not exactly in cash form, yet, not until you sell it, and it can be hard to sell depending on the state of the economy. Instead, just invest your hard-earned cash into actual cash investments. At least you will not have to deal with the headache of listing your home and walking potential buyers around. According to an article on CNBC, you must also consider what is often called the Breakeven Horizon.

Prices of Sentosa Cove Condominimums Down A Whopping 36% From Its 2011 Peak. Image Credit: 99.co

The Case for Renting Your Own Place to Live In

Pro: You will have a much more flexible lifestyle.

If you are the type of person who is always jetting from one country to another, then renting is absolutely perfect for your needs. You can even easily find a good number of service apartment on a property listings site called PropertyGuru Singapore, which is popular due to its ease of use and as well as its large database. But this kind of living situation is not just for people who love to travel; it can also be for people who have to constantly go from one continent to another in order to conduct business meetings and other such work for the office. For example, if you were to be promoted but it requires having to be relocated to a completely different part of the globe, then you would be in a lot of hot water if you found yourself tied to a mortgage contract that will not end until a decade or two (or three) down the line.

Con: You may not be able to customize your home as much.

If you are the type of person who lives for home improvement and modifications, then you might be in for a sad day-to-day experience if you decide to lease a property instead. While there are some landlords who might allow you to do a little improvement here and there, most landlords forbid you from adding anything to their units for fear of you breaking their purchased property, as well as making things more complicated once you finally move out and the new tenant does not like the improvements that you have made.

Questions You Can Ask Yourself to Make a Better Choice

According to an article on The New York Times, there are quite a number of things you could think about in order to see which option would be the best for you in the long run. Here are a few of them:

• Are you planning to stay in that location for a long period of time, perhaps over several years of your life?

• Do you have a high tolerance when it comes to anything involving large amounts of risk, in case the value of your home depreciate in the future?

• Will you be able to pay for all of the costs involved with buying a home, including taxes, insurance, and even closing costs?

In Conclusion: Look at All Possible Points of View Before Signing Any Contract

Just remember that no one solution fits every individual, because every single person has a very specific set of needs, wants, as well as the current situation they are in; such as how financially stable they are and what they want to achieve in their life. Regardless of which option you choose, make sure to base your final decision on your own needs, and do not do something just because somebody else said that it worked for them and that it is the one right answer for everything. With a much more critical way of looking at the world and at the real estate situation, you should be able to make a grounded decision with both your feet on the ground instead of basing things on gut feelings and premonitions.

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How to Clean Out an Apartment Before Moving Out

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Moving out of an apartment can be a difficult experience. Make sure that you are sufficiently prepared for your move-out inspection by properly cleaning out your apartment before moving out. You would not want to lose out on your security deposit or accrue any additional damage fees. Also, if you are looking to move into another apartment, consider beginning your search with sites like PropertyGuru .
Here are some tips and tricks for cleaning out your apartment before moving out:

Contact Your Utility Companies

It is best to start the cleaning process by contacting your utility companies and ensuring that you have a date set to turn off your utilities like water, gas, and electricity. If possible, you should try to transfer these utilities to your new house or apartment to avoid any introductory or set-up fees.

Clean and Fix Up The Walls

Clean those walls! This means removing any and all staples and nails you have in the walls, ceilings, and doors of the apartment. You should also wash the walls with a magic sponge (you can get them at Daiso). Remove any scuff-marks on the walls, doors and floors. Make sure to test your magic sponge first, as it can clean some paints off the wall. If necessary, paint over the scuff-marks with a fresh coat of paint. However, you might want to check with your landlord to make sure that this is allowed in your contract. Many landlords don’t allow you to paint the walls. If you are allowed to paint the walls, make sure that it is a neutral colour the landlord approves of. Colours like white, tan or beige are suitable.

Clean Up Your Kitchen

Start the kitchen cleaning process by filling a sink with warm water and adding plenty of dish detergent to the water. Then you can begin cleaning various parts of the kitchen:

  • Refrigerator: You should remove all of the shelves and drawers from the refrigerator and freezer before beginning the cleaning process, according to Apartment Therapy. At this point, you should have removed any leftover food from the fridge, since you are nearing the end of your lease anyway. Place these shelves and drawers in the dishwasher or simply wash them by hand. Then dip a sponge into the dishwasher and wipe down the interior of the fridge to remove any nasty food buildup. Make sure you clean the tiny compartments in the fridge where you keep your butter, eggs and condiments. Wipe down and dry the shelves, then place them back in your fridge.
  • Oven: You can use one to two cans of oven cleaner to clean the oven. Make sure that you read the safety directions carefully, since some cleaners require gloves or goggles. Protect your floor from dripping cleaner by placing newspaper or something in front of the oven to protect it. Coat the oven with cleaner and let sit for 24 hours. Make sure you do not turn on the oven during this time period. Use a sponge and paper towels to wipe down all surfaces and rinse with clean water. Then make sure that the vent above the stove is clean and the light bulbs in the overhead hood are functioning.
  • Cabinets: Use a multi-purpose cleaner on your cabinets, making sure to clean both the interior and exterior.
  • Light Fixtures: Make sure that the light fixtures are clean and do not have any dead insects in them. Give your glass fixture covers a wipe down as well.
  • Surfaces: Make sure that you thoroughly wipe down the front of the fridge, the stove range and all counter tops as well as the exterior and interior of all your appliances.
  • Sink: Drain the water from the sink and wipe down both the sink and faucet. You can use a powdered cleanser and old toothbrush or small brush to scrub around edges of fixtures.
  • Floor: Sweep and thoroughly mop the floor. You will need to move the stove and refrigerator to really clean the floor well.

Clean Your Bathrooms

Clean the sink, tub, toilet and shower and make sure to remove any buildup and wipe down all fixtures. You should also clean the mirrors and medicine cabinet and don’t forget the light fixtures! Then sweep and mop the bathroom floor, making sure to get any residue built up around the toilet.

Clean Your Bedrooms

Wipe down your closet shelves and clean any mirrors. Treat any carpet spots and vacuum the carpet. On wooden floors, use oil soap and mop the floors thoroughly. Make sure to also clean any windows and windowsills.

Fix Up Your Living Room and Dining Room

Clean the windows and wash the blinds in your living room, den and dining room. Measure and replace any broken blinds if needed. Make sure to clean the blades of the ceiling fan, if you have one, and as always, don’t forget those light fixtures! If necessary, replace burnt out light bulbs and make sure to upgrade to brighter bulbs. Vacuum or mop the floors and treat the carpet spots if needed.

Sweep The Exterior

If you have a rental house, make sure to clean the exterior such as the balcony, patio and doors. Also, make sure to remove any garbage bags from the apartment and place the garbage cans at the curb if necessary before your inspection. If needed, make sure that outside lights are working as well.

Photograph The Apartment

Once your house is ready for inspection after a thorough home cleaning, make sure that you take plenty of pictures of your apartment to keep for your records in case you are ever wrongly blamed by the landlord for damaging your apartment. You can send these photos and a written description to your landlord or property manager and ask them to sign off on it. Mail the photographs to yourself as well, so that you have a postmark on the envelope to help prove the date that you cleaned the apartment before leaving.

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I Drove Uber For 3 Weeks and This Is What I Think!

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It has been more than 2 weeks since I last blogged and it is not because I am quitting social media altogether. Rather, I have been “forced” by Uber to drive 5 hours a day, 5 days a week for 5 weeks and I don’t even have time for my own personal leisure!
Well, I wasn’t exactly forced to drive. In fact, I made the decision to drive with Uber so that I can have a first-hand experience of the challenges that Uber drivers are facing and also shed some light on the guaranteed earnings that Uber is promoting heavily.

Through this blog post, I hope that it will also help people make a well-informed decision before signing up to drive for Uber or GrabCar (since both offers quite similar services).

Some Background Information…

I rented a 2006 Kia Cerato, Car Plate Number SJP2784E, which is registered under the company, Lion City Rentals (Company Registration Number: 201504621K) for 5 weeks and the rental for the car cost SGD$420 a week. For 5 weeks, it cost me SGD$2,100. Just so you know, Lion City Rentals is a car rental company that is fully owned by Uber.

The Kia Cerato that I rented isn’t well-maintained and there were quite a number of dents, bumps, stains, and scratches. The front wheels were quite botak (bare) and the brakes were lousier than my Kia Picanto. There’s nothing to rave about the car interior and the only positive thing about the car is the large rear trunk space.

According to the information that I gathered, the Kia Cerato was transferred to Lion City Rentals in late November and it is due for scrap in early April next year. Based on my current rental rate, the car would have generated 4 months of rental revenue which would amount to SGD$7,980. Coupled with the PARF Rebate of SGD$6,855 that Lion City Rental will get when the car is de-registered, the company would have gotten SGD$14,835!


So… is driving Uber profitable?

Yes and No.

If you own a fully paid-up diesel vehicle that is registered under your company’s name with a commercial car insurance and you use it to drive full-time (8 to 12 hours a day) for Uber, then yes, it might be profitable.

But if you rent a vehicle that runs on petrol to drive for Uber, it is not profitable at all and your earnings will go downhill if you are planning to drive part-time. Should you plan to drive part-time, your earnings may barely be enough to cover the rental of the car.

What’s with all those incentives that Uber is giving to drivers?

Well… they come with a lot of terms and conditions and furthermore, the incentives can be changed anytime at the discretion of Uber. For the SGD$5000 guaranteed earnings, drivers need to be online 240 hours in the first month (of which 140 hours need to be peak hours) and drivers must accept 80% of all trip requests.

Let’s take another incentive that Uber offers its drivers for the 1st week of December 2015. Looking at the table, if a driver drives all of the peak hours (which is 74 hours a week), the drivers are guaranteed to earn SGD$1998 a week.

Looks promising right?

But the fact is, from the SGD$1998, Uber will deduct a 20% service fees and that will equate to SGD$1598.40. Minus away the car rental which in my case is SGD$420 a week and the petrol which will amount to at least SGD$450, what a driver takes home is approximately SGD$728.40 (which is about SGD$9.84/peak hour).

SGD$1998 – 20 % (Uber Service Fee) = SGD$1598

SGD$1598 – SGD$420 (Car Rental Cost) – SGD$450 (Petrol Cost) = SGD$728.40

SGD$728.40 / 74 peak hours = SGD$9.84 per peak hour (after deducting all the costs)

So… if you work backwards, an Uber driver will need to work at least 43 peak hours a week just to cover the cost of the car rental (assuming rental is SGD$420 and earnings per peak hour is SGD$9.84) and if he chooses to have a 5-day work week, he will have to work 8.6 peak hours a day!

SGD$420 (Car Rental Cost) / SGD$9.84 (earnings per peak hour) = 43 peak hours to cover rental

43 peak hours / 5 days = 8.6 peak hours per day

If you’re deciding to work part-time, ask yourself if you can commit to working the 8.6 peak hours a day. Even if you work 24 peak hours on Saturday and Sunday, you will still have to work at least 3.8 peak hours on a weekday (43 peak hours minus 24 peak hours divide by 5) to cover the cost of the rental.

43 peak hours (to cover cost of rental) – 24 peak hours (weekends) = 19 peak hours

19 peak hours / 5 days (weekdays) = 3.8 peak hours per weekday

Having driven part-time for Uber for 3 weeks now, I can only say that I am making a big loss because I have not even covered the cost of my petrol yet. What is worst is that I can’t return the vehicle anytime I like as there is a binding rental contract of 5 weeks for all drivers that rents a car from Lion City Rentals (a reminder that Uber owns this company).

With the kind of car rental rate (SGD$420 a week, SGD$1680 a month) that I’m getting, I could easily get my own personal vehicle without being subjected to all the terms and conditions that Lion City Rentals is imposing.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t drive for Uber. If you need to put food on the table and you’re satisfied with working 74 hours a week just to earn SGD$728.40 a week, I take my hat off to you but honestly, you will be better off working with Comfort Taxi or any of the other major taxi companies in Singapore because they offer much better incentives.

Consider a 9 to 5 employee, he/she works 8 hours a day, 5 days a week and that works out to be about 40 hours a week. Assuming a junior administrative assistant earns SGD$2000 a month, he/she will earn SGD$86.96 a day for 8 hours of work which is approximately, SGD$10.87 per hour. And we haven’t even taken into consideration that companies offer employees annual leaves, medical leaves, and CPF contribution.

Would you rather work for SGD$10.87 per hour for 8 hours a day (5-day work week) or SGD$9.84 per peak hour for 10.6 hours a day (7-day work week)?

You decide.

In any case, Lion City Rentals is currently aggressively and actively recruiting new drivers and the company is even encouraging current drivers to refer new drivers so that current drivers can earn some referral bonus.

I quote Lion City Rentals, “Drive with Uber using our car and make it your personal money making machine.” Is the car really a personal money making machine? When I drove with Uber using the car from Lion City Rentals, I felt more of a slave to the machine than the machine working for me.

“Drive with Uber and earn great money as your own boss. Get paid weekly for driving on your own schedule. Get a car from us- Uber’s most preferred rental partner.”- As quoted from Lion City Rentals Website.

Obviously Lion City Rentals is Uber’s most preferred rental partner because Uber owns the company (like duh!)

Be your own boss?

It’s more like you’re working for Lion City Rentals/Uber rather than becoming your own boss. You are your own boss only when you have people reporting to you. The definition of “boss” is “a person who exercises control or authority; specifically: one who directs or supervises workers.” If you don’t know yet, Uber has the right to boot drivers from their system if a driver has an unacceptable rating given by the passengers. Even if Uber drivers can rate their passengers, what positive change can drivers derived from rating their passengers? Uber can’t boot passengers from their system like how taxi companies will blacklist certain passengers for not boarding a taxi despite booking for it.

All these that I have mentioned are from the driver’s point of view.

What about the consumer’s point of view?

For consumers, Uber/GrabCar is ultra-convenient and both services satisfy the consumers’ need for instant gratification. Furthermore, hailing a taxi during peak hours can be extremely difficult as cabbies themselves can be quite picky about who they want to pick up. Since Uber/GrabCar offers a hassle-free cashless transaction between the driver and the passengers, consumers will be keener to utilise Uber/GrabCar than flagging a taxi off the streets.

But my question is…

Is Uber/GrabCar really safe and secure to use?

To use Uber/GrabCar, you need to have your GPS turned on and you’re leaving footprints of your whereabouts. In Singapore, it is probably safe for you to use such services but if I ask you whether you feel safe using Uber/GrabCar in other countries, will you say the same?

Read the following articles to find out more about Uber and your privacy:

Uber will soon be able to track your location even if you exit the app and have GPS turned off

Uber and Privacy: Should You Be Concerned?

At the end of the day, who really benefits?

Consumers (because they get affordable and immediate transportation), car rental companies (because they earn money from renting out their cars and still get a PARF rebate when the car is deregistered), and Uber/GrabCar (because they charge drivers 20% service fee or should I say commission).

Then, what about the drivers themselves?

They are left to fend for themselves because of our selfish consumerism mindset. They don’t have time to enjoy the finer things in life (or spend quality time with their families) because they are always on the roads satisfying consumers’ demands. They don’t earn the dollars they rightfully deserve because consumers always want everything cheap, fast, but top notch service.

How fair is that?

Well, if you think Uber/GrabCar is highly efficient in meeting your demand, don’t forget that behind the scenes, the drivers themselves are the ones paying for your instant gratification, not Uber/GrabCar nor the car rental companies.

That’s all from me for now.

For your personal reading pleasure, you might want to check out Uberpeople.Net (Singapore).

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Personal Concierge Services in Singapore

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When I mention the term, “Hotel Concierge”; many people would be familiar with it because the concierge desk is the place where hotel guests can go to for some help in making concert reservations, restaurant bookings and even get sight-seeing recommendations.
However, when we tell people that we run a personal concierge business, they are literally clueless about what we do and how we can help them. The personal concierge industry has been around for a really long time but in Singapore, it is still a pretty young but growing industry.

As a personal concierge business, we are problem-solvers who know how to get anything done quickly and professionally. Whether it is food delivery, mystery shopping, pet grooming, or even events planning; we do almost everything. As some requests may require the expertise of other professionals, we do have a vast network of reliable and trusted connections whom we can call on any time for special and urgent service requests.

Image Credits to The Straits Times: Mark Cheong, Photographer

Although many people would think that hiring a personal concierge is expensive, the truth is; it is not. In fact, our service rates are pretty reasonable and we operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

So how can a personal concierge help you in your daily life?

We can:

help you fetch your children to their piano/ballet/enrichment classes
accompany your parents/grandparents to the hospital for their medical appointments
take care of your pet when you are away for a holiday
surprise your spouse with a lovely anniversary gift
buy lunch for you when you are too busy at work

To check out the whole range of services that we provide, do visit concierge.awinsomelife.org

If you have some spare time, you might also want to consider reading this interesting article about personal concierge in Singapore by Benson Ang.

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The Legendary Indian Scout Roars To Singapore

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“The connection to place, to the land, the wind, the sun, stars, the moon… it sounds romantic, but it’s true – the visceral experience of motion, of moving through time on some amazing machine – a few cars touch on it, but not too many compared to motorcycles. I always felt that any motorcycle journey was special.” – Antoine Predock
Mr Antoine may have made it sound really surreal, but that’s exactly how each ride feels like the moment you strap on your gear and simply head out for a cruise along the highways. Say what you want about the local riding scene, you can’t deny that the roads are stellar at the crack of dawn when the entire network is yours to conquer.

Anyway, quote dropping aside, the name’s Vanga G and it’s an honour to be part of this journey where I introduce the love for riding to fellow riders out there. Be it seasoned or newly qualified riders, I will be introducing various aspects of riding that though may seem fundamental, but will keep you alive for years to come.

So I have been riding for 5 years now; 2 years spent on a beautiful DT200WR and a few months transitioning to a XR400 before I finally settled for my amazing 1998 BMW R1100GS which is a behemoth all by itself. Do wave if you ever spot me on the roads!

Credits to Lionel Chee for the amazing shot years back. This was the highly reliable DT200WR that was really built like a tank.

My XR400 right next to my DT200WR. Fantastic experience and my first foray into understanding how a 4 stroke engine works.

My XR400 beside the majestic R1100GS.

Anyway all formalities aside, feel free to forward me any queries you may have pertaining to riding or technical questions to vanga@awinsomelife.org and I will get back to you as soon as possible!

Enough of the self-introduction for now and so, on a fantastic Friday evening, I had the privilege of being invited by Mah Motors to cover the launch of the 2015 Indian Scout at the Zervex Building which was a fitting place to represent the heart of the Republic’s automotive industry that’s right smack in the middle of Ubi. In the presence of VIPs and industry leaders, the 2015 Indian Scout was launched to much appreciation from the exquisite crowd.

First impression wise, the Indian Scout is absolutely gorgeous and a sight to behold. A definite head turner with striking angles and stellar finishing that screams perfection, the bike glowers under the showroom lighting and rises to the occasion outside where the test ride was held to interested parties.

Encouraged by the friendly staff from Indian, participants at the test ride were told to stretch the full potential of the liquid cool, 69 cubic inch, 100HP screaming V Twin engine. One glance and it could be noticed that even the least experienced cruiser rider felt right at home with the distinctive ergonomics that the Indian Scout offered. With a low seat height of 23.5 inches that can be further customised, vertically challenged riders were not left out on the fun.

True fans of the Indian heritage will need no introduction, but for those of you who are new to this brand, all you need to know is that the Indian Scout played a vital role in World War 2 for the allied forces and that there are several accolades under their brand name.

The new Indian Scout was designed from the ground up for superb balance of comfort and control, delivering a superior riding performance for both newer and experienced riders. Paying homage to the rich heritage, the Indian Scout consist of a classic ‘rigid triangle’ design that is synonymous with the original Scouts. Coupled with a set of premium coil over monotube shocks, these designs deliver exceptional handling and comfort for riders from various riding background.

Ultimately, the Indian Scout is not just a bike that is entirely machine but it possesses a distinctive personality due in large to the history that the bike is developed around. For those who are able to appreciate the rich heritage and the experience that has gone into making the bike what it is today, this ride is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. What’s more, wide range of premium accessories are available for you to truly customise your very own Indian Motorcycle!

If you are keen to check out the Indian Scout or find out the range of motorcycles that Mah Motors has to offer, do like Mah Motors Facebook Page!

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Get Rakuten Cashback and Coupons with ShopBack

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My favourite hobby is online shopping and because I can shop anytime and anywhere, it makes shopping even more enjoyable and convenient! What is even more awesome for me as an online shopper is getting cashbacks whenever I shop with ShopBack.
With over 300 renowned brands in the online shopping scene, including Taobao, Rakuten, and Agoda; ShopBack is one excellent place you don’t want to miss to get cashbacks and fantastic coupon deals.

Here’s how I get Rakuten cashback and coupons here.

I’m pretty sure most online shoppers are familiar with Rakuten and it is in fact one of my favourite shopping sites to shop at for Japanese products like Warabi Mochi, Green Tea, and Japanese Sweet Potato.

Some of the products that can be found on Rakuten are slightly more expensive but it is only because they are exclusive and niche to Rakuten. For all things Japanese, Rakuten is definitely the place.

To earn cashbacks when you shop at Rakuten through ShopBack; all you have to do is register an account at ShopBack, search for Rakuten, click on the “shop now” button, and then you can begin shopping like how you would normally do.

By registering an account with ShopBack, you can also earn cashbacks not just from shopping at Rakuten but also earn cashback when shopping at TaoBao [which is also my most favourite online shopping destination]!

Here’s the very first cashback that I received from ShopBack just by shopping on Taobao through ShopBack. It may not seem like it is a lot at the moment but a little can become a lot more when the cashbacks are accumulated over time!


Though some of the online retail stores offer a 10% cashback while others offer 3% or more, the cashback percentage is definitely higher than what some credit cards have to offer. However, if you want to get even more cashback, you may want to consider using your credit card to pay for your online expenditure; which means you get cashback from ShopBack and cashback from your credit card.

Just so you know, OCBC 365 Credit Card offers 3% Cashback on all Online spend.

You can easily browse through the categories on ShopBack, including Fashion, Electronics, Travel, Lifestyle, Food & Drink, Home & Living and General to find all the products that you desire. You can also visit the Featured Section to get access to new and popular stores.

So what are you waiting for?

Start shopping at ShopBack and spice up your life with the cashbacks and deals brought to you by ShopBack Singapore!

Happy Shopping!

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Pearlie White Launches The Real Red

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Every day, we are bombarded by toothpaste advertisements from so many different toothpaste brands that the only thing that we look out for when we buy toothpaste is the price.
As a consumer, I am quite ashamed to say that I have never done enough research on the toothpaste brands that I use. Whether it is Sensodyne, Colgate, or even Darlie; it is a pity that I have never given much thought about the claims they make on their box packaging because what I am more concerned about is usually the price and the value proposition that the brands put forth i.e. buy one get one free and 10% discount.

Image Credits to eincs.sg

In case anyone is mistaken, Sensodyne in Singapore isn’t cheap but I will usually go to Batam to get them. As for Colgate or Darlie, I will buy whichever has an ongoing promotion at our local supermarket.

But, what about other toothpaste brands like Systema or even Pearlie White?

To be honest, I have never given any other toothpaste brands much thought probably because there are so many toothpaste brands fighting for my attention and I would usually get toothpastes that are cheap and conveniently available.

Recently, my interest in Pearlie White toothpaste has increased and it is only because I found out that it is the only home grown Singapore oral care brand and also the only brand that continues to operate oral care manufacturing facilities in the country.

Seriously, who would have thought a small little country like Singapore would have her own oral care brand?

Furthermore, I always had the impression that Pearlie White is an angmoh [western] brand but the truth is certainly far from that.

The owners of Pearlie White pride themselves on their strong family heritage dating back to 1869 with the first practitioner of dentistry in Malaya, Dr. Cheong Chun Tin, practicing in Singapore after obtaining his dentistry qualifications from San Francisco, and today, his family continues the tradition of developing innovative oral care products.

Fun Fact
There is a road in Singapore, Chun Tin Road that is named after Dr. Cheong Chun Tin

Well, curiosity killed the cat but the satisfaction brought it back.

I recently tried Pearlie White’s The Real Red toothpaste and it is the brand’s most affordable variant at SGD$3.95 [for a 138g tube]. With a simple but attractive design, the packaging also proudly and suitably bears the lion head symbol.

Proudly Made in Singapore entirely and exclusively manufactured in Singapore at Pearlie White’s GMP (ISO22716) certified facility in Ang Mo Kio, the anti-cavity fluoride toothpaste contains no harsh chemical ingredients like sodium lauryl sulphate, saccharin, parabens, triclosan or artificial colouring.

It is just a straight up, cavity-fighting honest toothpaste. If you do your own research after reading this blog post, you will soon realise that some toothpastes can actually be quite harmful due to certain chemical ingredients and personally, I was really surprised that the toothpaste I am currently using contains some of these ingredients!

With a guiding motto to be a brand that is ‘made in Singapore, for Singapore, by Singapore’, a brand that Singaporeans can trust; Pearlie White has certainly changed my perception and has even taught me a thing or two about the kind of toothpastes that I should look out for.

The Real Red toothpaste is now available at all major department stores, personal care stores, pharmacies, supermarkets and even on Pearlie White’s website. What’s more, if you order more than SGD$10 worth of oral care products, Pearlie White will have them delivered to your place free of charge!

In celebration of SG50, Pearlie White is also offering a 50% discount for all of their oral care products; just make sure you remember to use the discount code: REALSMILES50 when you check out the items. Do note that this promotion is only valid until 31 August 2015 so do hurry if you do not want to miss out on this great offer!

Image Credits to Pearlie White

Once my existing stock of toothpastes runs out, I will definitely be making the switch to Pearlie White.

What about you?

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Win a Complimentary Weekend Night’s Stay at the Fullerton Hotel Singapore

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In celebration of Singapore’s Jubilee Anniversary, one of Singapore’s most iconic waterfront landmarks, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, has lined up a nine-day tribute to the nation’s 50th birthday with a spectacular projection mapping that will see the hotel’s magnificent façade brought to life through the use of latest 3D animation and projection techniques.
Inspired by the hotel’s illustrious 128-year history as a city landmark and the pivotal role the Fullerton Building played in the history of Singapore, the 8-minute long music and video extravaganza, entitled “A Celebration of Our Heritage”, will offer glimpses of Singapore over the past 50 years, showcasing the various key moments that have taken place at the Fullerton Square, including scenes from the numerous election campaign rallies that took place during Singapore’s development years.

In a significant nod to The Fullerton Hotel’s previous role as Singapore’s General Post Office from 1928 to 1996, much of the visual masterpiece will incorporate colourful stamps that were circulated in Singapore during the last 50 years. People watching the video projection will get a chance to see these stamps ‘come to life’ in large 3D images that will move and dance their way across the hotel’s façade, as the latter is transformed into a stunning theatrical backdrop.

Many of these facets will pay tribute to Singapore’s shared heritage, celebrating the nation’s multi-ethnic and multi-cultural identity. Additionally, viewers can also expect to be taken on a journey where they can see the transformation of Singapore from a new nation into the garden city and global hub that it is today.

Produced in collaboration with Hexogon Solution Pte Ltd, “A Celebration of Our Heritage” will also be a fitting backdrop to other entertaining and exciting activities that have been lined up for members of the public along the Marina Bay; including the National Day installations around the bay area, and as well as a series of exhibitions on Singapore’s development by the National Heritage Board and the Museum Roundtable at Clifford Square.”

During the Jubilee Weekend, on 7th and 8th August, from 7.30pm, The Fullerton Hotel will also distribute complimentary kachang putih and potong ice cream at One Fullerton to add to the nostalgic atmosphere. Additionally, visitors to The Fullerton Heritage precinct during this period can also stand to enjoy a whole slew of festive celebrations taking place around the area during this celebratory period.

As part of the National Day Celebrations, spectators in the vicinity of One Fullerton and The Fullerton Bay Hotel can view the parade ‘live’ via LCD screens that will be set up around the bay. There will be fireworks and an aerial display by the Singapore Air Force on 9 August, as part of the National Day Parade proceedings at the Padang.

Popular Food & Beverage outlets at One Fullerton will also be offering their very own special promotions to commemorate the occasion.

Want to win a complimentary weekend night’s stay at The Fullerton Hotel?

In keeping with the celebratory mood, The Fullerton Hotel will be rewarding ten lucky winners with a complimentary weekend night’s stay. All you have to do is take a photo of the video projection and submit your entries with your birthday wishes to the nation! It is that easy!

To stand a chance to win, simply complete the following steps:

  • Secure a good photography spot [we recommend One Fullerton and Merlion Park] on any of the following dates and time.

1, 2, 8 and 9 August 2015 @ 8pm, 9pm, 10pm, 11pm

3 to 7 August 2015 @ 8pm, 9pm, 10pm

The contest will close on 9 August [Sunday] at 11.59pm and all winners will be notified via email. To increase your chances of winning, get your friends to like your photo!

For more details please visit The Fullerton Hotel’s Website at or The Fullerton Hotel Facebook Page!

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A Brand New Motorbiking Column On Our Blog!

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It is often quoted that travelling on “4 wheels moves the body, 2 wheels moves the soul.”
Now in case most of you seasoned readers are wondering, I don’t have a valid Class 2B riding license and neither do I ride a motorcycle [although I’ve always wish to own one and ride]. Now that I’m married however, it is very likely that I stick to the 4-wheeler [though in my heart, I secretly wish to own and ride a motorcycle].

Now ever since I attended the launch of the new 2015 Aprilia RSV4 and Tuono V4 superbikes that was organised by the very hospitable MAH Private Limited; my interest in motorcycles has surged to an all-high level and I find myself reading more about them and learning more about the Singapore biking community from a fellow friend who has been spending quite a fair bit of time on 2 wheels for both commuting and as well as hobby.

Statistically, riding a motorcycle is fundamentally dangerous but accidents can be prevented if we take precautions and not make any assumptions that Singapore roads are safe. As a driver, I have seen my fair share of traffic accidents due to carelessness and unruly drivers. Hence, I also strongly advocate safe and responsible driving for safe commuting and good roads all year round.

Now that my dream of owning and riding a motorcycle has been shelved, it does not mean that I can’t learn about motorcycle or write about it. In fact, I am hoping to launch an all-new motorcycle column that will be managed by a very close friend of mine who has a thing for bikes built in the mid 90’s since he is actually really old at heart.

Yes, this dear friend of mine proclaims to have rode on the moon! One small step for man, one giant leap for motorcycling!

In this new motorcycle column, you can expect to read about riding safely on Singapore roads, motorcycle touring trips, motorcycle reviews, and many more [provided my friend has the time to write]!

If you have any ideas for our new column and/or would like to partner with us, do feel free to write-in to us at admin@awinsomelife.org

Meanwhile, here’s a short introduction to the revolutionary Aprilia RSV4 and Tuono V4 which was unveiled by MAH Private Limited, the exclusive distributor for Aprilia motorcycles in Singapore. Aprilia has found a loyal stable of followers in recent years due to their exotic lineups that not only turn heads but are functional as well. MAH Motors has also served their customers well over the years with constant support and comprehensive after-sales service that takes care of their customer’s needs.

True to Aprilia’s racing pedigree, participants at the launch were treated to a series of miniGP races on pocket bikes specially painted in Aprilia’s racing colours.

But the highlight of the evening was the unveiling of the brand new RSV4 and Tuono V4, which received major upgrades this year. The 2015 RSV4 and Tuono V4 1100 are so different from their predecessors and the only thing that is still the same could be Aprilia’s racing pedigree.

Notably, the new edition of the naked Aprilia Tuono V4 now boast a 1100cc engine, and comes in two distinctly outfitted versions; the Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory and the Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 RR.

The powerplant for the Tuono’s championship-winning sibling, the RSV4, stays under 1000cc to remain legal for World Superbike competition. But numerous technological upgrades see the Aprilia RSV4 crossing the magical 200 horsepower barrier for the first time. To the untrained eye, the front fairing looks the same, but it is all-new and designed to be more aerodynamically efficient.

The RSV4 is the only sportsbike that has adjustable engine height within the frame. The engine has been lowered in the chassis to the lowest position to compensate for the new engine’s increased power. The entire exhaust system has been redesigned, along with the airbox, the new titanium engine valves, the engine’s lubrication system, the new direct-oil feed gearbox, the gear transmission and the oil pump intake line.

Image Credits to MAH Pte Ltd

The Aprilia RSV4 arrives in three versions; the Aprilia RSV4 RR, the race-ready Aprilia RSV4 RR Race Pack, and the limited-edition Aprilia RSV4 RF.

There will be even more in store for Aprilia fans in Singapore as MAH Private Limited recently announced the launch of their new subsidiary, Moto Passione, which will manage the brands under the Piaggio Groupl Aprilia, Vespa, Piaggio, Moto Guzzi, and Gilera. Enthusiasts can also look forward to a revamped showroom which will be opened later this year.

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Singapore’s Second Preventive Drug Education Mobile Game Application, ‘Nelzon’

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Everyone knows that drugs are dangerous and that we should never ever take drugs; yes, not even once because drugs can damage the brain, heart, and other important vital organs. People who abuse drugs do not cope well in school, sports, and other activities and more often than not, drug abusers do foolish things that could hurt themselves or even their loved ones.
Hence, we all have a part to play in the fight against drugs and recently, in a collaboration between the Preventive Education Unit of the Central Narcotics Bureau and the students from the School of Interactive and Digital Media, Nanyang Polytechnic; Singapore’s second preventive drug education mobile game application [after Aversion], ‘Nelzon’ was launched by Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs.

Launched to increase the awareness of the detrimental effects caused by drug abuse, Nelzon is a 2D survival runner game where players take Nelzon’s [Avatar] role to evade and battle the Evil Conscience and Gangster who constantly appears from nowhere to tempt Nelzon into taking drugs. Players will have to guide his avatar by jumping and sliding to avoid obstacles and drugs across 5 different game scenarios while collecting sufficient rewards such as Coins, Books and Power-Ups to last him through the day. The longer Nelzon survives, the total number of days increases!

What I think of the game?

I personally enjoyed playing Nelzon and I must say, I am still quite hooked to the game as I constantly challenge myself to see how long I can survive in the game. So far, my record is only 6 days even though I have maxed out my upgrades. With more practise, I believe I might be able to hit a record of 8 days.

From the game, I learnt the dangerous effects of three different drugs; cannabis, ecstasy, and heroin and during the gameplay, each drug will cause the player’s avatar to have different reaction that makes controlling the avatar quite challenging.

Though the game has a really simple setup, I like the fact that there is no in-game purchases or annoying pop-up advertisements. Having said that, the game could do with some improvements such as adding special features, a sequel to the storyline, or even a quiz/contest.

The Gameplay

At the home screen of the game, players can either choose to start the game or reset the game data to start afresh. Like I mentioned, the gameplay is rather simple. You will have to guide the avatar to avoid obstacles like tables, chairs, flower pots, drugs and etc. by jumping over them or sliding under them. Occasionally, the Evil Conscience and Gangster will cause the avatar to consume drugs and depending on the kind of drug that was consumed; the avatar will react differently.

Consuming heroin will slow down the avatar and consuming cannabis will cause a shaky distortion to disorientate the avatar. Personally, what really irritated me was the consumption of ecstasy as it will cause the jump and slide controls to alternate with one another; thus mixing up the controls and causing me to have difficulty coordinating the jump and slide functions.

There are two gauges that belong to the avatar. One is the coin gauge [quite similar to a HP gauge] and the other is the book gauge. For every time that the avatar bumps into an obstacle, the coin gauge will decrease significantly and when it reaches zero, it is game over. However, with that being said, you can replenish both the coin and book gauges by collecting the coins and books or cause it to decrease slowly through upgrades.

There are 3 upgrades that you can utilise and they are; coin and book gauge decrease slowly, power-up lasts longer, and penalty cost decrease. To effect an upgrade, a pre-determined number of coins and books are required. So, the more coins and books you collect, the better it is for you to get multiple upgrades.

To make the gameplay even simpler, there are two power-ups that exist in the game; the magnet and the immunity shield. Personally, I find the immunity shield more useful than the magnet because the immunity shield will protect the avatar from obstacles that will decrease the coin gauge while the magnet only aids the avatar to collect more coins and books.

What is most challenging for me in the game is probably the fact that the avatar has only got one life and if the avatar dies, the player is given only 1 chance to revive the avatar before the game is really over.

My final thoughts?

Well, Nelzon left one deep impression upon me and it got me thinking about the YOLO [you only live once] hype that was and is still quite popular. While many youths go with the notion that you got to try everything at least once in your lifetime because you only live once, I would beg to differ because I rather not try drugs even for once because it will destroy the one and only life I have in this lifetime.

After all, we’ve only got one life to live. Instead of taking chances thinking that it is the easy way out; why not make the best out of our lives by doing something meaningful, healthy, and productive?

Well, so much for being so serious but really, if you’re interested to play the game, the Nelzon Mobile Game Application can be downloaded for free on both the Google Play Store & the Apple App Store!

Also, there are many different Facebook Contests that the Central Narcotics Bureau is organising on their “Life Does Not Rewind” Facebook Page. There will be 1 contest a week over a span of 12 weeks and each contest allows 2 lucky winners, picked through a lucky draw format, to win SGD$50 Capita-Malls Vouchers EACH!

Hint: If you have downloaded and played Nelzon, it might give you an advantage in the Facebook Contests because some questions are quite related to the game.

Happy Gaming!

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