Being the recessionista that I am, I was searching online for money saving tips for ahem…a certain future event. And lo and behold, I came across this totally amazing lady who feeds her family of 6 on just A FEW DOLLARS a week.

I totally wu ti tou di (5 limbs on the floor – a Chinese phrase that describes A LOT of respect for someone) to this lady.

Is it even possible to do this in Singapore? T.T

I read all these amazing tips to save money that all seem to take place in America but strangely enough, none of these applies in Singapore. Could it be that Singaporeans are generally not up to saving on their daily groceries and such? =x

Or maybe the situation in Singapore is not so conducive to savings?

My western readers not from Singapore probably won’t understand how the significance of the ANG BAO in the Chinese context. Well, no fear, I’ll explain in brief before I launch into today’s post. =)

Angbaos are basically red packets that elders use as a form of blessings they disperse to younger people. Unmarried people and kids are usually the recipients of such blessings that are meant to ward off evil, a tradition that originated from Chinese history.

Today, angbaos are given at important events such as Chinese New Year, weddings, kids’ birthdays etc. The amount given should be even to signify good luck and prosperity to the recipient.

But of course, the amount that one receives in such red packets has become an issue of contention these days. Just how much does one give to avoid appearing stingy or live up to the recipient’s expectations? Especially for weddings where guests are expected to pay and cover the wedding couple’s expenses.

Very stressful, right?

Here’s a helpful guide that has been making its rounds in emails:

Yes, people…we have a chart to show the different factors that could tip the balance. But really, in my personal opinion…must there be such a big fuss over the amount to begin with? I sometimes don’t understand the obsession over how much one receives during CNY, weddings or other events. The amount of angbao shouldn’t be a gauge of how important you are to the giver right?

I mean, if you’ve decided to invite so and so, it should be enough that he/she attends your important event with well wishes and blessings.

In fact, I’m going to copy/paste what I personally feel is one of the most insightful and wise opinion on the issue of angbao (in the context of a wedding banquet):

Ok, please allow auntie here to share some controversial views. Auntie here is 过来人 so hopefully my “insights” will be of some value.

1) Whether you hold tea party, banquet or some reception, don’t start with the expectation of making money. Do what you can afford. Because if you’re going to be stressed with money, you’re going to a) be a very stressed bride, and b) be very unhappy if some of your guests do not “pay” up to “expectation”.

With this starting point, just regard your reception as a “free” reception. Any angpao you receive will be bonus.

2) Given (1), it will force you to be really, really prudent about your wedding expenditure. Wedding is just ONE DAY. Unless you have some spectacular wedding featuring horse drawn carriage and fireworks, it’s just another wedding for your guests. You will, hopefully, begin to ask yourself why you spend so much on your package, why you need to fly to Europe for honeymoon, do you need to invite 1,000 people, etc.

3) Also, if you are financing the dinner yourself (i.e. don’t rely on parents), you can have FULL SAY over who can come for your wedding dinner. If your parents sponsor, then you have ZERO SAY. This is a very simple power struggle. The one with greater power (i.e. $$$) will have more say. If your parents don’t contribute, you can tell them to fly kite if they want to invite the entire village

4) Of course, a wedding dinner is also for your parents. I’m not suggesting that you don’t listen to your parents at all. However, there’s now a very legitimate reason to really trim your guest list. You want to have a wedding that is respectable, and your parents would like to be able to invite their friends and associates. However, unless they are some tycoon or millionaire (which means budget will not be a problem to begin with), they must understand that they need to trim down their guest list.

5) Holding a small, intimate dinner or reception is way way memorable than holding a grand banquet. The best wedding dinners I’ve attended (and I choose them very carefully) are the type that everybody knows everybody else. Like, I know the couple AND their family that type. The nicest wedding dinner I attended was a 10 table affair in a private room at Cherry Garden.

6) A banquet, a reception or a restaurant treat will be “worth the effort” if the people you are inviting are “worth inviting”. If the people you are inviting mean nothing to you, of course it will not be worth the effort. When I say “worth the effort” I don’t mean $. You want your close friends and family to celebrate with you, no matter how much or how little they pay. I really think this obsession with ang pao is getting out of hand.

7) NEVER NEVER GET INTO DEBT!

8) The simple rule is = the smaller the affair, the easier to handle, the less stress.

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Despite all that’s said, a wedding is invariably a family affair. It takes a lot of management and careful maneuvering so that everybody’s wants and needs can be taken care of as much as possible. You can never satisfy everyone, so be prepared for quarrels and compromises. But remember – IT’S ONLY ONE DAY. Keep that in mind when you’re faced with difficult situations.

Good luck!

By forum poster Cottagegarden from Flowerpod

Good advice, no? If you invite people for the sole purpose of making a quick buck out of them (despite the fact that their monthly budget may be busted), then sadly you’re gonna be one very unhappy person. =x

Might as well just hold a simple lunch/dinner and save yourself the aggravation. =x

Spend and give within one’s means, I always say. =3

I’ve often been asked if I’ve considered publishing or printing my books in Singapore.

“Yes” would be the answer to both.

Which writer wouldn’t want to see their work in print or better yet, picked up by a reputable publisher? I’m no exception, except for the sad facts that I’m perpetually the recessionista (read: always broke) and local publishers don’t casually pick up fantasy writers like yours truly.

Why? Coz FANTASY, unless you’re J.K. Rowling or Stephanie Meyers (sparkly vamps, anyone?), don’t automatically send the cash registers ringing. And publishers, above all, are businessmen/women (read: profits rule).

So what’s a perpetually broke writer gotta do? Short of having a publishing sponsorship fall upon her head, this writer has to strike it out all by herself in…you got it…e-book publishing.

Just think, so what if you manage to get your Great (insert country of origin here) Novel printed using years of hard-earned savings? What next? Sit there and expect your books to fly off the shelves (or in my friend’s case, from under the table)? No such luck, pal.

You might sell off your entire print-run, you might not. Chances are, you are not going to get very far without some form of marketing strategy. Displaying your books at local bookstores? Not unless you’re prepared to pay a certain sum for the ‘privilege’ to be displayed. And large bookstores don’t accept anything from a single writer, save for a writer represented by a distributor. On top of the fee you have to pay the distributor, you have to pay a certain percentage to the bookstore as well. In other words, it costs money a poor little writer doesn’t have.

So what’s an impoverished writer gotta do to gain some publicity? Here are some ways:

1. Sin Min approached a few local indie bookstores like Select Books Online and Cat Socrates personally and convinced them to take a few copies to sell.
2. Sarahcoldheart joined Nanowrimo where she eventually formed a writing group with like-minded individuals (one of whom owns Two Trees, an editorial company in Singapore) and published a book with the help of said editorial company. (Read: networking is very important!)
3. Mint Kang published her book (6 Years of Parrot) but has since bemoaned the feasibility of her decision coz the printing was more expensive than it should be and she felt horribly cheated. So she decided that enough was enough and plunked her subsequent novel (The Cousin from Dar Tower) on Scribe where it proceeded to earn 1000 plus (and increasing) views plus a feature on the Scribe website itself! Although Mint may have given away her first publishing rights and all that by publishing it as an e-book on Scribe, the satisfaction of having 1000 plus readers is more than achievement enough. (Read: sometimes money ain’t everything)
4. Lee Ju-Lyn, who was featured in a 17 Febuary 2009 edition of Today’s paper, took to the streets and personally approached people to buy her book. (Read: DIY takes a whole new spin here)
5. All of the above writers/artist made their appearance on my other blog (Aspiring Mangaka & Writers Club) as part of my Virtual Book Tour hosting program. I feature self-published authors who, despite all odds, managed to make their writing dreams come true. Of course this program extends to illustrators who have published their own work as well. If you’re interested, check out the Aspiring Mangaka & Writers Club’s guidelines. My blog is only one of many offering this service so be sure to do your research and find out which is the best option for your book.

One thing you might wanna take into account is: if you’re writing for fame and fortune, drop that idea FAST. It ain’t gonna happen. Being a writer means A LOT OF hard work, disappointments and despair. If you don’t happen to date Lady Luck…well, let’s just say that the writing life ain’t gonna be easy to tough it out.

There are just so many factors determining your success. Finishing your novel is just the first step. That’s why I chose to go the e-book route. Not only because it’s practically free to publish it online, you can customise it according to your preference and you can reach a wider audience across the world. It’s a cost-saving measure that is environmentally friendly too.

I currently have two books under my belt: Anis the Unchosen & Rainy Skies: Lull before Storm, both of which are published online as e-books. Of course, you can opt to purchase Anis the Unchosen as a printed book. Hehs. Anyways with the introduction of gadgets such as iPhones, Kindle and iPads, you can always read e-books wherever you go. Even local celebrities like Joanne Peh downloads e-books to read on the go so just imagine the impact e-books have in recent times and the exciting millennium to come!