Gold and silver prices had fluctuated wildly in 2011.
It will be worse in 2012.
The volatility of gold and silver prices will increase due to many factors. Before we talk about 2012, let us recap on 2011.
The year low of gold price is $1318 per Troy ounce. That was at the beginning of the year.
The bull run of gold brings the price to $1900, before crashing all the way down in September. The combination of the stronger US dollar and the change in margin requirement stop the bull from running.
Silver price was even more volatile.
Silver had two lows. One was $26.68 at the beginning of the year, and the other was $26.16 at the end of the year.
That means the price of silver basically stagnant.
Silver price reached a high of nearly $50 in April before crashing to $30. It made another attempt to peak, yet the change in margin requirement sent it back to the range of $30s.
As a result, there is no change in silver pricing.
What about 2012?
What are the factors that will affect the gold and silver prices?
1. US economy
US economy is picking up. Manufacturing jobs are returning to US, and US workers are willing to take up the factory jobs at lower salary.
They are just grateful for a chance to work.
Once US economy is picking up, gold and silver will lose their status as safe haven. When people feel optimistic, they do not need to invest in gold and silver.
They will invest in real estate, and stock market.
However, the recovery of US economy depends on the strength of US dollar. If US dollar strengthens too fast, the factories will not want to bring the jobs back. US workers will be more expensive to hire.
It makes sense for the US government to print more money to devalue the currency, so that US manufactured goods will export worldwide.
2. US Presidential election
Stock market generally peaks in the year of US Presidential election.
Since money goes into stock market, it follows that it has to flow out somewhere.
It makes sense for the fund managers to sell gold and silver and buy shares.
3. Dragon Year
The Chinese loves gold. 2012 is the Dragon Year, and many Asian countries are making gold and silver bullion coins featuring dragon.
The demand is there.
The Chinese and the collectors in the world will buy the Dragon year gold and silver bullion coins.
High demand means good news for gold and silver prices. However, the demand may not be sustainable.
After all, gold and silver coins have no practical usage. They are good as gifts and investments.
4. Euro crisis
The crisis in Europe has not really ended. High unemployment is still the norm in Europe. The national debt problem in many countries are not likely to go away within a year.
Unless the governments in the affected countries are courageous enough to cut spending, and wise enough to create jobs, there is no solution.
Gold and silver prices will shoot up once another crisis erupts.
Due to these four conflicting factors, gold and silver prices will have a volatile run. If we want to get rich from precious metals investing, we have to watch the price very carefully, and make quick buy and sell decision.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
How to be successful in the stock market
How to be successful in the stock market?
More importantly, how can you succeed in stock market investing in your own country?
When we read books about stock market billionaires or millionaires, we can see that most of the success stories come from the United States.
That does not mean you cannot succeed in your local stock market.
While most strategies work all over the world, you have to bear in mind the taxation and business environment in your country.
Let us look at some of the practical ways to be successful in the stock market.
1. Capital gain or dividend
You have to decide on the strategy of investing for capital gain or dividend.
That will depend on the taxation and business environment in your country.
Many Chinese companies do not give out dividends, even when they are cash rich. If you happen to invest in the stock market in Hong Kong, and Shanghai, you will notice that capital gain is the predominant trend.
The reason is that Chinese people are very conservative in financial management.
They have the highest household saving rate in the world.
That is why the Chinese companies are cash rich too. They believe in saving up for rainy days.
However, the investors in the West generally prefer companies to give out dividends once or twice a year.
2. Stock, not stock market
While the stock market is affected by the sentiment of the investors, your concern is not in the stock market.
Your concern is the stock that you have, or want to have.
There are times when the stock market crash, and yet the stock that you want to buy increase in price.
Some companies are just resistant to the sentiment of the market.
Some stocks over-reacted to the sentiment of the stock market.
For example, when the Dow Jones index falls by 1%, the share price of a particular stock falls by 2%.
That is why do not get affected by the performance of the whole stock market, unless you are buying into index fund.
3. Listen to experts
If you like to listen to experts, make sure you listen to experts from both sides.
For any given stock at a moment, some experts will recommend buy, and some will recommend sell. Some are neutral.
So which is which?
It seems very confusing that when the share price falls, 10 persons tell you to buy, 10 persons advise to sell, and 5 say do nothing.
You have to read into their analysis and see where they are coming from.
Those who recommend buy may do so based on their analysis of the management team. Those who recommend sell may see things from the macroeconomic perspective.
That means that macroeconomic factors will cause more volatility in the stock market, but the management of the company is good.
When you listen to experts from both sides, you will get a better picture.
4. Accept winnings and loss
You win some and lose some in the stock market.
There is never a person who can win all the time.
As long as you win more than you lose, you are successful.
Bear in mind that you have to form a detachment to money that you have earmarked for investment.
Once you have bought the stock, you have to treat the money as used. Do not think about getting the money for spending.
Even if you sell the stock, you should think about reinvesting the money, while spending only the profits.
When you learn to manage your emotion, and learn to accept both winnings, and loss, you are having a mentality of the millionaire investor.
These are just a few pointers to the question of how to be successful in the stock market.
You will gain more wisdom when you have actual experience.
More importantly, how can you succeed in stock market investing in your own country?
When we read books about stock market billionaires or millionaires, we can see that most of the success stories come from the United States.
That does not mean you cannot succeed in your local stock market.
While most strategies work all over the world, you have to bear in mind the taxation and business environment in your country.
Let us look at some of the practical ways to be successful in the stock market.
1. Capital gain or dividend
You have to decide on the strategy of investing for capital gain or dividend.
That will depend on the taxation and business environment in your country.
Many Chinese companies do not give out dividends, even when they are cash rich. If you happen to invest in the stock market in Hong Kong, and Shanghai, you will notice that capital gain is the predominant trend.
The reason is that Chinese people are very conservative in financial management.
They have the highest household saving rate in the world.
That is why the Chinese companies are cash rich too. They believe in saving up for rainy days.
However, the investors in the West generally prefer companies to give out dividends once or twice a year.
2. Stock, not stock market
While the stock market is affected by the sentiment of the investors, your concern is not in the stock market.
Your concern is the stock that you have, or want to have.
There are times when the stock market crash, and yet the stock that you want to buy increase in price.
Some companies are just resistant to the sentiment of the market.
Some stocks over-reacted to the sentiment of the stock market.
For example, when the Dow Jones index falls by 1%, the share price of a particular stock falls by 2%.
That is why do not get affected by the performance of the whole stock market, unless you are buying into index fund.
3. Listen to experts
If you like to listen to experts, make sure you listen to experts from both sides.
For any given stock at a moment, some experts will recommend buy, and some will recommend sell. Some are neutral.
So which is which?
It seems very confusing that when the share price falls, 10 persons tell you to buy, 10 persons advise to sell, and 5 say do nothing.
You have to read into their analysis and see where they are coming from.
Those who recommend buy may do so based on their analysis of the management team. Those who recommend sell may see things from the macroeconomic perspective.
That means that macroeconomic factors will cause more volatility in the stock market, but the management of the company is good.
When you listen to experts from both sides, you will get a better picture.
4. Accept winnings and loss
You win some and lose some in the stock market.
There is never a person who can win all the time.
As long as you win more than you lose, you are successful.
Bear in mind that you have to form a detachment to money that you have earmarked for investment.
Once you have bought the stock, you have to treat the money as used. Do not think about getting the money for spending.
Even if you sell the stock, you should think about reinvesting the money, while spending only the profits.
When you learn to manage your emotion, and learn to accept both winnings, and loss, you are having a mentality of the millionaire investor.
These are just a few pointers to the question of how to be successful in the stock market.
You will gain more wisdom when you have actual experience.
Labels:
Stock Market
Saturday, December 24, 2011
US economy is recovering
Despite all the negative sayings about the US economy, the fact is that US economy is recovering.
It has taken many analysts who are doomsayers by surprise when they see that US has added nearly 100,000 every month from July to November 2011.
Granted that some jobs are temporary, such as the retail jobs to cope with the shoppers before the festive season, many jobs are here to stay. Many new jobs are created in the manufacturing sector.
That means orders are coming in. Where demand is great, the supply will follow.
It is good news for the workers in the country.
2012 will be a better year for the United States.
2012 is the Presidential election year.
Americans are by nature very optimistic people. In fact, there are more optimistic people in the world.
Everyone has high hope that Americans will choose a good president to bring the nation to full recovery.
The stock market will reach a new high. The positive mood and confidence will spread to the rest of the country.
Even people who do not invest in the stock market will have the confidence that money is rolling in, and they will not fear to spend.
The devaluing of US dollar, and the appreciation of China Yuan, over the years is part of the reason for the recovery in US economy.
The gap between a worker in US and a worker in China is closing, even though it is still a very wide gap.
Added to the cost of transporting the goods from China to US, the cost of China manufactured goods is no longer cheap.
It makes sense for the factories to hire US workers to make the products, and sell locally.
The number of jobs created over the past six months are likely to be on the low side.
The bosses are hesitated to hire more workers, even though the orders justified the hiring.
They do not want to go through the process of mass hiring, and then mass firing.
They are more likely to push the existing workforce to work longer hours. If the growth is sustained, more jobs will be created.
2012 will see a better rate of jobs creation.
After that, the prospect of full employment recovery will depend on the directive of the new President, and the underlying infrastructure of US economy.
As long as the new President does not set stupid policy, the recovery will speed up. US economic structure is robust enough to withstand a deep recession.
The recent recession teaches the people in US that nothing is for free. Working smart and working hard are the keys to survival.
A few years of unemployment is fueling the desire in the people to work hard. A few years of unemployment has reminded the people the good old values of working hard, saving money, and paying off debt.
Let us hope that the lessons learnt are not forgotten once the US economy reaches full employment. It is a pity to suffer for a few years in mental agony, and monetary deficiency, and then forget the lessons once money is free flowing again.
It has taken many analysts who are doomsayers by surprise when they see that US has added nearly 100,000 every month from July to November 2011.
Granted that some jobs are temporary, such as the retail jobs to cope with the shoppers before the festive season, many jobs are here to stay. Many new jobs are created in the manufacturing sector.
That means orders are coming in. Where demand is great, the supply will follow.
It is good news for the workers in the country.
2012 will be a better year for the United States.
2012 is the Presidential election year.
Americans are by nature very optimistic people. In fact, there are more optimistic people in the world.
Everyone has high hope that Americans will choose a good president to bring the nation to full recovery.
The stock market will reach a new high. The positive mood and confidence will spread to the rest of the country.
Even people who do not invest in the stock market will have the confidence that money is rolling in, and they will not fear to spend.
The devaluing of US dollar, and the appreciation of China Yuan, over the years is part of the reason for the recovery in US economy.
The gap between a worker in US and a worker in China is closing, even though it is still a very wide gap.
Added to the cost of transporting the goods from China to US, the cost of China manufactured goods is no longer cheap.
It makes sense for the factories to hire US workers to make the products, and sell locally.
The number of jobs created over the past six months are likely to be on the low side.
The bosses are hesitated to hire more workers, even though the orders justified the hiring.
They do not want to go through the process of mass hiring, and then mass firing.
They are more likely to push the existing workforce to work longer hours. If the growth is sustained, more jobs will be created.
2012 will see a better rate of jobs creation.
After that, the prospect of full employment recovery will depend on the directive of the new President, and the underlying infrastructure of US economy.
As long as the new President does not set stupid policy, the recovery will speed up. US economic structure is robust enough to withstand a deep recession.
The recent recession teaches the people in US that nothing is for free. Working smart and working hard are the keys to survival.
A few years of unemployment is fueling the desire in the people to work hard. A few years of unemployment has reminded the people the good old values of working hard, saving money, and paying off debt.
Let us hope that the lessons learnt are not forgotten once the US economy reaches full employment. It is a pity to suffer for a few years in mental agony, and monetary deficiency, and then forget the lessons once money is free flowing again.
Labels:
Investing in US
Friday, December 23, 2011
Making full use of credit cards with rewards and no annual fee
Credit cards have a bad reputation, mainly because of the high interest rate incurred on non-payment of debt.
However, if you can budget your money well, credit cards are helpful.
How do you make use of credit cards with rewards and no annual fee?
1. No annual fee period
You have to check the period where the banks waive the annual fee.
You cannot assume that the no annual fee promotion lasts forever.
In some cases, the waiver is for the first three years. Once you have exceeded the first three years, you can call the bank to cancel the card or threaten to cancel the card.
They may waive the annual fee for another year.
2. Credit card rewards
Check the credit card rewards regularly.
If you see an option for cash back, you can accumulate enough points for cash back.
The cash back reward is often not the best deal.
Some of the best deals are food vouchers.
However, cash back from credit card means you can use it to pay down the credit card debt. It is money to you . It is income to you.
3. Introductory offers
Many credit cards give cash back for new users.
That means you are likely to get cash of $50 to $100 for signing up and using the credit card for the first time.
4. Double reward points
Some credit cards give double reward points as long as you have reached the minimum spending eligibility.
That means if the credit card company gives double reward points for minimum spending above $1000, you can make use of such scheme to earn double reward points.
How do you do that without overspending?
For example, you are running low on groceries. You need to buy more toilet rolls, detergents, and other necessities.
If there are just one or day left for the month, and you cannot possible clock up more than a thousand dollars spending, you can wait for the new calendar month before making your purchase.
It is hard to reach the minimum threshold for double reward points every month. However, you can plan for alternate month.
You can think of other ways to charge to your credit cards too.
For example, you can pay for the dinner with your credit card, and get cash from your friends. In this way, you get to earn the reward points while getting cash from your friends.
5. Do not spend money for the sake of reward points.
Spend money only when you need to.
Do not spend money just because you want to get enough points to redeem something. That is plain stupid.
Always use your commonsense when you want to make full use of credit cards with rewards and no annual fee.
However, if you can budget your money well, credit cards are helpful.
How do you make use of credit cards with rewards and no annual fee?
1. No annual fee period
You have to check the period where the banks waive the annual fee.
You cannot assume that the no annual fee promotion lasts forever.
In some cases, the waiver is for the first three years. Once you have exceeded the first three years, you can call the bank to cancel the card or threaten to cancel the card.
They may waive the annual fee for another year.
2. Credit card rewards
Check the credit card rewards regularly.
If you see an option for cash back, you can accumulate enough points for cash back.
The cash back reward is often not the best deal.
Some of the best deals are food vouchers.
However, cash back from credit card means you can use it to pay down the credit card debt. It is money to you . It is income to you.
3. Introductory offers
Many credit cards give cash back for new users.
That means you are likely to get cash of $50 to $100 for signing up and using the credit card for the first time.
4. Double reward points
Some credit cards give double reward points as long as you have reached the minimum spending eligibility.
That means if the credit card company gives double reward points for minimum spending above $1000, you can make use of such scheme to earn double reward points.
How do you do that without overspending?
For example, you are running low on groceries. You need to buy more toilet rolls, detergents, and other necessities.
If there are just one or day left for the month, and you cannot possible clock up more than a thousand dollars spending, you can wait for the new calendar month before making your purchase.
It is hard to reach the minimum threshold for double reward points every month. However, you can plan for alternate month.
You can think of other ways to charge to your credit cards too.
For example, you can pay for the dinner with your credit card, and get cash from your friends. In this way, you get to earn the reward points while getting cash from your friends.
5. Do not spend money for the sake of reward points.
Spend money only when you need to.
Do not spend money just because you want to get enough points to redeem something. That is plain stupid.
Always use your commonsense when you want to make full use of credit cards with rewards and no annual fee.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
How do you view money?
What is money? What is the meaning of money to you?
How do you view money?
These are the questions that come to me after a discussion with a worker in my company.
Today is his last day of service.
As a lowly production operator, he used to view every single dollar as valuable asset.
His basic salary is very low, and he needs to work a lot of overtime in order to support his family.
His view of money changed when he started going to the casino.
At first, he lost his whole year income, since he visited the casino every month, right after pay day.
However, when he started to win, his perspective on life and his view of money changed.
He used to earn at most $1800 per month. That was inclusive of all the allowances and overtime payment.
When he started to win at casino, he started to bet very big as well.
He could win $80000 in a single session. He could lose $20000 in a single session.
He no longer views $1500 as a big sum of money, even though he still worked as hard during the working hours.
While most of us would not like the way he accumulated his money, there is a possibility of us coming into big money.
For example, the death of a rich relative could mean we get a big sum of money.
Imagine you are working at a dead end job for years, and earning just a miserable income barely enough for survival.
All of a sudden, you inherit a few million dollars!
Would your view of money change?
Definitely it will.
You will not tolerate the idea of working 12 hours a day just for a thousand dollars.
You will go for a long vacation.
You can afford all the luxuries that you have never dared to think of.
All the ideas of frugality will go out of your thought.
You do not need to envy your boss, since you know that you are richer than them now.
The problem with some people is that, not only do their view of money changes, their personalities change too.
They become proud. They start to look down on their friends who are still poor.
They think that they deserve all the good things in life.
Instead of having an attitude to serve others, they demand services from others.
Instead of giving thanks for the good things in life, they start to think that they deserve all these.
That is the time when everything starts to go downhill.
It is best to have the right view of money, regardless of your current financial circumstance.
It is even more important to teach your children about the right view of money.
Money is a tool. Having or not having money has no impact on the moral values of a person.
How do you view money?
These are the questions that come to me after a discussion with a worker in my company.
Today is his last day of service.
As a lowly production operator, he used to view every single dollar as valuable asset.
His basic salary is very low, and he needs to work a lot of overtime in order to support his family.
His view of money changed when he started going to the casino.
At first, he lost his whole year income, since he visited the casino every month, right after pay day.
However, when he started to win, his perspective on life and his view of money changed.
He used to earn at most $1800 per month. That was inclusive of all the allowances and overtime payment.
When he started to win at casino, he started to bet very big as well.
He could win $80000 in a single session. He could lose $20000 in a single session.
He no longer views $1500 as a big sum of money, even though he still worked as hard during the working hours.
While most of us would not like the way he accumulated his money, there is a possibility of us coming into big money.
For example, the death of a rich relative could mean we get a big sum of money.
Imagine you are working at a dead end job for years, and earning just a miserable income barely enough for survival.
All of a sudden, you inherit a few million dollars!
Would your view of money change?
Definitely it will.
You will not tolerate the idea of working 12 hours a day just for a thousand dollars.
You will go for a long vacation.
You can afford all the luxuries that you have never dared to think of.
All the ideas of frugality will go out of your thought.
You do not need to envy your boss, since you know that you are richer than them now.
The problem with some people is that, not only do their view of money changes, their personalities change too.
They become proud. They start to look down on their friends who are still poor.
They think that they deserve all the good things in life.
Instead of having an attitude to serve others, they demand services from others.
Instead of giving thanks for the good things in life, they start to think that they deserve all these.
That is the time when everything starts to go downhill.
It is best to have the right view of money, regardless of your current financial circumstance.
It is even more important to teach your children about the right view of money.
Money is a tool. Having or not having money has no impact on the moral values of a person.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
I love money and money love me
After reading through From Dead Broke to Cash Rich by Noryani Ismail, this sentence “I love money and money love me” is the only sentence that I will remember for the rest of my life.
Noryani Ismail is using her book to relate her personal experience.
She nearly drowned in debt. However, she was brave enough, and wise enough to realize that she needed professional help. After she had gotten out of debt, and got rich, she wrote a book to help others.
When she was relating a scene from a wealth seminar, she described the trainer as using the theme, I love Money and Money Love Me, to compose into a song, and everyone sang and danced.
This sentence is very important.
Most of us love money but we dare not admit it.
We hate to think that others may describe us as greedy, and not righteous. However, we know in our heart of hearts that we love money.
The second part of the sentence is even more important.
Since when have we thought of money loving us?
Money is a tool, a mere servant. We always yearn for it, but it never seems to stay long with us.
The minute we receive our salary, the money takes flight and flies away.
Even before the next pay day, many people have already experienced the flight of their salary.
Money does not love them.
If money loves them, money will come and stay.
Actually the sentence highlights our wrong attitude towards wealth and money.
We view money as evil, when in fact, we are the foolish and greedy ones.
If we have enough financial education, and know how to make use of this tool properly, we will live very comfortably, and our loved ones can enjoy private healthcare when they are sick.
I think we have to reflect on this sentence, and value whatever belongs to us.
We have to view money as our possessions, much as we value our cell phone, shoes, cars, handbags and other goods.
If we have given the same love and attention to it, it will stay and serve us long.
The important thing is our knowledge to manage our wealth.
The next important thing to bear in mind is that money is different from other possessions. No matter how much you like your shoes, you know that they will wear out one day. You know that the car you use will decrease in its performance year after year.
Only money will grow if we manage it property.
It is an asset that will increase.
I love money and money love me.
Always teach your children the financial knowledge before you let them manage cash. Just like fire is a double edge tool, so is money.
Fire can help us to cook our food, and keep us warm. However, it can burn the house down if we do not use it properly.
The effect of mismanaging money is even worse. A person can sink in debt, and recover from bankruptcy many years later. It takes a very long time to build up a good credit record again.
We must first teach ourselves to love money, and in turn, let money love us. Then we can teach others.
I love money and money love me.
Noryani Ismail is using her book to relate her personal experience.
She nearly drowned in debt. However, she was brave enough, and wise enough to realize that she needed professional help. After she had gotten out of debt, and got rich, she wrote a book to help others.
When she was relating a scene from a wealth seminar, she described the trainer as using the theme, I love Money and Money Love Me, to compose into a song, and everyone sang and danced.
This sentence is very important.
Most of us love money but we dare not admit it.
We hate to think that others may describe us as greedy, and not righteous. However, we know in our heart of hearts that we love money.
The second part of the sentence is even more important.
Since when have we thought of money loving us?
Money is a tool, a mere servant. We always yearn for it, but it never seems to stay long with us.
The minute we receive our salary, the money takes flight and flies away.
Even before the next pay day, many people have already experienced the flight of their salary.
Money does not love them.
If money loves them, money will come and stay.
Actually the sentence highlights our wrong attitude towards wealth and money.
We view money as evil, when in fact, we are the foolish and greedy ones.
If we have enough financial education, and know how to make use of this tool properly, we will live very comfortably, and our loved ones can enjoy private healthcare when they are sick.
I think we have to reflect on this sentence, and value whatever belongs to us.
We have to view money as our possessions, much as we value our cell phone, shoes, cars, handbags and other goods.
If we have given the same love and attention to it, it will stay and serve us long.
The important thing is our knowledge to manage our wealth.
The next important thing to bear in mind is that money is different from other possessions. No matter how much you like your shoes, you know that they will wear out one day. You know that the car you use will decrease in its performance year after year.
Only money will grow if we manage it property.
It is an asset that will increase.
I love money and money love me.
Always teach your children the financial knowledge before you let them manage cash. Just like fire is a double edge tool, so is money.
Fire can help us to cook our food, and keep us warm. However, it can burn the house down if we do not use it properly.
The effect of mismanaging money is even worse. A person can sink in debt, and recover from bankruptcy many years later. It takes a very long time to build up a good credit record again.
We must first teach ourselves to love money, and in turn, let money love us. Then we can teach others.
I love money and money love me.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Before you buy Universal Studio Singapore ticket
If you are visiting Resorts World Sentosa for the first time, it is best that you get a World Card before you spend any money.
Even if you just want to visit Universal Studio Singapore, you should get a World Card before you buy your ticket.
Why is it important?
The reason is that Universal Studio Singapore is part of Resorts World Sentosa, which is part of the Genting Entertainment group.
You get to earn points when you pay for your hotel, cruise, and shows in cash.
You can use your Worldcard points to redeem rewards from Stars Cruise, Resorts World Sentosa, Resorts World Genting (Genting Highland), Genting operated gaming facilities in UK, Philippines, and New York.
For example, you book the Ultimate Fun 3 days 2 nights Universal Studio Singapore package and pay in cash. This package will cost you more than S$888.
During the stay, you go for a show and enjoy several meals in the resort. You are likely to spend more than S$1500.
All those expenditures earn you Worldcard points.
After the short stay in Resorts World Sentosa, you go for a 3 days 2 nights cruise onboard the Stars Virgo.
That will cost you around S$1000 for two persons.
By the time you reach Genting Highlands, all the points are enough to redeem for you free hotel stays, and probably a meal or two.
If you are an existing Worldcard member, you can use your points to redeem Universal Studio Singapore ticket or package.
For example, you are an existing member from UK, since you frequent the gaming facility operated by Genting group.
You can go to the Worldcard membership counter, give them your existing Worldcard, and request for a transfer of Worldcard points and Genting Points.
You will get a Worldcard for use in Singapore. You cannot use your existing Worldcard from UK in Singapore.
The same goes to transferring of Worldcard points and Genting points to Malaysia.
You need to get a locally used card. The machines in the gaming facilities can read only the locally issued card.
Even if you just want to visit Universal Studio Singapore, you should get a World Card before you buy your ticket.
Why is it important?
The reason is that Universal Studio Singapore is part of Resorts World Sentosa, which is part of the Genting Entertainment group.
You get to earn points when you pay for your hotel, cruise, and shows in cash.
You can use your Worldcard points to redeem rewards from Stars Cruise, Resorts World Sentosa, Resorts World Genting (Genting Highland), Genting operated gaming facilities in UK, Philippines, and New York.
For example, you book the Ultimate Fun 3 days 2 nights Universal Studio Singapore package and pay in cash. This package will cost you more than S$888.
During the stay, you go for a show and enjoy several meals in the resort. You are likely to spend more than S$1500.
All those expenditures earn you Worldcard points.
After the short stay in Resorts World Sentosa, you go for a 3 days 2 nights cruise onboard the Stars Virgo.
That will cost you around S$1000 for two persons.
By the time you reach Genting Highlands, all the points are enough to redeem for you free hotel stays, and probably a meal or two.
If you are an existing Worldcard member, you can use your points to redeem Universal Studio Singapore ticket or package.
For example, you are an existing member from UK, since you frequent the gaming facility operated by Genting group.
You can go to the Worldcard membership counter, give them your existing Worldcard, and request for a transfer of Worldcard points and Genting Points.
You will get a Worldcard for use in Singapore. You cannot use your existing Worldcard from UK in Singapore.
The same goes to transferring of Worldcard points and Genting points to Malaysia.
You need to get a locally used card. The machines in the gaming facilities can read only the locally issued card.
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Genting Highlands
Sunday, December 4, 2011
My virtual property
Do you like my blog?
You definitely have many opinions about this blog.
You may think that it is too plain, without a colorful spot. You may not like my ideas and my writings.
You may wonder why you end up here when you search for virtual property.
The only thing you may not realize is that this blog is my virtual property.
I invest in this blog with my time, and effort, even though I do not have to spend a single cent on it.
Google provides the platform free of charge, and it provides the means to monetize it free of charge.
Even without the monetizing, this blog is still a virtual property of mine.
I write nearly all the posts. That means I hold the copyright to all the posts in this blog. Yes, all the posts are published with my pen name, scheng. All the words and posts in this blogs are my intellectual properties.
If anyone copies word for word without giving due credit to me, under my pen-name scheng and with a link back to this blog, I can make a police report, and go to court to sue.
With monetizing, the intellectual properties become an asset.
An asset produces income.
Look at the side bar on the left, you can see how many page impressions this blog gain. That is page impressions, and not visitors.
A visitor can read ten posts, and produce ten page impressions.
Even though that does not tell you how much I have gained monetarily from this blog, it does give you an indication of the earning power of my virtual property.
Before you look down on virtual property or virtual asset, take a look at your possessions.
How many items produce income for you? How many items can make money for you when you sleep?
Your personal Iphone does not earn you an income, since you use it for personal purpose. You have to pay the bill every month, and the Iphone does not have a resale value if you sell it after a year of usage. You definitely cannot make a profit for selling away your used Iphone.
If you have a few branded shoes, the same concept applies. All your shoes are liabilities, not assets. You need shoes, but you do not have to buy many pairs.
Unless you can use your shoes to create an income, then the shoes become an asset.
My blog is different. It does not matter how much you hate my blog. You can love it. You can hate it. But it is a virtual asset.
A virtual asset produces income.
A few cents of earning during my sleeping hours brings much happiness. This shows that my virtual asset can, and have, made money when I am soundly asleep.
The happiness moment comes when I get the check. Virtual asset produces real money, not virtual gold.
Real money is concrete. Real money is real. Real money benefit’s the owner, which is me.
If you do not have a virtual property to bring cash to you, you can start to create now. The journey is long, and discouraging. It requires so much hard work to bring home a penny. However, a penny soon becomes a dollar. Before long, you are counting in term of tens, and hundreds.
Soon the virtual property produces enough to help you pay off the mortgage.
You definitely have many opinions about this blog.
You may think that it is too plain, without a colorful spot. You may not like my ideas and my writings.
You may wonder why you end up here when you search for virtual property.
The only thing you may not realize is that this blog is my virtual property.
I invest in this blog with my time, and effort, even though I do not have to spend a single cent on it.
Google provides the platform free of charge, and it provides the means to monetize it free of charge.
Even without the monetizing, this blog is still a virtual property of mine.
I write nearly all the posts. That means I hold the copyright to all the posts in this blog. Yes, all the posts are published with my pen name, scheng. All the words and posts in this blogs are my intellectual properties.
If anyone copies word for word without giving due credit to me, under my pen-name scheng and with a link back to this blog, I can make a police report, and go to court to sue.
With monetizing, the intellectual properties become an asset.
An asset produces income.
Look at the side bar on the left, you can see how many page impressions this blog gain. That is page impressions, and not visitors.
A visitor can read ten posts, and produce ten page impressions.
Even though that does not tell you how much I have gained monetarily from this blog, it does give you an indication of the earning power of my virtual property.
Before you look down on virtual property or virtual asset, take a look at your possessions.
How many items produce income for you? How many items can make money for you when you sleep?
Your personal Iphone does not earn you an income, since you use it for personal purpose. You have to pay the bill every month, and the Iphone does not have a resale value if you sell it after a year of usage. You definitely cannot make a profit for selling away your used Iphone.
If you have a few branded shoes, the same concept applies. All your shoes are liabilities, not assets. You need shoes, but you do not have to buy many pairs.
Unless you can use your shoes to create an income, then the shoes become an asset.
My blog is different. It does not matter how much you hate my blog. You can love it. You can hate it. But it is a virtual asset.
A virtual asset produces income.
A few cents of earning during my sleeping hours brings much happiness. This shows that my virtual asset can, and have, made money when I am soundly asleep.
The happiness moment comes when I get the check. Virtual asset produces real money, not virtual gold.
Real money is concrete. Real money is real. Real money benefit’s the owner, which is me.
If you do not have a virtual property to bring cash to you, you can start to create now. The journey is long, and discouraging. It requires so much hard work to bring home a penny. However, a penny soon becomes a dollar. Before long, you are counting in term of tens, and hundreds.
Soon the virtual property produces enough to help you pay off the mortgage.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Is gold up or down?
A few comments I heard about gold make me worried.
While waiting in the bank, I overheard a bank officer telling the customer that gold price can only go up, and the customer smiles very broadly in agreement.
It seems that the bank officer and the customer are good friends, and they are having a lively discussion about gold investment.
After leaving the bank, I reached home, and login to a paid discussion forum.
One discussion thread is about the same topic.
The person started the thread say that gold price could only go up, and he did not want to miss the opportunity to make big money.
These two comments about gold can only go up are very worrying.
If everyone holds the same thought, then the days of gold crash is not far.
Is gold up or down?
Gold is generally more stable than silver price.
However, the recent uncertainties in the world are causing gold price to go wild.
Just when you thought that gold price could reach the heaven, it came crashing down.
When you thought that gold could go down further, a financial crisis in Europe caused the price to spring back.
It seems that nobody can really predict whether gold will go up or down in the short term.
However, in the long term, the trend is clear.
Gold is going up and will continue the up trend until the economy recovers.
Many investors have warned that gold is no longer a safe investment, since it is getting very volatile.
It is as if you are on a large ocean liner, and it heads into the storm.
If you want to buy gold, make sure you can sleep when it crashes.
Assuming that you buy a few ounces of gold at the rate of $1733 per Troy ounce, and a price crash causes it to drop to $1200.
It seems impossible, but everything is possible in the world of investment.
A sudden appreciation of US dollar definitely will affect gold price.
If a country sells the national gold reserve, the commodity will go into a free fall.
Many large institution investors are liquidating the holding. Some might need to do that to lock in profits and cover the loss in stock markets.
Some might want to hold cash position, and some simply do not have much faith in the appreciation of gold in the short term.
To the small and large investors, gold is still a safe haven. It may not be the best investment, since it is really out of reach of many people now. However, in term of crisis, everyone will trust gold more than their governments or the currencies backed by the governments.
Is gold up or down? That depends on how you measure it. It is very stressful to check the price every single hour.
Best to look into your own savings, and see how much you can afford to use for precious metals investment.
After you have enough savings to last for six months without a job, and you have enough to buy at least two ounces, then you can think about buying gold.
Use the dollar cost averaging method to buy, and to sell.
You can avoid buying at the peak, and selling at the bottom of the price range.
While waiting in the bank, I overheard a bank officer telling the customer that gold price can only go up, and the customer smiles very broadly in agreement.
It seems that the bank officer and the customer are good friends, and they are having a lively discussion about gold investment.
After leaving the bank, I reached home, and login to a paid discussion forum.
One discussion thread is about the same topic.
The person started the thread say that gold price could only go up, and he did not want to miss the opportunity to make big money.
These two comments about gold can only go up are very worrying.
If everyone holds the same thought, then the days of gold crash is not far.
Is gold up or down?
Gold is generally more stable than silver price.
However, the recent uncertainties in the world are causing gold price to go wild.
Just when you thought that gold price could reach the heaven, it came crashing down.
When you thought that gold could go down further, a financial crisis in Europe caused the price to spring back.
It seems that nobody can really predict whether gold will go up or down in the short term.
However, in the long term, the trend is clear.
Gold is going up and will continue the up trend until the economy recovers.
Many investors have warned that gold is no longer a safe investment, since it is getting very volatile.
It is as if you are on a large ocean liner, and it heads into the storm.
If you want to buy gold, make sure you can sleep when it crashes.
Assuming that you buy a few ounces of gold at the rate of $1733 per Troy ounce, and a price crash causes it to drop to $1200.
It seems impossible, but everything is possible in the world of investment.
A sudden appreciation of US dollar definitely will affect gold price.
If a country sells the national gold reserve, the commodity will go into a free fall.
Many large institution investors are liquidating the holding. Some might need to do that to lock in profits and cover the loss in stock markets.
Some might want to hold cash position, and some simply do not have much faith in the appreciation of gold in the short term.
To the small and large investors, gold is still a safe haven. It may not be the best investment, since it is really out of reach of many people now. However, in term of crisis, everyone will trust gold more than their governments or the currencies backed by the governments.
Is gold up or down? That depends on how you measure it. It is very stressful to check the price every single hour.
Best to look into your own savings, and see how much you can afford to use for precious metals investment.
After you have enough savings to last for six months without a job, and you have enough to buy at least two ounces, then you can think about buying gold.
Use the dollar cost averaging method to buy, and to sell.
You can avoid buying at the peak, and selling at the bottom of the price range.
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