Tag Archives: just so you know

Oct21

Guest Bloggers Wanted!

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Guest Bloggers Wanted!

Howdy everyone! Just a friendly reminder that lifewithlilred is always accepting guest bloggers if you are interested in having your work viewed in 188 different countries! With the cold weather officially among us, I am looking for your best comfy cozy OOTDs, MOTDs perfect for a family get together, favorite holiday recipes, and your go to fall and winter activities in your neck of the woods. And, of course, I am always up for any of your ideas as long as they are fall or winter related!

If this sounds like the opportunity for you, feel free to email me at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com ❤

Oct12

And In Conclusion…

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And In Conclusion…

Hello everyone! So I definitely laid some scary news on you all yesterday and I’m sorry for it but, oh my god, it was crazy. One of the things that I pride myself on as a blogger is not sugar coating anything. From my ongoing issues with mental health to everything in between, I try to keep it 100% real with all of you because, if not, then what’s the point?

I am so grateful to have been able to walk out of a severe car crash with the injuries that I had, which seem minor in comparison to breaking a bone, a bleeding cut, or worse. My boyfriend and I are both doing much better now but I’d be a liar if I didn’t say that it didn’t suck on ice. One person’s poor decision when it came to driving effected SIX other cars, people, and families. And, not only that, but he also had another major wreck at his own fault two years prior.

It honestly makes you wonder how that person ended up with his license in the first place, when he only seemed to leave destruction in his path. People could have been killed and, after the wreck, he still seemed unfazed – which is scary. I can only hope that the people in my neck of the woods are spared from having him on the road again and all I can do is urge all of you to be careful when you get behind the wheel. Not just careful for yourself but for all of the others around you, as well.

I always say when I’m in the car with my clients and they ask me if I’m afraid to drive that I’m never worried about my ability to drive, but for everyone else around me. And that definitely rang true the day of the accident. I am completely confident in my boyfriend’s ability to drive but that also didn’t prevent someone from getting into our lane and hitting us head on. So, all I can say is – be aware of your surroundings, wear your seat belts, and always be thankful when you make it to your destination safely.

What is something that you’re afraid of? How did you deal with a car accident if you’ve ever been in one? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct11

Accidents Happen

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Accidents Happen

*Trigger Warning* This post contains details of a car accident and medical trauma.

Helloooo everyone! Those of you who follow me on Facebook will know that yours truly was in a car accident this past month that had me in the hospital. (And, for those of you who don’t follow me on Facebook, make sure you get on it at: Sarah Mushenheim!) It was a really scary, painful experience and I wanted to give you all the 411 on what happened because I have been so blown away by all of the well wishes and all of you deserve to know. So, let’s get to it.

It was a Sunday afternoon circa one PM when my boyfriend and I were driving to pick some things up from his house and then we were going to have a date day. I had just returned from vacation the night before so we hadn’t seen each other for a week and were eager to hang out. Unfortunately, that got cut short, because as we were at an intersection on a twenty-five MPH street, we got hit head on by a driver going at least forty-five.

How did this person end up in the complete wrong lane and effect not just us but SIX cars in total? I’m really not sure, because it happened so quickly. But, I am fairly sure he was trying to get around a person turning left and, in the process, swiped another car and ended up going head first into ours. This left the car that got swiped, our car, and the car of the guy who hit us totaled. And, I’m assuming the other three cars ended up in fender benders or the like from all of the commotion going on on the road.

The heavy blow to our car caused the air bags to go off and, oh my god, the pain was indescribable. Before the accident, I had my feet on the dashboard and when I saw the car coming I instinctively went into fetal position. This caused my skater’s legs to go wham, bam, thank you ma’am right into my chest. I felt like I couldn’t breathe and I just remember screaming bloody murder.

Thankfully, the first responders came quickly and, while we were waiting for them, I had to shimmy my way out of the driver’s side door because the accident prevented my side from opening. I can recall yelling “let me out, let me out” and that was also super scary because I already felt like I couldn’t breathe and then I felt trapped on top of it.

Once the police and ambulances came, everything was a whirlwind. The EMTs began to check me and my boyfriend and we ended up being transported to a local hospital. We were both experiencing pain in our chests and had seat belt burns and various bumps and bruises. I also had a horrible pain in the bottom left corner of my stomach.

When we got to the hospital, we were put in separate rooms and I was asked to give a urine sample. I hobbled my sorry ass into the bathroom and got my shorts and undies down to see that there was blood in them as well as blood in my urine. Once this discovery was made, I had to get a CAT scan done and a pelvic exam which hurt so incredibly badly.

According to the scan, there was an air bubble in my bladder. And, as the day went on, there was still blood in my urine and it was becoming increasingly difficult to pee. So, the decision was made to have me transferred to the ER in Cleveland with a trauma team to try and find out what was going on with my bladder.

By the time I arrived in Cleveland, it was already eight thirty at night and I was exhausted. I was in unbearable pain and, at this point, I couldn’t pass urine at all and was experiencing all the discomfort of an insanely full bladder. Another CAT scan was done as well as a bladder scan and a catheter was put in so that I could finally go to the bathroom. I also had to get an X-ray of my shoulder to make sure I didn’t have any fractures there.

When this was all said and done, it was around two in the morning and I was told that I was going to be admitted to the hospital. A room finally opened up around five AM and all I wanted was to sleep but the constant questions, poking, and prodding made that damn near impossible.

I spent the following day at the hospital being monitored and having different tests done and was able to go home around eight in the evening with my catheter still in. And, lucky for me, I got to have it taken out two days later because it was very uncomfortable and quite painful. Everything looked okay according to the urologist and I just had to keep an eye on the slight bleeding that was still happening.

Thankfully, nothing was majorly wrong other than the pain and the same goes for my boyfriend, as well. We both had to take the week off of work and were happy to return the following Monday. There were a lot of things to be grateful for in this situation. No one involved in the accident got severely hurt. The insurance company of the person responsible took care of everything thanks to the help of the Auto Accident Lawyer on the case. And, most importantly, we were in my boyfriend’s big station wagon. Had we been in the Little Red Love Machine (a tiny hatchback), this would have been an entirely different story.

I am so appreciative to my family, boyfriend, the first responders, and the staff at both hospitals for taking such good care of me. It was a horrible situation to be in, but it could have been a lot worse and I am so thankful that all is well for both me and my boyfriend now. And, thank you to all of you for the concern and get well soons. It didn’t go unnoticed and I love you all! ❤

What are you thankful for? Has anyone had a situation similar to mine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep20

This Is How To Keep Your Feet Sweet!

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This Is How To Keep Your Feet Sweet!

Our poor old feet! They are so often overlooked when it comes to health and maintenance. In fact, many of us just forget all about them until summer comes around and we want to wear strappy shoes. Of course, our feet are actually a pretty important part of the body to look after! Fortunately doing this isn’t such a dirty job. In fact, by reading the post below, you can do plenty to keep your feet sweet!

Keep ’em clean!

First of all, if you are going to keep your feet sweet, you will need to make sure they are as clean as possible. Otherwise, you could be dealing with some rather unpleasant smells! For most of us, that means a quick wash while in the shower, followed by some clean socks.

However, sometimes, no matter how much effort we put into keeping them clean, there can still be an odor. Happily, this is not something that you or those that you live with need to put up with.

There are a lot of tactics you can use to eliminate the smell, including steering clear of plastic or manmade shoes. The reason being that these encourage sweat, which the odor-causing bacteria feed off. Also, using a deodorizing powder can help, and if all else fails isopropyl alcohol applied to the shoe can element any nasty bacteria, and will keep your feet smelling as sweet as possible.

Nail care!

Toenail care isn’t just about choosing the right shade of polish to compliment your outfit. (Although that is fun!). The trimming of our nails properly is important, as well. The reason for this is that if you don’t trim them correctly, they can turn into ingrown toenails which are very painful to walk on. If they are really bad, they can also become infected, and that can be a real risk to your overall health and well being.

If you do find that your nails are ingrown, you can get help to cure them. All you need to do is search for terms like: ‘Where is the top podiatrist in my area?‘ and you will be able to find a healthcare professional that will help you out. Something that will undoubtedly come as a major relief if you are suffering from feet that are less than sweet.

Choose the right shoes!

Picking the right type of footwear goes beyond just avoiding the smell. If you want to keep your feet healthy and free of pain, you must invest in good quality shoes. Now, for the most part, flats are the best option because they put a lot less pressure on the bones and muscles in the feet and will do less permanent damage. Flats also tend to be very easy to break in in comparison to a sturdy pair of boots. If you are investing in a new pair of boots, check out this guide on how to break in doc martens. Docs are so popular and for good reason – they are cool and durable. However, they can take a while to break in and that can cause discomfort.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that you can never wear heels (thank goodness). If you pick the ones that are supportive and have a platform like the ones you will find here, you should get a lot less trouble with your feet and be able to keep them sweet!

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Picture found at Pixabay – License CC0

Keep your feet perfectly sweet with the above tips and, if problems persist, be sure to seek help from your doctor!

Sep3

Making Sure Your Business Has All The Right Signage

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Making Sure Your Business Has All The Right Signage

Having appropriate signage is an important step for your business. Effective signage can help your store’s marketing by lending to its visibility. It can also help you save money. Having proper signage will help inform customers and direct them, which you would otherwise need salespersons to do. There are various types of signage that your business will need to have. Missing some of them will create confusion and inefficiencies for your business. Here, we discuss some of the most important ones that every business should have:

Storefront or outdoor signs:

Your storefront sign is the first thing people notice about your store. It is the most important part of your business – it tells people what you are and what you sell. The exterior sign should have all of the information the customers need. It should have your brand name and your business’s logo displayed in an aesthetically pleasing way. You can work with companies that do banner printing in Edina, MN (or your local area) to create signage for your storefront that will pop to everyone passing by.

A storefront sign should be clear and not confuse shoppers about what you are selling. To do this, it needs to follow certain marketing and branding rules. The colors used should be consistent with your brand and product. Everything makes a difference, including the font you use. The quality of the storefront sign is also more important than all other types of signs. Make sure that your reliable signage supplier in Manila provides you with the highest-quality material and print. Your signs should last a long time and last through the tropical climate of the Philippines.

Compliance-related signs:

These are signs that your business must put up in order to comply with laws and regulations. These can include things such as warnings about allergens or signs that say that there are interpreters available. These can also include those about employees having to wash hands, as well as grades and ratings if you are a restaurant. Make sure that you have the appropriate signs on display; otherwise, you can face hefty fines. Some businesses take pride in their ratings, and they may choose to frame them and make them into a part of the overall display. Just because these signs are mandatory doesn’t mean that they have to be boringly designed.

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Informational and directional signs:

These are the second most common types of signs that your business will need. These include banners, advertisements, and any information about ongoing sales or policies. These signs provide direction and clarity to shoppers. Informational signs can also include things that point out where the checkout is or where the bathrooms and fitting rooms are located. The best signs are large and clear and are placed in a prominent location. If you use symbols and imagery, they should be universally understood. Moreover, they ought to be disability friendly and available in colors accessible for everyone.

These are some of the most common types of signage that your business will need to have. If you want to, you can expand your range of signs to include various merchandising items such as carpets, mats, window stickers, and other decor items. Don’t be afraid to get creative!

Aug30

3 Health Checks That Everybody Needs To Take Regularly

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3 Health Checks That Everybody Needs To Take Regularly

The best way to treat most health problems is early intervention. But a lot of health issues don’t display symptoms until they are more developed, so you might have a serious health problem that goes unnoticed for a long time. That’s why health checks are so important, especially as you get older. There are certain checks that can pick up the signs of a serious health problem so you can start treatment before it causes you any serious issues. These are some of the health checks that you should have on a regular basis:

Blood Pressure Tests:

Changes in your blood pressure can be a sign of all sorts of health problems and if you have high blood pressure, it can be a cause of serious issues like heart disease and strokes. Most of the time, you won’t see any symptoms from high blood pressure but around a third of people suffer from it. You can get a blood pressure test from your primary care doctor, so book an appointment and get it checked out on a regular basis. If you are found to have high blood pressure, you will be asked to come in for further tests. If the readings are consistently high, you will be given advice on changing your diet to lower your blood pressure and you may be given medication to manage it as well.

As you make major life changes to improve your health, it is so important to have a good relationship with your doctor. You want someone that you can go to with confidence and be able to share comfortably about the areas you struggle with. If you are interested in changing your practitioner to find a better fit for you, that is okay! Just be sure to go to someone with expert knowledge and excellent reviews. You can often learn more about the staff at a facility from visiting their website like this Sloane Street Surgery that features bios of each doctor. There is nothing wrong with shopping around until you find the best fit!

Hearing And Eye Tests:

As you get older, your eyesight and your hearing are likely to suffer. But a lot of people just accept it as a part of aging and don’t do anything about it. The thing is, if you catch it early and treat it, you can preserve your hearing and your eyesight. If you want to preserve your auditory health and maintain good eyesight, you need to have regular checks. If you have a problem, you can get hearing aids and glasses early on, and you can slow down the progress of these conditions. Losing your hearing and eyesight can have a big impact on your lifestyle so anything that you can do to preserve them is very important.

Sometimes your eyes will need more than just glasses or corrective lenses. If you are a candidate for laser eye surgery, you might have a lot of questions about the procedure and the price. You can search for something like “laser eye surgery melbourne prices” (or wherever is local to you) to help you get a rough estimate on how much the procedure will cost and what it entails.

Cholesterol Tests:

High cholesterol is very common, especially if you don’t eat a good diet. Having high levels of cholesterol has been linked to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, so it’s important that you manage it properly. A lot of people don’t realize that they have a problem and they continue with the same unhealthy lifestyle choices, and that puts their health at risk. That’s why you need to get a test with your doctor and they will be able to tell you whether you have healthy levels of cholesterol or not. If you don’t, they can give you advice on how to change your diet to reduce your cholesterol. They may also offer you medication to help bring the levels down.

Taking these three tests on a regular basis will help you to stay in good health and avoid any serious problems so schedule an appointment with your doctor today!

Featured Image By: Pixabay CCO License

Aug16

Make It Work: 3 Things To Note When House Hunting With Your Spouse

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Make It Work: 3 Things To Note When House Hunting With Your Spouse

Sometimes, house hunting is fun. But most of the time, it’s such a pain in the neck. What makes it particularly stressful is when you and your spouse don’t see eye to eye on what you want your next home to be. Perhaps you want a big house just outside the city, but your partner prefers a small condo unit at the heart of the central business district. These small differences can blow up into big arguments, which could delay your move. So, what do you do when you can’t agree with your spouse in your house hunting? Take these steps:

Create your own home essentials list:

Since fights almost always come from what each of you thinks your family house should be, this is the first thing you should address. Here, the best approach is to make a list of your wants and needs in a home – separately. You want to do this independently so that at the end of the exercise, you’ll see the things you share in common. These similarities validate that these features are indeed important to you. But at the same time, don’t neglect the differences. Those are points for discussion. Make your case as to why these things should be in your home. Negotiate and be patient in expressing your concerns. But more importantly, listen. If your spouse has a point, be willing to concede.

A complete list of must haves and nice to haves can be especially beneficial if you are working with a real estate agent like those at Bradbourne Property or a similar business in your local area. Your agent will be able to narrow down options that meet your needs so you are not wasting your time or energy on properties that won’t work in the long run. Be sure to think about factors outside of the home as well. This includes proximity to schools, doctors, and your job if you are commuting so your agent can find homes in a comfortable distance.

Consider your budget:

All discussions should be framed in the context of how much house you can afford. When both of you have this perspective in approaching matters, it will be far easier to compromise. Those pretty countertops or furniture will be easier to resist. Now, if you don’t have a financial game plan yet, sit down and decide on it immediately before hitting the property market. Compare different quotes from lending agencies. When doing the math, make sure that your monthly payments on mortgage won’t take more than 25% of your take-home pay. Otherwise, you’ll be house poor in the next months. Once you’re able to settle on a budget already, stick to it. Inform your real estate agent about it. You may want to include this house and lot for sale in Cavite, which might fit your budget.

Cease and desist:

If you find yourself getting into a big fight over your next house, it’s wise to take a step back from the conversation or the house hunting process altogether. A nice home isn’t worth it if it’s going to split you up in the end. So give yourself a week break. No house-related matters over dinner. No budget-related talks on your dates. Use that time of ‘silence’ to ponder about your house-buying decisions separately. Your goal is to have a fresh, renewed mind once the break is and you resume the talk. Hopefully, that time of meditation will make you more understanding of each other and your priorities.

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Have you been struggling with the home search because of your couple fights? Fight no more. Prioritize your relationship through and through and the house will come when the time is right.

Aug9

Leaving Room For Mess In The Workplace

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Leaving Room For Mess In The Workplace

The office is meant for work. It’s the place where you conduct business and decide the future of your company. Don’t forget that it’s also a place for employees, the people who are there to keep everything going. You want the business to go smoothly, but people can only strive for perfection. There will always be a mess, and the office must designate space for it:

To Keep Files That Are Yet to be Sorted:

First, there’s the physical mess that you need to tackle, especially if you’re moving into an office unit for rent in Ortigas Center. Any move means uprooting the old filing systems you have and relocating them. They don’t come into the new office packaged to perfection and without needing to be organized. This, of course, gets sorted into their appropriate sections in the office. After you’ve successfully moved everything, you think all has been taken care of, but that’s where you’re wrong.

There will be future documents to sort, and there will be papers coming from different departments. A desk designated for the mess pile will keep other areas organized and will give you a good idea of how much you still need to do.

To Break Away from Monotony:

When it comes to regulated environments, it’s essential to keep a professional image. That means pristine walls and desks cleaned of any clutter. It’s almost clinical if you think about it. Occupying those desks are people who will be bored and will want to have some fun, and that’s exactly what the mess room will be for. It can be the pantry or a break room, but it has to be present. In this room, they are allowed to shed their professional persona even for just a few minutes so that they can be the fun and engaging people that they are. This room permits employees to be themselves, and it communicates that you care for their well-being more than the idea of having a perfect workplace.

You might want to add a few touches to make your break room even better so your employees can return from their lunch feeling refreshed. Perhaps you will add a small TV, a few decks of cards, a Keurig, or some charging stations. You can also look into vending machine services near me and keep the machines fully stocked with everyone’s favorite snacks and drinks. Vending machines make a welcome addition to a break room and are ideal for those who need an afternoon sugar rush to beat the midday slump!

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To Leave Room for Mistakes:

Unless you’re hiring robots to run the business, there will be mistakes done in the office. A pleasant work environment accepts mistakes as a way to learn and grow, and that means not hiding them from everyone. You could designate a section of the office for ideas that have been discarded or put on hold, allowing people to revisit them and see why they failed. It might spark innovation.

Fresh eyes might also solve problems that the original contributors couldn’t crack. Think about old cases that new investigators look into. This section could also serve as a reminder to everyone that it’s okay to make mistakes as long as they admit to it and are willing to make things right. You are hiring employees for their skills, but even the most skilled manager has their shortcomings. A mess table will remind them that you also appreciate their humanity.

The mess you make at work should not be shunned. With the right goals and vision, past messes can become drivers of business growth.

Aug2

Four Steps To Landing A Job Abroad

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Four Steps To Landing A Job Abroad

Applying for a job in another country is much more difficult than looking for a job in your own. You have to understand that other countries would prioritize hiring their own citizens before giving the same opportunities to other people. But, despite these hurdles, landing a job in another country is still a huge possibility as long as you get in contact with a legitimate employment agency that offers job opportunities abroad, like any POEA-accredited manning agency.

If you go through these channels, you’re likely to land a good job in another country. In order to increase your chances of getting hired, here are other tips you might want to follow.

Find a city looking for your skills:

Go online and check the cities you would want to work in and see if they are looking for particular professionals. If your background is in construction, then perhaps you might want to consider looking for a job either in the Middle East, where they’re always looking for construction workers, or New Zealand since they’re ramping up their hiring process to get more people to work on construction projects.

Do some research and look for countries that are actively searching for a particular profession that you’re good at, and you’ll be able to improve your chances of landing a job abroad.

Make adjustments to your resume:

Update your resume and make sure that the language you use will match the language of the country you want to move into. For example, you will learn that New Zealand is hiring lots of engineers to help rebuild Christchurch, which is perfect for you if you recently graduated with a degree in civil engineering.

Before you send out resumes to every headhunting company in Christchurch, make sure that your language matches theirs, which means that you should use British English as your reference and not American English if you’re used to the latter.

Know international headhunting companies:

Once your resume is fixed, the next step would be to get acquainted with most of the international headhunting companies and send them your resume. Websites such as Jobstreet, Monster, and Kununu provide thousands of job opportunities abroad that you can check. Make sure that you’re registered on all of these websites.

Also, visit your local manning agencies and get acquainted with them. Some companies abroad prefer to go through these agencies when they’re looking to hire people from another country, so these agencies might know a company or two that’s hiring people like you that you won’t find in Jobstreet or any of the other headhunting sites mentioned earlier.

Learn the language:

Another useful tip to landing a job abroad is to learn the language of the country you want to work in. If English is your second language, it wouldn’t be a problem for you to look for a job in the U.S., the UK, Australia, or New Zealand. But, if you want to work in Japan, you should brush up on your Nihongo and even take an exam to ensure Japanese employers that you know how to communicate properly with them.

Also, learning a language other than English will give you an advantage because there are many non-English speaking countries that are actively hiring people from other countries. If these countries find out that you’re well versed in their native tongue, then you just became a lot more appealing to them.

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These are just some of the tips you can use to improve your chances of landing a job abroad. Make use of them, and hopefully, you’ll find your dream job in another country in no time.

Aug2

Personal Loans: Why Choose A Moneylender Over A Bank

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Personal Loans: Why Choose A Moneylender Over A Bank

A loan can be a godsend, especially when you are consolidating debts. It can be unsecured, so you do not have to borrow against any valuable assets you own. This makes it less risky for you in case you run into some trouble in the middle of your personal loan’s tenure. As you can use the money for mortgages, revolving lines of credit, or wherever you see fit, you will be less pressured to explain where you will use it. In fact, you may not even be asked about it at all.

If you are planning to apply for one soon, going to a moneylender in Singapore may be more advantageous than dealing with a bank. Why? You can find out more about it below:

Decreasing Interest:

Unlike bank-issued loans, those offered by moneylenders do not come with fixed interest. This is good news, as the extra money you pay to borrow the cash decreases every time you make payments. In a way, you are incentivized not to miss your repayments. For instance, if you borrowed $20,000 and you have already paid $8,000, only the remaining $12,000 would be considered for interest computation.

Quick Approval:

Moneylenders do not process loan applications when there is insufficient documentation, but you can expect less paperwork. Banks are notorious for tons of paper requirements, rendering the entire process a bit more cumbersome. If you are in a hurry, walking into a moneylender’s office should be your priority. If you bring everything you need to get your creditworthiness assessed properly, you may receive the money as fast as 24 to 48 hours. Online applications for loan approval are also available with companies like FatCat Loans Canada (or a similar business in your local area). However you choose to go about the application process, be sure to ask any questions you might have before you accept the funds. If you are feeling hesitant or unsure, it’s best to wait until you are fully confident in your decision.

Flexible Repayment:

Compared to banks, moneylenders are more lenient when it comes to repayment plans. They are more open to unconventional terms because they make every effort to help their customers avoid non-payment. On the contrary, banks have strict rules in place. Individual branches do not come up with their own regulations, and they only follow orders from their higher-ups. In many cases, the hands of bank representatives are tied and cannot accommodate special repayment requests. Negotiate all you want, but that could go futile.

No Discrimination:

Singapore banks only cater to citizens and permanent residents. They mostly do not entertain loan applications from foreigners living in Singapore. In addition, traditional financial institutions are not usually interested in borrowers whose annual income is less than $20,000.

Moneylenders have minimum income requirements, too, but not as much as banks. They serve customers who earn less than $10,000 per year. Their doors are also open for foreigners residing in the country. The maximum amount a borrower may qualify is based largely on their annual income and residency status, but everyone (except tourists) is welcome to apply.

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Admirable Lending Behavior:

The moneylending industry is highly regulated in Singapore to protect the best interests of its borrowers. The government provides a Registry of Moneylenders, making it easy to identify whether a business can be trusted or not. If a licensed moneylender misbehaves, the authorities encourage you to report any unacceptable behavior.

Banks and moneylenders have unique selling points, but the latter is more appealing to most borrowers. Shop around as hard as you can and use the competition to get the most favorable personal loan available.