Good Herbs Don't Have to Cost a Bomb!

 

Chyawanprash - a bottle of herbal goodness!

I have stopped purchasing products from MLM companies in the likes of Usana, Aviva and NuSkin, just to name a few. I feel that they are too costly. Even though these companies claim that since they do not rent shops to sell their products or warehouses to store their goods, their prices are competitive. I wonder why there are so many millionaires amongst the top producers in the companies, and even when they retire from selling, they still earn tons of money in passive income!

Hence, you can imagine my joy when I found out about Chyawanprash. My tenant, Avinesh, was taking a spoonful of Chyawanprash, and tried to give me some as well.
However, I am always very susupicious of food that I am not familiar with and refused his offer. Later, I read the labels and was surprised that the herbal product has used a 2,000 year old recipe and consists of 43 natural ingredients including fruits and herbs! Chyawanprash has traditionally been known for its antioxidant properties. Best of all.......a 500 gram bottle costs only $6.90!!! If I take a spoonful everyday, it will take about three and a half to four weeks to finish a 500 gram bottle of Chyawanprash. You can get Chyawanprash at Mustafa Centre at Serangoon Road. Chyawanprash is suitable for vegetarians as well, but not suitable for diabetics as it is a little sweet with so many fruits being used.

My tenants, Avinesh and Jasmin who are IT professionals from India, claim that since young they have been taking Chyawanprash and that is probably why they, like many of their people, are excellent in science and mathematics!

Hence, I decided to buy a bottle and try. With so many herbs used, initially, I found the smell somewhat too pungent for my sensitive nose. However, I would say now I enjoy taking a spoonful of Chyawanprash every morning before breakfast. It has been a week now. I feel my health has already improved somewhat. I feel less prone to being tired, especially when I have a day packed with activities.

Please do not misunderstand me. Sure, the products by all the MLM companies are good, but they are just too harsh on my little pockets. Since then, I have bought a few bottles to give to my good friends and relatives. Chyawanprash is a wonderful and affordable gift for Christmas and Chinese New Year, as well as all year round.

Gan Chau

I Love Pasar Malam !!!

 

A set of three drums, from small to big, ideal for my niece Yann and her two daughters.

 

A single drum and it proudced beautiful music.

 

School children will like these lovely notebooks!

I love pasar malam. In Malay, pasar means market and malam means night. Although it means night market, the stall holders also operate in the day as well.....usually late afternoon to midnight. I also like the fact that pasar malam moves around the heartland shopping complexes and sometimes in hdb estates. Readers can always find out where the latest pasar malam is being held by searching the information in the computer. Just type under search, "Pasar Malam in Singapore".

I can find lots of interesting things which are a fraction of the cost of those found in some shops or departmental stores. Some of you may say that they are of different qualities! I will not argue with you. The only way for you to find out is to purchase some items and test them. :-)

The above were some of the items I bought recently. I was thrilled to find the drums for the ones sold in music shops are above $55/-. I bought the big drum which even has a wooden holder at $20/-. It even has a wooden display. The set of three drums also cost $20/-, a special price given to me as I had purchased quite a number of things from the stall owner. He is friendly and warm, and when I told him I would like to take photos, he readily obliged.

The note books with various designs like Hello Kitty, Winne the Pooh and Mickey Mouse cost $1.00 for the smaller one with binding, and $1.20 for the bigger one. I was also thrilled to find the huge Barbie Doll towel. It cost $7/- and the stall holder gave me three for $20/-. A lovely gift for the big towels will enable bathers to wrap it round them after a shower.

Stretch your dollars! Shop around and you will be amazed at what you can find!!!

Gan Chau

 

A lovely Hannah Montana towel. The huge towel costs only $7.00.

Stretching Every Dollar!

Recently my best friend, Soh Wah shared with me how she had spent over $20,000 for a short vacation in Australia's Gold Coast. She had brought her husband, Yew Tian and two sons along. They had spent only 8 days. They had to spend quite a lot on meals as only some meals were provided, and extras on special tours. She spent Aust600 just to go for a tour of the 12 Apostles! Despite her husband's groaning, they enjoyed the ride along the Coastal Highway.

In December 1986, 18 months after I started teaching, I brought my eldest sister, Lee Lee on a 10 day tour of New Zealand. I wanted to pamper my sister for she had been a most wonderful sister. We had so much good food in various Chinese and Western restaurants and had a free stopover at Melbourne as we wanted to visit our sister Ean Ean. I remember I had paid only $1850 per person for the New Zealand tour. Gosh, the dollar has shrunk so much! Not somone who understands Economics, the meaning of inflation has finally sunk in! I realise we cannot fight inflation, but we can stretch every dollar by changing our mindset and in the process, become good stewards of our time, talent and money!

Hence the idea of starting this blog! My friends and relatives realise I have the inclination to buy things that are not only cheap but good as well. Hence, in this blog I will feature articles on good buys and where readers can find good and cheap things.....in other words, where every dollar can be stretched.!

I will also post articles on creative ways to do things, hence avoiding the traditional and habitual ways, eg. Tuition is NOT really necessary! Save your fees!
etc.

Readers are also free to write in to me if they know of something good and cheap. I will visit the shop/stall with my digital camera and do a write up in this blog.
Let us all share our ideas, weal and woe, tears and laughter!

Happy reading and stretching!

Gan Chau