I probably don't need a wallet.

For those of you who don't know, I'm a HUGE shopaholic, and my hard-earned money vanishes into thin air at the speed of light. Most of my money are either spent on clothes, otherwise cab. I take a cab at least twice a day and that's why the cash in my pocket runs out really quickly. And now that school has started, the nearest ATM from my school requires quite a bit of a walk... Even worse.

Every single day we’re spending money, buying this, paying that. Ever had a long queue waiting behind you while you dig for loose change at a convenience store? Or forget to bring your wallet out and have to walk back in the scorching sun just to get it? It happens so often for me cause I’m really forgetful.

So I know I’m a little little slow, but I recently heard of this new app called Dash. Since taking a cab is a norm for me, it also came to my mind that I’ve been seeing the Dash sign on nearly every cab I hopped on the past few weeks. I’ve also seen the same sign while shopping at places like Topshop, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins and Watsons. They have those little tags on the counter with the Dash logo and a counter number. 

Furthermore, I overheard a lady queuing in front of me at Watsons that she wanted to pay by Dash. It got me a little curious as to what “paying by Dash” means. Anyway, few days ago, came my friend's experience with Dash. I was craving for Koi while accompanying my friend to run some errands during our 15min class break. We both didn’t have our wallets with us and my friend suggested she pay with Dash and I was shocked she knew about it too.

She happily shared with me how Dash works. I thought it was quite interesting how we could make cashless & cardless payments, even though I was pretty skeptical as usual as she went on and on about how she really likes it.

Basically after witnessing how it was being used, the concept of Dash is that you just need your phone to make transactions. Yeap, it's really as simple as it sounds.

I went online to do a little research and I found out that Dash is a new app by Singtel and Standard Chartered. The website states that Dash is an update to money and that us users can directly download cash into our phone.

Why Dash appealed to me is because I really LOVE having everything on my phone. From calendar events to photo filters, I practically have everything stored in this little device of mine.

I also really hate having a super heavy wallet cause of all the loose change I get when buying food in school. And the hassle of going to an ATM which is so inaccessible from school.

Now, I can throw these worries aside and just whip out my phone every time I need to pay for my cab ride, shopping or food.

It's actually quite amazing how far technology has come; perhaps soon our wallets are not even needed. Haha.

Don’t you guys also hate it when your friend borrows money from you and think it's okay to keep using the same excuses to not return it? Especially the most common "reason" like, "Oh I don't have cash with me now." It really gets on my nerves, but now I can just get them to swipe the money back to me with Dash. Sucks to be you. :p

Anyway, I haven't really tried out the entire app yet and I would love to soon. I've just signed up for it a couple of weeks back and to my surprise, I received a $10 credit for FREE, which I thought was rather a good strategy to get us kiasu Singaporeans to sign up. Free stuff, why not? Can buy two cups of Koi or a few necessities from Watsons lol. Cheapskate max.

Kinda excited to try it out over the weekends cause my wardrobe seriously #needsanupdate. I NEED NEW CLOTHES!!!

If you guys are interested in finding out more about Dash, or sign up to get your $10 credited for FREE, 

visit: DASH'S WEBPAGE

Do leave a comment if you have tried Dash and let me know how you like it! 

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The problem with being a "BLOGGER" today

I know there has been a lot of drama happening recently, and this entire thing is extremely immature and has put bloggers in a really BAD LIGHT.

It got me thinking what does being a blogger even mean nowadays.

Blogger - At this rate, everyone can be a blogger... Oh wait, or should I say, everyone wants to be a blogger? Create an account, start up a blog, *BAM* you're officially self-titled a BLOGGER. #Boogerplease

Bloggers today aren't what they used to be.

I can safely say that at least 80% of the population in Singapore have this rather huge misconception that bloggers are all about taking nice OOTDs, posting superficial stuff, writing reviews and having a substantial amount of followers, getting sponsored from head to toe, bed to car. Yes, this are what bloggers do, and I things I won't deny doing as well. But IT FUCKING TAKES MORE THAN JUST THAT in order to sustain in such a competitive environment.

I've been blogging for the last 6 years, since 2008. Starting a blog with the idea in mind that I wanted to share my opinions with everyone. Never have I chose this path in hope of getting "chio" sponsored stuff, or thinking that this is the easy way out to success or fame. I was just lucky enough to have my first ever engagement in late 2011, and that was when I began blogging professionally. FYI, that means that I receive a stable income from it, and I regard it as a full-time job in all seriousness.

1) Self-proclaimed titles

It gives me goosebumps when I'm named "Superstar" or "Celebrity."

I'm not even kidding, but this irks me real bad. Whenever my peers or readers call me that, never once have I felt that I was eligible for that title. There was this one time, I was waiting for the lift at Cineleisure and a group of readers/followers approached me to ask me for a photo, that followed by a couple of tourists asking if I were a celebrity, and all I did was shook my head with diffidence and smiled with ignominy.

Of course, it'd be an honour to be addressed as one, but that should never be something one claims to be.

You can call yourself ANYTHING but whether you are OR NOT is a whole other thing.

You can have a friend with a very nice camera take a nice OOTDs for you, and add a watermark stating "photography" after their name in the picture, but that alone doesn't make you a model. 

I may not be the highest-ranking blogger in SG, but I've put in years of effort to be able to get to where I am today, and I'm definitely still NOT THE BEST. Being a blogger used to be something special to me. I used to have people coming up to me telling me how capable I am to be making more money and to have considerably high amount of followers on all my social platforms, than the people my age.

Nowadays, it's so different, we get 10 year olds who would label themselves as a blogger from owning a blog and people who think they are "the shit" from the followers they BOUGHT.

2) Professional blogger vs. "BLOGGER"

Yes indeed, as a professional blogger, I won't deny that high-paying bloggers earn much more than most freshly graduates, but just because we don't go through the "hard way" (get a proper job that requires me to work for 9 hours a day) of earning money, it doesn't mean that whatever we do is easy. 

I'm not sure about the others who blog for a living, but personally, I've been juggling between school and my career for the past 3 years.

It matters to me to write well

It matters to me to come up with content that my readers can relate to

It matters to me to be consistent and that I will never be complacent even when I'm on a roll

It matters to me that I do not succumb to the norms of society, and narrow-minded haters that expect me to cater to their likes and dislikes

It matters to me that I do not deceive my viewers by advertising things that even I don't believe in, just because I was paid to do so 

If these things do not matter to you, then you should question yourself if you're really cutout to be a blogger.

Yes, I could easily list a zillion perks of being a well-known blogger, such as - Getting recognised; C'mon it's a good feeling to have people coming up to you, making you feel you're so fucking famous. So don't bull and tell me you hate the fame or attention cos you know you're lying to yourself. And if you really hate it so much then shut down your blog and write everything in a god damn diary.

Even 1/2k followers for a "blogger" is considered high compared to an average person and some boast to their friends just to feed their ego.

Honestly, do you really think you're that cool? Cos even I don't think I'm cool, I can afford shampoo, I can afford my own clothes. There's nothing to show off about, nothing to rave on your blog all day long on how you've been sponsored this and sponsored that, if that's really all you have to say.

Yes I do get sponsors, and blog about them, but that's not the only thing that I'm concerned with and talk about.

3) Success comes to those who earn it.

It's no secret that people can rise to fame overnight. Some try extremely hard to, perhaps by starting some little drama because of their little insecurities or doing nonsensical stuff. Soon, they become the talk of the town, they trend for awhile, but whatever it is, it doesn't last. All these come and go. Even if you're good looking, as long as you don't have a strong opinion and you're following blindly with the crowd, nobody will keep up with you for long.

 In time to come, you'd die off and be replaced. There will always be another you that will come along.

To be irreplaceable, one has always gotta be different.

I've seen people who worked hard for the things they are passionate about, even when they hit rock bottom, they never fail to stand up strong. These are the people that I look up to and whom I feel we should all respect. There are still people like these who exist today, and no doubt, some of them have gained the success they've earned. I'm not saying this to convince you that I'm one of these people, but I just want you to know that that group of bloggers still exist, and if you wanna "worship" them, make sure you choose the right one to love blindly.

It's okay to be alone in school.

I ain't certain how majority of the people who don't know me actually view me, but I'm pretty sure many have this misconception that I lead a glamorous, problem-free life filled with

friends

from being who I am. The truth is? I'm alone most of the time, and I'm here today to tell you that

it's okay to be alone.

It may probably come as a surprise to some of you, but in contrary to what most people perceive, I don't really have many friends in school.

I usually get hated before I'm even known. Why do I say so? If a normal person decides not to take the initiative to socialise around and speak to people, everyone will probably think it's fine, and they are just shy. However, when I don't? I'm deemed to be stuck up and hostile. Condemned immediately, just bcos of my "social status."

Then again, hardly anyone approaches me bcos they are either the ones who condemned me, or they feel that they are "not good enough" to. Hence, as much as possible, I'd always avoid talking about my social-life to prevent unwanted attention.

I used to get really affected over the fact that I don't have many friends to call my own, so much that I hated being who I am cos no one's able to treat me normally even though that's all that I ask for. Just so you know, I used to suffer from social anxiety during senior year in Secondary school; in other words, I was afraid to have any social interaction with anyone, concerned about being judged or evaluated by others.

It is typically characterised by an intense fear of what others are thinking about me (specifically fear of embarrassment, criticism, or rejection), which results in the individual feeling insecure, not good enough for other people, and/or the assumption that peers will automatically reject them - as quoted from Wiki.

Until today, I still have that fear once in awhile, but I'm slowly "recuperating," and still learning how to step out of my comfort zone to interact with people.

I had a best friend who was in the same class as me for the first two years of Secondary school, who later on distant from me when we were parted during "streaming" year. I felt pretty lonely most of the time during year 3 and 4. Reason being, my best friend was in another class, and most of the people in class already formed their own cliques or had a familiar partner.

Of course, I had friends, in and out of class, but it never felt right. It was really tough to establish a good rapport with anyone.

I remember once when I was in Sec 3, while P.E lesson was conducted, we were all instructed to get into pairs, and as everyone hastily approached their partners, I glanced swiftly across the class to look for my only friend, who was also my sitting-partner in class, whom I thought would've teamed up with me, but she didn't.

I was puzzled at that moment, but more importantly, I realised I was alone. I felt my heart throb so loud as if it was in my ear, tears welled up in my eyes, but I tried to keep it cool. That feeling was unforgettable.

Another time during a school excursion - Normally, everyone including myself would feel excited; to me, being able to sit with my friends in the bus was one of the best things about having to go on a field trip, but it wasn't until I was left alone

again.

I went to refill my water-bottle when everyone boarded the bus, and I was hoping my partner would've left a seat for me. To my dismay, all I saw when I went up the bus were wide smiles and faces that told me I was forgotten. Seat right next to my friend? Taken up. The only vacant seats left were the ones right in front. Even my teachers in-charge joined in the fun behind.

I shut my eyes in anguish, as tears rolled down my cheeks.

I hated being in school.

In Sec 4, I finally had a few girl friends who included me in their group, and they were the best people I've ever met. Not only did I feel like I existed, but I was glad to have finally found a reason to look forward to school. However, I wouldn't deny I still felt like an extra at times bcos they already have their own "inside jokes." After all, they had a bond built over years and the last thing I wanted was to be sympathised.

Well, that was pretty much it, I'd head straight home most of the time when class ends, and just dwell on how shitty my life was at that time.

I'm sure many would be able to comprehend and relate to me when I say it's not really difficult to find friends, but true friends are hard to come by. It's not easy to find friends who wouldn't judge and will never make you feel alone when you're with them.

You know how it feels to walk with a bunch of people, but no one ever notices you're straying behind? Or try speaking, in futile attempt to join in a conversation, but half the time everyone just ignores the things you say and make you feel really left out? Scroll through your contact list and realised you've no one to call when you're in need of help? I've been through these phases, and used to cry under my sheets at night when they happen, but I've gotten over it.

It still happens even today, but so what? Some people may stay in your life, but you won't even see most of them after you graduate. If you still stay in touch with your friends from Kindergarten or Primary school, good for you, but I believe majority hardly even remember any of their childhood friends' names.

I go to school now with the mindset that my studies are my priority, and whether I make friends or not, it doesn't really matter. If I do, it's a bonus. If I don't, life goes on.

Time spent

wishing

you were happier, can actually be used to do things that will

make

your life better.

Yes, part of attending school is to make friends and it sure as hell sucks when you're being ostracised and have no one to turn to... But at the end of the day, as you grow older, you'd realise there are actually a lot more things more important than the people who don't give a shit about you. I'm not saying that making friends isn't essential, cos it is pretty important as it determines how your life in school would be, but unless you're a bitch and have serious issues, like if there's a legit reason why people hate you, I don't see how anyone would have difficulties making friends. And even if you don't now, you would someday. I promise.

Each year, it occurs to me that I lose more and more friends, but the ones left are the ones who are really worth keeping.

All I can say is that it's just something we all have to go through in life, and as much as you wanna avoid it, you can't. It's really okay to be alone, at least you don't have to worry about losing people and fear getting hurt, right? Hahaha. That's how I see it. It still bothers me every now and then that I don't have many friends like how some kids in school do, cos they seem really happy, but keyword?

SEEM.

Having many friends doesn't decide the fate of your life. What's the point of having so many friends, if you can't even find one true friend? I've seen many people who are this way.

It's also okay to be alone, cos being alone makes you think, makes you wonder, makes you learn and makes you appreciate.

Anyway, since this is post is something school-related, hope this video @thejianhaotan has just uploaded, would ease up your Sunday night!