Gap years and micro-retirement are trending buzzwords among adults in their 20s and 30s. With the financial means to take off and travel quickly and easily, this generation knows how to seek life beyond the hectic work grind. So, if you’re in this age range and ready for the adventure of a lifetime before responsibilities like children and housing loans pile up, this story is for you. And if you haven’t heard of a working holiday, you’re in for a treat.Book Your Next Flight Out to New Zealand with Trip.com and Earn Cashback!What Is a Work Holiday?A working holiday is essentially a visa offered by certain countries that allows you to travel abroad while working temporarily. This gives you the opportunity to financially support your stay while exploring a new country. It is especially popular among young Singaporeans in their 20s, as most countries cap eligibility for this visa at age 30. The jobs available are typically short-term roles in the hospitality or retail industries, and you may even get the chance to try seasonal work, something not available in Singapore.Which Countries Can I Apply?There are 2 main countries where Singaporeans can go for a working holiday: Australia and New Zealand. Each visa allows you to stay for up to a year, with the freedom to travel anywhere within the country.AustraliaAustralia is a breathtaking country and a definite must-visit if you haven’t been! With natural wonders like the Great Ocean Road, Uluru, and countless pristine beaches, a working holiday gives you the perfect chance to explore beyond the cities and even take domestic flights to discover its stunning landscapes.If you’re drawn to culture, art, and food, you can’t miss Sydney and Melbourne, or perhaps a road trip along the east coast. On your travels, expect to encounter unique wildlife, from kangaroos and koalas to marine life such as whales, dolphins, and sea turtles. Be sure to stop for unforgettable activities like surfing and diving. With so much to offer, spending a year here on a working holiday truly feels like a dream.New ZealandHome to world-famous film locations like The Lord of the Rings and K-dramas such as Crash Landing on You, New Zealand is a breathtaking work of art brought to life. The country is rich in adventure and natural beauty, offering everything from majestic alps and glowworm-lit caves to serene beaches that are perfect for escaping city life. It is also a haven for thrill-seekers eager to try skydiving or bungee jumping. Beyond that, you can enjoy activities not typically found in Singapore, such as hiking the alps, skiing, or kayaking through lagoons. With so much to experience, New Zealand is truly a dream destination, and with a working holiday visa, you can live that dream for up to a year.Travel Safely with Income Insurance Limited (Travel) and Earn Up to $15 Cashback!Why Should You Go On a Work Holiday?Honestly, do you even need convincing? It’s Australia and New Zealand! The chance to explore and step out of your comfort zone is a privilege we get as Singaporeans. But if you do need solid reasons to persuade your family, here are some great ones to show why a working holiday is worth it.1. Different Work ExperienceAs Singapore is a city with limited natural resources and land for agriculture, we are often confined to working in offices or other enclosed spaces. Experiencing different types of work abroad can broaden your perspective, expand your knowledge, and bring you closer to nature.How often do we get the chance to learn about real agriculture or horticulture, or to see firsthand the holiday rush in mega stores like Coles or Kmart? Working with nature also allows you to unplug from electronics, slow down, and enjoy life without the constant pull of notifications.2. Better Mental HealthBeing disconnected also brings us to point two: a slower pace of life can greatly improve mental health. In your 20s, it often feels like everyone is telling you to “go get it,” even though you may have just graduated from university. There seems to be no time for rest as you are quickly pushed into responsibilities, bills, and the pressures of adult life.Taking the time to slow down with a working holiday, whether after graduation or between jobs, can provide a much-needed pause in a hectic lifestyle. Experiencing a slower pace could improve your mental well-being and even reignite your sense of purpose or passion in life.3. Space to Be IndependentMost Singaporeans live with their parents before marriage, and some are fortunate enough to grow up with the help of a domestic worker. While these privileges are valuable and made possible through the hard work of the older generation, they can sometimes limit personal growth.Learning to be independent means creating an environment where you find your own footing and make your own choices. This can range from small decisions, such as when to do your laundry or how to cook, to bigger ones like whether to invest in a car for a year, which apartment to rent, or where to apply for a job overseas. These decisions, big and small, strengthen your character, push you out of your comfort zone, and teach you how to get things done on your own.4. Travelling the CountryThe main priority of a working holiday is still to enjoy being a tourist, while meeting the visa requirement of working a few months in certain sectors. After all, you are only in your 20s once! This is the best time to explore, be brave and adventurous, meet new people, and try different kinds of food. Conquer your fear of heights with a skydive, or rent a caravan and take a road trip along the coast. Whatever you choose, both countries offer some of the most breathtaking views in the world that you simply cannot miss.Let this story be your sign to take a break and go on an adventure to Australia or New Zealand! If you are unsure which to choose, here’s a quick guide: Australia is larger and home to more popular cities, while New Zealand is known for its lush greenery and is perfect for road trips with plenty of caravan parks.Nonetheless, we believe that as you take this leap of faith and embark on this adventure, you will definitely have fun and thrive, whichever country you choose.Travel Smart with HSBC TravelOne (T1) Credit Card and Earn $60 Cashback When You Sign Up with merewards!Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission. 

Do you remember the days when we would sneak snacks into classrooms, hiding them under our tables to eat during lessons? Or hang out at our favourite canteen spot with our best friends, munching on snacks bought with our weekly allowance? Even though inflation has hit and our beloved Polar Snacks are no longer sold in canteens for just 10 cents, the memories these snacks gave us will never be forgotten.Today, these gems can still be found in some stores—if you know where to look! Read on to take a trip down memory lane with our favourite childhood must-haves!1. Seaweed RingsPhoto credit: SG Houten websiteCategorising this alongside our beloved Polar Snack, the seaweed ring is a tough competitor when it comes to deciding what to eat for recess. Throwing back to the days when our toughest decision was choosing which snack to buy—whether to indulge in seaweed rings, Polar Snacks, or both (for those with extra pocket money)! Although seaweed rings are harder to find now, local brands like Singapore Houten still create these childhood delicacies for anyone who wishes to savour a taste of nostalgia.2. Kuih Piring (Crispy Wafer Biscuit)Photo credit: House of Tau Sar Piah websiteYour childhood was a sweet one if you grew up with this delight! It melts in your mouth, and the snack is so indulgent that our parents would often give us just one, leaving us craving more. If you had a sibling, your first food rivalry might have been over this treat, as you fought over which colour to eat—even though they all pretty much tasted the same.3. Colourful Gem BiscuitPhoto credit: Kracker King websiteThis needs no introduction as it is one of the most iconic local childhood snacks, and it’s still popular today! Shoutout to all the real ones who would eat the biscuit first before enjoying the icing gem as a kid! Not only was this addictive as a child, but it remains just as addictive now, even as adults indulging in it occasionally. We finally understood why our parents rationed our snack intake, especially with gems like this! Let’s not forget, they also made this in the shape of a hamburger, which is equally addictive, and harder to find now! After all these years, we’re just glad that local manufacturers haven’t stopped producing these delicious snacks! Continue reading to find out where you can buy these biscuits and satisfy your sweet cravings!4. Ice PopsPhoto credit: .𝔁𝓼𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓻𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮𝔁. on Shopee and Walls Ice Cream websiteWhen the school bell rings and a whole bunch of students dash across the street to the nearest neighbourhood MAMA shop, you know exactly what we’d be buying—Ice Pops! Despite the variety of flavours that match the colours, the popular choice will always be purple! With the sweltering heat in Singapore, these affordable thirst-quenchers are our go-to, and we all love them!Aside from this, other honourable mentions include Wall's Twister and, of course, Paddle Pop! If you’re from a neighborhood school, you’d also hear a familiar bell ringing, signaling the famous ice cream uncle parking outside the gates. Offering $1 ice cream wrapped in bread or a wafer, these little ice gems brought so many memories and so much satisfaction to our younger selves!5. Seasoned SeaweedPhoto credit: Blenta.OS on ShopeeIt’s impossible not to have tried Singaporean's favourite Japanese seasoned seaweed, before the Korean laver took over by storm! This seaweed was in every goodie bag we received as children, and we had to gently separate the packaging, or it would rip into the next pack! Buying this as a child felt like receiving a huge package, as it often came in large packs with never-ending rolls of seaweed. Sharing them with your classmates was part of the joy! It was like our local version of “opening a pack of gum!”6. Apollo Wafer BiscuitPhoto credit: Shopee Supermarket and Chaifong23 on ShopeeThis was iconic in our childhood! It also appeared in many goodie bags or as a treat from our teachers during Children’s Day. This snack mainly comes in two flavours—chocolate and strawberry. Eating this as an adult made me realise that, even though the filling is minimal, it still brought us so much joy as children. It remains one of the best travel snacks, especially when we were out on a school excursion.Another wafer biscuit that comes close to Apollo is also called the Apollo Wafer Chocolate Biscuit. However, this biscuit is completely coated in chocolate and wrapped in its notable striking red wrapper. It is one of the best snacks one can indulge in, especially after an exhausting, brain-draining day at school or tuition.7. Ring PopPhoto credit: ringpopofficial on Instagram and Push Pop Store on AmazonYour first proposal was probably made with a Ring Pop! Whether it was to your childhood crush or your best friend, it was always proposal season whenever we wore a Ring Pop! Needless to say, the proposal ended once the sweet was consumed. Even though it’s harder to find these days, we’re still thankful that some local merchants continue to sell them!Another close contender to our favorite Ring Pop would be Push Pop! This is for all the little girls who have now grown up. It was like our very first lipstick, where we would smear the candy all over our lips before licking it off—gross! But it brought us so much glee and made us feel like grown-ups. The little pleasures from these sweets were astonishing, even to this day as we look back.8. Dahfa Dried FishPhoto credit: Teong Heng Trading websiteDahfa Dried Fish was the kind of snack our parents would buy for us. It often tasted a little fishy but was still somehow fragrant and addictive. To make it more fun, many of us probably stuck two dried fish strips on both corners of our mouths, pretending to be a catfish before munching them up like a rabbit. This was also a great sharing snack that we often chewed on while studying or during excursions!There are still many other iconic childhood snacks that may have been forgotten over time, but I’m sure the contentment they brought will never be forgotten. As far as millennials and zillennials remember, these are a few of the precious, timeless snacks that shaped our childhood. So, the question is: where can we still find these precious gems in Singapore?While some can be found at FairPrice in commercial packaging, we believe that eating them scooped out from the traditional metal tin containers or digging our arms into tall plastic containers to choose the right flavour is what truly brings back the nostalgia of childhood. Luckily for us, some stores still serve their snacks this way!1. Teck Leong Lee KeePhoto credit: Teck Leong Pte Ltd websiteLocated in Ang Mo Kio, this store still carries many of our childhood favourite snacks that will definitely bring back a flood of memories when you see them. Items like baby bottle candy and ear biscuits in metal tins are just a few of the nostalgic treats this store continues to offer. If you're a parent reading this, bring your little ones to try all the snacks you grew up with—this legacy can only continue if the next generation enjoys these snacks as much as we do! Just a gentle reminder to check out their website or call their hotline before heading down, as they are a wholesaler and not a retail store, after all!2. Biscuit KingPhoto credit: Trip Advisor websiteHidden near Upper Thomson on Casurina Road is a little store called Biscuit King. As the name suggests, you'll find all your favourite biscuits, including Colourful Gems, all pre-packed for your convenience! Furthermore, if you're hosting a party and want your guests to enjoy these snacks, Biscuit King also caters to events! Simply head down to their store to find out more!3. SnacKING Retro Biscuits Photo credit: snackingretrobiscuits on Instagram A popular chain found in many neighbourhood shopping malls, such as Jurong Point, Northpoint, Pasir Ris Mall, and many more! SnacKING Retro Biscuits doesn’t just sell all your favourite snacks in convenient packaging; it also offers our childhood toys, like paper balls, chapteh, Old Maid card game, and other nostalgic items! Visiting these stores feels like heading to our school bookshop to spend that extra cash on cheap thrills. Definitely worth a visit!Relive these memories by taking a trip down memory lane to these stores or treating a friend to these long-forgotten snack gems! Also, let's continue to support these local stores so that their legacy and our childhood will not die. Moreover, bringing these snacks to parties or gatherings will always bring a smile to everyone and keep the conversation going when everyone starts sharing their fondest memories. We hope you'll find joy in enjoying these snacks again!

The greatest fear of every woman is when lines start to form along the creases of our face and body. As women (and men), it is important to take care of our skin and start our skincare routine at a young age to prevent the early signs of aging. In this story, you’ll find essential skincare products that could help slow down aging, moisturise, and brighten your complexion! We will also be sharing some important tips to combat early aging without going under the knife or using injections! Of course, as far as aesthetics go, if you wish to have a fuss-free, quick solution to anti-aging, consulting an aesthetician will be your best bet! Read on to find out about some of the best anti-aging products on the market now!Find the Best Anti-Aging Skin Care from Watsons and Earn 1.5% Cashback!First Signs of AgingOften overlooked in skincare routines, most people do not extend their skincare down to their neck. As a result, neck lines are often formed as early as your 20s. There’s a rule in skincare that everyone should follow: skincare should be applied all the way to your chest! It is obvious when your skin is bright and soft, but everyone can tell your age by a look at your neck, which may be sagging and full of fine lines. We do not want that!Next, your hands are the next to show signs of aging. Oftentimes, our hands are exposed to chemicals, whether it's dishwashing soap, detergent, or even hand wash soap that often dries the skin easily and causes it to wrinkle. If you’re constantly in an air-conditioned room, your skin gets dry even faster. To combat this, it is important to religiously apply hand cream that moisturises your skin.Best Anti-Aging ProductsThe most important way to combat anti-aging is the 10-step Korean skincare routine – just kidding. Of course, if you have the time, these 10 steps would be ideal. However, if you don’t have the time for it, it is important to note which essentials you’d have to apply on a daily basis (no skipping). There are also some products on the market that cater specifically to anti-aging! Read on to find out what the hottest products to use nowadays are!Hand creamL'Occitane Shea Butter Hand CreamPhoto credit: L'Occitane websiteThis hand cream is made mainly from shea butter and is suitable for dry to very dry skin. Moisturising our hands often is one thing that many overlook, and as a result, our hands are one of the first places that show our age. If you’re in an air-conditioned room all the time, hand cream is an essential item that should be in your purse, and L’Occitane’s hand cream is one that ensures you get all the nourishment you need to soothe and protect against environmental aggressors while rebalancing your skin.Find L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream from Watsons and Earn 1.5% Cashback!Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand BalmPhoto credit: Aesop websiteIf you’re looking for something more aromatic but still softens and hydrates your skin, Aesop’s hand cream is perfect for labor-wearied hands and cuticles. The scent of this hand cream carries notes of citrus, wood, and herbaceous. This hand balm is made from these three key ingredients: Mandarin Rind, Rosemary Leaf, and Cedar Atlas. Aesop is a brand that is widely trusted for its aromatic and comforting quality of skincare cleansing products, so you can rest assured they will provide you with a scent you’ll love while protecting your hands with the hand balm.SunscreenBeauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF50+Photo credit: Beauty of Joseon websiteOne of the most popular sunscreens in the market, highly recommended by Koreans and international influencers, the Beauty of Joseon is famous for good reasons! Their sunscreen is highly raved about due to its main ingredients like rice and probiotics, which are perfect for nourishing the skin barrier! The texture of the product is creamy, like a moisturiser, so it is great for people with dry skin or if you’re heading to a colder country that would dry your skin out. In short, this brand is trustworthy and worth the purchase of a good sunscreen.Find Beauty of Joseon Sunscreen from Olive Young Global and Earn 1.4% Cashback!Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare MilkAnessa sunscreen is a popular drugstore product that can be easily found in Watsons or Guardian. It is Asia’s No. 1 skincare brand, and we understand why it is also known as the “gold UV milk.” Anessa’s sunscreen doesn’t just protect you from UV rays; it protects your skin with total age-defying care through many important ingredients like collagen and yellow flower extract (for anti-photoaging). Above all, it is not sticky at all, as the consistency of the product is milky, making it fast-absorbing for all skin types! Lastly, Anessa’s sunscreen is also coral-friendly, so you can go to the beach safely too!Find Anessa Sunscreen from Watsons and Earn 1.5% Cashback!MoisturiserMoisturiser in the market is vast, and there are many great brands out there. Most of these brands do have a few ingredients in common. Retinoids (retinol) are essential in your moisturiser as they derive from vitamin A and are known to increase cell turnover and boost collagen and elastin production, which are very important to keep your skin youthful! Next, peptides. These are a chain of amino acids that stimulate collagen production. The more collagen, the firmer your skin is! Lastly, your moisturiser needs to contain a little hyaluronic acid. This ingredient attracts and holds water so that your skin will not feel dry, which leads to wrinkles.Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Rejuvenating Cream RichPhoto credit: Sulwhasoo websiteWhen it comes to anti-aging products, no one does it best like Sulwhasoo! Known for their rich research in all things rejuvenating and anti-aging, their moisturiser is one that you cannot miss! Regardless of whether you’re in your 20s or 40s, this product is one that you can start using to prevent fine lines and wrinkles. Their concentrated ginseng rejuvenating cream is nourishing and helps to plump skin while addressing any visible fine lines and wrinkles. This means lightening lines across your face and neck! This is a product that is great to apply near your lips and neck, where wrinkles tend to form!Find Beauty of Joseon Sunscreen from Olive Young Global and Earn 1.4% Cashback!Eye CreamThe main point of eye cream isn’t much about the product itself, but the way you apply it. Always use your fourth finger (ring finger) to apply it to areas near your eyes, like the lids, under the eye, and corners of your eyes where wrinkles tend to form. Your ring finger uses the lightest strength, which is important for areas with thin layers of skin (your eye). Additionally, always tap in a circular motion and never tug or pull on your eyelids. This will lead to skin sagging and fine lines forming!Caudalie Premier Cru The Eye CreamComes attached with a metallic wand, this eye cream is cool all the time! The cooling metal applicator makes applying it to your eyes easy without the use of your hands! Furthermore, the ice-cool touch de-puffs your eyes, allowing you to look fresh and alive. This cream is lightweight, and it helps to brighten, smooth, and hydrate the under-eye area and combat any fine lines or dark circles! For extra coolness, simply pop it in the fridge or leave it in an air-conditioned room overnight before using it in the morning!Find Caudalie Eye Cream from Sephora and Earn Up to 4% Cashback!Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex Synchronised Recovery As you age, your eyelids lose volume, and blood vessels might become more visible. This results in darker eye circles. Late nights and stress can also cause physical fatigue and lead to dark eye circles. Estée Lauder’s eye cream is one that is popular on the market and aids in the recovery of dark eye circles and fine lines. Taking good care of your eyes is essential, as it helps you look brighter and lifts your overall appearance, making you feel confident and less sloppy.Tips to Combat Early AgingSleep Early and Manage StressThere are a million and one reasons and benefits to sleeping early. The true question is, are you sleeping early and having quality sleep? Managing stress is one way to get better quality sleep. Worrying robs you of your rest, and if you find yourself struggling to turn off the images and voices in your head, try taking slow, deep breaths, using an essential oil diffuser, and taking some melatonin gummies. Rest rejuvenates your skin; it restores dead cells and builds new ones as you sleep. Hence, having enough hours of sleep (6-8 hours) is important for cell regeneration. Better cells = better skin!Reduce Stress with 9 Self-Care Tips and Activities to Overcome Hustle Culture!HydrateOur skin needs moisture to keep it firm and bouncy and not look like a prune. If you’re someone who doesn't drink enough water and is often stuck in an air-conditioned environment, your skin will dry up quickly. As much as skincare products can help in hydrating your skin, it still doesn't match the benefits of drinking enough water. Furthermore, water is good for your health. Overall good health leads to overall healthy skin!Exercise Similar to drinking water, exercising is one way to rewind time. Not only will you feel more energised, but exercising firms your body up as you build muscles, allowing you to look younger and healthier. There are also certain types of facial exercises that could help firm the neck and jawline of faces. Some include gua sha massage with oil or daily neck stretches looking up, left, and right. These exercises are great because many of us are often on our phones looking down, forming unnecessary neck lines! Neck exercises help to sculpt the skin around your jaws, making your face look more defined and younger.Quit SmokingSmoking is the no. 1 tool to overall health and skin aging. It accelerates aging as the toxins in cigarette smoke often damage the fibers of collagen and elastin, which are vital for our skin’s firmness! Slowly, you’ll see premature wrinkles and sagging skin, and even an overall dull appearance! Overall, smoking just causes a lot of harm to you and the people around you. So if you do not wish to have premature aging, don’t smoke (and we mean every kind of cigarette)!We hope this story gives you a glimpse of how you can improve your complexion and prevent early signs of aging. Remember, hydrate, moisturise, and no stress! These simple steps, when practiced daily, will be a great booster for your skin, and you’ll slowly start to see improvements in the days to come!Discover How to Boost Your Well-being with Our Story: “Escape the Screen: 8 Digital Detox Activities to Try."Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.

Cashback platforms are aplenty, and there are some great ones out there that allow you to earn cashback effortlessly whenever you shop. With merewards, we believe in giving back to our loyal customers and thanking you for supporting us through the years. The best part about our app? It is completely free. To enjoy our wide list of participating merchants to earn cashback, all you must do is subscribe to our free membership and check out via our app or website.Apart from cashbacks, don’t miss out on our exciting 1-for-1 deals, coupon deals and more! Now that you know our platform allows you to enjoy deals and cashback, what nobody tells you is that there are actually multiple ways to earn cashback! And this story will guide you step-by-step on how you can maximise your earnings!Shop PageWe’re sure many of you are familiar with earning cashbacks when shopping with us! Did you know that apart from the brands listed with us under “Shop”, you can find more deals under coupons as well? However, only brands featured in the "Shop" section are eligible for earning cashbacks.Still, you’re not shortchanged! We have many popular merchants such as Shopee, Uniqlo, Singapore Airlines, iHerb (Global) and Toys "R" Us just to name a few! To earn cashbacks from these brands, do ensure that these steps are met! Step 1: Log into your merewards account (an important step or else cashback will be forfeited).Step 2: Click on the brand’s link and press “Buy Now”.Step 3: Click “OK” to be redirected to their website.Step 4: Shop as per normal and earn cashback after you have checked out successfully! Find a Brand to Shop & Earn Cashback Now!Book a Trip with merewards Since you’re going to book a flight or hotel, you might as well earn some cashbacks that could accumulate and use them for your trip! Girl math: the more you earn cashback, the more you can spend it overseas! On the merewards app, click on “travel” and you’ll immediately be transported to our adventure page with Trip.com!Over here, enjoy 1% cashback when you book your flights on Trip.com via merewards! Simply input your destination and the dates and you’ll be redirected to Trip.com’s page! If you’re unsure which country to go, check out our popular destinations below! Click into any of the listings and select “Explore more”! After you’re done with your bookings, enjoy a joyful holiday preparation as your cashback makes its way into your merewards wallet!If you’re looking to book a hotel for either a holiday or staycation, you can earn 4.5% cashback when you check out via merewards! Again, under the “Hotels” tab, input the destination you’re heading to and the dates or simply check out some popular hotel destinations below!Upon clicking the search icon, you’ll be redirected to Trip.com’s page where you can further fine tune what kind of stay you’re looking for! Book your favourite hotel and stay tuned for your cashback to flow right back into your merewards wallet! Book Your Next Getaway & Earn Cashback with merewards!Easy? We believe that earning cashback shouldn’t be complicated! Hence, the next time you’re thinking about travelling, remember that merewards is here to help you earn some cashback as you prepare for your next getaway! Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.