Visa is offering its customers financial tips to tie in with this week's Chinese New Year. The global payments solutions company launched its latest financial literacy campaign to mark the Year of the Dragon - the symbol of power and wealth.
"2012 is the Year of the Dragon and that's also your Chinese zodiac sign if you were born in 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988 or 2000," says Brian McGrory, Visa's head of consumer debit products - Asia Pacific, Central Europe, Middle East and Africa.
"The Dragon is the symbol of power and wealth, but being born in a Dragon year is more the financial equivalent of having a strong tail wind. Unless you set your sails right, your Dragon status won't move your financial boat forward. They may be lucky, but people born in the Year of the Dragon still need a good financial management plan if they want to prosper."
Mr McGrory says the key to spending within your means is to know what your expenses are and to spend less than you make.
"Start by creating a realistic budget that you can stick to - whether daily, weekly or monthly - whatever works for you," he says. "Now you need to prioritise your outgoings, sorting out the 'must haves' from the 'would likes'.
From this, set yourself goals to achieve throughout the year. You need to think smart, which means setting yourself goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-related."
By using a debit card to make payments, Mr McGrory says consumers are more likely to stick to their budgets and goals and avoid the "buy now, pay later" trap.
For more information, visit www.visamiddleeast.com.
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UAE Exchange and Union Bank of India have teamed up to offer Indian expatriates a new remittance service that credits accounts almost instantly.
With the UNION FLASH Remit service, beneficiaries can receive money within minutes. The moment the amount hits the beneficiary's account, an SMS notification is instantly sent to the mobile phones of both the sender and the receiver.
"Indian expatriate customers will experience a revolutionary improvement in turnaround time for account credit," says BR Shetty, the managing director and chief executive of UAE Exchange.
"UAE Exchange has always walked that extra mile to bring customers more value."
The service is only available to Union Bank of India account holders.
For more information, go to www.uaeexchange.com or www.unionbankofindia.co.in.
pf@thenational.ae
ZAYED SUSTAINABILITY PRIZE
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Afghanistan fixtures
- v Australia, today
- v Sri Lanka, Tuesday
- v New Zealand, Saturday,
- v South Africa, June 15
- v England, June 18
- v India, June 22
- v Bangladesh, June 24
- v Pakistan, June 29
- v West Indies, July 4
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases
A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.
One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.
In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.
The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.
And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
