From spider plants to peace lily and aloe vera, these air purifying indoor plants will help you improve air quality and remove toxins.

You don’t see it, but an accumulation of toxins is always present in your home. These pollutants contribute to ‘sick building syndrome’, which causes symptoms ranging from allergies, headaches and fatigue. The danger here is that we can’t see them – and the only thing we can do is to start taking prevention measures.

Most people are nonchalant about getting air purifiers – which are expensive, takes up space and seem unnecessary to many. What about getting house plants instead? Not only do they look cool but they have the ability to reduce indoor air pollution and improve indoor air quality too – all at the cost of a little water, fertiliser and some TLC.

1.  Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

This grass-like, striped foliage is chic and easily found everywhere. They remove volatile organic compounds from the air, but are perhaps best known for decreasing carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide levels – which means more fresh O2 for you! They are also great for removing toxins emitted from most home furniture (fabrics and glue used), flooring and insect spray – like ethylbenzene and formaldehyde.

And contrary to its name, no, the spider plant does not attract nor repel spiders. However, they could be prone to aphids and mites – so be sure to keep it in a hanging basket near a window or glass door and not fully outdoors.

Easy to care: 4/5

Toxin-removal power: 4.5/5

Light requirement: Light to medium

1.  Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

Ferns are everywhere, even when you don’t want them in your garden. The good thing is that they are found easily and you don’t even need to buy them – just ask for a bunch from your green-thumbed neighbour. Most people leave them be because they’re just so beautiful and iconic. This particular species of fern work well against formaldehyde; and in fact, a recent study found ferns to be the best class of plants for removing this particular toxin and produce fresh air.

Another common garden fern in Malaysia is the Swamp Fern (Acrostichum Aureum) or known as Pucuk Paku. So, even if you get a different species of the fern family, it would still do its job while lasting a lifetime as they are very hardy, evergreen plants.

Easy to care: 5/5

Toxin-removal power: 3/5

Light requirement: Medium

1.  Bamboo Palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens) 

Can you say Insta-worthy? These medium-sized bamboo palms (it’s also commonly known as areca palm) are the crux to creating that luxurious hotel holiday vibe in your home and adds a dash of class to almost any setting. The best part is that they thrive in humid areas (Malaysian weather for the win) and removes toluene and xylene from the air – especially if your home is newly painted and furnished with items fresh from the manufacturing warehouse.

The bamboo palm also emits large volumes of water vapour – it’s great for dry air (air-conditioning) plus it isn’t fussy about how much water it gets. Another close relative with similar benefits is the bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii).

Easy to care: 4/5

Toxin-removal power: 4/5

Light requirement: Medium to strong

1. Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis) 

Who knew that orchids are more than just pretty flowers? A particularly popular species of these fragile flowers are known for purifying the air and are very beneficial for oxygen supply too! They are one of the few house plants that produce a lot of oxygen at night – which makes them a great bedroom companion. Plus, they come in like a hundred different colours!

Orchids are notoriously hard to care for – they need cool and shaded areas with some filtered sunlight. In Malaysia’s extremely humid climate, it’s very important to ensure your orchid is placed in a cooler part of your home, otherwise, they will begin to wilt.

Easy to care: 1/5

Toxin-removal power: 3/5

Light requirement: Light to medium

1. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum “Mauna Loa”)

Aside from orchids, this indoor flowering plant is a common fixture in many hotels. It is a triple threat plant to toxins since it’s able to not just remove trichloroethylene, benzene and formaldehyde from the air; it can also purify and humidify indoor air. It’s characteristic white flower and green leaves have a glossy, waxy texture that needs daily misting to maintain its sheen, but it is also super tolerant towards neglect (in other words, it won’t die as easily as those fussy succulents!)

However, for all of its great attributes, the one downside is that it can be harmful to children and pets – and should be kept well out of reach.

Easy to care: 5/5

Toxin-removal power: 4.5/5

Light requirement: Light to strong

1. Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)

And then there’s aloe vera, an indoor plant that is loved by many because of how versatile it is. We all know aloe vera’s good for healing cuts and burns and not to mention, they make a great drink but did you know that aloe vera can clean the air too? This amazing succulent plant is effective when it comes to getting rid of formaldehyde and benzene — by products of chemical-based cleaners, paints and fumes.

It’s also incredibly easy to grow and care for. Just pop them by the window sill where natural light is abundant and water every once every two weeks. Yes, it’s as easy as that!

Easy to care: 5/5

Toxin-removal power: 4.5/5

Light requirement: Medium to strong

1. Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) 

Commonly known as the mother’s in law tongue or snake plant, the viper’s bowstring hemp purifies air by absorbing toxin through the leaves and releasing oxygen back into the surroundings. While most plants take in oxygen at night (due to the absence of photosynthesis), this one does the opposite. It produces oxygen at night, making it the perfect bedroom plant.

Besides, according to NASA Clean Air Study, they’ve identified that the viper’s bowstring hemp is one of the top air-purifying plants to have at home because of its ability to remove 107 known air pollutants, including carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, xylene, benzene and trichloroethylene among many others.

Easy to care: 5/5

Toxin-removal power: 5/5

Light requirement: Light to strong

1. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)

Aloe Vera’s not the only houseplant endorsed by NASA. The Chinese Evergreen is also effective in cleaning and purifying the air, especially in enclosed spaces. It is said that the tropical plant helps to eliminate harmful pollutants like benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and more.

Aside from cleaning the air, Chinese Evergreen Plants are also known for enhancing concentration and memory, reducing stress, increasing productivity and boosting energy.

Easy to care: 3/5

Toxin-removal power: 4.5/5

Light requirement: Light to strong

1. Learn Self-Control

Although you can effortlessly buy an item on credit the minute you want it, it’s better to wait until you’ve actually saved up the money for the purchase. Credit cards are convenient, and paying them off on time helps you build a good credit rating. However, credit card debt is the number one obstacle to getting ahead financially. If you make a habit of putting all your purchases on credit cards despite not being able to pay your bill in full at the end of the month, then you might still be paying for those items in 10 years. 

1. Enhance your financial knowledge

Instead of relying on others for advice, take charge and read a few basic books on personal finance or perhaps to learn it from online such as websites, blogs, and social media sites. Once you’re armed with knowledge, don’t let anyone catch you off guard—whether it’s a significant other who slowly siphons off your bank account or friends who want you to go out and blow tons of money with them every weekend.

1. Stick to a Budget

Spend smart by planning a budget on your monthly expenses to know where your money goes. It is important to make sure that your expenses aren’t exceeding your income and savings. Starting to make small and manageable changes in your everyday expenses can have as big an impact on your financial situation as getting a raise.

1. Start an Emergency Fund

Having money in savings to use for emergencies can keep you out of trouble financially and help you sleep better at night. Also, it is good if you have the habit of saving money by resolving to set aside a minimum of 5% of your salary for savings before you start paying the bills. Instead of just putting your fund into a standard savings account, try to put it in a different high interest online savings account like a money market account and certificate of deposit (CD).

1. Start Saving for Retirement

Just as your parents probably sent you off to kindergarten with high hopes of preparing you for success in a world that seemed eons away, you need to plan for your retirement well in advance. Especially to start saving for your retirement in your 20s after you get your first job. The sooner you start saving, the less principal you’ll have to invest to end up with the amount that you need to retire.

1. Review Your Insurance Coverages

Too many people are talked into paying too much for life and disability insurance, whether it's by adding these coverages to car loans, buying whole-life insurance policies when term-life makes more sense, or buying life insurance when you have no dependents. On the other hand, it's important that you have enough insurance to protect your dependents and your income in the case of death or disability.

1. Protect Your Wealth

To make sure that all of your hard-earned money doesn’t vanish, you’ll need to take steps to protect it. Here are some steps to think about, even if you can’t afford them all right now:

• If you rent, get renters insurance to protect the contents of your place from events such as burglary or fire. Read the policy carefully to see what’s covered and what isn’t.

• Disability insurance protects your greatest asset—the ability to earn an income—by providing you with a steady income if you ever become unable to work for an extended period of time due to illness or injury.

• If you want help managing your money, find a fee-only financial planner to provide unbiased advice that’s in your best interest, rather than a commission-based financial advisor, who earns money when you sign up with the investments that their company backs. The latter has a potentially divided loyalty (to their company’s bottom line, and to you), while the former has no incentive to guide you down a wrong path.

• You’ll also want to protect your money from taxes—which is easy to do with a retirement account—and from inflation, which you can do by making sure that all of your money is earning interest. There are a variety of vehicles in which you can invest your savings, such as high-interest savings accounts, money market funds, CDs, stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. The first three are relatively free of risk, while the remaining three carry greater possibilities for financial setbacks but also greater possibilities for monetary rewards. Learning about investing is an important skill for building up your savings—and, eventually, building wealth.

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted almost every corner of life, causing global economies to stall, changing the way we work and interact with our loved ones, and stretching healthcare systems to the limit. Almost all governments around the world have been forced to implement harsh restrictions on human activity to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

Fortunately, the beginning of 2021 saw numerous vaccines given emergency approval and begin their roll out in countries across the world. A vaccine activates our immune system and greatly reduces the risk of getting infected with Covid-19. Malaysia began its COVID-19 vaccination programme in February 2021, with our frontliners being the first in line to receive it. While the third wave of COVID-19 cases forced half of Malaysia into a second movement control order (MCO 2.0), all hopes are on the vaccine to help us get back to our normal daily lives and get the world back on track after more than a year of tough battle against the pandemic.

When vaccinated, the body's immune system will be activated to recognize the invading pathogen and produce antibodies. This means that if the person is exposed to the dangerous pathogen in the future, their immune system should respond immediately to destroy it with antibodies, thus protecting against the disease. After enough people in a population are vaccinated, the virus will effectively stop spreading by what's called a ‘herd immunity’. Hence, vaccination is the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves and the people around us against Covid-19.

So, what is the importance of vaccination? 

1.   Vaccine is an important tool to help stop the pandemic

Stopping a pandemic is no easy feat. Wearing masks and social distancing help reduce the chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others, but these measures are not enough to curb it. The Covid-19 vaccine may offer some natural protection, known as immunity. The vaccine works with our immune system, creating an antibody response, so that we are effectively protected from the severity of the disease and lowers our risk of death due to COVID-19.

2.   Vaccine helps to form "herd immunity"

The number of infected and death cases of Covid-19 in Malaysia is currently rising. Vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and help control the infection rate by benefiting the whole community through herd immunity. As more people continue to receive the vaccine, the community may reach herd immunity, which means the spread of the Covid-19 virus becomes unlikely hence effectively reducing the number of cases of Covid-19. It’s important to get vaccinated to help form herd immunity and achieve this public health goal.

3.   Vaccine helps to ditch the mask

The vaccine is the final step in humanity’s effort to get back to a more normal way of life. Although masks are still recommended indoors in areas with high infection rates, the vaccine is our path toward eventually moving beyond them. As long as people are fully vaccinated and herd immunity is reached, there is a hope to have a normal society again, enjoy daily life, working and learning without distancing, without masks and without fear.

4. Vaccine helps to reconnect with friends and family

Another importance of getting vaccinated is families could feel comfortable gathering again, sharing meals and enjoying each other’s company. It is good to reconnect with friends and families in person instead of virtually. Enjoying regular shopping, road trips without constant worry about the consequences. Besides, many companies are allowing their employees to return to the office, allowing co-workers to reconnect after many months. However, people who are fully vaccinated are advised to stay at home for 14 days after the second dose of the vaccine for the best immune response.

After a year of uncertainty, the vaccine has arrived and has clear benefits that should make everyone strongly consider getting the vaccines. By choosing to be vaccinated, people can protect not only themselves and their family but the community as well. Aligned with the nation’s efforts to combat the pandemic, NCT employees realised the importance of vaccination and successfully hit nearly 100% to be vaccinated.

What you invest in depends on your risk profile. Despite proven to be satisfying and lucrative, real estate investing is not the easiest option for beginners. The pandemic has hit the property sector hard. While most property consultants believe recovery is on the horizon, it will depend on the performance of the job market and economy. 

Is investing in real estate worth it in a post pandemic era? Here are the top reasons why you should include real estate in your investment portfolio.

1. Lower Risk

Real estate is a physical asset. Land holds its value and its price increases over time because there is a limited supply. Because its performance isn’t completely dependent on its managers, real estate investments are of a lower risk investment compared to stocks. With the current condition of the market, real estate prices may have already hit rock bottom, hence it is a good time to secure your investment now.

1. Competitive Returns

Malaysia is a renowned travel destination. It surpassed a landmark of 20 million international tourist arrivals in 2019; an increase of 3.7% compared to the same period prior to the year before. The country has immense potential to entice even more tourists once the border is reopened and the pandemic is contained. The positive growth of the tourism sector will in turn create a demand for more investment properties to host the tourists, hence higher returns from rental income.

1. Less Market Fluctuations

When the economy takes a downturn, real estate investments are more resilient to changes in the economy compared to stocks and bonds as people still need a place to stay. Instead of buying a property, more people may start to rent. In turn, higher demand in rentals will bring up your cash flows. If the economy does well, property prices increase and you will see higher appreciation on your real estate. 

1. Attractive Financing

If you want to grow your investments at a quicker rate, you can choose to borrow money to fund your investments. Stocks are at a higher risk, so your borrowing rates and margin requirements tend to be higher. On the contrary, real estate has a lower risk because it is a physical asset that holds its value. With the recent financing schemes introduced by the government, you also tend to pay less and are in a better position to secure your property.