Easy Ways to Cut your Daily Spending
How much do you spend on a daily basis? Do you spend $6 on a gourmet cappuccino or do you order a Kopi from the local kopitiam? Costs are definitely rising in Singapore, while wages fail to match up. According to a recent survey by Mastercard, Singaporeans are lacking an understanding of money management and budgeting. So here we are to offer you some tips to save money on a daily basis!
Take the MRT early
If you haven’t already heard, the Land Transport Authority has got a really successful campaign running in Singapore since 2013. Communters get to travel free on the MRT network if they end their journey before 7.45am on weekdays at 16 designated MRT stations in the city area. In addition, commuters who exit at these stations between 7.45am and 8am will be given a discount of up to 50 cents off their train fare. This may not seem much, but saving up to $1.80 a day and $432 a year is the cost of a 3-day holiday in Thailand. The early bird does get the worm!
Pack your own food or eat at the hawker centre
Don’t complain about the $6 plate of Hokkien Mee you find at an upscale foodcourt in Orchard. You have a choice when it comes to eating cheap – everywhere around Singapore you can find cheap food. Order that same plate of noodles in a hawker centre and you cut your cost by half.
Packing your own food is cheap and a healthier way to eat too! Instead of spluring on that $10 salad from a salad bar, make your own at 1/3 the cost! One way to save time is to cut up the veggies for 3 day’s worth and change around the dressing and ingredient to avoid boredom.
If you do not eating overnight food, you can consider buying food such as bread and sushi after peak hours. Some bakery offers 50% discount on their bread after 8 pm, which makes for good breakfast the next day. Also check out the rotisserie section of cold storage for roast chicken and sausages going for 50% discount after 9 pm!
Plan for your holidays
There are many wonderful locations around Singapore for holidays that are inexpensive. What you need to do is to plan ahead instead of booking expensive last minute flights or tour packages. Seek out budget airlines, travel during off-peak periods, sign up for credit cards that offer air miles and hotel discounts are just simple ways to save. If not, having a break can occur within Singapore as well – how about a trip to rustic Pulau Ubin or renting a chalent at East Coast Park?
Creative Date Ideas
Dating does not need to be expensive, and it does not require you to be ‘cheap’! Bringing your dressed-up date to a hawker centre is definitely not recommended, but you do not need to splurge on a $100 dinner as well. If romance is what you are looking for, a well-executed picnic at the Botanical Gardens, attending an interesting outdoor event and flying kites at the Marina Barrage will certainly impress your date more than sitting inside a fancy bar. Check out the list below for some inspirations:
- DBS Movies by the Bay: A free event held by DBS to watch some hollywood blockbuster under the stars. Grab your own popcorn and drinks at the nearby 7-11 and you’ve got your friday night planned!
- Singapore Restaurant Week: The restaurant week is held twice a year; you get to sample the menu of exclusive restaurants at an affordable price but book early to avoid disappointment! While not exactly cheap with lunches at around $35++ per pax, its a way to eat at gourmet restaurants at an affordable price.
If you are interested in saving money and being smart with your spending, then maybe have a look at the best credit cards in Singapore with our credit card comparison table – Make an informed comparison with EnjoyCompare
