Cheap Toiletries

Save!  -Depends.

The long and the short of it:

Don't overpay for toiletries!
NTUC, Watsons and Guardian stores sell them at much higher prices than at some smaller neighborhood stores!

Additional or local tips!
Do a super cheap ass combo by using shopping mall vouchers! (Read earlier post here)
And remember to buy above $20 so you can scan the receipts to get shopping mall rewards points if you're shopping in Capitaland Malls.

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I used to buy all my toiletries from Watsons or NTUC thinking they were the cheapest.
Oh little did I know how wrong I was... I have since discovered Swanston at Chinatown and one that's closer to home, Venus Beauty at Tampines Mall.


Their shampoo, soap and other hair and facial products are wayyyyyyyy cheaper. You can expect to save between $2-6 per item. *Jaws drop* right...


They may be parallel imports but hey, they work just as well for me so why pay more for the same stuff?

Yahoo Finance has just highlighted this too!

Cooking saving hack Part 2 - Breakfast at half the time and water!

Save! Depends. You'll probably save more time than money.

The long and the short of it

Boil your eggs and steam your buns at the same time! (Ok that sounded just a little rude :p)

Added tips!

Bring your eggs to room temperature first. Cos one of my eggs burst open during boiling. Not much mess just that the boiled egg isn't going to be a looker.

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Behold! The lazy man, save cooking time and save water all-in-one pot breakfast!

All my eggs and buns in one basket.

I know I know... it's all a little bit underwhelming. But Hey! You save water, time and gas.
It's still money saved no?

Any worries about the water not being safe and cleaning up to be more of a hassle... well those aren't true.

I've thought about it (all of a grand 30 seconds) and came up with the following Q&A to allay thine fears:

Q: You disgusting person you!    What if the egg breaks during cooking and it coats your pot with egg bits! Won't it be hard to clean?!

A: Using another pot will result in the same mess what...

Q: You unhygienic animal!    Won't it be unhygienic what with the metal steamer insert?!
A) It's boiling water... People use that to sterilize canning jars... It's safe. Period.

Q: Liar!    Won't it take longer to steam with more mass in the pot?
A) Yes it will but erm not noticeably. Anyway you don't watch the water to wait for it to boil so I guess you ain't gonna catch and save on that 0.5 millisecond extra gas used in the cooking of those 2 eggs.

Q: You heathen!    It's against Nature to eat eggs with buns! The pairing of the two are against my religion!
A: Fine. Steam the eggs and boil some sausages instead... Or steam the buns and boil sausages instead... Go think up your own combination / combo...

Q: You're a destroyer of worlds!   Cooking eggs other than by itself in pure unadulterated water is against the laws of the galaxy and will cause a cosmic imbalance that risks turning the world onto itself, causing a massive super nova to erupt! Thus destroying the world!
A: Go jump in the lake you mad F***...

Short size at Starbucks

Save! - $0.50 per cup! Or $26 per year if you hangout there at least once a week.

The long and the short of it:

There's a smaller size for Starbucks coffee than what's listed on the menu. Get it to save some moolah when you just wanna hang out at!

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So... here's a hack that I just tried courtesy of HWZ forum's lifehacks thread.

47) don't know if applicable for singapore... in starbucks, besides the "Tall" (350ml) and "Grande" (470ml), there is actually a "Short" (240ml).
You just have to tell the staff you want a "short". This size is not advertise on their menu. of course, there's the smallest, "Demi" (89ml) but is for espresso shots. might be a wols tip, oh well. - trashtalker

Well me trashtalker, it works! Thank you!

I can now get my usual house brew for $3.20! - as compared to the usual $3.70.
Sadly I can no longer BYO mug due to logistical reasons otherwise I could potentially get a decent cuppa and a nice cooling, wifi-ed, air-conditioned, hipster-ish hangout space with friends for just for $2.70!

An added tip, you can ask for hot milk to go with the daily brew. You don't have to drink black tar.

Don't scoff at that $0.50! With that BYO mug thing, that's a savings of $1 every trip now!
This is definitely a keeper.


See previous:
Using the Starbucks Card
BYO Cup @ Starbucks

Simple way to save on public transport

Save! Potentially $5? I'm seriously not sure how much cos luck play a large part.

The long and the short of it

Sign up for the Insinc and just use public transport as per normal.

Local tips!

Well none. More like reassurance. This thing (actually a research study) is backed by LTA! (Ah Gong's initiative ok!)

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Way back in 2012 or was it earlier, LTA basically commissioned a research project to run this programme called Insinc to gather data and reward people for participating and riding public transport.

It's all very government conspiracy theory like but hey! They're giving out moolah for your travel information so why not?
Wait wait wait, isn't my privacy at stake you say? Well, sorry folks, ezlink cards have been and can be used to detect where you are already without you signing onto Insinc. Remember you need to give your IC when buying ezlink cards? Yessssshhh...

Anyway, it's simple, sign up here to be in the programme and they will run this weird ass super math equation casino like game in which you will probably win something if you take public transport long enough.

Sign up here - Insinc.sg

Already $3.6mil given out so far and I personally have gotten about $9 from using it for... oh maybe 3yrs. Yes it's loose change but hey, that $3 can buy me a meal ok. 
Must be cheapo to be rich some day. 

PS: the programme was slated to end by Dec 2013 but seems like they are still getting good demand and LTA is continuing it indefinitely. So just jump in lah. Cost you nothing.

Milk the NS IPPT for what its worth

Save! Potentially Earn $200 extra on top of your incentive for a complete extra 20 RT cycle. 

The long and the short of it

This is obviously only for born and bred Singaporean males with jobs that allow them to leave work early. And are also fit enough to Pass or get Silver or Gold in the first place.

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Face it. If you're a born and bred Singaporean male (or 2nd generation PR), you gotta do NS and that &*%#(@$% shit sucks bricks. So why not milk the system for what its worth.

This here only works for the fit fit kind.

If you Pass your IPPT or get any of the Silver or Gold incentives, you can squeeze out even more just by failing your IPPT first and going for a full 20 session RT before passing on your last session of RT IPPT session.

Why do this? Cos you'll get off work earlier on certain days to go exercise and MINDEF will pay you to exercise. MINDEF actually pays you ~ $16 for each RT or IPT session you attend. It's actually to offset your travel expenses so the savings won't be that much, maybe $10 per session instead?
  
That's still a stinking good deal. And also a damn stinking chao way to earn extra money.
And there's quite a number of people doing it already. I'm talking about those obviously damn fit people who run 10min under at RT sessions. Damn obvious can!

Uber App new launch and their amazing offer

Save! Potentially $20-40, depending on how many friends you can get. Basically you're offsetting your taxi ride using Uber's promotional launch sign-up deal. 

The long and the short of it

Sign up for Uber App with a referral code and also start referring friends! No referral code, no $20 hor.

So use my referral code! 
ya3yu
You can sign up using this link here.

(Disclaimer: I will get $20 when you use Uber to hail a ride, only when you actually use it. But hey! $20 is not bad ok for both you and me.)

Note: Uber rides are more expensive than normal cab rides. Duh. So plan your ride so you get it free rather than spend a bomb instead. (Hence this post is under Advance)

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So whenever a new launch takes place, there are usually some deals tottered out to attract sign-ups, first customers etc. 

The big thing now would be Uber, which is basically a customized private driver service. It's a tech start up that's trying to shake up taxi services here. They have already been established in the States and are making a foray into Southeast Asia. I'm not too sure how that would work here. But hey, not my main concern here. They are offering a service and giving me something to use their service. How? Read on!

 

Since they are new in Singapore, they need users and are now doling out moolah to get people to use their app. In fact, they are giving out $20 to every new sign up who uses an existing referral. (My referral code is ya3yu. Link here - https://www.uber.com/invite/ya3yu)

 

iPhone App download - here 

Android App download - here

 

Signing up for the App nets you $20 of Uber moolah. You can then start referring friends, family, strangers... Each referral will potentially net you $20. POTENTIALLY. Cos the $20 will only be credited when that other person uses the Uber service.

 

My cheapo senses are tingling! Here's how to use this to maximise your dollars. 

There are 2 types of Uber fares:

1) UberX - no frills and cheaper

2) Uber Black (or just Uber on the app) - more prestigious and more expensive

 

Since you have $20 now, you can just use that for short rides to hard to reach areas or when you just want to have a little bit of luxury. Short distances using Uber Black (or just Uber on the app) should not exceed $20. (Use their fare calculator hor.)

I know UberX is cheaper but the quick scans that I did show very little cabs so my guess is, fewer cab drivers are willing to take up Uber's offer. So even if its cheaper, you get no cabs. No point right...

 

Here's their website and more importantly, their fare types and some inking of their fare structures.

DO NOTE:

• They will farm for your credit card and address cos you need to input those details to open an account and for Uber to charge to your card for the services. They're giving $20 so this to me, is a fair exchange.
• Base fare is $7. Min fare $12. Per km above 18km/hr is $2.25 while under 18km/hr is $0.85 so the driver has a major incentive to avoid gridlock type jams.
• Flat rate from CBD to Airport $50
• Flat rate from Airport to CBD $55
• No ERP or peak hour surcharges

If you're a techie or still curious about Uber, you can read more about them here - Tech in Asia UberX Beta

BYO Mug Kopitiam version

Save! About $1 per meal which works out to an average of $288 a year assuming 6 meals a week that you eat out at a coffeeshop or hawker.

The long and the short of it

BYO drinks or make your  own kopi / teh in the office or at home!

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Another simple no brainer though I suspect many will find this hard to do.
BYO drinks to your meals. It's simple and so obvious.

Every coffeeshop owner will run the drinks stall. You know why? Because that stall's profit margins are the highest! Ever thought about the cost price of that coca-cola can drink? I betcha it's probably $0.20 or less! The mark-ups are mad.

So save your wallet from being gutted. BYO drink or even better, drink plain tap water (bottled water does not count and is equally wasteful!)

If you need to have your caffeine fix, BYO to the office and have your beverage back at your desk. It's still way cheaper. The cost savings really builds up.
An example is fellow money saver AK from ASSI who's saved an amazing $9,216 over 16yrs! (His How I earned $9,216 with a mug? article) He's one committed fella!

Now why did I say many will find this hard to do? Because of peer pressure. When everyone buys a drink with their meal you will feel pressured. Resist! Persevere!

inSing app Voucher mania

Save! Probably about $10 or more depending on how long before the vouchers run out.

*Ok they have thrown in the towel. I think they bled too much from giving out too many vouchers liao. Announcement here

The long and the short of it

Download the app and accumulate points on it by reading their "articles" and liking stuff on FB through their app to redeem vouchers!

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Here's another free money giving app - inSing Po!nts app.
(Yes the name is horrigible but what the heck, they are giving away stuff. Is it beneath me to support bad design? Nope! Gimme gimme gimme!)

Basically, you sign up for an account and accumulate points via a few way and then use those points to redeem for vouchers. Free vouchers = savings so yeah!

Ways to accumulate points include:

• Reading inSing "articles" (basically rehashed news / content since originality is dead nowadays. Sigh.)
• Liking FB posts through on their app (it's a bit weird and inception-y cos you're using a social platform to enter another social platform to be social. Gah! I won't ever understand this...)
• Liking their redemption items
• Posting lame comments on their redemption items page. (choice comments include... "Coffee", "Last day", "Zzz", They are getting smarter", "more coffee"... and the list goes on.)

So far I've managed to redeem about $9.8 worth of Ya Kun vouchers (yeah free kopi!) and $5 city cab / Comfort Cab vouchers. 

Get the iPhone app here - inSing Po!nts
Get the Google play version here - inSing Po!nts

Really free money from Maybank

Save! Earn! $180 if you preserve all the way till the end of the year.

The long and the short of it

Sign up for a Maybank saving account, maintain at least a $500 average daily balance* and use that account to pay for your other credit card accounts. 

Local tips!

Combine this with savings from other credit card offers. Duh!
And for a super chao (smelly) combo, use your family members. Get your ah ma, ah gong, mother, father, sister, brother to sign up an account and use their account to pay off credit cards.

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This is one damn hosay good deal now. It's like one of those mother-of-all good deals kind. This is really free money. Not some bullshit sign up for loans to get rebates crap or spend to save rubbish.

Basically, Maybank is offering a cash rebate of $0.10 whenever you pay for credit card bills via internet banking. It's to any, I repeat, ANY credit card from ANY bank.
So this is a gold mine. You don't even need to use Maybank's credit cards. So basically this is a combo that stacks. Plus there's some lucky draw thing too!

Ok so what's the catch? Well, surprisingly there is no catch, except you need to spend time doing a boring repetitive task to earn that money.

So to make things easier to digest, the key points of this offer are listed below:

•  Cap of $20 issued out per Maybank account each month. It's max $10 for payments to Visa and another $10 for payments to Mastercard. So that makes $20 maximum each month per account.
•  Each payment has to be minimum $5. 
•  To hit that $10, you need to submit 100 payments. No sweat, break down your  transactions to 100  x $5 for each card type and you earn $20 a month. FOC. 

(Well technically not FOC, you will spend ~1hr to do the 100 transactions so you're earning $10/hr wages. Still... it's a chance to earn some moolah. Kinda easy money too.)

So what do you need to do?
1) Sign up for a Maybank saving account. You have to head down to a branch. They can settle that for you on the spot and takes about 1hr to be safe. Internet banking will be available within 2 weeks. 
2) Start using it to pay your credit card bills. 
3) Magic money comes in at the end of the month :D

Read more about it here - Other Banks' Credit Card Payment Cash Back Feature and Lucky Draw

Offer runs till Dec 2014. So you have till the end of the year to enjoy this gravy train.

Note that the offer is for credit cards only. Debit cardholders can weep.

Added note on 16 April 2014
Another way to look at this is at a bank interest rate angle. Say you deposit $12k into the account for paying your credit card bills, maxing out the $20 rebate for Mastercard and Visa ($500 x 2 card companies x 12 mths), that's $240 a yr.
That's 2% returns for that $12k. Better interest rate than any other bank without all that hassle of salary deposits, cannot draw down etc.

Free food with McDonald's Surprise Alarm!

Save! Probably about $20 during this promotion.

The long and the short of it

Download the app and use it to get free food! Usually breakfast but sometimes coffee as well

Local tips!

There's none except maybe stay near a Mcdonald's…

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McDonald's is giving away free food. Yes free food. Everyday. Every single freaking day until god knows when.

You just need to download their free app, Mcdonald's surprise alarm, and set the alarm clock to ring. Once it rings, you will (sometimes) get a surprise offer that you can use. The offers are great because they are giving away free food with no purchase needed! I've so far gotten Sausage McGriddles, Sunrise Roll Chicken Ham or a coffee - basically mostly experimental menu stuff that they need guinea pigs for. I'm not gonna quibble over free food so hell I'll eat them. Plus it's always kinda fun to be trying new fast food items particularly if its free.

Sometimes just small fries or an extra turkey bacon that you can get with some purchase which suits me just fine if I'm going to eat there anyway.

If you get free coffee, well you would have earned yourself a coffee break at an air-con Mc Cafe or McDonald's to work or chillax.

Other benefits include getting a very very nice looking alarm clock app. The alarm that goes off is also fairly annoying. It drives me nuts and wakes me up every time. So that's an added benefit.

$2.50 breakfast for maybe 2 days in a week. That saves you $5 a week, $20 a month, $240 a year though this will probably only run for another 1mth max (my guesstimate) so maybe you can save $20 through this exercise.

Yeah yeah, I know. Fast food ain't healthy, so might as well not pay to pollute your body! :p

Get the app here - McDonald's Surprise Alarm
Read more about it here - McDonald's webpage