HOW TO SAVE MONEY TO SURVIVE IN S’PORE WHEN EVERYTHING IS GETTING EXPENSIVE

little tips for saving money trying to stay alive in Singapore

small things you can do to save money

everyone has a few. please add on and pass along – the cost to be alive is getting harder to achieve, even if your tip helps me save a single dollar i’d be happier than a pig in shit. personal or for the family, everything you share would be much appreciated, sincerely.

I’ll go first.

1. Check your mobile/internet and cable tv subscriptions.
   i was paying 30 a month on the cheapest plan for more than 5 years. Decided to look at what plans and options I had, downgraded to a $10.10 basic plan on another provider, free caller id and shit. with more data and talk time and SMS (who smses anyway) at 19.90 less in 12 months I save $238.80
2. Also downgraded internet one tier down for 30 a month plan. was paying 50 originally. Another 20 dollars X 12 saved – 240.Of course get a plan that suits you best if you are say a gamer and need super fast internet just have a look at the current plans that are available.

Cheers everyone, do share.

Netizens’ comments

1. stop paying for mobile games
   stop buying snacks (e.g potato chips + ice cream)
   stop buying expensive clothes
   stop taking grab, learn to wake up on time
   stop buying devices you don’t need
   stop eating at expensive places (there was a thread redditors can’t find anything <$7 for lunch)
   stop buying drinks, drink water
   try to find a gf so can bto
   stop subscriptions, stick to free YouTube, download YouTube ad blocker
   Est. Can save $500/mth with the tips above
2. Use fairprice app when dining out at kopitiam. Thought everyone would use this, but the number of people paying with cash and not after scanning through the app…. u save 10%!!!!
   and bring ur own tupperware for takeouts. 30¢ for each takeout box adds up. save environment and save money!
3. Bulk meal prepping is win-win – I save money and eat more healthily.
   On a related note, many expensive dishes can be easily recreated at home. I’ll never order steak or seared salmon outside because I can do it myself for 30% of the price.
   I cut my electricity bill by 25% by switching my air-conditioners to dehumidifier mode. The apartment still gets to around 25 degrees for a lot less power.
   I use price trackers like camelcamelcamel to monitor items I’m thinking of buying.
   I gently squeeze the telco and broadband providers when my contracts expire. The customer service team has some leeway to offer you freebies and discounts if you tell them you’re thinking of switching companies. Be as polite as possible, of course.
4. Seng Choon eggs – 10+2 eggs for $4 (the carton will say 2 “free” eggs) at Ang Mo, vs 10 eggs for abt $3.75 elsewhere. It’s tiny (essentially you save 3 to 4 cents per egg), but hey. 🙃
   Farmhouse milk – this one i walked past and saw only, never buy: now it’s like 946ml (2 pints) for $3.70, which is a disgusting price increase cos it used to be like $3.30 for a full litre. But here’s the thing — $3.30 for a full litre still exists, at Li Li Cheng Supermarket (especially shouting out to Punggol homies lol idk if they have other outlets but not worth taking bus here to buy. But walk extra 5mins, maybe worth lol)
   Alternatively just buy non-chilled milk and chill in your fridge whenever. I’ve never bought it above $3, its like $2.10 or $2.30 or sometimes you get a promo at 2-for-however much. Angmo stocked Cowhead brand for $1.95 so perhaps I should be saying SHOP AT ANGMO hahahah. My family started buying non-chilled milk during lockdown, just put in fridge whenever. We get Cowhead or Farmhouse!
   YA MAN FRIENDS, DONCH GRAB. My status drop drop drop like grapes from Platinum to Silver but I’m not gna Grabpay my purchases to restore it. Nowadays you don’t even get points if you use it to make a retail transaction at Macs or Donki or whatever 😒
   Find those vouchers on Lazada and use – I found this by accident actually, one day I saw an ad for Huggs Coffee, $3.55 for a latte. I checked the regular price, was rly much cheaper on the app. So I got the coupon for it (regular price is $6.50 I think) – sadly Huggs discontinued it, and not all of the coupons have good discounts (I’ll get if it’s like 40-50%), some are like 5% off only so huhhhhhh.
   I also second NLB. It’s money saving all around and I love it – libraries truly are the only place you can enjoy smtg without obligation to pay. NLB ebooks especially are great cause auto return on due date- don’t needa spend on books, don’t needa spend on overdue payment fines! Wheeee. Also Udemy. I don’t consider it a “valid certification” la if you wna show you’re qualified this probably isn’t it. But its a good way to explore a topic of interest in reasonable depth for free(-:
   Ppl shld not be paying $50 for mobile phone bills lol theres circles giga gomo etc etc. Yeah that. 🙃 idk. I pay $18. Maybe people add for unlimited data or 5G or rollover and it might cost abit more. But yeah if you’re paying $50 you’re likely doing it wrong 🙃
   Maximise Lazada/Shopee coins/cashback lol and grab the free shipping coupon whenever you can. I’ve always hated paying for shipping and it keeps increasing in price damnit.