Money Saving Hacks if you are new to Singapore or plan to visit!

If you are visiting or moving to Singapore and want to get the best bang for your buck, you are at the right place! Singapore is a vibrant and multicultural city-state but things can also get very expensive if you don't do your research. You might be wondering how to make the most of your stay without breaking the bank. Don't worry, we have some tips and tricks for you to save money and enjoy your life in Singapore.

Transport

Singapore is known for it's amazing public transport system. Taxis can get expensive and public transport can be crowded and inconvenient. That's why many people use ride hailing apps to get around. There are several options to choose from, such as Grab, Tada and Gojek. I always compare the prices on these 3 apps to ensure that I get the best price and sometimes the difference can be over $10!

Tada - use my referral link or code FLXAVI to sign up for a free $3 ride voucher. I also purchase Tada vouchers on Shopee or Lazada to save a dollar or so each ride every time. They often have flash sales so do look out!

You can also compare prices, pay with cash or card, and earn rewards for your rides (Grab).

MRT and bus - If your destination is easily accessible by MRT and bus, this is the way to go as prices are very much lower. The max you would pay is ~$3 per ride. Use any debit/credit card that supports contactless payments to tap in and out of the MRT / Bus. Download the SimplyGo app to track your trips and spending.

Use apps like Citymapper to find your way around the city, provides multiple suggested routes and even when the next bus is arriving so you'll not be late for work or your next appointment.

Food delivery

The 3 most commonly used apps are Grab, Deliveroo and Foodpanda

Deliveroo - use my referral link to sign up and get $16 off across your first 4 orders!

Foodpanda - get $25 for your first order when you sign up with my referral link. They have Pandamart groceries as well which is super convenient if you need groceries delivered within the next 1-2 hours.

Grocery shopping

The common supermarkets found across the island is NTUC, Sheng Siong, Cold Storage and Giant. Cold Storage is known for selling more imported (read: pricier) products. Another convenient option is to order online groceries through stores like Redmart (wet and dry goods), Fairprice online and Pandamart (by Foodpanda) with free delivery above a certain spend. It's perfect for heavy items like rice, bottled drinks, canned food etc. plus you can use cashback vouchers for some discount.

The Fairprice app allows you to order online groceries, make payment in physical supermarkets, collect LinkPoints and pay for food at Kopitiam food courts with 10% discount!

Mobile plans

Another way to save money is to get a cheap mobile sim-only plan. Singapore has many telcos that offer affordable and flexible plans for data, calls, and SMS. You can choose from prepaid or postpaid plans, depending on your needs and budget. Some of the cheapest sim plans are from Circles.Life, GOMO, giga, and redONE at around $10 - $20 a month. I'm personally using GOMO (owned by Singtel) and have no complains so far as Singtel has the best network coverage and price is only $20 a month for 60GB of data with much more SMS and minutes than I can use.

Read this guide for the comparison and see which one suits your needs!

Food

If you love food, you will love Singapore. The city is famous for its diverse and delicious cuisine, from hawker centers to fine dining restaurants. However, eating out can be costly, especially if you do it often. To save money on food, you can use apps like Fairprice to get discounts and rewards at Kopitiam food courts and Fairprice (NTUC) supermarkets. Kopitiam is a chain of food courts that offer a variety of local and international dishes at affordable prices. By using the Fairprice app, you can get 10% off at Kopitiam outlets and collect Linkpoints when you buy groceries at Fairprice stores. You can also get a Nets Food Republic Card for 10% off food at Food Republic outlets, another popular food court chain.

Another tip for saving money on food is to shop for cheap toiletries and snacks at Value dollar shops. Value dollar is a discount store that sells a wide range of products at low prices. You can find everything from shampoo and toothpaste to chips and chocolates at Value dollar. You can also stock up on essentials like water bottles, tissues, and batteries. They can be found at many shopping malls on this tiny island.

Online Shopping

Finally, if you like online shopping, you can save money by using platforms like Shopee, Lazada, or Amazon. These are some of the most popular e-commerce sites in Singapore that offer a huge selection of products from various categories. You can find anything from electronics and fashion to books and toys on these sites. You can also compare prices, read reviews, and enjoy free shipping and returns on many items. Plus, you can use coupons, vouchers, and cashback to get even more discounts and savings.

Read my ultimate Lazada guide, collect daily Shopee vouchers and collect monthly Shopee sale vouchers here!

Every month there will be 2 major sales on these shopping platforms which is the best time to checkout your cart as prices are lowered and discount vouchers are upsized. It's usually on the date which is the same digit as the particular month (1st Jan, 2nd Feb, 3rd March etc. 11th November tends to be one of the biggest sale of the year) and the 25th of each month.

If you want to buy/sell old or new items, then head on over to Carousell.sg. You may very well find gems there (anything from phones to cars to kitchenware) but beware of scammers that offer deals which are too good to be true. Read the reviews of the seller before proceeding with the deal. If the seller's profile has very few reviews, it's best to meet up in person and check the item before paying.

Follow my Telegram channel for latest promo updates and exclusive discount codes.

Free attraction ticket

Pick a free experience from the Singapore Tourism Board if you are a tourist and meet the criteria. Read my post here for details!

Conclusion

These are some of the ways you can save money and live well in Singapore. We hope you find them useful and enjoy your stay in this amazing city.