The current COVID-19 pandemic has brought about many challenges for everyone. Many businesses are struggling to survive as Singaporeans tend to stay home more frequently these days. For individuals, some are facing unemployment, mandatory no-pay leave or pay cuts. This makes it ever so important for us to practice frugality so as to get through these hard times.
Here at CardsPal, we wish to help you overcome this period of hardship by offering you some money saving tips!
1. Food
The average working professional spends a significant portion of his/her monthly salary on food and drinks. This is further exacerbated by the fact that food in the CBD does not come cheap, with an average meal costing roughly $10. As such, it would be wise to cook or meal prep as far as possible. If you often have leftovers from the day before, you should also consider bringing them to work for lunch the next day. This can be a great money and time saver as you can avoid snaking lunch hour queues by opting to enjoy your homecooked meal in the comfort of your office pantry.
Do check out some recipes here if you wish to prepare simple packed lunches to bring to work! Additionally, if you simply do not have the luxury of cooking at home, you can always choose cheaper alternatives by dining at hawker centres or food courts instead of restaurants. This will help in supporting the local F&B industry at the same time!
2. Transport
Choosing to take the bus or MRT instead of taxis or a Grab ride can save you some cash, while saving the environment at the same time. Although the promo codes offered on Grab may seem like you are getting a good deal, the actual price you pay is likely to still be greater than if you were to choose public transport instead! Additionally, Singapore’s public transport system is one of the best in the world, so why not make full use of it and save yourself some money?
SMRT also has a program which grants you 50 cents off your train fare if you exit at any of the 18 stations within CBD between 7.45am and 8.00am on weekdays. This makes ur daily commute to work even cheaper, serving as a great way for you to save some money.
3. Shopping
As most people would agree, indulging in some retail therapy from time to time is necessary to spice up your life. However, there are ways for you to save money even while doing so. For instance, when doing your grocery shopping, always make a plan of what you need to buy and go on a regular basis instead of as and when you need to. With a shopping list in hand, you will have a more focused approach, thus reducing food wastage and saving you some money.
For those avid online shoppers, make it a point to not save your credit card information online as this breeds impulse purchasing behaviour. Due to its convenience, online shopping and sales can be a great temptation for many and this is made even easier if your credit card information is automatically filled up when you checkout. As such, avoid storing your credit card information online so as to remove this temptation while protecting you from identity theft at the same time.
Finally, it will also be wise to get into the habit of purchasing pre-loved items instead of brand-new ones. This not only saves the environment by reducing waste but can also save you some serious cash as these pre-loved items tend to be in perfect condition at a fraction of the price. Similarly, if you would like to declutter your room, you should also consider selling your pre-loved items for some extra cash. Do look out for flea markets or online platforms such as Carousell for you to do so.
Maximise Your Savings With CardsPal
Beyond our tips for saving money, be sure to download the CardsPal app to leverage on deals and promotions offered by your credit cards so as to truly maximise your savings. CardsPal is the one stop app where we show you the best deals in town so you never have to miss a deal again! Get to know us here. So what are you waiting for? Download the app on the App Store or Google Play Store now and get the latest deals, tailored according to the cards you own.
