Hawker food is part of Singapore’s heritage, and is the place to go to for a spread of local delights without the price tag.
From your favourite Chicken Rice to Wanton Mee and Mee Rebus, wouldn’t it be good to find out the stall that sell the cheapest local fare in Singapore?
The Ministry of Trade of Industry (MTI) has launched a Hawker Guide early last month where you can search for the cheapest hawker dish in Singapore island-wide.
It is user-friendly and you can simply select the hawker dish from their list of budget hawker food.
In this example, Chicken Rice has been selected.
You can then search their database according to their location:
The search results will show the cheapest chicken rice in ascending order.
This is a pretty handy guide that is worth sharing with your friends, or for any visitors that are coming to Singapore! Now at least you know where to get the cheapest Nasi Lemak in Singapore.
Knowing that pregnancy bills, documents, clothing, accessories, and so much more can cost more than S$10,000 in total, parents in Singapore must find savvy ways to manage their money because a baby will depend on them in everything. Here are some incredible ways to save money along the way:
1. SAY “YES” TO BREASTFEEDING
One of the empowering things that only women can do is to breastfeed their baby. As much as you can, opt for breastfeeding because it will not only be healthy but also be able to save you as low as S$1,500 per year.
To help you draw milk, you may use an electric breast pump but it comes with an expensive price tag of S$90-500. So, it is best to borrow a breast pump from a friend but make sure to change the plastic attachments. You can buy those for far less.
2. SAVE ON CLOTHES
Start saving for baby clothes by asking your friends and family if you can have their child’s outgrown clothes. You will not only help your friends or family members to de-clutter their space but you will also save more. Believe me when I say that babies can have sudden growth spurts so, it is unnecessary to buy loads of baby clothes in advance. It goes the same for shoes, as socks will be sufficient to keep their cute toes warm.
Also, you may invest two big T-shirts rather than bibs. All you have to do is to look for T-shirts that fits a baby (i.e., 1-2 years older than yours) while you are in a flea market. Then, use these big T-shirts while your baby is feeding instead of a bib.
3. SAY “NO” TO FANCY BABY TOYS
Several parents came to the conclusion that babies are not hard to please. In fact, their favorite “toys” such as plastic cups, cardboard boxes, and utensils often come with friendly price tags. They are not even the traditional toys! Buying a toy for less and still make your baby happy is such a win-win situation. You may even try to make your own toys such as a rattle made with a jar and a few coins.
4. SAVE ON FOOD
Preparing homemade baby food is simple, quick, and less costly. Having this power over your child’s food choices, you will be able to know exactly how much nutrition he or she is getting.
Before you begin feeding your baby, make sure that he or she is ready for solid food. It is recommended to wait for at least 6 months to feed solid food while you must wait until 10 months to feed them with gas-inducing foods such as broccoli, wheat, cauliflower, garlic, onions, beans, and dairy products. Be cautious of the common allergens as well.
Nonetheless, here are the recipes you can try for babies aged 6 months and beyond:
After working tremendously for a year, a vacation is a well-deserved reward. However, it is easy to become complacent and carefree over your budget. Going over board your budget when on a relaxing getaway is simple, but there are many ways to save money too! Here are just some of them:
1. DO PRIOR RESEARCH
The places you can go to heavily depend on your travel budget. For instance, if you have a considerable amount of money then, go to Europe than limiting yourself to Southeast Asian countries. Choosing an affordable destination that is suited to your travel budget is the first step. Do your research by comparing the accommodations, activities, transportation, and food costs of two preferred countries. Then, narrow it down to one.
2. IDENTIFY YOUR BUDGET
Once you know where to go and how long you are going to be there, you need to figure out how much your travel budget is. Start by identifying how much your spending will be per day. Include unforeseen expenses as well as food and travel costs.
3. BE SMART IN GETTING CASH
If you are still torn between two countries, compare their exchange rates. Sometimes, they make the largest difference. Since some of the foreign exchange centers have poorer rates, it is better to get the currency at the airport or at the ATMs (e.g., in Taiwan and France).
4. SET ASIDE MONEY FOR EMERGENCY
Speaking of unforeseen expenses, it is necessary to prepare for unforeseen circumstances too! If you have travel insurance then, this is only secondary. Money for emergency is important but try not to use it unless the situation absolutely requires it. You have to stick to your travel budget as much as possible!
5. SAVE ON FOOD
There is a greater chance that the breakfast from the hotel is expensive. So, it is better to walk out the door and find a nice local cafe in the mornings. You can immerse yourself to the place, the people, and the culture better by trying their local cuisine. Keep in mind that locally made food and beverage are often cheaper.
Alternatively, you may cook for yourself. Cooking in a new environment, even on a vacation, can be fun!
Image Credits: Nicole Abalde via Flickr Attribution-NoDerivs
With the influx and the variety of the restaurants, cafes, and other eateries island-wide, it is always a good time to dine out at the Red Dot. But…this does not mean that you can freely eat unhealthily or splurge a lot.
Here are 5 ways to work around it:
1. MAKE IT A HABIT TO SEARCH IN ADVANCE
Before dining in the restaurant, make it a habit to check their menu online. Websites such as sg.openrice.com, yelp.com.sg, or hungrygowhere.com can help you locate a restaurant, identify its menu, and give you an estimate of the average spending. This will help you make tastier, healthier, and cheaper decisions.
2. CONSIDER ORDERING A MEAL
Imagine being in an affordable buffet with all the calorie-rich food available at your arm’s length. It sounds tempting doesn’t it? Yet your health may be at cost. Instead of always opting for a buffet, consider ordering a single meal that is packed with nutrients!
3. DISTANCE YOURSELF FROM THE APPETIZERS
Even if the restaurant appetizers are free, do your best to skip it as some of it are packed with calories. Appetizers are also made to fool your brain unto consuming more food that you intend.
Image Credits: wEnDy via Flickr
4. CHEW SLOWLY
Indulge and savour the taste of your food. Eating slowly will help you realize that you are actually satiated. Thus, you will eat and purchase just enough or even less.
5. CHOOSE YOUR DESSERTS AND SALADS WISELY
I know I am not the only one who shares a deep fondness for desserts. A delectably sweet cake drizzled with tasty toppings can make you hungry for more. Although it is tempting, it is important to watch your sugar intake. Opt for lighter dessert choices such as sorbets or fruits. As for the salads, be mindful of the creamy toppings and the dressings.
Image Credits: Ralph Daily via Flickr
With these simple ways, your tummy and your wallet will definitely be happy!
Continuing from the article on “How to maximise your life with a $3,000 paycheck”, this article will be focusing on the ways to stretch a $600 monthly food budget. This is the first in a five-part series on how to optimise the use of funds allocated to each of the budgets.
Image credit: theonlinecitizen.com
1. Indulge in hawker fare
The most economical way to tempt your tastebuds would be to indulge in hawker fare. The average price for a meal complete with a drink is approximately $5. Given 23 workingdays in a month and 3 meals a day, the total expenditure for this category would thus round up to $345. While Singapore’s climate may be unforgiving to hawker fans, we should not be quick to dismiss the perks of having affordable yet scrummy delights at our convenience while being loud and comfortable with our friends sharing plates of delectable food.
Image credit: 123rf.com
2. Hunt for food deals & be a fan of credit cards
Nowadays, hunting for the latest food deals is an easy feat. Websites like deals.com.sg and moneydigest.sg have sprouted up to help consumers stretch their every dollar. At the same time, credit card companies are collaborating with food retailers to bring greater value to the table. Do not ever belittle the bang for the buck you can actually accumulate from these massively discounted meals.
For an income earner of $3,000, while it is unrealistic to dine in lavish cafes and restaurants every single day, it does not hurt to spoil yourself on weekends with the various credit card dining promotions. Imagine the euphoria from treating yourself to half-priced cakes or main courses on a budget of $240 for the 4 weekends?
While the sum of $30 to be spent on meals on a relaxing Saturday/Sunday may seem inadequate, it is actually double the weekday budget, meaning you have the discretion to spend more. Also, don’t forget that you have the privilege of waking up late on a lazy weekend and skipping your breakfast. Go for brunch instead!
Alternatively, you can spend your weekend budget customising your home-cooked meals with your loved ones. The truth is, if everyone in the family were to pool their weekend budgets together, the spending power would increase tremendously. This would translate to a wide variety of mouth-watering foods presenting a tantalising spectrum of flavours, sights and smells for feasting.
