In the celebration of Singapore’s 50 years of progress, several online and physical shops have been offering discounts of 50% or above. To name a few, New Look is having 50% on dresses, bags and Footwear in their Somerset, City Square and Westgate stores while Zalora offers 50% on local designers and international labels.
So, whether you are shopping online for the perfect holiday outfit or considering a huge appliance purchase, spend your money wisely and save along the way with the 5 Shopping Hacks Everyone Should Know:
1. COMPARE PRICES
Before purchasing anything, compare the different prices offered by various shops for a particular product you have been eyeing on. Do this by intelligently finding information in the comparison website called PricePanda Singapore. When shopping online, it is best to get the biggest discount by using a coupon code. You may use the coupon codes available at Singapore’s CupoNation.
2. READ THE MEASUREMENT GUIDES
You are just wasting money if you bought something online that is not true to its fit. This is why it is essential to read the footnotes or the measurement notes. It will tell you the size and measurements across an array of countries. Also, it will tell you if the garment is tight or loose. Then, get more information about the clothing article by reading the height and the size of the model.
3. SAVVY QUESTIONS TO ASK AT A STORE BEFORE YOU PURCHASE
a. Do you give rebates?
b. Is there a mailing list that announces the promotions or sales earlier?
c. Do you offer a loyalty or membership program to earn back points or cash on purchases?
d. What is the return policy?
4. ADD UP THE COSTS
Do not be fooled by the flashy “sale” sign on the window or on the website’s sidebar because some shops will make you spend extra for shipping, minimum purchases, restocking fees, return policies, or even discount exclusions. Therefore, you must add up the product price plus the extra fees first before making a purchase. Also, make sure that your online retailer is reliable.
5. EMPLOY THE “URGENCY TEST”
If you are on a physical store and you are thinking twice on purchasing an item, ask yourself if you are willing to try it on the dressing room at that very moment. If you are not really excited to wear it then, do not bother to buy it.
Image Credits: Pixabay (License: CC0 Public Domain)
Have you ever desired to purchase something so bad but cannot afford it then, later you found out that a similar thing is available at a different store for a cheaper price? This circumstance can be prevented if you know how to spend wisely! Being a smart spender entails having enough knowledge to make the right purchase and to justify why it is the best choice.
1. SET A CLEAR PATH
It is important to develop a tangible and realistic savings goal that you can achieve little by little everyday. Yes! You must keep a small portion of your money regularly and add it to your savings account. Make it tangible by calculating the compound interest with the savings interval set to “daily”. Be amaze as you see how your small savings can increase through time. Truly, this tip will keep you motivated.
2. AVOID NEEDLESS EXPENDITURES
Have you ever shopped for a bikini (on sale) and realized that you already have one back home? Items that are usually seasonal such as swimming attires or winter coats are usually put at the back of your clothes and left forgotten. To avoid needless expenditures, make it a habit to check what you already have before buying. You can also organize your stuff as much as you can before a trip and be sure that you separated what you need that are still in mint condition.
3. COMPARE PRICES
Knowing you made the best purchase means you spend effort on comparing stores and its products in terms of price, design, quality, and so much more. Learning how to patiently browse through the nearby stores before buying something is smart. Also, you can shop around by comparing the prices online. There may be times when shopping online is cheaper especially with free shipping and clearance sales.
4. WORK FOR YOURSELF
If you are recently laid-off from work, one of your most practical options is to be self-employed. Certainly, when the conditions are suitable…it is much cheaper to hire yourself than to get someone to work for you. If you do not have enough money for transportation, food, clothing, or other expenses, working freelance can help you land back on your feet.
Have you heard of the saying: “out with the old and in with the new”? If you have and you strongly believe in it then, let me change your mind with these vintage or old things that you can still reuse:
1. CLOTHES
You can recycle your gorgeously patterned old clothes by sewing it into pillowcases or teapot covers. On the other hand, you can accept mint condition hand-me-downs from family and friends especially those who have baby clothes or infant toys. Do not be too picky. These said items are not utilized a lot since babies grow significantly every day anyway.
2. PIECES OF FURNITURE
There are plenty of used pieces of furniture that you can greatly score online. Try searching for drawers, tables, chairs, and closets at singapore.craigslist.com.sg or carousell.com.
Alternatively, do not be shy to ask your friends or neighbors if they are giving away any pre-owned furniture. Be careful or do avoid the articles with fabric (e.g., couch) to prevent getting bed bugs into your home.
3. DESIGNER BAGS
Pre-loved bags that long-lived across time can be found in online shops too! With prices that are up to 80% lower than the retail price, how can you resist an online bargain deal? Start with the trusted retail websites such as madammilan.com.sg and reebonz.com.sg.
What is special about these vintage bags is that they give a one-of-a-kind twist in the modern fashion.
4. CARRIER BAGS
Give your carrier bags a chance by recycling them! Plastic bags can be reused at home as the bin bags around the flat while paper bags make as a simple wrapping paper.
5. BOOKS AND MAGAZINES
Save more money by purchasing secondhand books or magazines that still look practically new. Start with purchasing good condition used books at Evernew Bookstore, Bras Basah Complex. Evernew Bookstore has a full collection of non-fiction books, fiction books, textbooks, children’s books, and so much more.
Image Credits: Sharon & Nikki McCutcheon via Flickr with Creative Commons License
Another option of browsing books and magazines would not cost you a thing! Go to your neighborhood public library and flip through a nice book or two.
Online shopping is finally catching up in Asia, and with it the use of credit cards. Credit cards are one of the best ways to get discounts and rewards. You can even compare credit cards in Singapore to find the best one for you.
However, using a credit card for online shopping brings about the danger of identity theft. Here’s how to prevent your credit card account from getting into the wrong hands:
Avoid Storing Your Credit Card Information
Often, what gets stolen is not your card details but your access to a particular website. If your credit card details are saved on this web account, the thief can then use it to make purchases. For example:
You sign up for an account with an online shopping site (this can range from the App store on your tablet to a retailer’s online store). You are asked to key in your credit card details, which are then automatically saved for your convenience. That way, you won’t have to key it in again on your next purchase.
That sounds like a good idea. But should someone gain access to your shopping account, they may then be able to buy using your credit card, and send the goods to an alternate location (which may very well be in a different country).
To prevent this, avoid storing the credit card information on your shopping accounts. It may be inconvenient, but it’s safer. It also helps in stopping impulse purchases.
Look for Security Signs
Look for the “secure website” logo, a little padlock, which normally appears at the bottom of the browser window. A legitimate e-commerce site should also begin with http://. If the beginning of the address says anything else, you should navigate away and avoid purchases.
You should also observe corporate and brand logos carefully–a common trick is to set up a fake website that vaguely resembles the real thing. Any information you key in is then sent to the identity thief who built the site.
When in doubt, Google the website you are making purchases from. Look for any negative reviews or scam warnings.
Never Pay for Anything by E-Mailing Your Bank Account or Credit Card Details
No legitimate payment portal will require you to e-mail your bank account or credit card numbers. If you receive this request, you are almost assuredly on a scam website. Not only should you navigate away, you should have your computer brought to an expert and scanned for spyware.
Be Stingy with Your Personal Details, However Trivial You Think It Is
Identity thieves can gain access to your computer with nothing more than your NRIC number, address, and phone number. A common way to get this is through scam dating sites–you think you’re filling in details for a dating profile, but you’re really just feeding details to a thief who’s slowly sniffing out your credit card numbers.
Note that, once your credit card number is stolen, chasing down the site owners (an almost impossible task) is useless. These websites often do not use your card information themselves, but sell your data to identity thieves via onion sites.
Call Your Friends Directly if You Get Weird E-Mails From Them
A common tactic is to hack someone’s computer, and then e-mail their contacts to ask for money for an “emergency”.
If your friend’s computer has been hacked, for example, you might get a strange request asking you to send your credit card details because she is trapped in a foreign country, is in an accident, will pay you back tonight, etc.
Call your friend to verify this, and if you can’t get through, seek confirmation from her family or other acquaintances. Do not send your credit card details. If you really need to send money urgently, insist on doing in cash and in person (e.g. no purchasing of iTunes cards or online game currency for transfers.)
Do Not Store or Write Down Your Credit Card Details
There is seldom a good reason to write down your credit card details, or to store them in your phone, hard drive, etc.
If you make a habit of doing this, even a lost phone or discarded computer (on which you may have forgotten to delete the file) can give away your credit card access. It is quite common for identity thieves to acquire “junk” machines and search intact hard drives, in the hopes of coming across sensitive financial information.
Every place on which you record your credit card details gives identity thieves another point of access.
Ultimately, credit cards are a safe, convenient form of payment. With them, you can get a range of money saving benefits–you’ll just have to be careful on how and where you use them.
How to compare credit cards to get the best? There are price comparison sites for credit cards that allow you to find the most suitable card for you.
No matter how much fashion and lifestyle magazines clamor over the S$1000 pair of Christian Louboutin heels, the average person cannot afford to have a shoe rack full of it. Fortunately, you can dress up fashionably without having to break the bank! All you have to do is make the low-priced clothing look more expensive. Try these tips:
1. BACK TO BASICS
The old saying is true: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”. This is why you must avoid handbags or clothes that are filled with bargain embellishments or distressed denim patterns. If you want to accessorize, opt for a thick bracelet rather than stacking three little ones to increase the outfit’s impact. Remember: the sleeker and simpler – the better.
2. CHOOSE MONOCHROMATIC
Since splashing yourself with every color on the rainbow can look cheap, wear one color or one shade of color from head-to-toe. This creates an illusion of supreme quality. For example, you can wear the different shades of black, from Jet-Licorice, to look slimmer and fashionable. Although, this does not mean that you will avoid experimenting with color all together. You may suit up with bold pastels or deep jewel tones.
3. CHANGE THE BUTTONS
One of the tricks that stylists do is to replace the inexpensive plastic buttons with pearl or metal ones. You can purchase affordable and beautiful vintage, metal, pearl, and crystal buttons for as low as S$6.93 at Etsy.com.
Image Credits: Erich Ferdinand via Flickr with Creative Commons License
4.SELECT THE RIGHT FABRIC
Cheaper fabrics are always obvious especially if there are loose threads hanging on the side. So, prefer pieces that are made with cotton, linen, and tweed. The prices of these materials may be reasonable but they often seem more expensive.
5. TAILOR EVERYTHING
Tailoring your jeans for about S$5-12 is worth every buck as it can transform your S$13 Forever21 jeans into a designer looking one. It goes the same for a tailored blazer or a tailored dress. Aside from having it tailored by a professional, you can save more money by mastering these simple alteration stitches.
Image Credits: Hillary via Flickr with Creative Commons License Attribution-ShareAlike
Do not let the tight clothing budget fool you into thinking you’re not Vogue-worthy! 🙂
