7 Awesome Christmas Gift Ideas Under $50

Christmas is just around the corner. While searching for the perfect gift, keep in mind that you must also be financially-savvy. You may be tempted to go over your budget since this holiday only come once a year. But, your gifts need not to be expensive to make your loved ones smile! Here are 7 Awesome Christmas Gift Ideas under $50.

FOR THE WANNABE FIT FRIEND
US$29.95 or S$39.53. Buy it here.

The Wake up Workout Alarm Clock is the perfect gift for that person who wants to lose weight, but is too lazy to get up the bed. This alarm clock only shuts off after you have done 30 reps of consecutive bicep curls. The dumbbell-shaped alarm clock has a countdown timer on one side, which counts the number of reps you have done. Even the motion sensors inside can detect how many bicep curls you have done only if you swing it right. So, it will be really hard for you to cheat!

Wake up Workout Alarm Clock via GadgetsandGear.com

Wake up Workout Alarm Clock via GadgetsandGear.com

FOR YOUR FASHIONISTA SISTER
S$12.90. Buy it here.

Since the Coachella Music Festival, the trend has been leaning towards the gypsy or bohemian style. This Jeweled Hair Decor by H&M will surely make your sister stand out from the crowd. Don’t worry about its fitting because its silver chains have an adjustable length up to 63 cm.

Jeweled Hair Decoration via HM.com/sg

Jeweled Hair Decoration via HM.com/sg

FOR THE ON-THE-GO MOM
S$29.90. Buy it here.

Busy moms who are always stressed with tight deadlines need pampering too! With this Wild Argan Oil Beauty Bag by The Body Shop, your mom will feel beautiful from head to toe. It is consist of an Argan Oil shower gel, body butter, body scrub—all imported from Morocco. Best of all? The cost of youthful skin won’t hurt your wallet.

Wild Argan Oil Beauty Bag via TheBodyShop.com.sg

Wild Argan Oil Beauty Bag via TheBodyShop.com.sg

FOR YOUR PHILOSOPHER DAD
S$21.86, Outliers Book. S$21.83, Tipping Point Book. Buy it here.

Indulge your deep thinking dad with the best-selling books by Malcolm Gladwell. Personally, I recommend the “Outliers: Story of Success”, and the “Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference”. Not only will he thank you for this interesting read but it will change his view of the world too.

FOR YOUR SPECIAL SOMEONE
S$42. Buy it here.

Nothing beats a custom-made gift such as a Personalized Name or Word Necklace from MyLittleBow shop. You may use his or her nickname, your secret code or your term of endearment. It will make your girlfriend, boyfriend or best friend feel that you have really thought of them. Orders take about 3 weeks to be ready, so be sure to place your order early!

FOR YOUR COFFEE/TEA LOVING BOSS
US$14.95 or S$19.73. Buy it here.

This heat sensitive battery mug glows green once you pour hot beverage on it. Then, the battery turns black once your coffee or tea is cool enough to sip. The battery will also appear empty once you’ve finished all of its contents, and it’s time to refill. Your boss will surely appreciate this thoughtful reminder.

Battery Mug via GadgetsandGear.com

Battery Mug via GadgetsandGear.com

FOR THE PROUD SINGAPOREAN
S$20, Badges. S$22, Canvas Totes. Buy it here.

The Little Dröm Store sells Badges and Canvas Totes for several types of Singaporean. From the Precise (Zhun zhun guni hoon), to the Champion (Kiasu), and the Composed Singaporean (Steady Pom Pipi), this store has it all for you! The badges are available in 16 different designs, which you may check out here.

Kan Cheong Spider Badge via TheLittleDromStore.com

Kan Cheong Spider Badge via TheLittleDromStore.com

While, their totes (fits A4 folders) are available in 8 designs namely: Stylo Milo, Siao On, Jiak Gan Tang, Steady Pom Pipi, Chop Chop Curry Pok, Kan Cheong Spider, Kiasu, and Huat ah. These adorably designed and hilariously clever badges and totes will make you feel closer to home.

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3 Great Dates On A Budget

Romance is expensive. Flowers, gifts, dinner dates. Let’s not even talk about the mega money-guzzling consumer event known as Valentine’s Day. If you’re the kind of person who needs to save money, sometimes being romantic can be a bit hard, or maybe not even an option. However, if you know the right places to go, having a great date and being able to save money don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Here we have 3 great date ideas, so you can save money and have a good time.

For The Nature Lover

  Does your boyfriend or girlfriend love nature? Is the forest his or her second home? Then maybe the both of you should check out Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

 

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is one of the best places to go in Singapore if you’re into nature, and want to be able to observe it right from inside. The best part of this is that admission is free, so you’re able to save money!

Sungei Buloh Wetland reserve is one of the few protected mangrove areas in Singapore that are actually easily accessible to the general public, thanks to the wooden walkways that span the reserve. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous and don’t mind getting your shoes dirty, there are some sections of the reserve where you can walk on the mud without sinking in all the way, so do take not where they are if you want to talk a walk on the wild side without looking like a swamp creature from the waist down.

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve offers many quiet places where you and your significant other and walk along in peace and enjoy nature together as well. There are many rest stops along the broad walks where you can just sit down and enjoy the view, and maybe have a meal if you brought along some food for a picnic! Save money, enjoy nature, have a good time. Sounds like a perfect combination for the budget nature lover, don’t you agree?

For the culture vulture

Enjoying the arts can be a costly affair, and make it hard to save money. Concert tickets at the Esplanade can cost a bomb, and don’t even talk about buying art. Even artwork at the recent Affordable Art Fair could cost in the thousands. Don’t fret, there are many alternatives where you can save money though, like at the Singapore Art Museum

 

The Singapore Art museum houses a wide variety of artworks, some which are permanent, and some of which are only featured during exhibitions which are only up for a certain period of time. Admission is free if you’re a Singapore citizen or PR, so both of you you can enjoy the wonder of art and still save money!

Guided tours at the Singapore Art Musuem are available around twice a day, so if you’re new to the place and want insights from a seasoned person in the art scene, joining a guide group is the way to go. If you have concerns about wanting to save money, don’t worry the guided tour is free as well! Alternatively, you could also talk a walk around the museum yourself, and take your time slowly strolling through the exhibitions with your significant other and appreciate art together!

For the film junkie

  If you think about it, watching a movie in Singapore can be pretty expensive. On a weekend, tickets for two can cost up to 25 bucks, and this doesn’t include the drinks and popcorn. If your girlfriend or boyfriend is a film junkie, watching movies every single week can take a toll on your wallet. How are you supposed to save money like that? Why not check out MovieMob?

 

Movie Mob is a company that organises free outdoor moving screenings. All you have to do is sign up for their mailing list at www.moviemob.sg, and receive updates regarding the latest free movie screenings in Singapore! Being able to watch free movies on a regular basis sure sounds like a great way to save money if you or your partner is a film junkie.

On their website, you can vote for the movies you want, and the movie with the most votes will be screened. While you may not be able to watch exactly the movie you want, you can be sure that there will be variety of movies as each time the movie screened will be different. Being able to watch so many different movies while still being able to save money means you can also splurge a bit more on food and snacks. After all, this isn’t your usual cinema hall with strict rules on the food you can bring in.

The venues where they hold these free move screenings will vary. Sometimes they are held in carparks or open spaces where you can drive into as well, so you can have a quaint open air movie experience in your car, just like in America in the early 1900s! Romantic and allowing you to save money, this date idea seems hit the spot doesn’t it?

 

Now you know how to have a great time while still being able to save money, why don’t you? Get out there with your boyfriend or girlfriend and work that charm!

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5 Free Money Management Apps to Increase your Savings

Money Tracker App

In order to decide on how much you shall save, first you must be aware of how much you are spending.

Expenses can be categorized as either fixed or variable. Fixed expenses remain the same every month or year due to Singapore’s laws and Company service-provider terms (e.g. Hand Phone Plan, or HDB Rent). Variable expenses include food, entertainment, clothing, and other expenses that may change every month or year. The challenge now is for you to choose on which expenses you can reduce.

Recording all your expenses, no matter how big or small they may be, can help you plan your budget wisely. This is why; here are the 5 Money Management Apps for all your devices. Best of all? These are handy and FREE!

  1. EXPENSIFY
    (Available on IPhone, IPad, Android, and Blackberry)

    Expensify app helps you record your daily transactions, hourly rate, mileage, and generate expense reports. Its SmartScan feature allows you to upload photos or capture your receipts for easy bookkeeping. It also helps you minimize information errors that you may encounter when writing everything down.

    expensify

    Photo Credit: Expensify App via TechTudo

  2. EXPENSE MANAGER
    (Available on Android)

    Another top rated money tracker in Google Play store is the Expense Manager app. It is raved to be simplistic and very easy to use. You may record the type of purchase, the type of payment, the purchasing price, the company the item was purchased from, and the date. The app also allows you to manage multiple accounts in various currencies, to email account activities, and to save it on your SD card.
  3. MONEYWISE
    (Available on Android)

    MoneyWise app combines minimalist design with powerful functionality. It may seem minimal but it can do a lot! It allows you to generate charts or graphs, track budgets or spending, and create regular account backups. Conveniently, you may export data in CSV or HTML formats that you may send to others via email.
  4. POCKET EXPENSE PERSONAL FINANCE
    (Available on IPhone and IPad)

    Pocket Expense Personal Finance app combines all your financial accounts together so it can track all your bills and set your budgets. This app lets you categorize your transactions through its calendar view. It is the perfect way to organize your income and expense because of its user-friendly and simplistic interface. But most importantly, it is password protected.
  5. MINT
    (Available on IPhone, IPad, and Android)

    Mint app manages your personal finance accounts (credit cards, loan and investment) on one place through your fingertips. With Mint, you can track your spending, develop a monthly budget, receive bill reminders, and save more money. It is also accessible online through its website. What’s more? It sends online alerts if you’ve gone over your budget.

    With all these awesome money management Apps, the power to budget and save money is in your fingertips! Make wise money tracking a habit! You won’t regret it. 

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Where to shop till you drop without hurting your wallet

It’s not always easy to save money when you shop. After all, the basic idea behind shopping isn’t to save money, but to spend it. Some of the nicest things out there (like branded goods) cost a hefty dime. It’s no wonder so many young Singaporeans are not shopping themselves into debt, buying things they want, but don’t need, at astronomical prices. However, there is an option for those who are less picky and want to save money: thrift shopping! Thrift shopping refers to the buying of 2nd hand items at much lower prices. While it takes some effort to find good buys while thrift shopping, you’ll occasionally find treasures here and there. I once got a pair of branded shoes for less than 10 dollars! Here are some places you can go to indulge in your shopping habit without breaking the bank.

New2U Thrift Store

Hidden in the middle of Bras Basah, Bugis and Dhoby Ghaut, this little gem is the go-to place for students and workers in the area who want to save money. Comparatively more accessible that most other thrift stores, New2U is located in the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO). Being right in the heart of the arts and culture district of Singapore, New2U doesn’t disappoint when it comes to the selection of items available, with many of the clothes they sell being vintage pieces at bargain prices. All proceeds go to SCWO initiatives.

Address: 96 Waterloo Street, Singapore 187967

 

Salvation Army Praiseheaven Family Megastore

If you want to check out the ultimate heaven of thrift store goodness, come down to the Salvation Army Praiseheaven Family Megastore! Notice that everything here is all neat and organised, it’s just like a department store, except everything here is second-hand, or was donated in bulk because they were damaged or not appropriate for selling. For those who want to save money on everything under the sun, this has to be the place to be. Spanning across 2 floors, the Family Megastores sells everything from clothes to furniture, so be prepared to spend a long, long time going through every single there is.

Address: 500 Upper Bukit Timah Road Singapore 678106

Shop@RedCross

Not as widely publicised or as well-known as the other thrift stores in Singapore, Shop@Redcross nonetheless stocks a wide range of items as well, similar to the Family Megastore, so it’s great for people who want to save money on a wide range of items. While slightly out of the way (it’s located in the middle of a private housing estate), the journey there is well worth the effort. They also have regular Bazaar days, where they bring in a lot more items and even more discounted prices! I just went down to Bazaar last month, and scored myself a pair of shoes for less than 10 bucks!

Address: 62 Jalan Khairuddin (Opera Estate)

 

Granny’s Day Out

 

If you’re looking for more vintage, eclectic finds, and don’t mind paying a higher premium for them, make a visit to Granny’s Day Out. It isn’t the conventional thrift store in the sense that all its items are dirt chip, but they are definitely cheaper than what you find in stores for the same quality, so you’re still able to save money! After all, this mix of goods are specially chosen by the store owners from all across the world, and lovingly restored. So while you may be paying a higher price than usual for a thrift store, you will definitely be getting your money’s worth, because what you get will definitely be unique!

Address: 3 Coleman Street, #03-25 Peninsula Shopping Centre, S179804, Singapore

 

Carousell

IMG_2850

Sometimes the best things are right under your nose, or in the case in your pocket. If you can’t find the time to make your down to any thrift store or vintage store whatsoever but still want to save money shopping, check out the Carousell app! Carousell

is an online marketplace where users can sell and buy 2nd have items from each other. All you need to do is make an account and you’re ready to go! There are different product sections, and also a search function, so it’s easy for you to find what you need and want, quickly!

Address: Itunes App Store

 

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6 Cheap Food Places in Orchard Road

Cheap Food in Orchard

Ah, Orchard Road. Singapore’s glitzy and glamourous retail heaven, Orchard Road’s practically second home to shopaholics around Singapore. Even if you’re not a fan of retail therapy yourself, there were probably some days when you went all out busted your wallet while you were at it. After all that though, you might want to learn how to save money on eating when your wallets already taken a beating. Here’s a tip on how to save money: check out these 6 makan places where you can get a budget bite right at Orchard Road

 

Ayam Penyet Ria

While Lucky Plaza may have garnered a reputation for being Singapore’s Little Philippines, right in its centre you would be able to find a slice of Indonesia. The fragrant smell drawing you in, Ayam Penyet Ria serves some of the most authentic ayam penyet and Indonesian food you can get in Singapore, all for less than $10! We recommend trying out their signature dish, which is of course ayam penyet. The fried chicken and rice is simple, but exquisite, and the topping of strong sambal adds just the kick you need. Who said learning how to save money had to drab and boring? Those people definitely haven’t checked out the spice at Ayam Penyet Ria

Address: Lucky Plaza, #04-25/26, Singapore 238863

 

Kim Dae Mun

kim dae mun orchard road

Image Credits: http:// www.burpple.com

Korean food in Singapore is relatively easy to find, but really good Korean food is hard. Really good Korean food that doesn’t break the bank is even harder. Trust us, we’ve tried. Kim Dae Mun, just ticks all those boxes, and has earned itself a place in the hearts of Korean food lovers all across Singapore. The best part is, none of the dishes they sell are over $10! Take about getting a taste of Korean that’s really value for money! That’s definitely one way you can put our “how to save you money” tips to the best use possible.

Address: 100 Orchard Road, Concorde Hotel and Shopping Centre, #02-17/18 Singapore 238840

 

Hainanese Delicacy

Chicken rice is the perfect comfort food you need after a long day of walking and spending, but it can be hard to find good, cheap chicken rice in Orchard Road. Fret not, come down to Far East Plaza and check out Hainanese Delicacy! Frequented by everyone from students to office workers, Hainanese Delicacy proves that chicken rice is universally loved by everyone, with the never ending streams of people who go in and out of the store. You can smell the scent of chicken rice wafting down even at the floors below, so follow your instincts and make your stomach ( and wallet ) happy! With cheap chicken rice, you’ll never have to worry about how to save money.

Address: Far East Plaza, #05-116, 14 Scotts Rd, Singapore 228213

 

Orchard Yong Tau Fu

 “What’s a cheap yong tau foo place doing in town?” Well it might seem a bit out-of-place in the modern and glossy environment of Orchard Road, but hey, no one’s complaining. If anything, you could share with friends a tip on how to save money, but telling them about Orchard Yong Tau Fu! They offer a good variety of your favourite Yong Tau Foo ingredients, with a minimum of 7 items going for $4.20. If that isn’t a deal when you’re in town, I don’t know what is. Plus, Yong Tau Foo is healthy, so all the better for you to keep on shopping!

Address:  #01-09, Cuppage Plaza, 5 Koek Road

 

The Flyin’ Bread

Want to know how to save money and want get a taste of some healthy and fresh Indian food? Come down to the 313 Somerset basement and check out The Flying Bread! The Flying Bread is a kiosk selling wraps and various dishes with an Indian flavour, using ingredients like tandoori chicken and yoghurt based sauces! This is a must visit if you’re on the go but you still want a filling meal, because these wraps certainly pack a punch in taste and size.

Address: #B3-43, 313@Somerset, 313 Orchard Road

JTown Cafe

Craving for Indonesian Food while you are shopping in Orchard Road? Located at the basement in Midpoint Orchard (Opposite 313 Somerset), you will see JTown Cafe at the end in a dimly light setting. A glance at the menu will spot a range of different kind of Bakmi. (Meat Noodle) A personal favourite of mine is the Bakmi Ayam (Chicken Bakmi) where you mix sweet soy and chilli sauce with their handmade wheat noodle.

Address: 220 Orchard road, B1 Midpoint Orchard (Across 313 Somerset)

So there you have it, some tips on how to save money while still filling your stomach with delicious food at Orchard road. Next time you need to take a break and grab some food, head on over to these fantastic finds!

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