Hidden Perks When Shopping for Luxury Items

If there’s one thing I adore, it’s luxury shopping. Many high-end items are not just splurges but smart investments that can be cherished forever or sold in the future.

Personally, Chanel and Dior top my list for makeup and fragrances, Louis Vuitton is my go-to for bags and small leather goods, and I gravitate towards Gucci for shoes. Given the hefty price tags, I’m always on the lookout to make the most of the freebies and perks these luxury brands offer.

Here’s a rundown of some fantastic opportunities you can take advantage of:

CHANEL

When you shop on Chanel’s website, you receive two complimentary samples with every fragrance, makeup, or skincare purchase. You get to choose from a variety at checkout. For better deals, you might consider shopping at duty-free stores; I snagged my favorite 50 ml Coco Mademoiselle EDT for S$162 at the Hong Kong airport, compared to S$165 in Singapore stores.

If you’re traveling soon, don’t miss the CHANEL Summer Club pop-up at Changi Airport Terminal 1, running until July 1st. Here, you can explore fresh, amber, or woody fragrances, radiant makeup products, and skincare essentials. Plus, you’ll receive a free Chanel postcard and badge.

LOUIS VUITTON

Building a good relationship with your Louis Vuitton sales associate can lead to delightful surprises like free perfume samples. My husband and I often receive free chocolates and champagne when we shop, thanks to the strong relationship we’ve built with our associate. He also shares his recommendations and helps us set appointments.

Whether it’s your first visit or you’re a returning customer, Louis Vuitton offers complimentary hot stamping on both new and pre-owned authentic items purchased online and in select stores. I recently had my luggage tag and pocket agenda personalized with unique city stamps and my initials. In Singapore, for example, you can get a special Merlion stamp. You can also collect exclusive city stamps (see samples here), such as the Manila Sun and Stars in the Philippines, Hachiko in Japan, or the Taipei 101 stamp in Taiwan.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Additionally, when you order Louis Vuitton fragrances online, you receive a complimentary sample to try before committing to a full bottle.

DIOR

With Dior, after placing your first order, you receive a redeemable code for an exclusive Deluxe Miniature Gift with your second purchase. This code can be found on your order confirmation page and in your email. Simply enter it at checkout to claim your gift.

Dior also offers a loyalty program packed with perks. Every S$1 spent earns you 1 point, and reaching the highest tier, Dior Platinum, requires accumulating S$4,000. Benefits include complimentary samples and services, birthday bonuses, exclusive event invitations, and a variety of gifts throughout the year.

GUCCI

Gucci offers complimentary embossing and engraving services. Whether you’re picking up an order in-store, bringing in an item purchased online, or buying directly from a boutique, you can personalize your purchase with numbers, symbols, or letters. These services are available at Gucci Marina Bay Sands, Gucci ION, and Gucci Paragon.

Additionally, Gucci hosts events where you can receive free samples. Go to Gucci Beauty store* in Raffles City (#01-40A) by June 30, 2024, to receive a complimentary exclusive Gucci Beauty 8-piece discovery kit, while stocks last (*terms & conditions apply).

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Luxury shopping doesn’t have to be all about the hefty price tags. By taking advantage of these perks and freebies, you can elevate your shopping experience and enjoy some delightful extras along the way. Happy shopping!

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

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Park for FREE at Sentosa with free Sentosa Islander membership for a limited time

There’s no better time to visit Sentosa

Sentosa is going all out to to attract locals and support businesses amid the pandemic. Sentosa has recently extended the waiver of admission fees for all visitors till next year, 31 March 2022. There is usually an admission fee of up to $6 if you drive into Sentosa or up to $4 if you take the Sentosa Express monorail.

Sentosa extends free entry promotion till next year, 31 March 2022

Now that admission is free, what about parking? Visitors can enjoy FREE parking at Sentosa’s Beach Station with the complimentary Islander membership that they recently offered to local residents. According to the FAQ on Islander membership:

Pay nothing when you sign up for the Sentosa Islander membership here.

Screenshot of Sentosa Islander Membership Sign Up

After signing up, you can then add your vehicle details and IU number under profile settings. Note that the free parking is limited to the 1st 500 Islander members who presents their e-voucher at the Islander Counter, Beach Station per month.

Each member is entitled to 1 coupon per month and every carpark coupon is strictly for 2-hours parking at Beach Station. Additional charges will apply when parking exceed 2-hours.

In addition, Sentosa Islander members can also enjoy the following perks and privileges:

  • Priority access to all beaches
  • Complimentary 2-hour parking at Beach Station
  • Members’ Day Promotions
  • Year-long discounts at Sentosa participating outlets
  • Birthday Treats
  • UNLIMITED complimentary Island Admissions via the Sentosa Express & Gantry

We are not sure when this offer will end but as soon as our border starts to open, Sentosa may start charging again. So what are you waiting for, sign up for a free Islander membership here now.

Fee S$0.00 – Have A Nice Day

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Free Mobile Games To Spice Up Your Life

Entertainment does not have to come with an excessive price tag! You see, there are hundreds or even thousands of mobile games available for Android and iOS. A lot of these games are available for absolutely nothing.

Whether a game is ad-supported or fueled on a “freemium” model (i.e., offering the basic services for free and the advanced features at a premium), the following games will surely make your commute less boring. What are you waiting for? Spice up your life with these free apps:

FOR THE ADRENALINE JUNKIE

Need a dose of speed in your life? Look no further as you download Gameloft’s Asphalt series. People who enjoy racing games will be impressed by the Asphalt 8 and 9. Asphalt 8: Airborne was released in 2013 and Asphalt 9: Legends was released this year. These two installations involve dramatic chases and slow-motion collisions. The former involves cars that can perform outrageous aerial stunts in realistic tracks. While, the latter travels around the world to answer why you are legendary.

Personally speaking, I prefer Asphalt 8 as you can play with it offline. Both Android and iOS users can download these games for free!

FOR THE STRANGER THINGS ADDICT

Whether you are an avid fan of Netflix’s Stranger Things or not, you will enjoy the nostalgic vibe that the Stranger Things mobile game radiate. The game starts inside the Hawkins Lab whereby Chief Hopper sets out to find the missing children. Each character has a specific set of skills, which he or she can use to unlock a certain chapter of the game. Controls are simple as you can just tap to walk or interact (e.g., punch). When you are tired with tapping, you can drag your finger across the screen to move your character. You need to figure out how to defeat each enemy without dying!

It its essence, you are diving into an adventure game involving combat and puzzle solving. Best of all? It is completely free! It exists without ads and in-app purchases.

FOR THE MAKEOVER ENTHUSIAST

I, for one, can spend countless commuting time on home design games. I love building things from the ground up. Finding a game that puts a twist on interior design such as incorporating puzzles will impress me to the core! Fortunately, a friend of mine recommended that I download the “Matchington Mansion”. It is a no-cost puzzle game released by Firecraft Studios for both Android and iOS platforms.

The story starts with receiving a life-changing news. The player will inherit a massive mansion! The catch is, it is outdated and neglected. You are now on a mission to use your creativity and wits to decorate the house. Complete a series of puzzles to accomplish each task (e.g., revamping your bed). You may also visit your neighbors to unlock furniture and wall decoration options that are not readily available to you.

FOR THE ONE WHO LOVES MMORPG

MMORPG is short for Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Game. It combines role-playing video games with an option to interact with a vast number of players within a virtual world. Majority of the popular MMORPGs focus on traditional fantasy themes, often comparable to the in-game universe of Dungeons & Dragons. Some examples of globally popular MMORPGs include World of Warcraft, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and Ragnarok. For the sake of this list, I am going to put a spotlight on the latter.

Ragnarok is back! It is mobile form, Ragnarok continues the adventure that you left behind 15 years ago. Southeast Asian fans can play the Ragnarok Mobile: Eternal Love game on Android or iOS devices for free.

The game is a faithful recreation of the original online game with most of its contents remaining intact such as the character’s jobs, costumes, and guild PvP. Players can access a wide varity of job classes including the brand new Blacksmith class. Furthermore, you may fight against other players in guild PvP to take advantage of the game’s real-time combat feature.

Please note that its attractive 3D world is relatively new. Launching last month, there is still a long way to improve!

Sources: 1 & 2

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3 Amazing Museums In Singapore That Offer Free Admissions

When I was an adolescent, I perceived museums as fancy institutions which superior intellects frequented. The only time I get to visit one is when the school requires us to go on educational trips. However, times have changed. Technological advances paved way for museum to share their unique pictures on social media. The public interest for art has risen. Let us be honest, you probably saw those hippie youths taking their #OOTD snaps at the famous local museums.

Aside from the picturesque interiors, museums are places in which cultural, scientific, and artistic treasures are displayed. Each one has its own characteristics and values. Personally I find these local museums to be worth my time:

1. ASIAN CIVILISATIONS MUSEUM

Website: acm.org.sg

Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) is my favorite local museum. Nestled at the mouth of the Singapore River, ACM will take you on a journey of historical discovery as they preserve the heritage of Asia. ACM’s 14,000 square meters space are filled with 11 thematic galleries that boasts with about 1,300 artifacts from China, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and West Asia. During my visit there, I was amazed the abundance and diversity of the Buddha statues as well as the 12 zodiac animal heads donated by Jackie Chan.

To shake things up, they accompany the permanent exhibits with special exhibits that are changing throughout the year. In fact, the current exhibit now is called “Once Upon a Time in Asia: The Missing Mouse”. It is a free exhibit that is recommended for children and the young at heart.

Rates:

Citizens & Permanent Residents: FREE
Visitors aged 6 and below: FREE
Foreign students, seniors, and PWDs: S$4
Others: S$8

2. SINGAPORE ART MUSEUM

Website: singaporeartmuseum.sg

Probably the most popular museum among the youths is the Singapore Art Museum (SAM). SAM houses a great collection of contemporary Southeast Asian art ranging from sculptures and paintings to installation art and moving media. They regularly collaborate with the leading international museums to cover both the local and international art practices.

Exhibitions change every few months. At the time of my first visit, I got to enjoy an interesting exhibition called Medium At Large. Now, they are showing the 5 Stars (Art Reflects on Peace, Justice, Equality, Democracy and Progress) exhibit. In this exhibit, I was particularly amazed with their larger than life art installation called the “Bloodline of Peace”.

Rates:

Citizens & Permanent Residents: FREE
Visitors under 6 years old: FREE
Foreign students, seniors, and PWDs: S$5
Others: S$10

*Everyone gets to enter for free every Friday from 6pm – 9pm.

3. NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SINGAPORE

Website: nationalmuseum.sg/

What do you expect from Singapore’s oldest museum? Nothing but prime history and culture of course. If you are interested in Singapore’s rich history, this museum shall be on the top of your list. Established in 1887, the National Museum of Singapore fuses the elegant neo-classical building with the new additions of glass and metal.

While visiting National Museum of Singapore I greatly enjoyed the “Singapura: 700 years” Exhibition. It consisted of six nostalgic sections from the Archaeology in Singapore to the Independent Singapore. Currently, they are displaying the “Celebrating Radio: Sounds” until July 17, 2016.

After indulging on art and history, satisfy your tummy with their selection of cafes and restaurants. Or, visit their retail space to pick up a cultural souvenir.

Rates:

Citizens & Permanent Residents: FREE
Visitors aged 6 and below: FREE
Foreign students,seniors, and PWDs: S$5
Others: S$10

Sources: 1 & 2

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Amazingly Free Ways To Boost Your Online Security

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Cybersecurity (or online security) is defined as the measures taken to protect a computer or a computer system against unauthorized access or attack. Those who gain unauthorized access to the data in the computer or the system are usually called as hackers.

Recently, I had been a victim of a Facebook malware attack. For those of you who are less tech savvy, a malware is any software used to collect sensitive information, harm computer operations, gain access to private devices or display undesired advertising. Needless to say, the experience was daunting and I had to take immediate actions. Firstly, I downloaded anti-malware softwares. Secondly, I changed all my passwords and added an extra layer of security. Lastly, I added other extensions that improved my privacy.

To avoid this scenario, here are some helpful ways to strengthen your virtual shield:

1. ADD THE PRIVACY BADGER

Remember the undesired advertising that I was talking about? You can block that as well as other third-party trackers by adding the browser extension called Privacy Badger for S$0. To the advertisers, it is as if you suddenly disappeared!

2. SCAN WITH MALWAREBYTES

As your information is golden, keep it safe with an internet security and anti-malware software called Malwarebytes. The free version will scan your entire computer, detect any malwares, and remove all the infections. Scans for the most dangerous and newest threats are done in the process.

3. FILTER YOUR EMAIL

Filter your email contents by not opening the spam mail. To avoid downloading virus or other malware, only open attachments that were given by your friends, family, partners, and clients. Delete the previous emails that are no longer needed so that no one can use them.

4. SECURE YOUR BROWSING

To make your browsing more secure, download the HTTPS Everywhere extension. It encrypts your communications to major websites on Firefox, Chrome, and Opera. Get it for free at eff.org/https-everywhere.

5. SEARCH WITH DUCKDUCKGO

Search engines, especially those with big names, track your search history and build personalized profiles to provide results based on your search history. To escape from this “filter bubble”, you must switch to a search engine that does not track your every move. Emphasizing on protecting the user’s privacy, DuckDuckGo is always my go-to safe search engine!

Image Credits: pixabay.com (CC0 Public Domain)

Image Credits: pixabay.com (CC0 Public Domain)

Yes! It is totally free with no sign-in requirements.

Sources: 1,2, 3,& 4

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