8 Free Things to Enjoy in Singapore This Month

 

Itching to get out of the house and explore what the island has to offer? Fortunately for you, you do not need to shell out money to enjoy a variety of shows, workshops, and tours. You will be able to experience the activities on this list at no cost!

#1: VISIT SINGAPORE’S OLDEST FIRE STATION

If you dreamt of becoming a firefighter as a child, this is your chance to encapsulate your childhood dream. Plan your visit to the Civil Defence Heritage Gallery to learn more about Singapore’s Civil Defence Force.

Within the halls of the Singapore’s oldest fire station are collections of firefighting exhibits and paraphernalia, which tackle notable moments in history including the Bukit Ho Swee fire. Experience simulating a real fire attack by going to their SCDF Emergency Preparedness Centre. What are you waiting for? Book your visit here.

Location: 62 Hill Street, Singapore 179367

#2: INVITE A FRIEND TO A PHOTO WALK

Invite a friend to a photo walk where you will both get insider tips from phone photography experts. These experts will teach you how to improve your mobile photography and editing skills. Apple’s “Photo Tour: Capture Marina Bay After Dark” takes you around Singapore’s Marina Bay to learn how to take beautiful low-light photos using Night mode and more on iPhone.

Experts will show you how to balance foreground and background, adjust exposure, and set up your best night shot. The Tour streches about 500m. Best of all? All these techniques are free! All you need to do is bring your iPhone or you can loan the latest iPhone models for snapping memories.

There are three sessions this March 2023. Click here to sign-up.

Location: 2 Bayfront Avenue, B2-06, Singapore 018972

#3: DIGEST THE HISTORY OF ST JAMES POWER STATION

The St James Power Station began its restoration works in 2018. At present, the monument has been reborn with a new Heritage Trail and Gallery. History enthusiasts can visit a free trail of Singapore’s maritime history and the evolution of the country’s first power station of such magnitude.

After relishing history during the trail, you can go inside the Heritage Gallery. Here you will experience impressive 3D artwork, animated augmented reality video series, and an interesting exhibit.

Register with your loved ones here.

Location: 3 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098544

#4: TURN YOUR OLD TEE INTO A TOTE BAG

Say goodbye to your old shirt and hello to a reusable tote bag with the support of Project Re:ground. Project Re:ground is a mental wellbeing initiative by Youth Corps Singapore in collaboration with the Health Promotion Board. This event highlights the importance of breathing new life into the items that you would otherwise throw away.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

This artistic event happens on 23 March 2023 at 7pm. Do not forget to bring along an old T-shirt and a water bottle! Learn more about this event by visiting volunteer.gov.sg.

Location: 113 Somerset Road, The Red Box, Singapore 238165

#5: GO TO THE SINGAPORE CAT FESTIVAL

Singapore Cat Festival is back for the third time! Celebrate your beloved cats this 25 to 26 March 2023 by joining cat adoption drives, breed showcases, vet chats, retail booths, and face painting.

This Festival is a cat-friendly event, so you can bring your purrfect companion as you browse the booths. Just make sure that your cat is secured in a carrier.

Location: Great World, Level 1 Atrium & Office Lobby, 1 Kim Seng Promenade, Singapore 237994

#6: INDULGE ON THE SNEAKER AND STREET CULTURE

Sneakertopia, an ArtsScience Museum exhibition, features film screenings that explore important films displaying streetwear and sneaker culture. This month, you will be able to watch entertaining films such as Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021), Space Jam (1996), and more.

From iconic blockbusters to indie titles, you can take a closer look at how films play a vital role in fashion and style. There are more film titles to come for April and May screening.

Location: ArtScience Cinema (Level 4), ArtScience Museum, 6 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018974

#7: BOOST YOUR RESUME

Thanks to the National Library Board (NLB)’s “Get Professional” series, you will be able to access professional techniques on how to improve your resume or C.V. writing and networking skills.

Industry experts will guide you throughout the process. This online workshop is on 22 March 2023 from 7pm – 9pm. Secure your spot here!

#8: GO FOR A WALKATHON

Let’s Walk, Singapore will take you on a free 3km walkathon in Yishun Park. Start your fitness journey with your friends and family! As a bonus, all attendees will receive a Sunnystep voucher.

This free event on 25 March will start with a gentle warm-up stretch routine and give you breaks every 20-30 minutes or so. To end the session, you will go through a short cool down stretch. What are you waiting for? Get your tickets here.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Location: Yishun Park (entrance near SAFRA Yishun Country Club)

Sources: 1 & 2

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How to Save Money to Grow Your KPop Merch Collection

Fangirls and fanboys show their love for their idols in different ways. While some fans show their loyalty by attending every concert, others show their appreciation by purchasing KPop merchandise. Buying albums is one of the best ways to support their idols as it will help the singers or bands to hit top spots in the physical and digital music charts.

To help you get started in buying and saving for KPop merchandise (merch), here is an easy guide:

CHOOSE EITHER OFFICIAL OR UNOFFICIAL MERCH

There are two types of KPop merch – official and unofficial goods. The former is released by the KPop star’s entertainment company. Official merch includes albums, photo books, lightsticks, concert items, and DVDs. A percentage of the sales will go straight to your idols. The latter is usually cheaper than the former. The unofficial goods are fan made and will support the fans’ small businesses. Unofficial goods include fanarts printed on shirts, mugs, stationery items, and keychains.

SCOUT FOR DISCOUNTS

Always keep a lookout for discounts on shops that offer KPop merchandise. Start by scanning online to see whether these stores have posted their recent promotions and events on their websites and social media pages. You can also inquire locally by asking physical merchants whether they have an upcoming promotion. Compare their rates to Singapore marketplaces to ensure that you get the best deals.

KNOW WHERE TO SHOP

KPop merchandise is available on international websites such as Amazon and YesAsia. Items are also available in physical stores such as Infinity Kpop (City Gate) and House of Kpop (Orchard Road). You must first identify the merchandise that you are looking for. Then, do your research on the prices offered by the physical and online stores. Choosing the cheapest places to purchase your desired items will help you save a considerable amount of cash.

MANAGE YOUR CASH

If you are planning to purchase the newest album by ENHYPEN or NewJeans, allot a specific budget by planning ahead. To avoid using your credit cards or borrowing money that is not yet in your hands, you can save up for the coveted item.

For instance, you are expecting that you’ll be getting your salary in a few days, so you decided to pre-order the merchandise and pay for it later. Once you receive your salary, you may experience cash shortage because of your fixed expenses. Having a plan helps avoid overspending and debts.

RESIST THE MARKETING TRAPS

Marketers want you to spend money by targeting their ads to the people who are able to shell out their cash in Kpop merchandise. They have this mentality of: “Don’t go broke but also buy, buy, buy.” It is the marketing department’s job to sell you items, even if you do not need them. So, do your best to resist the marketing traps.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

If your savings are not enough to fund your attendance at all the concerts or your eagerness to collect all your idol’s albums, do not let the marketers sway you. Find price-comparison websites to get the best deals before purchasing goods featuring BTS, Jessi, BLANKPINK, and so on.

Sources: 1 & 2

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How to Overcome the Fear of Trying New Things (Again)

The new Year of the Rabbit is the perfect time to take the leap by learning or trying something new. You can take up ceramics, learn French, start a book club, plant a seed, go back to the dating scene, or try indoor rock-climbing. As for me, I have to learn how to drive again.

I started learning how to drive in 2016 and encountered several accidents in the first few years. As time passed, I became more fearful and started to avoid driving by myself. I do not want to quit just yet. I am slowly regaining the confidence I once had.

The thing that no one mentions about stretching yourself is that it really sucks sometimes. Yes, trying new things is exciting, but it can also be terrifying and embarrassing. Getting over the initial fear of trying new things and actually having fun is part of the journey.

On that note, here are four strategies you can apply to overcome the fear of trying new things.

#1: JUMP WITH THE RIGHT MINDSET

People tend to approach a new experience in two ways – wanting to learn a skill or wanting to master it. The former encourages the learner to make mistakes and figure out how to do the process while having an enjoyable time. While the latter finds delight in doing well, impressing others, and discovering their natural talent in something.

Learning a new skill and having the ability to laugh at your own mistakes takes off the pressure. Creating mishaps is part of the process. For instance, you want to finish a marathon. Running in under two hours can be your goal, but getting in shape and meeting new friends are worthy outcomes too.

#2: REMEMBER THAT IT’S OKAY TO NOT LOVE IT RIGHT AWAY

No matter what new skill you are trying to learn, it is more likely that you won’t have a blast at the beginning. Organizational behavior researcher Keith Rollag once highlighted: “From an evolutionary standpoint, trying new things, for much of human history, could have been dangerous. Your performance can have a big impact on your status.” Status affects our ability to get the resources we need to survive. The fear of trying new things was an issue of survival.

One of the challenges of starting new experiences, joining new groups, and meeting new people is the anxiety of being the newcomer. Not loving the process right away is not a sign that you have made a terrible mistake. Instead, it is part of being human.

#3: DON’T CONFUSE YOUR FEELINGS

Anxiety and excitement are two sides of the same coin. Ever notice that all these feelings manifest in the same way? Whether you are nervous or excited, you get butterflies in your stomach and sweaty palms. You pace back and forth. Notice a man in his first job interview and compare it with a man who is about to propose. Both men feel adrenaline coursing through their veins. The body interprets the high-stakes situation in the same way.

This just shows that the brain is creating the story we tell ourselves. Bringing awareness to this fact will help us to manage our feelings better.

#4: BREAK IT DOWN INTO SMALL PARTS

The best way to deal with your current situation is to break down a task into manageable steps. When Michael Phelps competed in the Beijing Olympics, he had to swim with visual challenges. His goggles began filling with water the moment he dove in the 200-meter butterfly race. He recalled the race in an interview with CBS News:

“They started filling up more and more and more. And about 75 meters left in the race, I could see nothing. I couldn’t see the black line. I couldn’t see the T. I couldn’t see anything. I was purely going by stroke count. And I couldn’t take my goggles off because they were underneath two swim caps.”

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Despite not being able to see where he was and where he was going, he counted the strokes. He bagged the gold medal in that race and broke the world record. Breaking down the task into several parts motivated him to finish the race. A person who is learning how to drive can start by learning the safety protocols and theoretical background of driving, before practicing in an actual driving course.

Learning takes time and your journey is uniquely yours.

Sources: 1 & 2

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4 Places to Shop for Cheap Funko POP!

Fans of pop culture merchandise definitely heard of Funko Pop vinyl figures. Funko POP! vinyl figures are comparable to figurines and are based on video game characters, comic books, movies, and other icons. The collectibles offered by Funko POP! will make you nostalgic!

These figures have licensed characters from varying franchises with oversized heads and eyes and depict each character in different poses, sizes, outfits, and finishing. Aside from that, Funko POP! products come with attractive window box packaging. The packaging includes details of the characters and other collectibles from movies to icons in Dragon Ball Z, Marvel, Pokemon, and more.

The history of Funko POP! dates back to 1998 when toy collectors Mike Becker and Claudia Becker manufactured bobblehead figures. The business skyrocketed after releasing the Austin Powers bobbleheads. Afterwards, the company released the Funko vinyl line in 2010. The company aims to dominate pop culture with its trending merchandises including Disney, Star Wars, Stranger Things, Marvel, and DC.

Now, the company has over 8,000 different products worldwide and thousands of different franchise licenses. You can find something suitable for you and your loved ones!

Image Credits: unsplash.com

#1: CAROUSELL

Carousell is a Singaporean smartphone and web-based consumer to consumer and business to consumer marketplace for selling and buying new and pre-loved goods. It has Funko POP! collectibles for as low as S$2 to S$4. Some of the products here are used and others are new. Some have boxes and others do not. You can purchase diverse figures from Star Wars’ Poe Dameron to Supernatural’s Crowley. It also has movie icons such as Frozen’s Elsa and Breakfast Club’s Brian.

#2: LAZADA

Lazada Group is one of the largest e-commerce operators in Southeast Asia. It has PocketPop! and Funko POP! vinyl figures from S$9.90. Some of the top-rated figures include Joker Action Figure 337, Star-War Mandalorian with Baby Yoda, Tinker Bell 295, and PocketPop! Keychain IT Pennywise.

#3: SIMPLY TOYS

Simply Toys is founded for toy collectors with varios locations in VivoCity, Plaza Singapura, and SingPost Centre. You can find a lot of figures here including Funko POP!, Q Posket, and other pre-order comics. Funko POP! Keychain: Spider-Man: No Way Home S3 – Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man retails for S$9.90. Banpresto Naruto Shippuden Q Posket – Uchiha Itachi retails for S$32.90. While pre-order DC/Marvel comics have different price tags.

#4: SHOPEE

Singaporean multinational technology company that specializes in e-commerce Shopee provides a variety of Funko POP! vinyl figures and keychains. Keychains retail for as low as S$4.19. The vinyl figures such as Star Wars The Mandalorian retail for S$15.11 and Marvel: Year of The Shield – The Winter Soldier (838) cost S$14.90.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Sources: 1 & 2

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12 Cheap Thrills to Enjoy this Weekend

Living a frugal life does not have to be dull and boring! Keep yourself entertained while maintaining your budget by checking out these free or cheap things to do this weekend.

#1: READ A BOOK OR TWO

Dive into the mysteries and magical adventures of your favorite book. If nothing on your bookshelf strikes your fancy, you can take a trip to the local library to borrow one. You can also download free eBooks online.

#2: WATCH A MOVIE

Movies like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Black Adam are now streaming in cinemas. You can either watch a movie there or go to the public library to check out a film that you can rent. Netflix has a selection of newly released films too! Take advantage of your subscription with this streaming service.

#3: PLAY INDOOR GAMES

Invite your loved ones for a friendly game of cards or puzzles. If video games are more your speed, check out the free or cheap games available at the app store or other free gaming websites.

#4: PLAY OUTDOOR GAMES

Searching for an athletic endeavor? Grab your basketball or volleyball and head to the park. Join the recreational sports groups in your community. Some are free and others can cost you a registration fee.

#5: GO TO THE THRIFT SHOP

Hunt for bargains at the local thrift or flea shops. Remember, you do not have to buy anything. Browse around and watch out for great deals. It is more fun to try things on!

#6: TAKE A HEALING WALK

Smartphones, podcasts, and earbuds have transformed a walk around the neighborhood from mundane to entertaining. Even if you do not have access to good audio, stepping out for a stroll can help boost your mood. Check out this list of the best nature trails in Singapore.

#7: TAKE A LONG HIKE

Immerse yourselves with the sights and sounds of the natural world. Check out Singapore’s list of trails and parks and choose a beautiful long trail. Then, pack lunch and a water bottle to complete your hike.

#8: CYCLE AROUND

If you have a bike, ride around the neighborhood, and explore your surroundings. Do not have a ride? You can rent a bike at the East Coast Park Bike Shop.

#9: LISTEN TO PODCASTS

Your smartphone is the perfect podcast player! Use it to browse the various categories of free podcasts. Whether you are listening through Spotify or Apple Podcasts, you can keep it playing during a solo walk.

#10: TEACH YOURSELF TO KNIT

A lot of homes have yarns and a couple of knitting needles stored somewhere. If you do not have these, you can find a friend who will lend you a knitting set. Or you can head to the nearest Daiso to grab some supplies. The basics of knitting are easy. Here’s a great “getting started” tutorial that you can watch.

#11: TEACH YOURSELF ORIGAMI

Make origami decorations to beautify the Yuletide season. For example, you can create paper snowflakes or butterflies. You can aim to learn this skill and make decorations for future events.

#12: TEACH YOURSELF TO DANCE

Use your radio, speaker, or TV to dance to your favorite tune. You can invite your partner for a romantic dance. Who knows? It might become one of your top fun things to do on a Saturday.

Sources: 1 & 2

 

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