S’Pore Yuletide Shopping Do’s & Don’ts

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Whether you are figuring out how to dodge awkward questions from your relatives or are planning your gift list, this article can help you navigate through the maze of holiday campaigns and attractive sales. Remember, the Yuletide shopping season will be even more cutthroat than the last. You best come prepared!

#1: SHOP SAFELY

Are you excited drop by the Orchard Road? When shopping at the mall, look for stores or businesses that offer safety precautions for its customers and staff. These precautions include enforcing face mask policy, offering hand sanitizers at the entrance, encouraging social distancing, and providing contact-free payment options. Do you part in keeping the community safe by staying at home or by refraining from shopping if you feel unwell.

#2: SHOP AHEAD OF TIME

The massive growth of online shopping and deliveries will likely put an additional strain on the logistics that are already reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic. Many customers have come to expect shipping delays over the past months, but these delays could become worse during the last few months of the year. Not to mention, the effect of the Yuletide season.

Thus, it is best to shop ahead of time. Plan your gift giving list and complete your Yuletide shopping. You can also opt for the store pick-up option. Some retailers such as Samsung and Uniqlo Singapore help alleviate shipping delays by offering the store pick-up option. Customers may purchase the goods online and pick them up in the store to avoid waiting for deliveries.

#3: DO NOT FORGET TO CHECK THE PRICES

Despite your best intentions, the perfect gift may come with a hefty price tag. If you find that a gift can blow your budget, you may use your smartphone to check whether there are better deals elsewhere. Look into websites that post deals such as Money Digest or go to price comparison websites like iPrice.

#4: CREATE A GAME PLAN

Avoid biting into the holiday temptations by creating a game plan before you complete your Christmas or New Year shopping. Make a list of the gifts that you need to buy for the people whom you love the most. Weigh whether you can purchase these gifts online or in-store.

By equipping yourself with a list, you will be able to navigate through the busy malls. If you still have trouble resisting items that are not on your list, consider leaving your credit cards at home. Bring enough cash for your purchases.

#5: DO NOT MAX OUT YOUR CARDS

Your credit card utilization rate is a vital part of your credit score. It refers to how much you currently owe divided by your credit limit. Thus, you must use your credit card wisely to prevent damage to your credit score. Do not get us wrong! It is understandable to have a higher balance over the holidays. However, please try to keep your utilization rate as low as possible. You can either spend less money, use cash for small purchases, or make multiple credit cards payments in a month.

#6: ENSURE ONLINE SECURITY

It is important to educate yourself about shopping securely, given that many people have experienced data breaches over the past years. Monitor your credit and financial accounts regularly and exercise caution when submitting your personal information. Is it secure to provide your credit cards details over the phone? Can you click a random link sent through your spam folder? Be careful!

By proactively guarding your identity and sensitive information, you may be able to prevent fraud from ruining your holidays.

#7: DO NOT SPEND MORE THAN WHAT YOU HAVE

Do not let the flashy advertisements and the pressures of the season to tempt you to go into debt. The holidays can still be a joyous season even if you do not have gifts for everyone. If you do not have enough money for gifts, there is no shame in giving homemade gifts or being present in the celebration. Sometimes, the best gift is spending quality time with the ones you love.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

May these Yuletide spending tips help you survive the season with your wallet still intact!

Sources: 1 & 2

 

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Feast Your Eyes With These New Restaurants In Singapore

Rediscover the beauty of Singapore with its newly opened restaurants and cafés. From Minion-themed dishes to lattes topped with frozen teddy bears, you can take your gastronomical journey to new heights with this list. Best of all? You do not have to travel outside of Singapore to experience these five Instagram-worthy restaurants.

#1: MINION CAFE

Southeast Asia’s first Minion-themed café graced our shores this year and will stay until January 2022. Fans of the lovely characters from the Despicable Me film can enjoy dishes that are decorated with minions. Do not miss the chance to eat a pizza topped with minions or a banana boat dessert with Kevin, Stuart, and Bob.

Image Credits: Image Credits: facebook.com/minioncafesg

The café’s menu was curated for the Singaporean palette and highlights dishes such as Minion Singapore Prawn Noodle ($24) and Minion Pumpkin Mantou with Chilli Crab Meat Dip ($15 for four pieces).

Price: $$
Location: 3A River Valley Road, Merchant’s Court #01-01C to 01D, Block A Clarke Quay, Singapore, 179020

#2: SHINJUKU KISSA TETSUDO

What better way to reminisce your last trip to Japan than by dining at a Japanese railway-themed establishment? At Shinjuku Kissa Tetsudo, you can get behind the controls of model trains and pass the time by sipping coffee.

Image Credits: instagram.com/p/CUr5Q1vvjpw

Visit Shinjuku Kissa Tetudo at 111 Somerset to drink a cup of coffee ($6 to $15) or eat a slice of cake. Roll cakes cost about $8. Then, you can amp up your experience by operating the miniature railway models. Interactive railway activity rates start at $15/hour.

Price: $$
Location: 111 Somerset Rd, 02-K02, Singapore 238164

#3: KNOCK KNOCK CAFE

Open the door at the Knock Knock Cafe to feast your eyes with the floral-themed décor. Knock Knock Cafe serves a range of classic and fusion dishes using only the freshest ingredients. Excite your taste buds with the Seafood Laksa Pasta, Salted Egg Prawn Taco, Aglio Olio, and Ribeye Steak. End your meal with a satisfying dessert or an adorable drink like the foamy lattes topped with frozen teddy bears.

Image Credits: facebook.com/knockknockcafe.sg

Worry not about your social media feed because this place is adorned with flowers and studded with neon-lit signs. Reserve a seat in advance to secure your spot.

Price: $$
Location: Knock Knock Cafe, 101 Geylang Road, Singapore 389211

#4: LUCKY SAIGON RESTAURANT

Nestled at Tanglin Road is a hidden gem named Lucky Saigon Restaurant. This Vietnamese restaurant is the perfect spot for affordable food and picturesque ambiance. You will notice the green canopies, bird enclosures, and water fountain as you step inside. We do not blame you if you want to take a snap or two!

Image Credits: facebook.com/luckysaigonrestaurant

Do not forget to try the Fresh Spring Rolls ($7.50 for three pieces) and Slice Beef Pho ($12.50) when you are there. Apart from these, Lucky Saigon offers catering services for events such as birthday parties and staff dinners.

Price: $
Location: 356 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247674

#5: DEWGATHER

On November 21, Australia will open some of its states to Singaporean travelers. While waiting, you can get a taste of the Land Down Under by eating at Dewgather. Dewgather serves hearty Australian-inspired dishes tinged with Asian influences.

Image Credits: facebook.com/dewgather

Satisfy your cravings for Australian grub with options such as The Aussie Crumpet ($15), Salmon Avo ($8), Dew Swordfish Pasta ($27), and Waffle & Fried Chicken ($20). As for beverages, you can try the Houjicha Latte ($8) or the Prana Chai Latte ($8).

Price: $$
Location: #01-46 The Star Vista, 1 Vista Exchange Green, Singapore 138617

Sources: 1 & 2

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Must-Buy K-Drama Merchandise & Where To Find Them

A wonderful way to look back on the past year is to recognize that countless Singaporeans were introduced to K-dramas. Loyal K-drama fans were also delighted with new shows such as the Squid Game and My Name. The circuit breaker period gave people the chance to binge-watch on these shows on various streaming platforms. Due to its growing audience, K-drama merchandise are sold everywhere!

To help you get started with your Yuletide gifts, we produced a list of the most adorable K-Drama merchandise you can purchase online.

#1: VERSATILE CANVAS TOTES

These K-Drama themed canvas totes are both functional and personal. Skip the plastic bags next time you run errands and grab one of these canvas totes instead. A Shopee store called “kfcjunjun1.sg” sells a lineup of designs including Hospital Playlist, Vincenzo, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, and True Beauty totes.

Hospital Playlist and Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha totes come in a variety of designs costing as low as S$4.29. While the Vincenzo and True Beauty totes range from S$4.73 to S$5.70.

#2: CUTE MR. BUCKWHEAT (BOGLEGEL) TOY

If you are a fan of Goblin (Guardian: The Lonely and Great God), the Mr. Buckwheat toy is a recognizable item. Goblin revolves around the life of the immortal goblin Kim Shin who looks for a human bride to remove an invisible sword from his chest. Suddenly, a student named Ji Eun-Tak confesses to him that she is the chosen one.

Image Credits: facebook.com/bowmeowph (Guardian: The Lonely and Great God)

While shopping, Ji Eun-Tak points to a toy and tells the Goblin that it resembles him. They end up buying the toy to symbolize their relationship. Get the toy for S$18.90 at Lazada.

#3: CHILDISH DINO FAMILY SHIRT

Children and kids at heart can wear the matching dinosaur family tees worn by Moon-young (Seo Ye-ji), Sang-tae (Oh Jung-se), and Gang-tae (Kim Soo-hyun). These characters were the lead characters in the drama series “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay”. The series follows a life of an antisocial children’s book author and an employee in a psychiatric hospital.

Are you a Dino fan? Get yours for S$20 at Shopee.

#4: TRENDY PILLOW COVERS

Record breaking Squid Game is a deadly competition with hundreds of cash-strapped contestants and tempting prizes. It is one of the most popular shows on Netflix to date. If your friends and loved ones are obsessed with Squid Game, you may gift them with some printed pillow covers. All it takes is a quick browse through Lazada, and you will find countless options to choose from.

For instance, one shop sells pillow covers (45x45cm) for as low as S$1.89 per piece. The shop carries about thirty-nine designs. Snag a pillow case or two!

#5: FULLER-LOOKING LIPS

In an exclusive interview, Son Ye-jin’s glam team in “Crash Landing on You” shared the beauty products that they used for the actress. They used the ma:nyo Herbal Fresh Moist BB Cream, Jennyhouse Air Fit Artist Eyeshadow, TONYMOLY Back Stage Gel Eyeliner, and Jennyhouse Air Fit Lipstick.

Image Credits: facebook.com/115802663557977 (Korean Sunshine/Crash Landing On You)

Her lip color is naturally pink. Therefore, the glam team used the shade Monica Robe to enhance her lips. Get this shade at Shopee for S$34.18.

Note: Prices may vary due to sitewide promotions such as 11.11 events.

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6 Heart-warming Lessons From Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is a Korean drama available on tvN and Netflix. It is a hilarious, heart-warming, and healing love story that surrounds a dentist from the city and a man who can do everything. The show has displayed a myriad of life lessons.

From its leads to the stories of the people in the community, here are 6 remarkable lessons you can learn from Mr. Hong Du-Sik (Kim Seon-Ho) and Dr. Yoon Hye-Jin (Shin Min-Ah).

Image Credits: facebook.com/groups/938482076948075/media

“Do you know what it means to be a good parent? It is staying healthy for a long time. They should not endure pain to save money for their children. They should take care of themselves.” – Dr. Yoon Hye-Jin

Health is wealth. Dr. Yoon’s parents sacrificed themselves to provide the best life for their daughter. We only see the products of the sacrifices without thinking of its effects. How will the sacrifices you make affect the people whom you will leave behind?

“Life isn’t so fair for all of us. Some spend their whole lives on unpaved roads, while some run at full speed only to reach the edge of a cliff.” — Mr. Hong

We all have different struggles and have been brought from diverse circumstances. Each of us has a distinct timeline in life. Mr. Hong reminds us that just because we have not experienced what others are going through, does not mean that their feelings are not valid. Let us keep our minds and hearts open to understand others.

“If you cannot pick up spilled milk, you should at least apologize to them for spilling the milk, rather than avoiding them.” — Mr. Hong

Escapism is often an easier route than taking responsibility for our actions. Some people tend to escape from the mistakes they have made towards others. Remember that there is nothing wrong with admitting a mistake and saying sorry.

“You’re bound to meet unexpected situations in life. Even if you use an umbrella, you will end up getting drenched. Just put your hands up and welcome the rain.” — Mr. Hong

Image Credits: facebook.com/netflixph

Much like the pandemic, unexpected situations happen all the time. Despite how ready you are, you still need to adjust to the current situation. Appreciate the circumstances coming your way to see the beauty in life.

“La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la,
Romantic Sunday,
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la,
It’s a beautiful and shining day.” — OST

The OST is such an earworm! It is impossible not to sing the OST as you watch the entire series. This song highlights the beauty of life and the importance of love.

“Money and success aren’t the only valuable things in life. Happiness, self-contentment, world peace, love… Anyway, life is not a mathematical situation. It does not have a clear answer. There is no right answer either. You’re just given a problem and it’s up to you how you solve it.” — Mr. Hong

Indeed! There life’s problems do not have clear solutions. It is up to us to solve these problems as they come along. There is no right way to lead your life. It is in your hands to take responsibility for the decisions you make.

Source: 1

 

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6 Must-Try Korean Mint Chocolate Products Available Online

When it comes to mint chocolate, you either love it or hate it. While others feel as though they are biting into a tube of toothpaste, some foodies have fallen in love with its refreshingly sweet taste. What can I say? Mint chocolate complements each other.

Mint chocolate desserts usually come in the form of gelato or ice cream. After all, it was originally created through an ice cream competition back in 1973. Throughout the years, people have become increasingly creative on taking this flavor to the next level.

In Korea, mint chocolate was all the rage over the past months. You must try some of their products available online through Shopee Singapore.

#1: MINT CHOCOLATE BROWNIE

Most flavors would complement brownies, but this product tastes so well. Bite into the mint chocolate goodness of the Mint Chocolate Brownie. You will find yourself wanting more!

Price: S$10.81 at Shopee SG.

#2: GREEN TEA MINT CHOCOCHIP

Mint and chocolate could have one without the other, but it is better together. The Green Tea Mint Chocochip is a part of a wide I’m Yo Choco Mix Series. You can drink this either as a cold or hot beverage. Feel refreshed with its sweet mix of mint and chocolate!

Price: S$23.50 at Shopee SG.

#3: HERSHEY’S MINT CREME MINI WAFERS

The 100 grams of Hershey’s Mint Creme Mini Wafers is unique due to its smooth filling that is both refreshing and smooth. The Hershey’s chocolate sauce is not too sweet, and its wafers are crunchy. After eating this snack, your fingers will leave its chocolate sauce. Feel free to lick it!

Price: S$19.99 at Shopee SG.

Image Credits: facebook.com/ONGkoleyt

#4: ABC CHOCO COOKIE – MINT CHOCOLATE FLAVOR

Orion’s ABC Choco Cookie – Mint Chocolate Flavor boasts its crispy cookies filled with the sweetness of chocolate and the refreshing flavor of mint. This product is part of their 2021 Summer Limited edition offerings. Its cute packaging is a plus!

Price: S$10.99 at Shopee SG.

#5: MINT CHOCO PIE

With its appealing turquoise packaging, the Mint Choco Pie has an appealing mix of juicy cacao and the fresh taste of mint. It will spread in your mouth smoothly. Take a bite or two!

Price: S$9.80 at Shopee SG.

#6: KANU MINT CHOCOLATE LATTE

Korean instant coffees are popular for its convenience and rich flavor. What better way to spend your day than by sipping a Kanu Mint Chocolate Latte? Its great flavor is suitable for desserts. Each box contains 24 sachets. Do not be afraid to stock up because it does not expire for at least a year!

Price S$18.50 at Shopee SG.

Image Credits: facebook.com/stylekoreanblog

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