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Awesome MUJI Hacks You Wouldn’t Want To Miss

For the past few decades, Japanese brands had been circulating the worldwide market. Valuing their historical significance, contemporary influence, and innovative style, Japan never seize to amaze its consumers. Myself included. Personally, there is one Japanese brand close to my heart and it is called MUJI.

MUJI’s products are not only simple but also efficient. Most of their products are practical such as the “CT LINEN POLY SOFT BOX OBLONG“, a foldable fabric storage box for only S$13.

Curated by Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd., MUJI upholds the philosophy of bringing quality products at lower prices. This is because of their intensive selection for raw materials. A testament of that are their stationery items including office supplies, packaging items, acrylic storage, desktop items, and handphone accessories with prices ranging from S$0.90-S$49.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Given that their prices are reasonable, you can still save further by using these tips:

1. SHOP ONLINE WITH CUPONATION

CupoNation has a huge database of the coupon codes and deals across Singapore. If you browsed through their coupon codes and discounted deals for MUJI this September 2015, you would see that you might avail the following offers in MUJI’s online store:

a. 10% on Women’s Linen products

b. 10% OFF + Free Delivery on Selected Travel Items

c. 10% OFF on Spring Accessories

d. 10% OFF on Kids Linen products

e. 10% OFF on Men’s Linen items

2. GO DIRECTLY TO THE SALE ITEMS PAGE

If you are shopping in a rush, you may skip CupoNation but go directly to the “SALE ITEMS” page. In this page, you would see that there are two types of special offers namely: sale items and limited offers. As the name suggests, limited offers are available for a shorter period of time compared to the sale items.

Let me be the good messenger as I tell you that the sale items boast in an array of clothing articles such as French Linen Boat Neck Dress for S$48.30 (U.P. S$69) and Linen Cropped Easypants for S$34.30 (U.P. S$49.00). While, the limited offers include the Gel Ink Pens for S$1.44 (U.P. S$1.60) and the Ochiwata Duster Set for S$7.47 (U.P. S$8.30).

3. SPEND AN AFFORDABLE AMOUNT ON UNIQUE, QUIRKY, AND COOL ITEMS

Feeling adventurous does not have to be expensive! You can save money on unique, quirky, and cool authentic Japanese items by shopping at MUJI. For instance, you may try their selection of special and tasty snacks and desserts such as white chocolate strawberry, scallop rice kit, and pretzel mustard.

Also, dig into the cool and innovative items such as the “HANDY SHREDDER” which is a stand-alone portable shredder for your everyday use. It is available for S$11.

Image Credits: www.muji.com.sg

4. FOLLOW THE DEALS

It can be overwhelming when you go inside the store. So, come prepared by stalking them on social media. Get the inside scoop of their store activities, product launches, and latest deals by following facebook.com/muji.sg.

Currently, the revamped Paragon outlet include the first Café&Meal MUJI as well as the following in-store deals:

Image Credits: facebook.com/muji.sg

5 Shopping Hacks Everyone Should Know

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)

Sources: 1 & 2

Amazing Date Ideas That Don’t Cost A Dollar

Dates can become a burden to the wallets of broke students. The idea of dating at a limited budget can sometimes be stressful and embarrassing. Well, not anymore! You can go on amazing dates without spending a dollar! Remember, there is absolutely nothing wrong about staying frugal while dating.

1. GO ON A TREETOP HIKE

Take your special someone to a morning hike while watching the sunrise at the MacRitchie Reservoir Park. MacRitchie Reservoir Park houses several long hiking routes including the famous TreeTop Walk. The TreeTop Walk consists of a freestanding suspension bridge that connects two highest points namely: Bukit Peirce and Bukit Kalang. This is the first of its kind. Your date will truly appreciate the unique experience of looking over the variety of plants and animals while being about 25 meters off the ground.

2. HAVE A GAME NIGHT

Turn your date night into a romantic game night. You can get to know each other while playing the infamous childhood game of Truth or Dare. Learn a lot about his or her boiling points while playing poker. Wage it with anything other than money (e.g., kisses or chocolates). Lastly, you can even play fun board games such as Monopoly, Scrabble, and Battleship.

Image Credits:
Anders Ruff Custom Designs via Flickr with CC Attribution-NoDerivs

3. CONDUCT A VIDEO GAME SHOWDOWN

Get your XBOX, Wii, or Play Station ready for a showdown. Nothing beats a date filled with enjoyable video games. What is even more interesting are old-school video games. If your old console or Nintendo hand-held game is still operating then, spend the night by facing each other into a classic brawl of Super Mario Brothers or Street Fighter. This is a sweet trip down the memory lane!

4. HAVE A MOVIE MARATHON

Looking for a perfect first date experience? Look no more as MovieMob brings you the premier outdoor movie screenings that would not cost you a cent! MovieMob, an acclaimed Outdoor Movie Specialist, screens movies to various locations around Singapore. Instead of heading to a fancy and pricey restaurant, plan a picnic while enjoying a free movie at the park. Stay updated by visiting: facebook.com/apemoviemob.

Alternatively, you can host a movie marathon by watching free movies at home. Catch a free flick or two in the comforts of your own home by watching at YouTube’s Movies playlist at youtube.com/user/YouTubeMoviesWW. Turn the romance on by switching to scented (and safe) candles instead of lamps and by heating up a bag of popcorn.

5. LEARN A SKILL TOGETHER

There is nothing more romantic than sharing your interests to your partner. If you are a fan of cooking and baking then, teach him or her the basic recipes and techniques. And, if neither of you have a special skill, you can look up free online tutorials and make a DIY project together.

Image Credits: Howard Holley via Flickr with CC License

Having tight finances should not stop you from spending quality time with your special someone! 🙂

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

Money Saving Sites Every Singaporean Should Know About

Saving money is easy in theory: just spend less than you have. But that’s a little like saying architecture is easy because you just “build buildings”. We all know it’s not that simple, so here are some sites that can provide keen insights and step-by-step help:

1. DollarsAndSense.sg

The best thing about DollarsAndSense.sg is its hyperlocal focus. In case you haven’t noticed, things work differently in Singapore–we have concerns like what to do with our NS pay, or whether we should invest our CPF money. You can even get some insights about where you stand income wise.

For those of you who need to know about money issues in Singapore, this is a good first stop. You won’t be bombarded by articles about FICO scores, or insurance policies that don’t exist locally. Expats in particular should take note.

2. The Wealth Journey

Into investments as well as savings? The Wealth Journey is a blog that has a pretty good balance between the two. This is a blog, and a lot of the content is commentary on something else. But the commentary almost always highlights an important lesson or two.

The Wealth Journey isn’t the prettiest site on this list, it’s mostly walls of text. But there’s never any advertorials or obvious promotions, so it seems our anonymous blogger (who just calls himself/herself an accredited investor) is offering independent insight. Come here when you need perspective without being sold something.

3. Cheerful Egg

This blog is more focused on the psychology of personal finance than strict numbers. You may not find lists of the cheapest cafes or home loans, but you will get some understanding as to how our brains are wired. If you’re a fan of writers like Malcolm Gladwell or Dan Ariely, you’ll love this content.

You can find out what drives successful investors, why saving is so hard, and (on some posts) mind hacks you can use to make getting rich easier. This has our vote as the finance blog for people who don’t like reading finance. It’s serious bus ride entertainment, with some positive benefits for your wallet.

4. SingSaver.com.sg

This is part finance blog, part toolkit. SingSaver blog posts cover the small but important steps you can take to save money even in tight situations. They also provide a host of comparison tools to lower the costs of your loans, or to filter out the credit cards that are worth applying for. Credit card comparison, as you may know, is critical for getting the best rewards and discounts out of them.

Their blog is also lifestyle heavy, so if you need to save money on drinks or a tattoo, the information you need is lurking here somewhere.

SingSaver probably tops the list when it comes to credit, loans,and banking products – with contacts in many parts of the finance industry, they’re professional snoops and deal finders. So whatever you need from a bank, check out this site first. They may be able to get it cheaper.

5. Mint.com

Another part blog, part toolkit. Mint offers a tracking service for your personal finances, so you can uncover that black hole that all your cash seems to vanish into. They have what’s probably one of the best budgeting apps online, which follows you on your phone and tablet. If this can’t make you save money then nothing else will.

Although the content is non-local, some of Mint’s money saving tips are quite universal. You might want to take an idea from their blog (eg. using balance transfers to manage debt), and then check for a local equivalent on one of the other blogs here.
What are some of your favourite money saving sites? Comment and let us know!

(This article is brought to you by Singsaver.com.sg)

Time for online shoppers to get on cashback websites

Joey Lim from coupon-cashback site ShopBack Singapore explains how cashback websites are changing the way South-East Asians shop online. ShopBack is one of the largest coupon-cashback websites in the South-East Asian region.

Online shopping has redefined retail and changed the way people spend their money. With more and more online shoppers cashing in on the cashback trend, shopping habits have evolved further beyond simple price comparison between online shops. Shoppers are now counting on the magic combination of letters and numbers that form coupon codes to help them save money on their online purchases.

While cashback websites are not exactly the latest response to the online shopping boom, they are relatively new in South-East Asia where the number of online shoppers is steadily increasing each day, thanks to rising affluence and access to technology. These cashback websites are simple to understand: they partner with hundreds of merchants and secure a certain percentage of cashback for shoppers who click through them. The only change is the point of access to the desired shop page – after that it’s just the wait to see money flow back into your bank account.

Uncertainty and Unfamiliarity

In a BBC News article “Cashback websites: How do they work?”, Burns addresses the doubts of consumers, many of whom are wary and suspicious of the promises that these cashback websites make. In response to consumer accusations of money delay and obscure placement of information, she cites Quidco’s managing director Andy Oldham, who admits that there is cause to reconsider how important details like cashback percentage and timeline are presented on the website. Quidco is one of the biggest cashback sites in the UK, with 2 million members and counting.

“It all sounds too good to be true” seems to be the common consensus amongst online shoppers. Such hesitation and misunderstanding could potentially hurt profits but cashback websites are already one step ahead of consumers; many are doubling efforts to make their website layout as simple as possible to suggest clarity and transparency. Prominently displayed video tutorials, reviews and visual guides are just some of the several methods employed to assuage consumers’ fears and make online shopping more enjoyable.

That being said, we understand how many online shoppers can get overwhelmed by the multitude of choices that the cyberworld of shopping offers – it’s a game of meticulousness, powered by the desire to get the best deal. Price comparison online can be tedious but add another few cashback websites to study and most are ready to give up. To prevent yourself from burning out before you even begin to cash in, Sarah Pennells from savvywoman has collated some of the main considerations when looking for cashback sites, as condensed here:

Percentage of cashback and merchant variety
Possible membership fees
How quickly you’ll be paid your cashback
How much cashback you have to earn before you’re paid
How you’re paid

Not all cashback sites are created equal so it’s definitely worth your time doing a little research to find out which ones are most suitable for your intended purchase. Some collaborate with the same merchant, but offer different cashback rates, so be sure to hunt down the one that will help you save the most.

Shopping Smart but Safe

When in doubt about a certain cashback website, Williams from US News suggests googling for reviews and complaints. Chances are, other people have already used their services and can give an honest review of the site – whether it’s the real deal or just a potato chip bag half-full of air, promising everything but delivering lesser than expected. Another warning from his article – “If you go to a cash-back site once and make a tiny purchase but never shop there again, you may never see your money”. It’s important to understand the math behind the business. Big purchases like plane tickets are guaranteed to give you a substantial amount of cash back in just one bill while shopping for clothes once may not be enough to reach the minimum cashback threshold.

Keeping all this in mind, cashback sites can really help shoppers accumulate substantial savings in the long run, especially those who shop online often. If the bulk of your buys are made online, consider using a cashback site to help you stretch your dollar – you’ll have less problems sticking to your budget because of all the little savings. Results may not be as fast but slowly and surely your savings from discounts will increase.

Everyone’s Cashing In

The steady rise of cashback websites in South-East Asia marks a concrete change in the expectations of local consumers. Regular sales just aren’t enough anymore – people want bigger discounts, better deals and the best price possible for even small purchases. It’s a competitive market but no doubt a lucrative one, if cashback companies know how to manage consumer demands. It’s all about the extra mile now, with sleek user-friendly web designs and excellent customer service to cater to the growing number of shoppers interested in the concept. The challenge for these businesses is to differentiate themselves from others; to constantly renew and improve to stay ahead of competition and meet consumer needs.

The verdict’s out: Cashback websites are here to stay and both companies and consumers stand to benefit. With some foresight for companies and savvy discernment on the part of consumers, the e-commerce cashback industry looks set to get bigger and produce more impressive results. If you’re curious to find out more about cashback rebates, here’s an introductory video on how ShopBack works:

(This post is brought to you by Shopback Singapore)

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