Singapore is much more expensive than most of the South East Asian countries. You can live here decently however you will have to learn how to spend wisely. Forego the temptation to run amok in the shops or indulge in luxuries you may have craved while traveling in less-developed Asian countries.
Obviously, after a while you will learn how to save money in Singapore. To help you figure this out faster we have compiled a short list of Singapore money tips. They are designed to give you a starting point to saving money in Singapore.
1. Save Money On Food
The first thing to take into account is where to eat and where to buy your food from in order to save money. The so called wet markets (because the floors of these markets are always wet) are the first thing to get used to if you want to learn to save money in Singapore. The wet markets are the cheaper alternative of the supermarkets and you will find every basic food item there.
Singapore is one of the most expensive places in Asia
Photo by furryface Some rights reserved
Of course you might not be able to find pasta sauce or ice cream there but it is OK since the rest of the prices are significantly cheaper. Another thing to get used to is the upleasant smell sometimes and the overall lack of organization and politeness. Similar to the wet markets are the hawker centers and food courts. These are places where you can have a decent meal for about $6. Of course they have nothing to do with the restaurants you are used to but it is just another step to saving money in Singapore. The hawker centers are huge food complexes usually air conditioned where you can have every basic dish.
2. Locate Those Warehouse Sales
Once you are used to saving money in Singapore when having a meal out or buying food, it is time to learn how to go shopping for basic items such as clothes or electronics without spending a fortune. Watch out for warehouse sales. Just look for advertisements in the newspapers to find out where and when the next warehouse sale will be. You can expect prices with more than 50% discount.
A little diligence will help you save money in Singapore
Photo by Tracy O Some rights reserved
The only thing is that the stocks being sold at these warehouse sales are usually out of season or old models. Of course if you are looking for the latest model of specific device or designer clothes from a latest collection, the warehouse sales are not the right place to go. However these are a great alternative to the regular shops if you dot mind wearing last year’s collection sport shoes or buying an older model coffee machine.
3. Take Public Transport
One of the main Singapore money tips except the ones above is to make use of the public transport. Yes, it might sound ridiculous but this is a must if you want to save money or if you are on a tight budget. Singapore’s public transport if very affordable and well developed so you really don’t need a car.
On the other hand having a car in Singapore is one of the most expensive things. Not only are car` prices about five times higher than the European car prices but the maintenance costs are huge as well. If you really need a car from time to time, it will be better to hire one. All you need to do it to join a car pooling or car sharing scheme. Car-pools are also available, and although they are usually arranged between friends or colleagues, you can sometimes find requests for car-poolers in magazine or newspaper listings
Conclusion
Singapore has much higher standard than the rest of the countries in this region. For that reason you should do your homework before getting there and make a Singapore money tips list to serve you as guide to saving money in Singapore. Obviously if you are taking enormously big salary in Singapore, you will not need to read the above lines at all. If this is not your case, than you will have to learn how to live in order to spend wise. In fact it will not make huge difference with the way you leave in your home country; the only thing is that you will need some time to get used to it.
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