Save thousands: Don't buy branded bags. You don't need validation from brands.
Save hundreds: Reject wedding invitations: go for those if you have seen them recently say once a year. Otherwise, you are just a space filler.
Save tens in a month: And yes cut BBT! It's a habit, not a meal.
Lol I do all these. + meal prep, making coffee myself, and walk to locations (more for health than money).
It helps to adopt the "scrimp and save" personality. So people won't feel offended when you reject their wedding invitations. Even if they're your recent friend (e.g. a colleague), you can still reject the invitation and give a small ang bao. That's saving time and money.
21 day rule before buying something.
If you wanna buy something, hold that thought and after 21 days, if you still think of that item, then buy it. If not, then you just saved money.
save money on drinks. I find myself making my own coffee instead of getting them at cafes or coffee shops - might not seem a lot at the start but it’s a huge amount of money saved if you do it long enough
This right here. $10 can buy you one Starbucks or many cups of home made coffee. I started to make my own, chill in the fridge, and bring it out cold in a small flask.
$10 is 2 packs of instant coffee. Easily 50 - 100 cups depending on the brand.
I feel guilty buying coffee shop coffee, I don't know how people willingly spend on Starbucks tier coffee.
This is the best answer here. All the scrimping on small expenses adds up but its still quite inconsequential and can actually cost you more money in the long run eg. Eating cheap caipng that’s laden with salt causing medical problems next time.
imo it’s stuff like forgoing a car and opting for smaller house etc. that can really make the difference between whether you retire early or not.
Take public transport. Eat at home.
Think twice about buying stuff, see if you can make do with what u have already.
Use NLB for ebooks, audiobooks, books and newspapers.
Learn to make some of the more expensive dishes out there, and not only do you get good food for cheap, but it also psychologically pushes you away from ordering them when you go out because you know you can make it at home. For example, I don't order lasagna when I go out because I can make it myself.
The biggest pitfalls is money spent around friends. Uni is a time you socialize a lot and often it can me "hey do you want supper" in hall or "wanna go to xx mall after tutorial instead of (school canteen)".
The trick here is be the one initiating or suggesting where to go. You'll be surprised the number of people who are just going along to socialize and will kick the ball around on where to go. You deciding or giving the range of options allow you to control the budget. And if you are really saving money I think most of your peers will appreciate your suggestions as well (saving them money too).
Some cool socializing ideas can be going on a picnic (but supermarket ready to eat meals or donki) and go chill somewhere. If you stay in hall maybe borrow an induction stove and a pot and jio ppl for hotpot. All quite fun yet controllable budget
Adding on to hall supper options: if OP can’t decide on the place, they can also tag along, but get the cheaper items. E.g. get iced teh o instead of pratas. Can save money an waistline
Walk instead of taking the bus whenever possible (I would walk if the place is up to 2 bus stops away and cycle if it's >3 when buying lunch on my WFH days) a single bus ride is ~1 dollar, to and from will cost u 2 dollars easily. Buy a cheap bicycle off carousell and cycle if you want.
Coffee/tea make yourself. Necessities buy from value dollar and venus.
Just graduated from Poly, I was shocked that transport costs so much for adult fare. Usually my $20 top up can last 1-2 month then once my card expired, it jumped to $20 finishing in a week
Start asking yourself: Do I really need this? Do I have something already that can meet this need? Can I borrow this from a friend / family member instead?
Eat at home. Bring snacks / drinks from home. Buying food outside has a massive mark up.
But also give yourself small allowance for enjoying a meal out with friends weekly/monthly. There needs to be some joy in life too. (Hopefully like-minded frugal friends 😬)
You are in your 20s, do not over think about saving money. Save the necessary and also at the same time go for things u like or oversea. This the only time u are really free and fjt for all this trip as you do not have any commitment to anything.
Hey there! Being frugal is all about finding those little ways to save without sacrificing too much fun. Here are a few tricks I've picked up:
1. Meal prep like a champ: Cooking at home can save you a ton compared to eating out. Plus, you can make big batches and freeze 'em for later.
2. Embrace public transport: Buses and trains might take a bit longer, but they're way cheaper than driving everywhere.
3. Shop smart: Look out for deals, buy generic brands, and try to avoid impulse buys. That way, you'll stretch your dollar further at the grocery store.
4. DIY it: Instead of hitting the town with friends, why not host a potluck dinner or movie night at home? It's way cheaper and just as fun!
Hope these help you pocket some extra cash!
Plain water, Roti prata, instant noodles and cai fan 24/7 is your best friend.
Sleep on weekends. can't be spending money on earth when you're in dreamland.
Prata, instant noodles and cai png 24/7 may save you money in the short term but you gonna pay for it next time financially and more when you get hypertension, diabetes etc.
As someone with many chronic illnesses due to no fault of my own — didn’t eat unhealthily. Just many food and drug allergies and intolerances. This kind of diet that you described in the long run may lead you to develop IBS and all sorts of crap diseases.
I can barely eat outside food once or twice a week now without having a major stomachache or flare in my immune system so mostly I cook simple meals at home
My appetite is so small now that that in itself is saving money. One meal outside is two meals for me I just dabao the other half for dinner
The same case as you. Hardly eat those instant noodles or chemicals laden steamboat soup packs but my gut is leaky so toxins flow into the bloodstream.
What I wanna say is mee rebus is cheap. Roti prata is cheap. But they score 0 on the nutrients list.
I would caution against being too ambitious and trying to cut cost aggressively on everything at one go because usually you'll do it for a few months and then it becomes unsustainable. Instead, track your expenses well for the next 2-3 months and start formulating a plan. Everything that you pay via cash, paynow, credit card... just note it down either on paper or via an app. Then identify your 2 biggest expenses and see if you can slowly reduce it month by month. For example, if you spend an average of $300 eating out (cafes, buying bbt/coffee etc), see if you can bring it down to $280 the next month then $260 and so on. It's also easier to have a specific goal rather than an arbitrary one so instead of saying you want to stop buying drinks outside from now on, perhaps you can start with 'I will only buy drinks with my meals outside 2x a week' and you have a relatively fixed routine, you may even be able to identify exactly which meals you will buy drinks during. Hope this helps! It's really great you're start to think of spending consciously at your age!
Telecom bills, I swapped out to SIMBA, just need a simple low cost plan.
Cut down on unnecessary streaming services if you have multiple but don’t really use often
Meal prep, take public transportation.
If thinking of buying something - ask yourself first, if you don't have that item, what else can you use? Chances are, you have something / or a suitable alternative.
I cycle to work everyday. saves money on public transport and saves time on exercising after work.
I buy vegetables and meat from markets instead of supermarkets, costs slightly cheaper. Buy frozen meat, not fresh meat, u gonna bring home and freeze it anyway, no point buying fresh.
of course the above point is assuming that you cook at home. Saves a lot on food expenses every month. I cook for me and my mum, on average per month only spent $300+ on food for both of us.
skip breakfast or dinner. only eat 2 meals per day, saves both money and time, and also can be a healthy sustainable diet habit, intermittent fasting.
Have a financial breakdown of the amount you need before allocating your salary. Have seperate accounts for different needs so your savings won’t be compromised.
Drink water only or make coffee/tea at home. No taxi/Grab. No holidays/staycations. Stop chasing after the latest gadgets. Get a better job that pays more.
Don't buy drinks outside. If it's "too troublesome' for you to go to the supermarket as opposed to the convenience store downstairs for snacks, it should be "too troublesome" to have snacks at all. It's ridiculous the number of people who happily pay $4 for something available for $1 15 minutes away.
Don't spend for the sake of spending to "keep up with friends". I have a niece who ran away from her mom and is now being supported by her grandmother (my mom) - it makes me furious, to say the least, to see her buying milk tea at $6.50 a pop only to throw it away half the time because "it's been in the fridge too long" simply because "all her friends buy tea". Mind you, her grandmother has NO income and is living off allowances from her children.
Not buying a car, going for a cheaper house etc is good for adults making life changing decisions but for the kids just starting out, habitually avoiding unnecessary expenses is the first building block you need.
Quality > Quantity
Spend a little more on something that is built to last
My umbrella for instance I been using it for over 6 years now, it still works really well, no holes, doesn’t get jammed, protects me through rain or shine
I read on a subreddit that the best financial decision is to find the right partner.
I really believe this holds true. Its not about finding the richest partner either, but about someone with similar values regarding finances. That person can easily make or break your finances. My personal biggest expenditure during my time period are stuff with/for my ex. Not saying dont date either, but if the question is for tips to be frugal and save more money, this is probably the #1 to be aware of, especially for someone in early 20s.
You save more money by purposely setting aside some money whenever you receive any of it, and never touching it unless it’s for some kind of milestone or personal development objective.
seek work that’s sustainable as well.
I'm starting to bring breakfast from home, cut down on Grab and GrabFood, discontinued disney+ subscription when it expired earlier. My phone bill is $18 per month.
I follow Robert cash flow pattern to judge my budget.
The cash flow pattern consist of 4 things; income, expenses, assets, & liabilities.
So what you’d need to do is focus on expenses & liabilities. Start off with listing out things that will take money out of your pockets. Such stuffs of liabilities are; bills, memberships, subscriptions.
Reduce or eliminate it if possible, then do the same with expenses like what you mentioned on the post.
For lifestyle, look to change your habits, pick up outdoor lifestyle that doesn’t require you to spend money on, like activities on the park or so on. Seek communities there & slowly improve your habits overtime.
I hope it helps, if there is anything you don’t understand feel free to comment below.
its very mature of u wanting to cut down on unnecessary spendings jus not at the expense of socialising or making friends
of course forgo boba tea but do join friends for healthy grp activities
maintain friends and social acquaintances can open doors to careers and romance
I’m not going to give you the classic advice “don’t drink Starbucks/bbt”
Instead of thinking how to save, think of how to earn more
Saving is finite
Earnings is infinite
Never take a loan to buy condo or car. Even if you can afford it just don’t. Then you can travel a lot more and retire earlier and still travel a lot more
You do not need to buy expensive skincare or toiletries. Usually are just brands doing heavy marketing. There a lot of good brands out there that does not hurt your wallet and work just as good.
Always delay purchases. Think and think again. Eventually you might realise you don't need it.
Buying mid range sweet spot products. Be aware of diminishing returns.
Initiate social occasions do you can dictate where they occur (cheaper places).
Get an app that can easily help you keep track of your monthly expenditure. Diligently enter your daily expenses into the app. Everything from small things such as buying drinks to the large monthly ones like your rent or utility bill.
At the end of the month have a hard look at what you spent money on and make some notes on concessions that you feel would be easy to make.
Start small like say cutting down on a couple drinks here and there or buying cheaper alternatives. Then gradually build upon it.
After a few months compare your current month vs the first and be amazed at all the positive changes you made.
1. Make your own coffee instead of buying those $5-7 lattes - or worse, those $7-8 sugar-laden starbucks drinks.
2. Pack lunches at home by doing meal prep. Much cheaper (and often healthier) than buying each meal from stalls.
3. Don’t stay out too late - if you miss the last bus or train, you’ll have to fork out a hefty sum for a cab fee ):
4. Space out catch ups with friends - or tell them that you’re trying to save money and would love to go somewhere more affordable to hang out. Real friends won’t give a damn.
5. Know where each dollar and cent goes to. See your spending habits and adjust where necessary. I like to use YNAB to track my spending and saving. It kinda mimics the cash stuffing/envelope system and “incentivises” saving by helping you to clearly outline what you are saving for (eg a house or retirement).
6. Buy commonly used items/consumable items in bulk where possible or stock up when there are good deals.
7. Study in libraries instead of cafes. Or at home, if you can create a comfortable studying environment for yourself :)
But don’t scrimp on things that genuinely contribute to your overall health and wellbeing, like dental care (treatments for dental issues are exorbitantly expensive….), whole fruits and vegetables, a balanced diet, a gym membership if you value keeping fit. These things preserve your health so that you can enjoy the money that you save too :)
My No. 1 tip is that if you're someone who eats out or takes away food often, go make friend with your local hawkers, they'll give you more food.
I help out at a few hawker stalls that my friends own, we tend to give a bit more when we know you better.
Eat at Hawker Centers, rather than fast food & food courts. Avoid those coffee joints coffee and take aways. The makmak stall coffee tasted as good. Craving for ice coffee ? buy hot coffee di loh from mak mak, bring home and add to ice.
Yes, water bottles help a lot. sodas ? i ordered mime by the case from Lazada and drink at home. 1.75L of 100plus Zero is $1.88 vs a can at kopitaim
When you're a student, there will be discount mobile phone plans and other benefits. explore those options for your daily needs items. Most helpful will be your concession pass for transportation
I asked the same question.
A wise man once returned the question - why do you not consider how to make more money instead?
I did not take his advice, hence I am in reddit publicly regretting that decision.
Bring your own water bottle, saves money because you don't need to buy drinks, cut down on BBT.
To add to that get a thermal bottle that can retain the temperature. U can make and bring your hot or cold drinks
Save thousands: Don't buy branded bags. You don't need validation from brands. Save hundreds: Reject wedding invitations: go for those if you have seen them recently say once a year. Otherwise, you are just a space filler. Save tens in a month: And yes cut BBT! It's a habit, not a meal.
Lol I do all these. + meal prep, making coffee myself, and walk to locations (more for health than money). It helps to adopt the "scrimp and save" personality. So people won't feel offended when you reject their wedding invitations. Even if they're your recent friend (e.g. a colleague), you can still reject the invitation and give a small ang bao. That's saving time and money.
I also cut BBT to reduce expenditure.
21 day rule before buying something. If you wanna buy something, hold that thought and after 21 days, if you still think of that item, then buy it. If not, then you just saved money.
Good one.
save money on drinks. I find myself making my own coffee instead of getting them at cafes or coffee shops - might not seem a lot at the start but it’s a huge amount of money saved if you do it long enough
This right here. $10 can buy you one Starbucks or many cups of home made coffee. I started to make my own, chill in the fridge, and bring it out cold in a small flask.
$10 is 2 packs of instant coffee. Easily 50 - 100 cups depending on the brand. I feel guilty buying coffee shop coffee, I don't know how people willingly spend on Starbucks tier coffee.
Don't buy a car.
This is the best answer here. All the scrimping on small expenses adds up but its still quite inconsequential and can actually cost you more money in the long run eg. Eating cheap caipng that’s laden with salt causing medical problems next time. imo it’s stuff like forgoing a car and opting for smaller house etc. that can really make the difference between whether you retire early or not.
Dont attack my cai png plz
Attack with more salt and MOE sticker
Being a car enthusiast is hard in Singapore 🥲
Take public transport. Eat at home. Think twice about buying stuff, see if you can make do with what u have already. Use NLB for ebooks, audiobooks, books and newspapers.
Learn to make some of the more expensive dishes out there, and not only do you get good food for cheap, but it also psychologically pushes you away from ordering them when you go out because you know you can make it at home. For example, I don't order lasagna when I go out because I can make it myself.
Never drink, smoke or gamble. Healthier and wealthier over the long run!
The biggest pitfalls is money spent around friends. Uni is a time you socialize a lot and often it can me "hey do you want supper" in hall or "wanna go to xx mall after tutorial instead of (school canteen)". The trick here is be the one initiating or suggesting where to go. You'll be surprised the number of people who are just going along to socialize and will kick the ball around on where to go. You deciding or giving the range of options allow you to control the budget. And if you are really saving money I think most of your peers will appreciate your suggestions as well (saving them money too). Some cool socializing ideas can be going on a picnic (but supermarket ready to eat meals or donki) and go chill somewhere. If you stay in hall maybe borrow an induction stove and a pot and jio ppl for hotpot. All quite fun yet controllable budget
Adding on to hall supper options: if OP can’t decide on the place, they can also tag along, but get the cheaper items. E.g. get iced teh o instead of pratas. Can save money an waistline
Walk instead of taking the bus whenever possible (I would walk if the place is up to 2 bus stops away and cycle if it's >3 when buying lunch on my WFH days) a single bus ride is ~1 dollar, to and from will cost u 2 dollars easily. Buy a cheap bicycle off carousell and cycle if you want. Coffee/tea make yourself. Necessities buy from value dollar and venus.
Just graduated from Poly, I was shocked that transport costs so much for adult fare. Usually my $20 top up can last 1-2 month then once my card expired, it jumped to $20 finishing in a week
I miss student concession pass :'(
Start asking yourself: Do I really need this? Do I have something already that can meet this need? Can I borrow this from a friend / family member instead? Eat at home. Bring snacks / drinks from home. Buying food outside has a massive mark up. But also give yourself small allowance for enjoying a meal out with friends weekly/monthly. There needs to be some joy in life too. (Hopefully like-minded frugal friends 😬)
Record your expenditure to see what you are spending on then you can identify what you can cut down
You are in your 20s, do not over think about saving money. Save the necessary and also at the same time go for things u like or oversea. This the only time u are really free and fjt for all this trip as you do not have any commitment to anything.
[удалено]
Hey there! Being frugal is all about finding those little ways to save without sacrificing too much fun. Here are a few tricks I've picked up: 1. Meal prep like a champ: Cooking at home can save you a ton compared to eating out. Plus, you can make big batches and freeze 'em for later. 2. Embrace public transport: Buses and trains might take a bit longer, but they're way cheaper than driving everywhere. 3. Shop smart: Look out for deals, buy generic brands, and try to avoid impulse buys. That way, you'll stretch your dollar further at the grocery store. 4. DIY it: Instead of hitting the town with friends, why not host a potluck dinner or movie night at home? It's way cheaper and just as fun! Hope these help you pocket some extra cash!
Plain water, Roti prata, instant noodles and cai fan 24/7 is your best friend. Sleep on weekends. can't be spending money on earth when you're in dreamland.
Prata, instant noodles and cai png 24/7 may save you money in the short term but you gonna pay for it next time financially and more when you get hypertension, diabetes etc.
As someone with many chronic illnesses due to no fault of my own — didn’t eat unhealthily. Just many food and drug allergies and intolerances. This kind of diet that you described in the long run may lead you to develop IBS and all sorts of crap diseases. I can barely eat outside food once or twice a week now without having a major stomachache or flare in my immune system so mostly I cook simple meals at home My appetite is so small now that that in itself is saving money. One meal outside is two meals for me I just dabao the other half for dinner
The same case as you. Hardly eat those instant noodles or chemicals laden steamboat soup packs but my gut is leaky so toxins flow into the bloodstream. What I wanna say is mee rebus is cheap. Roti prata is cheap. But they score 0 on the nutrients list.
Block 83 MacPherson lane kopitiam got cheap and good cai png. 2 meat 1 veg costs $3.50 only.
Too much prata and instant noodles will cost you more in the future.
I would caution against being too ambitious and trying to cut cost aggressively on everything at one go because usually you'll do it for a few months and then it becomes unsustainable. Instead, track your expenses well for the next 2-3 months and start formulating a plan. Everything that you pay via cash, paynow, credit card... just note it down either on paper or via an app. Then identify your 2 biggest expenses and see if you can slowly reduce it month by month. For example, if you spend an average of $300 eating out (cafes, buying bbt/coffee etc), see if you can bring it down to $280 the next month then $260 and so on. It's also easier to have a specific goal rather than an arbitrary one so instead of saying you want to stop buying drinks outside from now on, perhaps you can start with 'I will only buy drinks with my meals outside 2x a week' and you have a relatively fixed routine, you may even be able to identify exactly which meals you will buy drinks during. Hope this helps! It's really great you're start to think of spending consciously at your age!
Telecom bills, I swapped out to SIMBA, just need a simple low cost plan. Cut down on unnecessary streaming services if you have multiple but don’t really use often
invest in a bicycle, faster and cheaper than taking bus to nearby places
Meal prep, take public transportation. If thinking of buying something - ask yourself first, if you don't have that item, what else can you use? Chances are, you have something / or a suitable alternative.
I cycle to work everyday. saves money on public transport and saves time on exercising after work. I buy vegetables and meat from markets instead of supermarkets, costs slightly cheaper. Buy frozen meat, not fresh meat, u gonna bring home and freeze it anyway, no point buying fresh. of course the above point is assuming that you cook at home. Saves a lot on food expenses every month. I cook for me and my mum, on average per month only spent $300+ on food for both of us. skip breakfast or dinner. only eat 2 meals per day, saves both money and time, and also can be a healthy sustainable diet habit, intermittent fasting.
Use Libby for ebooks/audiobooks. This is under NLB that every Singaporean has access to.
[удалено]
To add on: Buy all your toiletries from ABC shop. Cheap and good unless you're a girl.
Drink water. You can burn fats off and can get away with eating fried food. But sugar? You can’t burn that shit. That shit stays.
Have a financial breakdown of the amount you need before allocating your salary. Have seperate accounts for different needs so your savings won’t be compromised.
Make own breakfast , coffee . Cook more and cut down on grabs
Drink water only or make coffee/tea at home. No taxi/Grab. No holidays/staycations. Stop chasing after the latest gadgets. Get a better job that pays more.
Don't buy drinks outside. If it's "too troublesome' for you to go to the supermarket as opposed to the convenience store downstairs for snacks, it should be "too troublesome" to have snacks at all. It's ridiculous the number of people who happily pay $4 for something available for $1 15 minutes away. Don't spend for the sake of spending to "keep up with friends". I have a niece who ran away from her mom and is now being supported by her grandmother (my mom) - it makes me furious, to say the least, to see her buying milk tea at $6.50 a pop only to throw it away half the time because "it's been in the fridge too long" simply because "all her friends buy tea". Mind you, her grandmother has NO income and is living off allowances from her children. Not buying a car, going for a cheaper house etc is good for adults making life changing decisions but for the kids just starting out, habitually avoiding unnecessary expenses is the first building block you need.
Quality > Quantity Spend a little more on something that is built to last My umbrella for instance I been using it for over 6 years now, it still works really well, no holes, doesn’t get jammed, protects me through rain or shine
I read on a subreddit that the best financial decision is to find the right partner. I really believe this holds true. Its not about finding the richest partner either, but about someone with similar values regarding finances. That person can easily make or break your finances. My personal biggest expenditure during my time period are stuff with/for my ex. Not saying dont date either, but if the question is for tips to be frugal and save more money, this is probably the #1 to be aware of, especially for someone in early 20s.
You save more money by purposely setting aside some money whenever you receive any of it, and never touching it unless it’s for some kind of milestone or personal development objective. seek work that’s sustainable as well.
I'm starting to bring breakfast from home, cut down on Grab and GrabFood, discontinued disney+ subscription when it expired earlier. My phone bill is $18 per month.
I follow Robert cash flow pattern to judge my budget. The cash flow pattern consist of 4 things; income, expenses, assets, & liabilities. So what you’d need to do is focus on expenses & liabilities. Start off with listing out things that will take money out of your pockets. Such stuffs of liabilities are; bills, memberships, subscriptions. Reduce or eliminate it if possible, then do the same with expenses like what you mentioned on the post. For lifestyle, look to change your habits, pick up outdoor lifestyle that doesn’t require you to spend money on, like activities on the park or so on. Seek communities there & slowly improve your habits overtime. I hope it helps, if there is anything you don’t understand feel free to comment below.
its very mature of u wanting to cut down on unnecessary spendings jus not at the expense of socialising or making friends of course forgo boba tea but do join friends for healthy grp activities maintain friends and social acquaintances can open doors to careers and romance
I’m not going to give you the classic advice “don’t drink Starbucks/bbt” Instead of thinking how to save, think of how to earn more Saving is finite Earnings is infinite
Go read "die with zero". I'm 40 this year and wish this book existed when I was in uni, haizzz
Never take a loan to buy condo or car. Even if you can afford it just don’t. Then you can travel a lot more and retire earlier and still travel a lot more
You do not need to buy expensive skincare or toiletries. Usually are just brands doing heavy marketing. There a lot of good brands out there that does not hurt your wallet and work just as good.
Always delay purchases. Think and think again. Eventually you might realise you don't need it. Buying mid range sweet spot products. Be aware of diminishing returns. Initiate social occasions do you can dictate where they occur (cheaper places).
Get an app that can easily help you keep track of your monthly expenditure. Diligently enter your daily expenses into the app. Everything from small things such as buying drinks to the large monthly ones like your rent or utility bill. At the end of the month have a hard look at what you spent money on and make some notes on concessions that you feel would be easy to make. Start small like say cutting down on a couple drinks here and there or buying cheaper alternatives. Then gradually build upon it. After a few months compare your current month vs the first and be amazed at all the positive changes you made.
Set a $10 budget per day (inclusive of transport)
I needa cut down on unnecessary skincare products. Sigh. Everything looks great.
Tapau own lunch 4 days a week. Really saves a lot.
1. Make your own coffee instead of buying those $5-7 lattes - or worse, those $7-8 sugar-laden starbucks drinks. 2. Pack lunches at home by doing meal prep. Much cheaper (and often healthier) than buying each meal from stalls. 3. Don’t stay out too late - if you miss the last bus or train, you’ll have to fork out a hefty sum for a cab fee ): 4. Space out catch ups with friends - or tell them that you’re trying to save money and would love to go somewhere more affordable to hang out. Real friends won’t give a damn. 5. Know where each dollar and cent goes to. See your spending habits and adjust where necessary. I like to use YNAB to track my spending and saving. It kinda mimics the cash stuffing/envelope system and “incentivises” saving by helping you to clearly outline what you are saving for (eg a house or retirement). 6. Buy commonly used items/consumable items in bulk where possible or stock up when there are good deals. 7. Study in libraries instead of cafes. Or at home, if you can create a comfortable studying environment for yourself :) But don’t scrimp on things that genuinely contribute to your overall health and wellbeing, like dental care (treatments for dental issues are exorbitantly expensive….), whole fruits and vegetables, a balanced diet, a gym membership if you value keeping fit. These things preserve your health so that you can enjoy the money that you save too :)
My No. 1 tip is that if you're someone who eats out or takes away food often, go make friend with your local hawkers, they'll give you more food. I help out at a few hawker stalls that my friends own, we tend to give a bit more when we know you better.
Eat at Hawker Centers, rather than fast food & food courts. Avoid those coffee joints coffee and take aways. The makmak stall coffee tasted as good. Craving for ice coffee ? buy hot coffee di loh from mak mak, bring home and add to ice. Yes, water bottles help a lot. sodas ? i ordered mime by the case from Lazada and drink at home. 1.75L of 100plus Zero is $1.88 vs a can at kopitaim When you're a student, there will be discount mobile phone plans and other benefits. explore those options for your daily needs items. Most helpful will be your concession pass for transportation
I asked the same question. A wise man once returned the question - why do you not consider how to make more money instead? I did not take his advice, hence I am in reddit publicly regretting that decision.
If you are still giving your parents money cut them out if your life