6 Pay-As-You-Wish Places In Singapore That Will Make You Ask “Really Meh?”

You decide a price worth paying

Source: @faridahasna

I don’t mind paying more for quality, but occasionally, I come across a $9 cake that tastes like it’s worth just $2. And its times like that, I wish I could just decide on my own prices. If you’ve found yourself in similar situations far too often, you’ll love the pay-as-you-wish concept. This new radical concept allows customers to pay what they can afford, or what they think their purchases are worth.

My first reaction upon learning of this was to scoff, “Please, this will never work in Singapore!” After all, the stereotype of cheapo aunties didn’t stem from nothing – surely there’d be opportunistic folks gleefully sipping cups of coffee before quietly slipping 10 cents, causing businesses to fold eventually.

I was wrong, though. The existence of these strong-surviving pay-as-you-wish places is a testament that Singaporeans aren’t as cheapskate as perceived.

1. Get flexible with Yoganonamé at Anahata Yoga Studio

Source: @yoganoname

Stretch out those stiff limbs at Anahata Yoga Studio’s pay-as-you-wish Yoganonamé sessions, and do good while you’re at it too – the proceeds from each class are gathered every 6 months, matched by the studio, and donated to a charity voted on by participants.

Their social contributions don’t stop there. Anahata Yoga Studio also occasionally organises volunteer activities like visiting old folks’ homes, taking orphans out for a day of fun, and bringing daily necessities to those in need. Join them in giving joy to the community, and rack up your karma points!

Mats and towels are provided, and there are shower and locker facilities at the studio. Two back-to-back 50-minute sessions are held each week – feel free to attend both if your stamina permits!

Check out their Facebook page for updates on the next Yoganonamé session.

Anahata Yoga Studio
Address:  86A Arab Street, Singapore 199782
Yoganonamé class timings: Sundays, 10am – 10.50am, 11.10am – 12pm

2. Indulge in an Indian buffet at Annalakshmi Janatha

Source: @faridahasna

Not only do you get to pay as you wish at this vegetarian restaurant, you get to eat as much as your tummy desires with their North and South Indian buffet spread. Choosing to trust in the goodwill of humans, Annalakshmi Janatha’s slogan reads, “Eat what you want, give what you feel, we believe in you, we trust you”, which I find very heartwarming in light of all the cynicism in the world these days.

Since opening in 1986, all their dishes have been lovingly prepared by volunteers. Additional hands are always welcome, so don’t hesitate to contact them if you’d like to pay it forward after getting your fill.

Note: Only open for lunch

Annalakshmi Janatha
Address: 20 Havelock Road, Central Square #01-04, Singapore 059765
Opening hours: Mon – Sat, 11am – 3pm
Website 

3. Join Pay What You Wish Yoga in the outdoors by Yoga Seeds

Source: @pwywyogasg

Yoga has become increasingly popular, but not everyone is fortunate enough to enroll in classes. In an effort to foster community spirit in Singaporeans and make yoga more accessible, Yoga Seeds founder Wendy Chan started her Pay What You Wish Yoga initiative, which is held every Sunday.

Unlike usual Yoga Seeds studio sessions which have class sizes of less than 10, PWYW Yoga is held in the great outdoors, in various public spaces like beaches and parks to accommodate more participants.

The sessions are conducted by Wendy’s junior instructors and also serve as a means of helping them gain experience and confidence in teaching.

Pay What You Wish Yoga by Yoga Seeds
PWYW Class Timings: Sundays, 3pm-4pm
PWYW class venue varies. Check out their Facebook page for location updates.

Note: Remember to bring your own yoga mat!

4. Have an old-school movie night at The Projector

Source: @janiceymkoh

You’re not a true hipster if you haven’t watched a film at The Projector. What used to be the foyer and two cinema halls of the old Golden Theatre circa 1973 have now been revamped, old-school charm intact.Those who are sick of the conventional selection at the average local cinema can satiate their thirst for non-mainstream movies here – indie, arthouse, local flicks, you name it.

Source: @walter_en

It may not be Netflix, but it certainly is chill – if you’re not one for sitting still in a chair, recline comfortably on the floor on one of their cushy beanbags. Now that’s what I call, shiok.

Ticket prices are similar to that of typical cinemas’, but they do hold occasional pay-as-you-wish screenings. Look out for updates on their Facebook page!

The Projector
Address: 6001 Beach Road, #05-00, Golden Mile Tower, 199589
Opening Hours: Tue-Fri: 6:30 pm – 11:30 pm | Sat-Sun: 1:00 pm – 11:30 pm
Website

5. Get creative at a Liberty Art Jam session by Artify Studio

Source: @artifystudio

I love getting arty, but calling it a hobby would mean frequent trips to Spotlight and Art Friend, i.e. burning a hole in my pocket on the regular. Recognising that many Singaporeans face that problem, Artify Studio is the first in the country to offer pay-as-you-wish art jamming sessions, so that everyone can share in the joy of painting.

Just bring yourself and a small fee. The studio provides patrons with canvases, art tools, an unlimited supply of paints, and even a spread of snacks if you need some nosh to fuel your inspiration. Our klutz friends need not worry about walking out a human palette, as there are shower facilities to clean up before your dinner appointment.

Source: @artifystudio

For contributions of $35 and above, Artify Studio will put aside a small portion into their Kindness Pot to support various social causes. They’re currently in partnership with Majulah Belanja, an initiative to understand and celebrate migrant workers through food.

Artify Studio
Address: 200 Jalan Sultan, #09-03 Textile Centre, Singapore 199018
Liberty Art Jam sessions:  Tue – Fri: 7pm – 9.30pm, Sat: 4.30pm – 7pm, Sun: 12.30pm – 3pm, 3.30pm – 6pm

6. Enjoy muffins at Drury Lane Cafe

Source: @kovinyoong

Drury Lane Cafe is a little joint along Tanjong Pagar serving all-day breakfast and specialty coffee made from premium blends. If you’re looking for a light snack to go with your cuppa joe, have one of their freshly baked muffins, which – you guessed it – don’t come with a fixed price tag. These aren’t your basic vanilla muffins either. You get to pick from four flavours: Peanut Butter, Matcha, Nutella Smores, and Kaya.

Drury Lane 
Address: 94 Tanjong Pagar Rd, Singapore 088515
Opening hours:  Mon – Tue: 8am – 6pm, Wed – Fri: 8am – 10pm, Weekends and Public Holidays: 9am – 6pm

Paying as you please

It’s a liberating feeling getting to pick your own prices, and everyone likes cheap stuff. But if you’re not hard-up for cash, try to pay a reasonable amount, especially if you’ve had a good experience. Remember that many of these business owners have implemented pay-as-you-wish systems out of goodwill, and still have costs to cover to keep their ventures running. Some are even donating all proceeds to a good cause, so give what you can!