Deals and hacks before 2019
You know the end-of-year drill: gift shopping, parties, house cleaning, and celebrating the start of something new. It doesn’t take a mathematician to know just how much you’d be spending, so you could definitely use all the money-saving deals, promos, and discounts you can get.
Here’s a reminder of all the things that are expiring by 31 Dec 2018 so you don’t end off the year with regrets.
1. Grab Points
Chances are you’ve been accumulating Grab points so that you can level up your Grab membership to Platinum. All the Grab points you’ve earned over the first half of the year (1 Jan to 30 Jun 2018) officially expires on 31 Dec. This means that you have about a week to redeem a $5 off Grab voucher for 2000 points, or some shopping or dining vouchers, just in time for New Year’s celebrations.
Image credit: Grab
2. Apple phone battery replacement
Till 31 Dec, the cost of replacing your out-of-warranty Apple phone battery will remain at $38* for all iPhone 6 or later models. After 31 Dec, the fee will change to $69 for the aforementioned models, except the iPhone X which will be priced at $99 instead.
*Limited to one repair per phone.
Image credit: @appledesignhub
3. IKEA vouchers
Image credit: IKEA
If you’re registered under the IKEA Family rewards programme, you earn 1 point for every $1 spent using your IKEA Family ID card. You can use the points you’ve accumulated in 2017 to stock up on some household supplies or binge-eat some meatballs at the IKEA restaurants before they expire on 31 Dec 2018.
4. MUJI Dollars (MUJI$)
MUJI dollars accumulated over the year 2017 will be valid till 31st Dec 2018 – so be sure to head down to MUJI for membership bucks! Every $20 spent at MUJI’s outlets or cafe will entitle you to get a rebate of $0.50 in MUJI dollars*. You can use the MUJI dollars to redeem discounts for any future purchases.
Image credit: @mujisg
*1 MUJI dollar = 1 SGD
Image credit: MUJI
5. DBS points
As part of DBS Rewards Programme, cardholders get to accumulate DBS points every time you make a transaction with your card. Points accumulated from 1 Oct 2017 to 31 Dec 2017 will expire by 31 Dec 2018.
Use your DBS points to redeem Krisflyer miles
Image credit: @aviation_sg
You can redeem shopping and dining vouchers, including Takashimaya vouchers and ESSO fuel vouchers with your points.
6. ActiveSG points
Image credit: Active SG
If you’ve eaten one too many turkeys and log cakes during the festive season, perhaps a trip to the gym is due. Take up a pilates class, or learn some basic krav maga with your free $100 ActiveSG dollars before they officially expire on 31 Dec.
7. Samsung Galaxy S9 promo
Image credit: @samsung.world_
If you’re in need of a new phone, you may want to check out this Samsung Galaxy S9 promo. Up till 31 December 2018, all consumers who plan to purchase a Galaxy S9 or S9+ will get a complimentary Wireless Charger Pad worth $38, a 10,000mAh Battery Pack worth $38 and $100 off the model’s original retail price.
8. Lower ERP rates on all roads
From 17 Nov 2018, ERP rates have been lowered by $1 across all the gantries around Singapore, with some roads free of any ERP charges. The rates will return back to their original rates from 1 Jan onwards.
Here’s a chart of the ERP rates for some major highways:
Check LTA’s site for more information on the ERP charges for all roads.
9. NS50 vouchers
Look out for these signs wherever you go to max out the vouchers
Image credit: @ajdelightssg
You’ve worked hard for 2 years of National Service and subsequent years of reservice to be rewarded with $100 worth of NS50 vouchers. If you’ve left your vouchers to collect dust, now’s the time to take them out and use them before 31 Dec hits you with a dose of ‘too late’.
Check here for the full list of participating merchants.
EOY PSA: Public smoking on Orchard Road
No more unsolicited second-hand smoking in Orchard after 31 Dec. From 1 Jan, public areas within Orchard Road will be designated as a No Smoking Zone with smoking only allowed at designated smoking areas dotted along the road.
Map of Orchard, designated smoking areas marked in green triangles
Image credit: NEA
Image credit: NEA
Under the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act, anyone caught smoking outside the designated smoking areas will have to cough up a fine of up to $1000.
Don’t miss out on these deals ending in 2018
You definitely don’t want to end the year off with unused vouchers laid to waste. Before the year ends, take your family out for a celebratory feast with your NS50 vouchers, buy a new lamp from IKEA for the upcoming year, or get a headstart for your new year’s resolution to get fit using your ActiveSG dollars. 2019, here we come!
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