There are several common lunch conversations we usually have – sharing about recent weekend plans, raving about upcoming concerts, and lamenting about the new GST increase. Yes, here’s a reminder of the painful 9% GST we’re now subjected to.
To bring some light to our bank accounts, we’ve rounded up a list of things and activities in Singapore that cost under $5. There are Wild Wild Wet alternatives, Pandora bracelet dupes, and affordable but chio home decor. Scroll on for the full list:
| Product/Activity | Cost |
| HaiDiLao cup rice | $1.50 |
| Pandora bracelet dupe | $1.80 |
| IKEA glass vase | $4 |
| Mould remover | $4.90 |
| Makeup colour corrector | $2.18 |
| Lazy river experience | $2 |
| Ferry ride to Pulau Ubin | $4 |
| ActiveSG Gym entry | $2.50 |
| pandapro subscription | $1 |
HaiDiLao might not be an everyday kind of meal, but that’s not going to stop us from loving the brand. They’ve launched their HaiDiLao cup rice (from $1.50), and you can get them from Bites by Scarlett. It’s essentially instant cup noodles but in rice form, and you can choose from various flavours such as claypot, shallot oil, and braised meat.
You might not expect to find Pandora bracelet dupes at Mr DIY, but we’re here to tell you that you can. These bracelets go from $1.80, and there are a multitude of colours and charms to choose from. Granted, these sets are already pre-chosen for you, but for that price, who’s complaining?
Image credit: IKEA
Decorating your home doesn’t always mean getting coffee tables from Casamilano or chandeliers from Lindsey Adelman. You can get affordable options from IKEA too, such as the KONSTFULL brown patterned vase that’s on sale for $2.90 (U.P. $4), the TÅRBJÖRK vase ($2.90, U.P. $5), and DAKSJUS vase set ($12/3 vases).
You might’ve seen your mom use this Japanese mould remover at home – and that’s because it’s highly-rated by users. Most people would usually purchase this cleaning product from Daiso, but Don Don Donki actually sells it at $4.90 for the giant 500ml bottle. You can also get the refill for $4.40/600ml.
The brand also has eyeshadow palettes and eyeliners.
Image credit: @may_runa_69 via Instagram
Makeup girlies, great news: you can get the viral Japanese makeup brand coou at Daiso. Majority of the items cost less than $5, including the makeup colour corrector ($2.18) which you can use under your concealer. Throw in the brush cleaner ($2.18) and your total cost remains under 5 buckeroos.
Image credit: Singapore Sports Hub
The insane heat these days has got us blasting the AC and taking cold showers. If you’re looking for a good soak, check out the Lazy River at Kallang Wave Mall. An affordable alternative to Wild Wild Wet, this chill ride is kid-friendly too as it’s only 1m deep. It’s located in the Splash-N-Surf waterpark where entry is free, and the Lazy River ride costs $2/pax.
Tickets: $2/pax
Address: 1 Stadium Place, Kallang Wave Mall, Level 3, Splash-N-Surf, Singapore 397629
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 9am-8pm (Closed on Tuesdays)
There are some days when we yearn to escape from the craziness of the city. Take the train to Changi Point Ferry Terminal, and hop on a $4 ferry ride to Pulau Ubin for a quick weekend getaway. It’s a quick 15-minute boat ride over and there are plenty of things to do in Pulau Ubin, including visiting the last surviving Malay kampong, Kampong Sungei Durian.
Image credit: ActiveSG Circle
Some gym entries can be pricey, especially for those who aren’t regular gym goers. If you don’t intend to commit to a hefty gym membership, ActiveSG Gyms offer per entry prices at $2.50/pax. There are many, many outlets around Singapore, so you can easily pick a convenient location that’s close to your home or office.
This one’s for all you couch potatoes. foodpanda allows you to order your meals and groceries, without having to leave the house. We’re talking unlimited free delivery on selected restaurants such as Jollibee, KOI Thé, and Jinjja Chicken. If your preferred restaurant doesn’t fall under the list, fret not as there is unlimited $3 off delivery on all restaurants.
You can also stack the 10% discount on pick-ups, and look out for other monthly deals on restaurants, pandamart, foodpanda shops, and pandago.This convenience doesn’t come at a high cost; the <PANDAPRO> promo code lets you have a month’s worth of pandapro subscription for just a dollar (U.P. $5.99/month)*.
*Available for a limited time only.
All hope is not lost; we can still survive with a green dollar note in Singapore. Aside from the activities and things listed above, foodpanda has also launched a slew of discounts for all pandapro subscribers to enjoy.
If you’re a Yew Tee resident, here’s some jolly news for you: foodpanda is distributing free 1-month pandapro subscriptions in August to 53,000 households in the area. Look out for door hangers or flyers in your letterbox – there’ll be a special code on it which you can use to activate your subscription.
They are currently hosting a giveaway from now till 31st August on foodpanda’s Instagram too. Prizes include a Nintendo Console OLED Switch, Sennheiser Ambeo Mini Soundbar and a Pau-Pau Mahjong set for the winner, and free pandapro subscriptions for their entire block. Simply leave a comment on the video about your neighbourhood and the most-liked comment will win.
The rising cost of living might dampen your spirit, but there are still things and activities you can do in Singapore that cost under $5 – you just need to look around and uncover these gems. Oh, and keep up with our monthly lobang articles so you don’t miss out on promotions such as the pandapro one.
This post was brought to you by foodpanda.
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