Lifestyle | Personal Finance | Article

Creative Ways You Can Save Without Changing Your Lifestyle

by The Simple Sum | 10 Sep 2024

This article was brought to you by HSBC.

Who can relate to the infinite adulthood struggle of juggling work, social life, and a bit of me-time?

We hazard a guess that pretty much every working adult in Singapore has a lot on their plate so the idea of looking at a budgeting spreadsheet or cutting back on your beloved bubble tea in light of these more important life duties might make you roll your eyes.

But there are ways to save money without it being a pain or giving up your favourite things. Here are four examples:

Use cashback cards or apps

If you’re spending with cold hard cash, you’re really missing out on some sweet savings on your everyday purchases.

Cashback cards and cashback apps give you money back when you spend, so why not take advantage of them to save a couple of extra dollars here or there?

You might think that the savings don’t amount to much, but those savings can accumulate quickly, and you can practically get your next bubble tea or a meal for free!

It’s like getting a little bonus every time you spend on something you need or want.

Go eco-friendly

Save on your utilities by switching to energy-efficient appliances. They use less electricity (good for the environment) while slashing your energy bill (good for your wallet).

You can also adopt other simple energy-saving habits like turning off your lights when you leave the room and unplugging your appliances when not in use.

And even though we must deal with the sweltering heat, opening your windows and using a fan instead of air conditioning can greatly lower your electricity cost.

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Embracing Flexible Work Arrangements

Go bargain hunting

Got your eye on something to buy already? Before you whip out your wallet, compare the prices on other sites before buying your item. Check if there are discounts and promotions to get a better deal.

When dining out, look for promotions like lunch deals or discount offers for specific credit card members. For instance, with the HSBC Live+ Dining Programme, you get a direct discount of 15% when you dine at selected restaurants, plus earn up to 8% cashback* on HSBC Live+ Credit Card. Talk about stacking discounts!

Whether you’re planning a night out at the movies or shopping for a cute date night dress, a quick search for deals such as discount on single tickets or save with HSBC Movie Cards at Golden Village multiplexes, or shop via Shopback can save you more money on top of up to 8% cashback* you earn on HSBC Live+ Credit Card.

Get freebies when applying for cards

Here’s a hot tip for those looking to sign up for a new credit card: take advantage of the sign-up promotions and bonuses.

Many credit cards in Singapore offer amazing sign-up deals that can include freebies, cash bonuses, and more.

Some cards even throw in a chance to win big prizes like cars or flight tickets to exotic destinations. Imagine scoring a free trip to Europe just for signing up for a new card and hitting the minimum spend!

So, do your homework, research the best promotions, and get the most bang for your buck.

Save smartly while living well

Saving money doesn’t have to mean giving up your lifestyle.

With a few smart choices and a little bit of planning, you can enjoy your favourite activities while keeping your finances in check. Try these tips and see how much you can save without feeling the pinch.

Content sponsored by HSBC

Ready to start saving and maybe even win big?

Sign up for the HSBC Live+ Credit Card to earn up to a whopping of up to 8% cashback* while you spend. From now till 30 September 2024, receive up to S$300 cashback^ or Samsonite luggage and S$100 cashback^ when you apply.

Not only that, but you also stand up to 20 chances to win an all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQB or a round-trip Economy class ticket to Paris#. Imagine cruising around in style or jetting off to the City of Lights, all while earning cashback on your everyday expenses. Lucky draw ends on 23 September 2024. Visit HSBC Live Your Adventure to find out more.

Don’t miss out—sign up now and make your money work harder for you!

*Get up to 8% cashback as follows: (a) 5% cashback will be awarded to eligible cardholders on eligible purchases made with dining, shopping and entertainment and / or petrol merchants; and (b) an additional 3% cashback will be awarded to eligible cardholders on eligible purchases made with dining, shopping and / or entertainment merchants from 21 June 2024 to 31 December 2024. This is subject to meeting the minimum spend of SGD600 in eligible purchases per month, for all 3 months in any calendar quarter. For all other eligible purchases or if the minimum spend of SGD600 is not met, a flat 0.3% cashback will be awarded to all eligible purchases. The total cashback amount is capped at SGD250 per calendar quarter. Other terms and conditions apply. Visit www.hsbc.com.sg/liveplus for more details.

#Prize is awarded in the form of 86,000 KrisFlyer miles to the winner’s Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer membership account. Prize excludes any applicable taxes, charges and fees. Based on Singapore Airlines saver redemption rates, information is accurate as of 24 June 2024.

^To qualify for the gift, you must meet the spend requirement of SGD500 within the qualifying spend period and fulfill the conditions set out for the offer. You must also agree to receive marketing updates and promotional materials from HSBC at the time of submitting your card application and must not cancel this agreement before receiving the gift. For details on the terms used here and more information on this promotion (such as eligibility, qualifying transactions, qualifying spending period and exclusions), refer to the terms and conditions.