Inflation Busters

Inflation Busters 101. Inflation stands at 6.5percent,your $100 is now worth only $ 93.50.

A plan that will help you save money, beat inflation and still enjoy life.

Movies at $ 6.50 no booking (Save $ 3 per movie for a couple date)
Get the GV card, for free. Movies on tuesdays are good at member price $ 6.50. Head to GV Tiong Bahru - near town, near your office and no need for booking. Sure got seats!
Thats a $ 24 savings if you watch movies twice a week.

If Tuesdays are not your free days, go for Safra cards that give you $ 8 for a Weekend movie at any GV. All NS man are entitled to apply for membership card, which costs $ 101 for 3 years - work out to S$ 2.80 per month. Your breakeven point - watch at least 1 movie a month (2pax).

Drive Smart - Be a fuel efficient driver
If you drive, there are a hundred and one ways to be fuel-smart. You could save on usage just by following these:
- Ensure sufficient tyre pressure
- Remove unnecessary weight (bags, books, containers etc)
- Be gentle on your accelerator and take highways whenever possible.
- Minimise waiting in car, natural air smells better ya.
- Car Pool esp during lunch time. Save petrol, builds relationships!
- More info on http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/page.cfm?tagID=268

Credit Card Points
Dont thrash the bill after reading, check the points. Redeem movie tickets, shopping vouchers, grocery vouchers. NTUC Linkpoint card are your best bet - points accumulated can be exchanged for vouchers and offset your purchases. That essentially knocks off a few percentage off your bill.

Dining Out
Plan your outings with Credit Card Leaflets in your hand. Know which restaurant allows you to enjoy 10%-15% discounts off your meals. Generally DBS, HSBC & Citibank cards have good discounts at most restaurants. Check : http://www.streetdirectory.com/restaurants/singapore/reviews/dbs/

Shopping for Shoes
I used to pay Charles and Keith $ 25 -35 for a pair of shoes. Mondo, Vincci are some of the other brands within my shoe rack. My mentality : cheaper shoes, but larger quantity to match 100 different clothes and 100 different colours.

Then I realise on average these shoes breakdown once every 3/4 year. Either the strap break, the rubber soles come off, which will need Mr Cobbler to put it back at $4 (comes off again 6mths down the road) or the glue thins off and its time to buy a new pair.

A pair of shoes from CK Tangs, nice but priced at $ 60 over, can last me for 2-3 years at least. Thats a $ 30 savings per pair, and they look nicer.

If you go to Tangs at the right time, you can buy $ 60 shoes at half the price!

Plan your pub visit before 9pm
Most pubs have a Happy Hour serving before 8.30pm or 9pm. Do a straight after dinner drinks, to enjoy your one for one or a special price for your Magaritas or Kilkenny. Order your last drink at 9pm, leave the pub at 10pm and go for a 11 or 11.30pm show. After show, take the Night Rider back or find a GV near your home to minimise cab fares.

Botak Jones or Lawry's
If you aint chasing the babe and couplehood has settled into that "I dont need to impress mode" hey Botak Jones can serve pretty good steak at a much cheaper price. Its still steak, the ambience may not be as special, but if you are lucky you may be served by bubbly pretty babes/ hunky dudes. Dig into the fries, they are nicer than Mcdonald's!

Good planning, owning the right card, driving the right way - 3 simple rules make great inflation busters.

Anything other buster methods?

Realise pre-inflation days, people will call this post "cheapo". Now a new phrase is here to stay "inflation busters"

~6th Sense