The pandemic could be the best time to pick up thrifty spending habits

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These days, weekend nights out usually end off with the struggle of having nothing to do but head home. The karaoke joints are closed for business, whilst bars are imposed with the 10.30pm say-goodbye-to-your-alcohol-ban. Moreover, we mostly tend to prefer staying in when working from home (WFH), which means fewer opportunities for that frivolous Starbucks or bubble tea purchase.

The pandemic might be putting a damper on our usual spending-shenanigans, but our bank accounts are probably thriving. Fine, we might be trying to fight the stress of social isolation with online shopping and takeout, but we are most likely spending less on entertainment activities, dining out, transport.

If cutting down on Grab rides and other money-saving goals are on your to-do list, now could be the best time to learn how to be a thriftier spender.

No more excuses for unnecessary cab rides

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When you’re working from home (WFH), you can revel in the luxury of having no place to be at. This means none of that mad morning rush when you’re running late, which leads to having no choice but to book a Grab ride to the office. And even if you do have a face-to-face meeting of some sort later during the day, you should be able to have enough travel time allocated for catching the train or bus.

Be it for work or personal commitments, if you are someone who struggles with punctuality, this period of working remotely is a good opportunity to practice time management. It’s a win-win situation: Not only will you get to your future appointments on time, but you can also save money on unnecessary cab bookings.

Having meals at home are more often now

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Working remotely usually means that by the end of the day, you’re too comfortable in your pyjamas to make any dinner plans that require putting on actual clothes. Unless it’s a special occasion or a long overdue catch-up with friends, the night’s menu is most likely an affordable home-cooked meal.

With the exception of hawker centres, we all know how expensive a casual night out here and there can add up to be, and preparing your own meals is one way to avoid overspending on food. WFH is a good time to train yourself to prepare your own dinner, which can help reduce unnecessary dinner costs when it’s back to the office full-time.

The shower has become your karaoke sessions

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Singing karaoke is no doubt a much-loved pastime for many Singaporeans, which is evident from the frequently fully-booked rooms even on weekday nights. Whilst the pandemic has sadly forced many of our favourite joints like Teo Heng to remain closed, our wallets are probably not feeling much of the pinch.

Places like Manekineko have prices that can range from fairly affordable to pretty expensive, depending on the outlet, time and day you visit. Even if you manage to catch the cheaper time slots, a few singing sessions here and there can add up.

If you’ve been trying to cut down on excessive or spontaneous trips to your nearest karaoke spot, the pandemic is a good time to do get used to replacing a microphone with your showerhead. Of course, nobody is stopping you from showing your support when karaoke activities can resume, but it is important to remember to keep your expenditure in check.

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