Save on Utility Bills

With the rising oil price, the electricity charge has been going up.

There are many suggested ways to cut costs by saving electricity and water to cut down on the household bills.

1) Kill Vampire Appliances

-Turn off all electrical appliances and power mains when not in use, if not, they become "electricity vampire".

-Cheapskate Ultimate: Charge your mobile, laptop, etc in the office or public library before going home!

2) Time your cooling

-Set the air-conditioner not lower than 25 degree to waste energy.
-Set the timer to switch off the air-conditioner a few hours later.
-Go to the public library to ensure free air-conditioning in the day!
- Cheapskate Ultimate: Invest in a mattress. Gather all family members into a bedroom , instead of running the air-conditioner in all room.

3) Watts savings

-Replace all incandescent light bulbs to energy saving compact fluorescent light bulbs to save at les 70% less energy.
-Use light reflectors to make the most of the light.
-For residential blocks, best if the lights in the common corridor can be reflected into the house for free.
- Cheapskate Ultimate: Lights? What lights?

4) Wash wisely

-Pre-soak heavy garments before washing in the washing machine.
-Use the washing machine when the load is full or adjust the level of water to match the washing load.
- Off the water when soaping
- Don't flush for "small business" or flush using the discharged water from the washing machine
- Cheapskate Ultimate: Shower at the gym, fitness club, etc before heading home!

Tips to beat inflation from "My paper" 25 Jan 08 - Part 2/2

4) Recreation & Others
- Choose countries where rates are lower
- Choose free recreational spots such as East Coast Park
- Buy at discount shops or online forums for equipment

5) Housing
- Wait for property market cools
- Hold off major renovation works till demand drops

6) Clothing & footwear
- Go for second-hand items
- Stock up staples such as socks during sales

7) Education & Stationery
- Buy refills for pens
- Take a group tuition classes for cheaper rates
- Buy used textbooks from seniors

Tips to beat inflation from "My paper" 25 Jan 08 - Part 1/2

1) Food
- Brought own container when buyout takeout to save on the surcharges of 20 cents for plastic containers.
- Supermarket gives discount on home brands
- Eat out at fancy restaurant less often

2) Transport & communication
-Take trains and buses and avoide taxis
- Walk short distance instead of paying 65 cents for the feeder bus service
- Get a mobile plan that suits your needs

3) Health care
-Ask your doctor for generic drugs such as paracetamol instead of brand name ones like Panadol
- Use your company healthcare benefits
- Call up clinics to ask about consultation fees before seeing the doctor

How to save using the transport system?

For long distance travel , use MRT + Taxi.

MRT and taxi combination is a real saver. MRT travels as fast as a taxi on the road. Hence it would be wise to use this cheaper mode to travel long distance.

How much does Cheapskater incurred to travel from the Seng Keng to Jurong Island?

• MRT to Lakeside ride only $1.90. (FOC if you know the cheapskater's method of free run)
• Taxi from Lakeside to Jurong Island only $4.
• Total time taken 1 hour. As compared to taking a taxi all the while, it would cost about $20 and take about 1 hr also

Heading to the uncharted West (Tuas, Jurong Islands) and had trouble calling for a taxi from the 'inefficiency and expensive" bigger taxi cartel?

Forget them, save your mobile fee charges.

Dial 6265-4553 for the private network of the "Western taxi". These friendly taxi drivers comb only the west and would never get lost in the uncharted west.

Saving on public transport

Cheapskater takes public transport everyday and observed the following ways to save.

Buses
1) Study the fare table displayed at the bus stop before boarding the bus.
Can save at least 20 cents in bus fare just by alighting at a bus stop earlier since some bus stops are just a few steps away from each other.

2) Maximize the $1.9 fare cap from SBS bus.
All SBS bus fares are capped at $1.9 within 2 hours of boarding the first bus, provided that you board the next bus within 45 minutes.

Plan your route, can get a real satisfaction when $0.00 appeared on the Ezy-card reader when you alight.

Cheapskater's record is taking 5 buses from Compass point to Clementi area to Bugis and back to Compass point only at $1.90! Real shiok when i get a free ride on SBS Bus Service 80 from Bugis to Compass point which would normally cost $1.38.

Note that SMRT bus system does not have $1.9 cap but only $0.25 rebate. =(

Enter Sentosa Free

Entrance fee into Sentosa - $2
Driving into Sentosa - Addition $2 for the car.

There is a confirmed way to entry Sentosa Free of Charge!- Get a job there and entry with your staff pass.

Alternatively, look around you; there is another way to sneak in comfortably.