1) Follow social media channels that consolidate food deals
This is the best method for lazy people, because you aren't actively hunting food deals, you're just passively waiting for all the food deals to be delivered to your inbox.
There are plenty of social media channels that consolidate all the flash deals happening out there. My favourites are @thebudgetboy on instagram, SG Kiasu Foodies on telegram, and MoneyDigest on facebook or their own website.
I find that they tend to cover the same deals, so you really only need to follow the ones that suit your social media usage patterns. But if you're kiasu like me, just follow all of them. :)
@thebudgetboy (Instagram)
@thebudgetboy is an instagram account, managed by "the budget boy" and "le gf", that consolidates deals in Singapore. It's mostly food deals, but they do post about other stuff like airfare deals, online shopping deals, movie deals, etc. If you're a heavy instagram user (like me), this will fit seamlessly into your daily scrolling routine.
While some deals are posted on @thebudgetboy's feeds, a lot more of it are posted through instastory, so definitely remember to check his instastory to keep updated.
To follow:
- search for "@thebudgetboy" on instagram, and tap on "follow"
MoneyDigest (Facebook, Web)
If you use facebook enough, you probably would have seen MoneyDigest's posts about food deals being virally shared across all of Singaporean facebook by your hungry bo lui friends.
I personally don't follow MoneyDigest, but when my mother sends me food deals, they all come from MoneyDigest.
Most of their posts are about food, but they do cover other types of deals as well. Clicking on their posts will redirect to their website.
To follow:
- Search for "Money Digest" on facebook or click this link.
@kiasufoodies (Telegram)
For those who have converted to the telegram ship from whatsapp, the SG Kiasu Foodies channel on telegram is my favourite channel to subscribe to because of all the food deals (uh, of course).
This telegram updates exclusively about food deals only, no airfare deals, no movie deals, no hotel deals. So if you're not interested in the clutter of other deals, this is great for you. I have not found the notifications to be annoying yet, I only get one or two per day. But if it becomes annoying for you, you can always mute it and check back every once in a while.
To join this channel:
- On Web: click on this link, click "Open in Web", and then click the blue button that says "+ JOIN".
- On phone: tap on the search icon at the top right hand, key in "@kiasufoodies", telegram should perform a global search that will list the group as a result, tap on it, and click "JOIN" at the bottom of the screen.
Another channel to source out good dining deals is through reservation apps and websites. They often have exclusive discounts to entice you to dine at their restaurant partners. The three places I most frequently check are Eatigo, Chope, and HungryDeals.
Eatigo (Web, App)
Eatigo is very popular amongst many of my friends. The concept is simple, get a discount for going at the restaurant's off-peak hours.
The app is pretty easy to use. Just scroll through restaurants, find one that catches your eye, and then make a reservation at your preferred timing to get the respective discounts. There are plenty of 50% off discounts as long as you're fine with eating slightly earlier or later. For example a 3pm lunch or an 8pm dinner.
Just search for "Eatigo" in the app store or play store to download it. You can also browse using their website (link here).
Chope (Web)
Chope is a reservation app, but they also have some amazing 1-for-1 and 50% off exclusive deals if you book through their app using a specific promo code.
The 1-for-1 and 50% off promotions are the most worth it in my opinion, but Chope also has other deals like 50% off your second main, or exclusive deals if you use a certain credit card. Their deals refresh quite regularly as well, so I make it a point to browse their promotions site regularly.
Browse their Chope exclusive deals here (link) and credit card promotions here (link).
HungryDeals (Web)
HungryGoWhere has an arm called HungryDeals which offers discounts if you make a reservation for a restaurant through HungryGoWhere.
My favourite category is "1 FOR 1" as it almost always promises a 50% off deal.
The booking process is pretty simple. Just enter in your contact details and they will send you a confirmation email and sms. No need to create an account.
Click this link to go to the HungryDeals webpage.
3) Buy dining and cash vouchers in advance
This method is not as spontaneous, and requires a bit more conscientious planning and commitment. Most of these work the same way, you buy an e-ticket, coupon or voucher in advance through the website or the app. And then you go to the restaurant, outlet, food stall, etc., and redeem the voucher through your app or a printed copy of your voucher.
Remember to look through the terms and conditions of the voucher carefully before buying it. Some of them can only be used at certain timings, certain outlets, on certain days. And remember to use it before it expires. I tend to be a forgetful person, so when I buy a voucher, I also set a reminder on my phone's calendar to use it by a certain date.
The platforms I frequent are Qoo10, Chope, and Fave.
Qoo10 (Web, App)
Qoo10, formerly known as Gmarket, is a popular e-commerce website. In my experience, it's more popular among middle-aged consumers, but food discounts don't care what age you are. Qoo10 is visual diarrhea, but once you get used to it, you can find some pretty good deals. I've gotten some good 50% off and 1-for-1 deals here before.
Search under the "Dining & Entertain" tab at the top, or just click this link. Look for the ones with a purple ticket logo at the top left of the listing.
Qoo10 also has an app that you can browse on. It's another visual mess, but you just have to get used to it.
To find the dining deals, click on the sidebar icon, click on "Dining Entertain", expand the "Restaurant & Cafe" option, and click all items.
Chope (Web, App)
Chope started out doing reservations, but they also sell food vouchers now. While there are some good 50% deals, they usually require you to buy a voucher for a certain timing, so the commitment here is higher. You can't waltz in any time of the day you like. But I find the restaurants on Chope to have better food, so I don't mind the slight inconvenience.
Click this link for their vouchers page.
I find it easier to browse on their app. The interface is much more intuitive. And they group restaurants for you according to categories like "popular eats" and "up to 50% off".
Fave (Web, App)
Fave, previously known as Groupon, has been in this game for a longer time. While they sell coupons outside of food and dining, like a lot of massage and spa coupons, they still have quite a selection for food and dining. Most of the deals on Face are not to my tastes though, so I don't find myself buying vouchers on fave quite as often as I do on other platforms.
Click this link for their food and dining coupons.
The interface is pretty similar on the app and quite easy to use. The deals that they promote to me can sometimes be different on the app and on the website though.
4) Enter giveaways
Food PR is a thriving industry in Singapore, and a lot of food brands work with local foodfluencers (I tried) by hosting giveaways. These food brands are sneaking their way into your instagram feeds by buying your follow with the chance of free food.
Participating in these giveaways are usually low-effort and free, so might as well. The most common format of these giveaways require you to follow both the foodfluencer and the food brand, comment something (like a dish you would like to eat), and then tag x number of friends. Nobody is stopping you from unfollowing these accounts at a later date and tagging your parents' dead instagram accounts. Just saying.
I know what you're thinking... "so many people enter how to win this is a scam". Well, here's a tip to increase your chances of winning: participate in the same giveaway under other accounts. Such giveaways are often held with multiple foodfluencers, not just one. If you notice a giveaway posted by one of the foodfluencers you're following, check the account of the food brand they are working with, checked the tagged photos, and you might find the giveaway posts of the other accounts. Some foodfluencers are less popular and have lesser participants in their giveaway, so those are the ones you definitely want to participate in to increase your chances of winning.
Another tip: don't wrack your brains too hard on what to comment. The winners are often decided using random name pickers, so it really doesn't matter what you comment.
Based on my own experience, here are some accounts that host giveaways relatively regularly: @stormscape, @mightyfoodie, @foodgemsg, @fundamentally_flawed
In all the giveaways I've participated, I've won about one or two, so it's not impossible. Ultimately, participating is free (technically), so might as well give it a shot.
5) Keep your eyes peeled
This sounds like very lame advice. I mean like, duh????
But sometimes, you just walk pass food deals that you just have not seen anywhere else on the internet. Like this:
Or this:
Or this:
It happens.
So just keep a lookout when you're out walking about.
6) Become a foodfluencer
I know I promised 5, but here's a bonus one that is highly impractical and unlikely, but there's always a possibility.
Foodfluencers, with their influence, get a lot of PR drops, i.e. free food.
Did someone say free food? Let me start a food instagram now. :P
Disclaimer: I wish this post was sponsored, but it isn't. These are all the various ways I use to get good food for cheaper, and I hope this guide helps you as well. :)
OMG thanks for you help:) you saves me all the hassle
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