Money Saving Hacks for Families: Discounts, Freebies and Deals on Kids Activities, Shopping and more

We’re hooking you up with all the best money-saving deals and discounts in town!

We have all the intel on how to make life as a parent that little bit cheaper — ‘cos money saved on playgrounds means more cash for cocktails right!? Here’s our guide on where to find discounts on tickets for kids activities, how to score free museum entry, get free meals and coffee, score cheaper parking and more!

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Swipe left to get all the tips!

• Looking to entertain the kiddos on a rainy/hazy day but the price of indoor playgrounds is holding you back? Book laser games, indoor playgrounds like Waka Waka and other kids activities on FAVE and you can save big bucks on entry (up to 80%!). Deals change all the time and you’ll also find discounts on everything from massages to dining!
• If you’re planning a trip overseas and want to book activities, SIM cards and tours but with a better price than online, check out Klook. Klook also sells tickets to many activities in Singapore at a discount – for example a lot of the fun we recommend in our article 101 Things to Do with Kids of All Ages in Singapore can be found at a discount on Klook. Also check out the Sentosa Fun Pass which gives you discounted admission to a choice of up to 21 different attractions on Sentosa.

There’s a lot of fun stuff on Sentosa (Universal Studios, beaches with kid-friendly restos like Coastes, the Luge and more). But the gantry to Sentosa can charge up to $6 per taxi/car so trips to the island add up. Save yourself cash by buying a Sentosa Islander card at $25 individual/$50 family. The pass lasts for the year you’ll make your money back after a handful of trips and there are extra perks to be had with the card from free parking to dining privileges. 

      Read more:  Kid-friendly dining on Sentosa and in SG 

Future World at Artscience has to be one of our all-time favourite places to take kids of all ages (and it’s great for IG pics too). Head over on a Friday when children go free! Every Friday (except public hols and local school holidays), up to four children under 12 years old enter ArtScience Museum for free with every adult ticket purchased.

If you are a local resident you’ll already get free entry to many museums in town (click here for our pick of kid-friendly museums, some of which have free entry).

     Read more: Best Museums for Kids in Singapore

• Free meals: There is such a thing as a free meal. We have written about all the restos in town that offer free dining for kids but you can also bag yourself a free meal if you know where to look. Dining apps like Burpple offer buy one get one free meals and Hungry In Singapore is a gorgeous physical book which makes a great dining incentive gift offering free cocktails and complimentary meals. Check out our Sassy Mama discount code to get yourself one and read our full line up of dining deals here.
• Free or discounted coffee: If you’re a fellow caffeine addict (parent-fuel right?) It’s always handy knowing that you can sometimes get a free cuppa if you ask for a loyalty card at your fave cafe and collect stamps for every coffee. At Baker and Cook and Jewel your 10^th coffee is free! Also remember to bring your own cup to help the environment and at the same time score an extra discount. Common Man Roasters offers 10% off any coffee while Starbucks gives you $0.50 off your drink if you bring your own cup, or buy any Starbucks tumbler in store and enjoy a free drink.

• Discounts: Get yourself a PAssion Card (which can also be used as an EZ-Link card) if you shop at places like Cold Storage, Marketplace, Guardian and Giant. The PAssion card offers a cash rebate system – every $1 earns you 1 point, and once you get 150 points you will get $1 off your purchases.
• 24-hour shopping: Need nappies at 2am? A craving for ice-cream at 3:30am? Or looking for an elusive product that you can’t find anywhere in town? Your best bet for all these is to head over to Mustafa Shopping Centre – the 24 hour shopping mall in Little India that sells pretty much anything and everything at all hours of the day or night.
• 2-hour delivery: Just realised your kid has a birthday party to go to and you don’t have a gift? Or planning a meal but have forgotten a key ingredient? Amazon Prime Now (only available on your phone) sells everything from organic chicken to toys and the best bit is they deliver within 2 hours or less!
• $2 shop: Whatever you are looking for, if you want it cheap, you may as well go check Daiso first. Chances are they’ll have it! This Japanese chain sells everything for $2 – from stationary to crafty materials for kids or dress up, bike gear, cutlery and even makeup!
• Cheap baking goods: Phoon Huat sells good value cooking ingredients, nuts, icing, baking utensils and great cheese. You can order online or shop instore — head over on Wednesdays and Sundays for 10% discounts!

• If you drive in Singapore you’ll know how spendy parking can be at some malls and within the CBD. Suss out the cheapest places to park your wheels on sgcarmart.com which has a ‘Nearby Carpark’ function which will alert you to the cheapest carpark nearest to you.
• If you are heading to Resorts World Sentosa it’s worth getting a RWS Invites Membership card ($8) which offers all-day parking (worth $28) at RWS any day, any time, including public holidays for only $2.50 provided you have enough points.
• Enjoy free parking at Marina Bay Sands when you spend over a minimum amount at MBS shops, restaurants, the museum or theatre with your free Sands Rewards LifeStyle membership.

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There are various loyalty cards you can get often for free that will save you money and give you extra perks and discounts:

• A Smiles Card gets you a discount on petrol at Esso and earns points
• MilesLife will earn you miles (up to 5 miles per $1 spent) on everyday spending on restaurants, hotels and local attractions.
• A Sephora Beauty Pass rewards card will score you perks and big discounts
• Different credit cards often have promos at restaurants – ask if there are any offers on before you pay your bill. The UOB credit card also gives you 24% off your petrol purchases at SPC and 26.96% savings at Shell.
• Airlines all have loyalty cards to collect miles.
• RWS Invites Membership card ($8) offers all-day free parking at RWS plus other privileges like discounts on your birthday.

We are big fans of Jurong Bird Park where kids can run around the park, marvelling at the different species and then cooling off in the fantastic water playground. Did you know that you can enjoy access to the Bird Park all year round for the price of a one-day full-priced admission ticket. Just upgrade your ticket at the park for no extra cost and you can visit all year round!