10 food discount apps every Singaporean foodie should be using to save money
PUBLISHED ONJuly 13, 2019 1:00 PMByJeanne Mah
You are probably aware that eating out often can take a toll on your wallet. But if you can't help but want to meet your other half for dinner every day, it is probably time to take steps to manage your food expenditure.
If your occupation requires you to dine with clients often, or you do not have the time to cook, being able to save while eating out means that your money can spent on other things.
One way is to utilise promo codes and coupons that will give us huge savings. However, it can be cumbersome to constantly google for "Discounts at XX restaurant" or "1-for-1 deals in Singapore". To make your life just a little easier, we have compiled the 10 food discount apps every Singaporean foodie should have.
#1 CHUG
What is it: At a fixed fee, members of the CHUG app will get to enjoy a predetermined number of alcoholic drinks. Currently, there are three different Nightlife Pass options -At $19.90, members are entitled to 30 drinks across 30 different outlets in 7 days. The $29.90 option lets you redeem up to 50 drinks across 50 different outlets over 30 days. The $149 option is valid for a year and allows you to redeem up to 80 drinks.
How you can save money: With the $19.90 plan, that works out to only 66 cents per drink. Regardless of which plan you choose to subscribe to, drinks are always cheaper with CHUG. Simply repurchase the plan once you have reached the maximum number of redemptions.
#2 SHOPBACK GO
What is it: ShopBack GO is a relatively new cashback programme launched by ShopBack on 17 December 2018, which allows users to earn cashback when they dine, on top of existing credit card discounts and promotions. There are currently more than 600 outlets where you can use ShopBack GO.
How you can save money: Because you'll get to enjoy cashback, that means you technically spend lesser on each meal! Any dining cashback from ShopBack GO will be reflected in your ShopBack account, together with the cashback you received from other ShopBack services such as online shopping and hotel bookings. Once you have accumulated at least $10 in cashback, you can withdraw the cashback earned to a designated bank or PayPal account. The funds will take around 7 - 14 days to be credited.
#3 CHOPE
What is it: Chope is a real-time restaurant-reservation booking platform that connects diners with its partner restaurants. You'll get to discover dining spots near you, and secure a table for free. There are a ton of 1-for-1 deals and 50 per cent discounts at over 700 dining spots with ChopeDeals.
How you can save money: Because Chope has such a large database of restaurants ranging from Chinese food to western cuisine, you'll always be able to find a restaurant with affordable meals. This means greater convenience and cost savings. Furthermore, should you find yourself cancelling if something cropped up at the last minute, you will not be penalised with cancellation fees.
What is it: With more than 6 million downloads and counting, this money-saving app offers promotions on almost every lifestyle activity you can think of - promotions at fine dining restaurants, casual dining spots, luxurious spas, and more. The app comes with a built-in savings calculator, so you'll be able to track all the money you have saved with The Entertainer app.
How you can save money: Currently, there is a special offer available on the app. At $65, you will get to enjoy 2,600 'Buy one get one free' offers across more than 1,500 outlets. Members save 12 times more on average using The Entertainer app. Unlike other apps, The Entertainer offers add-on deals which you can use across the border -the $65 price tag comes with 2-for-1 deals in Johor Bahru!
What is it: Burpple Beyond is popular for its 1-for-1 dining deals at over 450 restaurants. Launched in 2018 by Burpple, Burpple Beyond members get to discover food places, enjoy deals, and share reviews. The reviews section helps fellow members make a informed decision on where they would like to dine at.
How you can save money: There are three different membership plans to choose from. The most popular plan costs $69 a year, which gives you 12 months of access to 1-for-1 dining deals at over 400 restaurants. This translates to only $5.75 a month!
If you are not sold on the yearly plan, there is an off-peak plan at $4 a month or an all-day plan at $9.90 a month.
#6 FAVE
What is it: Fave offers coupons, cashback, and other deals. These coupons and deals can be purchased on Fave to be used at their partnering merchants. This includes deals for dining, beauty, lifestyle, and more. Some of these deals are time-sensitive and are only available for a short period. However, you can purchase these deals beforehand if you prefer to use them later.
How you can save money: If you use FavePay, you will get to enjoy immediate cashback on your next order at the store or restaurant the next time you visit. At some partners, you'll even get to enjoy discounts or cashback of up to 20 per cent off your total bill.
#7 OFFPEAK
What is it: Offpeak.sg is an online platform that helps diners save money and time when booking great restaurants online. Once you select a restaurant, the booking is instantly confirmed, giving you and your loved ones a fuss-free experience.
How you can save money: Like the other food apps out there, you will get to enjoy a range of cuisines, including, but not limited to, Chinese, Italian, Fusion, and Western. Discounts commonly range from 10 per cent to 30 per cent off, saving you a fair bit.
#8 QUANDOO
What is it: Quandoo helps connect diners with the best restaurants around the world via a table reservation system. Diners get to discover more than 17,000 restaurants in 12 countries worldwide and book a table at any of these restaurants. Restaurant bookings have never been so seamless.
How you can save money: Quandoo allows you to make reservations around the world (including countries in Europe!) and rake up loyalty points. Once you have accumulated enough points from your reservations and reviews, you'll be able to redeem your points for cash. Every 1,000 points will entitle you to a $15 voucher. By signing up for a Quandoo account, you will already receive 400 points. What's a better way to accumulate points just by showing up to a restaurant you have booked for?
#9 EATIGO
What is it: Eatigo calls itself "Singapore's number 1 restaurant reservation platform", and is famous for offering discounts of up to 50 per cent in our favourite restaurants and eateries. The Eatigo app is extremely easy to use, with restaurants sectioned into locations, and popular options such as 'trending', 'hotpot', 'plant-based meats' and 'seafood' for easy user navigation.
How you can save money: Even if you do not get to enjoy the full 50 per cent discount when you visit a restaurant during peak hours, you'll be sure to enjoy a minimum discount of 10 per cent off your total bill. Eatigo also constantly rolls out additional discounts and vouchers, so you'll get to enjoy a constant stream of promotions. Currently, there is a '$5 off your next meal' coupon valid till 31 July. Check your app for the code!
#10 HUNGRYGOWHERE
What is it: Since SingTel acquired HungryGoWhere in 2012, HungryGoWhere has maintained its position as one of Singapore's most favoured food websites, and the telco giant has also introduced food deals exclusive to Singtel users, such as the 1-for-1 deal at Seoul Garden which entitles both patrons to a free-flow Korean BBQ spread.
How you can save money: There are exclusive deals almost every month, so you'll never have to worry when is the next night out with friends. There are many 1-for-1 deals, 50 per cent discounts, and exclusive HGW vouchers for you to choose from. What makes HungryGoWhere special is their food guide section, which consists of articles anyone would love to read - such as '10 Mother's Day dining deals to pamper your mum'.
KEEP YOUR WALLET AS FULL AS YOUR STOMACH
If your bank account balance is depleting faster than you can say "I'm hungry!", it is time to take steps to save money.
If your phone does not have much storage space, you do not have to download all 10 apps. Depending on your needs and wants, someone who prefers cashback might choose Fave over Eatigo. Likewise, someone who goes out often to have a drink with friends might choose CHUG over Chope, which is the preferred choice for foodies who enjoy trying different cuisines.
This article was first published in Dollars and Sense.