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Tuesday, November 10, 2026

 

The Ultimate Singapore 11.11 Singles' Day Sale Guide (2026 Edition)


It’s that time of the year again! The 11.11 Singles' Day Sale has officially arrived, bringing some of the biggest price drops across tech, fashion, food, travel, and home appliances in Singapore.

Whether you are looking to get a head start on early Christmas shopping, upgrade your home setup, or treat yourself to a well-deserved feast, here is your definitive cheat sheet to the best 11.11 promotions in town.


1. Top Tech & Gadget Steals

If you’ve been eyeing a laptop, wireless earbuds, or smart home gadgets, now is the time to stack those platform vouchers and strike.

  • Dyson Singapore: Get up to $400 off selected hair care and home tech. The Dyson Supersonic Nural is down to $549 (was $599). Plus, use code DBS50 for an extra $50 off and claim complimentary styling accessories worth $157.

  • Lenovo: Offering up to 53% off laptops and PCs plus 11% cashback. Standout deal: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i (14", Gen 10) slashed from $2,334 to $1,695.30.

  • Harvey Norman: Massive price drops on audio gear, including $90 off the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 (now $389) and $120 off the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) (now $479).

  • Secretlab: Up to $300 off gaming chairs and desks. The popular Titan Evo is going for $629 (down from $699) with a free magnetic headrest included.


2. Fashion, Sports & Beauty Bargains

Refresh your wardrobe and beauty shelf with deep sitewide discounts across major retail brands:

Brand / RetailerHighlights & Promo DetailsEnd Date
ZALORAUp to 90% off selected fashion & beauty pieces13 Nov
NikeUp to 50% off + Extra 20% off with code GAMEON11 Nov
CHARLES & KEITHUp to 50% off footwear, bags, and accessories12 Nov
Calvin KleinUp to 80% off sitewide + spend-based tier discounts12 Nov
SephoraUp to 50% off selected skincare & beauty items12 Nov
DecathlonUp to 70% off + free shipping above $40 & $15 vouchers11 Nov


3. 1-for-1 Food & Dining Perks

Looking for a quick bite or something sweet? Don't miss out on these limited 11.11 dining promos:

  • Udders Ice Cream: Grab 1-for-1 takeaway pints across 9 signature flavors (including Mao Shan Wang Durian, Kyoto Matcha, and Black Sesame Mochi) from 11–13 November.

  • Burger King: Enjoy 1-for-1 burger deals and special 11.11 menu bundles running through 15 November.

  • Museum of Ice Cream (MOIC Dempsey): Running a 1-for-1 Premium Admission deal through 11 November—perfect for a fun date or day out with friends.

  • Pizza Hut: 11.11 deals via Shopee with pizzas and melts starting from just $11.


4. Travel & Getaway Deals

Planning a year-end vacation or a quick weekend getaway?

  • Skyscanner 11.11 Sale: Up to 40% off flights departing from Singapore. Look out for return flights to Taipei & Shanghai from $258 and Seoul from $417.

  • Klook: 11.11 flash deals offering 50% off hotels, tours, and transport passes, alongside up to $155 in promo vouchers (valid till 13 Nov).

  • Trip.com: Flash flight fares from $69, hotel vouchers up to $40, and discount coupons running till 14 November.

  • Singapore Airlines: $50 off return flights when booking with DBS/POSB cards between 10–16 November.


Pro-Tips to Maximize Your 11.11 Savings

  1. Collect Stackable Bank Vouchers: Check Shopee, Lazada, and Amazon starting at midnight. Bank cards (DBS/POSB, UOB, OCBC, Citi) offer additional $10 to $50 cart vouchers that stack on top of shop discounts.

  2. Claim Free Shipping Vouchers Early: Don't forget to claim sitewide minimum-spend $0 free shipping coupons before checking out.

  3. Cart Out at Midnight: Popular flash deals, limited-quantity vouchers, and free gifts usually run out within the first 15 to 30 minutes of 11 November!

  4. Taobao Promo code: TAOSG11 $11 off for $99 spent!


Happy shopping! What deals are you grabbing this 11.11? Let me know in the comments below!


Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Buying Crypto in Singapore, A Complete Guide on Transferring USD to Binance.com


NOTE: Silvergate Bank has ceased clearing USD for Binance w.e.f 11th Jun 2021. This post will be updated when there is a new USD Clearing bank.

A quick foreword: This is not financial advise. I am not a financial advisor, Cryptocurrency is a very volatile asset class.

Step 1) Setup an account with Binance.com If you haven't already signed-up, you may use the link (Enjoy 10% off your commissions)

Basically you will need to provide some details about yourself (e.g NRIC, etc). This is the standard KYC - Know Your Customer process for most financial services. 

If you have done this step, then please proceed...

Step 2) Deposit fiat (USD or SGD) into my account

There is a few options that Binance provides for us Singaporeans to convert our fiat to BUSD (Token form of USD) - used for our purchases.



  • P2P Trading
  • Credit/Debit Card
  • SWIFT Transfer (USD)

In my experience using the SWIFT (Telegraphic Transfer) is the most economical option to deposit your fiat.


A quick explanation on the cons of the other 2. 

P2P Trading basically involves you and another entity exchanging a digital currency (e.g USDT,BUSD, BTC) for fiat. 

Depending on the rates the seller offers, you would then agree and transact outside of Binance. It is generally safe (if you transact with reputable sellers). But once again, the spread is not exactly great.

Credit/Debit Card is by far the worse option to use, as it incurs a 3% cross border charge and in some cases (as it is considered as a form of cash advance, you will see a 6% fee). 

Verdict: Skip these two options.

So lets move on to SWIFT Transfer:

If you have a DBS (or any local bank) account, you will have the option to remit cash. DBS has 0 remittance fees and offer decent USD->SGD exchange rates - hence it will be my choice for the TT.

1) Access the 'Wallet'->'Fiat and Spot' hamburger menu


2) Click "Deposit" at the top right corner



 
3) Populate the deposit details and desired amount



  • Select "USD"
  • Use (SWIFT)
  • Enter the Amount (in USD)

4) Click "Confirm"

You will be prompted with a message similar to the mock-up below. It basically informs you that your account name (from the bank you are sending the swift) has to be the same as the NRIC (Remember the KYC process you completed during the account opening)



Click Confirm  - You will see the details of the swift transfer we are required to make. We are half-way there. 

Take note of your "Reference Code"; we will need this later when we do the payment instructions.



5) Log-in to your DBS Account iBanking (desktop):

Select Transfer -> "DBS Remit and Overseas Transfer"



6) Click 'New Recipient'




Fill the form as follows:

        1. Select Country: "United States"
        2. Recipient's full name (Refer to the Binance swift instruction - Beneficiary Account Name)


        3. Select "Other Banks" - Copy and paste the SWIFT code click 'Find SWIFT Code'


        4. Copy the address lines 1,2 and Account numbers from the Binance payment page into our recipient details.




7) <Important> Fill the Payment Details for Recipient with your Binance Reference Code.

8) Verify and Submit





Congratulations if you have made it so far, you have just successfully initiated a transfer of fiat into your Binance.com account. 

If you had done this on a working day, it typically (based on experience) takes less than 8-10 hours for the funds to show up in your Binance account. However do not worry if it doesn't show up within the same day. As Binance states that it may take between 2-4 business days to clear from Silvergate bank.

The amount transferred in USD, will appear as BUSD on Binance. This is the stable coin version of the USD and has a 1:1 exchange with the Fiat USD. 


FAQ: 
How long does the transfer take?
The transfer typically takes 1 working day to clear. First time transfers may take longer. But based on experience it usually clears within 8-12 hours.
Do note that the transfer will be sent by DBS in Singapore working hours and processed by Silvergate Bank during US working hours.

What happens if I forget to include my reference code?
Do not worry, remittances have a tracking number and DBS will contact you to resolve the error. Note that this might take some time as Silvergate has to manually trace the origin and would likely contact DBS. There may also but certain charges involved but your monies are safe. Alternatively, you could also raise an appeal in Binance for them to investigate.



Monday, February 26, 2018

UOB One Vs OCBC 360

Can't decide on which savings account is best for maximizing your interests ?

This calculator will help you to decide whether the OCBC360 account or UOB One account (including credit card rebates) is better for you.

Fill in the following questions and press "Calculate!" to see the results.

QUESTIONS
--------------

Q1. Are you able to credit at least $2,000 of your salary to the bank account?
Yes No

Q2. Are you able to pay 3 bills thru GIRO (or online payment) every month?
Yes No
Total GIRO Amount: SGD

Q3. How much do you spend on your credit card every month?
- Online Spending: SGD
- Any Other Spending: SGD

Q4. How much are you able to invest or insure ?


Q5. How much money do you keep in the bank account?
SGD




CONCLUSION
----------------

OCBC360 UOB One
Savings Interest SGD SGD
Credit Card Rebate SGD SGD
Total Interest & Rebate SGD SGD
Effective Interest Rate %
Credit Card Rebate %

The better account for you is
Additional annual interest & rebate is SGD


REFERENCES
----------------

For more info on each of the accounts, use the links below:

OCBC360

UOB One

The information is accurate as at 28-Feb-2018.







Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Shoetree Project - A Review of Quality Shoe Care Products in Singapore

Quality dress shoes are expensive, but they can last decades - especially if they are cared for properly. I used to think nothing about the maintenance of my shoes, until i started buying leather shoes that cost more than a few hundred - shoes that would be too expensive to throw away.

This was when i started to wonder how i could properly maintain and extend their lifespan, effectively stretching that dollar on the 'investment'.

That’s where shoe trees and proper leather polishing/nourishing products come in. Some men look at these wooden shoe inserts as an unnecessarily expensive purchase, but shoe trees are crucial to keeping shoes in amazing shape as they age.

Here's why.

DO I NEED SHOE TREES?


Our feet sweat throughout the day, and the leather and lining of our shoes absorb all that moisture. This can cause the lining to rot, your shoes to smell, and the leather to crack over time, thereby ruining your expensive footwear.

A shoe tree holds a shoe in its proper shape so it dries out correctly, and keeps the leather from cracking by wicking away moisture. The absorbent wood also helps dry out the lining of shoes so that they don’t rot from the inside out.

Long story short: Shoe trees are a whole lot cheaper than a new pair of nice shoes, and will keep your current pair in excellent condition for years.

I would highly recommend spending on a good pair of shoe trees if your shoes cost more than $200. Quality shoe trees will have ventilation slots at the toe to help dissipate moisture, a longer, crafted heel, and contain more wood for better drying and odor control. They will also ensure the closest possible fit between the shoe and tree. This is necessary to maintain the shape of the shoe as well as to absorb moisture.

(Pro tip: When the smell of the cedar starts to fade, you can lightly sand the shoe tree to bring it back.)

WHERE CAN I GET GOOD QUALITY SHOE CARE PRODUCTS?


This is the most common question about shoe trees and products, especially when everything is so expensive in Singapore. I remember back in 2007 when i started sourcing for cedar shoe trees, they were really hard to find and the ones i found would cost $70-100 per pair.

The folks at Shoetree Project seem to have realised this gap and have sent me some of their products to review. They are the Cedar Shoe Tree in Sz 39, Saphir Pommadier Cream Shoe Polish and the Japanese Oakwood Shoe Horn.



Firstly, Saphir makes excellent quality shoe care products and i highly recommend the Renovateur and the Pommadier Cream for your shoes. Shoetree.sg literally sells them at cost and provides free delivery! 😍

Next up, the Cedar Shoe Tree. I was pleasantly surprised by the unmistakable smell of quality Cedarwood and even more impressed by the sizing and fit. The sz 39 *(please check out their size charts) fit like a glove on my Loake shoes. The spring loaded mechanism on the exterior side ensured that the shoe retains its shape - an important aspect of a quality shoe tree. Aesthetically, the brass knobs on the top of the shoe tree adds a nice touch to your shoes when it does its job of wicking the moisture whilst sitting in your cabinet.





Last by definitely not least is the Japanese Oak shoe horn. I personally like to sit on my ottoman to wear my dress shoe but this shoe horn would be a great addition for those who wear slip-ons, loafers and moccasins.


Summary


It would be ideal to have a shoe tree in every nice (expensive) pair of shoes you own, but it’s not absolutely necessary as long as you rotate your shoes and shoe trees throughout the week. 

But if you’re a huge fan of all your shoes or have a vast collection of expensive footwear, then buy a shoe tree for every single pair. At the $35 price point, there is practically nothing else i can recommend. If you haven't got one, i would highly recommend you try the ones by shoetree.sg - your feet, wallet and shoes will thank you for it! 



Tuesday, April 04, 2017

Borderlinx - How to Ship UK Purchases to Singapore

Sugar Spice Everything Borderlinx


Shopping on the UK websites provide great value with the recent weakness of the GBP. However, there are some sites that do not accept international credit cards nor ship to destinations outside the UK.

I wanted to get a pair of Adidas NMD sneakers for my wife but there was no stock available in Singapore. I discovered that UK Footlocker still held stock of the shoe in her size. So i went about trying to find ways to buy from a UK site that did not accept Singapore credit cards, nor ship directly to Singapore.

This is where i chanced upon the Borderlinx concierge service. In essence, it provides a 'personal shopper' service for a 5% fee (off the total value of goods). In addition, Borderlinx provides shipping service back to Singapore.

So if you need to buy something from the UK in a similar fashion, you have the option to use the Borderlinx Concierge service.

Lets talk about how we can proceed with the orders before i give you a summary of my personal experience.

Sign Up for a Borderlinx account


Register an account with Borderlinx and setup your home address.

Create a Concierge Order


Access your account, select "Make a concierge order" and click "Place a new order".

Borderlinx Concierge
Fill in the details (Example Screenshot below)

Borderlinx Concierge - Add fields

Save the item and you will be brought to the order payment page.

Make the payment


Payment has to be made before the product will be purchased by Borderlinx. Typically you will use a Credit Card. Do note that you will incurr the usual cross-border and currency rate (GBP vs SGD) on your credit card. 

In addition, there is a 'contingency' charge. This fee is 'blocked' on your credit card just in case there is a slight price difference from the input price of the product. As its name suggest, you will not be charged unless there is a difference (increase in price).
Borderlinx Concierge - Order Details

Payment for shipping to Singapore


When the product is purchased by Borderlinx, you will see an update on your concierge order status that says "Status: Order placed and accepted by merchant". Once this step is completed, the merchant will ship your order to the Borderlinx warehouse.

When your purchases reach Borderlinx, you will then need to make a final payment, for shipping to Singapore. The cost of shipping will depend on the weight of your purchase. For my case, it is as shown below (3.78kg):

Borderlinx Concierge - Order Summary


Borderlinx Concierge - Weight of Shoes

As you can see, i was charged GBP $36.16 for a shipped weight of 3.78 kg.

Once the shipping costs are paid, Borderlinx will proceed to ship the purchase to Singapore, via DHL - to your desired home address. 

You can track the shipment history in your concierge menu -> "My Account" -> "Shipment History". 
Borderlinx Concierge - Shipment History

Summary


I paid a total of GBP 139.99 + GBP 36.16 (Shipping). This translates to about S$315 at the currency rate i paid on my credit card. These shoes retail for about S$299 in Adidas Singapore, assuming you are willing to brave the long queues at the retail store and lucky enough to get one in your size.

The total time taken from entry of the concierge order to purchase of the shoes from UK Footlocker is 3 business days. Shipping via DHL by Borderlinx was fast and it took about 2-3 days before it was delivered to my doorstep in Singapore. Package was well packed and arrived in immaculate condition.

My overall experience with Borderlinx was pleasant but i was slightly disappointed at the high costs of shipping, which translate to about GBP 4.5 per 500g. Thankfully the favorable exchange rates helped to reduce my total costs. Most importantly, my wife loved the pair of shoes! :)

Note: This is not a sponsored post