Closing time deals at Jasons Market Place

Last week, we were in the City Hall area at about 9pm looking for a late dinner. We decided to pop by Chippy only to find that they were closing for the night, so we wandered into Jasons Market Place in the basement of Raffles City. Jasons is a gourmet supermarket, so we weren't really looking for anything budget... which is what makes this experience such a delightful one.

As we passed the salesman in the section that was selling roasted meat, he called out to us, "50% off!" So we thought, "Why not?" We live for good deals.

We pointed to a honey-glazed chicken steak (usually $4.00) and a bratwurst sausage (usually $1.80). Instead of getting a piece each, the salesman stuff two chicken steaks into a paper bag and charged us $2.00. He did the same for the sausages, charging us 90 cents for two.

That's how a good deal turned into a great deal! $2.90 for two chicken steaks and two bratwurst sausages! Yum!

Most supermarkets that sell cooked food tend to try to sell off their stock near closing time. It's a great time to go for The Supermarket Date. Some bakeries such as Delifrance also practise this, offering deals such as 20% off, or 3 buns for $2.00. It's a great time to pick up something to eat... which also makes you think: what do other bakeries do with their food that they cannot sell off in a day? Do they sell it to you the next day?

The Supermarket Date

We just realized that we both love to go to the supermarket. For some reason or other, we find it really fun to window-shop in such an air-conditioned place. One of our favourite haunts is the NTUC hypermart at Ang Mo Kio Hub, but only about an hour or so before closing time, otherwise it's really crowded and spoils the experience.

Sometimes, when we can't decide what to eat, we walk around a supermarket and eat free samples. It's fun, it's adventurous, but most importantly, it's free. We don't do this so often, and not because we can't afford to eat, but simply because we get a barrel of laughs from it.

We can find all sorts of things in a big supermarket, ranging from food to useful items. The AMK Hub NTUC also has a variety of massage chairs, and equipment for leg massages, back massages, head massages that we like to try out just for fun. One day, when we can afford it, we're going to buy the best ones. But until then, it's free massages for us.

If you're looking to try The Supermarket Date, here's a list of supermarkets to visit for a good experience:

1. Ang Mo Kio Hub NTUC Hypermart
   located at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 (next to Ang Mo Kio MRT station)
   Basement 2
   
   
2. Carrefour @ Suntec City City Mall
   located at 3 Temasek Boulevard (walkable from City Hall MRT station)
   Level 1
   
   
3. Carrefour @ Plaza Singapura
   located along Orchard Road (linked to Dhoby Ghaut MRT station)
   Basement 1
   
   
4. Mustafa Centre (open 24 hours)
   located at 145 Syed Alwi Road (walkable from Farrer Park MRT station)
   
   
5. Vivomart @ VivoCity
   located at 1 Harbourfront Walk (linked to Harbourfront MRT station)
   
   
6. NTUC Supermarket @ Thomson Plaza
   located at 301 Upper Thomson Road
   Level 1
   

Notes:
- The Carrefour @ Suntec City makes for a better experience than the one at Plaza Singapura.
- The NTUC Supermarket @ Thomson Plaza, though small, is an interesting experience because it's not crowded and has a variety of products not usually found in the other supermarkets.

Of course there are more supermarkets than these, so feel free to email us your recommendations too. If we like it, we'll blog about it.

The Chippy Date

Located in the basement of Raffles City is a British-style fish and chips take-away stall called Chippy. You can find it directly opposite Donut Factory which was once famous for its one-hour long queues. It looks like this:

The Chippy Date is one of the first dates we went on when we started dating. We'd buy a pack of B.B.F. - beer batter fish and chips and, drinks in hand, take a walk to nearby SMU. If it is in the evening, there's a spot next to the pool of water that makes for a pleasant date.

We'd sit there munching away on our yummy fish and chips, or if the mood suits us, a fried sausage and mashed potato, with dessert being a deep fried Mars bar. Gotta give it a try! We actually went on The Chippy Date so often that we got sick of the food after a while and skipped it for several months.

Though it's located next to a busy road, it's relatively peaceful, and there's no need to shout to make yourself heard, unlike other cost-friendly places in the city.

Good for a first date, or anytime you want to talk. We'd sit there until the sky got dark or until we want to go home.

This certainly ranks quite high in our list of budget dates.

Chippy is located at Raffles City, #B1-58. There is another Chippy's outlet at the basement of Far East Plaza, but that doesn't count as The Chippy Date because it doesn't include the walk to SMU.

Menu items ranged from $4-5 each with drinks at $1.50. Normally we'd pop into the nearby Guardian pharmacy to pick up a cheaper drink before we head out. It used to be cheaper. Three years ago, the prices were $3-4. Oh well, cost of living keeps rising in the world's 5th wealthiest country. That's why we have this blog.

Here are the main items on the menu:

1. The Original Cheese Sausage with Mash Potato - $4.00

2. Crispy Calamari (15 Rings) - $4.80

3. Cheesy Curry Chicken (150 grams) with Cheese Sauce - $4.20

4. Beer Batter Style Fish (10 pieces) with Battered Fries - $4.80
(must try! with salt and vinegar)

5. Fried Mars Bar (4 pieces) with Ice Cream - $3.50

Sale at Daniel Yam outlet

Looking for a dress for your upcoming D&D? Have a friend's wedding to attend but nothing to wear? Just looking for an excuse to dress up? Now you can at this lobang that we have to share with you!

While on a window shopping trip at Tanjong Pagar Road - we were actually looking for dim sum, we came across a Daniel Yam outlet. Those with a larger budget might know of Daniel Yam's flagship stores at Suntec City, Wisma Atria, Marina Square, and the Heeren, but you might not know that there is a tiny outlet at Tanjong Pagar Road.

There's currently a sale on various kinds of dresses, including off-the-rack wedding gowns. We think the shop will be closing down soon, but while it's still operating, you might want to pay it a visit. Who knows what you will find there? Dresses, shoes, jewelled accessories...

My other half picked up a lovely purple evening gown for just $39. What will you find there?

The Daniel Yam Tanjong Pagar shop is located at 108 Tanjong Pagar Road. It is open from Mon-Sun, from 12.00nn - 8.30pm. You can get there by exiting Tanjong Pagar MRT station exit A.

KIMarie Hair Salon - Haircut for $8

Along the rather deserted Tanjong Pagar Road where sales promoters from various wedding studios eagerly pounce on unsuspecting couples venturing through the area, lies KIMarie, a hair salon and hair training centre.

Prices at the hair salon exceed our expectations as a budget couple who usually receives our haircuts for $10 and under at neighbourhood hairdressers and barbers, but we spied a good deal for a haircut at $8 in the training centre located on the second level.

Last Saturday, the two of us went on a little adventure to get our hair cut by trainees. It's the best haircut I've ever gotten, and it shaved eight years from my looks. At one point, a trainee seemed to have made a mistake, but the teacher easily rectified it. It was also the first time I've ever had two hairdressers - one teacher and one trainee - work on my hair at the same time.

Washing of hair takes place just outside the training centre - in another room, we think - and costs an additional $1.

A haircut costs $8, a perm at $35, dye at $29, and treatment (not sure what kind of treatment) at $25. There is also an all-year round 1-for-1 offer.

Don't expect excellent and prompt service; it is a training centre after all. But if you're looking for something different on a small budget, this is something to try out for a Saturday afternoon.

KIMarie is located at 95 Tanjong Pagar Road. You can get there by walking a short distance from Tanjong Pagar MRT Station Exit A on Tanjong Pagar Road. It is open on Mon, Wed, Fri from 10.00am - 9.00am; and on Tue, Thu, Sat from 10.00am - 5.00pm.