Shopping for Craft Materials

So I limited myself to 45 minutes and S$50 on 14 Dec at the famed Yongle Fabric Market. If I didn't, I would have spent hours wandering not just through the market but also along the streets around the market. It was probably a good thing that I didn't find the Bear Mama shop.

Getting there was easy: take a train to Beimen station. Look for the Tacheng Street exit and walk against the traffic for a few minutes and you'll start seeing fabric shops on both sides of the street. I'm not into tailoring type of fabrics but crafting, so I was looking out for cotton / cotton-linen prints.

If you make your way past the shophouses, you'll then reach the market proper. There are 4 levels. I don't remember the first. I just went in and there was a colourful flight of steps up to the level 2. The 3rd level is under renovation so the tenants moved to the 4th level which is only accessible by the lift.

The first shop we saw was 布哥哥的店. They have many cotton / cotton-linen precuts that I was stuck there for a while trying to limit myself to only a few pieces. A fat quarter cotton-linen cost NT50 (about S$2.50) which is really cheap considering the quality and print. Incidentally, I opened up the folded fat quarter when I got back and saw on the selvedge that they printed it themselves. I checked out their website from the sticker on the fat quarter and saw that they also ship to Singapore. Maybe I'll check them out when I'm done with sewing these.

We walked around a bit more looking for other pre-cuts and snagged a couple of laminated cotton-linen prints, canvas and liberty-type cotton prints. The largest piece was a yard of giraffes peeking out from triangle prints. Too cute :)

If you're also doing the tourist-stamping thing, stop by the visitor information centre at the junction. That's where I got the largest stamp for the whole trip. A shop further down the road also had stamps outside.

If I would go again, I'd probably limit myself to an hour and higher budget. I'd skip level 4 because I'm not into tulle or pinstripes.

Nut bags?

I'm currently addicted to enjoying almond milk. A chance post on the web got me thinking about it and I bought raw almonds to try. I also wondered if it'd taste like my favourite almond soya milk at Hong Lim Food Centre. It doesn't.

Anyway, I soaked it for 2 nights. Recipe said one night but the next day I wasn't in the mood so I just left it for another day. Basically, I blended the drained nuts with some water and poured into an unfinished drawstring improvised nut bag. I sweetened it with honey and refrigerated it. While it can be drunk at room temperature, I prefer it cold. Smooth creamy texture is just, great :)

Points to take note of 

• the first time I soaked the nuts I didn't change the water and it smelled really bad. Now I change the water every 12 hours or when I remember to. The first time the nuts smelled fine after I rinsed them so I didn't throw them out. LOL.
• I estimate all the time so I grabbed 3 handfuls of nuts and soaked them. Added enough water to blend without the blender complaining then squeeze the milk out. I then top this up to 600ml and add 2 heaped teaspoons of honey.
• I use the munster blender meant for smoothies. 
• the almond meal, I have been throwing it away but today I'll try to toast them on low heat and see if I can get almond flour of it <updates later>

About nut bags

• I was sewing drawstring bags and had this stack so I just grabbed one, It's a basic rectangle folded half with both sides sewn up.
• What I did was flip it inside out, meaning the blended mixture would be in contact with the right side. This was so that the almond meal wouldn't be stuck in the corners when I wash it later.
• Fortunately the cotton material of the bag I simply picked up was dense / strong enough to withhold the squeezing. I think this is important as I would want more almond out from the nut than water.
• When I actually sew nut bags, I'll make the U-shaped so nothing gets trapped in any corners. Perhaps with a loop so it can be hung somewhere. Seams will be on the right side and I think there's where the serger will come in handy. Will need to check the material to see if it can hold up too. Don't want it bursting while squeezing the milk out.

Going to the fridge to get my fix now.

Have a blessed afternoon!

ps: that's my solid granny square WIP in the background. Bought a kit off Taobao ages ago and decided to just make solid squares instead of daisies. Found the flat-joined method. Much neater and prettier than my earlier granny square project. About half done now. Wonder if I'll finish it before the weather gets warm again. LOL!

Cashless in Singapore - Part 2

Experimented going out cashless (okay, okay so I brought standby cash and a physical card as a back) for a few days.

Firstly, I topped up the EZlink card from my Singtel Dash account. I previously assumed that it was only for Singtel customers with a NFC-SIM but it works with my M1 card. Since I don't have a Singtel bill to charge the top-up to, I used my credit card instead. Oddly, there is no $10 option so I chose $5. Most times I used POSB or DBS cards. This means I need to top-up before leaving home because I can't remember the 16 digits and other details. Or else top-up a larger amount which means money stuck in there.

Second thing I did was to save the Fairprice card to Android Pay. Previously I only saved the card to Android pay as a credit card. I didn't realise I had to save the card as a loyalty card (apears as a white card) so I could also use it to tap for Linkpoints. Just turn on NFC, choose the loyalty card, tap for Linkpoints and switch to the credit card to pay and tap again. I used it last night to the cashier's amusement. I think I'm her first customer to also tap for Linkpoints.

Some things to look out for

• DBS Paylah now has a on-demand withdrawal if you link your bank account. This means I don't have to top-up, pay and then send the balance back. I try not to leave cash on my phone because it is not earning interest, even at 0.05%, LOL.
• About DBS Paylah - so there's this nondescript bookshop near the market that offers Paylah for payment, proudly displaying their QR code. However, when I paid, the owner said the phone was with his wife who wasn't there yet. He let me go because I was a regular. I wanted to go back and showed him the transaction history but DD said it was okay.
• Check if Fave Pay is accepted. You'll get rebates for the next payment.
• Singtel Dash's Fairprice rebate is capped at $2.50 which means a $50 spend. Any amount above that will not earn rebates. Incidentally, Khatib's Fairprice has removed the terminals though the promotion is valid till 31Dec.
• Cashless hawker centres - I like to eat the wanton noodles at the Hong Lim Food Centre but, alas, it doesn't subscribe to cashless payment. DS suspects such establishments don't want their income tracked.
• phone defaults - currently my default is Android Pay. If I want to use NETSpay, I have to manually switch it. Haven't found many places that I normaly go to that use this though.

I realised one thing though... now that I don't have to bring cash/cards out, I might have to bring a portable charger. *grin*

Have a blessed cashless day!

Cashless in Singapore

Tried to download the NETS Pay app from Google store but couldn't get past the registration. Kept getting errors that my PIN was not recognized. Not that I changed it 20 mins after logging on from my laptop to check my balances. Gave up and uninstalled. #anothertime

Which brought to mind my neighbourhood bookshop, a nondescript unit tucked at the back of the wet market that is into themed selling, currently displaying calendars after removing the lanterns. I don't recall ever using NETS there, always bringing cash to such HDB shops. However, during the last trip there on Saturday, I sported a Just Scan and Paylah sign there complete with QR code.

I'm for cashless. In my phone there is Singtel Dash, PayLah and Fave Pay and Android Pay (though I've yet to use the last two). In terms of preference, it's in that order, with Singtel Dash having the most (and better) promotions but PayLah has suddenly awakened and in is back in the picture.

My motivation is the promotions rather than the ease of using the payment system. I'll use whichever seems to give me the best rebate / discount. For example, I used to use Dash to pay for Fairprice purchases getting 5% rebate till I got the NTUC credit card and upped it to 7%.

Perhaps another method of cashless is to use digital vouchers. Sometimes I do that, buy / exchange vouchers online and use these and pay the balance with a credit card. Better still, if these can be stacked, like the time when I bought a $50 and a $30 Daessiksin Korean BBQ voucher from Fuzzie app and paid the $7.90 balance with a credit card. A $87.90 meal cost me ($25+$$18+$7.90 = $50.90) after rebates. #nice

Anyway, wouldn't it be even nicer if such cashless payment had promotions on craft materials... #dreamon

ps: by the way, I only just realised that Spotlight membership promotions don't require me to show the card anymore. Just have to identify yourself (cashier asked me for my postal code and name). That's how I got the 2 jelly rolls at $19.99 each instead of $24.99 or higher. #cool

current itch : dyeing yarn - just watching videos (lust of the eyes, sigh) for now...

current WIPs : DD's jellyroll blanket (3x3 parquet), DS' blue tones crochet blanket (if I can find the 4.5mm needle that DD misplaced or maybe I'll just get a new one, again), seed stitch scarf (was linen stitch then frogged then broken rib then frogged), tubed ribbon yarn throw (for mindless knitting while watching Kdramas)

current thoughts : should I cave in and buy the Clover weaving loom on 11.11?

Forget about Shopback

[The opinions are mine, and solely mine]

I would like to add a note about Shopback. Previously, I use to brag to friends about how much I've saved through them... $300+ since about a year ago.
However, I noticed that recent transactions started getting rejected. Especially those big ticket items, 11% of 800+ type. When I emailed them, they claimed that I didn't purchase properly. I'm like, huh? I've been purchasing this way for the past year and why only now that I've gained confidence in using Shopback that they claim I didn't purchase according to their fine print.

Sigh.

Stretching your dollar (Part 2)

This post will be a list of websites that I buy from. Not arranged in order of preference, just what I can recall.

Qoo10 - first up since I just received a delivery from there minutes ago. I like their Qxpress delivery. Most of the time they are punctual and polite. Easy to tell them alternative to place the items in case I've stepped out for a while and can't receive the delivery.

Stuff I've bought: Body soap (this just arrived. Bought because it was an introductory offer). Food (dim sum from Swatow Restaurant, Milo, Korean snacks, otah, ice cream, granola, bak kwa). Household items (cleaning items, laundry detergent, softener, mosquito spray/patch, bedsheets, toilet paper). Others (shoebags, caps, Romoss powerbank).
Tips: check out shop coupons that can be ustacked with event coupons to save even more money. I've bumped up and included stuff I didn't need just to qualify for shipping and further discounts before.
Pros: many promotions
Cons: price not always cheapest (eg. Kinohimitsu Superfood is cheaper on their own website)

Lazada - I like the GSS promos. This round, I bought a Sun Protection box at $29 for $100 value. There are weekday daily promos and brand promos. Check out the credit card promotions as well. I typically use this with the Fuzzie card.

Stuff I've bought: USB drive, Milo, standing fans, digital phone, Keds sneakers, Kinohimitsu, L'Oreal, tester perfumes

Guardian - I only come here if there is a 20% off online and always through Shopback for the rebates. Delivery is efficient. Product range is limited though as in out of stock items have been there for months.
Tip: Add your Passion card number (the 16 digit number etched at the bottom back of the card)

Singsale - once in a while if they have good promos. Suggest you try the size at the brick and mortar shop for the size first before buying online.

That's all for now... I'll do a separate post for buying from Taobao / Tmall.

Stretching your dollar (Part 1)

Some friends have requested that I share with others how I save money buying anything from daily household items to holidays. Basically, I find it fun to look for such deals or promotions and I don't mind sharing... just that I'll just share what I can remember as I go along.
[ disclaimer : I'm not in anyway affiliated with any of the website / apps that I am sharing and opinions are my own. Also, links below are not referral links. I'm not doing this for referral money. ]

First up - before buying anything
I have many adhoc purchases but if I'm not in a hurry, I'd check out some of the following:

Singpromos - I like this website because of its easy interface. There are various filters like onoing / upcoming / started or ends today. They also classify according to categories like Department Stores, online stores etc or Footwear.

Pros: easy interface to search
Cons: many bank advertisements to sign up for credit cards

Shopback - This is an online rebate system that lets you cash out accumulated rebates once it exceeds S$10 directly to a bank account. How this works is that you go to Shopback website, find the merchant you want to buy from (check out the Visa option too for an additional 1%) and click to access the merchant's website.
Fastest cashback I've experienced was using it for Cotton On (no longer a merchant with Shopback) purchases when I got the money in 2 days. Usually it takes 60 to 90 days. I've more than S$300 cashed out since I started more than a year ago. I've used Shopback for purchases at : Cotton On, Redmart, Expedia, BusOnlineTicket, Easybook, Lazada, Guardian, Groupon, Fave, Taobao, Qoo10, Ezbuy etc though some of these are no longer with Shopback.

Tip: install the shopback buddy on your browser to get instant notification if the website supports Shopback
Pros: high cashback during promotions (get the email notification to be in the know)
Cons: missing cashback - I encountered this several times. Easy to initiate an investigation but sometimes it takes up to 60 days and the record was actually wiped out before any conclusion. However, I still continue to use because I consider cashback as a bonus and not a requirement.

Ebates - I don't use this. I tried once and it didn't work so I gave up. Maybe next time...

Qoo10 - I installed this app on my phone so I can go to the Q-lounge daily to click attendance. They give increasing Qpoints every 6th day of attendance so you can claim up to 190 (?) Qpoints which is equivalent to $1.90 credit (redeemable as whole dollars though). Each attendance is also a chance at the wheel where you can get more Qpoints or discount vouchers. Check out the Mameball event too, to play a game similar to Pokemon Go to catch brandmons to exchange for more Qpoints or buy selected items at a further discount. Exchange selected brandmons for even more Qpoints.
Gmarket Korea also has a similar programme.

Tips: the $2 off a $15 item can also be used for accumulated items, eg. you can use the $2 if you buy 3 quantities of the same $5 item. Install Live10 app and collect more vouchers other than the event ones. Discounts can be as high as
Pros: many promotions.
Cons: conditional vouchers

Fuzzie - I discovered Fuzzie gift cards recently. I like it's instant rebate because the rebate is instantly subtracted and I only pay the difference but I don't like it because it makes me want to buy more. LOL. They have cards for various merchants and because it is relatively new, some of the staff at these merchants don't quite know how to redeem from the phone.
I've bought : Lazada, Althea, Books Depository, Ezbuy

Taobao - they also have a loyalty points programme where you can collect points to offset final purchase price of selected items. Number of points increases from 5 by 5 points to a maximum of 30 if you collect daily.

Ezbuy - collect ecoins. Can't be used for offsetting price. Only for lottery chance of winning more ecoins or vouchers.

That's all for now...