This year I made a resolution to be more ‘open’ to new ideas and ways of doing things.
I thought I’d start with something I have in hand…my mobile phone.
As a result, I’ve discovered a few more efficient ways of using the ‘smart’.
In my smartphone.
There are also many app ‘hacks’ that simply make life easier, and here are some of them.
Advertisement
1. Nets Flash Pay can be topped up on the mobile
Ever since I discovered this, the days of having to look for a dusty top-up machine (you can never find them when there’s an emergency) are over.
I top-up my NETS FlashPay Card using the NETS app. I select -top-up’ and follow the instructions for a direct debit from the bank.
For those who are more forgetful and don’t want to be caught out by a low balance at the gantry, you can use the auto top feature.
This will automatically top up the NETS FlashPay Card by a value you determine using your credit or debit card. This works at ERP gantries, Transit MRT/buses and most car park exits.
This is Near Field Communication or NFC technology. I shared this with a friend recently so that he didn’t have to keep going to the bank ATM or panic at the parking exit gantry when the balance was low.
We silvers have to embrace more convenient ways of doing things.
2. Apps that Give Money Back
There’s no shortage of payment apps on mobiles these days.
After mastering PayNow and PayLah!, I had to make a conscious choice of e-wallets on apps like Grab, Apple Pay, Singtel Dash and Shopee pay.
There are just too many and it doesn’t make sense to leave small balances on different apps. I decided to just use a maximum of three apps.
However, of late I’ve started to get a bit more ambitious to look out for payment apps that give back.
Its importance dawned on me when a colleague told me that his lunch was free, all paid for by redemption points.
There’s Google Pay which has a collaboration with FavePay that gives back up to 20%.
Then there’s also ShopBack, which gives promotions such as 15% off Dyson products.
I’m now seeing more vendors such as food places offering ShopBack which makes it easier to collect points for rewards.
3. Skip the Queue And Grab Some Rest
I’ve seen younger colleagues order drinks from places like Luckin Coffee or Li Ho on their mobile, freeing them to head out and grab the drink after lunch without having to queue.
Another surprise for me was that McDonald‘s has introduced a Mobile Order function. We can use the McDonald’s app or scan a QR code on the restaurant tables to place our order. There are options for pick-up, dine-in (table service) or McDelivery!
Looks like efficiency is on both sides and we don’t have to stand around waiting.
New things are hard to adopt and there’s always the fear of links that can scam, but I feel that it’s fairly safe when working with reputable companies.
4. Easy way to Split Holiday Expenses
I learnt about this app called Splitwise on a recent holiday.
Shared costs for meals, rooms, transport etc., are automatically divided. There’s no need for the calculator as the app works out each person’s share.
The best features for me are:
- We could choose our preferred currency;
- It would ensure that only the costs for those present at a meal were accounted for;
- Instead of one person having to pay for everything, we could take turns to pay;
- The summary was the best as it individually indicated who was owing, and who was owed.
The interface is so personal and user friendly, the days of having one person in a travel group keep track of costs, are now over.
5. One less sheet of paper, one less thing to keep track of
I remember a particularly difficult working trip where I had to travel through multiple airports to get to my destination.
In my somnambulant state, I had dropped a paper boarding pass and only found this out at the boarding gate, much to my horror.
I had a lot of irate passengers behind me and will never forget that embarrassing moment!
Thankfully, those days are over and I make sure that I upload my boarding passes on my mobile’s Apple wallet when I travel. Such a relief to have one less thing to worry about.
Mobile phones have been a source of fun but they can be so much more
While chatting with a younger person the other day, I asked if they had ever seen a phone with the round dial.
She told me it was a toy for her. I remember my first mobile phone…it was the big brick, similar to what contractor Phua Chu Kang had on the TV sitcom.
Then there was the clamshell phone where we challenged friends to see who could type the same messages fastest, without looking. This was useful for people who drive.
I can’t imagine life without a mobile phone.
The thing is that it can be such a tool for convenience, a time-saver that even lets you make a few bucks for a free lunch. What’s key for me is to keep up.
