It may seem very kiasu to be on the lookout for food deals, but whether you eat to live or live to eat, there is no denying that the cost of food in Singapore has increased significantly in the past year. This is for all food items from supermarket groceries to hawker fare.
Case in point: Spending mainly on food, it took me three months to spend the $300 CDC vouchers we received in January 2023, whereas the $500 CDC Vouchers given a year later in January 2024 were exhausted in less than two months!
Even dining at restaurants has risen considerably – not just in terms of raw materials, but in addition to the 10% service charge, the goods and services tax (GST) has been 9% since the start of 2024.
Yes, food in all forms is getting costlier, but alas, it is not something we can live without.
Thus, one way of making your dollar stretch in these inflation times is to look out for good food deals and discounts, some of which are even senior-specific.
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Not only will it whet your hearty appetite especially if you are a foodie, it will help ease your cost of living without sacrificing an essential need in your daily life.
Here are some good food deals—hopefully conveniently near you—to take note of:
1. Closing Time Discounts
Delicatessens and bento counters are now commonplace in most supermarkets. Often, the prices of the ready-to-eat items are notably slashed around closing times, although these days you can actually find them earlier.
- Cold Storage
Previously, the roast meats at Cold Storage outlets would be sold at half-price only after 9pm. Nowadays, you can get popular items such as roasted chicken, pork ribs and pork knuckle as early as 7pm.
For instance, one evening before sunset, I managed to nab half a roasted duck (UP: $17.90) for just $7.90 at the Holland Village outlet.
Prices of their sushi and bento sets are likewise reduced towards the evening at most of their 39 outlets here (including CS Fresh).
- Don Don Donki
If you love Japanese food, Don Don Donki is the place to be from around 8pm onwards as their affordable ready-to-eat food will often be at 20-50% discount.
Items range from salmon sushi and sashimi platters to various bento sets, and timing of when the discounts appear differs from outlet to outlet.
At city centre areas, such as the 24/7 Orchard Central outlet and Central Mall, their cooked food items — let alone the discounted ones — are known to clear out very quickly.
- NTUC Fairprice
The largest supermarket chain in Singapore with 100 outlets island wide, the prices of their roasted meats and Japanese bento sets are also reduced around evening time, although on occasion you can find discounts as early as 5pm at certain outlets.
At Clementi Mall’s FairPrice Finest for instance, various sushi bento sets as well as roast duck and roast pork belly were already at 10-20% off circa 5pm on both weekdays and weekends.
Credit: Marguerita Tan
- Meidi-Ya
With two outlets in Millenia Walk and Great World City, this Japanese supermarket’s ready-to-eat bento sets are popular with both families and the working crowd.
Check in during dinner or near closing time to enjoy 10-20% discounts on their takeaway food items which range from saba bento and teriyaki chicken steak, to fried prawn balls and black pepper squid.
- Bakeries
Before closing time, many bakeries—from neighbourhoods to malls to hotels—often offer their cakes, pastries and breads at good discounts such as 1-for-1 or at 25-50% off.
Timings of these sales are not consistent.
Paris Baguette often has 50% sales on all breads and pastries from 9.30pm, while Marks & Spencer’s bakery & confectionery section, as well as Cold Storage and FairPrice bakeries, often offer bread discounts in the evening or near closing time.
Credit: Marguerita Tan
If I am near a Polar Puffs & Cakes outlet circa 6-7pm, I will check if their “$6 for 3 pastries” is on and if yes, I will snatch up their chicken pies and curry puffs which are about $2.80-$3.20 each. Polar pastries at certain Cheers outlets are 1-for-1 after 7pm.
Note: If you are adverse to leftover food or food that is left out too long, just be mindful that supermarket and bakery ready-to-eat items could have been on the shelf throughout the day or even overnight. So, do practise caution.
2. Near-expiry discounted food deals
Many supermarkets and retail stores’ food sections regularly offer close-to-expiration-date food items at reduced prices in order to clear the stock. Here are some examples:
- Don Don Donki
At this popular Japanese supermarket chain, you will find racks of discounted near-expiry food items close to the cashiers or self-checkout booths.
Price discounts range from 25% to 80% and items span from Japanese snacks and chocolates to soups and cooking sauces.
Discounted items will be different at all their 16 outlets here so if you found something you like at the Jewel Changi Airport branch, snap it up as the PLQ Mall outlet may not have it.
- Marks & Spencer
With 11 outlets here, the British retailer frequently has discount promotions from their popular biscuits, cookies, chocolates and fine wine.
My best steal was when the Mark & Spencer Great World City outlet offered the fabulous Jam Sandwich Creams at just $1 each (UP: $4.50).
Hence, you need to be at the right outlet at the right time to get the best deals!
Marks & Spencer often has deals for selected biscuits that can be mixed and matched at three boxes for $11.50 (previously it was three for $10).
Credit: Marguerita Tan
- Muji
You can also find near-expiry food items from this Japanese lifestyle retailer near their checkout counters.
Offers range from 50-70% and items include marshmallows, mini ramen, cream biscuits and herbal drinks.
Again, discounted items are often different in each of their 17 outlets here.
- Scarlett
If you are into Mainland Chinese food products, this 30-outlet Chinese supermarket usually has packet snacks such as braised peanuts and gluten beef-flavoured jerky going for $2 or less near the cashiers.
It also has weekly food item promotions where if you buy some products in bulk, you would get more discounts.
These range from cup noodles and bottled drinks, to canned peaches and cocktail snacks.
Note: Although products past their “best by” dates are technically still safe to eat (as long as there is no spoilage), take note of the expiry date as some can be as short as one week.
3. Budget Meals at HDB & Private Coffee Shops
Credit: Marguerita Tan
Announced in March 2023, the Budget Meal Initiative was set up to provide Singaporeans with more affordable food options.
Today, 180 coffee shops — both rental and privately-owned — offer budget meals priced between $2.50 and $3.50 and available as both lunch and dinner options. Drinks are also priced at $1.20 and below.
For example, at a 10-stall coffee shop in Queenstown, $2.50 budget meals from various stalls include Fishball Kway Teow Soup, Mixed Vegetable Noodle Soup, Chicken Cutlet Fried Rice and Economy Rice (2 Veg 1 Meat). Only the zi char stall’s Mui Fan was $3.50.
Many of these budget meals are tasty, so do give it a try if you have yet to. Just look for the “Budget Meal” decal displayed on the stall’s signage.
4. Senior-Specific Dine-In Promos
Some restaurants offer senior-specific dine-in discounts or promotions. You just have to check their promotional materials either on-site or online.
For instance, Concorde Hotel’s Spices Cafe offers their Singapore Flavours buffet lunch at a discounted price to senior citizens aged 55 years and above (till 31 December 2024), while Furama City Centre’s Tiffany Cafe offers 30% off their Muslim-friendly lunch and dinner buffets if you are above 60 years.
Hotpot restaurant chains such as Paradise Hotpot, Seoul Garden Hotpot and Captain Kim Korean BBQ & Hotpot also offer discounted lunch and dinner buffet pricing (usually $2-$3 off) for senior citizens aged 60 and above.
If you are into pasta and ice-cream, check out Swensen’s recently-launched Seniors 1-for-1 Special — with an exclusive menu offering pastas, baked rice dishes and sundaes — for senior diners aged 60 and above (Monday to Friday from 2pm to 4.30pm, till 31 December 2024).
5. Supermarkets’ Senior Citizens Discount Days
Whether it is ready-to-eat food or groceries to cook your own meals at home, you might want to save more by shopping on specific days at neighbourhood supermarkets such as Sheng Siong, NTUC FairPrice and Cold Storage.
The weekday senior citizens’ discounts range from 2-4% and some have a spending limit of $200 in a single receipt.
The discount may seem minuscule but every cost saving goes a long way, so you might as well buy more food stuff if it happens to be senior citizens’ discount day!
Check out the table below for the senior citizen discounts available at five neighbourhood supermarket chains.
Table: 2024 Supermarkets’ Senior Citizens Discount Days
| Supermart / Day | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NTUC FairPrice Capped at $200 spending limit) | 3% Off Pioneer Gen | 2% Off 60 years old & Above | 3% Off Pioneer + Merdeka Gen | 3% Off Blue CHAS Cardholders | - |
| Sheng Siong Capped at $200 spending limit) | - | 4% Off 60 years old & Above | 4% Off 60 years old & Above | - | - |
| Cold Storage | - | - | 3% Off 60 years old & Above | - | - |
| Giant | - | 4% Off 60 years old & Above | - | - | - |
| Prime | - | 4% Off 60 years old & Above | 4% Off 60 years old & Above | - | |
| *accurate as of 27 September 2024 | |||||
Occasionally, there will be other non-senior-specific food discounts available.
For instance, from now till 31 December 2024, you can save S$3 off selected eggs and S$3 off selected rice at all Sheng Siong outlets if you hold a PAssion POSB Debit or POSB Everyday Card.
This is limited to 1 tray of eggs and 1 bag of rice per customer, capped at the first 50,000 redemptions per category per month, while stocks last.
