Time to think about using promo codes.
All you have to do is to quote “XXX” for a discount. I’m sure you’re no stranger to this as promotional codes, promo codes for short, are everywhere.
I don’t consider myself a hardcore bargain hunter. But hey, since these offers seem to keep on coming, I wanted to see if they were really worthwhile.
Another question on my mind was how much a person could really save if they took things to the extreme. I’m talking about using promotions and promo codes for an entire week and calculating the total savings.
However, those of you who have used promo codes before know the frustrating experience when codes don’t work or have expired.
This is part where my lifesaver comes in: Saleduck, a website that consolidates all valid promo codes from different retailers. I easily found all the amazing deals (some exclusive ones too) from various e-commerce platforms such as Lazada, Zalora, Fave and even Grab. It’s like the ultimate cheat sheet for promo codes!
With that, I took the plunge. Read on to find out if my week-long promo-hunting was worth the effort!
Monday
1. Lazada
Lazada offers hundreds of thousands of products across categories from health and beauty to mobiles and tablets and even home appliances! They often have promo codes for various brands and free shipping is often available too here at Saleduck.
Maybelline launched their official store on Lazada and there was a promo code that offered $9 off a minimum spend of $30!
So I grabbed the chance to purchase the highly-raved about Maybelline Fit Me foundation and the Maybelline Age Rewind.
Initial cost: $39.80
Total savings: $9 (Around 23% off)
Total spent: $29.72
Promotions used: Lazada promo code (“MAYBL9”) + Shopback (3.5% rebate)
Would I recommend this: Why not? If you’ve been waiting to try out the products after watching countless of review on Youtube, just get it on Lazada!
2. Green Croft
I started the week off by purchasing deals that were cheaper just in case they turned out to be unreliable.
So for lunch, I headed down to Green Croft, a salad bar that offers customisable salad bowls.
However, I realised that it would have only been a total of $8.40 for the salad bowl and a drink if I didn’t use the promotion which meant that I only managed to save $1.50.
Despite the expression on my face, the salad was decent and filling enough!
Initial cost: $11.70
Total savings: $5.34 (46%)
Total spent: $6.36
Promotions used: Fave + Fave Promo Code (“MUNCH” for 5% off) + Shopback (3% rebate)
Would I recommend this: Not really, only if you’re in the area! What I wasn’t pleased about was that they advertised their discounts to be higher than reality.
Despite the first try being rather underwhelming, I was undeterred and found another deal for Chicken Up.
3. Chicken Up
Chicken Up is probably a name that many will be familiar with – think crispy and juicy fried chicken wings glazed with delicious Korean soy sauce and garlic!
A bowl of Korean Fried Chicken Finger Wings (10pcs) was $5.50 on Fave. The wings were freshly fried on the spot and I wiped them out fairly quickly.
Initial cost: $9.36
Total savings: $4.30 (Around 46%)
Total spent: $5.05
Promotions used: Fave + Fave Promo Code (“MUNCH” for 5% off) + Shopback (3% rebate)
Would I recommend this: Yes! If you’re craving for wings, this one really hits the spot.
Tuesday
4. Grab
Everyone has probably tried Grab before, but have you tried GrabHitch? GrabHitch is a carpooling service that has non-commercial drivers giving you a lift along the way to their destination to cover petrol costs.
The downside is that you may not always manage to get a ride and you have to book in advance to find a driver as well. However, my GrabHitch experience was a pleasant and it is something that I can foresee myself using again.
Initial cost: $14-$24
Total savings: $6-$16 (Around 67%)
Total spent: $8
Promotions used: Grab Promo Code (“HITCH6” for $6 off)
Would I recommend this: YES! Do give GrabHitch a try when you want the convenience but when you’re not in a rush to get to your destination
Wednesday
5. DRx Facial
I’m usually rather skeptical of ‘too good to be true’ promotions for beauty treatments as I have heard horror stories of women who end up getting coerced into buying expensive packages after their treatments or made to pay additional charges on top of the “promotional” price that they paid for.
However, as I was scrolling, I chanced about this promotion which caught my eye. This deal offers 79% off the retail price of a hefty $312 to just $68!
After doing some research I found out that the DRx Medispa Essential Facial Plus was the winner of the Cleo 2017 Clear Skin Awards. Therefore, for the sake of this experiment, I managed to convince myself to give this one a try.
My relaxing facial experience started out with a deep cleanse using a special micronized crystal particles followed by extraction of impurities. Subsequently, an infusion of HydraBoost and Pore Purifying serum was applied and the session ended with an extremely therapeutic facial mask.
Contrary to what I feared before the session, they did not try to sell me any packages or products at all. The entire session was utterly relaxing without any frills- all at $68!
Initial cost: $321
Total savings: $265.52 (Around 82.7%)
Total spent: $55.48
Promotions used: Fave + Fave promo code (“CHILLOUT” 15% off) + Shopback rebate (3% off)
Would I recommend this: YES. This is really affordable for a reputable brand!
Thursday
6. Zalora
Zalora is one of my favourite sites to go to when I’m looking a quality clothing at good deals. They usually have a ton of promotion codes to make their sweet deals even sweeter.
The best part of all was that I could buy all of these clothes with a click of my finger and not having to worry about whether they would fit well or look as nice on me.
Do note that they offer free delivery with a minimum purchase of $40, as if that is ever an issue. 😉
I checked out my shopping cart and tried on a few pieces to see if they fit me well.
Zalora Collection Layered Cami Top
Retail price: $24.90
Amount spent: $16.00
Zalora Premium Cold Shoulder Top
Retail price: $39.90
Amount spent: $21.00
Zalora Collection Elasticised Weekend Dress
Retail price: $34.90
Amount spent: $21.00
Initial cost: $99.70
Total savings: $41.70 (Around 42% off)
Total spent: $58
Promotions used: Zalora promo code (“SUMMER17” for 15% off) + Shopback rebate (3%)
Would I recommend this: Yes, Zalora is not just affordable but convenient as well – definitely one of the better online shopping options available in Singapore.
Fri-yay!
7. Madrinna Italiano
It’s finally the end of the week and there’s nothing like some hearty Italian food to end the week off on a sweet note.
Good Italian grub usually comes at the expense of your wallet taking a hit but hungrygowhere is now offering 1-for-1 deals at one of my all-time favourite Italian restaurants, Madrinna Italiano!
Madrinna Italiano is a cosy joint nestled away in Holland Village. The eating establishment gives off a slightly “atas” vibe but at the same time, remains relatively affordable.
We ordered a pasta and pizza to share, and it was only $32.96 for the entire meal!
This promotion is redeemable as long as you make a reservation through hungrygowhere! Yes, it is that easy.
Initial cost: $63.18
Total savings: $30.42 (Around 48%)
Total spent: $32.96
Promo code: Make a reservation via hungrygowhere for the one-for-one promo!
Would I recommend this: YES. The food was great and it was only around $16.50/pax. Really really affordable!
Saturday
8. Mookata BBQ
I was craving for some Mookata and at this point, I found myself going back to Fave for some great food deals.
However, the set wasn’t very filling so I found myself looking for options for dessert halfway through dinner.
Initial cost: $34
Total savings: $17.40 (Around 51%)
Total spent: $16.60
Promotions used: Fave + Fave Promo Code (“MUNCH” for 5% off) + Shopback (3% rebate)
Would I recommend this: Not really, it was pretty average to me but to be fair, it was honestly very cheap.
9. Chocolate Origin
Chocolate Origin is known for its lava ice cream but did you know that they serve decent Dark Chocolate Gelato?
Initial cost: $9
Total savings: $4.85 (Around 54%)
Total spent: $4.15
Promotions used: Fave + Fave Promo Code (“MUNCH” for 5% off) + Shopback (3% rebate)
Would I recommend this: Yes! You can’t get a better quality ice cream at this price. It’s only around $2 for a scoop!
Sunday
10. HIC Acai Bowl
On Sunday, I decided to wind down with at a cafe that offers Acai Bowls. Acai Bowls can be pretty pricey but are much more affordable with Fave promotions.
Initial cost: $23
Total savings: $6.60 (Around 29% off)
Total spent: $16.40
Promotions used: Fave + Fave Promo Code (“MUNCH” for 5% off) + Shopback (3% rebate)
Would I recommend this: I’m personally on the fence for this one, it isn’t the best tasting Acai Bowl that I’ve had but it is definitely value-for-money at around $8 for a large bowl!
Final Verdict:
After concluding the week of digging out deals and using promo codes everyday, I went ahead to calculate if they really saved me a substantial amount of money.
And guess what? The total savings was more than what I spent throughout the week!
Promotional Code Tips
After a week of scouring around for the best promo codes for a week, here’s what I learnt:
Tip 1: Always remember to do your “homework” and check out if the companies offering the deal is legitimate and if there are any pre-existing reviews on it.
Tip 2: If you have the time, or if you’re unsure if the deal is the best that you’re getting just check out if the stated amount is really that they are retailing it for.
Tip 3: Right before you checkout your shopping cart online, spend a few minutes searching for promo codes and your wallet will thank you.
Instead of searching on Google aimlessly, simply head over to Saleduck! With over 250 retailers on board, be sure to keep a lookout for the best deals from popular e-commerce platforms such as Lazada, Watsons, ASOS and Expedia.
What’s more is that they have exclusive promo codes with popular e-commerce sites such as Vaniday, Althea and Homeaway!
Source
Tip 4: Don’t settle for the first promo code you see. Some e-commerce sites offer additional discounts for first time users, so be sure to do a comparison before applying the promo code that will give you the most bang for your buck.
Tip 5: In order to be entitled to free shipping or even additional promotions, rope in your friends and family if they are keen to purchase something as well. Why pay extra when you can get shipping for free or even more discounts?
