How you can reduce your travel/transport expenses via Cashback / Rebates

One thing is certain in Singapore - fare hikes for public transport. Be it Taxis/Bus/MRT/LRT, you can be sure of it.

Give the Public Transport Council/LTA credit - they make sure to break the news way in advance so that when the hikes kick in, what's new?

While there's really not much poor commuters can do to prevent the fare increases, you can make sure you get the most savings from your transport expenses. Here's how you can do it:

1. Go ahead and apply for a HSBC Revolution card - or get a family member to do so. Why? Because you get 7% cash rebates for all your purchases on your Ezlink card
2. Make sure you sign up for EZ-reload (select $50 top-up value) - it saves you the hassle of having to top-up your Ezlink card (& time)
3. ***Make sure you spend $300 on the card every billing cycle*** - Otherwise, you get no rebate for the quarter. This however is not difficult, especially if you link multiple Ezlink cards of your family members to the same credit card

Tip1: Wherever you can use the Ezlink card to make purchases, use it (e.g. Cold Storage/Giant etc.) to enjoy the 7% rebate as well

Tip2: Other than rebates for your Ezlink spend, the Revolution card also gives rebates for budget airlines, online shopping, coffee and dining (see the table below)

As the saying goes: 

It's Not How Much You Make - It's How Much You Save

So save away~

Merchants	Rebate amount
www.tigerairways.com	5% rebate
www.airasia.com	5% rebate
www.jetstar.com	5% rebate
www.flyscoot.com	5% rebate
Ezlink Re-load	7% rebate
Coffee joints Coffee Club Spinelli Starbucks The Coffee Bean and TeaLeaf The Connoisseur Concerto(TCC)	10% rebate
Dining at Robertson quay and Clarke quay Click here for full listing	10% rebate
Dining at Dempsey Hill and Rochester Park (Valid from 1 October 2013 to 30 June 2014)  Click here for full listing	10% rebate (Valid from 1 October 2013 to 30 June 2014)
Online shopping (Valid from 1 October 2013 to 30 June 2014)  Agoda.com Sistic.com Zuji.com Apple.com Comgateway.com Vpost.com	10% rebate (Valid from 1 October 2013 to 30 June 2014)

Visa on Arrival at Delhi International Airport

While the Singapore passport exempts holders from visa requirements for many states, I found out that India does not exempt Singaporeans from visa requirements. Instead, upon arrival in India (Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Trivanduram, Bangalore, Hyderabad etc.), a Visa on Arrival needs to be obtained (remember to bring a passport photo).

I would not describe the process as a breeze - it took the officer about 20 minutes per passenger. 3 passengers were ahead of me, and it took a whole 90 minutes to get my visa. Every single field is vetted.

You would imagine that for US$60 a pop, there would be more staff serving/a quicker experience. Sorry to disappoint.

They says first impression counts; I counted 90 minutes of my time away. I would recommend that if you have a connecting flight/train/bus to catch, have a comfortable allowance or try to get the Visa in Singapore (not sure if this is possible).


For more information on Visa on Arrival (VOA) for Singaporeans, visit the Indian High Commission's page (Singapore).