These Apps Paid For My Groceries – Here's How Much I Saved
I'll admit it: my friends call me the lobang queen because I'm always on the lookout for good deals, free stuff, and sneaky ways to stretch my SGD. And over the years, I've discovered one of the easiest (and honestly, kinda fun) hacks: using apps that reward you with vouchers just by doing things like exercising or answering surveys. It has actually replaced some of my doomscrolling time while I'm on public transit and pays me for my time.
I've been using apps like Healthy 365, LumiHealth, and survey platforms for years now, and they've quietly helped me shave a few dollars off groceries, snacks, and even the occasional online haul. But recently, I discovered a brand new app, Kakee - it's becoming such a favourite that it's now one of the automatically suggested apps on my iPhone.
I decided to tally up how much I've actually saved through these apps over time… and spoiler alert: wah, it's even more than I expected.
IMAGE: KAKEE
Kakee
Kakee is kinda like if Spotify and TikTok had a baby. You can listen to 24/7 music streams from Power 98 and 88.3JIA, and watch short videos made in Singapore (like now I know where to go to fulfill my mala hotpot craving). There's also a music game that my husband is weirdly good at.
Here's the deal: You earn Koins by listening to music (30 mins per session), watching at least 3 videos daily, and playing the music game. There are also bonuses if you make it onto the leaderboard.
Which is why I made it a habit to play the music in the background while working, and I'd binge a few videos while queueing for lunch. After about 3 weeks of casual use, I managed to rack up enough Koins to redeem a 2x $10 Grab voucher. Shiok!
Total savings from Kakee so far: $20
IMAGE: LUMIHEALTH
LumiHealth
LumiHealth is an app created by HPB (Health Promotion Board) and Apple. You'll need an Apple Watch to use it, which I already owned (yay).
It runs weekly themed quests based on health topics like stress, sleep, diet, and exercise. Every time you complete a goal – e.g. walk a certain number of steps, meditate, get enough sleep – you earn Coins. The missions rotate every week, which keeps things fresh.
I also recently learnt that you'll get a $40 Apple Store gift card if you buy an Apple Watch and enrol for LumiHealth. Sadly, I didn't qualify for that since I already had one, but it's a pretty sweet deal for newbies.
The best thing is that even though the idea of fitness quests might put some people off initially, it's actually not as daunting as it sounds - I actually asked one of my couch potato colleagues to do the quests for a few weeks, and he has already racked up enough coins to redeem a $15 Fairprice voucher!
Total savings from LumiHealth so far: $40
IMAGE: HEALTHY365
Healthy 365
This is another HPB app (thanks, gahmen!) and works hand-in-hand with the National Steps Challenge. It's super easy to use - you track your steps, physical activity (MVPA), and sleep, and you earn My Healthpoints. As this is part of the gahmen's efforts to get us active, you can redeem a free fitness tracker to use with this app. Check this website for locations! If it runs out, don't worry, they will restock the machine.
You also get extra points for buying “healthier choice” groceries at supermarkets like NTUC, Cold Storage, Sheng Siong, and Giant. When you opt for the “healthier” stuff you will get an extra QR code receipt to scan on the app for Healthpoints. The Healthpoints that you get from this are random.
After about 3 months of consistent effort, I saved enough Healthpoints to redeem 3x $10 Fairprice vouchers. Note: If you're using LumiHealth, you can't double dip on the MVPA points from Healthy 365. So I had to focus on the food missions instead after starting LumiHealth.
Total savings from Healthy 365 so far: $30
Survey Apps
For the past couple of years, I have been doing surveys for vouchers. These don't require physical activity (great for long train rides), just a bit of time and honesty.
IMAGE: TOLUNA
1. Toluna
You answer surveys on anything from your favourite instant noodle brand to your opinion on tech gadgets. The points can be converted into: PayPal cash, as well as FairPrice, Lazada and Amazon vouchers.
IMAGE: YOUGOV
2. YouGov
This app is a little slower in terms of points accumulation, but very reputable. You can redeem your hard-earned points for: PayNow cash, plus vouchers from Zalora, Subway, amongst many others.
Total savings from survey apps for the past 2 months: $105 ($80 from Toluna, $25 from YouGov)
And ladies and gentlemen, that's how I gained $195 in vouchers and made my wallet very happy!
So, was it worth it?
Absolutely. None of the apps asked me for money. I didn't have to enter sketchy bank details. And while it did take a bit of commitment (and some screen time), I didn't go out of my way or change my lifestyle drastically. In fact, some of these habits actually improved my health or productivity.
If you're looking to earn a little extra while commuting or chilling at home, I say give these apps a shot. You might not get rich, but hey, every $5 off counts.
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