ONLINE SHOPPING DEALS, CASHBACK AND MORE WITH SHOPBACK!

Online Shopping

Ah yes the convenience of the internet!! Not only is e-shopping made cheaper, more time saving, and anything (well *almost* anything) can be purchased at the click of a button, now there are sites that provide $$$ back whenever you shop at major online retailers!! Wait... usually I only get cashback for in-person local transactions via my Mastercard? Or usually I hunt down coupons the old fashioned way for savings.

I found out about ShopBack Singapore and here is my review! As mentioned above, this is a local site that provides cashback while you are shopping online. The best thing is they include international marketplaces!

If you like shopping online I'm sure you use at least one of these:
- EBAY!! (US Ebay ftw)
- Taobao
- Aliexpress
- Fairprice online
- Groupon
- Expedia
- Zuji
- Lazada
- ASOS
- Zalora
- Uber
- Foodpanda
- Cathay Cineplex
- Agoda
- Reebonz
- Hotels.com
- Jetstar
.... just to name a few. They have hundreds more if you look under their categories.

SHORT TUTORIAL:

Simple instructions: https://www.shopback.sg/how-it-works

How to use Shopback:
- Set up a free account
- Verify your e-mail account and set up your account details.

Before shopping, remember to:
- Turn off ad-blocker if you have installed the add-on on your browser.
- Make sure your browser allows cookies: use Firefox, Safari, Chrome, Internet Explorer
- Clear the cache from your browser.

The process:
- While logged in, click on the shopping links and copy coupon codes (if any) via the Shopback site, you should read the Terms and Conditions as each vendor has different rules.
- You must shop WITHIN the new tab that has opened.
- Avoid clicking on other links after this new tab, or Shopback will not be able to track your cookies. The last link you should click is Shopback's tab.
- Shop away! Apply coupon (if any) and check out with payment.
- Wait up to 48 hours for the vendor to process. Don't panic yet if you don't see anything reflected in your account, just be patient.
- If successful, your account in Shopback should reflect the cashback under 'My Cashback'.
- They allow you to cashout for $10 and above, that's it!

Read the full info in their Help Center if you run into any problems.

Official video tutorial.

If you are unsure, make a small purchase first and wait 48 hours to check if you did it right!

HOW TO USE ON EBAY:

So the first thing I tried was Ebay. Find the Ebay's page on Shopback. Currently they offer 1% cashback.

Their terms and conditions, it doesn't apply to certain categories.

Wait for it to load and a new tab will appear.

The Ebay address should read with an affiliate link on the back. I did not purchase from "my eBay" where I saved my favourites list. Not too sure if cashback would work here (maybe it might).

Don't click on the eBay logo home button on the left, the affiliate link disappears and goes to Ebay.com which means it lost its tracking. If you did that, start over again from Shopback.

Anyhow I used the default search bar to play safe.

Ah yes...
Found the listing, checked out with payment as usual.

Nothing is reflected on my Shopback at first so I waited 2 days and there it is. I got back 37 cents, and it will be redeemable in 58 days, keep accumulating and withdraw after it hits the $10 threshold.

The extra $5 is a bonus when you sign up and make your first purchase. To receive it, check your email, they should send another email after verification to prompt you to complete your profile and account. The bonus will be credited after 48 hours.

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They have a Cashback Buddy add-on for Chrome & Safari browsers for easy access so you can tell if the cashback is activated/ available on the shopping site. I will install that.

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Just want to make a quick mention about China's equivalent of Ebay -
TAOBAO
I used to pay a local 3rd party agent who tacked on freight and commission as I couldn't set up an Alipay account, but it looks like Taobao has now allowed Singapore & Malaysia accounts so you can create your own Taobao and Alipay accounts, the site is in Chinese by the way. So I'm taking it that I get savings on commish + shipping + cashback, which is great.




Part 2 video is instruction on how to set up Alipay, even if you are not using Shopback it is still informative. I will give this a try if anything catches my eye there. The videos come in 5 parts so please view them for the complete tutorial.

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I use AliExpress for purchasing packing supplies, but this would only work for new accounts set up after 27 July 2016. Currently they are offering 5% cashback!
Click here to save with an Aliexpress coupon.

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One of the highest cashbackers would be Lazada.sg: they offer 2%-12% cashback depending on what you buy. Some of their popular products are listed on Shopback too.
You can grab a Lazada coupon here.

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Lastly, check out their site at the upcoming 99 Cashback Day launching on 1 Sept 2016 for their 2nd anniversary!

Shopaholics, give it a try! It's a smarter way to shop.

P.S. Appreciate it if you would use this referral link:
https://www.shopback.sg/?raf=yKL7mN
if you want to sign up for Shopback! You can invite your friends for similar rewards after that, thank you so much and thanks for reading!

SINGAPORE GARDEN FESTIVAL 2016

This is the Singapore Garden Festival on 25 July 2016. I had planned to release a video but no time for that so please enjoy the numerous photos below! I went with my mom and we had anticipated this for months.

The weather was good, it wasn't hot! It was drizzling a bit and the floor was damp from earlier rain but I'd rather take that than the scorching sun. The drizzle stopped shortly but the sky remained cloudy so that was nice too since you can't view the outdoor displays if it was pouring. It was held at Gardens by the Bay at Bayfront Marina Bay again. It was half outdoors and half indoors, and ever since they held the event here, it is getting bigger and bigger, compared to previous years when it was at Suntec City Convention Centre.

Here are my old posts from the previous years, I didn't blog about the 2010 one:
- 2014
- 2012
- 2008

Hanging terrariums. Terrariums are all the rage now in Sg. You can put them in your office or flat where you can't get full sunlight, nor do they require green fingers, you can also decorate them with (bootleg) Totoro miniatures everyone is selling now!

 The terrarium dome is nice and chilly, and misty. Smells a bit funky though. Nice concept.

A section full of hanging ferns, orchids, nepenthes pitcher plants! It got crowded towards the late afternoon so I got real lucky for this early people-less photo after several visitors went through the door and out of my shot lol.

Best of show. That is the hugest winter melon, I never knew we could grow such fancy pumpkins or melons in our urban landscape.

 Florist competition.

 Bonsai section.

I think this is the Fantasy section. This area was dark and some had nice lighting and fountains and video is the best way to showcase its movement and atmosphere.

 Cute outdoor display with lots of blooms. See in Sg we can't grow most of the pretty flowers due to the tropical climate (they don't bloom), only greens like grass, ferns, shrubs and trees. And maybe orchids.

 Lots of sunflowers and lots of (real) dragonflies. You can see that one that looks like a helicopter in the sky.  I'm afraid of dragonflies lol.

 Outdoor landscaping design section.

 You cannot go into any of these... They are barricaded and for display only.

 Except for this small sugar cane maze with mirrors.

 Might be nice for a local resort.

Bright morning glories, though it wasn't morning but late afternoon. Hmm called Ipomoea if I recall right.

 Glass dragonflies.

Secret Garden section.

The ground was covered with wood chips and damp, so it was squishy and muddy.

 It was crowded and due to it being enclosed, the atmosphere felt muggy.

 We took a long walk to the Flower Dome for the Orchid Show, which was outside the main festival area. The ticket allows us free admission into the Flower Dome, which is a permanent attraction.

I like this place, it's air conditioned and smells nice at times.

Getting dark and trying to view the dizzying varieties of orchids. I don't really fancy orchids but my mother does.

 Now that leftmost orchid is CRAZY stunning. See its many awards?

Ooh good idea, a durian house! It reminds me of a durian hat kid I drew back in 2004.

Thanks for reading! I may update with a video if I have some time.