Make a Big Splash
An attraction that made big waves decades back, Big Splash at East Coast Parkway is slowly wooing back the crowds by offering free admission. The aquatic complex retains its trademark water slides and swimming pools even till today. Ready to get wet? Surf its website at www.bigsplash.com.sg
Please Play me a Song
Dedicate a song to your beloved husband/boyfriend/dog at the Suntec City Fountain of Wealth. A DJ will read out your dedication and play your request every night from 7pm for free.
And on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, eve of public holidays and publicholidays, from 8pm to 9.30pm, you can ask for a laser text message tobe projected for free on the water screen at the fountain.
Yoga by the Beach
Housewife Jessie Liow, 58, wants to spread the virtues and wonders of yoga and meditation to as many housewives and greying folk as possible. Her brainwave: Teach them the art (of yoga and meditation) for free,as such classes are usually priced out of their reach.
It all started some seven years ago, when she was practising yoga by the beach in Pasir Ris. Some passers-by were so impressed they asked her to teach them. She agreed. And the size of the group just kept expanding.
Madam Liow's yoga lessons are held every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and meditation classes are on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from 7.30am to 9am. You can call Madam Liow on 9450-5859.
Oooh, Andy Lau!
If you have strong legs and don't mind standing for hours, you can catch some blockbusters for free. Just stand outside the numerous VCD shops in the heartland and watch the movie they are playing.
And don't worry about being the only cheapskate 'moviegoer'. The last time we checked, there were at least a few ah peks hovering around the giant TV outside an Ang Mo Kio VCD outlet.
Tamil Movie Mania
Into Tamil talkies? If you don't mind sitting on the grass, you can join the hordes of Indian workers on the open field in Weld Road, Serangoon on Sunday at 8pm. From oldies to recent hits, the free flicks are part of the Sunday Market initiative organised by government agencies and non-profit groups to entertain foreign workers and to relieve the 'human congestion' in Little India.
Go Fish
Get a hook and line, and some bait of course, and head for Bedok Jetty, Sungei Api Api in Pasir Ris, or Punggol Jetty.
Go Fly a Kite
Relive those kampung days. Go fly a kite in any open space. Marina South is especially popular.
Watch People
From people with little taste indulging in PDA (public displays of affection) along Orchard Road, to kids playing under the dancing fountain at Bugis Junction, to 'ladies of the night' parading their wares - one is never short of amusement if you just open your eyes on the streets of Singapore.
Go on a Hike
Climb up Singapore's tallest hill - Bukit Timah Hill - or trek through the forest in MacRitchie Reservoir and get friendly with the monkeys (Just don't feed them). Or check out the new tree-top walk at MacRitchie. The free-standing suspension bridge is 25m above ground and brings you eye to eye with the birds.
Farm Fresh
Join a farm tour at Kok Fah Technology Farm in Sungei Tengah to see how kai lan, spinach and other greens are grown. Call 6762-3160 for more information.
Or if you like fish gazing, make your way to Qian Hu Corporation in Choa Chu Kang to see ornamental fish such as elephant nose, pigeon blood discus and the 'good luck' arowana. Admission is free, unless you demand a guided tour. And there's even a free shuttle service to take you to the farm from various MRT stations on weekends and public holidays. Call 6766-7087 for more details.
It's Tiger Time
Head for the Tiger brewery in Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim for a free hour-long guided tour of its factory and a swig (or two) on the house at the end.
Do note: Skipping the sightseeing to head straight for the drinks is not allowed! Plus, a maximum of two cold ones is apparently the unstated norm. Call 6860-3007 for details.
It's on the House
Pack in the women and the men will follow. That's the idea behind ladies' night at various watering holes in town that offer free booze to the fairer sex on some nights. At Carnegie's at Far East Square, women get free flow of champagne on Wednesdays from 9pm. Wednesday is also ladies' night at China Jump, Chijmes. Women get free flow of house pours and standard drinks from 6pm.
Dance the Night Away
Join aunties and uncles (and we see young folk too) grooving to the beat of country music at public parks on weekend nights. Got two left feet? Don't worry, crowds of 300 to 600 ensure your boo-boos are not likely to be noted. Check out schedules at www.nparks.gov.sg
Work that Body
No money to join a gym? Hit these outdoor exercise corners at Housing Board estates and public parks. Do chin-ups, pull-ups and sit-ups. There's no air-con or fancy equipment, but it's better than nothing.
Parking for nothing
Look out for free parking space after 5pm on Mondays to Saturdays and the whole day on Sundays and public holidays, at certain public carparks in areas like Serangoon, Balestier and Jalan Besar.
The HDB says there's free parking at more than 1,400 of the carparks it runs from 7am to 10.30pm on Sundays and public holidays. Just look out for an orange signplate at the entrance of the carparks.
Pre-flight Fun
Leaving on a jet plane but got eight hours to kill in transit? Fret not. From free Internet access to free movie screenings to a free sightseeing tour of Singapore for transit passengers, Changi Airport has a host of activities and facilities to keep travellers occupied.
Hop on a Free Ride
Okay, so you don't have a car and you're not a frequent flier. And your legs can't take you any further after a full-day shopping spree? Hop onto one of the free shuttle bus services around town, for example, the shuttle from City Hall MRT station to Suntec City.
Model State
Drop by the Singapore City Gallery at the URA Centre in Maxwell Road to catch a bird's-eye view of Singapore's central area. The recently revamped venue showcases Singapore's planning efforts and houses a giant Central Area Model, which has been updated to include the latest plans for Marina Bay, Orchard Road, Kampong Glam, Little India and the Bras Basah and Bugis area.
Take in the View
You probably need to pay an arm and a leg for a great city view. And most of us, working class folk, probably can't afford to do that. But the next time you are in the city area and need a breather, head for the Esplanade's Roof Terrace. From the top of the 'Durian', you can see almost the whole skyline of the Central Business District, bumboats tugging up and down Marina Bay and even lovebirds snuggling up close.
The Best Show in Town
Get National Day Parade tickets. Catch the nation's most spectacular performance with fireworks and all that jazz for free. Until recently, you had to be prepared to queue overnight for the highly sought-after tickets for the big bang on Aug 9; now all you need is luck to win a ticket through balloting.
Bring a Stool
If you can't get the National Day tickets, there are other free shows in the heartland at about the same time. While ghouls supposedly roam the earth during the Chinese Seventh Month, we humans too get to enjoy the getai shows designed to placate the spirits. These song and dance performances, usually a repertoire of Mandarin and dialect ditties, are a hit with the heartland crowd. Look for those makeshift stages in your neighbourhood around August.
Gaming for Free
Don't even want to pay 50 cents for an arcade game? Try out the hitsfor free with any of the 30 Xbox consoles placed in the common areas on the five levels of Funan the IT Mall. Games are changed regularly and shoppers there can have a go at bestsellers such as Halo 2, Dead Or Alive Ultimate and Rallisport Challenge 2.
Surf Wireless
Free wireless Web access is available in these relatively early days of wireless Internet. While some places may charge $3 an hour, you just have to head to places like Funan the IT Mall, McDonald's restaurants and Novena Square with your wireless device and you can check your e-mail, surf the Internet or even go shopping online.
Meet Miss Right
The Land Transport Authority has set up free notice boards at various bus shelters and covered linkways. Ads these days include home owners seeking tenants, match-making agencies offering the chance to meet a prospective Miss Right and garage sale alerts.
Fun Messages
Grab one of the free postcards at food and entertainment outlets and write to a friend. In the age of e-mail and SMS, snail mail is surely a welcome change for those who still carry a pen with them.
Find out What's On
Pick up a free magazine like IS, Juice and The Finder - found at coffee chains, eateries and entertainment outlets - and keep up with the latest happenings and trends in our island city.
Help your Health
What is the value of a healthy body? Priceless. Even better if one doesn't have to pay to be checked by medical professionals. For example, the Singapore Cancer Society offers free screenings to detect breast, cervical and colorectal cancer. Call 6221-9578 for more information or check out their website at www.singaporecancer society.org.sg
House a Homeless Pet
Take Snoopy the beagle or Manja the cat home. Each month, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) takes in more than 1,000 abandoned dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs. Four out of 10 of these animals are unwanted pets, while the rest are strays. And about nine in 10 are put down, while the lucky ones are sent to the SPCA pound.
Adopting a homeless animal at the SPCA pound is free, but you have to pay for compulsory medical expenses which include the cost of sterilisation and vaccination. However, before you rush out and grab a free pet, SPCA's executive officer Deirdre Moss cautions: 'Owning a pet comes with a lifetime of financial responsibilities and commitment. 'It's not something you buy on the spur of the moment because it's cute. Having a pet is not unlike having a child.'
Learn the Lingo
'How much do you charge? I want to buy some chicken wings.' Seniors can now pick up basic conversational English at the Woodlands Community Club for free on Thursday nights. Call 6368-9938 for details.
Thanks for the Music
Stressed out? Bored? Take a break from the daily grind by checking out the free concerts and performances around town. The offerings range from a capella acts to indie rock bands. Besides scanning newspapers and magazines listings, you can check out these websites: www.nparks.gov.sg, www.esplanade.com and www.nac.gov.sg
Alternatively, head down to HMV at CityLink Mall and The Heeren to test their collection of pop, jazz, rock and classical tunes on display.
Book a Nice Time
Pick a good read at the library. From the latest bestseller to travel guides to self-help tips, the National Library Board (NLB) has more than four million titles, and that's just in English alone. Then there are the Chinese, Malay and Tamil titles.
Singaporeans can borrow up to four books or magazines for 21 days with their identity card at no charge. You can rest your bums on armchairs and read right there in the library, if toting a book home doesn't appeal to you.
Locate the nearest library to your home at www.nlb.gov.sg. You can also head to the browser-friendly Borders and Kinokuniya, where some bookworms spend virtually all day reading.
Camp under the Stars
Spend a night outdoors camping on the beach. Go out and pitch a tent at the Changi Beach Park, East Coast Park, Pasir Ris Park, Sembawang Park or West Coast Park. Now, you don't need a permit to camp at these parks.
Durian's Offerings
Singapore's $600 million 'Durian', the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, holds a treasure trove of freebies and that's why it makes this list twice. There are monthly free concerts on Sundays at its stunning concert hall, free lunch-time concerts on the last Tuesday of each month, and free performances every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings at its outdoors waterfront stage.
Plus, there are workshops, exhibitions, meet-the-artist sessions, talks and more, which are often free. Find out what the 'Durian' has to offer at www.esplanade.com
Window Shopping
In this haven of air-conditioned malls, a national hobby is, not surprisingly, window shopping. Bonus: You can also check out what other window shoppers are wearing.
Culture Vulture
So you might not know Van Gogh or anything about the Ottoman Empire, but that's what museums are for: to impart knowledge. The Singapore History Museum and the Asian Civilisations Museum offer free admission on Friday from 7pm to 9pm. Likewise, you can walk through the doors of the Singapore Art Museum free on Fridays from 6pm to 9pm.
Sights, Sounds, Smells
Put on your walking shoes and explore sights, sounds and smells ofLittle India, Chinatown and the other ethnic and culturally-rich quarters of Singapore. Say a prayer at some religious buildings here like the Thian Hock Keng temple at Telok Ayer Street and Sri Mariamman Temple in South Bridge Road.
Yes, a Free Lunch
If you can afford it, buy or cook your own meal. But if you can't, help yourself to the vegetarian fare at the Singapore Buddhist Lodge in Kim Yam Road, off River Valley Road. The temple faithfuls don't check your wallet, nationality or religion, but dish out a yummy spread from breakfast time to dinner. A sample of the menu: curry vegetables, braised mushrooms, steamed tofu and mock meat in sweet-and-sour style. Plus fruit, coffee and tea to wash those calories down.
Mr Lee Bock Guan, president of the Lodge, said there are 'regulars' who trot in daily for the free meals for decades, and even 'stray dogs and cats come to eat our free food'. Said Madam Roseita Gomez, 65, who has been taking her three meals at the temple for the past four months: 'I'm very broke, so have to look for free food. No work, no money, what to do?' As we said, it's free. But, hey, spare a thought for those who are hungrier.
Help me, Doc
Likewise, charitable outfits such as the Thong Chai Medical Institution at Chin Swee Road and The Singapore Buddhist Free Clinic go to the rescue of the poor sick. These organisations provide free medical consultation and medicine, mainly for those down and out. Still, there are the wealthy who turn up and don't get turned away. Staff members say most donate money to the outfits after seeing the doctors.
Call Thong Chai on 6733-6905 and the Buddhist Free Clinic on 6748-7292 for more information. The Buddhist Free Clinic has six branches islandwide but there's a $1 registration fee.
Free to Help?
Are you still with us? How about giving something back for the 38 freebies you just found out about? Find out how you can help those less fortunate than you. Go to the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre website at www.nvpc.org.sg
Get into volunteer work. And do something good for someone. For free.
