52 Week Money Saving Challenge - 2015 (Singapore Dollar Version)

ABBEY: Before the year 2015 came, we already finalized our plan to take the 52-week challenge. It is to save specific amount of money each week. But first goal must be set first. The money we'll collect is to fund our California and Disneyland trip. We only need small budget as we will stay with our relatives.

The US escapade was halted due to some unexpected hurdles along the way but that didn't deter us to complete the challenge. We started with 1SGD and increments of 2 dollars after. We want it to be fun so when we're drafting the plan, we went back to 1SGD at the half of the year. This made that the highest contribution per week is a little more than 50SGD. More than that, then it'll be a burden for us. We want to enjoy it as time goes.

Sometimes, if I gave 10SGD for 5SGD collection, nothing comes back. My wife is telling that "our" bank doesn't give change :) We also put money we got from Chinese New Year packets or changes in our pockets.

We won the challenge and it was a great feeling of accomplishment. The fund will be used for our rental apartment investment. By the way, we got 53 weeks in 2015 :)

WILL: We make to a point that we enjoy every goal we are focusing at. This is one of those. Haha!

Blogged about saving money, that is started at $1 (saw and experienced the cons) then we went up to $2 (loves the result) and now we are posting our experience in the 52-week money challenge.

We went for odd numbers, $1 - $53 and once we hit 26th week we restart to $1. Why start again at $1? Well $55 and so on is not fun anymore. It feels to be more obligation. And our goal is just to surpass our past savings (inflation applies in savings too haha) and to reach an amount that can suffice an airfare from Chicago to California. But because Abbey cannot have a leave that is more than 2 weeks, decided to divert the 52-week challenge funds to another project. 

We enjoyed this 52-week challenge and we got our savings for fun-funds doubled the amount. We are proud to announced that we are one of the finishers. We will definitely do this again.

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If you want a template for 52 Week Challenge kindly email us at

abbeyswil@gmail.com
Do not procrastinate to start the habit of saving, the template is free!!!

Pie Face Singapore @ 313@Somerset - Café · Bakery

ABBEY: I didn't got the chance to bite into their pie, the first time we went here. I just had coffee as we came just after dinner. Good thing that I'm not...

My experience just got better. Second time, I ordered their Pie-fect meal; a drink with The Stack combo (Spicy chicken pie) for 7SGD. The Stack is compose of the pie at the bottom, then mash potato, then peas, then gravy. It was so delicious. The mash and peas were smooth and really went well with the gravy. I keep on catching for breath as the pie filling is spicy :)

WILL: After a remittance made at iRemit at Lucky Plaza, we walked our way to 313 Somerset basement 2 to indulge at Pie Face. 

Yep! I do love pies and I quite happy that Pie Face always have a promotion. Since my tummy is still under rehabilitation (haha), I ordered for a non-spicy variant... the chicken + mushroom. I love the idea of The Stack. A mashed potato and peas and splashed the pie with their gravy. The flavour is bursting inside my mouth. Total happiness! It made me full. A total meal. 

They also have take-outs! Instead of going to a fad coffeeshops this place is quite good to have some talks and catching-up with friends. You will surely enjoy the ambiance and the food and your pocket will not cry because they charge a set of meal that starts at $5. :)

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Pie Face Singapore
(A)313 Orchard Road, #B3-10 313@Somerset
23 Serangoon Central, #B2-49A NEX
(T) 9622 5662
(W)http://pieface.com.sg/

(FB) https://www.facebook.com/piefacesg/

Teddy&Me Cafe Singapore @ Marina Square Shopping Mall

ABBEY: We planned twice to visit Teddy&Me Cafe  but both of them failed. No time as our guests' schedules were tight. But on Christmas Eve, we set foot on their branch at Marina Square. 

We got carbonara with a cup of your of coffee and chicken pot pie. It all costs $30.90. I liked the pasta; it is creamy and the taste reminds me of the noodles we used to eat back in Philippines. The pie crust is crunchy and the filling is delicious. We also watched episodes of Mr. Bean. They still made me laugh even though I saw it multiple times. 

They also serve desserts like sundaes, ice cream, waffles, and crepes.

WILL: Another cafe that holds the flagship of a famous tv series. I am thinking that this will be a lame idea for us to splurge and get the same taste like the other western restaurant offers. But who am I to reject this idea. Abbey requested for it. 

I love pies so I went for Chicken Pie and husband for Carbonara. As usual we always chitchat on many ideas that needs actions. Pasta landed in his mouth, and blurted out "Mmmm. Taste this!" I obliged and it instantly reminds me Lucky Me Pancit Canton of the Philippines. Bite after bite my mind is chasing where that flavour came from? What they have done to the white sauce to be tasted like that. The pie is just the same as others. 

Well, let's go back to their carbonara  That white sauce pasta will be the reason that I will be coming back to Teddy&Me Cafe.

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Teddy&Me Cafe 

Plaza Singapura #05-20

Marina Square #02-207A

Teddy&Me Playground

Changi Airport Terminal 3 B2

https://www.facebook.com/TeddyandMeCafeSingapore

enquiry@mrbeancafe.com.sg

The Burger Bar @ Marina Square Shopping Mall (by Fatboy's Concept)

ABBEY: This is where we had our Christmas dinner. We visited their branch at Marina Link. I got this huge burger Double Bacon Double Cheeseburger with fries and drink for 17.50SGD. It was delicious. 

The bacon-meat patty is a great combo. My jaw got tired of chewing. It took me time to finish the whole meal. It is amazing how to put your order. Go to one of the tablets, choose from their variety of options, go to the cashier and pay. 

They will give you your electronic "coaster" and wait for it to light. Voila, your meal is ready.

WILL: Everybody are feasting on wide selection of food that time, Abbey and I is at the Burger Bar at Marina Square to feast on their delectable burgers. 

I went for Swiss Shroom Combo ($15.00). Oh darling! It is humongous. Does it met our qualities to a burger? Yes! A thick and juicy and milky tasted patty. The price is just the same as other fastfood chain. Another addition to out list. I want to commend their ordering pattern. Pretty systematic. 

If you around the Marina Bay area, just drop by in here. 

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The Burger Bar Marina Square

6 Raffles Boulevard #B1-03 Marina Link

6635 6660

http://fatboys.sg/

https://www.facebook.com/theburgerbarms/

Marina Mandarin | 5 Star Hotel Singapore Marina Bay - Christmas Eve Staycation (2015)

ABBEY: Got reservation at Marina Mandarin on the eve until Christmas day. We understand that it will be a busy day at the hotel and services will somehow will be delayed. But the hotel management also must need to consider that if it is a holiday then more people is needed to support the workforce. Sadly, we got the room keys by 4PM. We were there since 2PM.

We got a deluxe room at 14th storey with a view of Marina Bay. Ths room and spacious, the pillows are soft and we got a bathtub :)

After spending few hours watching reruns we went down to grab some bite to eat.

Coming back to the hotel, we had a chance to see live performance at the lobby. Christmas spirit can be filled thru the songs. We also took a look at their gym. It was clean and I even tried some of their machines.

Night has passed and I'm looking forward for the breakfast. It was a buffet. It was included in the roomrate we had. They have Japanese, Indian, Western and local cuisines. I indulged myself with salmon teriyaki and sashimi, sushi. Pair it with vegan fried rice and it is a combo. I also have some sausages, ham and eggs. The egg station offers omelette, fully cooked sunny side up and the one with "runny and gooey" yolks :) The bacon is not that good as it is not crispy.

We dipped few minutes on their pool, fixed our things and then we headed for checkout.

WILL: Without having a second thought, I clicked the link when I saw the advertisement of Meritus Group for their holiday season. It will be a our first time to experience celebrating the festivity out of own home. That was August. 

Fast-forward December 24th, we have reached the hotel around 2pm. Well, the queue is not that long but we wasted so much time in waiting for our keycard to be handed over. They informed all of their guests that the rooms were not yet ready. The check-out time is 12pm and check-in is 2. I can only see that they maybe lack of people to clean the room. And you know what time when we got to our place? It is around 5pm. 

It gets me frustrated, of course, but I chose not to go to that mood because I do not want to ruin our staycation. 

As requested (came with a fee) we have a room with a view of Marina Bay Sands. The room is pretty huge, the bed and beddings feels and smells clean same as the bathroom. I commend their bath foam, one small tube is enough to bubble up the whole tub. When we go to the terrace, the floor tiles are still wet maybe because of the rain that noon time. 

After the dinner at Burger Bar, we roamed around to check out their pool and their gym. The gym is quite impressive. They have those complicated apparatuses inside. After walking and walking we sat and watched a mini concert  that was held in the lobby. The happiness is really in the air. 

Their breakfast buffet at AquaMarine is love! A quite of variety to indulge to. The pool! And the falls! Instant hydrotherapy haha! 

I noticed that their hallways are not properly lit even in the early mornings, the reason we do not get a good shots on that. 

Thanks for a wonderful experience Meritus Group - Marina Mandarin Hotel. :)

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Marina Mandarin Singapore by Meritus
6 Raffles Boulevard
Marina Square, Singapore 039594

Tel: (65)­ 6845 1000
Fax: (65)­ 6845 1001

Reservations: resvn.marina@meritushotels.com
General Enquiries: marina@meritushotels.com

https://www.facebook.com/marinamandarinsg