11 Membership Cards To Get In Singapore

It’s a good time to evaluate your spend and savings, as you prepare to inch closer to year 2021.

It’s also the perfect time to find the best value in your spend (like the many memberships you signed up for and never used). Here’s why we curated a list of membership cards in Singapore that you and your family could bank on, especially at a time when our travel plans are limited to shopping, dining and beach-hopping in our island country.

As a consumer, you’re going to be spending money one way or another. So, why not get the most bang for your buck? Well-designed membership programmes are made exactly for this. They reward consumers with good value and great perks, making it worthwhile to remain loyal to the brand. 

Here is our pick of the best memberships in Singapore that every savvy spender should check out. 

Best shopping rewards cards: MBS, Changi Rewards, TANGS and Metro

Sands Rewards Lifestyle Card: Marina Bay Sands

For all its prestigious branding, Marina Bay Sands’ rewards programme actually has a rather low bar to entry. In fact, anyone can sign up for free as a Lifestyle member to start earning Rewards Dollars worth up to 10% of the total amount spent. 

Keep spending and you’ll be automatically upgraded to the higher membership levels that come with additional perks and savings. Spend at least $2,000 within 12 months and be bumped up one tier to Prestige. However, to reach Elite, you’ll need to rack up a shopping bill of at least $50,000 (roughly, one-and-a-half trip to Hermes with a stopover at Tiffany’s). 

Besides using your accumulated Rewards Dollars to offset your shopping bill, the membership also entitles you to birthday rewards, special promotions and other privileges that extend to attractions and exhibitions (such as at the Skypark and ArtScience Museum) as well as the hotel and spa.

Changi Rewards: Changi Airport Group

This is a rewards programme that offers you multiple ways to save when you spend at the airport and participating merchants at Jewel. 

Every transaction of at least $10 will earn you Rewards points, which you can use to redeem vouchers, discounts and deals. You can also enjoy a waiver of GST when you shop at the airport’s public areas. 

Want more Rewards points? Be sure to pool your purchases, so that you spend at least $30 for a chance at the Sure Win lucky draw. There’s also the chance to win prizes ranging from bonus points to exclusive gifts. If you want to further level up your membership, spend at least $4,000 or $8,000 in a year on airport retail. You can boost your point earn rate from the base 10 points per $10, to 20 points per $10, or even 60 points per $10. 

TANGS Classic: TANGS Department Store

Love shopping at TANGS? How would you like to shave $6 off every $100 you spend? That’s your privilege as a TANGS Classic cardholder, along with invitations to 12% rebate shopping days, birthdays treats and members-only deals. 

But that’s not all. All TANGS members can also enjoy free basic alterations on clothing, and free local delivery when spending $200 or more. Perks apply for both in-store purchases and online transactions. 

You’ve simply got to sign up for a free Insider membership, then spend at least $80 (excluding GST) in a single receipt to be upgraded to Classic membership, the tier required to start earning rebates and perks.

The Metro Card: Metro Department Store

Metro Card members can enjoy an additional 10% discount on blue label products when shopping at Metro department stores in Northpoint or Metro Paragon. 

The discount doubles to 20% during your birthday month, which you can enjoy on up to two transactions in store. Also included are members-only previews and promotions on Metro’s extensive catalogue, which spans everything from home and living to kitchenware, fashion, travel accessories, beauty and more. 

To enjoy these perks, simply accumulate at least $300 in receipts over 3 consecutive months to be eligible for the Metro Card Classic, which comes with lifetime validity. 

Best home, beauty and fashion rewards cards: IKEA, Innisfree and Uniqlo

IKEA Family: IKEA

IKEA’s ability to hypnotise you into spending way more than you mean to is well known by now. It’s definitely the maze-like layout their stores so cunningly adopt. Why not earn privileges the next time you go on a shopping spree at IKEA?

Claw back some of your hard-earned money with an IKEA Family membership, which allows you to earn 1 IKEA Family point per $1 spent. When you rack up 500 points, you can redeem them all for the princely sum of… $5.

Yeah, not super impressive. But, as a member, you can also access special prices, further knocking down the cost of IKEA’s signature Swedish furniture and home accessories. Which makes them even more affordable, so you can buy more. Wait… is it a trap? It could well be one.

Innisfree Rewards Card: Innisfree

Korean skincare products have proven to work wonders, and yet are priced reasonably enough that you never feel extravagant for treating yourself to a mid-week DIY facial every now and then. 

Which means there’s a good chance that you’re regularly spending money at your favourite Innisfree store. Good thing that there’s a membership programme that allows you to earn points, which you can put toward future purchases. Here’s how it works. Every dollar spent will earn you 1 point (1.5 points or 2 points at higher membership tiers), and you can redeem 50 points for a $1 discount. That’s equivalent to a cashback of 2%, and not too bad!

Membership is free and lasts a lifetime. Simply make a purchase to be automatically enrolled. But do note that any accumulated points will expire after 12 months, so don’t be afraid to top up your stash of face masks. 

Uniqlo App: Uniqlo

In keeping with their fuss-free, zippy branding, Uniqlo’s loyalty scheme is also refreshingly fast and easy. 

Each time you spend at least $20, you stand a chance to win a voucher worth $5, $10 or $20. These vouchers can then be used for your next purchase, helping you to save even more. 

To participate, simply download the Uniqlo App and sign up for an account. Then, when you make a purchase, scan your membership barcode during checkout, and check your app the next day to play and win vouchers. Membership is free and comes with lifetime validity. But your vouchers likely have expiry dates, so do remember to keep an eye on them.

Best coffee, entertainment and lifestyle rewards cards: Starbucks, Golden Village, Amazon and Sentosa

Starbucks Rewards: Starbucks

Let’s be real — a Starbucks habit can get pretty expensive pretty fast. If you’re determined to continue double-fisting your weekly frappes, you might as well sign up for a Starbucks Rewards Card while you’re at it.

As a member, your privileges include earning 1 star per $1 spent, a free food item or drink reward every 60 stars. Also, you will automatically advance in membership levels as you accumulate stars. But be warned that stars earned reset to zero every 12 months. 

Increasing your membership rank unlocks more than just bragging rights (and, ahem, your personalised digital gold card). It also entitles you to a greater range of rewards and perks. And considering how quickly you’ll earn your stars (because it is expensive), this is quite the sought-after loyalty programme.

GV Movie Club: Golden Village

With the current capacity restrictions, now is actually the best time to go out for a movie without having to deal with a crowded theatre. 

For movie savings and perks, sign up for a GV Movie Club membership to unlock privileges like $2 off online tickets on Mondays and $7 tickets on Tuesdays. If Gold Class is more your style, you can get a 10% discount off any Wine and Dine booking. Membership is free and lasts a lifetime, but you’ll have to watch at least 4 different movies within 12 months to keep your benefits from being suspended. 

Amazon Prime: Amazon

Ok, we don’t know if this just a promo pricing or marketing gimmick, but did you know you could get exclusive early access to shopping deals, free delivery from the US, free local delivery as quick as 2 hours, free streaming of movies and TV shows, and exclusive content for some of the hottest video games right now — all for a monthly subscription that costs less than a plate of chicken rice?

We’re talking, of course, about Amazon Prime, which is a no-brainer for anyone who buys stuff online, and streams their entertainment (whether TV/video or gaming). Last we checked, this describes only 99% of everyone we know (and will ever know). Everything described above for just $2.99 per month. With a free one-month trial to boot. This is why Amazon will take over the world. 

Sentosa Islander: Sentosa

For just $25, you can enjoy year-long unlimited free entry into Sentosa Island, Singapore’s official ‘State of Fun’. The Sentosa Islander membership provides great value, chiefly because 80% of your membership fee is rebated in the form of a $20 cash voucher on your birthday month.

Then, there are the rotating discounts and privileges across attractions, stays, dining and shopping you’re entitled to, which can add up to savings many times more of your membership fee. So, before you head for your next Sentosa beach session, be sure to sign up for a membership, if you haven’t already. 

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