6 savvy mums share how they deal with the rising cost of eating out

Ask any mum on her thoughts about eating out in Singapore, and you’ll get more or less the same answer: It’s getting so expensive!

And it’s not just your imagination. An Institute of Policy Studies study on food prices, which surveyed the costs of food at hawker centres, coffee shops and food courts from September to November 2022, and January to February 2023, revealed that the cost of eating out in Singapore is very likely to continue rising, especially when considered against future household incomes.

Yes, even though reports show that cost pressures at hawker centres are easing this year, with hawker food inflation falling to 4.1% in December 2023 in comparison to a peak of 8.3% in February 2023. This just means that hawker food prices are still increasing, albeit at a slower rate.

While cooking and eating at home is a great way to manage rising food costs, it’s not always possible. Sometimes, it’s just much easier to eat out, especially if you’re juggling a full day of activities with kids in tow.

After all, mum life is demanding enough as it is, without the additional load of planning, preparing and cooking meals at home, or having to rush home for a meal before the toddler has a meltdown from hanger.

We ask six mums to share their favourite kid-friendly eateries, money-saving tips for eating out, and how they manage the rising cost of living in Singapore.

One thing they all have in common? Being smart about maximising student or lunch deals, and sharing portions among the family. Mums really know best!

Tip 1: Go to restaurants or cafes that don’t charge service charge or GST

How often do you eat out as a family?

Kitchen at home is closed during the weekends, so we’ll have a meal at a restaurant or cafe at least once over the weekend. For the weekdays we don’t cook, we’ll do takeaways from the coffeeshop or hawker centres. 

⁠All-time favourite kid-friendly eating place?

Our all-time favourite when dining with the boys has to be Saizeriya. Dining there is fuss-free, and most importantly, the restaurant serves food that the kids love to eat. Simple pasta, pizza and lots of side dishes to choose from at very reasonable prices. Kids love the free flow drinks at less than $2 per pax!

Best money-saving tips for eating out in Singapore? 

We try to find restaurants or cafes with no service charge and/or GST, because that would mean we automatically save 19% on the total bill. Some eateries that we frequent are Offshore restaurant in Kovan, and Sun Ray Cafe in Serangoon Gardens.

Sometimes, I share a portion with my elder boy, since both of us are small eaters and unlikely to be able to finish a full portion by ourselves. When we eat at restaurants on weekdays, we look out for nice set meals that include a free soup, drink or dessert. When our schedule permits, we’d try to make it at off-peak timings when some restaurants offer a 20 to 30% discount.

Other things we do to keep our restaurant bill lower are: not ordering drinks, and signing up for loyalty programmes that offer free dishes or even cash rebates.

How do you manage the cost of living in Singapore with a growing family to feed?

It is important to plan ahead with finances and be prudent with a lot of perceived needs. For example, I try to shop at cheaper alternatives like online shopping platforms, discount stores and outlets, which provide similar products at a lower price. Every dollar counts!

As my younger boy loves strawberries, blueberries, peaches and mangoes, I keep my eyes peeled for 1-for-1 deals or bigger discounts at supermarkets, and buy them when they’re on promotion. My best-kept secret fruit store is this one in front of Bugis Village, which sells a wide variety at way lower prices than regular supermarkets and wet markets!

Tip 2: Dine during off-peak hours

How often do you eat out as a family?

We eat out at least thrice a week, usually at Toast Box, Yakiniku-Go, or Fish & Co.

All-time favourite kid-friendly eating place?

It would have to be Putien! Apart from the free kids’ meals, the service staff are generally very attentive to the kids’ needs, and are always ready to help make sure that the kids are enjoying their food and themselves. A total bonus for parents. 

Best money-saving tips for eating out in Singapore?

Order an extra portion and divide it amongst the children since they are generally small eaters, or head to cafes that offer free kids’ meals for every main ordered!

If you have formal school-going children, you can go for student meal promos during lunchtime, such as the value-for-money ones at Yakiniku-Go.

Eating at off-peak hours helps a lot too. Toast Box sometimes has 20% off two main courses after 7pm, while Fish & Co, often has good promotions or deals from 3pm to 5pm.

How do you manage the cost of living in Singapore with a growing family to feed?

Feeding ourselves in Singapore is getting increasingly expensive, and we just have to find the places that give the most bang for our buck. At supermarkets, we should make full use of promotions to buy what we need and cook at home. Sometimes, house brands at supermarkets offer great value at reasonable prices. A little savings here and there goes a long way.

Tip 3: Look out for economical set meals

How often do you eat out as a family?

I usually eat out on weekends with my family.

All-time favourite kid-friendly eating place?

We enjoy dining at cafes like Paul, where there are kids’ meals as well as options for a heavier meal or just a snack for the adults.

Best money-saving tips for eating out in Singapore?

Definitely look out for lunch menus which tend to be cheaper or come in sets with a soup or a drink, especially if you are dining out on weekdays.

When eating out with my family, sharing is the norm. This allows us to try a greater variety of dishes and items from the menu! Since my daughter is only one year old, she can eat off our portion, or we will bring homemade food for her.

How do you manage the cost of living in Singapore with a growing family to feed?

For families with young kids like mine, I personally think it’s great to have a balance of home-cooked meals and dining out at different types of restaurants, to expose our children to various cuisines available here in Singapore. 

That said, we try to be responsible in managing our finances to be able to keep up with inflation. Setting aside savings or investments is important to us, so we mostly eat at home, and save nicer dine-out meals for occasions.

Tip 4: Share portions among the small eaters

How often do you eat out as a family?

Four to six times a month. We eat at our usual haunts at the hawker centre or the mall’s food court if we need somewhere cooler. Cafes and restaurants are exclusively to celebrate occasions like achievements and birthdays.

All-time favourite kid-friendly eating place?

We don’t have any particular favourite eating places but my three children love noodles or pasta! So when we have a planned celebratory meal, I will look out for eateries that offer the best deals on their favourites.

Best money-saving tips for eating out in Singapore?

Sharing food among the small eaters, definitely. My eldest son and youngest daughter are small eaters, so they usually share a bowl or plate of food, while my elder daughter will have her own since she can finish it.

We also don’t order drinks where we dine. I will make sure to look out for promotions or deals on drinks at the supermarket, and grab those drinks on-the-go, or I’ll make it a point to bring our own tumblers.

I also always try to use whatever memberships, apps or cards that give me cashback, discounts or special offers that can offset the cost of our meal. The Fairprice app that can be used at Kopitiam, for example, gives me 10% off.

Also, the small things matter. Bring your own tissue paper! You can save 20 to 50 cents on that.

How do you manage the cost of living in Singapore with a growing family to feed?

It is definitely getting costlier, especially with our kids growing up and with just one breadwinner in the family. But it’s very possible.

I take the time to go grocery shopping at the supermarkets and wet markets in my neighbourhood, checking out and noting down the deals and promotions available and picking up items on offer. Great deals can be found if you take the time to browse – I walk through every aisle as part of me-time, and I love it.

You can also find cheaper fruits and cooked food at neighbourhood markets, especially at locations frequented by the elderly.

Tip 5: Get drinks from a value dollar store

How often do you eat out as a family?

I make it a point not to cook on Saturdays, so we eat out as a family every Saturday.

All-time favourite kid-friendly eating place?

We love to dine at Din Tai Fung because the food there suits my girls’ very Chinese taste buds. Ippudo Ramen is another family favourite as it has awesome kids’ meals that come with jelly and Yakult. We like to head to Marche sometimes, because of its play area. We don’t eat out as a family that often, but when we do, we choose air-conditioned places with a variety of food and a relaxed atmosphere.

Best money-saving tips for eating out in Singapore?

As a family of four, we usually order three mains, or two large mains with one extra dish to share. At Din Tai Fung, we usually order a bowl of beef noodles without beef for the girls to share, since they’re not big meat eaters right now. This helps satisfy their Din Tai Fung noodle craving while keeping costs down.

We don’t order drinks in the restaurants. Instead, we like to head to the value dollar store (which can be found in most neighbourhood malls) for cheap, cold beverages like green tea or 100 Plus, which costs 80 cents to a dollar plus per bottle. This is cheaper than at most hawker centres!

Eating out doesn’t always have to be super expensive. There are plenty of budget-friendly meals available at our coffee shops and hawker centres. If the heat or the lack of hygiene is hard for your kids to manage and stresses you out, you’re not alone because ME TOO. I bring my own glass containers to take food away and save money on disposable packaging. You can easily save 30 to 50 cents with this! Using my glass container just eight times makes it already worth the purchase.

How do you manage the cost of living in Singapore with a growing family to feed?

I’m a huge fan of frozen food prep! We’ve been doing it for six years now. We keep it simple with one-dish meals like bolognese, stew, or soup stock – all frozen and ready to be warmed up when needed. I can’t handle cooking fresh meals every day. Frozen food prep helps me stay sane, and gets healthy, affordable meals on the table fast. Plus, it gives the kids some variety if they’re craving different things.

Tip 6: Load up on fruit at home

How often do you eat out as a family?

We eat at restaurants or cafes about once a month. Other times, we buy meals back from the nearby kopitiam.

All-time favourite kid-friendly eating place?

McDonald’s! It’s a great option for us to have a break from our usual rice and noodle menu.

Best money-saving tips for eating out in Singapore?

As a family of five with rapidly growing kids, having a nutritious and well-balanced meal outside can cost a fortune. When they were younger, we would buy two sets to share between the five of us, but now, the kids all order their own portions, or my two girls may share a meal depending on how hungry they are. With each meal easily costing $15 to $20, everything adds up quickly.

Sometimes, when we aren’t very hungry because we had a heavier meal just before heading out, the adults may even share a meal. This works out because the kids don’t finish their meals at times, so we end up finishing their food as well. Sharing platters for the family also work well for us

!I love to take advantage of student meals at restaurants, since portions and prices are pretty decent. Our hands-down favourite student meal deal can be found at Hot Tomato. For the price ($10.90 to $14.90) and choice of dishes (steak, chicken chop, fish and chips, and carbonara), it’s really reasonable!

How do you manage the cost of living in Singapore with a growing family to feed?

Honestly, it is quite hard to cook a good and nutritious meal without spending a lot. So when I am grocery shopping, I look out for offers or promos, even if they are not on brands that I usually buy. I’ll also stock up on non-perishable items on sale, and try my best to substitute ingredients of similar nutritional value which are on sale.

 My best tip has to be offering more fruits and veggies to the kids at home, to ensure they eat nutritiously overall. Ready-to-eat fruits can be expensive outside, so loading up on fruits at home is a win-win.

This article was first published in Women’s Weekly.