Keep The Change: Navigating The Singapore Dollar (And Coins) For STGCC 2009
Seriously tho, I imagine it would be as much of a "WTH?" to you, dear readers, as it was for me to snap this pic. Yes, if you haven't guessed it by now, I am washing money. More specifically, I was washing coins - to be used for running the TRE Booth C16 @ the coming Singapore Toy, Games & Comic Convention 2009 (August 13-16)!Why? Because they were dusty, and would take hella longer to wipe down with a damp cloth. Yes, tis just another mindless drone-task-slash-distraction from the insanity about to be unleashed for the Con. And no, I did not wash and iron any dollar bills :p
Loose change - be it coins or dollar bills - are a necessity for transactions (like, duh) - especially when folks are not running a Credit Card / Debit Line or utilizing any electronic means for transactions (Locally tis "NETS"). And for purchases at TRE Booth C16 - it will be straight-up CASH transactions, in Singapore Dollars (and cents), please. Ain't running a big-time retail op here, yo! LOL
TRE did a "Survival Guide"-style-post back in 2008 for STCC, and so will try not to repeat too much of it again (even tho some of my perspectives/opinions might have changed hhhmmm) - CLICK THRU to read more, if you so please :)
In some respects, a smooth transaction means less time is spent counting and comparing / haggling over different countries' exchange-rates, and more time going on to the next purchase, innit? IMHO, of course :)
TRE-SAYS: "If you have to choose, choose faster and get everything you want and can afford!"
Current exchange rates can be found online via www.xe.com (my current source for all TRE-blog-posts, btw).
For folks coming in from Overseas, a few things to note:
- Money changing can be done smoothly at Changi Airport when you touch down (unless your guide tells you otherwise, maybe they've got better "connections" and rates elsewhere ;p)
- Denominations range from SGD$1 coins and notes (notes are quite rare these days actually), to SGD$2, SGD$5 and SGD$10. Next highest denom is SGD$50 and up ($100, $1000). And no I cannot change your $1000 bill for a $20 item lol
Coins range from 5-cents, to 10-cents, 20 and 50-cents. (10 x 10-cents / 5 x 20-cents / 2 x 50-cents = $1). I will try to spare you the deluge of 10-cents, but they are now clean and even smell nice-nice ... *ahem*
- I've also realized a whole lot of places and establishments may not necessarily take 5-cent coins. So don't get stuck with a handful, and try not to unload too much of them (no guarantees if peeps'll take them, even if they are money - believe me, even I have tried LOL)
- GST = "Goods and Services Tax". Most estabs do charge it at 7%, and some absorb 2% of that. While others might already have factored in the final cost of the item or service. This is different from, when say, restaurants charge an additional "Service Charge" (could be +10% and above - them refresher-towels ain't "free", yeh?). More about GST can be read via wiki.
- Singapore does not practice "tipping", or rather to be precise - there is no hidden or unspoken rule of commerce-thumb to tip beyond what you are charged for. Taxi-rides are metered and visible on the vehicle-dash (ask for a receipt to tally, if need be), and most shops provide electronically printed receipts. I do not expect to see a whole lot of cash registers at STGCC - but you'll never know, yeh? .... But I ain't gonna haggle with you if you mention "Keep The Change" LOL ;p
