Lunar New Year can be a time of joyful fun and anxious trepidation. So many things to do, so little time, right?
Don’t fret if you haven’t started. LabourBeat brings you the ultimate cheat sheet so you can prep the most talked-about reunion dinner, get your glow on, and still find time to beautify your space.
#1 Plan the Reunion Dinner Like a Pro
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Skip the Fuss and Dine Out
We doubt the half day off on LNY eve will give you enough time to prepare the feast for a horde of hungry relatives.
Simple solution? Chope your spot at one of Downtown East or Aranda Country Club’s exciting eateries.
You can’t go wrong with a traditional Chinese feast. Roast duck lover? Then you’ll already know to head to Dian Xiao Er for their famous herbal version. Check out their price-friendly Auspicious Set Menus starting from $168 and Smoked Salmon Yu Sheng at only $39.80.
If you want to spend your ang pow bonus, you can always feast like a king at Crown Prince. The $888 menu for ten boasts luxe delicacies like Shark’s Fin Soup with Dried Scallop and Crab Meat and Abalone Pen Cai, while the $1,188 offering takes things up a notch with Lobster and Abalone Yu Sheng. NTUC members get a yummy deal of 5 per cent off.
If your Muslim friends are joining, you can book halal-certified Buey Tahan See-Food or Segar Restaurant.
The former has all the buey-tahan-so-cheap zi char seafood you can eat for only $21.90! Remember to bring at least 14 friends or family members to enjoy the deal. The casual void-deck style eatery also has exclusive bundle sets from $328 for four to six guests.
The latter also promises a good deal on its halal Chinese delights. Its Prosperity Reunion Set Menus with Abalone Yu Sheng is a steal at $228++ for a party of four.
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Nail Your Home-styled Feast
If you want to get your guests’ tongues wagging, consider serving up something different from the usual steamboat and Yu Sheng.
Learn how to make authentic Korean cuisine like Braised Spicy Chicken with Vegetables (Jjimdak), Beef Bibimbap and Soft Tofu Seafood Stew (Soondubu Jigae).
Sign up for the Korean Cooking Class By Let’s Yori, which is perfect for beginners with little experience.
Don’t forget to grab your festive cooking essentials from FairPrice Online. New customers just need to spend $59 to get $12 off. Do note that delivery slots on LNY eve are only available from 8am to 6pm, with limited slots on the first and second days.
You may also want to check out FairPrice’s LNY catalogue, which has tips on how to whip up a Cantonese, Hokkien or Teochew feast.
Of course, you can always head down to FairPrice’s physical stores — over 30 outlets have extended their operating hours to cater to your late-night shopping needs. In addition, 69 and 35 stores will be open around the clock on 8 February and LNY eve, respectively. Around 144 physical stores will remain open on the first day, with 42 operating 24/7.
If you want to eat in, but don’t want to slave all day, there’s always the choice of catering from one of foodline.sg’s many vendors. You’ll be spoilt for choice from basic buffet staples to full-on restaurant quality delights.
NTUC members can enjoy this sweet deal: Spend $200 or $300 and get 10 per cent off.
#2 Get All Dressed Up and Ready to Glow
Still cramming deadlines and don’t have time to buy new clothes and snag a new look?
Don’t worry; Zalora’s selection of over 50,000 items has something for everyone in the family. Step out in style with their party-ready dresses or spotlight-stealing evening wear. Your partner can look sharp with suits and blazers that can take him from the office to a party. They’ve expanded their kids’ collection, so you can pick up something for the mini-mes as well. From newborns to tweens, there’s a wider range of festive-friendly pieces to tempt you to get matching parent and kid outfits.
Best of all, NTUC members can enjoy a 15 per cent discount plus five per cent cashback with a minimum spend of $120, capped at $50.
Meanwhile, those coveting a TikTok-ready glow can check out Downtown East’s beauty offerings.
Enjoy a nourishing facial at Beunoia and get a free eye treatment for just $38. Prior appointment is required, so call 67021251 or WhatsApp 96458896 to secure your booking.
While you’re there, might as well get your nails done at Nail Market Studio. You’ll also get a chance to pick a sure-win ang pow with prizes like discount vouchers, a Phillips table lamp and more!
#3 Make Your Crib LNY-Ready
Now that you’ve scrubbed every spot and fluffed every cushion, you can LNY-fy your home with gorgeous festive decorations from Shopee. New Shopee users who are NTUC members can receive $12 off with no minimum spend.
Thereafter, you may want to further invigorate the home atmosphere with a touch of fragrance.
The AromaGems Mist Blend Workshop will teach you to create a unique aroma mist infused with natural gems. It leverages the therapeutic benefits of natural essential oils to create an energy-boosting and mood lifting scent that can be used to around your home and on upholstery to freshen your space.
NTUC members get to enjoy a special price of only $40 for a fully-guided 60-minute session and take home a 50ml bottle of AromaGems Mist.
Ready to receive your guests? Don’t forget to pre-order bak kwa from fan favourite Lim Chee Guan. NTUC members who spend $68 via the WhyQ app can enjoy a 10 per cent discount. Skip the queue, and enjoy!