What can you save the most on when shopping in Johor Bahru?, Lifestyle News

Weekend Wholesalers: Why JB Is Your Money Magnet

Ever dream of picking up a killer deal without breaking the bank? The Johor Bahru (JB) causeway – that golden sandy bridge over the Straits of Johor – makes it a no-brainer for Singaporeans craving a weekend splurge.

Sure, it only takes between 1–5 hours to hop across, including the mood‑inducing immigration checks. But that means not every purchase you make is worth the journey. Let’s cut the fluff and focus on the sweet spots that actually save you cash.

Top Three Spree‑Savers for Your Next JB Trip

Drugstore Cosmetics: Big brand names and deep discounts lining the shelves. Think “a little heavier than the bathroom window but still lighter than my bank statement.”
Fashion Accessories: From trendy hats to unique scarves, flipping the price tag while keeping your style unmatched.
Food & Beverage: Dive into savory delights and drinks that you’ll bring home without the same caloric toll.

Remember, a layover in JB can boost your wallet’s mood if you shop smart. Skip the tourist traps and stick to these golden categories to keep your weekend budget healthy.

Pro Tip: Pre‑Plan, Scan, Repeat

Before you jump off the causeway, map the money‑saving spots, set a budget, and tell your phone to ping “5–10% off” alerts. Then enjoy a quick trip, shop like a pro, and return with a grin – and a lighter wallet.

If you tend to get your makeup from drugstores like Guardian or Watsons, buying them from JB can save you up to 50 per cent of the cost in Singapore.

Given that the range of drugstore makeup brands and offerings in JB are similar to Singapore’s, you never have to worry about overspending on your holy-grail beauty products.

You might want to consider joining the Watsons VIP Card Program in Malaysia.

You can earn up to 5 Watsons point for every 1 RM (S$0.33) spent, and you can then pay for subsequent purchases with such accumulated points, with 200 points equating to 1RM cash.

BABY SUPPLIES: UP TO 50 PER CENT+ OFF BABY MILK FORMULA & DIAPERS

Cutting Costs for New Parents

Did you know that your new baby can actually earn you a nice little discount?* If you proselytise your baby‑supplies‑shopping at JB, the savings could be just as sweet as a fresh bottle of baby formula.

Diaper Dilemma

A typical newborn uses up to 6 diapers every single day.

Swap Tesco’s house‑brand for NTUC’s standard and you’ll pocket $23.40 every month.

Stock up and let the money stack up—it’s a real “bulk‑buy” win!

Milk Magic

Grab infant milk‑formula powder at JB, and you could slash the price by over 50% in Singapore.

Remember, once opened, a single jar of formula must be used within a month for safety—so keep that in mind when you bulk‑shop.

Example: Cooking up six cans of Enfagrow A+ (the trusty side‑kick of many babies) in JB saves you $259.86. That chunk far outweighs the cost of three cans at home back in Singapore—especially if you’re not in a position to hop across the causeway frequently.

Breakfast Low‑Cost Corner

Think you need to break the bank for a good morning? Not with our guide to saving on the essentials:

Coffee, cereal, and more—each of these can be slashed in price when you shop strategically.

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Bottom line:* As a new parent, a little smart shopping at JB can keep your wallet as calm as your baby’s sleepy sighs. Happy budget‑blessing!

According to the latest Household Expenditure Survey (HES) 2017/18 conducted by the Singaporean government, a typical household spends about $400 to $500 a month on groceries.

Given that the median household spends $4,906 per month in total for all living expenses, you’re likely to spend nearly 10 per cent of your monthly budget on groceries.

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While 28 per cent and 34 per cent of Singaporeans choose to eat out for dinner and lunch, respectively, only 15 per cent do for breakfast.

If you’re like most people, then, you’re likely to allocate quite a bit of your grocery budget on breakfast foods.

Luckily, breakfast foods like cereal and biscuits are quite a bit less expensive in JB, even in big supermarkets like Tesco.

So, even though you may not shop in JB year-round, stocking up on your next trip can help you save in the following months.

SAVINGS ARE STILL SIGNIFICANT EVEN AFTER CUSTOM TAX

It can be easy to get carried away with shopping when your dollar stretches further in JB, but it’s essential to keep track of the total value of your goods brought back to Singapore.

With effect from 19 February 2019, travellers who spend less than 48 hours outside Singapore will only get GST import relief on the first $100 of the value brought in from overseas.

Anything that’s above $100 will be taxed at 7 per cent. Don’t let that put you off from making the trip to JB, though.

Assuming that you’ve spent $200 on baby formula, you’d only need to pay $207 after taxes. That’s a far cry from ~$400 you’d have spent in Singapore, assuming a the price in JB is 50 per cent of price in Singapore.

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To ensure that you’re making the most out of your trip, consider using a credit card with a low foreign currency transaction fee.

Typically, using a credit card on spend overseas incurs an additional cost of 2.5 per cent-3.5 per cent of the original item price.

You can overcome this cost by opting for a credit card with an even higher rewards rate, like Maybank Family & Friends MasterCard, which offers up to 8 per cent rebate on most spend in Malaysia.

And, even if your card transaction fee is only partially offset by its rewards rate, the savings you’ll enjoy in JB will likely still outweigh the difference.

This article was first published in ValueChampion.
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