:: Casa Clementi ::

Hee.. feel motivated to post about our HDB flat application after reading a few blogs.

We applied for Clementi 3-room Standard/4-room flats the day the Sale of Balance Flats Sep Exercise was announced, and got our balloted queue number on 25 Oct this year. Out of 295 available flats, our number is 280! That gives us 15 units left if everybody before us chose theirs. =X

That also gave me very mixed feelings. What if we get a lousy unit facing trees or rubbish chute? Mine at Punggol is already quite bad. I still feel lousy everyday facing the carpark. Now the tree in front of my window has grown to cover up whatever view I have. That makes me resolve to get a higher floor unit possible.

Theodore and I went for a recce around the construction site on 28 Nov. I don't have good photos to show :( but the flats are really almost completed. My cell group friends have been telling me the flats look almost completed. My colleagues were teasing me that I might have to get married by this Christmas, just extend the Christmas service a little longer and announce to all the church members to stay back to witness my wedding LOL.

Every day as I check the HDB website to see which units have been taken I'd be praying that we can get our best unit most suitable for our needs, other people can get theirs, so we won't clash.

I still have many uncertainties. What if we can't afford a 4-room flat? Would we be forced to forgo this application? We still have a choice to apply for 3-room because thank God He knows we are (or I am) indecisive. One moment I'd be hoping for 3-room, the next moment 4-room. I'm pretty fine that for the first few months we would be sleeping in our sleeping bags, no tv, no furniture.. work hard to bring all these in slowly lor.

I was also worried initially about getting the flat so soon. Seems like date of completion might be early next year. That means we have to get married to show marriage certificate by then!! *gasp* Feels like shot-gun, but of a different kind.

Meanwhile I'm doing whatever research I can about wedding, housing... Still have lots of questions. Forums can't seem to address my questions because our situation is unique. Really relying on God every day for His assurance of providence and trusting in Him that He has already prepared each step for us. Indeed getting a queue number on our first try has already been a sign. So there's no looking back already.

:: Big Deal ::

Been receiving emails from lot of "deals" companies. They will send daily offers for various products ranging from restaurant vouchers, tourist attraction vouchers, beauty services vouchers to travel vouchers...

A lot of them are indeed very tempting. Like for example a 2-digit sum for a trip to Batam or $3xx for flight to Hongkong, $30+ for chiropractic consultation session (I would like to correct my posture before it's too late, many of my colleagues complain of backpain.)

Some of these companies have a smart marketing strategy, the condition they lay for the vouchers is that there must be enough people buying it before it's valid. And customers have to recommend a few friends to earn more credits for vouchers.

Okay la, after describing these deals and the up-and-coming companies (Theodore was even considering to venture into starting a ..online thing like this), actually I haven't bought anything. Only contemplated.

If you are thinking of buying these vouchers, especially for beauty services like "91% off *****. Only $38 instead of $430." sounds so attractive right! What a saving! Just a friendly reminder(s): 1. Do you really need the service? 2. Usually the beauty salons will ask you to sign a package. And, the biggest clue given is that its usual price is $430!! One session is definitely not enough to see results. If you think it's usual price is reasonable then go ahead.

I might buy a voucher one day... Just being very careful with my expenditure now.