Senior Citizen Discounts in Singapore — Supermarkets and Pharmacies

I think of birthdays like video game levels. With each decade you clear, you “unlock” a series of benefits and/or quests. Turn 21? Time to vote. Turn 30? Don’t forget to change IC.

For those who’ve hit the big 6-0, congratulations! It’s time to “hoot” all the senior citizen discounts in Singapore. You’ve done your bit for the nation, so don’t be shy: go ahead and take advantage of all the Merdeka and Pioneer Generation perks you can find.

Let’s start with the biggest expense for most families: groceries and household necessities.

Here are the top senior citizen discounts for supermarkets and pharmacies in Singapore.

 

Senior citizen discounts in Singapore — supermarkets and pharmacies

Supermarket or pharmacy	Min. age	Discount
NTUC Fairprice	70 in 2019	3% off on Mondays and Wednesdays
NTUC Fairprice	60 in 2019	2% off on Tuesdays
Giant	60	3% off on Tuesdays
Sheng Siong	60	3% off on Wednesdays
Cold Storage	60	3% off on Wednesdays
Unity Pharmacy	70 in 2019	3% off on Mondays and Wednesdays
Unity Pharmacy	60 in 2019	2% off on Wednesdays
Watsons	50	5% off storewide + 10% off prescription and pharmacy products
Guardian	50	5% off with Guardian Golden Senior Card
Prime Supermarket	60	3% off on Mondays and Fridays

With the exception of Guardian and Watsons, most supermarkets and pharmacies’ senior citizen discounts are for those age 60 and up only. That’s probably because you’re only “officially” considered elderly at 60, when you receive your purple concession card.

Different stores have their senior discounts on selected days only (so not throughout the week), so it’s best to plan your week grocery runs based on your preferred supermarket.

You can also keep a screenshot of this in your mobile phone, just in case.

 

Senior citizen discounts: Supermarkets in Singapore

Supermarket	Min. age	Discount	Things to note
NTUC Fairprice	70 in 2019	3% off on Mondays and Wednesdays	For purchases up to $200 only
NTUC Fairprice	60 in 2019	2% off on Tuesdays	For purchases up to $200 only
Giant	60	3% off on Tuesdays	–
Sheng Siong	60	3% off on Wednesdays	For purchases up to $200 only
Cold Storage	60	3% off on Wednesdays	–
Prime Supermarket	60	3% off on Mondays and Fridays	–

For supermarkets, the discount days are Monday to Wednesday. No perks on Thursday, Friday and the weekends.

It’s quite competitive across the board, with all the top supermarkets in Singapore offering 3% off storewide.

The discount is mostly applicable storewide, with the usual exclusions of statutory products like cigarettes, lottery tickets and gift cards.

For all, you’ll need to show your ID and/or your Merdeka or Pioneer Generation cards. Discounts stated are for the physical stores only, which mean they exclude online orders (e.g. Fairprice On, Cold Storage Online, etc).

 

NTUC Fairprice — up to 3% for purchases up to $200

At NTUC Fairprice, the Pioneer generation can score the highest 3% off on Mondays and Wednesdays. The Merdeka generation gets 3% off on Wednesday. Also, on Tuesday they have a 2% senior citizen discount for anyone above 60.

Fairprice is the only one that offers discounts for half the week.

Their senior citizen discount is from Monday through Wednesday, which is pretty good considering the rest of them only offer discounts on 1 day each.

Do note that the spending limit is $200, which means you can only get a maximum of $4 or $6 off.

 

Cold Storage — 3% off on Wed, no cap

For a hump day treat, head to NTUC Fairprice’s biggest competitor, Cold Storage. The supermarket chain offers 3% off every Wednesday, and you only need to be 60 to enjoy it.

Plus, there isn’t any discount cap (none stated on the official promotion page anyway).

The 3% is applicable storewide (sans the above-mentioned exclusions), but cannot be stacked on top of the UOB Delight cardmember discounts (10% off house brands and corporate brands).

 

Giant — 3% off on Tue, applicable on promo items too

Although not as popular as NTUC Fairprice and Cold Storage, Giant also has a very competitive discount of 3% off on Tuesdays (min. 60 years old).

Given that they’re known as a budget supermarket and that their prices are already lower than the above 2, this is a really good deal.

But as with Cold Storage, UOB Delight members will not get the additional 3% off on the already-discounted house brand and corporate brand items.

It can, however, be used on other promotional items, which is great.

 

Sheng Siong — 3% off on Wed, for purchases up to $200

As with Cold Storage, budget supermarket Sheng Siong offers 3% off on Wednesdays for seniors above age 60.

The only difference is a spending limit of $200, which means a $6 discount cap.

 

Prime Supermarket — 3% off on Wed and Fri

Prime Supermarket has 19 outlets in Singapore, mostly in the heartland areas. As with Cold Storage and Sheng Siong, Prime Supermarket offers 3% off on Wednesdays, but they’re the only supermarket that offers the senior citizen discount on Fridays.

The discount is also applicable to products on promotion, but it cannot be used to earn Prime membership points. However, if you already have Prime$, you can redeem them for your purchase even when using the discount.

According to their website, it seems like there is no minimum spending or cap.

 

Senior Citizen Discounts: Pharmacies and personal care stores in Singapore

Pharmacy	Min. age	Discount	Things to note
Unity Pharmacy	70 in 2019	3% off on Mondays and Wednesdays	For purchases up to $200 only
Unity Pharmacy	60 in 2019	2% off on Tuesdays	For purchases up to $200 only
Watsons	50	5% off storewide + 10% off prescription and pharmacy products	For Watsons Jubilee Card members only ($5 membership fee applies)
Guardian	50	5% off	For Guardian Golden Senior Card members only ($5 membership fee applies)

With the exception of Unity Pharmacy (which is under NTUC Fairprice), the senior citizen discounts at Guardian and Watsons are for members only.

 

Unity Pharmacy — up to 3% for purchases up to $200

Unity Pharmacy‘s senior citizen discount is exactly the same as NTUC Fairprice’s: 3% off for the Pioneer Generation on Monday and Wednesday, and 2% off for the Merdeka Generation on Tuesday.

Both Unity and NTUC Fairprice have a $200 spending limit, so if you want, you can split your purchases to maximise your discounts.

You can shop for kitchen stuff and groceries at NTUC Fairprice, and pick up your supplements and toiletries (like shampoo, etc) from Unity.

 

Watsons and Guardian – at least 5% off storewide, but $5 membership fee applies

Unlike Unity’s senior citizen discount — which is for the general public — personal care chains Watsons and Guardian’s discount is only for members.

You’ll need your ID, as well as the Watsons Jubilee Card or the Guardian Golden Senior Card. There is a one-time sign-up fee of $5, but you’ll get at least 5% off storewide.

Also, the minimum age is 50 instead of 60 or 70, which is the case for the rest. If you’re up to 10 years shy of the Merdeka Generation, these 2 are your only choices. Between the 2, Watsons seems like a better deal.

On top of the 5% off,  you also get an additional 10% off prescription and pharmacy products (like medicine). Plus, on birthday months, your storewide discount is bumped up to 10%.

 

Do you have any tips for senior citizens to save money on groceries and other household necessities? Share them with us in the comments below.