“Good things come in small packages.”

True. The only packages I receive now are from my online shopping. Mainly frozen and baby food and fresh vegetables. None of them are small packages.

In several cases my packages exists on a piece of paper from spas and hair salons.

I wanted to share my favourite Tuina place for the past two years. Blessed Health at Blk 555, Ang Mo Kio Ave 10. No packages as it doesn’t exist.

The best places are often in your friendly neighbourhood with no ambience and very often does not rely on customers buying packages. Some people will think it’s sleazy as the masseuses are from China with names like Shasha, Lucy, Candy etc but they are professionals and you will thank them in no time for treating your aching back and neck.

Maintenance is an expensive affair. Most started as a casual visit and followed up with hard selling. I used to be shy about rejecting the hard sellers and this is how I still have outstanding packages. You can consider them as review or just an auntie complaining.

1. Beauty Face (Singapore Shopping Center) – I first signed up with them maybe 10 years back. I bought a trial session from Groupon for underarm IPL. Then, I was told I have dark armpits and they have a solution to whiten it. This was how I got sucked in from a $38 trial to 2K armpit whitening package then two facial packages and then one massage package. Recently I kept receiving calls from them to visit their new outlet. I couldn’t locate them for a while when they were still based at Grassroots Club (5mins walk from Yio Chu Kang MRT). Rent expensive then think of me… I remembered I told off the salesperson during my last visit for asking me to sign a new package when I already did that last week. Didn’t even offer me a cup of tea before asking for money. I thought they went bust when I couldn’t contact them. Now, I don’t even go out to buy my grocery let alone travel to town to get my face cleaned. Good thing about this place is, my armpit is still hairless. Total damage: $5K

2. FaceLook (Chong Pang, Yishun) – For classic manicure and pedicure. My last decent session was fours years ago. Think this package is worth it. Damage: $400 for 12 sessions of classic mani and pedi.

3. Joyre TCM (NEX) – Biggest scam of all time. Don’t even step in here. You’ve been warned. Lured by $38 TCM massage. How expensive can they be right? Wrong. Minimum package is $5K and they tried to sell the $15K and lower each tier after several rejections. They preyed on those seeking fertility treatments. If it helps I don’t mind paying. During one of the session, they asked if I want to try a massage with my herbal bath. That 15mins consultation cum massage cost me $700. At another session, I was convince into trying wormwood for moxibustion (this can be bought from AliExpress for $10 to DIY at home). Another $300 for 15mins. After each session, they ask you to slip your feet into some leg massage machine and serve you a cup of tea and start to hard sell and push you into topping up. You cannot escape because you have no shoes on. I have phobia of walking past this place at the mall and I am prepared not to utilised the unused sessions. Damage $6K.

4. Nouri – Home visits for pre-natal massage. The only company that offers massages for women pregnant for less than three months. Don’t need to travel and they visit your home with massage bed and towels. Hard to book appointments after signing package. My baby is almost 8 months old and I haven’t finish my massages. I am still trying to get a refund. Damage: $2K+

5. Sequela (Serangoon) – My current facial package and I have no intention to stop. Love the under eye guasha and pushy salesperson. Damage: $7.8K (in 4 years).

6. Snip Avenue – Scalp cafe and anti hair loss treatment. My current stylist is a gem. They offer $3.80 haircuts. Damage: $6K (in 4 years)

7. House of Traditional Javanese Massage (Harbourfront) – Their pre-natal massage is fantastic and their normal massage is good as well. A little pricey but I never had a bad experience. I like their Indonesians masseuses. Damage: $1.5K

8. PPP / Novu (Yishun 10) – Laser treatment for pores and whiten dark spots. Not sure if they are still there but I signed up for this after I witnessed the dark spots of my middle age colleagues fade off. I went to even out my uneven skin. My complexion did improve. Damage: $3K

I don’t go for big names because I can’t afford to and I don’t want to. But I still feel like crying after listing down my current packages and how much I’ve spent. I didn’t even count those finished ones like IPL for the nether region.

Was I silly signing up so many packages? Definitely. I do regret some are not the best but these are essential services to me. I just want to age gracefully…

Now that I am older and my skin got thicker, I get better at rejecting hard sellers. I just say I don’t have money (this works like magic) or I get my husband to call me and I make an excuse to leave. I also try not to bring my credit card along.

I won’t stop spending money on myself but maybe I’ll get get better by asking for extra sessions or use of better products for the same price in future.