Beyond groceries: More creative ways to spend your CDC vouchers

Life moves fast when you’re in your 20s and 30s. Bills, work, responsibilities—it’s easy to let your personal growth take a backseat.

Many would wait for their companies to sponsor a course or for Government schemes to give them a nudge. But here’s the kicker: personal development is your own responsibility.

Sometimes, that first step toward growth doesn’t have to come from a SkillsFuture programme or an NTUC UTAP-funded course. It can come simply from picking up a paintbrush, strumming your first guitar chord, or building a model kit in quiet solitude.

The best part? You can now take that first step by letting your CDC vouchers pay for your hobbies. Cool, huh?

An unexpected discovery

The idea of personal development hit me one lazy Sunday afternoon at Bras Basah Complex, while my wife was getting her hair done at her usual salon tucked away on one of the upper floors.

Rather than marinate in the scent of bleach and hair dye, I wandered off to explore what the place had to offer.

From the outside, the complex looks like a quiet relic of an older Singapore. But on the inside, it’s a treasure trove of specialty stores, each with its own story and charm.

As I meandered through the maze of shops, I noticed something surprising: many of them accept CDC vouchers as a mode of payment.

But what struck me even more was that these shops weren’t selling fast fashion or flash deals. They were selling tools for people to create, build, and grow.

CDC vouchers to satisfy your whim and fancy

Ranking Sports and Music, #03-51 [photo: Ian Tan Hanhonn]

Setting foot into Ranking Sports & Music, I found everything from old-school harmonicas to retro-inspired guitars. These instruments are perfect for anyone itching to reignite an old hobby or to finally learn how to play that song they have on their Spotify playlist.

Music Connoisseur, #03-35 [photo: Ian Tan Hanhonn]

I next wandered into Music Connoisseur, where I found an array of contemporary ukeleles and minimalist electric guitars that made me want to unleash my inner Carlos Santana.

Art Friend, #03-33 [photo: Ian Tan Hanhonn]

Moving along, I stepped into Art Friend—a name I’d heard before but never fully appreciated until now.

The place was packed with finely crafted brushes, rows of vibrant paint tubes, and shelves overflowing with coloured paper in shades I couldn’t even name.

Hobby Point, #03-37B [photo: Ian Tan Hanhonn]

Then came Hobby Point, a store packed with models from Gundam robot kits to Tamiya race cars — pretty much every fan boy’s dream come true,

For me, building models isn’t just a hobby; it’s a form of mindfulness, a way to disconnect from the world and refocus one’s mind.

Jovial.Co, #02-91 [photo: Ian Tan Hanhonn]

Then came jovial.co. This quaint little store offers a curated selection of lifestyle accessories, stationery, and feel-good gifts.

If not for CDC Vouchers, this is a store I would definitely not bring my young daughters into—lest I wish to spend my entire afternoon waiting for them to decide between a handful of pastel pens or yet another cat-shaped pencil case.

A smarter way to spend your CDC vouchers

Let’s face it, adulting is exhausting. And with limited time and endless responsibilities, self-enrichment often takes a back seat.

But here’s the thing: spending your CDC vouchers on something that brings you joy or reminds you that life is not just about work is a form of investment that pays off in a kind of self-fulfilment money cannot buy.

Whether it’s learning a few guitar chords or finally giving oil painting a go, these little acts of exploration add up. They bring purpose, sharpen skills, and remind us that work can be enhanced with other passionate pursuits.

If I were you, don’t wait for your company or the Government to suggest a course to pursue something meaningful.

Kickstart your personal development journey with a sketchpad, a guitar pick, or model kit. You’ll never know what talent you unleash until you do. Happy hobbying!

However, if you are looking to further upgrade yourself, check out what NTUC’s Union Training Assistance Programme (UTAP) has to offer.