I followed my zodiac predictions for 2024 & did these things to have a ‘huat’ year ahead

I don’t believe in fortune-telling, daily horoscope predictions, palm reading, zodiac forecasts and all the other tactics that would entice one with a mystical glimpse into their future.

Having said that, there was one year when I was hellbent on acquiring some gold jewellery after learning that gold was listed as one of my zodiac’s lucky colours.

There was also a year when I consulted a fortune teller at Rochor.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that while I don’t put much stock into these practices, I still want to have a good future, or at least try to.

This explains why I am like a bee to honey when it comes to zodiac forecasts – you know, those large sign boards that are put up during Chinese New Year (CNY).

Year after year, I find myself drawn to the predictions, curious and eager to find out what the future has in store for me.

According to this forecast, the tl;dr for individuals born in the year of the rooster is that 2024 is set to be better than 2023.

I don’t want to jinx it, but 2023 was a pretty good year for me.

So I figured that it wouldn’t hurt to be a bit kiasu (Hokkien for scared of losing) to maximise my huat (Hokkien for prosperity) by following some of the advice in my zodiac forecast.

Health = wealth

First up? Getting my health right, because health is wealth.

According to my zodiac forecast, I should “take time to focus on your health, and do not let emotions and stress get to you in 2024”.

And I did exactly just that by booking myself a manicure session.

Truth be told, I am not a mani- or pedicure kind of girl — I can even count the number of times I have had my nails done with just one hand.

But I figured that a manicure session would be nice and relaxing as it’d allow me to disconnect from the world for an hour or so (as I cannot check my phone and/ or laptop while my nails are being done).

Not to mention, I get to have nice nails just in time for CNY (for once).

Being the manicure noob that I am, I gave Windy, the nail technician at Nailz Gallery at HarbourFront Centre, free rein to do whatever she thought worked best.

I knew I was in good hands as Windy told me that she’s been in the trade for the past 10 years.

Despite not having much to work with besides my very unspecific request for “simple, modern nails for CNY”, Windy quickly got to work.

And in little to no time at all, she was done.

I can’t tell you exactly what Windy did because 1) I had switched my mind off, 2) I was probably enjoying the massage chair a little too much, and 3) I’d probably butcher it.

However, I do remember her spending a considerable amount of time picking a nail colour that would not only be CNY appropriate, but go best with my skin tone.

On the whole, it was nice to be able to disconnect from my devices (and my brain) during the manicure.

Once Windy was done and my hands were free, it was back to reality for me (albeit now with a set of nice, shiny nails).

Charting a better career future

Continuing my streak of starting the new year on the right foot, I proceeded to have brunch.

Now you might be thinking, what does brunch have to do with my zodiac forecast and maximising my huat?

Well, the answer is everything.

According to my zodiac forecast, 2024 will be the year that I build a better future for my career:

“After dealing with a year of changes in 2023, 2024 is a year where you’ll need to put in the hard work to build the necessary foundation and skill sets for a better future.”

Believe it or not, the part about “dealing with a year of changes in 2023” was surprisingly accurate.

If this wasn’t a sign to take my zodiac forecast seriously, I don’t know what is.

The next part of my zodiac forecast read:

“You’ll receive the necessary help and aid even if you meet challenges at work. However, it is important for you to realise when to seek assistance and help and ask for it rather than trot on an unknown path alone.”

I was not just going to have brunch.

More importantly, I was seeking advice from a trusted colleague, one whom I believe is one of the “noblemen stars in my chart”, to chart a clear path forward for my career.

In light of the recent cold and rainy weather and knowing that my colleague Alena loves Korean cuisine, I proposed dining at Seoul Garden Hotpot at HarbourFront Centre.

Staying on the theme of new beginnings and a better future, we ordered the special limited-time-only CNY menu.

This came with soft-shell crab and cheese stick appetisers, as well as two mains — the soft-shell crab bibimbap and kimchi grouper hot pot.

While the hot pot appeared to be personal-sized, I was glad to share it with Alena as it was packed full of ingredients such as slices of grouper, tteokbokki (Korean rice cake), and assorted mushrooms and vegetables.

However, the stars of the show were the soft-shell crab appetisers (S$14.90) and bibimbap (S$19.90), which were topped with our choice of hot, spicy sauce and soy garlic respectively.

Each dish came with two decently sized crabs — all fried to perfection — and we thought this was a steal considering their size and the price of soft-shell crabs.

Another thing worth mentioning is the unlimited free-flow banchan (Korean for side dishes), notably the crisp kimchi (Korean for fermented cabbage) which was just the right balance of acidic and sweet, perfect for cleansing the palate.

On the whole, the food was hearty and scrumptious, the company was even better, and I came away with a belly full of food and a head full of clarity.

Better luck next time

After a heavy meal and conversation, Alena and I decided to try our luck at winning an adorable CNY plushie from HarbourFront Centre’s claw machines.

After all, my zodiac forecast did state that “it is key not to let emotions and stress get to you this year”.

I was also curious to see if my luck had instantly turned for the better after following some of the advice in my zodiac forecast.

Using the receipts from my manicure and our brunch, we were able to redeem tokens for the claw machines, photo booth station, and gift machine for free.

Unfortunately, it appeared that Alena and I weren’t fated to win a plushie.

I suppose luck works in mysterious ways, but at least Alena and I had better luck with the other machines at HarbourFront Centre and did not walk away empty-handed.

We got to take some photos at the photo booth station and redeem gifts of our choice from the gift token machine.

Spending less and fostering relationships

While I was at HarbourFront Centre, I decided to follow more advice from my zodiac forecast such as watching my spending and fostering relationships with my loved ones.

I was wandering around the mall when I stumbled upon Nakanishi Cakes.

The store’s cheery orange interior caught my eye, and upon entering, I was greeted by the warm staff.

Currently, their premium yuzu and pineapple tarts have a 50 per cent discount, and each bottle is going at only S$14.

This is just in time for those who are celebrating the upcoming CNY or a special occasion. The discount ends Feb. 18, 2024.

Talk about good timing. Or perhaps my luck is changing.

Without hesitation, I took home a bottle of the premium yuzu and pineapple tarts for my family as a CNY snack.

Get ready for CNY at HarbourFront Centre

If spending less and fostering relationships is also on your zodiac forecast, you can consider bookmarking Nakanishi Cakes.

But wait, there’s more.

HarbourFront Centre has other half-priced super deals during that same period, including 50 per cent off short-sleeved shirts at Van Heusen, where shoppers can save up to S$49.50.

There is also a S$20 discount at The Collector’s Base with a minimum of S$40 spent.

Grab these super deals while stocks last. Shoppers are limited to one redemption per transaction.

Currently, there are other ongoing promotions at HarbourFront Centre so you can get ready for CNY.

This includes deals at Bengawan Solo, Beryl’s, Melvados, Young Hearts and Komme so you can usher in the new year with yummy food and fresh threads.

Start the new year right

What’s more, get rewarded when you spend a certain sum at HarbourFront Centre.

If you spend over S$50, you can enter a lucky draw and stand to walk away with attractive prizes, such as a Tissot watch, G-Shock watch, Desto coffee machine, and/ or an Induction milk frother.

If you spend S$80 and more, you get to walk away with a voucher or gift.

Additionally, you’ll be eligible to redeem tokens for the gift machine,photo booth station, claw catcher machine, and a pass for a workshop.

Find out the terms and conditions here.

Find out your zodiac forecast

After a day of following my zodiac forecast, I can’t tell you if I feel lucky or more huat.

But what I can tell you is that I definitely felt more relaxed and ready to take on the new year, which is certainly a win.

It also helped that I could actualise all of the advice from within HarbourFront Centre as it had numerous amenities suitable for all.

At the end of the day, there is no harm in trying to follow your zodiac forecast, whether you’re a believer or not.

If you’re game to try, you can find out your zodiac forecast at HarbourFront Centre Level 1 Atrium.

The author of this sponsored article by HarbourFront Centre thinks that everyone should try following their zodiac forecast at least once.

Top images by Fiona Tan