joannepoh

Articles by Joanne Poh

In my previous life, I was a property lawyer who spent most of my time struggling to get out of bed or stuck in peak hour traffic. These days, as a freelance commercial writer, I work in bed, on the beach, in parks and at cafes, all while being really frugal. I like helping other people save money so they can stop living lives they don't like.

Singaporean Households to Receive $500 CDC Vouchers in 2024: How to Claim, Where to Spend Them, Etc.
Budgeting
Singaporean Households to Receive $500 CDC Vouchers in 2024: How to Claim, Where to Spend Them, Etc.
Good news, the beloved CDC vouchers tradition is carrying into 2024. All households will receive a total of $500 in CDC vouchers this year–that’s $200 worth of additional CDC vouchers...
4 January 2024
best-christmas-hotel-buffets-singapore
Dining
Christmas Buffets 2023: Top 10 Singapore Hotels to Stuff Yourself Silly At (From $64/pax!)
So you’ve wrapped your Secret Santa gifts, decorated the Christmas tree, and soaked in the Yuletide atmosphere around the island. Now, what’s next? Yep, it’s time to put your exercise and...
13 December 2023
CIMB World Mastercard—MoneySmart Review 2023
Credit Cards
CIMB World Mastercard—MoneySmart Review 2023
Cashback credit cards are some of the most worthwhile cards to sign up for because they’re essentially giving you free money. Seeing as even fast food outlets charge for sauce...
1 December 2023
UOB (U11) Guide: Share Prices, Dividends and Market News (2023)
Invest
UOB (U11) Guide: Share Prices, Dividends and Market News (2023)
These days, everyone is talking about the UOB One Savings Account or the UOB One credit card. But you know what I wanna talk about? U11. No, this isn’t some new rock band...
9 November 2023
ntuc-membership-benefits-linkpoints-training-fees
Budgeting
NTUC Membership In Singapore: A Guide To Benefits, NTUC Card And More
Did you grow up thinking “NTUC” was a supermarket? So did every other Singaporean. But guess what, NTUC actually stands for National Trades Union Congress rather than Not Too Unaffordable...
6 November 2023
breast-cancer-screening-singapore-cheap-free-mammograms
Healthcare
Breast Cancer Screening 2023: Where to Go for Free or Cheap Mammograms
Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting Singaporean women—almost 1 in 13 women in Singapore will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. The good news is that...
23 October 2023
UOB-PRVI-miles-card
Credit Cards
UOB PRVI Miles Card—MoneySmart Review 2023
Now that travel has restarted, it’s time to bust out the air miles credit cards and start racking up points for free air tickets. The UOB PRVI Miles Card is...
23 October 2023
Breaking Up After Applying For a BTO Flat—How Much Money Do You Lose?
Property
Breaking Up After Applying For a BTO Flat—How Much Money Do You Lose?
Breakups are one of the worst experiences some of us will ever go through. But it gets so much worse if you and your ex have already balloted for a...
4 October 2023
no-annual-fee-credit-card
Credit Cards
12 Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards in Singapore (2023)
Every year, you call that number on the back of your credit card, fumble with the answering machine’s 1,000 options and then finally after lots of hair-pulling frustration get to...
27 September 2023
Amex Love Dining & More - 8 Best Credit Cards for Dining in Singapore (2019)
Credit Cards
12 Best Credit Cards in Singapore for Dining and Online Food Delivery (2023)
If Singaporeans had a national hobby, it would have to be eating. A foodie paradise, Singapore is chock-full of restaurants, cafes, buffets, coffee shops, and hawker centres to fill our...
26 September 2023
What Are the CPF Basic, Full & Enhanced Retirement Sum and How Do They Affect Your Retirement?
Budgeting
What Are the CPF Basic, Full & Enhanced Retirement Sum and How Do They Affect Your Retirement?
Ever wondered why a chunk of your salary mysteriously disappears every month? That’s a question you might be asking yourself if you have no idea what Central Provident Fund (CPF)...
18 September 2023
Priority Banking in Singapore (2023): Benefits, Eligibility, And More
Priority Banking
Priority Banking in Singapore (2023): Benefits, Eligibility, And More
There are many ways to fake it if you want to look rich in Singapore. You could buy a nice car and then moonlight as a Grab driver to pay...
29 August 2023
hsbc-revolution-card-masthead
Credit Cards
HSBC Revolution Card’s 10x Points with $0 Minimum Spend—Is There a Catch?
The HSBC Revolution Card is a no-frills credit card that lets you earn HSBC rewards points for online and contactless transactions. Unlike cashback cards that force you to work your...
21 August 2023
rent-room-apartment-singapore-guide-prices-fees-locations
Property
Rent In Singapore: How Much To A Room Or Whole Unit in Singapore (2023)
With the wait for a BTO flat seemingly ever increasing, many newlyweds or couples might look towards renting in the meantime. Sure, renting might be an expensive sinkhole where your money...
17 August 2023
Where to Buy Joss Paper (Kim Zua) Online for Hungry Ghost Festival 2023
Shopping
Where to Buy Joss Paper (Kim Zua) Online for Hungry Ghost Festival 2023
As the sun starts clocking out for the day and the breeze picks up a little, it’s that time of the year again when things get a bit otherworldly—yep, you...
14 August 2023
Maid-insurance-in-singapore coverage cost masthead
Health Insurance
Maid Insurance Policies in Singapore 2023—What Are They and How Much Do They Cost?
For some families, the person who really runs the household is a domestic helper. Without her, dishes would go unwashed, toilets would start to stink and kids would run amok with...
18 July 2023
10 Best Home Insurance Plans in Singapore for HDB & Private Property (2023)
Home Insurance
10 Best Home Insurance Plans in Singapore for HDB & Private Property (2023)
Your home is probably the most expensive thing you own right now. (Not to be presumptuous, but I’m assuming you don’t have a $3 million supercar or yacht.) So it...
11 July 2023
Singapore Turf Club Closure: Where Can You Still Gamble Legally?
Entertainment
Singapore Turf Club Closure: Where Can You Still Gamble Legally?
2023 is going to be a very sad year for the uncles who faithfully buy Punters’ Way at 7-11. That’s because the government has announced that the Turf Club in...
4 July 2023
Comparing Digital Multi-Currency Accounts: Wise, YouTrip, Revolut, and Others
Travel
Comparing Digital Multi-Currency Accounts: Wise, YouTrip, Revolut, and Others
Preparing for an overseas holiday usually involves a trip to the money changer at Mustafa or Change Alley in hopes of getting the best exchange rates, and then fearfully rushing...
21 June 2023
saxo-wealth-care-robo-advisor-mobile-singapore-review-moneysmart
Invest
Saxo WealthCare Review: Is This The Best Robo Advisor In Singapore?
Robo advisors are having their moment in the sun, now that MAS has banned cryptocurrency trading services from advertising in Singapore. Ads for robo advisors are plastered everywhere, including SBS...
16 June 2023
standard-chartered-simply-cash-credit-card-review
Credit Cards
SCB Simply Cash Credit Card Review—Is Simple Really Best?
Note: As of 5 December 2022, the Standard Chartered Unlimited Cashback Credit Card was renamed to the Simply Cash Credit Card along with a card redesign.  The premise of the...
16 June 2023
Maybank Securities: 8 Things We Like About This Bank Broker
Invest
Maybank Securities: 8 Things We Like About This Bank Broker
Most of you are already familiar with Maybank, one of Southeast Asia’s largest and most prominent banks. Many big banks have an investment banking arm, and Maybank is no different...
earn-passive-income-singapore
Invest
How to Earn Passive Income in Singapore: HDB Rental, Dividends, And More
Having a steady stream of passive income sounds like a dream, because it effectively means you get to earn money for doing nothing. Unfortunately, many people who claim to be...
8 June 2023
Webull Regular Savings Plan - Save and Invest from USD5
Invest
How to Start Saving & Investing From Just US$5, Plus Get Higher Yield With Webull
If there’s one thing you can do today to improve your financial health for the rest of your life, it’s to start putting aside money to invest NOW. Why now...
FWD CI
Health Insurance
When It Comes to CI Coverage, Don’t Miss Out on What’s Critical
From April 2023, MOH has ruled that only cancer drugs on their cancer drug list can be covered by MediShield Life and Integrated Shield Plans (IPs). For those whose medication...