joanne-poh

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.

The MoneySmart Guide to Retirement Part 2: Insurance Protection
Health Insurance
The MoneySmart Guide to Retirement Part 2: Insurance Protection
So, you made it through the Singapore education system and now have a job that pays you an okay salary. You’re even saving and investing for financial...
13 September 2021
9 Cheapest Condos in Singapore: Studio Apartments Under $600K
Property
9 Cheapest Condos in Singapore: Studio Apartments Under $600K
“Cheap” is a relative term. To people from anywhere else in the world, nothing in Singapore is really cheap except the bus, MRT and hawker food. But i...
8 September 2021
The MoneySmart Guide to Retirement Part 1: Home Security
Property
The MoneySmart Guide to Retirement Part 1: Home Security
Your home is your castle, your refuge, your love nest, your (wo)man cave, and also what you have spent or will spend a large chunk of your life paying...
6 September 2021
Guide to CKA & CAR for Specified Investment Products (SIP) in Singapore
Invest
Guide to CKA & CAR for Specified Investment Products (SIP) in Singapore
If you’ve already tried investing in Singapore, you might have come across something called a CKA (Customer Knowledge Assessment) or CAR (Customer Rev...
27 August 2021
Xfers Account Singapore: Step-by-Step Guide to How Xfers Works
Invest
Xfers Account Singapore: Step-by-Step Guide to How Xfers Works
The days when Bitcoin was a goldmine have dissipated together with our mask-free pasts, but you might still be thinking of trying your hand at this wh...
26 August 2021
Voluntary CPF Housing Refund: What Is It, and Should You Do It Too?
Home Loans
Voluntary CPF Housing Refund: What Is It, and Should You Do It Too?
Emptying your CPF Ordinary Account (OA) to pay for property and service your mortgage is one way you can get some utility out of your CPF savings befo...
25 August 2021
Teaching in Singapore: Is It Better to Be an MOE Teacher or a Private Tuition Teacher?
Education
Teaching in Singapore: Is It Better to Be an MOE Teacher or a Private Tuition Teacher?
On the face of it, MOE teachers seem to have it good. Decent pay AND long holidays? Sign us up! Yet everyone has that ex-teacher friend who quit to gi...
17 August 2021
Ever Wondered How Much Your Doctor and Lawyer Friends Earn?
Career
Ever Wondered How Much Your Doctor and Lawyer Friends Earn?
Kiasu parents all over Singapore put their kids through years of private tuition sessions and enrichment classes in hopes that they will grow up to be...
16 August 2021
Insurance Claims in Singapore: How They Work & What You Need to Submit
Life Insurance
Insurance Claims in Singapore: How They Work & What You Need to Submit
The first thing most people do when they need to make an insurance claim is to send a panicked WhatsApp message to their insurance agent. But your age...
5 August 2021
How to Start a Business in Singapore: 7 Steps to Becoming Your Own Boss
Business
How to Start a Business in Singapore: 7 Steps to Becoming Your Own Boss
Overseas holidays are still off the cards, and bosses think employees have “nothing better to do” than to be on call 24/7, leading to people working e...
29 July 2021