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.

Buying an HDB BTO Flat in Singapore: A Step-By-Step Guide (2024)
Property
Buying an HDB BTO Flat in Singapore: A Step-By-Step Guide (2024)
The Jun 2024 BTO sales exercise is upon us—and with it, renewed interest in buying a BTO flat. Buying an HDB BTO flat is a rite of passage for most...
21 June 2024
credit-card-fee-waiver
Credit Cards
How to Get Credit Card Annual Fee Waivers and Still Enjoy Rewards and Perks
When it comes to credit cards, it’s all about getting the upper hand—getting more money out of the bank than they’ll ever get from you.  The secret? Pay all your...
14 June 2024
SRS-Retirement-Account
Budgeting
Here’s Everything You Should Know About the Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS) Account
In Singapore, retirement is always something we crave. While not all of us will be FIRE fanatics, we do want to plan for having more of that cash money when...
14 June 2024
citi-cash-back-plus-mastercard-moneysmart-review
Credit Cards
Citibank Cash Back+ Credit Card: MoneySmart Review 2024
I have a soft spot for cash back credit cards. There’s none of that beating around the bush, trying to predict when your rewards points expire or getting slapped with...
6 June 2024
freelance-work-finances
Career
Going Freelance? Here’s How You Should Plan Your CPF & Finances For 2024
Back when I started freelancing full-time in 2014, the only friends who were free to meet up with me at midnight were home tutors. Now, it seems like half of...
24 May 2024
Best Hotel Rewards and Loyalty Programmes That Work Around the World in 2024
Travel
Best Hotel Rewards and Loyalty Programmes That Work Around the World in 2024
Picture this: You’re sipping a complimentary glass of champagne as you step into a luxurious suite with breathtaking views of an iconic city skyline. The concierge greets you by name,...
16 May 2024
travel-insurance-for-natural-disasters-singapore-guide
Travel Insurance
Best Travel Insurance Policies for Places Prone to Natural Disasters (2024)
When it comes to natural disasters, Singapore is a sheltered island. How sheltered? Based on data from 2023, we have the 4th lowest disaster risk in the world. So on...
13 May 2024
Baby Bonus Scheme in Singapore—How Much Can Parents Get?
Family
Baby Bonus Scheme in Singapore—How Much Can Parents Get?
Children are expensive little critters. Once they acquire the ability to speak, they start demanding that you buy them Nintendo Switches and iPhones. As a parent, you need all the...
9 May 2024
Is Singapore Too Expensive to Live In?—Singapore’s Cost of Living 2024
Budgeting
Is Singapore Too Expensive to Live In?—Singapore’s Cost of Living 2024
Welcome to the most expensive city in the world. According to the Worldwide Cost of Living survey by the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU), Singapore has once again topped the list of the world’s...
3 May 2024
7 Best Rewards Credit Cards in Singapore (2024): Citibank, OCBC, DBS & More
Credit Cards
7 Best Rewards Credit Cards in Singapore (2024): Citibank, OCBC, DBS & More
If you love collecting points and redeeming them, a rewards credit card will give you some added life satisfaction. These days, there’s a lot more in banks’ rewards catalogues than...
26 April 2024
dbs-visa-debit-card-moneysmart-review
Credit Cards
Is the DBS Visa Debit Card Better Than a Credit Card?—MoneySmart Review 2024
Haven’t used a debit card since you were too young and poor to apply for a credit card? The DBS Visa Debit Card just might change that. That’s because you can...
18 April 2024
uob-absolute-cashback-card-moneysmart-review
Credit Cards
The UOB Absolute Cashback Card is Getting Nerfed—MoneySmart Review 2024
“The only credit card with no spend exclusion”, UOB promises of their UOB Absolute Cashback Card. For now. From 6 May 2024, UOB is nerfing their “limitless” cashback credit card....
12 April 2024
Income’s Travel Insurance Review (2024): COVID-19 Coverage, Pre-existing Conditions, Promotions, Premiums
Travel Insurance
Income’s Travel Insurance Review (2024): COVID-19 Coverage, Pre-existing Conditions, Promotions, Premiums
When you come across the acronym “NTUC,” the FairPrice supermarket probably comes to mind, as every self-respecting auntie would attest. However, frequent travellers may also associate it with the renowned...
9 April 2024
investing in gold singapore
Invest
Gold Prices Hit Record High—How to Invest in Gold in Singapore (2024)
Guess who just broke another record? No, not Taylor Swift with her $1 billion-grossing Eras tour that may very well cross the $2 billion mark by the end of its...
5 April 2024
Income Tax Filing 2024: A Step-by-Step Guide to This Year’s Tax Season
Budgeting
Income Tax Filing 2024: A Step-by-Step Guide to This Year’s Tax Season
It’s that time of the year again when we have to pay our dues to the government. Hang on, how does that work again? Well if you’re a commission agent...
22 March 2024
Yoga in Singapore: 18 Best Yoga Studios and Their Prices, Free Yoga Classes, And More (2024)
Fitness & Beauty
Yoga in Singapore: 18 Best Yoga Studios and Their Prices, Free Yoga Classes, And More (2024)
Want to do yoga, but don’t know where to start? You’re hardly alone. Even though yoga has become very mainstream in Singapore, the sheer amount of options out there makes...
28 February 2024
hotel-staycation-singapore-valentines-day
Travel
Valentine’s Day 2024: 8 Affordable Staycation Hotels From $138
Valentine’s Day is a controversial topic. Most people fall into 1 of 2 camps—those who think it’s a meaningless non-event exploited by businesses to earn money, and those who feel...
1 February 2024
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