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.

montessori kindergartens schools singapore mixed ages
Family
Montessori Preschools Singapore: What is Montessori & Why Are The Fees So Expensive?
Montessori kindergartens and preschools are popular here in Singapore. Many Singaporean (and expat) parents pay over a $1,000 a month for their toddlers to get educated under this method. For reference, preschool...
28 December 2018
8 Sports and Adventure Activities to Enjoy at a Discount Thanks to The Entertainer
Fitness & Beauty
8 Sports and Adventure Activities to Enjoy at a Discount Thanks to The Entertainer
Mobile app The Entertainer has been blamed for expanding waistlines in Singapore, thanks to their 1-on-1 offers on main courses at restaurants.
28 December 2018
4 French Restaurants in Singapore and JB Where You Can Enjoy 1-for-1 Mains with The Entertainer
Dining
4 French Restaurants in Singapore and JB Where You Can Enjoy 1-for-1 Mains with The Entertainer
French food has a reputation for being atas and expensive which, most of the time, it is, at least in Singapore. Most of the French eateries in Singapore are indeed...
27 December 2018
chinese food the entertainer 2018 singapore
Dining
Craving Chinese Food? Get 1-for-1 at These 4 Eateries Thanks to The Entertainer
You can find virtually any kind of cuisine in the world right here in Singapore. We’ve got everything from conveyor belt sushi, Korean bingsu and Thai milk tea to Spanish...
27 December 2018
spa beauty treatments entertainer
Fitness & Beauty
7 Ways to Go for a Beauty or Spa Treatment at a Huge Discount Thanks to The Entertainer
Pigging out isn’t the only way to treat yourself to the finer things in life. While Singaporeans have been getting fat thanks to The Entertainer‘s awesome 1-for-1 deals at restaurants...
27 December 2018
pregnancy test kit singapore
Budgeting
Pregnancy Test Kits Singapore – What’s the Difference Between $1 and $25 Pregnancy Test Kits?
Are you trying for a baby, or are experiencing telling signs like morning sickness and bloatedness? The easiest way to confirm your suspicion is to use a pregnancy test kit....
27 December 2018
heart diseases heart health cost of heart procedures
Healthcare
Cost of Heart Diseases: Heart Attack, Cardiac Arrest, Ischemic Heart Disease, and More
The next time you joke “my heart can’t take it,” know that that hits a bit too close to home for a lot of people in Singapore. Every day, 17...
20 December 2018
fastest growing industries singapore trending job openings
Career
Top 5 Fast-Growing Industries in Singapore (2019)
Now that you’ve received your year-end bonus, you have probably made up your mind about whether you’re going to stay in your job this year, or leave in search of...
19 December 2018
painting services singapore
Budgeting
Painting Services in Singapore For HDBs and Private Properties (2019) – How Much Does It Cost?
There isn’t much information online about painting services in Singapore. This could be because most painting companies are usually smaller companies staffed by older workers. But painting walls is a...
14 December 2018
golf singapore marina bay golf course sentosa golf course
Entertainment
Golf in Singapore – Booking Fees of Marina Bay Golf Course, Sentosa Golf Club and More
Golf courses are going the way of the dodo in Singapore as land gets acquired to make way for more pressing types of land use. That means golf course booking...
13 December 2018
cashless contactless payments NETS Flashpay Credit Card Samsung Pay Apple Pay
Credit Cards
Best Cashback Credit Cards For PayWave, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay & Other Cashless Payments
Remember all those coins you used to stash in your piggy bank when you were a kid? Well, they’re pretty a chore to use now that the government’s trying to...
13 December 2018
mental conditions depression schizophrenia normal
Healthcare
The Financial Burden of Mental Illnesses: Depression, OCD, Schizophrenia, Alcoholism and Dementia
Try telling your boss you need to take a mental health day off work and see where that gets you in Singapore. Clearly, there is still much room for improvement...
12 December 2018
working holidays singaporeans
Travel
Working Holidays & Other Ways Singaporeans Can Live and Work Abroad Without Going Broke
Take a walk around Raffles Place during lunchtime, and you’ll see grim looks on the faces of harried office workers as they rush to and from the office.
11 December 2018
expensive wedding bridesmaid dresses
Wedding
3 Things Couples Can Do to Keep Their Weddings Affordable For Their Guests
Weddings are supposed to be joyous occasions, but in Singapore, they are often a huge drain on the wallets of not only the couple tying the knot, but also their...
11 December 2018
sabbatical work travel earn money
Travel
Taking Sabbatical Leave From Work? Here’s How to Earn Money as You Travel
If you find yourself sinking getting crushed by a paralysing depression each time you return to Singapore from a wonderful trip abroad, you’re not alone. If you’ve ever considered taking...
10 December 2018
ikea johor bahru
Shopping
Are IKEA Malaysia Prices Really Cheaper Than IKEA Singapore?
In case you haven’t heard, a massive new IKEA store opened in Johor Bahru last year: IKEA Tebrau, to be exact. And of course, Singaporeans are flocking across the Causeway to...
6 December 2018
singapore civil service 2018
Career
Singapore Civil Service – The Ins and Outs of the Iron Rice Bowl
Whenever you read about the Singapore civil service in the news, half the time it’s about whatever civil servant bonus the government is awarding those lucky civil servants this year. To private sector workers, they...
4 December 2018
coffee Singapore nice cafe in Singapore
Shopping
Top 5 Ways of Making Coffee in Singapore – Coffee Machines, Moka Pots and Drippers
That morning coffee you inhale every morning isn’t just a beverage. It’s a life support system. Take it away and your entire body ceases to live. So it makes sense...
28 November 2018
singaporeans working overseas job
Career
Sick of Working in Singapore? 5 Ways to Get an Overseas Job and Work Abroad
It’s no secret that Singaporean workers are a miserable lot. Long hours, bosses who border on flouting manpower laws, and salaries that barely cover basic living costs are just some of...
28 November 2018
Tax refund singapore
Shopping
How to Claim Tax Refunds on Shopping in Europe, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia
If there is an outlet mall at just about any popular tourist destination overseas, chances are you will find Singaporean tourists there. Shopping overseas is one of Singaporeans’ favourite hobbies....
14 November 2018
grabhitch singapore
Transportation
What is GrabHitch & How Does It Work?
Thanks to Grab and Uber (no longer available), we are no stranger to private car ride-hailing apps. But some people may still be confused about the difference between carpooling GrabHitch...
14 November 2018
useless items stop buying juice cleanse
Shopping
10 Completely Useless Items People Should Stop Buying
If you’re going to spend all your hard-earned cash on something, at least make sure it’s not completely useless. Don’t get suckered by clever marketing and surrender all your money for...
14 November 2018
where to get free wifi singapore
Budgeting
Where to Get Free Wifi in Singapore – Guide to Free Internet Spots
So you watched a few episodes of your Korean drama on the MRT and now you’ve gone over your data limit again. Or maybe you’re a tourist from out of...
13 November 2018
baby toddler activities singapore
Family
9 Baby and Toddler Activities and Enrichment Classes in Singapore
Kiasu Singaporean parents are notorious for overtaxing their kids with all manner of enrichment classes. Some even send kids as young as 3 for tuition! Clearly, it’s never too early...
13 November 2018
favepay alipay grabpay singapore
Shopping
Making Sense of Dash, DBS PayLah, GrabPay, Liquid Pay, AliPay, FavePay & Other Cashless Payments
As Singapore continues to try to turn itself into a cashless society, Singaporeans grapple with the problem of having too many choices. Unlike people in China who mostly use only...
13 November 2018