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.

vehicle growth rate housing prices
Opinion
3 Consequences the Zero Vehicle Growth Rate May Have on the Property Market
The full implications of the government’s recent announcement about the reduction of the vehicle growth rate to zero have not hit us yet.
10 January 2018
hidden credit card transaction fees
Budgeting
5 More Things You Should Do in 2018 to Improve Your Finances
Was “save more money” on your to-do list in 2017? If so, it’s probably still going to be there in 2018.
10 January 2018
hdb resale portal singapore
Property
How Will the New HDB Resale Portal Benefit Singaporeans?
Dying to move out of your parents’ home into a cosy HDB flat of your own? Then 2018 might be the year it happens. That’s because the new HDB Resale...
9 January 2018
5 Things to Do Before You Leave Singapore to Study Abroad
Education
5 Things to Do Before You Leave Singapore to Study Abroad
Every year, thousands of Singaporean students say goodbye to their families at Changi Airport and leave to study abroad. For many, it will be the first time they’ll be living...
8 January 2018
bad work habits 2018
Career
4 Bad Work Habits to Break in 2018
Most of us are no angels at work. Even the most wayang goody-two-shoes has some dark secrets he wouldn’t want his boss to know about—using the office computers to print...
5 January 2018
ComfortDelGro Invests in Uber – How Will Singaporeans Be Affected?
Transportation
ComfortDelGro Invests in Uber – How Will Singaporeans Be Affected?
Missed your last train home? Woke up late for work? MRT broke down again? You have two options: try your darnest to get a taxi, or order an Uber/Grab and...
4 January 2018
skillsfuture credits
Career
Want to Finally Use Your SkillsFuture Credits? Bear These 3 Things in Mind Before Signing Up for a Course
Those of you who haven’t used your SkillsFuture credits yet might want to do so soon. Your $500 credit isn’t going to earn interest, and businesses in Singapore tend to...
3 January 2018
4 Money Saving Tips for Uni Students Starting a New Semester
Education
4 Money Saving Tips for Uni Students Starting a New Semester
A new semester has just started, and after an entire month of YOLO you’re now back on campus and faced with a new pile of reading, lab work, projects and...
3 January 2018
career new year 2018
Career
3 Career Moves Every Singaporean Should Make at the Beginning of the Year
At this time of year, you’ve either just received your annual bonus and increment, or you’re waiting for it to be announced.
3 January 2018
Why are More and More Singaporeans Choosing to Travel Over Public Holidays?
Travel
Why are More and More Singaporeans Choosing to Travel Over Public Holidays?
Each time public holidays roll around, Singaporeans rush to Changi Airport to get out of the country. This year, more Singaporeans opted to go abroad for the Christmas and New...
2 January 2018
singapore en-bloc sales
Property
SG Homebuyers in 2018 – How the 2017 En-bloc Sales Fever May Hit You Hard
It seems Singapore’s property slump might soon be over. Recently, a wave of en-bloc sales swept Singapore, leading us to believe that housing prices could soon be in the rise.
26 December 2017
flight cancellation airport travel
Travel
Victim of a Flight Cancellation? – 5 Things to Do Instead of Yelling at Customer Service
Stranded at the airport due to a cancelled flight, like the Singaporeans who were recently trapped in Bali due to the eruption of Mount Agung? Fallen victim to the flight-cancelling...
21 December 2017
nye celebrations
Budgeting
5 Tips for Enjoying Your Christmas Eve and NYE Celebrations Without Going Broke
Christmas is a time to celebrate the people in your life, eat, drink and be merry, blah blah blah. If only it didn’t have to be so expensive.
21 December 2017
christmas presents
Shopping
5 Bad Christmas Presents You Should Avoid Giving
We’re not going to lie—receiving Christmas gifts is one of the most awesome things about the holiday season. And giving gifts to loved ones and seeing their faces light up...
20 December 2017
december holidays singapore
Family
7 Free or Almost-Free Ways to Keep Your Kids Occupied This December Holidays
The school holidays are in full swing and, for parents, that means trying to keep the kids occupied without spending a ton of money.
18 December 2017
Bitcoin and 5 Other Bubbles in the Past 20 Years
Opinion
Bitcoin and 5 Other Bubbles in the Past 20 Years
Those of you who are kicking yourselves for not jumping on the bitcoin wagon earlier might find some cold comfort in the knowledge that the meteoric rise of the cryptocurrency...
15 December 2017
waste food singapore
Dining
3 Tips For Cutting Down on the Amount of Food (and Money) You Waste
Eating is a national obsession in Singapore, and you’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t get a least a little flustered at the mention of their favourite restaurant...
14 December 2017
december holiday singapore teenager
Career
4 Ways Singaporean Teenagers Can Earn Some Money During the School Holidays
You’ve been begging your parents for a Nintendo Switch for six months already, but given your less-than-stellar grades this year, it’s unlikely you’re going to receive one for Christmas.
13 December 2017
employee engagement singapore
Career
3 Ways Employers can Boost Employee Engagement and Stop Their Workers From Turning into Zombies
Do you have colleagues whose default facial expression at work is “sian”? Who try to get by doing the bare minimum each and every day? Then you’ve witnessed a zombie...
12 December 2017
malaysia tourist taxes
Travel
Are The New Malaysia Tourist Taxes Going to Stop Singaporeans From Crossing the Border?
People like to say Singapore and Malaysia have a love-hate relationship, but from the point of view of Singaporeans, it’s all love. We go to Malaysia for hawker food that’s...
11 December 2017
online scams singapore
Shopping
Online Scams That Affected Singapore in 2017 – Don’t Let Your Guard Down Shoppers!
It’s been a busy year for scammers targeting Singaporeans. The first half of 2017 saw more than $22 million being lost to online scams.
7 December 2017
credit card charge disputes
Credit Cards
Credit Card Charge Disputes – 5 Things Singaporeans Should be Aware of Before Making One
Many people don’t know why it’s better to use a credit card than a debit card, especially because credit cards have gained the reputation of being evil thanks to a...
6 December 2017
3 Skills You Can Learn From Your Parents That Save You Money and Benefit Your Career
Family
3 Skills You Can Learn From Your Parents That Save You Money and Benefit Your Career
Can you believe that it’s been only 5 years since Gardens by the Bay came into existence, and 7 years since Marina Bay Sands opened its doors? Heck, ten years...
5 December 2017
work-life balance
Career
3 Principles Singaporeans Should Live By to Achieve a Good Work-Life Balance
Sometimes, achieving work-life balance can seem as hard as finding a cure for cancer. Long working hours are so common right now that when someone manages to leave the office...
1 December 2017
5 Ways to Make Some Extra Money During the Festive Season
Career
5 Ways to Make Some Extra Money During the Festive Season
Christmas means different things to different people. For kids, it’s the perfect opportunity to beg your parents for a Nintendo Switch. For some, it’s a time to get together with...
29 November 2017