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.

3 Common Bad Habits That Make Singaporeans Poorer
Opinion
3 Common Bad Habits That Make Singaporeans Poorer
If you’re poor because life dealt you a lousy hand of cards, you deserve all the help in the world. But many Singaporeans land themselves in financial trouble simply because...
24 September 2015
4 Important Purchases You Will Definitely Regret Not Spending More Money On
Budgeting
4 Important Purchases You Will Definitely Regret Not Spending More Money On
The last time someone told me they paid $700 for a new smartphone, I smirked inwardly at the fact that they paid $700 more than I did for my barely-smart...
23 September 2015
3 Ways Singapore Companies Can Stop Employees From Quitting
Career
3 Ways Singapore Companies Can Stop Employees From Quitting
Singaporean employees are as loyal to their bosses as those uncles on Sammy Boy are to their wives—they’re dissatisfied with what they have, and most wouldn’t hesitate to leave for...
23 September 2015
3 Benefits of Internships That Have Nothing to Do With Getting a Job There
Career
3 Benefits of Internships That Have Nothing to Do With Getting a Job There
I’ve met university students with resumes that were five pages long. These guys tried to cram in at least two or three internships during their long holidays each year, and...
22 September 2015
3 Ways Singaporean Parents Can Juggle Work and Kids Better
Family
3 Ways Singaporean Parents Can Juggle Work and Kids Better
Despite the government recently increasing the amount of cash incentives open to Singaporean parents, the number one complaint of new parents on my Facebook feed has been not lack of...
22 September 2015
3 Typical Singaporean Travellers and How They Can Save Money
Travel
3 Typical Singaporean Travellers and How They Can Save Money
I have yet to meet a Singaporean who hates travelling—mainly because for us, going to a foreign country can mean making a mere 30 minute drive across the Causeway.
21 September 2015
online grocery shopping singapore
Shopping
Is Online Grocery Shopping in Singapore Cheaper Than Going To a Supermarket?
We Singaporeans are addicted to convenience. I’ve almost forgotten what it feels like to have to step into the abyss of a shopping mall because I now buy most of...
21 September 2015
3 Reasons Singapore SMEs Should Welcome, Not Discourage, Parental Leave
Career
3 Reasons Singapore SMEs Should Welcome, Not Discourage, Parental Leave
It looks like the government’s going all out this year to convince Singaporeans to have kids. The national paternity leave allowance just got raised to two weeks, although it’s not...
18 September 2015
5 Travel Destinations Singaporeans Think Are Expensive But Can Be Surprisingly Cheap
Travel
5 Travel Destinations Singaporeans Think Are Expensive But Can Be Surprisingly Cheap
Most Singaporeans think of Bangkok, KL, Phuket or Penang when they want an inexpensive vacation. Everything else, by default, is expensive—people balk at the cost of hotels in Tokyo and...
18 September 2015
3 Ways Young, Unmarried Singaporeans Can Benefit From Moving Out of the Family Home
Opinion
3 Ways Young, Unmarried Singaporeans Can Benefit From Moving Out of the Family Home
Pragmatic Singaporeans usually live with their parents until they get married, and some even continue doing so after tying the knot. While the reasons for this used to be largely...
17 September 2015
How to Make Sure You’re Getting Your Money’s Worth When Hiring a Tutor For Your Child
Family
How to Make Sure You’re Getting Your Money’s Worth When Hiring a Tutor For Your Child
If you’re a Singaporean parent, there’s a 70% chance you’ll be enrolling your kid in tuition at some point in their lives. However, despite such high tuition enrolment rates, only...
17 September 2015
3 Things You Should NOT Do When You Get a Windfall
Opinion
3 Things You Should NOT Do When You Get a Windfall
Judging by the number of people praying for Toto and 4D numbers at temples all over Singapore, a lot of people here are hoping for some windfall luck, as the...
15 September 2015
3 Reasons Singaporeans Might Consider Buying a Condo as Their First Home
Property
3 Reasons Singaporeans Might Consider Buying a Condo as Their First Home
Let’s face it, many Singaporeans choose to buy condos over HDB flats because of perceived prestige and in pursuit of the hallowed five Cs. But unfortunately, condos come at a...
11 September 2015
4 Ways to Impress Your Interviewer Even Without a Mindblowing CV
Career
4 Ways to Impress Your Interviewer Even Without a Mindblowing CV
If you have a degree from Harvard and were a star performer in your last job, stop reading now and accept our congratulations in advance. However, if you’re one of...
10 September 2015
Is Going to Malaysia to Buy Groceries Worth the Trouble?
Shopping
Is Going to Malaysia to Buy Groceries Worth the Trouble?
When Singaporeans cross the Causeway into Malaysia, they immediately whip out their wallets, because everything is just so much cheaper there. In fact, many Singaporeans who live near the Causeway...
10 September 2015
3 Ways to Save Money on Gadgets in Singapore
Budgeting
3 Ways to Save Money on Gadgets in Singapore
“Is there wifi here?” is the favourite phrase of a Singaporean on holiday. Here in Singapore, we love our gadgets. It’s not uncommon to see a woman crossing the road...
9 September 2015
4 Ways Young Singaporean Couples Are Keeping Their Wedding Affordable
Wedding
4 Ways Young Singaporean Couples Are Keeping Their Wedding Affordable
If there’s one thing you can’t accuse Singaporeans for being cheapskate about, it’s organising weddings. Aunties might storm a supermarket in search of that elusive $1 discount, but when it...
8 September 2015
5 Situations Where Bargaining is Acceptable in Singapore
Budgeting
5 Situations Where Bargaining is Acceptable in Singapore
Singapore is no Bangkok, so try to haggle over the price of that ramlee burger at the pasar malam and you could find yourself with egg on your face. But...
7 September 2015
4 Work-Related Costs in Singapore You Could be Spending Much Less On
Budgeting
4 Work-Related Costs in Singapore You Could be Spending Much Less On
Unless you’re Mother Teresa, the main reason you go work every day is to earn money. But spending the day at work can be an expense in itself. If your...
4 September 2015
4 Rules To Live By For Those Who Earn a Variable Income
Budgeting
4 Rules To Live By For Those Who Earn a Variable Income
While the typical Singaporean salaryman goes home each night knowing he’ll be getting $x at the end of the month, those with a variable or fluctuating income know that just...
4 September 2015
2 Important Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Car in Singapore
Transportation
2 Important Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Car in Singapore
It’s no secret that cars cost a bomb in Singapore. But judging by the amount of traffic congestion on local roads, that hasn’t stopped many people from buying them. In...
3 September 2015
The 4 Mistakes You Absolutely Need to Avoid in Your First Job
Career
The 4 Mistakes You Absolutely Need to Avoid in Your First Job
A first job is a terrifying affair, right up there with the PSLE. As you take your first tentative steps into the “real world”, you cluelessly grope your way through...
3 September 2015
6 Ways Deal Sites Like Groupon Make You Waste Money Instead of Saving It
Budgeting
6 Ways Deal Sites Like Groupon Make You Waste Money Instead of Saving It
Some people check Groupon more often than they read the news or the weather report. The moment they get up, they need to know what the deal of the day...
2 September 2015
4 Tasks Singaporeans Can Outsource Without Hiring Domestic Help
Budgeting
4 Tasks Singaporeans Can Outsource Without Hiring Domestic Help
Singaporeans are a busy lot, and after spending a long day at the office most people don’t have the time or energy to attend to the annoyances of daily life....
2 September 2015
3 Reasons Why Singaporeans Aren’t Eating at Home More
Dining
3 Reasons Why Singaporeans Aren’t Eating at Home More
Cooking at home is one of the most obvious ways to save money, but it’s also something Singaporeans hardly do these days. The number of people who eat out at...
1 September 2015