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.

Prudential ESG - put your money where your heart is - affordable accessible insurance
Invest
Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is: How One Insurer Makes Insurance More Affordable & Accessible
This post was written in collaboration with Prudential. While we are financially compensated by them, we nonetheless strive to maintain our editorial integrity and review products with the same objective...
Bank of China time deposit fixed deposit promo
Fixed Deposits
The Best Time Deposit Rates in Town? Bank of China Singapore Latest Promo
This post was written in collaboration with Bank of China Singapore. While we are financially compensated by them, we nonetheless strive to maintain our editorial integrity and review products with...
home loan calculator hdb maximum loan financial calculator flat interest rate cpf
Property
Using Your CPF to Purchase Property? 3 Important Facts to Know (2022)
You don’t have to wait till you’re old and wizened to use the money in your CPF account. The first time you’ll find yourself using your CPF monies is usually to buy a...
20 April 2022
indoor playgrounds singapore
Family
12 Completely Free Indoor Playgrounds in Singapore for Babies & Children! (Shopping Malls Included)
Anyone who grew up in Singapore in the ’80s or ’90s has hazy memories of playing catching and hopscotch, with only a bit of concrete ground and a very basic...
20 April 2022
uSMART Singapore - online broker education
Invest
3 Things All New Investors Must Do Before Choosing an Online Brokerage to Trade On
This post was written in collaboration with uSMART Singapore. While we are financially compensated by them, we nonetheless strive to maintain our editorial integrity and review products with the same...
personal loans singapore
Personal Loans
Want to Get a Personal Loan? Here’s What You Need To Know About Qualifying For One
We’ve been receiving questions from readers about whether they can qualify for a personal loan. We figure you’ve got to be pretty desperate if you’re actually writing in to ask...
7 April 2022
ocbc personal loan
Personal Loans
OCBC Personal Loan Review: Interest Rates, Approval Times & Loan Amounts
Being in debt isn’t fun, and you definitely shouldn’t be taking out personal loans for fun. But in certain cases, it can be a smart financial move—when you’re saddled with...
7 April 2022
money lenders personal loans
Personal Loans
Taking Personal Loans From Licensed Moneylenders vs Borrowing From Banks: What’s the Difference?
Adulting is hard. It’s not nearly enough to get a job, manage your bills, and remain debt-free. You also have to save for major life changes such as marriage, a...
7 April 2022
Pay with Pace - Pace Card buy now pay later BNPL
Shopping
How Having the Pace Card’s ‘Power of 3’ in Your Pocket Can Empower You Financially
This post was written in collaboration with Pace. While we are financially compensated by them, we nonetheless strive to maintain our editorial integrity and review products with the same objective...
good debt bad debt interest rates
Budgeting
Good vs Bad Debt: How to Prioritise Which Loans to Pay in Singapore
Growing up, we were probably taught that debt is a bad thing, something to avoid at all costs. But the truth is more nuanced than that. We are “borrowing” every...
6 April 2022
friday finance personal loan
Personal Loans
Friday Finance Personal Loan: Should You Borrow from a Moneylender?
The word “moneylender” conjures up idyllic images of pigs’ heads stuck on doors and O$P$ spray painted in red in HDB corridors. But licensed moneylenders (i.e. legal ones, unlike your...
6 April 2022
dbs personal loans singapore
Personal Loans
DBS & POSB Personal Loan Review: Interest Rates, Approval Times & Loan Amounts
Resorting to personal loans can be a wise financial move if you’re already in debt, have no way to repay all of it right now and wish to consolidate your...
6 April 2022
moomoo vs robo advisors
Invest
moomoo Online Broker vs Robo Advisors: A Review of Fees + Comparison
This post was written in collaboration with FUTU Singapore (FUTU SG). While we are financially compensated by them, we nonetheless strive to maintain our editorial integrity and review products with the...
withdrawing cash overseas
Travel
Withdrawing Cash Overseas When You Travel – What To Look Out For & Withdrawal Fees
I know, who even uses cash anymore? But when you’re overseas, and say you’re at a street market, you’ll still most likely need to pay in cash. Here’s what you...
4 April 2022
passport lost overseas
Travel
What Should You Do When Your Passport is Lost or Stolen Overseas?
We’ve all read those news articles about how the Singapore passport is the world’s most powerful in terms of the number of countries it lets us get into visa-free. But...
1 April 2022
Singtel Red Membership
Budgeting
Srsly?! 5 Ways The New Singtel Red Membership Programme Practically Pays for Itself & More
This post was written in collaboration with Singtel. While we are financially compensated by them, we nonetheless strive to maintain our editorial integrity and review products with the same objective...
Syfe - understand your risk appetite
Invest
Do You Truly Know Your Risk Appetite? You Might Be More Conservative Than You Think
This post was written in collaboration with Syfe. While we are financially compensated by them, we nonetheless strive to maintain our editorial integrity and review products with the same objective...
InsAccident_Best_masthead
PA Insurance
7 Best Personal Accident Insurance Plans Under $150 in Singapore (2022)
Everyone experiences bad luck now and then. Like when you don’t strike Toto, the MRT breaks down, or your HDB block didn’t get selected for en bloc. But what about...
24 March 2022
American Express True Cashback Card
Credit Cards
American Express True Cashback Card – MoneySmart Review 2022
The Amex True Cashback Card is a super low-effort gives you 1.5% cashback on virtually anything you spend on, and there is no limit to how much cashback you can...
24 March 2022
unlimited cashback credit card
Credit Cards
5 Best Unlimited Cashback Credit Cards in Singapore (2022)
Many cashback credit cards are like those fast food ads featuring massive burgers oozing with juice. You buy one, only to discover that the real product looked more like a deflated...
24 March 2022
balanced investing - PineBridge Acorns of Asia Balanced Fund
Invest
Why Adopting an Asia Balanced Investment Strategy Could Help During These Volatile Times
This post was written in collaboration with PineBridge Investments. While we are financially compensated by them, we nonetheless strive to maintain our editorial integrity and review products with the same...
Top 10 Kids Activities in Singapore to Learn Coding, Art and Other Skills
Education
Top 10 Kids Activities in Singapore to Learn Coding, Art and Other Skills
The March school holidays are in full swing! Sign your kids up for some activities and camps where they can pick up new skills, have fun, and more importantly, stay...
Etiqa Insurance Singapore - protection solutions for millennials, the sandwiched generation
Life Insurance
Protecting What Lies Ahead: The Importance of Insurance & How to Give Yourself the Longest Runway Possible
This post was written in collaboration with Etiqa Insurance. While we are financially compensated by them, we nonetheless strive to maintain our editorial integrity and review products with the same...
Helpers in Singapore
Family
4 Reasons Singaporeans are So Reliant on Their Maids
The many maids silently living in their employers’ homes are what really keep this country going. If all the maids suddenly went back to their countries, who would feed us,...
16 March 2022
australian universities tuition fees costs rent
Education
Australian Universities – How Much Does it Cost to Send Your Child There? (2022)
Walk down the streets of Melbourne, Sydney or Perth and you might be surprised to bump into some familiar faces—a classmate from primary school, perhaps, or a distant uncle.
16 March 2022