ryanong

Articles by Ryan Ong

I was a freelance writer for over a decade, and covered topics from music to super-contagious foot diseases. I took this job because I believe financial news should be accessible and fun to read. Also, because the assignments don't involve shouting teenagers and debilitating plagues.

Five Pro Tips To Consider When Taking Out A Personal Loan In Singapore
Personal Loans
Five Pro Tips To Consider When Taking Out A Personal Loan In Singapore
Let’s get personal. As taking personal loans from banks becoming an increasingly common practice in Singapore, talks on improving credit score and scouting for banks with the best interest rates...
15 December 2022
probablity of winning 4D and Toto in Singapore
Budgeting
“Investing” in Singapore Lottery? The Math behind Toto and 4D in Singapore
Big Sweep, 4D, Toto… so many ways to win at the Singapore Pools. On the 11 February 2022, the $16 million snowballed Toto Hongbao grand prize will mark the largest...
10 February 2022
pawn shops singapore
Personal Loans
7 Things Singaporeans Should Know About Pawn Shops
Back in the ’80s, middle-class Singaporeans associated pawn shops with poverty. If you were seen walking into one, your acquaintances would never let you live it down; they immediately assumed...
4 December 2018
late credit card payments singapore
Credit Cards
5 Ways to Deal With Late Payment Fees on Your Credit Card
Credit cards are useful for getting cash back rebates and free air miles for your expenditure. They’re also needed for paying cashlessly in this day and age. But beware of...
30 November 2018
bankruptcy singapore
Budgeting
Bankruptcy in Singapore – What are the Consequences?
As of September 2018, there are almost 17,000 undischarged bankrupts in Singapore. The good news is that the number of bankruptcy cases has dropped by more than 20 percent since...
13 November 2018
hidden credit card transaction fees
Credit Cards
Credit Card Transaction Fees You Probably Don’t Know You’re Paying
When you get a credit card, you’ll also receive a book of terms and conditions. But you will need some legalese and time to get through them, and if you are...
26 April 2018
cashback credit cards singapore
Credit Cards
5 Tips To Maximize Your Cashback Card Benefits
So you’ve heard cashback cards offer the best savings, and you want to switch. Or maybe you already have a cashback card, and you’re wondering why the only thing you’re...
11 August 2017
fixed rate vs floating rate home loan refinancing singapore
Home Loans
What Singaporeans Need to Know About Home Loan Refinancing in 2016
Back in 2011, I was convinced banks installed revolving doors just for home loan customers. People refinanced more often than we got to change underwear in NS. It was an...
16 September 2016
best credit cards students singapore
Credit Cards
3 Best Credit Cards for Students In Singapore
In my day, students had allowances of $8. And those were the rich kids. Our mobile phones was two soup cans connected by string. When we broke bones, we set...
20 January 2015
5 Things Degree Holders Need To Do To Survive in Singapore’s Job Economy
Career
5 Things Degree Holders Need To Do To Survive in Singapore’s Job Economy
Congratulations on graduating! You’re now one a few hundred thousand graduates in the job market, many of whom will quickly realise that securing a job isn’t as easy as it may seem....
3 January 2015
best way to spend 1000 in your 20s
Invest
The Best Way to Spend $1,000 in Your 20’s
You’ve probably seen this kind of article before. The best way to invest $1,000 is to put it in your CPF, drop it in a fixed deposit, blah blah blah....
2 October 2014
good reasons to incur debt
Budgeting
4 Good Reasons For Incurring Debt
When I was growing up, I was taught that debt is a bad thing. That it’s up there with procrastination, swear words, and AIDs. I didn’t even touch a credit...
15 September 2014
investing, stock market
Invest
5 Things You Learn from Losing $5,000 in the Stock Market
Sometime in my mid – 20’s, I got tired of living on corn flakes and ketchup packets. So using what time and money I had, I read up on finance...
27 August 2014
Subletting your HDB
Property
3 Insane Ways People Try to Flout HDB’s Subletting Rules
HDB has a ton of rules, because it’s public housing and all. And at first, we were about to explain those rules to you. Because the writer for HDB’s web page...
22 July 2014
9 Ways to Get Ripped Off at Sim Lim Square and Beyond
Shopping
9 Ways to Get Ripped Off at Sim Lim Square and Beyond
I think I got ripped off buying my new phone. Either that or I’m waaaay out of touch with gadgets, and a phone really is worth $500 more when it...
18 July 2014
7 Signs You’re Financially Successful and Don’t Know It Yet
Invest
7 Signs You’re Financially Successful and Don’t Know It Yet
You know why Singaporeans aren’t happy? It’s because we’re always pushed to get the biggest house. The sexiest car. The most expensive smartphone. “That’s an unusually mature observation from you.”...
15 July 2014
4 Ways to Get Your HDB Flat “Confiscated”
Property
4 Ways to Get Your HDB Flat “Confiscated”
I’m amazed people try anything illegal in their HDB flats. I mean, it’s not exactly spacious:  a few inches of wall separates us from the most intimate details of our...
3 July 2014
5 Street Scams in Singapore You Shouldn’t Be Fooled By
Shopping
5 Street Scams in Singapore You Shouldn’t Be Fooled By
Lots of people laugh at scam victims – right up till they themselves pay $500 for a new “eye pad” online. Then they get whiny, and out come the excuses:...
26 June 2014
50+ Year Old Singaporeans Reveal the 3 Major Career Mistakes They Wish They Hadn’t Made
Career
50+ Year Old Singaporeans Reveal the 3 Major Career Mistakes They Wish They Hadn’t Made
You know, I used to run a career counseling service. But it didn’t take off. “That’s because your only career tactic was to become an investment banker before 1981.” Hey,...
25 June 2014
How Insurers Investigate Fraud in Singapore
Life Insurance
How Insurers Investigate Fraud in Singapore
I almost got busted for insurance fraud once. That was when I microwaved oily bacon in tinfoil and set most of my kitchen on fire. “You were safe from fraud...
18 June 2014
4 Downright Unethical Ways Tuition Agencies Are Taking Advantage of You
Education
4 Downright Unethical Ways Tuition Agencies Are Taking Advantage of You
If I were a tutor, I’d have two prices. For $250 a month I’d make (probably futile) attempts to teach. For $500 a month I’d guarantee an A. “By getting...
5 June 2014
Choosing the right life insurance policy
Life Insurance
Why the Right Life Insurance Policy Will Stop You From Over Relying on Your CPF
Previously, this article was about how Medisave and CPF might not provide enough. But as of now, my  insurance policy is to not blog about the government. I can’t even...
4 June 2014
Here’s How To Tell If That Old Comic Book In Your House Is Worth A Lot of Money
Budgeting
Here’s How To Tell If That Old Comic Book In Your House Is Worth A Lot of Money
When they asked me to discuss this, I immediately requested a less inflammatory topic. Like abortion, or creationism. There are only three certainties when discussing comic book investments: it’s fun,...
3 June 2014
5 Better Things You Should Be Doing With Your NS Pay (Rather Than Getting Drunk)
Invest
5 Better Things You Should Be Doing With Your NS Pay (Rather Than Getting Drunk)
National Service is a pain in the keister, we get that. But here’s the kicker: while you’re busy defending the country from invaders more imaginary than your CPF money, you’re...
23 May 2014
Renovate Your Home, Not Your Wallet: 5 Essential Tips!
Property
Renovate Your Home, Not Your Wallet: 5 Essential Tips!
I’ve seen what happens to old houses and flats. It’s like that documentary, Life After People, with the added misfortune that you’re around to see it. Take my buddy Aaron for...
10 January 2014