vanessah.nah

Articles by Vanessa Nah

Vanessa likes her personal finance articles the way she likes her sitcoms—funny, entertaining, and leaving people knowing a little more about life. In another life, Vanessa was the biggest nerd in class and was *this* close to doing a PhD. That researcher is still in her as she now digs out the ins and outs of personal loans, T&Cs of credit cards, and ups and downs of alternative investments. When Vanessa’s not debunking finance myths, you’ll find her attending dance classes, fingerpicking a guitar, or fulfilling her life mission to make her one-eyed cat the most spoiled kitty in the world.

ticktockbelles-stephanie-soh-deborah-wong
High Life
Is The Best Men’s Luxury Watch To Invest In…A Women’s Watch?
If you’re thinking about investing in a luxury watch, there’s something you should know: The secondary watch market has been falling post-pandemic. The Bloomberg Subdial Watch Index, which tracks the...
27 February 2024
feb-2024-hdb-bto-review-bedok-choa-chu-kang-hougang-punggol-queenstown-woodlands
Property
HDB BTO Feb 2024 Review: Locations, Application Rates, Prices, and More
The Feb 2024 BTO and SBF Exercises are open from 21 to 28 Feb 2024, 11:59pm. Apply online via the HDB Flat Portal anytime within this period for either a...
22 February 2024
budget-2024-summary
Budgeting
Budget 2024 Summary: 10 Things You Need to Know
“Let me assure everyone: We will always have your backs,” Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong told Singapore on 16 Feb 2024 as he presented the nation’s 2024...
16 February 2024
Valentine’s Day Credit Card Promotions 2024—7 Ways to Save Money This Valentine’s Day
Credit Cards
Valentine’s Day Credit Card Promotions 2024—7 Ways to Save Money This Valentine’s Day
So you’ve done your best to plan an affordable date, but your significant other has other plans—it’s a hotel staycation, expensive luxury watch, or nothing. You don’t want to break...
6 February 2024
18 Valentine’s Day 2024 Set Menus Under $100/pax, Starting From $34++
Dining
18 Valentine’s Day 2024 Set Menus Under $100/pax, Starting From $34++
It’s been said that the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach. So on the day of love, you better get the food right. That being said, your...
5 February 2024
cny-2024-reunion-dinner-singapore-set-menus
Dining
CNY Reunion Dinner 2024—12 Chinese Restaurant Set Meals Under $60++/pax
We feel it too—that impending anxiety of what’s to come at a Chinese New Year (CNY) reunion dinner. Relatives will be relatives, and it isn’t Chinese New Year if you...
22 January 2024
Li Chun 2024: The Most Auspicious Date and Time to Deposit Money This Chinese New Year 2024
Entertainment
Li Chun 2024: The Most Auspicious Date and Time to Deposit Money This Chinese New Year 2024
You might not know it by name, but perhaps you’ve noticed snaking queues at cash deposit machines on a particular day during the Chinese New Year (CNY) period. That date...
19 January 2024
reading-trending-reddit-threads-in-singapore
Opinion
Think You’re Having a Rotten Week? Read These Reddit Threads
Yesterday while waiting for the lift to head into the office, I asked my colleague to confirm what day of the week it was: “Is it Thursday today?” “Yeah,” he...
19 January 2024
best-vet-clinics-singapore-prices
Budgeting
17 Popular Vet Clinics in Singapore and Their Prices—Consultation, Vaccinations and More (2024)
People always poke fun at pet parents, saying that furkids are like children, except they will never “grow up”, earn money and take care of you when you’re old. They’re...
12 January 2024
ocbc-infinity-cashback-card-review-2024-moneysmart
Credit Cards
OCBC INFINITY Cashback Card—The Best Unlimited Cashback Card in Singapore? MoneySmart Review (2024)
For the uninitiated, there are mainly 5 unlimited cashback cards in Singapore’s credit card scene. Of these, I consider only 4 to be truly “unlimited” both in terms of cashback...
3 January 2024
guide-to-investing-in-guitars-heirlooms-music-dino-yong
Invest
A Beginner’s Guide to Investing in Guitars: Vintage Guitars, Boutique Guitars, and More
Would you pay US$1,587,500 for a guitar? This staggering figure is the actual price that Kurt Cobain’s left-handed Skystang I guitar sold for last month at auction (alongside an unopened...
14 December 2023
heirlooms-music-singapore-dino-yong
Invest
Why Investing In Guitars Beats Investing In Property
Forget brick-and-mortar houses. Skip your S&P 500 shares. Today’s choicest investments could be made of spruce, mahogany, and 6 steel strings. Guitars are better investments than property, said memorabilia expert...
12 December 2023
hdb-bto-dec-2023-review
Property
HDB BTO Dec 2023 Launch: Locations, Prices, Application Rates, and More
Was 2023 supposed to be your year to finally get a Built-To-Order (BTO) flat? If you clicked on this article, I suppose that day has yet to come. Listen up,...
10 December 2023
The Best Entry-Level Luxury Watches to Buy in a Falling Market: Top Picks From Our Resident Watch Collector
High Life
The Best Entry-Level Luxury Watches to Buy in a Falling Market: Top Picks From Our Resident Watch Collector
It’s time to buy that Rolex. Well, if you really want a Rolex for the Rolex. If you’re eyeing a luxury watch as an investment piece, things are a bit...
29 November 2023
travel-safety-women-lgbtq-persons-with-disabilities
Travel
Travel Safety: Tips for Women, LGBTQ+, and Persons with Disabilities
I once had a creepy guy approach me in a Uniqlo store overseas. He grabbed my hands, called me beautiful, and begged me to let him take a photo of...
27 November 2023
pet-birthday-cakes-singapore-dog-cat-hamster-rabbit
Entertainment
6 Best Pet Birthday Cakes in Singapore For Dogs, Cats, Hamsters And More
For my cat’s past 2 birthdays, these are the homemade birthday “cakes” I made for her: I thought my handiwork had improved—that latest birthday cake ain’t half bad, right? A...
10 November 2023
how-to-invest-$100k-tips-advice-reddit
Invest
“How Should I Invest $100k?”: We Rate Advice From Reddit
If life gives you $100,000, can Reddit tell you how to turn it into a money tree? “Put it in UOB One.” “All in Bitcoin, thank me later.” “Use the...
8 November 2023
japan-travel-hacks-save-money-budget
Travel
Japan Rail Pass Prices Have Increased By 70%! Here Are 7 Must-Know Travel Hacks To Save Money in Japan
It’s no secret that Singaporeans love visiting Japan. And as most Japan aficionados would know, the unlimited travel Japan Rail (JR) Pass is a cost effective way to get around...
31 October 2023
travel-aggregators-questions-answered
Travel
Are Travel Aggregators Secure? Harder to Claim From?—Your Questions About Travel Aggregators, Answered.
Ah, Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda… Names that almost roll off the tongue when we think about jet-setting to a new destination or planning that dream vacation. Most of us have probably...
the-price-to-pay-for-flying-cheap
Travel
The Price To Pay For Flying Cheap: Do Budget Airlines Compensate You For Flight Delays and Cancellations?
What if we told you that flying cheap might come at a higher price?  In May 2023, we surveyed 1,730 Singaporean adults on flight delays and cancellations. We found a...
27 October 2023
uob-krisflyer-credit-card-review-moneysmart
Credit Cards
KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card—MoneySmart Review 
KrisFlyer miles chasers, the KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card might be the easiest, most fuss-free miles card for you. This card lets you earn KrisFlyer miles directly with no conversion fee...
25 October 2023
layoff-guide-mental-health
Career
How to Handle a Layoff: A Step-By-Step Guide
When our colleague’s friend, Bernard*, was told to go to the office early on a Monday morning “for a chat”, he had a bad feeling. Monday was not a usual...
10 October 2023
are-typewriters-good-investments-type8ar
Entertainment
Are Typewriters Good Investments? Or Just For Nostalgic Sentiment? We Find Out From a Typewriter Enthusiast
Out with the old? More like out with the new. Retro is in, and there’s one old school item that’s met a recent resurgence in popularity. You could say something...
28 September 2023
negotiate salary transferable skills
Career
How Do I Negotiate My Salary When Switching Careers?
Once upon a time, making a career switch was seen as something scary, uncommon, and worrying. It was something one resorted to, not something anyone would willingly opt to do....
13 September 2023
what-happens-overpay-credit-card-balance-refund-what-to-do
Credit Cards
I Overpaid My Credit Card Bill. Now What?
Last month, I overpaid my credit card bill. For the second time. “I think your 2 braincells can’t handle having a credit card,” my sister said helpfully, when I burst...
11 September 2023