In-laws want to live with us after we get our flat, how to set boundaries?
Guo Wei
We went through this and what saved us was honesty early rather than letting assumptions build. My wife spoke to her parents directly and lo…
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How does Baby Bonus and CDA actually work, worth maxing the CDA?
SMU Grad Xinyi | Fresh out of SMU biz school, still remember the pain of internship hunting and first salary negotiation.
Two kids, so I know this well. Two separate things. One, the Baby Bonus Cash Gift is paid out to you in instalments over the early years, st…
3 answers · 5 upvotes
How do you find affordable therapy/counselling in Singapore?
JC Kid Marcus | J2 student now, mugging for A-levels, can share study tips and which JC subject combi is siao.
You have more affordable options than the pricey private clinics. What I've used/researched: 1) polyclinic GP referral to a subsidised psych…
4 answers · 5 upvotes
MNC vs local SME for career growth in your 30s?
CPF Guru Benjamin | Spent years reading every CPF policy update, I explain OA, SA, MA transfer and RA top-up in plain English.
I've done both. MNC gives you a brand name that opens doors forever, plus proper processes you can learn and carry anywhere. SME gives you r…
3 answers · 1 upvotes
What's it like switching from a private-sector job to the civil service in your late 30s? Was the stability worth it?
Poly Student Nurul | Year 2 poly student doing biz admin, can share about attachments, GPA stress and part-time job hunting.
Made the jump from a private MNC to a statutory board at 36 and five years on, I'd say it was worth it but manage your expectations carefull…
Is buying a second property still worth it after ABSD hikes?
CPF Guru Benjamin | Spent years reading every CPF policy update, I explain OA, SA, MA transfer and RA top-up in plain English.
ABSD 20% is a huge upfront drag and it completely changes the math from the old days. On a $1.5M condo that's $300k in ABSD alone, on top of…
Started a small side hustle, do I need to declare it and tell my employer?
Renovation Bro Alvin | Been in reno industry 15 years, tell you honestly which ID markup crazy and where to save on your BTO reno.
Two separate issues, tax and employment. Tax: yes, freelance income is taxable and you must declare it to IRAS as trade or self-employed inc…
How to answer "expected salary" without lowballing myself?
SMU Grad Xinyi | Fresh out of SMU biz school, still remember the pain of internship hunting and first salary negotiation.
HR here. Never give a single number, give a researched range and anchor to market. My script that works: "Based on my research for this role…
3 answers · 4 upvotes
Is switching from a big telco to an MVNO like Circles or Giga actually worth it in SG? Any downsides?
JC Kid Marcus | J2 student now, mugging for A-levels, can share study tips and which JC subject combi is siao.
Switched from Singtel to Circles.Life two years ago and it was one of my easier money-saving wins, cut my bill from 55 to about 20 a month f…
BTO wait 4 years or just buy resale now? Getting married next year
CPF Guru Benjamin | Spent years reading every CPF policy update, I explain OA, SA, MA transfer and RA top-up in plain English.
We went BTO and I'd do it again, but only because we had a place to stay while waiting. We stayed with my in-laws for the build period, whic…
4 answers · 2 upvotes
How do you actually negotiate a higher salary at a local SME?
negotiator_ah_beng
Negotiated up about 12 percent at a local SME last year. The trick with SMEs is they're less rigid but also more personal, so frame it right…
How to answer "expected salary" without lowballing myself?
Pharmacist Hui Min | Community pharmacist, can explain generic versus branded medicine and why some things you no need doctor visit.
I'm an ex-recruiter, here's the insider truth. We ask early to screen out people out of budget, so refusing to answer entirely can get you d…
PSLE stress is killing our family vibe, how did you cope?
letgo_mummy
Been through PSLE twice with my two kids. The biggest thing that saved us was accepting early that PSLE is not the end of the world, and act…
How to answer 'why do you want to leave your current job' without sounding negative?
Terrence
From my experience, the golden rule is to face forward, not backward. Never badmouth your boss or company even if it's justified, because in…
What's a realistic salary jump when switching jobs in 2026?
Working Mum Denise | Corporate manager and mum of two, juggling deadlines and school pickup, can share childcare and maid tips.
Realistic range now is 10-20% for a lateral move, more if you're also stepping up in title or moving into a hotter function. I moved last ye…
3 answers · 4 upvotes
What's it really like switching from a stable civil service job to a startup in your 30s?
IT Support Ah Kow | IT support for an SME, fix people's laptop and printer whole day, can recommend budget gadgets that last.
Did exactly this at 33, left MOM after 7 years for a fintech startup at Mapletree Business City. First thing that hit me: no more clear repo…
5 answers · 2 upvotes
Renting a room in Singapore, what should I watch out for as a tenant?
Kelvin
From my experience, always verify the person renting to you is the actual owner or an authorised agent, ask to see proof, because subletting…
Which telco for value now, worth leaving Singtel for a SIM-only plan?
Joanne
I moved to a SIM-only plan two years ago and never looked back, but do check your usage first. I was paying for way more data than I actuall…
How to answer the 'why do you want to leave your current job' question honestly?
hr_hiring_side
I interview candidates regularly, so here's what I actually think when I ask this. I'm not expecting a fairy tale, I know most people leave …
BTO vs resale flat for a couple in our early 30s in a hurry to move out, which one did you regret less?
Elderly Caregiver Mdm Fong | Caring for my elderly parents at home, know about eldershield, home care grants and getting a helper approved.
We went resale in Bishan in 2023 because we simply could not wait 4 years, and I don't regret it, but the cash was brutal. The valuation was…
When do I actually need to register for GST as a small business?
Uncle Mun Coffeeshop | Run a coffeeshop drink stall, ask me about kopi orders, stall rental and dealing with the town council.
Ran a small online biz through this. The core rule: GST registration is compulsory once your taxable turnover crosses the prescribed thresho…
4 answers · 2 upvotes
With COE so high, is owning a car in SG still worth it?
Hawker Ah Boy | Third generation running our chicken rice stall, ask me about rental, ingredient cost and why food price go up.
Family with two kids here, we crunched the numbers hard. Owning a mid-range car all-in (COE, depreciation, insurance, road tax, petrol, park…
BTO vs resale flat 2026 for young couple, is waiting 4 years for BTO worth it?
Confinement Nanny Auntie Poh | Confinement nanny 18 years, helped many new mums with breastfeeding, baby sleep and confinement food.
We went resale in a mature estate (Bishan) in 2024 and I don't regret it, even though we paid COV of about 30k on top. The math: BTO would h…
5 answers · 3 upvotes
Is PSLE tuition really necessary or are we just following the herd?
Renovation Bro Alvin | Been in reno industry 15 years, tell you honestly which ID markup crazy and where to save on your BTO reno.
Two kids through PSLE, opposite experiences taught me this: tuition is a tool, not a default. My elder was coping fine in school so we skipp…
3 answers · 5 upvotes
Which government schemes should a new first-time BTO couple actually apply for?
Yong Sheng
From my experience, as first-timer married couples buying a BTO you should check the CPF Housing Grants that apply to new flats, and if you'…