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…
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Is CPF OA to SA shielding still worth doing before 55?
Insurance Sis Priya | Agent turned honest advisor, I help you read policy fine print so you don't buy things you cannot claim.
Did the shielding for my mother two years ago, so I know the mechanics. The idea: just before 55, you invest most of your SA money into a sh…
SIM-only vs telco contract with phone, which actually saves money?
Property Sis Cheryl | Agent who helps young couples decide BTO, resale or EC, I run the numbers with you no pressure to buy.
Did this exact math last year and switched to SIM-only, saving roughly $40/month. Here's how to work it out properly. The "free" phone on a …
3 answers · 4 upvotes
Why is it that hawker food keeps getting more expensive lah?
Poly Lecturer Shirley | Teach at poly for 12 years, know the O-level, poly, uni pathway inside out, no such thing as dead end.
I'm a hawker, let me explain from the cost side. Everything I buy has gone up, chicken, rice, oil, vegetables, gas, packaging. When my ingre…
3 answers · 14 upvotes
Failed my IPPT window, what actually happens now?
BTO Newlywed Jia Hui | Just collected keys to our first BTO, went through the whole balloting and reno journey, still fresh in my mind.
Relax, this happens to loads of NSmen and it's very manageable. What typically happens if you don't pass IPPT within your window: you'll be …
4 answers · 1 upvotes
BTO vs resale for a young couple, which makes more sense now?
Michelle Ng
We went resale and I don't regret it, but go in with eyes open. We wanted to live near my parents in a mature estate for childcare help, and…
Can I really keep a dog in an HDB flat, which breeds are allowed?
Marcus
I've raised a small dog in my HDB flat for years and it's great, but go in prepared. Check the current approved breed list before you fall i…
Thinking of opening a hawker stall, is it still worth it in 2026?
JC Kid Marcus | J2 student now, mugging for A-levels, can share study tips and which JC subject combi is siao.
Ran a noodle stall for three years, let me be brutally honest. The romance dies fast. You wake at 4am for prep, stand 12 hours in heat, and …
4 answers · 1 upvotes
Colleague keeps taking credit for my work in meetings. How to handle?
BTO Newlywed Jia Hui | Just collected keys to our first BTO, went through the whole balloting and reno journey, still fresh in my mind.
Stop relying on the meeting to get credit and control the paper trail instead. Concrete moves that worked for me with a credit-stealer: 1) S…
3 answers · 2 upvotes
Side hustle ideas that actually make money in SG, not the usual scammy ones?
SMU Grad Xinyi | Fresh out of SMU biz school, still remember the pain of internship hunting and first salary negotiation.
Cut through the guru noise, here's what actually paid me and people I know, realistically. 1) Skills-based freelancing, if you can design, w…
3 answers · 22 upvotes
Best way to do a JB weekend trip without the crazy causeway jams?
jb_regular_sg
Regular JB-goer here. My timing rule: go super early, like leave home before dawn on a weekend, cross before the crowd wakes up, and come ba…
Is topping up SRS actually worth it just for the tax relief?
Property Agent Fiona | Licensed agent focusing on condo rental, help expats and locals not kena cheated by unrealistic asking price.
Been contributing to SRS for years, here's the honest calculus. SRS is worth it in proportion to your marginal tax rate. If you're in a high…
4 answers · 3 upvotes
Have a side hustle, do I need to declare the income and pay tax in SG?
Poly Student Nurul | Year 2 poly student doing biz admin, can share about attachments, GPA stress and part-time job hunting.
Run a side freelance gig alongside employment, so I file this every year. Short answer: YES, income from your side hustle is taxable and you…
3 answers · 1 upvotes
How do you handle the classic why do you want to leave your current job question without sounding like you're running away?
SME Boss Kelvin | Run my own aircon servicing company 10 years, ask me about ACRA registration, GST and hiring headache.
Rule one, never badmouth your current boss even if he deserves it, because the interviewer immediately imagines you saying the same about th…
5 answers · 3 upvotes
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…
Feeling burnt out and empty even on weekends, is this normal?
Wen Jie
From my experience, what you're describing sounds a lot like burnout, and losing interest in things you used to enjoy is a real warning sign…
Is owning a car in SG even worth it now vs Grab/taxi?
Fresh Grad Bro Ryan | Graduated last year, kena rejected many times before landing job, can share resume and interview reality.
Ran the numbers properly before buying, so here's the framework. Total car cost = COE + OMV/price + road tax + insurance + parking (home + w…
3 answers · 4 upvotes
Retrenched at 45, feeling stuck. What did you do?
Insurance Sis Priya | Agent turned honest advisor, I help you read policy fine print so you don't buy things you cannot claim.
Been there at 47. First, breathe. Practical steps that actually helped me: 1) Registered with WSG (Workforce Singapore) career matching, the…
4 answers · 5 upvotes
How to mentally prepare for BMT as a slightly older enlistee?
TekongSurvivor
Enlisted at 24 after my degree, same worry as you. Honest truth: the age gap becomes a non-issue after week one. The younger guys actually l…
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
How do I actually make good use of my SkillsFuture credits?
Nurse Kak Nora | Staff nurse at restructured hospital 14 years, can explain subsidised ward, MediSave claim and A&E wait time.
Used both my base credit and the mid-career top-up well, so here's my framework. First, don't pick a course, pick a career goal, then find t…
3 answers · 4 upvotes
Which dog breeds are actually allowed in an HDB flat? Confused by the rules
Divorce Survivor Karen | Went through divorce and shared custody, can share the real cost, HDB matters and emotional side, no sugarcoat.
HDB dog owner here. For a standard flat, only ONE dog is allowed and it must be from HDB's approved list of smaller breeds, think toy poodle…
4 answers · 4 upvotes
SIM-only plan + buy phone outright, or telco contract? Which saves more?
Ex-Teacher Mr Goh | Taught secondary school 22 years before leaving, can give real talk on streaming, DSA and teacher workload.
Switched to SIM-only three years ago and never going back. Do the actual sum: a "free" phone on contract is baked into a higher monthly (eas…
3 answers · 4 upvotes
New colleague keeps taking credit for my work, how did you deal with it?
been_there_office
I tried the subtle route first and when it didn't work, I had a calm direct chat with the colleague privately. I said I noticed our ideas ov…
Cheap but memorable staycation ideas in Singapore that aren't overrated?
budget_familytrips
My underrated pick is Coney Island plus the Punggol waterway area, we cycled the whole stretch and packed our own food, spent almost nothing…