Worth switching from a big telco to an MVNO to save money?
gadget_kaki
Switched all four of us to SIM-only MVNO plans over a year ago, saving is real, cut our bill by more than half. Network quality wise, most M…
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Infant care centre or leave baby with grandparents? Torn about the decision
Preschool Teacher Ling | Preschool teacher and mum of one, can guide you on childcare subsidy, MOE kindergarten ballot and school readiness.
Went through this exact debate. We chose grandparents for the first year then infant care after, and honestly a hybrid worked best for us. W…
3 answers · 5 upvotes
First-time car buyer, what hidden costs nobody warns you about?
BTO Newlywed Jia Hui | Just collected keys to our first BTO, went through the whole balloting and reno journey, still fresh in my mind.
First car surprised me with the recurring stuff, not the upfront. Things people underestimate: 1) parking, a season pass at home (HDB/condo)…
3 answers · 1 upvotes
Should I use my CPF OA to pay for my flat or keep it earning 2.5% and pay cash? What did you decide?
IT Support Ah Kow | IT support for an SME, fix people's laptop and printer whole day, can recommend budget gadgets that last.
The thing everyone underestimates is accrued interest. Every dollar of CPF OA you use for the flat, you must return to your CPF with 2.5% co…
5 answers · 5 upvotes
Should I use CPF or cash to pay my HDB loan?
steadyfinance_bro
I use a hybrid. I let CPF OA pay the bulk of the monthly instalment so my cash flow stays healthy for emergencies and my kids' stuff, but I …
How much emergency fund is enough in Singapore?
Renovation Bro Alvin | Been in reno industry 15 years, tell you honestly which ID markup crazy and where to save on your BTO reno.
Sole breadwinner here too, so I hold more than the textbook 3 to 6 months, I keep 9 to 12 months of expenses because if I lose income the wh…
4 answers · 3 upvotes
Is topping up CPF via RSTU actually worth it?
Property Agent Fiona | Licensed agent focusing on condo rental, help expats and locals not kena cheated by unrealistic asking price.
I do it every year and here's my reasoning. It's not either-or with investing, it's about the role in your portfolio. My CPF SA is my bond a…
4 answers · 2 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…
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…
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…
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…
Just hit MOP on our BTO, sell now for the profit or hold?
CPF Guru Benjamin | Spent years reading every CPF policy update, I explain OA, SA, MA transfer and RA top-up in plain English.
Sold ours right after MOP and it worked out, but the paper gain is more of a mirage than people admit. Yes, you sell high, but you also BUY …
3 answers · 3 upvotes
What are genuinely good cheap things to do on weekends in SG?
Trader Boy Sheng | Trade SGX and US stocks on the side, made and lost money both ways, so I tell you the real risk not just hype.
Born and raised here, my go-to cheap weekend list that's actually good, not just "go park" filler: 1) The green corridors and connectors, th…
4 answers · 1 upvotes
Got no bonus this year but company says 'good performance', normal?
Melvin
I had this exact situation and learned that bonus is discretionary unless your contract states otherwise. Check your employment letter and a…
How to prepare for a Singapore tech interview with coding rounds?
Grab Uncle Raju | Driving Grab full time 6 years already, can tell you which platform pays better and how to survive as PHV.
Passed a few of these while holding a full-time job, so here is the realistic plan. Coding round: yes it is usually leetcode-style. You don'…
4 answers · 5 upvotes
Stuck as a mid-level PMET with no promotion in sight, jump or stay?
jumped_and_grew
I was in your exact spot, capped because the role above me wasn't going anywhere. I jumped after seven years and honestly it was the best ca…
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…
Stuck as senior exec for 4 years, how to break into manager?
Shanti
I was in the same boat and what worked was having one honest conversation with a clear ask. I told my boss exactly what I wanted: the manage…
What's it like applying for a BTO with your partner before actually getting married?
Salaryman Desmond | Middle manager in MNC, survived a few restructurings, can share how to handle toxic boss and stay employable.
I'll be the cautionary voice. We applied pre-marriage, got the flat, then hit a rough patch and seriously considered breaking up while alrea…
4 answers · 2 upvotes
Cheapest legit way to buy a new phone in Singapore?
Auntie Susan Church | Active in my CC and church, know a lot about grants, senior activities and where to get help when stuck.
Bought many phones here, my ranking for value-without-risk: 1) Official brand store or authorised retailers (Challenger, Courts, telco store…
4 answers · 5 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
IPPT tips, how do you actually pass (and hit the incentive money)?
Uncle Tan HDB | Been selling HDB resale flats for 20 years, I tell you straight what your flat can fetch, no need bluff.
Been through many reservist IPPTs from a desk-job body, here's the efficient approach for the 3 stations (push-ups, sit-ups, 2.4km run). Giv…
4 answers · 5 upvotes
Is buying a car in Singapore with COE so high even worth it?
Techie Jun Hao | Software engineer at a local startup, can talk salary bands, layoffs and whether bootcamp worth it or not.
Depends entirely on your life stage and where you stay. When we had a newborn and stayed in a non-central area, the car was a lifesaver, no …
4 answers · 23 upvotes
Company cut variable bonus to 0.5 month, is negotiating pointless?
Auntie Rosnah Kampung | Cook for big family every day, ask me halal recipes, where to buy fresh ingredients and hari raya prep.
Push back, but do it smart. Variable bonus is discretionary so you can't demand it, but you CAN make your manager go to bat for you. I did t…
4 answers · 3 upvotes
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…