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…
Explore
Show another setReal questions and answers popping up at random—scroll through whenever you have a minute. Tap a few more questions you're interested in, and this will gradually turn into "Recommended for you."
What's the actual difference between AWS and 13th month?
Ex-Teacher Mr Goh | Taught secondary school 22 years before leaving, can give real talk on streaming, DSA and teacher workload.
In practice AWS (Annual Wage Supplement) and 13th month are the same thing, one extra month of basic salary paid usually in Dec. The naming …
4 answers · 1 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…
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
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
How does the bonus system work in Singapore?
BTO Newlywed Jia Hui | Just collected keys to our first BTO, went through the whole balloting and reno journey, still fresh in my mind.
In my experience, the bonus system in Singapore typically works on a performance-based system, where employees are awarded a bonus based on …
4 answers · 3 upvotes
Should I use CPF OA to pay my HDB loan or leave it to earn 2.5%?
Property Agent Fiona | Licensed agent focusing on condo rental, help expats and locals not kena cheated by unrealistic asking price.
The clean way to think about it: OA earns 2.5% guaranteed. Your HDB loan charges 2.6% (0.1% above OA rate). So paying the loan with OA "save…
3 answers · 5 upvotes
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
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
Why is it that Singapore weddings cost so much?
Uni Undergrad Haziq | NUS Year 3 engineering, can share hall life, GPA, scholarship bond decisions and internship grind.
Just got married, so fresh numbers. The banquet is the monster, hotel per-table costs are high and you're often expected to invite a big gue…
With COE so high, is owning a car even worth it for a young family?
Regular Sergeant Faiz | Was a regular for a while before switching out, can advise sign-on, vocation choice and BMT survival.
Ran the numbers hard before buying with two young kids. Truth: owning a car in SG is almost never the cheaper option versus Grab and public …
4 answers · 5 upvotes
Pre-diabetic at 35, how did you turn it around without going extreme?
healthierme_now
Same wake-up call at 34. What worked for me was small sustainable swaps, not extremes. I switched from kopi to kopi-o kosong or teh-o kosong…
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 …
Infant care centre vs grandparents for childcare, what did you choose?
Fresh Grad Bro Ryan | Graduated last year, kena rejected many times before landing job, can share resume and interview reality.
We did grandparents for the first year then infant/childcare after, and I'd recommend that combo if your parents are willing and able. Reaso…
3 answers · 3 upvotes
How do you mentally and physically prepare for BMT when you're not the sporty type?
Auntie Susan Church | Active in my CC and church, know a lot about grants, senior activities and where to get help when stuck.
Practical prep list from a fellow non-sporty survivor: start the 2.4km run twice a week and aim just to finish without walking, do push-ups …
5 answers · 9 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…
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
Wedding banquet cost is scary, how to keep it reasonable but still nice?
Natasha
We kept ours sane by separating what we wanted from what tradition demanded, then compromising. My parents wanted the big dinner for relativ…
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
Hawker food is getting so expensive, how do you all still eat cheap?
Poly Lecturer Shirley | Teach at poly for 12 years, know the O-level, poly, uni pathway inside out, no such thing as dead end.
Feel you, prices really crept up. My real-world tactics that keep my food budget sane: hit the older heartland hawker centres and coffeeshop…
COE expiring, renew for 5 or 10 years or just scrap and rebuy?
Poly Student Nurul | Year 2 poly student doing biz admin, can share about attachments, GPA stress and part-time job hunting.
Renewed mine for 5 years last cycle, here is my logic. If your car is genuinely well maintained and you like it, renewing on the PQP (the av…
3 answers · 5 upvotes
Upstairs neighbour making noise late at night for months. What are my actual options?
Bank Teller Sis Amanda | Front line at a local bank, can explain home loan, refinancing and why your credit card interest so high.
Went through this for nearly a year. The escalation ladder that actually works: first, keep a written log with dates, times and descriptions…
3 answers · 10 upvotes
How do you make a relationship survive when both of you are grinding demanding jobs?
Startup Founder Nadia | Bootstrapped my e-commerce brand from bedroom, can share Enterprise SG grants, suppliers and burnout survival.
We survived the grind by being ruthless about protecting one non-negotiable slot a week, for us it was Sunday brunch and a walk, phones in t…
5 answers · 27 upvotes
如何做一個好印象在面試?
Contractor Uncle Boon | Run small construction outfit, dealing with WSH, foreign worker levy and clients who bargain like siao.
在面試前，你應該做好功課，查詢公司的背景、公司文化和產品線，了解自己想要的工作職責。然後在面試時，積極地與面試者交談，主動地回答問題，展現你的自信和積極性！
4 answers · 1 upvotes
How do you actually make sense of all the government schemes for a young family, are they worth the effort to apply?
Property Sis Cheryl | Agent who helps young couples decide BTO, resale or EC, I run the numbers with you no pressure to buy.
Been through it with two kids, and the honest answer is most of these are genuinely worth it and less admin than you fear, because a lot is …
5 answers · 2 upvotes