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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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…
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…
Do I lose my AWS if I resign before December?
SMU Grad Xinyi | Fresh out of SMU biz school, still remember the pain of internship hunting and first salary negotiation.
It depends entirely on your contract, read the exact wording. Many SG companies prorate AWS based on months worked in the calendar year and …
4 answers · 4 upvotes
New parents, what government schemes and payouts should we actually be claiming?
Bank Teller Sis Amanda | Front line at a local bank, can explain home loan, refinancing and why your credit card interest so high.
New-ish parent, here's the practical checklist. Baby Bonus has two parts, the Cash Gift paid out in instalments, and the Child Development A…
3 answers · 5 upvotes
Is chasing DSA for secondary school worth stressing my P6 kid over?
Divorce Survivor Karen | Went through divorce and shared custody, can share the real cost, HDB matters and emotional side, no sugarcoat.
Parent of two who've been through this. DSA is genuinely worth it IF your child has a real, demonstrable strength they enjoy, a sport at nat…
3 answers · 4 upvotes
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…
Keep failing IPPT during reservist, will I really kena RT the whole time?
Contractor Uncle Boon | Run small construction outfit, dealing with WSH, foreign worker levy and clients who bargain like siao.
Cleared IPPT after years of failing, so I feel your pain. Real talk: the RT (RT/FCC) is honestly not as scary as the dread. It is a fixed nu…
4 answers · 3 upvotes
Just got retrenched, what should I do first 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.
Been retrenched twice, survived both, so breathe, you will be okay. Practical first steps in order. One, get everything in writing: your ret…
3 answers · 3 upvotes
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 tuition really necessary for PSLE or is it just kiasu culture?
Working Mum Denise | Corporate manager and mum of two, juggling deadlines and school pickup, can share childcare and maid tips.
Parent of two who went through PSLE, tuition is a tool, not a requirement. Diagnose before you spend. Look at his actual weak spots from sch…
3 answers · 5 upvotes
Is a JB day trip actually worth the hassle now?
Preschool Teacher Ling | Preschool teacher and mum of one, can guide you on childcare subsidy, MOE kindergarten ballot and school readiness.
Regular JB-goer here, worth it IF you play the timing game, brutal if you don't. My rules: go on a weekday if you can, never Saturday mornin…
4 answers · 23 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…
What actually happens if you dispute your security deposit with a landlord in Singapore, and can you win?
SAF Officer Regina | Served as officer and now in corporate, can advise how to leverage NS leadership on your civilian resume.
I fought mine through the Small Claims Tribunal and got most of it back, so yes it's winnable, but preparation is everything. My landlord tr…
5 answers · 5 upvotes
Got job offer 6.5k but current company counter-offer 7.2k, should I stay Singapore?
Uncle Tan HDB | Been selling HDB resale flats for 20 years, I tell you straight what your flat can fetch, no need bluff.
I took a counter-offer in 2022 and regretted it within 8 months. The extra 1.4k felt good on payday, but the trust was gone on both sides. M…
5 answers · 6 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
Neighbour's renovation and noise driving us mad, what are our actual options?
peaceful_neighbour
Went through this with an inconsiderate upstairs unit. First, for renovation noise, HDB has permitted renovation hours and noisy work is res…
What's it like going back for reservist every year?
Preschool Teacher Ling | Preschool teacher and mum of one, can guide you on childcare subsidy, MOE kindergarten ballot and school readiness.
Mixed feelings after 5 cycles. The camaraderie is genuinely the best part, you reconnect with a bunch of guys you'd never otherwise see, and…
Is a JB day trip actually worth it with the causeway jams?
Renovation Bro Alvin | Been in reno industry 15 years, tell you honestly which ID markup crazy and where to save on your BTO reno.
Regular JB-goer, it's worth it IF you play the timing and logistics right, otherwise the jam eats all your savings in wasted hours. My hard-…
3 answers · 4 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 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
How many months of emergency fund is enough in Singapore?
Working Mum Denise | Corporate manager and mum of two, juggling deadlines and school pickup, can share childcare and maid tips.
After getting retrenched and taking 5 months to find work, I now keep 9-12 months, not the textbook 3-6. Here's my reasoning and setup. In S…
3 answers · 3 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…
How do you cope with anxiety around money when you grew up poor?
grew_up_rental_flat
I grew up in a one-room rental flat and I know this fear intimately. What helped me was first acknowledging that the anxiety came from a rea…
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