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…
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."
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
How do SG couples actually split finances after marriage?
Uncle Chua Retiree | Retired civil servant, now enjoying my pension and CPF Life, happy to chat about aging well and staying active.
After 8 years married, the setup that worked for us: a joint account for shared expenses (mortgage, utilities, groceries, kids later) that w…
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…
Should I transfer OA to SA for higher interest before 55?
Bee Lian
From my experience, the OA to SA transfer is powerful because SA earns 4 percent versus OA 2.5 percent, and compounded over 15 years that ga…
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…
What's it like running a side hustle while holding a 9-to-5 in Singapore?
Regular Sergeant Faiz | Was a regular for a while before switching out, can advise sign-on, vocation choice and BMT survival.
Been juggling a side business with a day job for years, so here's the balanced picture. It's genuinely doable and the extra income and skill…
3 answers · 19 upvotes
PSLE stress is destroying my P6 kid, how to cope as a parent?
Rahim
I've been through PSLE with two kids and the second time was much calmer because I stopped micromanaging. Kids can't focus when a parent is …
Adopting a cat in an HDB flat, is it allowed now and what to prepare?
Grab Uncle Raju | Driving Grab full time 6 years already, can tell you which platform pays better and how to survive as PHV.
Cat owner in an HDB flat, and yes the landscape changed, so here is the practical picture. HDB moved towards allowing cats under a proper ca…
3 answers · 4 upvotes
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…
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…
What are the hard truths of running a hawker stall that nobody tells you before you start?
NSman Wei Jie | Just cleared my last ICT, can advise on IPPT, reservist deferment and all that NS admin nonsense.
I ran a noodle stall at a coffeeshop for three years before calling it quits, and the number one thing nobody tells you is the hours will de…
5 answers · 28 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
Is a big hotel wedding banquet worth it or should we do something smaller?
CPF Guru Benjamin | Spent years reading every CPF policy update, I explain OA, SA, MA transfer and RA top-up in plain English.
Did the big banquet and honestly it mostly broke even after ang bao, so let me demystify the money first. For a hotel banquet in SG, guest a…
Confinement nanny worth the $3-4k? First-time parents deciding.
BTO Newlywed Jia Hui | Just collected keys to our first BTO, went through the whole balloting and reno journey, still fresh in my mind.
Had a confinement nanny for my first, mum for my second, both worked but for different reasons. The nanny was worth every dollar for a first…
4 answers · 4 upvotes
Confused about CPF top-ups, is topping up my SA actually worth it?
liquidity_first_sg
I deliberately went slow on CPF top-ups in my early 30s and I don't regret it, different philosophy. My reasoning was that in my 30s I value…
Interviewer asked expected salary and I anchored too high, did I kill my chances?
Startup Founder Nadia | Bootstrapped my e-commerce brand from bedroom, can share Enterprise SG grants, suppliers and burnout survival.
Don't panic and definitely don't send a desperate 'I'll take less' email immediately, that screams insecurity and weakens you before they ev…
5 answers · 2 upvotes
Ghosted after final round interview, should I follow up?
Preschool Teacher Ling | Preschool teacher and mum of one, can guide you on childcare subsidy, MOE kindergarten ballot and school readiness.
Send exactly one more, then mentally move on. Ghosting after final round usually means one of: internal hiring freeze, they picked someone e…
4 answers · 2 upvotes
First-timer to JB by car on weekend, how to avoid the crazy jam?
Ah Seng
From my experience, timing is everything for a JB drive. Weekends are the worst, so if you must go on a weekend, cross super early, like bef…
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…
Turning 55 soon, confused about CPF withdrawal and Retirement Account
Siti
When my mum turned 55 we learned a few things the hard way, so here's the practical version. At 55 the RA is formed and it holds the sum nee…
What's it like renting a room in Singapore as a young working adult?
IT Support Ah Kow | IT support for an SME, fix people's laptop and printer whole day, can recommend budget gadgets that last.
Whole experience depends massively on the landlord type. Live-in landlord means cheaper sometimes but more rules and less privacy. Fully ten…
3 answers · 2 upvotes
Final round interview asks 'expected salary', how not to lowball myself?
Priya
I used to blurt out my current salary and it capped every offer. Now I frame it around total package. I say something like: 'My current tota…
Is it worth upgrading my phone every year or am I just burning money?
Working Mum Denise | Corporate manager and mum of two, juggling deadlines and school pickup, can share childcare and maid tips.
I used to upgrade yearly and it was pure marketing-driven money burning, the year-on-year jumps are tiny now, mostly a slightly better camer…
4 answers · 29 upvotes
COE prices crazy high, should I just keep my old car or bite the bullet?
grab_or_own
Controversial take, but I gave up my car entirely and switched to a mix of Grab, public transport and occasional car rental for family outin…