joannepoh

Articles by Joanne Poh

In my previous life, I was a property lawyer who spent most of my time struggling to get out of bed or stuck in peak hour traffic. These days, as a freelance commercial writer, I work in bed, on the beach, in parks and at cafes, all while being really frugal. I like helping other people save money so they can stop living lives they don't like.

dbs-visa-debit-card-moneysmart-review
Credit Cards
Is the DBS Visa Debit Card Better Than a Credit Card?—MoneySmart Review 2024
Haven’t used a debit card since you were too young and poor to apply for a credit card? The DBS Visa Debit Card just might change that. That’s because you can...
22 hours ago
youtrip-review-moneysmart-exchange-foreign-currency-countries
Budgeting
YouTrip Review—Guide to YouTrip Card, Exchange Rates & Promo Codes
Which is your preferred multi-currency account for travel spending? We asked this question on our Telegram channel recently, and guess which came out on top? Yup—YouTrip. I guess their claim...
1 day ago
Health Screening in Singapore
Healthcare
How Much Are Health Screening Packages in Singapore? Comparing Public and Private Hospitals and Clinics
Just about every Singaporean knows about the importance of health screenings. After all, catching a serious ailment too late could mean huge medical bills or, worse, death. But how much...
3 days ago
Baby Bonus Scheme & Baby Support Grant — What is the Total Payout?
Family
Baby Bonus Scheme in Singapore—How Much Can Parents Get?
Children are expensive little critters. Once they acquire the ability to speak, they start demanding that you buy them Nintendo Switches and iPhones. As a parent, you need all the...
4 days ago
uob-absolute-cashback-card-moneysmart-review
Credit Cards
The UOB Absolute Cashback Card is Getting Nerfed—MoneySmart Review 2024
“The only credit card with no spend exclusion”, UOB promises of their UOB Absolute Cashback Card. For now. From 6 May 2024, UOB is nerfing their “limitless” cashback credit card....
12 April 2024
best-air-miles-credit-card-singapore
Credit Cards
9 Best Air Miles Credit Cards in Singapore (Apr 2024)
Ah, the air miles credit card. Clearly the most glamorous of all credit cards. Every time you use one, you’re reinforcing your image as a globetrotting, wanderlusting, jet-setter. But more importantly,...
11 April 2024
singapore-personal-loans-best-interest-rates
Personal Loans
8 Best Personal Loans in Singapore with Lowest Interest Rates (Apr 2024)
If you’re in urgent need of money, but are too paiseh to borrow from your family and friends, your best bet is probably a personal loan. With a personal loan, you...
11 April 2024
Income’s Travel Insurance Review (2024): COVID-19 Coverage, Pre-existing Conditions, Promotions, Premiums
Travel Insurance
Income’s Travel Insurance Review (2024): COVID-19 Coverage, Pre-existing Conditions, Promotions, Premiums
When you come across the acronym “NTUC,” the FairPrice supermarket probably comes to mind, as every self-respecting auntie would attest. However, frequent travellers may also associate it with the renowned...
9 April 2024
investing in gold singapore
Invest
Gold Prices Hit Record High—How to Invest in Gold in Singapore (2024)
Guess who just broke another record? No, not Taylor Swift with her $1 billion-grossing Eras tour that may very well cross the $2 billion mark by the end of its...
5 April 2024
citi-cash-back-plus-mastercard-moneysmart-review
Credit Cards
Citibank Cash Back+ Credit Card: MoneySmart Review 2024
I have a soft spot for cash back credit cards. There’s none of that beating around the bush, trying to predict when your rewards points expire or getting slapped with...
27 March 2024
HDB Downpayment Guide: How Much Do You Need for BTO, Resale & EC?
Home Loans
HDB Downpayment Guide: How Much Do You Need for BTO, Resale & EC?
Balloting for a BTO flat is the first port of call for many first-time homeowners in Singapore.  That said, these days, more people are turning to resale flats and executive condominiums (ECS),...
27 March 2024
Income Tax Filing 2024: A Step-by-Step Guide to This Year’s Tax Season
Budgeting
Income Tax Filing 2024: A Step-by-Step Guide to This Year’s Tax Season
It’s that time of the year again when we have to pay our dues to the government. Hang on, how does that work again? Well if you’re a commission agent...
22 March 2024
Yoga in Singapore: 18 Best Yoga Studios and Their Prices, Free Yoga Classes, And More (2024)
Fitness & Beauty
Yoga in Singapore: 18 Best Yoga Studios and Their Prices, Free Yoga Classes, And More (2024)
Want to do yoga, but don’t know where to start? You’re hardly alone. Even though yoga has become very mainstream in Singapore, the sheer amount of options out there makes...
28 February 2024
hotel-staycation-singapore-valentines-day
Travel
Valentine’s Day 2024: 8 Affordable Staycation Hotels From $138
Valentine’s Day is a controversial topic. Most people fall into 1 of 2 camps—those who think it’s a meaningless non-event exploited by businesses to earn money, and those who feel...
1 February 2024
wedding-ang-bao-rates-singapore-2023
Wedding
Wedding Ang Bao Rates in Singapore 2024—How Much Should You Give?
Wedding dinners in Singapore can sometimes be a mercenary affair. Don’t be fooled into thinking that wedding ang baos (red packets) are purely a gift from the heart. In Singapore,...
31 January 2024
Buying an HDB BTO Flat in Singapore: A Step-By-Step Guide (2024)
Property
Buying an HDB BTO Flat in Singapore: A Step-By-Step Guide (2024)
Buying an HDB BTO flat is a rite of passage for most Singaporeans. It’s a sign that you’re finally ready to start adulting for real, and a badge of honour...
26 January 2024
top-gyms-singapore
Fitness & Beauty
Gyms Memberships in Singapore (2024)—Fitness First, True Fitness, Amore Fitness
The big gym chains in Singapore have a reputation for being rather…how do we put this nicely… predatory. Not only will you be hounded to no end to sign up...
26 January 2024
best-bak-kwa-singapore-prices
Budgeting
Best Bak Kwa in Singapore (CNY 2024): Lim Chee Guan, Kim Hock Guan and More
The Chinese New Year (CNY) madness is upon us once again. ‘Tis the time of the year when Singaporeans—aunties and millennials alike—jostle with crowds and queue long hours for “branded”...
23 January 2024
Singaporean Households to Receive $500 CDC Vouchers in 2024: How to Claim, Where to Spend Them, Etc.
Budgeting
Singaporean Households to Receive $500 CDC Vouchers in 2024: How to Claim, Where to Spend Them, Etc.
Good news, the beloved CDC vouchers tradition is carrying into 2024. All households will receive a total of $500 in CDC vouchers this year–that’s $200 worth of additional CDC vouchers...
4 January 2024
best-christmas-hotel-buffets-singapore
Dining
Christmas Buffets 2023: Top 10 Singapore Hotels to Stuff Yourself Silly At (From $64/pax!)
So you’ve wrapped your Secret Santa gifts, decorated the Christmas tree, and soaked in the Yuletide atmosphere around the island. Now, what’s next? Yep, it’s time to put your exercise and...
13 December 2023
CIMB World Mastercard—MoneySmart Review 2023
Credit Cards
CIMB World Mastercard—MoneySmart Review 2023
Cashback credit cards are some of the most worthwhile cards to sign up for because they’re essentially giving you free money. Seeing as even fast food outlets charge for sauce...
1 December 2023
UOB (U11) Guide: Share Prices, Dividends and Market News (2023)
Invest
UOB (U11) Guide: Share Prices, Dividends and Market News (2023)
These days, everyone is talking about the UOB One Savings Account or the UOB One credit card. But you know what I wanna talk about? U11. No, this isn’t some new rock band...
9 November 2023
ntuc-membership-benefits-linkpoints-training-fees
Budgeting
NTUC Membership In Singapore: A Guide To Benefits, NTUC Card And More
Did you grow up thinking “NTUC” was a supermarket? So did every other Singaporean. But guess what, NTUC actually stands for National Trades Union Congress rather than Not Too Unaffordable...
6 November 2023
credit-card-fee-waiver
Credit Cards
Credit Card Annual Fees: Annual Fee Cost & How to Get Annual Fee Waivers
If you’re using credit cards the right way, you should be getting more money out of the bank than they’ll ever get from you. That means paying all your bills in...
3 November 2023
breast-cancer-screening-singapore-cheap-free-mammograms
Healthcare
Breast Cancer Screening 2023: Where to Go for Free or Cheap Mammograms
Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting Singaporean women—almost 1 in 13 women in Singapore will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. The good news is that...
23 October 2023