Personal Finance - Yahoo! Singapore Finance

Best Skills Courses for Students in Singapore (2013)

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 +0800

So you’re a student, living on student wages, in one of the most expensive cities in the world (i.e. this one). And between bites of your cardboard sandwich, you’re probably wondering: Is there a course ...

Down to 4 Cs: Why Country Clubs are Falling Out of the Picture

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 +0800

Country clubs are going the way of Chia pets. They’re awesome for a while; then we realize they’re pricey, need too much maintenance, and (after a few years) become as exciting as a Wheel of Fortune re-run. ...

3 Interesting Investment Alternatives to Consider

Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 +0800

There’s always a little room for more diversification in your portfolio, especially when it comes to alternative investments. Unlike traditional investments such as stocks, bonds, and cash, alternative ...

Surviving SERS: What You Need to Know (Part 1)

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0800

The Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) is a noble strategy to “transform” aged estates by destroying and then rebuilding them redeveloping them (no Iraq jokes please). Regardless of whether ...

Making the Most Out of Your Internship

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:43:12 +0800

By: Edmund WangThe importance of an internship to one's future career cannot be over-emphasised. If you intend to pursue a tertiary education, internships are arguably the best on-the-job training that you could ask for.Not only will you be able to determine if you really have an interest in a particular industry, you could also widen your network of contacts. In addition, if the organisation you're interning at likes your performance, you could even nail down a full-time position before you graduate. ...

Beat the Stock Market with These 3 Tips

Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 +0800

Trying to beat the stock market is like finding the biggest bully in school, and telling him to “come get some”. What I’m saying is the stock market will usually end up beating you . And I mean “like a ...

3 Lifestyle Membership Cards That Help You To Save Money

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 +0800

Whether you’re a student with a part-time job or a professional climbing the corporate ladder, you work too damn hard to pay full price for your beverages, movies, meals, spa packages or attraction admission ...

Gold’s Recent Flash Crash: When Will It Recover?

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 +0800

They should invent a new financial term for gold’s recent bust. “ Flash crash ” doesn’t cut it. Something like “ Two bricks slamming your nuts in ” would be more appropriate. See, gold’s been rising for 12 ...

5 Important Tips When Getting Personal Loans in Singapore

Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 +0800

There are two times in Singapore when the cost of living gets high. According to expert financial analyses, those times are “today” and “tomorrow”. And now the sheer number of borrowers makes sense. Well, ...

Proper Workplace Etiquette

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:45:20 +0800

By: Png Han YongMost working individuals spend the majority of their waking hours in the workplace, and it's important to observe proper etiquette with the people you probably interact more with than your loved ones.The Finer Points of ConversationNo employee is an island - at some point, you will have to interact with other people at work, whether they are your co-workers, bosses or clients. As a general rule, unless you can absolutely trust the person you're interacting with, keep your personal life private and stay away from gossiping about others. ...

Commercial vs. Residential Properties in Singapore (2013)

Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 +0800

Since the last quarter of 2012, the residential property market has taken a pounding. Seven rounds of cooling measures have taken a toll, and even now, we are seeing a slowdown in the resale market. As ...

Should I, SME Owner, Allow My Employees to Work From Home?

Fri, 10 May 2013 16:04:39 +0800

Question: I am setting up a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) and am wondering if I should have my employees work from home and/or collaborate online. Is it worth it to do so? Answer:In a nutshell? It depends on the nature your business, really. If the bulk of the work performed by your employees involves a lot of face-to-face interaction with business partners and clients, then this would probably not be a very feasible idea. ...

4 Things Rich People Should Stop Saying

Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 +0800

I have nothing against rich people. Hell, I’m hoping to become rich too. And if you ask around, some people would place me in…would place me in the “not poor” category, let’s leave it at that. But that ...

Why So Many Singaporeans Are Ditching Their Fund Managers

Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 +0800

There was a time when the term “fund manager” made bankers tremble, and request a quick change of pants. From the 70′s to the 90′s these were the GODS of the financial world. They could make fortunes by ...

5 Ubiquitous Co-Worker Archetypes

Wed, 08 May 2013 11:50:30 +0800

By: Png Han YongIf nothing else, the hit television comedy series The Office is overwhelmingly popular for one main reason - its humorous portrayal of crazy (and real!) characters in the workplace. Here are five of our real-life choice picks:The Informant (aka The Mole, The Snitch)If you desire the latest dirt on your colleagues, look no further than the office tattletale, hard at work at spreading the daily dose of office gossip far and wide. ...

Singapore’s Best Bank Accounts for Expats

Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 +0800

I’m a big believer in field testing my articles. But I can’t do it for this one, because I’m not an expat. It’d be silly to even try thinking like one, ha ha. “ You renounced your citizenship and migrated ...

The Only Budgeting Plan That Will Ever Work for Singaporeans

Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 +0800

You know the problem with budgeting? It requires a lot of discipline. And most people who need to budget lack that exact quality . So when I tell them to control their spending, it’s about as helpful ...

No Discount: The Average Cost of Raising a Child (in Singapore)

Mon, 06 May 2013 00:00:00 +0800

In my day, children were raised on sunshine, sports, and pure grit. The only “play station” was a clearing where the musangs were less likely to gnaw your face off. And if a kid had a five cent eraser ...

3 Grants for Your Business You May Not Know About

Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 +0800

Pop quiz: What’s worse than a 90 year old’s circulation? Information about government grants , that’s what. Turns out there’s a lot of help for start-ups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Problem ...

Get a Good Night’s Sleep…Thanks to Warren Buffett

Thu, 02 May 2013 00:00:00 +0800

Warren Buffett’s giving sleep advice now. I swear, you get rich, and suddenly you’re a world class expert on everything. I’m waiting for McDonald’s to start serving McBuffett meals any day now. But seriously, ...

Income Inequality in Singapore: Our Annual Peek (2013)

Wed, 01 May 2013 00:00:00 +0800

Income inequality measures how much richer the rich are, compared to the poor. It’s a polite term economists created, to replace: “Here’s how far the poor are from ramming sharp objects in your face”. ...

How Can I Handle A Toxic Co-Worker?

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:22:04 +0800

Question: My colleague's persistent complaining is so bad that it's sapping my energy and positive outlook, and that of everyone else in the workplace. Furthermore, my colleague seems to be able to escape censure while undermining my work and criticising me in front of our mutual supervisor. How can I stop the spread of this 'disease' in the office?Answer:The first thing you should do (after identifying the source of the 'poison') is to keep your distance and suppress any visible reactions to your co-worker's negativity or any (unfair) criticisms that are thrown your way. ...

HDB Loses $1 Billion a Year, and Why You Shouldn’t Care

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0800

Some Singaporeans asked that land costs be excluded from HDB pricing. The answer to this was a stern no. Too much social welfare, as we all know, leads to laziness, communism, and Satan worship. Or even ...

The Great Job Upheaval

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:51:32 +0800

By: Gerald GohThe fallout from the global recession of 2009 is still being felt in 2013. In fact, Singapore's economy contracted 0.6 per cent on a year-on-year basis in the first quarter of this year, down from 1.5 per cent in the previous quarter in 2012.With sluggish economic growth forecasted for many other countries around the world, jobseekers are thus eagerly awaiting a turnaround in global economic sentiment - anticipating a return to the days of plenty as bad debts are restructured, toxic assets purged and the unemployment rate falls. ...

Survey: 'Bad' Work Habits of Singapore Bosses

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:37:52 +0800

Ever wondered why your boss keeps asking you to do OT? Apparently 75 per cent of employers in Singapore think it's important you do just that or work over the weekends.By: Alythea HoUnless you've spent your entire career under a blessed star (or rock), chances are you've encountered bosses with 'bad' work habits. Like the manager who kept calling you for trivial reasons when you were relaxing at a beach in Phuket, or that superior who insisted you work overtime to complete a task. ...

Is Childcare Affordable in Singapore?

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0800

Historically, the most affordable childcare system comes from Sparta. They just left the toddler out for the night, and if he didn’t get eaten by wolves, he was probably prepared for anything. But that ...

Why Being Single Could Cost More Than Being Married

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0800

If you’re single, you’re missing out on love, warmth, and all those other sunshine-y things. You could end up a depressed, perpetually drunk sociopath, and find yourself editing finance blogs or something. ...

Avoid Showing Favouritism in the Workplace (Part 2: Boss's POV)

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:33:46 +0800

By: Julailah WahidShowing fondness towards an employee for to his or her hard work may seem harmless, but others could easily view this extra attention as favouritism. Managers and bosses who explicitly show favouritism are only cultivating an environment of separation and resentment, which can cause a dip in employee morale and productivity.While the boss's pet gets to lead the important projects, knock off work earlier and is praised excessively, the other co-workers (who are equally or more qualified) are left feeling undervalued, angry and as if they are being unfairly treated. ...

Should Students Have Credit Cards?

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0800

My cousin had a credit card when she was 18. Today, as a successful 35 year old businesswoman, I bet she’s half done paying it off. That’s why I’m suspicious about students with credit cards. Granted, ...

National State of Emergency: Fishball Noodles Price Hike (And How to Survive)

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0800

The price of fishball noodles is on the rise. This is a serious problem, because as we all know, fishball noodles are the sole dietary supplement of Primary and Poly students. It is to them what bamboo ...

Avoid Being a Victim of Favouritism in the Workplace (Part 1: Co-Worker's POV)

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:52:43 +0800

By: Png Han YongHave you ever noticed that a particular co-worker seems to always get the plum assignments, gets off work earlier and/or is praised excessively by the boss for no particular reason? Watching such acts of favouritism occur can be pretty galling, especially if you find yourself on the short end of it.The playing field in most workplaces today is nowhere near as level as it should be. In fact, most of us would have experienced workplace favouritism at one point or another during the course of our career and the only variant is how obvious it was. ...

3 Ocean-Going Jobs for the Adventurous

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:52:17 +0800

The world's vast oceans are home to glorious sunsets, jumping dolphins and Captain Jack Sparrows. Even so, any professional on a boat will tell you that the sea can be the ultimate test of both physical and mental strength. Here are three of the most exciting oceangoing professions from around the world:Alaskan Crab FishermenCrab fishing occurs in the fall and winter seasons, where approximately 250 crab fishing boats congregate on Dutch Harbor, Alaska, in search of Alaskan king crab. ...

Why Singaporeans Aren’t Having Children (The Financial Reasons)

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0800

I never understood the whole “children are troublesome” argument. So they need to supervised, catered to, and have their diapers changed. They wake you up at four in the morning. They demand constant attention. ...

How Your Condo Management Affects Your Property Value

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0800

Sure, that condo looks nice and shiny now. But what’s it going to be like in five years? Ten? How about fifteen? Because I’ve seen what bad management does. By about year five, there won’t be a shower ...

How to Maximize Your Property’s Rental Yields

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0800

When I raise my rental income, I do it with my eyes closed. The minute I look in my tenant’s sad, watery eyes, I end up feeling like a war criminal. Or maybe I’m just lying, and won’t admit I’m a spineless ...

How America’s Costing You Money (And Why You Should Buy Shares)

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0800

I already know how they’re costing me money. If you calculate the value of my Star Wars merchandise, I should have paid off their national debt two years ago. But Motley Fool has a different take on how ...

Decoding your boss

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:11:29 +0800

By Julailah WahidThe first step for many after graduation is to land a job. The workplace can be a scary place to navigate for a fresh grad and the biggest challenge can be trying to understand your new boss.After years of receiving guidance from teachers and lecturers, stepping out into the working world might seem like a horror movie re-enactment. However, most bosses in reality do not possess red pointy horns or sharp, gargantuan fangs (at least not visibly). Every fresh grad wants to do well and learn as much as they can at their first job. ...

5 Income Streams for Stay-at-Home Mums

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0800

Just charge your spouse for it. Childcare should net you at least two grand a month, plus cleaning services are $240 a month, and cooking is…what’s that? Not appropriate? This must be that “marriage” thing ...

How to Save Money on Big Airlines

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0800

Big airlines aren’t known for low fees. Mainly because jet fuel, airport taxes, and competition means they make very little profit these days*. If they didn’t overcharge like a Dragonball villain, your ...

Proper Email Etiquette

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:13:24 +0800

By: Png Han YongGood manners never go out of style. When we interact with others in person, it is often easier to watch our words and body language to avoid conveying the wrong impression to the other party. But these niceties are often lost when it comes to email, due to the inherent rapidity (and lack of visible interaction) of this electronic medium.As a lightning-fast alternative to traditional snail mail, email has become the primary means for sending and receiving messaging in today's working world. ...