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Is Minimum-Wages Really That Bad For Singapore?
Minimum-wages is a “zero-sum game” and “an easy solution”. At least that’s what Minister in the Prime Minister Office and NTUC Union Chief Lim Swee Say says. While more than 90% of countries, ranging from developed nations such as America to neighboring countries like Malaysia, have seen merits...
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The fine prints of health insurance
We have been following the recent forum letter submitted by a policyholder from NTUC Income who brought forward her situation of being unable to receive a payout from her insurance policy despite being disabled from the waist down. The individual was denied the payout because she was deemed as being able t...
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Introduction to Investing: Are you an Active or Passive Investor?
Find out what is Active and Passive Investing, and common misconceptions between the two. For many people who are new to investing, the investment world is a complex environment littered with difficult definitions, complicating economic concepts and hard to understand financial jargons. Compound this pro...
Is Singapore The World Most Expensive City?
Looking in-depth to separate the facts from the myths. When the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) reported that Singapore clinched yet another “number one,” this time in being the world most expensive city to live in, our social media feed erupted with many opinions, most of whom agreeing with the study. Netizens had a great day, blaming the current government for the plights of everything that is wrong, (...
This is how the government is spending $9 Billion on Pioneer Generation
How an average of $20,000 allotted for each Singaporean aged 65 and above will be used. The setting up of a $9 billion healthcare fund exclusively for Singaporeans aged 65 and above, coined “The Pioneer Generation”, has received the most media publicity when the budget was announced. According to published statistics, about 450,000 Singaporeans will benefit from this Pioneer Generation Package. Simple mathe...
Debunking Popular Myths On Minimum Wages
Last year, we wrote an article expressing our views on why we do not think having a minimum wage policy will be bad for Singapore. Since then, we have received some comments on our article, especially in light of the new “progressive wage” model that has been advocated by NTUC and which would be implemented within the cleaning industry from the 2nd half of 2014. We think the “progressive wage” model is def...
5 Frugal Valentine Tips To Help You Save Money
Valentine Day (V-day) is fast approaching. That means many guys will be cracking their heads on what to do, and more importantly, how much they will be spending. Merchants know that, and hence this is the perfect occasion for them to mark up everything, from red roses to uniquely named fine dishes that are simply spinoff from the everyday menu. However, enjoying a meaningful V-day doesn't necessarily have to be ex...
REIT and its relationship with Interest Rate
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) have become popular investments with investors in recent years due to their attractive yields as compared to other asset classes. As its name suggests, REITs are investment trusts that invest in a portfolio of properties in order to generate rental income. Such rental income is dependant on the demand and supply of the property sectors (such as office, residential, i...
