Before you shift into full holiday mode in the final weeks of the year, there are several financial tasks worth completing before 31 December 2025.
While some involve expiring benefits, others can help you save on taxes next year and uplift your personal well-being. All of them don’t require huge personal effort, but can deliver savings and meaningful value heading into 2026.
Here are 5 personal financial moves you ought to make before the year ends.
#1 Use Your CDC Vouchers
Most of you will be familiar with the CDC Vouchers. Those disbursed in the two tranches in this year, in January 2025 and May 2025 will expire on 31 December 2025. They can’t be rolled over into the new year, so don’t leave them on the table.
When using vouchers, you should prioritise which to redeem first. For example, those who receive the Child LifeSG Vouchers and the Large Family LifeSG Vouchers have until July and September 2026 respectively to use them, as they have a 1-year validity period.
You also can’t spend everything at the supermarket, as CDC vouchers are equally split between heartland merchants/hawkers and supermarkets. If you have merchant/hawker vouchers unused, don’t wait until the last minute. Either they expire or you’ll end up buying things you may not really need just to spend your remaining vouchers.
#2 Use Your SkillsFuture Credits
A part of your SkillsFuture Credits, specifically the one-off $500 top-up in 2020, will expire on 31 December 2025. The government has already come out to say that these won’t be extended.
What’s expiring: The $500 SkillsFuture Credit top-up (announced in Budget 2020) must be used by end-2025. Government statistics say that 7 in 10 Singaporeans have yet to use these.
What’s not expiring: The standard $500 SkillsFuture Credit given at age 25 remains permanent and does not expire. For those 40 and above, you also have $4,000 in SkillsFuture Credit (Mid-Career) – these do not expire either.
You can tap your expiring credits for courses on the SkillsFuture Portal, and from what we see, there are still courses that you can sign up for.
This is as good a time as any to deepen your expertise in your current field, or even pursue a personal interest you’ve always wanted to explore.
Read Also: Complete Guide To SkillsFuture Credits – And How Singaporeans Can Use Them
#3 Make Your CPF Top-Ups
Each year, you get up to $8,000 tax relief for cash top-ups to your own Special Account (SA) or Retirement Account (RA). You also get another $8,000 tax relief for cash top-ups to a loved one’s SA/RA.
If you’re planning to reduce your income tax for YA2026, your CPF top-ups must be completed before 31 December 2025.
Beyond tax savings, CPF gives respectable returns of at least 4% p.a. on SA and RA balances, making it one of the safest ways to grow long-term retirement funds.
Read Also: CPF MediSave Top-Ups Or Special Account Top-Ups Via RSTU. Which Makes More Financial Sense?
#4 Make Your SRS Top-Ups
Like CPF, topping up your Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS) account before 31 December 2025 can reduce your YA2026 taxable income.
But there’s one key difference. CPF top-ups earn attractive interest automatically, while SRS funds earn only 0.05% interest if left idle. So, there’s an impetus to invest your top-ups.
Complementing your CPF top-up strategy, SRS top-ups can help you save on taxes and build your retirement portfolio at the same time.
Read Also: CPF Top-Ups VS SRS Top-Ups: Which Should You Choose?
#5 Claim Your SG60 ActiveSG Credits
As part of Singapore’s SG60 celebrations, all Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents who log in to MyActiveSG+ with their Singpass between 2 June and 31 December 2025 will receive a one-off SG60 ActiveSG credit top-up of $100.
New ActiveSG members who sign up and log in during this period will receive a total of $200 in credits (including a $100 top-up from the existing new member incentive scheme).
So, if you are a new member (i.e. have never claimed any ActiveSG credits) or have not claimed the most recent SG60 ActiveSG credits, you simply have to log in to MyActiveSG+ before 31 December 2025.
Credits will be automatically credited to your account, without any separate application needed.
You can use the SG60 ActiveSG credits similar to the existing ActiveSG credits, on ActiveSG facilities and programmes, such as pool and gym passes, fitness classes, or youth sports programmes.
The good news is that all ActiveSG credits will enjoy a one-off automatic extension to 31 December 2026, and can be rolled over further into 2027 if you make at least one qualifying transaction in 2026 (e.g., booking a facility or participating in a programme).
Read Also: ActiveSG Membership: What Is It And What Can You Use It For?
Start 2026 On Stronger Financial Footing
December isn’t just a time for festive gatherings, but also a final window to optimise your finances and benefits before the year closes. By claiming or using expiring vouchers, tapping government credits, and making strategic top-ups, you’re essentially claiming benefits that would otherwise slip away.
Apart from government-related benefits, you should also use up any annual company benefits, such as wellness allowances, dental or medical reimbursements or training benefits. You should also try to use up your annual leaves, especially if you cannot carry it forward.
Taking action before 31 December 2025, will help you enter 2026 more prepared, more organised, and in a better financial position than you may have been a year before.
