As population in urban areas grows, traffic congestion has become a concerning issue for many living in the capital of Malaysia. It is estimated that the overall number of cars in the country has grown by at least a million every year since 2019. One of the ways for city dwellers to avoid congestion is to use public rail transport. The public rail system is a popular way of travelling in Kuala Lumpur, with total ridership across rail systems having exceeded 26 million in March 2024. The public rail system is also one of the most economical ways to travel in Kuala Lumpur, with prices for ticke ..read more

This article was written in collaboration with OCBC Business Banking. All views expressed in this article are the independent opinion of DollarsAndSense.sg based on our research. DollarsAndSense.sg is not liable for any financial losses that may arise from any transactions and readers are encouraged to do their own due diligence. You can view our full editorial policy here. In 2017, Adrian Chia sold his IT start-up to his biggest competitor after 6 years of intense business-building. He was in dire need of a break. To escape Singapore’s hectic lifestyle and overcrowded spaces, Adrian Chia too ..read more

The El Nino phenomenon has brought a heatwave, resulting in higher-than-average temperatures in sunny Singapore. Most families will find themselves spending more on electricity bills as Air Conditioning becomes a necessity. One of the ways to beat the heat without turning on the Air-Con is bringing your children to the swimming pools or water parks. While Wild Wild Wet and Adventure Cove come to mind, tickets range from $28 – $38, and they are in Sentosa and Pasir Ris respectively, which may be far to travel to. However, there exist some water playgrounds which are free of charge, are situate ..read more

These days, it’s hardly uncommon to witness double-digit movements in the financial markets within just a day or two. Despite the availability of these high-volatility instruments, Singapore investors shun them in preference for low-to-medium-risk investments. That’s according to the Fullerton Fund Management survey, which polled 500 investors with at least 3 years of investing experience and investable assets of at least $40,000. Based on its findings, although the risk tolerance of Singapore investors is generally low, younger investors aged between 21 and 30 have the biggest risk appetite ..read more

Over the past five years, there has been a dramatic increase in the awareness of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues in investing. Consequently, many professional fund houses have touted the benefits of investing with an ‘ESG lens.’ This typically involves constructing portfolios comprising companies that score highly on various ESG metrics. It also means excluding companies involved in activities that are considered anathema to ESG values or unsustainable. Many of these companies operate in industries such as oil & gas, tobacco, and gambling. A primary claim is that sustai ..read more

In the battle of the best locations, the Easties now have one more reason to stake their claim, with Tampines named as the most well-connected regional centre. The insights published in the book titled “The City Rebooted: Networks, Connectivity And Place Identities In Singapore” state that Tampines demonstrates the highest degree of polycentricity among the regional centres. Besides its connectivity to other parts of the town, Tampines, which is home to over 265,000 residents, also holds the accolade of winning the United Nations 1993 “World Habitat Award for Excellence in Housing Design” in ..read more

Listed on the SGX on 12 March 2020, United Hampshire US REIT (SGX: OBDU) is Asia’s first US grocery-anchored shopping centre and self-storage REIT. Today, UHREIT owns a portfolio of 22 high-quality properties, valued at US$763.4 million, located along the east coast of the US. 20 of these properties are what the REIT terms “grocery-anchored and necessity-based retail properties”, while the remaining 2 are modern climate-controlled self-storage properties. Given its defensive nature, UHREIT’s grocery and necessity-related properties achieved an occupancy rate of 97.4%. 98% of UHREIT’s properti ..read more

A common question many Singaporeans ask when taking up a housing loan from HDB for their flats is whether they should let HDB exhaust their Central Provident Fund Ordinary Account (CPFOA). If you don’t already know, let us explain. When purchasing an HDB flat, whether new or resale, you have the option of securing a housing loan from HDB. The interest rate for this loan is 2.6% per annum, making it an attractive option given that bank mortgage rates are likely to be higher in the current environment of high-interest rates. There are some conditions to taking an HDB loan. You can find them all ..read more

Debit cards are a popular financial tool that allows people to make payments directly from their bank accounts. When a debit card is used, the money is automatically deducted from the account. In Singapore, most people are familiar with debit cards issued by banks. However, did you know that some brokerage platforms are also issuing debit cards today? FSMOne and Tiger Brokers are two brokerage platforms that allow investors to apply for debit cards for payments. In this article, we will explore how the cards work and the main differences between debit cards issued by banks and those issued by ..read more

This article is sponsored by FSMOne. All views expressed in this article are the independent opinion of DollarsAndSense.sg based on our research. DollarsAndSense.sg is not liable for any financial losses that may arise from any transactions and readers are encouraged to do their own due diligence. You can view our full editorial policy here. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” This popular phrase describes many aspects of our lives. It also serves as a fitting metaphor for our investment journey. Reading investment books and articles (like this!) or watching financ ..read more