Guides
Plain-English explainers for Singapore money decisions — each one links to the calculators so you can work out your own numbers.
CPF
9 guidesMediSave & the Basic Healthcare Sum, Explained
What MediSave can pay for, the ~4% interest it earns, and the Basic Healthcare Sum cap — plus where your money goes once MediSave is full.
Read guide· 6 min readCPF for the Self-Employed: MediSave & Voluntary Top-Ups
Freelancer or sole proprietor? Only MediSave is compulsory — here’s how it works, plus how voluntary top-ups build your retirement and cut your tax.
Read guide· 7 min readUse CPF for Your Home, or Keep It for Retirement?
Paying your flat with CPF frees up cash now — but the accrued-interest refund and lost compounding shrink your retirement. The honest trade-off, with numbers.
Read guide· 7 min readHow Much Will CPF LIFE Pay You? The Payout Deep-Dive
Three things set your CPF LIFE monthly payout: your Retirement Account balance, the plan you pick, and when you start. Here’s how each one moves the number.
Read guide· 6 min readAverage CPF Balance by Age in Singapore (2025): How Do You Compare?
How much CPF does the average Singaporean have at your age? The full 2025 breakdown by age band, from official CPF Board data, with an honest mean-vs-median caveat.
Read guide· 6 min readCPF for Beginners: OA, SA, MA & RA Explained Simply
Every month a chunk of your pay goes into CPF — but where does it go, and what is each account for? A simple, no-jargon guide.
Read guide· 5 min readIs Topping Up Your CPF Worth It? (RSTU & Tax Relief)
Is a CPF RSTU top-up worth it? See the tax relief, the 4%+ interest boost, the lock-in catch, and who it really suits.
Read guide· 6 min readCPF LIFE: Standard vs Basic vs Escalating, Explained
CPF LIFE explained simply: how Standard, Basic and Escalating plans differ in payouts and bequest, and which suits you. Estimate your own numbers.
Read guide· 6 min readShould You Transfer CPF OA to SA? The 2.5% to 4% Question
Thinking of moving CPF OA at 2.5% to SA at 4%? Here is who it suits, the irreversible catch, and a worked example for your retirement.
Read guide· 6 min readTax
9 guidesHow Are RSUs and Stock Options Taxed in Singapore?
Learn how RSUs and stock options are taxed in Singapore — at vesting or exercise, as employment income at your marginal rate, not when you sell.
Read guide· 6 min readHow Is Your Bonus Taxed in Singapore?
Worried about “bonus tax” in Singapore? There is none. See how your bonus is taxed at your marginal rate, with a worked example.
Read guide· 6 min readIncome Tax for Foreigners Working in Singapore
How income tax works for foreigners in Singapore: the 183-day rule, resident vs non-resident rates, no CPF, and a worked salary example.
Read guide· 6 min readParenthood Tax Reliefs: How Parents Pay Less Tax in Singapore
A friendly guide to Singapore parenthood tax reliefs and rebates, and how parents stack them to pay less income tax. Use the optimizer for exact amounts.
Read guide· 7 min readThe Median Salary in Singapore (2025): How Much Do Singaporeans Earn?
The median full-time salary in Singapore is $5,775/month (2025, incl. employer CPF). See pay by age and sex, household income, and where you stand.
Read guide· 7 min readFiling Your Income Tax in Singapore (2026): Deadlines, Reliefs & Tools
Your Singapore income tax season checklist: the filing deadlines, how the 0–24% rates work, the reliefs to claim before you file, and the tools to do it.
Read guide· 6 min readSingapore Income Tax Made Simple (YA2026)
How much tax will you pay, and how can you pay less? A plain-English walkthrough of how income tax works in Singapore.
Read guide· 6 min readHow to Legally Reduce Your Income Tax in Singapore
Cut your Singapore income tax legally: CPF top-ups, SRS, MediSave, family and child reliefs, donations — and how the $80,000 cap limits stacking.
Read guide· 7 min readIs the SRS Account Worth It? Tax Savings vs the Catch
Is an SRS account worth it? See the tax savings, the 50% withdrawal rule, the catch, and who it suits — with a worked example for Singaporeans.
Read guide· 7 min readProperty
11 guidesBTO vs Resale HDB: Which Should You Buy?
BTO vs resale HDB compared: price, wait time, grants, MOP and lifestyle trade-offs, with a worked example to help you decide which flat to buy.
Read guide· 7 min readWhen Is It Worth Refinancing Your Home Loan in Singapore?
Refinancing your Singapore home loan can cut monthly interest, but only if the savings beat the fees. Learn the break-even rule and when to skip it.
Read guide· 6 min readSeller’s Stamp Duty: When Can You Sell Without Paying?
Seller’s Stamp Duty hits only if you sell within the holding period — 4 years (or 3) since purchase. Here’s when you can sell SSD-free.
Read guide· 5 min readRental Yield in Singapore: What Counts as a Good Return?
Gross vs net rental yield in Singapore explained: what counts as a good return after property tax, costs and income tax — with a worked example.
Read guide· 6 min readBuying Your First Home in Singapore: A Step-by-Step Guide
A clear step-by-step guide to buying your first home in Singapore: budget with MSR, TDSR, LTV, stamp duty, grants, HFE letter and completion.
Read guide· 7 min readProperty Tax in Singapore: Owner-Occupied vs Rented Out
Singapore property tax explained: owner-occupied vs rented-out rates, why renting raises your bill, and a worked example using Annual Value.
Read guide· 6 min readHow Much Do You Really Earn From Selling Your House?
Your sale price is not your payout. See what actually lands in your bank after the loan, agent fee, stamp duty and the CPF refund that catches most sellers out.
Read guide· 6 min readABSD Explained: Extra Stamp Duty on a Second Property
Buying a second home, or buying as a PR or foreigner? Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty can be a big number — here’s who pays what.
Read guide· 5 min readWhat Is the Maximum HDB Flat Price You Can Afford?
The MSR and TDSR limits, loan-to-value, the cash and CPF you need upfront, stamp duty and grants — a plain-English guide to sizing your HDB budget.
Read guide· 6 min readCondo vs HDB: Which Should You Buy?
Price, stamp duty, financing, rules and lifestyle — an honest, plain-English comparison to help you decide.
Read guide· 6 min readDecoupling a Property to Avoid ABSD: Does It Still Make Sense?
Decoupling private property to avoid ABSD in Singapore: how it works, the BSD and fee costs, a worked example, and whether it still pays off.
Read guide· 6 min readInvesting
2 guidesSSB vs T-bills vs Fixed Deposit: Where to Park Your Cash (2026)
How Singapore Savings Bonds, Treasury Bills and bank fixed deposits compare on yield, liquidity, safety and effort — and when each one makes sense.
Read guide· 7 min readWhat is FIRE? Can You Retire Early in Singapore?
Financial Independence, Retire Early — what the numbers really need to be, and how Singaporeans can work towards it (CPF included).
Read guide· 6 min read