MoneyDigest - Personal Finance, Lifestyle, Money Saving Tips

Earn 4.2% p.a. on your first S$20k with this new fintech app

Introducing Chocolate Finance, the innovative solution for your spare cash that offers impressive returns without the hassle.

With an enticing 4.2% p.a. return on your first S$20,000 and a target 3.5% p.a. on any amount thereafter, it’s the perfect place to grow your savings.

Here’s why Chocolate Finance stands out:

No Complicated Requirements: Forget about jumping through hoops. Chocolate Finance has no minimum or maximum balance requirements and no lock-in periods. It’s designed to be as simple and user-friendly as possible.
Daily Return Updates: Stay informed and in control with daily updates on your returns. Check your progress every day right in the app.
Flexible Withdrawals: Need your money? No problem. Withdraw any amount, anytime, without any charges or penalties, thanks to their FAST bank transfer option.
Effortless Sign-Up: Getting started is a breeze. Simply sign up using Singpass MyInfo in a few quick steps, then add funds to your account.
No Fees Until You Profit: They believe in earning only when you do. Chocolate Finance takes zero fees until you achieve the target returns, aligning their success with yours.
Guaranteed Returns During the Qualifying Period: They’re committed to delivering on their promises. If they don’t meet the target 4.2% p.a. return for your first S$20k, they’ll top up the difference until 31st December 2024, ensuring you receive the target return during the Qualifying Period.
Top-Notch Security: Your security is their priority. Chocolate Finance employs robust measures to keep your account safe and is licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (CMS101452).

How to Get Started

Opening an account with Chocolate Finance is completely free. Simply download the Chocolate Finance app, sign up with Singpass MyInfo, and start growing your savings today.

Important Information

Chocolate Finance is a brand of Chocfin Pte Ltd (UEN 202347190R). Chocfin Pte Ltd is licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore to perform fund management activities. Please note that all investments involve risk, and the 4.2% return is currently supported by a promotional ‘Top-Up Programme’, valid during the Qualifying Period and subject to terms and conditions. This does not guarantee future returns or capital.

Disclaimer

This advertisement was prepared without considering your specific investment objectives, financial situation, or tax needs and does not constitute financial advice. Before applying, carefully consider whether this product or service is suitable for you. This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. We may receive an affiliate/referral fee when you sign up for services/products on this site.

For more information, visit Chocolate Finance. Privacy policy, terms, and conditions are available within the app.

Download the Chocolate Finance app today and start making your spare cash work harder for you.

Is It Practical to Buy Souvenirs from Your Trip?

Souvenir shopping is a beloved part of many travel itineraries. It’s natural to want a special keepsake to commemorate your trip and bring a touch of that magic back home. Whether for yourself or as a gift for loved ones, the choices can feel overwhelming and sometimes inauthentic.

To avoid cluttering your home with meaningless items, consider a mindful approach by selecting souvenirs that will be used or appreciated. Personally, I often purchase one or two luxury items that have lasting value.

For many Asians, including myself, buying souvenirs for family is a must. These mementos not only evoke positive memories but also offer a way to share your experiences with friends and family.

WHAT TO BUY?

Consumables are often the most appreciated souvenirs. From personal experience, chocolates are a safe bet—they disappear quickly when I bring them to the office. Opt for individually packed options, and be cautious with unique tastes like dried durian, which may not appeal to everyone.

Consider the practicality of a souvenir and how often it will be used. Recently, I bought my mom Chanel concealer from the Hong Kong airport, which she loved.

Some items may be cheaper abroad, but significant discounts on expensive goods, like handbags, may still result in a high cost. If you love handbags, who am I to tell you not to grab that discounted LV or Goyard in France?

Image Credits: unsplash.com

When buying for family and friends, choose items you know they’ll enjoy, not just what you like. Remember, not every destination has something for everyone, so select items that match their hobbies or interests.

WHAT’S YOUR BUDGET FOR SHOPPING?

Budgeting is key. Plan ahead by researching before your trip, especially for high-end items like jewelry, art, and antiques. Avoid heavily trafficked tourist areas to stay within your budget.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Explore local markets for unique items at lower prices. For food souvenirs, shop at local grocery stores for authentic sweets and snacks. This approach saves money and helps you find items that truly capture the spirit of the area.

Enjoy your travels!

Sources: 1,2 , & 3

Boost Your Budget With S$300 CDC Vouchers, Now Available for Singaporeans

As 2024 began, Singaporeans faced financial challenges with the GST increased to 9% and Singapore again named the world’s most expensive city. This has significantly impacted on daily expenses, such as meals and groceries.

To help ease this burden, every Singaporean household can now claim S$300 in CDC vouchers for daily expenses. These vouchers can be redeemed online at go.gov.sg/cdcv and used at participating hawkers, heartland merchants, and supermarkets.

PREVIOUS TRANCHES

In January 2024, the CDC vouchers worth S$500 were launched by then Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. This was S$200 more than the previous year’s tranche. Households will receive a total of S$800 in 2024, marking the first time two tranches of CDC vouchers have been distributed in one year.

LATEST VOUCHER LAUNCH

On June 25, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, who is also the Minister for Trade and Industry, introduced the new tranche of CDC vouchers at West Coast Community Centre. He was accompanied by National Development Minister Desmond Lee and the five mayors.

BUDGET 2024

During Budget 2024 in February, Prime Minister Wong, also the Finance Minister, announced that Singaporeans would receive a mix of cash, vouchers, and rebates. This is part of a S$1.9 billion boost to the Assurance Package to help with cost-of-living concerns and an uncertain economic outlook. The package includes an additional S$600 in CDC vouchers, with S$300 distributed in June 2024 and another S$300 in January 2025.

HISTORY OF THE SCHEME

The CDC vouchers scheme was introduced in June 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to support lower-income households and local merchants. It was expanded to all households in December 2021 to thank Singaporeans for their solidarity during the pandemic and to support heartland businesses as they recovered.

Despite the pandemic’s end, high inflation due to supply chain constraints and the war in Ukraine has kept daily expenses high. Deputy Prime Minister Gan explained that this is why the Government continues and enhances the scheme.

SPENDING OF THE VOUCHERS

Most vouchers were spent on hawker centers, participating merchants, and groceries, with S$140 million on F&B, S$273 million on supermarkets, and S$28 million on mini-marts.

FairPriceGroup is offering a promotion where shoppers receive S$4 in return vouchers for every S$50 spent in CDC vouchers in a single transaction until July 1. These return vouchers are valid until July 31 with no minimum spend requirement.

Furthermore, Cold Storage offers an S$8 return voucher for shoppers who spend at least S$80 in CDC vouchers in one receipt. Giant Singapore provides a S$6 return voucher for spending at least S$60 in CDC vouchers in a single receipt.

CLAIMING THE VOUCHERS

More than 650,000 Singaporean households claimed their June 2024 vouchers within the first two days of the launch, according to Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling.

Want to claim yours? To use the CDC vouchers, access them via your smartphone using the unique link provided to your household. Select the type and amount of vouchers you wish to use, and a QR code will appear for you to present to the shop staff. The staff will scan the QR code to deduct the amount accordingly.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Note that no change will be given if the voucher amount exceeds the purchase price. However, you can combine voucher usage with cash to cover the total cost. For instance, you can use a S$5 voucher and add S$2 in cash for a S$7 item. The same rules apply to physical vouchers.

Sources: 1 ,2, & 3

Latest WFH internships posted from 24 to 27 June 2024

It’s Friday and you know the drill.

This week we have opportunities in “not-so-common areas” like investment analysis, travel growth, and more.

Stay on this page to find out more!

#1: Robothink Pte. Ltd. – Facilitator And Curriculum Development Intern

Website: robothink.sg

Allowance / Remuneration: $750 – 1,200 monthly

Job Qualifications

Not specified.

Key Responsibilities

Support the lesson delivery at partner education agencies
Create engaging lessons that inspire creativity and curiosity
Consolidate, document, and upload student’s progress photos
Provide a safe and neat classroom environment for students to build and play in
Deliver and explain STEM concepts to young students creatively
Create, plan, and develop age-appropriate coding lesson plans
Review and consolidate lesson objectives and aims

How to apply?

View the job post in full here and write to Abby Umaruddin via this link.

#2: Nium Pte Ltd – Strategy And Operations Intern

Website: nium.com

Allowance / Remuneration: $1,000 – 1,500 monthly

Job Qualifications

Currently pursuing Bachelor’s Degree with relevant experience in business/finance/marketing
Hands-on knowledge of or familiarity with MS Excel, JIRA, confluence, and CRM tools is an added advantage
Strong presentation and analytical skills, data-driven, and able to think critically and creatively
Preferably with experience in managing projects and events from end to end
Proficient in English. Knowledge and Proficiency in other languages is an added advantage

Key Responsibilities

Assist in market research and analysis of remittance and travel card products in Singapore
Work closely with marketing, partnership, product, and analytics teams to drive campaigns, track performance and identify improvement opportunities
Analyse customer data, interpret indicators and trends to identify opportunities within Instarem and amaze portfolio
Provide admin and strategy support including business projections, budget planning, and preparation of pitch decks and management presentation materials

How to apply?

View the job post in full here and write to Joseph Lim via this link.

#3: Helicap Pte Ltd – Investment Analyst Internship Fall 2024 (Aug – Dec 2024)

Website: helicap.com

Allowance / Remuneration: $800 – 1,000 monthly

Job Qualifications

Not specified.

Key Responsibilities

Sourcing, evaluation, structuring, and execution of investment transactions within technology and alternative lending industries
Strategizing and developing investment thesis on potential opportunities
Preparation of investment slide decks and financial modeling of private credit opportunities
Presentation and marketing of investment proposals to senior management, investors, and business partners
Work with legal, financial, and other consultants on fundraising, deals, and startup advisory
Continuous investment management of private debt / venture debt / venture capital investments, in terms of forecasting and monitoring financial returns
Contribute to the development of Helicap’s technology and analytics platform
Participate in business development initiatives within Helicap and portfolio companies
Assist with business development, events, and other commercial activities

How to apply?

View the job post in full here and send your resume to [email protected].

#4: Holicay – Travel Growth Associate

Website: holicay.com

Allowance / Remuneration: $800 – 1,250 monthly

Job Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Communications, or a related field
High proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Sheets
Preferred: Past experience in high-growth companies or demonstrated ability to lead self-initiated projects
Strategic thinking with a clear focus on output rather than input
Love for data and thrive in a semi-autonomous environment
Passion for travel and a deep understanding of the travel industry

Key Responsibilities

Identify and Onboard Strategic Hospitality Partners:

Research and identify potential hospitality partners that align with Holicay’s vision of a truly bespoke vacation
Initiate contact and establish relationships with new partners
Manage the onboarding process, ensuring a seamless integration onto the Holicay platform

Grow Partner Accounts:

Develop and implement strategies to optimize the supplier user experience
Upskill and support suppliers in delivering a unique blend of digital and in-person experiences for trips
Monitor partner performance and provide feedback to drive continuous improvement using data

Create Personalized Travel Itineraries:

Utilize available supplier products on the Holicay platform to design unique and tailored travel itineraries
Ensure itineraries are creative and deliver the experience desired by the traveler through Holicay’s online itinerary planner tool

How to apply?

View the job post in full here and send your application to [email protected] with your portfolio and your #1 reason for wanting to be in the travel space and to be part of the team.

#5: Generation: You Employed, Singapore Ltd. – Programme Associate Intern (Recruitment / Employer Engagement)

Website: singapore.generation.org

Allowance / Remuneration: $800 – 1,000 monthly

Job Qualifications

Graduated from or currently enrolled in a diploma or undergraduate program from any discipline, preferably with a social science research background
Knowledge of data collection methods (polls, surveys, focus groups, etc). Hands-on experience is an added advantage.
Proficient in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint
Familiarity with Excel, data entry, and database management
Excellent planning, record-keeping, and organizing skills
Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills

Key Responsibilities

[Specific for Programme Associate Intern (Recruitment)]

Supporting recruitment – converting prospects into Generation learners through a robust and effective recruitment funnel:

Supporting learners to complete their application and ensuring prompt customer service
Ensure prompt, professional, and friendly management of queries across various channels (e.g. email, phone, social media, mailboxes, WhatsApp)
Assist in the screening and selection of learners for upcoming programs (tech and non-tech) and ensure close alignment with organizational targets
Assist in the reporting of key admissions metrics to maintain accurate data on the applicant-to-learner conversion funnel

[Specific for Programme Associate Intern (Employer Engagement)]

Supporting employer engagement:

Conduct market research and assist with employer prospecting campaigns (eg. crafting and sending out emails, follow-ups, and collating outreach results)
Assist in job matching and placement activities
Contact program graduates to understand their status if and when the need arises

[For all interns]

Support the team with program-centric events (e.g. program information sessions, graduate career fairs, and employer networking events)
Collect data and consolidate information into actionable items, reports, and presentations
Any other tasks required for program operations (eg. learner/alumni support and contacting, updating documents, coordinating meetings)

How to apply?

View the job post in full here and send your resume to [email protected]. Along with the resume, please mention in not more than 5 bullet points, your motivation to apply for this role.

Editor’s note: These positions are selected based on the “remote” tag, but some are hybrid ones and you may need to report physically to the office. For more deets, do contact the employer directly.

4 accommodations under $60/night near Universal Studios Japan, Osaka, if you can free yourself for a trip in October 2024

Planning a trip to Universal Studios Japan in October 2024 but working within a tight budget?

You’re in luck!

We’ve scoured the area to find you some incredible places to stay, all under $60/night.

Read on to discover where you can rest your head!

Minimalist rental unit near Chidoribashi Station

Price: $52/night (for 2 persons)

Travel dates: 1 to 6 October 2024

First up, we have this minimalist rental near Chidoribashi Station to start us off.

Just a 2-minute stroll to the station, this abode puts you on a quick 15-minute commute from Universal Studios Japan.

Ideal for traveling buddies, the unit features 2 single beds and a compact pantry.

There’s also a washing machine for packing light and traveling hassle-free.

This rental offers a fuss-free home base from which to explore Osaka.

Vacation unit in a Japanese inn close to Asashiobashi Station

Price: $52/night (for 2 persons)

Travel dates: 14 to 19 October 2024

Located just a short walk from Asashiobashi Station in a quiet residential pocket, you will have easy access to transport while staying in a home away from the crowds.

Fully air-conditioned with a full kitchen, microwave, and laundry facilities, it offers all the conveniences of home including cooking utensils so you can prep light meals just like you do at your place (if you prefer to not dine out throughout your trip).

With two single beds awaiting, it’s an excellent home base for solo travel buddies.

Editor’s note: if this specific unit is booked, the host has others available—just ask.

Entire home 8 minutes to Bentenchō Station

Price: $55/night (for 2 persons)

Travel dates: 1 to 6 October 2024

Or consider this renovated old wooden home just 8 minutes from Bentenchō Station.

Ranked in the top 10% of homes, this property offers a prime location just a 20-minute train ride from Universal Studios Japan.

The neighborhood brims with restaurants, supermarkets, and convenience stores.

Cozily accommodating up to 4 guests (or an ultra-spacious stay for 2), the home features a full kitchen with appliances and cookware.

Stay connected with wi-fi, refresh your wardrobe with the washing machine, and use the other provided amenities as you wish.

Modern-looking unit next to Osaka Prefecture Konohana Police Station

Price: $59/night (for 2 persons)

Travel dates: 1 to 6 October 2024

Last but not least, we have this modern-looking unit just steps from the Osaka Prefecture Konohana Police Station.

Enjoy the convenience of a 9-minute stroll to Chidoribashi Station and a quick 10-minute bus ride to the thrills of Universal Studios Japan.

Rest in the king-size bed, whip up meals in the equipped kitchen, and freshen up in the bathroom with a shower and tub.

When you’re ready to explore, take advantage of the free bicycle rentals and get pedaling.

Stay, play, and relax, it’s your vacation home for a week.

With these budget-friendly accommodations near Universal Studios Japan, your dream trip to Osaka this October is within reach. So pick your perfect place on this list and get packing. Have fun at Universal Studios Japan while enjoying the best of Osaka! Have a safe trip to come 🙂