[Post 598] Can Timezone level up the arcade business? | The Business Behind

Summary

With the ever-increasing amount of entertainment options at the palm of our hands, why are arcades popping up all over malls, and do people still visit them? What is their impact on the retail landscape in Singapore?

BT takes a deep dive into the business of arcades through the Timezone brand, Singapore’s largest family entertainment centre operator, and unpacks how they leverage community and cutting-edge tech to stay relevant in today’s experiential age.

[Post 597] Treasure At Home: This family-run vintage store in Tai Seng is a hidden gem

Summary

What started as a hobby in 2012 has become a full-time family business, Treasure At Home. The store, run by Wak Sadri and their children, now attracts vintage enthusiasts in Singapore.

[Post 596] Retrenched At 30: Losing My Job Created A Business Opportunity For Me | Money Mind | Retrenchment

Summary

How do you bounce back when you are retrenched at age 30? For one young professional, losing her job became a stepping stone to a new career path.

[Post 595] How To Create A Dividend Portfolio Earning $1,000 A Month | Money Mind | Passive Income

Summary

How can a young adult start building a stream of passive income? Tips on how to set up a dividend portfolio - and the risks you need to keep in mind. 

[Post 594] [ENG SUB] Million-dollar HDB flats are not an easy sell

Summary

Resale HDB flats that have been transacted for more than one million dollars continue to emerge, and recently there have been advertisements for three-room HDB flats worth one million dollars. Are HDB flats really worth that, or are they asking for prices that are too high?

A housing agent interviewed said that only HDB flats with "X elements" are likely to unlock a million-dollar treasure chest, allowing homeowners to cash in huge profits.

[Post 593] [ENG SUB] Why Younger Singaporeans are Choosing to be Nurses

Summary

Why Younger Singaporeans are Choosing to be Nurses

[Post 592] [ENG SUB] Why your kopi is getting expensive

Summary

The price of traditional coffee in Singapore is rising due to increased costs for coffee beans, wages, and rent. Vendors are struggling to maintain affordable prices, but some are finding ways to absorb the costs, while others are forced to raise prices. The video explores the challenges faced by coffee vendors and the potential impact on the future of traditional coffee.

[Post 591] [ENG SUB] Is it still going strong? | Behind Singapore’s CPF (5/5)

Summary

Singapore’s CPF system has been in place for nearly 70 years. Even though it’s been widely recognised as Asia’s top pension system,  it has also faced a fair share of scepticism from time to time. Is CPF still going strong? Watch the video to find out more!

[Post 590] [ENG SUB] Are we stretching it too thin? | Behind Singapore’s CPF (4/5)

Summary

Some of our major milestones in life like buying a home and having children can be financed with CPF savings. While CPF was originally established in the 1950s with the primary goal of providing retirement safety, its uses have gradually expanded to homeownership and healthcare expenses. With so many uses, are we spreading our CPF too thin? Watch the video to find out more!

[Post 589] [ENG SUB] How to grow your CPF monies | Behind Singapore’s CPF (3/5)

Summary

34-year-old Jocelyn Tay has been working for 10 years and already has $110,000 in her CPF Special Account! She’s not alone. Some Singaporeans have  even accumulated more than half a million dollars of CPF savings by their early 50s. How did they do it? Watch the video to find out more!

[Post 588] [ENG SUB] Demystifying CPF contribution rates | Behind Singapore’s CPF (2/5)

Summary

Most Singaporeans are familiar with monthly CPF contributions - 20% from their salary and 17% contributed by their employer. How were these numbers determined? Besides helping Singaporeans save for retirement, what other crucial role do these contribution rates play? Watch the video to find out more!

[Post 587] [ENG SUB] The significance of turning 55 and 65 | Behind Singapore’s CPF (1/5)

Summary

Singaporeans will have a CPF Retirement Account once we turn 55, and 10 years later when we turn 65, we can choose to start receiving monthly payouts. Why can’t we get our payouts earlier instead? Watch the video to find out more!

[Post 586] Govt will continue to enhance CPF scheme to boost Singaporeans' retirement adequacy: PM Wong

Summary

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the government will continue improving and enhancing the Central Provident Fund scheme "very carefully" to ensure it boosts retirement adequacy for Singaporeans. In an interview with Chinese local daily Lianhe Zaobao to mark 70 years of CPF, he said this will be done in consultation with Singaporeans. Mr Wong added that the government is also studying the idea of an opt-in retirement investment scheme. He also assured Singaporeans that, as long as they contribute to CPF from young, there should be enough protection for them when it comes to their retirement. Jeraldine Yap reports.

[Post 585] New measures to support Singaporeans in starting and raising families

Summary

Current and aspiring parents can look forward to new measures to support them in their familial journey — with details to be announced at this year's Budget and Committee of Supply. They include a new scheme to help large families with household expenses. The Manpower Ministry will also update details of its work with tripartite partners in having companies implement flexi-work arrangements. These updates come after over seven hours of debate in Parliament today, as over 20 members rose to discuss policies in building a Singapore made for families.

[Post 584] Money Talks Explains: Miles vs cashback credit cards

Summary

When choosing a credit card, which reward system should you go for – miles or cash rebates?

On the brand-new segment called Money Talks Explains, where we break down your financial questions, Tim Phillips from TimTalksMoney explains the pros and cons of each, the trade-offs and key factors to consider before choosing your next credit card.

[Post 583] Will the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone be a success? | Deep Dive podcast

Summary

The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone will sit on an area four times the size of Singapore, with nine zones covering everything from manufacturing to financial services. What are the opportunities and challenges of this ambitious agreement?

Steven Chia and Crispina Robert speak to Thilan Wickramasinghe, head of research in Singapore and regional head of financials at Maybank Investment Banking Group and Serina Rahman, lecturer at the department of Southeast Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore.

[Post 582] The millennials who are caregivers to their special needs siblings

Summary

Karasi Chandramogan is 34 and she's the main caregiver of her elder brother, Bala, who has autism, for the rest of her life - while juggling financial concerns and her own hopes of starting a family with her husband. Meanwhile, 29-year-old Rachel Boey is learning to look after her sister, Rebecca, who has an intellectual disability, among other conditions, knowing that the responsibility will one day fall entirely on her. Read their stories: https://cna.asia/4jRXj0P

[Post 581] Gen Zs Are Rethinking 9-To-5 Work: Will Hong Kong Cope Without The Hustle? | Insight

Summary

In one July 2024 survey, over a third of Hong Kong youths who are not working or studying had no intention to find a job. There is a term for them - NEETs - people not in education, employment or training. At the same time, a growing number are content with part-time or gig work, eschewing longer-term stability. The youth's ennui can be linked to Hong Kong's economic doldrums, high real estate prices and political apathy. 

But there is also a mismatch between Gen Zs’ perception of labour and Hong Kong's prevailing work culture. Over 40% of young workers often think about quitting. Are Hong Kong's youth checking out of work, and what will that mean for the Special Administrative Region's future?

[Post 580] I Fly To Work 5 Days/Week From Penang To KL: My Life As A Super Commuter | Money Mind

Summary

Racheal Kaur is a frequent flyer. But she doesn't fly for work. The Malaysian flies to work in Kuala Lumpur, five days a week, from her home in Penang around 300 kilometres away. 

[Post 579] 4-Day Work Week In Japan Without Salary Cut: How Does It Work? | Money Mind | Work-Life Balance

Summary

Would you like to work a full time job, but only have to go into the office four days a week? That's the appeal of the four-day work week currently being trialled by some workers in Japan. We find out how one Japanese office worker is getting the most out of his new work-life balance.

[Post 578] DeepSeek shows that AI can be done on a budget: Expert

Summary

Competition in the global tech scene has been redefined, as advances by Chinese start-up DeepSeek appear to undermine Washington's lead in the artificial intelligence (AI) race. US President Donald Trump has called DeepSeek's strong showing a "wake-up call" and said that it could threaten American dominance in AI. Associate Professor Bryan Low from the National University of Singapore discusses the impact of what the AI model by DeepSeek could mean for the AI community and how Singapore can learn from the use of resources to promote research in the area.

[Post 577] More Singaporeans choosing low-sugar, low-fat festive snacks

Summary

Some bakeries in Singapore that offer seasonal treats with less sugar and fat are seeing demand rise as much as 30 per cent this Chinese New Year. This is as more people are choosing to eat healthier even while celebrating the festive season. Dr Kalpana Bhaskaran, President of the Singapore Nutrition and Dietetics Association, discusses how it can be all too easy to go over board when feasting during Chinese New Year.

[Post 576] China's DeepSeek roils AI sector

Summary

Competition in the global tech scene has been redefined as advances by Chinese start-up DeepSeek appear to undermine Washington's lead in the artificial intelligence race. Rival OpenAI has vowed to deliver "much better models" and accelerate product releases, after DeepSeek's AI model overtook ChatGPT to become the top rated app in the US. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman called the Chinese start-up's product "impressive" and said it was "invigorating" to have a new competitor.

[Post 575] What is DeepSeek? Low-cost AI model rattles markets

Summary

A low-cost AI model from Chinese startup DeepSeek had surpassed US rival ChatGPT in downloads from Apple's app store by Monday (Jan 27) after its free AI assistant was launched last week.

The new model's sudden rise sent global technology stocks crashing overnight, with leader Nvidia losing US$592.7 billion in market capitalisation, the biggest one-day loss for a Wall Street stock.

[Post 574] Johor Bahru's property boom: Are locals getting priced out?

Summary

Property prices in Johor Bahru have surged, with demand being driven by buyers from Singapore and China. It's forced some locals to look for options far from the city centre.

[Post 573] A Financial Advisor's Top Budgeting Tips For Chinese New Year | Money Mind | Finance

Summary

Chinese New Year doesn’t have to be tough on the wallet. A financial advisor shares how her top money-saving tip starts with spring-cleaning.  

[Post 572] Unlicensed Delivery Drivers On Our Roads: Why Are They On The Rise? | Talking Point | Full Episode

Summsry

In this episode of Talking Point, Diana Ser investigates the troubling rise of unlicensed drivers on Singapore's roads. As home delivery demand surges, more drivers are taking to the streets without proper credentials. Through insights from the logistics sector and authorities, Talking Point uncovers the dangerous consequences of having unlicensed drivers on the road and the risks they pose to public safety.

[Post 571] Gen Z Are Testing Work-Life Boundaries: How Flexible Can Hybrid Work Be? | Money Mind

Summary

Work-life boundaries when you’re working from home – what are the do’s and don’ts?

[Post 570] How I Make A Living Creating Customised Poetry For Strangers In Minutes | Money Mind | Poetry

Summary

How do you make a living as a typewriter poet? For Grace, it starts with three words and a piece of paper.

[Post 569] How China’s Humanoid Robots May Replace Its Shrinking Labour Force

Summary

China already leads the world in industrial robots, accounting for 52% of all new robots installed in 2022. Now, the focus is on humanoid robots powered by artificial intelligence (AI). These robots look and move like humans; and are capable of doing tasks just like us - or even better. 

Why is China betting big on robots? President Xi Jinping wants to boost the economy by focusing on new quality productive forces, which includes robotics, flying electric vehicles and biotech. With China’s shrinking labour force, could robots be the answer for future economic growth?