[Post 354] Americans Bought Abandoned $1 Homes In Italy — Was It Worth It?

Summary

In the late 2010s, towns around Italy started going viral for selling off crumbling properties for 1 euro, or roughly $1.05. How much does it really cost to buy and renovate a 1-euro home in Italy? And is it worth it? CNBC Make It spoke to several Americans who have bought a 1-euro home in Sicily, Italy.

[Post 353] My Side Hustle Brings In $400K A Year—Here’s How I Spend My Money

Summary

Chisom Okwulehie was gifted at drawing from a young age. She decided to turn her artistic instincts toward a more profitable line of work, studying architecture and public planning in college. Today, the 35-year-old mother of two earns about $163,000 a year working as an architectural designer for the Port of Authority for New York and New Jersey and running her own interior design side business for private clients, Juntero.

This is an installment of CNBC Make It's Millennial Money series, which profiles people across the globe and details how they earn, spend and save their money.

[Post 352] This Tiny Island Is the Most Densely Defended Country in the World | WSJ

Summary

Singapore, a city state around the same size as New York City, has built one of Southeast Asia’s most advanced militaries. Despite being at peace with its neighbors, Singapore’s defense budget was over $11 billion in 2022, ranking it per capita among the highest in the world. 

Singapore has ordered 20 F-35 jets and its navy is increasing its number of submarines to eight, more submarines than both its larger neighbors Malaysia and Indonesia combined. 

WSJ takes a closer look at why this small nation is pouring billions into its armed forces.

[Post 351] More banks in Singapore to offer money lock feature, but take-up rate low among young adults

Summary

At least three more major banks in Singapore including HSBC, Maybank and Standard Chartered are set to offer a money lock feature as early as June this year. Banks that already started offering the function last November say that while the number of people choosing to protect their savings is growing, most of them are older customers. Young adults make up as little as 15 per cent of the safety feature users. CNA’s Nasyrah Abdul Rohim reports.

[Post 350] Why investors need to know how to read financial statements | Money Talks podcast

Summary

One tool that every shareholder or investor should have in their arsenal is the ability to read and assess a company’s financial statements. But not everyone is equipped to cut through the jargon. David Gerald, founder, president and CEO of Securities Investors Association (Singapore) shows Andrea Heng what to look out for.  

[Post 349] Why is inflation taking so long to moderate in Singapore? | Commentary

Summary

Singapore's core inflation has fallen well below its peak of 5.5% in January and February 2023. But is it coming off fast enough? OCBC chief economist Selena Ling weighs in.

[Post 348] How Temu Is Becoming a Serious Competitor to Amazon and Walmart | WSJ

Summary

Temu, a Chinese-founded e-commerce company, became the most-downloaded app in the U.S. in just over a year. The retailer has flooded social media feeds with curious consumers and even aired ads at back-to-back Super Bowls. In 2023, the discount retail app moved about $17 billion worth of goods between manufacturers and customers across the Pacific. 

WSJ breaks down how its continued growth could redefine online retail, just like Amazon’s speedy delivery did.