[Post 438] What You Pay For In A Confinement Centre: Why The Premium Price Tag? | Money Mind

Summary

Post-birth centres for mum and baby: is paying a premium price worth it? 

[Post 437] How Young Adults Can Make The Most Of Their Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS) Funds | Money Mind

Summary

How young adults can make the most of their Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS) funds.

[Post 436] Why We’d Rather Buy ‘Made In China’ Than Global Brands

Summary

Chinese Gen Zs and millennials are choosing to buy domestic products, such as Xiao Mi, BYD or Mao Geping, instead of international brands like Apple, Tesla or Dior.

‘Guo chao’ which translates to national wave is the trend where Chinese shoppers are buying  ‘Made In China’ products by Chinese brands rather than international names. For some Chinese youths, using homegrown labels evokes that sense of nationalistic pride. 

[Post 435] Turning your home into a parcel collection point

Summary

Would you run a parcel collection point from your home? Two HDB residents who signed up say they got to know their neighbours better, but they have also received complaints.

[Post 434] This $9B Chinese Restaurant Chain Wants to Conquer the U.S. | WSJ The Economics Of

Summary

China's hot-pot giant Haidilao offers more than just food. It has free manicures and massages for customers. Waiters dance on request. The over-the-top performances and customer service set it apart from its competitors. With fresh funds from a public listing, the restaurant company plans to expand across the U.S. 

WSJ examines the Chinese company and explores whether these gimmicks could be enough to sustain America's appetite.

[Post 433] Why Homeowners Are Struggling to Afford Monthly Expenses

Summary

More than 80% of recent homebuyers say they regret their purchase, according to a recent survey from Clever Real Estate. Home prices have been rising faster than incomes, which can be a problem for homeowners because as the value of a home rises, so does the cost to maintain it. Property taxes and insurance premiums have been rising at a rapid rate, influenced by inflation and the increase in catastrophic weather events.

[Post 432] Why Starbucks Is Struggling

Summary

Starbucks reported a global same-store sales decline of 3% and missed revenue expectations by $130 million in its fiscal third-quarter earnings on July 30, 2024. Its share price has tumbled nearly 25% in the past year. That's all due to operating challenges, an increasingly price conscious consumer and boycotts related to the Israel-Hamas war. Still, the coffee giant accounted for more than 25% of the U.S. coffee and snack shop market in 2023.