[Post 498] US$700 A Month On Bubble Tea: Why China's Youth Are Indulging In The Beverage | Money Mind | China

Summary

China’s economy might be slowing down but for its youth, there’ll always be time for tea. We meet 28-year-old Shanghai resident Tong Xiaodai. She loves milk tea so much that she spends up to RMB5000 or US$700 a month on the beverage.

[Post 497] China's Youth Retirement Villages Where Young Workers Escape Rat Race | Money Mind

Summary

Early retirement is a dream for many. In China, some young city dwellers are getting to live out their dream retirement lifestyle, a few decades early. We visit one such youth retirement village, where you'll find hardly anyone over the age of 40. 

[Post 496] Market Volatility, Election Uncertainty And Fed Moves: Where To Invest Right Now | Money Mind

Summary

Strategies for riding out volatility into the new year.

[Post 495] Will more COEs bring down prices? | Deep Dive podcast

Summary

Up to 20,000 additional Certificates of Entitlement (COEs) will be progressively injected across all vehicle categories from February 2025. Why is the government making this move and will this bring COE premiums down?

Steven Chia and Crispina Robert speak to Walter Theseira from the Singapore University of Social Sciences and Arthur Wong, managing director of ACM Automobiles.

[Post 494] What it's like working on a budget airline

Summary

Twenty years ago, the first local budget airline took off from Singapore's Changi Airport and since then, the industry has not looked back. Jetstar cabin crew member Norazman Sapiie and Scoot associate management pilot Keagan Pang talk about what it's like to work for a budget carrier. https://cna.asia/3NXdpau

[Post 494] Day Trip To JB:Fern Pine Cafe

Recently, my family and I visited the buffet at Holiday Villa near KSL. To sum it up, I’d rate it a 6/10. The ambiance was pleasant, and sitting by the window offered some nice views, but the food wasn’t replenished quickly enough.

While the selection of dishes was decent, I’d recommend trying Seoul Garden at City Square instead, especially if you’re looking for a better hotpot and grill experience.

Restaurant Layout

Sushi 

Fried Food

Pastries 

Overall, if you're not too picky about food and prefer a buffet experience in a more relaxed, less crowded setting, this is the perfect spot for you.

[Post 493] How Disney Vacations Became Too Expensive For Many Americans

Summary

Once a right of passage for most American families, theme parks like Disney World and Disneyland are quickly becoming out of reach for many middle class American families. Over the past 10 years, the average cost for a Disney World single-park ticket has increased more than 56%, above the national rate of inflation of 32% in the same period. And that doesn’t include the cost of food, merchandise, lightning lane, hotels and airfare.  The average cost of a five-night Disney World vacation for a family of four in 2024, with all the bells and whistles, comes in at around $5,000, according to Wolfe Research. In its Q3 2024 earnings, Disney said its parks and experiences segment felt pressure due to lower consumer demand and inflation. This is a trend that is industry wide — Comcast’s Universal Studios also experienced a drop in attendance in 2024. Disney World is the most visited theme park in the world, but have recent price increases pushed inflation-weary Americans away? Will Disney trips continue to be a staple of American childhoods or is it becoming a luxury? CNBC explores.