No.1 Property Website for Singapore's Latest New Condo Launches

The Most Comprehensive Singapore Property Website Sharing trending news in Singapore concerning you

Do Not Throw This SingPost Flyer In Your Mail, Goldfish Stamps Worth More Than $5 Inside

10/26/2023

On 19 September 2023 (Tues), SingPost announced they will increase the postage rate for standard regular mail from 31 cents to 51 cents – an almost 65 per cent increase – amid rising costs and declining mail volume.

The 20-cent increase reflects the "escalating costs of maintaining the postal service", SingPost said in a media release on Tuesday (Sep 19), adding that the new postage rates will take effect from Oct 9 this year. The last significant rate increase was nine years ago in 2014 when rates were increased from 22 cents to 30 cents, according to SingPost.

To help consumers manage the costs of the increase, SingPost will issue a first local stamp booklet of 10 stamps to each household from the end of October.

SingPost told CNA that it will provide return options for households who do not want or need the stamps, to reduce wastage.

This means that 51 cents will be charged for standard regular mail. SingPost currently charges 31 cents and 38 cents for standard regular mail weighing up to 20g and 40g respectively.

Standard large mail of up to 500g will have a flat rate of 80 cents from Oct 9. Currently, SingPost charges 60 cents for mail up to 100g, 90 cents for mail that weighs up to 250g and S$1.15 for mail up to 500g.

Singpost's The goldfish or Carassius auratus has a history that dates back more than a thousand years to ancient China, when it was first displayed in ornamental gardens as prized symbols of good luck and fortune. Today, they have become one of the world’s most popular aquarium fishes, and can be found in a large variety of shapes, colours and sizes.

This stamp issue from 11 June 2021 is dedicated to feature the different popular breed of goldfishes.

Free Bloobox For Every Residential Household In S'pore - Foldable Recycling Box To Recycle Right

11/26/2022

If you need any assistance in collecting your Bloobox, please call 6904 9042.

As part of the Recycle Right campaign, each residential household will be able to collect one recycling box, or Bloobox, to build a habit of recycling at home. Paper, plastic, metal, or glass recyclables and e-waste can be placed in the Bloobox, and brought to a nearby recycling bin/chute or e-waste bin when convenient.

Through recycling, Singapore can further the circular economy, turn trash into resource, and also divert waste from Semakau Landfill - Singapore's one and only existing operational landfill which is expected to be filled by 2035. Organisations like Starfish Learning Journey has been working hard from 2005 to create awareness of the impending waste crisis that Singapore may face in 2035. Watch the video below for an idea of the 2035 waste crisis.

The box – known as a Bloobox – can also be folded, washed and reused, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Saturday (Nov 26). Households in Fengshan, Sembawang West, Tampines North, Yio Chu Kang and Yuhua constituencies will get to collect a recycling box to help Singapore become more environment-friendly.

Residents will receive fliers in their mailboxes with details about the collection of their boxes from November to December from any one of 14 vending machines across the five divisions.

Households not in the five constituencies can collect their recycling boxes from March 2023.

Semakau Offshore Landfill is the world's first-of-its-kind man-made offshore landfill and Singapore's first and only off-shore landfill, but amidst its ingenuity hides a grim future that cannot be avoided unless we take action. Watch this video to find out more.

The government is starting with a pilot phase at five (5) constituencies. Under the pilot phase, all residential households in Fengshan, Sembawang West, Tampines North, Yio Chu Kang and Yuhua constituencies may collect one Bloobox per residential address from 26 November 2022 (Saturday) to 23 December 2022 (Friday). They are available at vending machines at the following locations:

Collection Venues:

1. Fengshan Community Club
20 Bedok North Street 2 S469644 (Fengshan Constituency)

2. Woodlands Galaxy Community Club
31 Woodlands Ave 6 S738991 (Sembawang West Constituency)

3. Tampines North Community Club
Blk 420 Tampines Street 41 S520420 (Tampines North Constituency)

4. Yio Chu Kang Community Club
Blk 633 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6 S560633 (Yio Chu Kang Constituency)

5. Yuhua Community Club
90 Boon Lay Way S609958 (Yuhua Constituency)

6. Fengshan Mulberry RN
Blk 79 Bedok North Rd S460079 (Fengshan Constituency)

7. N4 Neighbourhood Centre
beside POSB ATM & Reverse Vending Machines (next to Happy Hawkers)
Blk 478 Tampines St 44 S520478 (Tampines North Constituency)

8. HDB Void Deck
(next to Ang Mo Kio 628 Market)
Blk 626 Ang Mo Kio Ave 4 S560626 (Yio Chu Kang Constituency)

9. Yuhua Zone 5 RC
Blk 320 Jurong East St 31 S600320 (Yuhua Constituency)

The box, designed in collaboration with a team of students from the Singapore Institute of Technology, can hold up to 5kg of recyclables. This includes paper, plastic, metal or glass recyclables, and e-waste.
“The Bloobox has labels to help households identify what can and cannot be recycled. There is also a removable divider so that households can create a separate compartment for small e-waste items,” it added.

“When the Bloobox is full, the recyclables can be placed in either a blue recycling bin or recycling chute. E-waste items such as light bulbs and batteries should be placed in an e-waste bin.”

Under a Zero Waste Masterplan and Singapore Green Plan 2030, Singapore aims to achieve a 70 per cent overall recycling rate by 2030.

Singapore is working hard to reach its goal of reducing the amount of waste sent to Semakau Landfill by 20 per cent per capita per day by 2026, and by 30 per cent per capita per day by 2030.

NRIC and long term FIN holders staying at a residential address can collect the Bloobox on behalf of your household. If you do not stay within the five constituencies where this is being piloted, you may collect your Bloobox in the nationwide phase which is planned to start from March 2023. More details will be announced nearer the date.

If you need any assistance in collecting your Bloobox, please call 6904 9042.

Nearly 2.5 Million Singaporeans To Receive Up To S$700 This December To Offset GST Hike & Rising Cost of Living

11/15/2022

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) announced yesterday on 15 Nov (Tuesday) that from next month in December, eligible Singaporeans will receive up to S$700 in cash payouts, as part of a series of measures to help Singaporeans cope with the impending GST increase next year and rising cost of living.

This ensures that even with the current inflation situation, the Assurance Package will offset additional GST expenses for the majority of Singaporean households for at least five years, with around 10 years offset for lower-income households.

The first tranche of money, which includes other benefits, will be disbursed from December 2022 to February 2023.

The one-off Cost-of-Living (COL) special cash payout is part of the S$1.5 billion Support Package

December 2022

In December 2022, about 2.9 million adult Singaporeans will receive up to S$200 in cash under the Assurance Package, with about 2.5 million of them also being eligible for the Cost-of-Living (COL) special cash payout announced in October of up to S$500. The payouts will be disbursed together, the ministry said.

The one-off Cost-of-Living (COL) special cash payout is part of the S$1.5 billion Support Package announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong in October 2022 to provide cost-of-living relief for Singaporean households.

Cost-of-Living (COL) special cash payout will be disbursed to Singaporeans aged 21 years old and above in 2023, with an assessable income of not more than S$100,000 in the Year of Assessment (YA) 2022. They must also not own more than one property.

January 2023

In January 2023, eligible HDB households will receive an additional GST voucher (GSTV) - USave of up to S$95 in rebates to offset their utilities bills. This is on top of the S$95 in rebates given to eligible households under the permanent GSTV scheme.

Every Singaporean household will receive $300 Community Development Council vouchers, - these vouchers, which include S$200 under the Assurance Package and S$100 from the support package announced in October, can be used at participating heartland merchants and hawkers, as well as supermarkets.

February 2023

In February 2023, lower-income senior Singaporeans will get up to $300 in cash under the GSTV – Cash (Seniors’ Bonus). And eligible seniors aged 55 and above, and children aged 20 and below, will get $150 in their Central Provident Fund MediSave Account under the Assurance Package MediSave.

3 Modes Of Payments:

Citizens are also encouraged to link their NRIC number to PayNow by Nov 20 to receive their Assurance Package cash and COL special payment as early as from Dec 5.

The payments will be disbursed on Dec 12 for those who opt to have it credited to their bank accounts.
GovCash has also replaced cheques as the mode of payment for citizens who have not provided their bank account details or linked their NRIC number to PayNow.

They will need to enter their NRIC number and payment reference number - which will be sent out from Dec 14 - at OCBC ATMs islandwide. An OCBC bank account is not required for withdrawals.

More information on the Assurance Package cash and COL special payment are available online. Members of the public may also call the hotline at 1800-222-888.

Source from Ministry of Finance

Now You Can Send Or Request Payment Immediately While Chatting On Telegram Thru DBS PayLah!

10/21/2021

Use PayLah! as you chat on Telegram - Image Credit: DBS Bank

Chasing friends to pay you back? Feeling Awkward?
Accidentally sent money to the wrong person? Ugh.
Said “I’ll transfer it right now” and forgot all about it? Oops.

Things are about to change because the ultimate everyday app—PayLah!—is now on Telegram. The PayLah! bot makes sending and requesting money easier than finding the perfect reaction GIF. Just summon the bot and let it take care of business right in your Telegram chat.

Watch the video below to see how you can send money using PayLah! on Telegram

Sending Money

Type @PayLahBot<space>, within your chat session with your friend, Enter <Amount in SGD> and tap "Send"
Click ‘Confirm’ and open the link.
Log in using your PayLah! PIN, Fingerprint or FaceID.
Review recipient(s) and amount before confirming payment.
Done! You will receive a confirmation text in your Telegram chat.

Watch the video below to see how you can request money using PayLah! on Telegram

Requesting Money

Type @PayLahBot<space> within your chat session with your friend, Enter <Amount in SGD> and tap "Request"
Your friend clicks ‘Send’ and logs in to their PayLah! wallet.
After your friend confirms payment, both of you will receive a confirmation text in your Telegram chat.

Click for terms & conditions to win Apple Airpods! - Image Credit: DBS Bank

Please make sure your PayLah! app is updated to the latest version on your device.

Please DO NOT THROW AWAY this leaflet in your mailbox

6/28/2021

Singapore Post will be distributing a Stay Prepared leaflet with a redemption tab to each household letterbox between Monday, 28 June 2021 and Saturday, 3 July 2021. Simply take the leaflet (complete with the redemption tab) to any of the collection outlets to redeem an oximeter.

To collect the oximeter, residents must bring along the leaflet complete with the redemption tab, to any of the participating supermarket and pharmacy outlets of NTUC FairPrice, Sheng Siong, Giant, Cold Storage, Watsons, Unity, or Guardian island-wide.

Temasek Foundation announced on 24 June 2021 that it is providing one free oximeter for every Singapore household to enable everyone to monitor their blood oxygen levels regularly.

“Silent pneumonia” is one of the most serious consequences of COVID-19, where seriously ill people can feel generally well, despite damaged lungs and dangerously low levels of oxygen.

An oximeter can help alert us to seek medical attention when the levels become dangerously low. Temasek Foundation is providing oximeters under its Stay Prepared initiative to help everyone to stay safe, especially with the emergence of new and more infectious COVID-19 variants.

Singapore Post will be distributing a Stay Prepared leaflet with a redemption tab to each household letterbox between Monday, 28 June 2021 and Saturday, 3 July 2021. Simply take the leaflet (complete with the redemption tab) to any of the collection outlets to redeem an oximeter.

Know our Normal Blood Oxygen Levels Flag 'Silent Pneumonia’ for serious COVID-19 infection

Over 300 outlets at NTUC FairPrice (excluding FairPrice Xpress at petrol kiosks), Sheng Siong, Giant, Cold Storage, Watsons, Unity, and Guardian are participating in this oximeter collection initiative. Residents can check their nearest collection points and operating hours at www.stayprepared.sg/oximeter.

Collection during store opening hours starts on Monday, 5 July 2021 and ends Thursday, 5 August 2021. There is plenty of stock, so there is no need to rush.

Pro Tip: To avoid crowds, residents may wish to collect after 7 July 2021 or during off-peak hours.
Residents may collect the oximeters on behalf of other family households or their friends and neighbours by bringing along their household leaflets (with redemption tabs).

Wanted: Tray Return Ambassadors - Up to $2,200 per month

Temasek online article

Wanted: Up to $2,200 per month for Tray Return Ambassadors

6/28/2021

Click on this image to go to the job recruitment website for Tray Return Ambassador

Last month, the National Environment Agency (NEA) announced that from Sept 1, patrons at hawker centres risk being warned or fined if they do not clear litter on their tables and return their dirty trays and crockery after a meal. Later in the year, this will also apply at food courts and coffee shops.

From now until Aug 31, there will be an advisory period when NEA will not take enforcement action. In the meantime, safe distancing ambassadors, SG Clean ambassadors, community volunteers and NEA officers deployed at hawker centres will continue to remind diners to clear their dirty trays, crockery and litter.

From Sept 1, first-time offenders will be issued with a stern warning, while second-time offenders will get a S$300 fine. Subsequent offenders may face court fines. The Singapore Food Agency will work with NEA to roll out enforcement progressively at coffee shops and foodcourts in the fourth quarter of this year.

Greensafe International Pte Ltd Jobs & Career has began a recruitment drive for Tray Return Ambassadors to be deployed at various locations across Singapore paying up to $2,200 per month per Ambassador.

Roles & Responsibilities
Job Scope:

To engage and encourage patrons, stallholders and cleaners (i.e. stakeholders) of the hawker center to participate in the Tray Return Initiative
Be familiar with the objective and conduct sharing sessions with the various stakeholders and community
Plan and execute promotional activities

Job Requirements:

Physically fit - Able to stand on long hours
Good communication skills
Able to work in a team

Find out more about this job vacancy and application by clicking here.

Meanwhile, NEA will be working with stakeholders, such as cleaning companies, to revise the table cleaning workflow for cleaners. The new workflow will focus on the cleaning and sanitising of tables, as well as managing tray return stations, as opposed to clearing dirty trays and food remnants from tables. The NEA will also be setting up 75 more tray return stations at hawker centres, in addition to the 900 available now.

From Sept 1, enforcement action will be taken against those who do not clean up after themselves in public dining places, a move that comes after years of extensive educational efforts to change the behaviour and mindsets of diners.

First-time offenders will be given a written warning. Second-time offenders will face a $300 composition fine, and subsequent offences may lead to court fines, which can go up to $2,000 for the first conviction. Enforcement action will not be taken against those with disabilities or are frail and elderly and unable to clear the tables.

Straits Times article on 23 June 2021

Plus! Rewards Programme will change from 1 Aug 2021. here are the changes to expect in your Plus! account.

6/1/2021

Base earn rate at FairPrice will be at Spend $1 = Earn 0.5 LinkPoints effective 1 August 2021

Before 1 Aug '21

After 1 Aug '21

Currently, NTUC Plus! members can earn 2 LinkPoints for every dollar spent at NTUC supermarkets.

From 1 August 2021, Plus! members can earn 0.5 LinkPoints for every $1 spent when you shop in-store at FairPrice supermarkets. Digital Club members are entitled to double the amount of LinkPoints for every $1 spent.

Bonus LinkPoints earn rate: In addition to earning the base rate of 0.5 LinkPoints for every $1 spent in-store, you can qualify for a bonus earn rate of 1.33 LinkPoints for every $1 spent when you spend $400 and above monthly at FairPrice, Unity, Warehouse Club, and Cheers stores.

The bonus LinkPoints earned per $1 spend will be computed and credited on the first day of the following month.

If you shop online at Fairprice supermarkets, in addition to earning the base of 0.5 LinkPoints for every $1 spend, Digital Club members are entitled to double the amount of LinkPoints (1 LinkPoint) for every $1 spend.

The change in the redemption rate from 150 LinkPoints = $1 to 100 LinkPoints = $1 will apply across all Plus! partners including FairPrice. With this adjustment, some Plus! partners have had their LinkPoints earn rate changed as well.

See the full list of partners' LinkPoints earn rates here.

In the transition to the new LinkPoints redemption rate, your existing LinkPoints balance and history will be revaluated to ensure that their dollar value remains unchanged. E.g. Before the revaluation on 1 August 2021, 150 LinkPoints = $1 and you had 3600 LinkPoints (worth $24).

After the revaluation on 1 August 2021, 100 LinkPoints = $1, your balance will be adjusted to 2400 LinkPoints which will still have the same dollar value of $24.

All Plus! members will have the LinkPoints balance and history in their accounts revalued on 1 August 2021.

In order to evolve with member's changing lifestyles, with no minimum spend, you can make every item count at FairPrice!

You may find out more by clicking this link for the FAQs.

Let's show support & encourage our frontline staff at Tan Tock Seng Hospital fighting growing Covid cluster

5/11/2021

Healthcare workers and staff from Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) should not be shunned during this difficult time as they fight Covid relentless 24/7 on the frontline to protect our homes & Singapore as community Covid clusters saw a rise in Singapore.

As reports of TTSH and other healthcare workers being told they were not welcome at their place of accommodation, by landlords who had heard they worked at TTSH and related hospitals.

Healthcare staff races around the clock to battle Covid pandemic - TTSH

Singapore and Singaporeans should try our best to support our healthcare workers to ensure they are able to work well physically and mentally as a lot of energy and time are needed to be committed towards looking after patients in TTSH.

Share Share news Singapore, our supporters and followers sends our love to all healthcare professionals and staff during this tough time.

Tan Tock Seng staff thanks Singaporeans for their support and encouragement during this tough time as TTSH shared the pleasant surprise in a Facebook post today on 11 May (Tues) 2021 below:

When we arrived at work last Friday morning, we were greeted with a little surprise by the driveway.
To our silent supporters who took the time to prepare this banner, we are touched by your efforts, and we thank you for thinking of us.

And to everyone who has been rooting for us from wherever you are — our on-campus and neighbouring retail partners, private-hire and taxi drivers and all our other friends across the island - you keep us going.

P.S. The words in Chinese read --

“With our hands and heart, we’ll forge ahead, together.” Indeed.

Do you know if your aircon is being serviced properly?

2/17/2021

Having an air-conditioning system inside the house is no longer a luxury item for the typical Singaporean household. Air-con units in the house is a necessity in our hot climate. The major investment for having our house air-conditioned is during the installation stage with the installation cost and the equipment purchased.

Once the air-conditioning system is installed and operational, it is also important to have the system regularly serviced to avoid issues with the system.

Proper Servicing of the air-conditioning system includes these 4 steps:

1. The air filters need to be cleaned to keep the air inside the house cleaned and prevent dust to accumulate and clogging the air filters. Some air filters can get clogged so badly that air can barely pass through.

2. The evaporator coil is cleaned to ensure effective cooling. Lack of servicing will cause the evaporator coil to clog fast and additional cost to clean the clog on the coil will be incurred to restore back the cooling (eg through chemical wash, steam cleaning).

3. Fan Blower on the indoor Fan Coil need to be cleaned so that the blower will blow out cold clean air to cool down the rooms. With a lack of servicing, the air being blown out will get into contact with the dust accumulated on the blower and the air coming out of the air con unit to cool down the room will not be clean.

4. The condensate drain pipe need to be cleaned to prevent water accumulation inside the pipe. If there is a lack of servicing on the drain pipe, the inside of the pipe will get clogged and this can cause water leaking at the condensate pipe end. One possible reason for the clogging can be due to jelly formation because of water accumulation and stagnation inside the pipe.

The efficiency of the air-conditioning system is better with regular servicing - no obstruction to the air flow with clean air filter, evaporator coil and fan rotor ensuring faster cooling of room. A lack of servicing will block the air movement and the compressor will have to work harder to achieve the desired cooling and will consume more electricity.

It should be noted that while the above cleaning operations (eg cleaning air filters, cleaning evaporator coils, cleaning fan rotors and cleaning condensate drain pipe) look simple, it is highly advisable that regular air con servicing is carried out by a competent and trained technician as some air-conditioning repair works require complete dismantling & disassembling of the indoor Fan Coil unit parts that only trained & competent air con technician can carry out.

Besides the above, the trained technician will also be able to advise on the system operating conditions with records on the operating pressure, running current and voltage, off coil and on coil air temperatures and air velocity from the Fan Coil unit. The trained technician is also competent to recommend preventive repair works and rectify on the issues before breakdown of the air con system.

WHAT WILL WHATSAPP SHARE WITH FACEBOOK?

1/13/2021

In what looks like a jeer at WhatsApp’s privacy policy update, Telegram tweeted a meme of the dancing Ghanaian pallbearers featuring the update.

WhatsApp users on Wednesday (6 Jan 2021) received a pop-up directing users to accept the new Terms of Service, failing which the users will have to forgo using the app. The Facebook-owned company has set February 8 as the deadline to accept its new norm. The updated terms of service involves users giving access to their WhatsApp data and how the company processes it. The new terms also include how businesses can use Facebook-owned services to store and manage WhatsApp chats. Users must agree to let owner Facebook and its subsidiaries collect user data, including their phone number and location, but not the content of messages which remain encrypted.

Cross-platform messaging service WhatsApp, that was bought by Facebook in 2014, saw a gradual change in the way it accessed user data. The social networking company is now showing WhatsApp users a 'take it or leave it' option with the latest policy update. This comes in stark contrast with what the company initially promised back in 2014 during the acquisition by Facebook when WhatsApp assured its goal is to know “as little as possible”. While users were able to opt out until now, starting February 8, they will have only one solution, if they don’t want their data to be owned by the parent company - uninstall the app and stop using the service.

Since the announcement, anxious WhatsApp users are mulling to move to other messenger apps. They are doubting the new policy is a hindrance with their privacy. Doubts have cropped up in the minds of the people that all the data of the users using WhatsApp may be leaked. Privacy of the people may be over.

Signal and Telegram messaging apps are seeing a sudden increase in demand after larger rival WhatsApp's updated terms of service raised eyebrows on social media.

Click to download Telegram App

Click to download Signal App

SHOULD WE SWITCH TO SIGNAL OR TELEGRAM MESSAGING APPS AFTER WHATSAPP’S NEW PRIVACY POLICY TERMS UPDATE

Is Signal app more secure than WhatsApp?

Signal offers to encrypt the past communication at app level, which WhatsApp lacks completely. Obviously this can protect your messages in case of theft however you probably won't gain that much security because most people will probably not choose good passwords here for usability reasons.

Why use Telegram over WhatsApp?

Even though WhatsApp has more than 1.3 billion users worldwide, the features offered by Telegram like secret chat, self-destructing messages, encrypted backup ensure more secured chats. Apart from security features, Telegram is also ahead of WhatsApp in terms of other features like Dark Mode and larger group capacity.

What will WhatsApp share with Facebook?

Seeing the intense backlash on social media worldwide after their announcement on 6 Jan 2021, WhatsApp said on 12 Jan 2021 that it will mainly share data related to how you interact with businesses on its app. The company also added that it will soon allow businesses to use Facebook’s hosting services to manage their communication with users. WhatsApp has said that it will add a label to businesses who use Facebook’s hosting services.

WhatsApp Business accounts will also be able to use Facebook’s Shops platform to display their products on WhatsApp. If you shop from businesses that are using the Shops platform, your shopping activity data will be shared with Facebook and it will be used to show ads on Facebook and Instagram

Additionally, Facebook will soon allow you to message businesses using WhatsApp using a button on its platform. When you message a business on WhatsApp, Facebook will be able to use this to data to show your similar ads on its platform.

While Facebook is not going to view your personal chats with friends and family, it will use your chats with businesses to show your more ads on Facebook, Instagram and other platforms from the company.

This means that while your personal data is still safe, your messages with businesses will soon be shared with Facebook.

Inspired by articles from Straits Times, Business Insider & WhatsApp

The Most Comprehensive Buyer's Guide List To All The Latest New Upcoming Condo Launches In Singapore