Simple Budget, Simple Life

I've had the POSB Everyday card since ages ago. This may probably be my first ever credit card! While I was looking through my banking apps as a monthly routine, I saw the following charges on my POSB Everyday: Each time I was charged annual fee, I could waive it off successfully. As usual, I used their chat function to request the fee waiver. Not this time.  I've no idea what's their criteria backend, but I've used the card recently; though I can't say I'm a frequent user.  Oh well, I've raised the request to cancel my card.  Goodbye POSB Everyday card. 

As usual, good things don't last. First was BOC Family card , now it seems like the temporary-attractive CIMB cards are going the same way too... Before Both CIMB Visa and Platinum requires min $600 spend and gives 10% rebate ($50 cashback per category, up to $100 cashback) on: Visa Signature Dining Online spend Grocery Platinum Travel Health, Beauty & Wellness Transport & Petrol W.e.f 5 Jun 2019 Both CIMB Visa and Platinum requires min $800 spend and gives 10% rebate ( $20 cashback per category, up to $100 cashback) on: Visa Signature Dining (now reflected under Platinum) Online spend   shopping ("This excludes all other online websites, not limited to movies, food & beverage, travel, airline, government, brokerages/securities, insurance, tuition and online gambling websites")... wth ? Grocery Beauty & Wellness (new) Pets Shops and Veterinary Services (not applicable to me) Cruise Platinum Travel (only in for...

Ever since I started my new work, I've been in a daze. I've stopped tracking my budget daily. And I even forgot to pay my credit card bills resulting in late charges and interest fees! I was on the verge of tears when I saw late charges of $160 on my two credit cards. I've no idea what's wrong with me for lacking the discipline to do all these. What happened to the diligent me tracking every single purchase and tallying it with my credit card bills? Why do I feel drained after work although this job is less tedious than my previous one where I've been loaded with too much responsibilities that I lose sleep and had acne outbreaks? However, I realised this is just the start. I've seen 3 resignations in my team within 1.5 months here, and I've been asked if I'm ready to take on some of their portfolios. I'm thinking if it is worth taking on more at the same pay, and then stressing myself all up again? What exactly should I do? Also, I re...

I used to be an advocate for BOC, given its attractive interest for their Smartsaver account and the good rebates for the BOC Family card. Until one day, BOC decided to review the Family card terms....and well, it suck. I was disappointed with the changes and has since then, stopped using the card. And with that, I've now jumped the boat to DBS Multiplier for my salary crediting. Meaning to say, BOC is no longer my main account. I still keep the Family card though, just in case BOC changes their mind again and review the terms to be more attractive. But, this morning, I was reviewing my accounts when I realised I was charged an Annual Fee and GST on the card. Gosh. That's an exorbitant $305! So I called the card centre and asked to waive it off. I knew it wasn't going to be accepted after reading some comments on how niao they are now. And yup, my waiver was rejected. Not even a partial waiver. That leaves me no choice but to cancel the card immediately.  Funny how...

I know I've loads of credit cards. But it scares me a little to know that I've a total of 10 cards after tabulating the below. Guess it's timely to do a review of the cards I have so I know which to use and which to say byebye to! Here's the summary of my 10 credit cards and which to say goodbye to: To keep 1. SC Manhattan - to keep for big ticket items (note: card is no longer available for application) 2. SC Unlimited cashback - no min. spend to keep for 1.5% cashback on all spends 3. SC Spree - to use for contactless spends (2%); no min spend, max spend $3000 No minimum spend and up to $60 rebate. Earn 2% cashback on all online spends in local currency, all contactless and mobile payments. Earn 1% cashback on all other retail spends. 4. BOC Sheng Siong - to use for Sheng Siong spends (no min spend, 7% rebate, max spend: $700) Cash Rebate Spend Category Condition 7% Sheng Siong Spend • No minimum spend • Cash rebate capped...

Right now, my head is still spinning. Spinning from the unfriendly ibanking BOC portal and trying to figure out my credit card statement and payments. I was palpitating when I saw huge amounts debited in my Aug statement. It was a $280 "annual fee", $19.95 "goods and services tax", and near $80 "interest in the payment" amount. As much as I enjoy earning BOC's interests and rebates, I get confused sometimes with their ibanking portal. BOC has gotta up their portal design man. I always have difficulties understanding their credit card statements. Called BOC and it turns out it is my CC anniversary so I was "welcomed" with a $300+ annual fee charge, which they will help to waive off. Goodness, what if I didn't check my statement properly? As for the interest in the payment, apparently, I didn't pay my bills?! How could I have let this happened?! Hope they waive this off cause I've been paying my bills diligently. Followi...

I recently signed up for the HSBC credit card so that I could get the Samsonite luggage with my >$1k spend. Let me just say that their application forms/page are not user friendly and their processing time was really long. I called the HSBC customer service to enquire when I'd receive the card, and they said mine was still in processing stage despite me making a few calls previously to ensure that I've submitted all my docs and that I need the card by end of the month. They said they'd expedite. Which, they did. Because on the day of making the phone call to the customer service, I received my card. Now, didn't the customer service officer told me that my application is still in processing stage? I reckon the guy just didn't know what was going on and would tell all applicants that their cards are in process. Not a good impression on their banking services. Anyway, I was relieved to get my card on 30 Sept because I needed to pay a payment of >$1k. I imme...