You just got a raise. So why does your bank account still feel broke? It’s the lifestyle creep — the sneaky force turning your bigger paycheck into the same old savings. From $8 lattes to subscription traps to the psychology behind "keeping up with the Tans," find out why more income rarely equals more wealth, and what to actually do about it. Warning: may cause spontaneous budgeting.

Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips.

Highlights:

00:07 The pay-raise paradox

01:11 What lifestyle creep really means, psychologically

04:12 Three forces silently inflating your expenses

07:12 The one question to ask before spending your next paycheck

09:34 The Warren Buffett rule: why staying humble pays off

22:27 The three-week rule that curbs impulse spending

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Send us your questions, thoughts, story ideas, and feedback to btpodcasts@sph.com.sg.

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Written and hosted by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg)

With Michelle Mah, founder and psychotherapist, The Curious Bonsai Therapy & Coaching and Wildon Goh, head of Southeast Asia and country head of Singapore. Fidelity International

Edited by: Howie Lim & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: Howie Lim, Nicole Teo & Chai Pei Chieh

A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

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Follow BT Money Hacks podcasts every Monday:

Channel: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

Amazon: bt.sg/mham

Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/oeXe

Spotify: bt.sg/oeGN

YouTube Music: bt.sg/mhyt

Website: bt.sg/moneyhacks

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

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Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Correspondents: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Market Focus at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/pcOM

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your parents' "boring" Singapore dividend stocks only portfolio just had an upgrade nobody told you about. While everyone's obsessing over US tech, Singapore's equity market has quietly doubled its research coverage, attracted real institutional capital, and uncovered small-cap opportunities most investors haven't even heard of.

Correspondent Howie Lim sits down with East Spring's Daniel Lau to figure out why "safe" and "boring" are no longer the same thing — and why ignoring this market might be the riskiest move in your portfolio.

Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips.

Highlights:

01:00 Singapore's liquidity game-changer

04:37 The hunt for hidden small-cap opportunities

07:08 The optimal mix: 50% Singapore, 50% S&P

09:39 Why resilience recovers faster than high-octane bets

12:44 Global allocators are finally paying attention

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Send us your questions, thoughts, story ideas, and feedback to btpodcasts@sph.com.sg.

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Written and hosted by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg)

With Daniel Lau, portfolio manager, Eastspring Investments

Edited by: Howie Lim & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: Howie Lim & Chai Pei Chieh

A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

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Follow BT Money Hacks podcasts every Monday:

Channel: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

Amazon: bt.sg/mham

Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/oeXe

Spotify: bt.sg/oeGN

YouTube Music: bt.sg/mhyt

Website: bt.sg/moneyhacks

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

---

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Correspondents: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Market Focus at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/pcOM

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you think your bank’s “diversified” portfolio is built for your future, think again. In this episode of Money Hacks, we pull back the curtain on the institutional world with Arki Finance founder David Ng. We’re dissecting the "product-first" myths, exposing why your “tick-box” diversification might be failing you, and revealing why your obsession with benchmarks is costing you real outcomes. Stop investing like a hedge fund—start investing for your life.

Synopsis: Every Monday, The Business Times breaks down useful financial tips.

Highlights:

01:22 Product-first vs. client-first: the industry's reversed process

05:05 Real diversification vs. "spray and pray"

09:54 Complexity vs. sophistication: finding the simplest real solution

13:20 Benchmarks lie: why your goals matter more than the index

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Send us your questions, thoughts, story ideas, and feedback to btpodcasts@sph.com.sg.

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Written and hosted by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg)

With David Ng, founder of Arki Finance

Edited by: Howie Lim & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: Howie Lim & Chai Pei Chieh

A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

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Follow BT Money Hacks podcasts every Monday:

Channel: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

Amazon: bt.sg/mham

Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/oeXe

Spotify: bt.sg/oeGN

YouTube Music: bt.sg/mhyt

Website: bt.sg/moneyhacks

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

---

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Correspondents: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Market Focus at: bt.sg/btmktfocus

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/pcOM

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.