Welcome to the latest edition of ST HeadSTart, bringing you the best of The Straits Times’ career and personal finance coverage every Tuesday noon. Sign up here to get weekly tips right into your inbox.
This week, we look at fun alternative investments, how much hongbao you should give during Chinese New Year, whether you should join a talent development scheme, and more.
Hi there! It’s Prisca here, and I’ll be bringing you the HeadSTart newsletter this month (I can’t believe we’re already in the second month of 2024).
I’ve been trying to grow my money this year and I’m considering alternative investments – those apart from the usual stocks and bonds, for example. But I’ve often felt that these purchases are expensive and out of reach.
Recent conversations with two collectors changed my perspective. The first, Mark Tan, who also owns a collectibles business, showed me that rare cards of the highest quality can be worth thousands of dollars. For example, several Pokemon cards based on Norwegian painter Edvard Munch’s iconic work The Scream are now worth an average of $1,400 each, up from $5 or $6 a piece when he bought them. As Mark said, “We can't all own Monets, and we can't all own van Goghs, but we can own a Pikachu with a story.”
He also shared with me tips on how to invest in cards. Here’s one: Rookie cards, the first cards produced which depict sports players at the beginning of their career, are often worth more than autographed ones. Look at several interesting cards with me in this week’s episode of We Try First.
In the spirit of being adventurous, I also spoke to whisky enthusiast Dennis Neo. Whisky is not usually my choice of drink, but I really enjoyed a whisky sour Dennis made, and learnt a thing or two about what makes a neat investment. More in the video!
Whatever you’re investing in, remember that investment involves risk and past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance or returns. Consult a professional adviser if you are in doubt.
What are some things you have invested in for fun which actually turned out to be quite lucrative? Tell me more at headstart@sph.com.sg
I also hope you’re looking forward to the long weekend, as I am. Happy Chinese New Year to those who celebrate it!
We all want more leave at work. Some companies are giving it as a year-end present.
Some employers have introduced company-wide breaks around the end-of-year festive period in recent years, above and beyond employee leave entitlements.
Should you immediately say yes to a talent development scheme?
Manpower reporter Tay Hong Yi shares tips on how to judge whether a programme is worth joining.
Me & My Money: Entrepreneur gives up car and condo for a debt-free life
A creative consultancy agency boss shares why she sold her District 10 condo at D’Leedon and swapped it for a three-room HDB flat with a 50-year balance lease.
Are we becoming more mean from complaining online?
Ranting online is not just harmless therapy – psychologists say it can influence how we think, view the world, and behave in real life.
Podcast: How employees are automating their own work processes
What does a citizen developer do? Listen to the latest episode of Work Talk to find out. There's more: In a bonus podcast segment, hear what the 2024 Dragon Year could bring you.
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