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Jia

Jia

Shopping Editor, ShopBack

81 articles

About

Jia is a Shopping Editor at ShopBack covering consumer pricing, sale cycles, and retailer comparisons across Australia, Singapore, and the United States. The job, day to day, is to figure out whether a given retailer price is genuinely good and to write the answer in a way shoppers can act on. The reporting draws on ShopBack's internal merchant pricing data across thousands of retailers in the three markets, paired with primary sources: retailers' own sale histories, official promotional pages, and government statistics from the ABS, SingStat, and the BLS.

Articles by Jia

Fashion

Is Buying Luxury in Singapore Cheaper Than Overseas Duty-Free Shopping in 2026?

A direct comparison of luxury fashion prices in Singapore versus overseas duty-free in 2026, including airport duty-free, in-country retail, and tax refund scenarios.

Travel

How Much Do Flights from Singapore to Tokyo Actually Cost? Best Time to Book and Which Airlines to Use

Singapore to Tokyo flights in 2026 β€” real return fare ranges for budget and full-service carriers, the best booking window, and which airlines to use depending on your priorities.

Finance

How to Maximise Your CPF Interest: Step-by-Step for Different Age Groups

CPF SA earns 4% p.a. and the first $60,000 in combined CPF balances earns an extra 1% β€” but most Singaporeans leave these bonuses on the table by not understanding the account structure, the 1% floor, and the power of early SA contributions.

Finance

How Much Does It Actually Cost to Own a Car in Singapore Per Month?

The true monthly cost of car ownership in Singapore is $1,800–$3,500 for a mass-market sedan β€” not just the loan instalment. Once you include COE depreciation, insurance, parking, petrol, and ERP, a car costs 4–7x more than most people budget for.

Finance

Is Amazon Singapore Actually Cheaper Than Lazada or Shopee in 2026? A Real Breakdown

A real price comparison of Amazon SG vs Lazada and Shopee in 2026 across common categories β€” with specific examples and a clear verdict on when Amazon is and isn't worth it.

Fashion

Buying Shoes Overseas vs in Singapore: How Much Do Singaporeans Actually Save? (2026)

A concrete price comparison of buying shoes overseas vs in Singapore in 2026, covering sneakers, casual shoes, and formal footwear β€” including tax refunds, GST on re-entry, and which destinations actually save money.

Finance

Lazada vs Shopee vs Amazon Singapore in 2026: Which Platform Has the Best Deals Right Now

A direct 2026 comparison of Lazada, Shopee, and Amazon Singapore β€” which platform is cheapest by category, and which has the best deals right now for Singapore shoppers.

Finance

Is It Worth Overpaying Your HDB Loan to Save on Interest?

HDB concessionary loan rate is 2.6% p.a. CPF OA earns 2.5%. The spread is just 0.1%, which means overpaying your HDB loan almost never makes mathematical sense β€” unless you're close to retirement or have no investments.

Finance

HDB BTO vs Resale vs EC: Real Cost Comparison for First-Time Buyers

BTO is cheaper upfront but takes 4–6 years to collect. Resale is immediate but costs $100,000–$300,000 more. EC sits in between with private condo finishes at HDB-adjacent prices. Here's the real cost comparison across all three for 2026.

Fashion

Is It Worth Waiting for Payday Sales vs Buying Full Price on Fashion Sites in Singapore? (2026)

Payday sales on Zalora and ASOS Singapore typically run 20–40% off. Whether the wait is worth it depends on the item type, size availability, and how close the next sale is.