As someone approaching their 40s, also known as an “OG Millennial”, I’m at that delicate age where you don’t really want to reveal it to strangers, but you can look at your CPF accounts and go “whoa, that’s pretty impressive."

But retirement age is not as distant as it once seemed, and while that pile of money looks good now, what will it look like in the future? Would it really be enough to sustain my retirement needs?

As something of a casual investor, which means I’m signed up to a plan where I put in some money every month but otherwise don’t think about it, I have been looking for ways to diversify my investment options.

The answer may lie in examining all your options, including an investment stream you may not have first considered - your CPF savings.

Why consider investing your CPF savings?

Even if you don’t actively invest, your CPF savings do not sit idle.

Every year, they grow steadily with risk-free interest rates. The Ordinary Account (OA) earns 2.5 per cent per annum, while the Special, MediSave and Retirement Accounts earn four per cent per annum.

If you are below 55 years old, you could earn up to five per cent per annum on the first S$60,000 of combined CPF balances, capped at S$20,000 for the OA.

For those aged 55 and above, they can earn up to six per cent on the first S$30,000, and up to five per cent per annum on the next $30,000 of combined CPF balances (capped at S$20,000 for the OA).

What this means is that CPF already gives you a strong “base return” that is stable, guaranteed, and works quietly in the background, even when markets move up and down.

From there, the next consideration for some is not replacing this foundation but building on it.

If they are willing to take some risk, this could include exploring additional ways to grow their CPF savings that may potentially exceed CPF interest rates over the long term, and ultimately gain greater financial security in retirement.

What is the CPF Investment Scheme (CPFIS)?

Under the CPFIS, Singaporeans have the opportunity to invest their CPF savings in various instruments such as bonds, unit trusts, exchange-traded funds, gold, insurance products, and shares.

This option may be worth exploring if you are someone who is willing to take on some risk for potentially higher returns, have the financial expertise to evaluate and select investment products, and prefer to actively manage your own portfolio.

One must meet certain eligibility requirements before they can participate.

But what if you don’t fit the above description?

Of course, some of us may either not have that expertise or might not be so keen to dip their toes into the waters of financial investments.

And even if some of us are open to the idea of investing, we may not have the time to keep up with how our investments are doing, or the confidence to navigate the range of products available.

That’s where the new investment scheme comes in.

In his Budget 2026 speech, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that the CPF Board will introduce it in 2028.

This new scheme caters to those who are prepared to invest for the long term, but may have less expertise in navigating investment products, or who prefer not to actively manage their investments. As with CPFIS, participation will be voluntary.

What would the new scheme look like?

The new scheme will incorporate three key features to help manage risk and simplify the investment experience:

1. Automatic age-based rebalancing of investment portfolio mix, with phased liquidation.

Simply put, your portfolio follows a glidepath, automatically shifting from higher-risk assets (like equities) to lower-risk assets (like bonds) as you age, before being liquidated in phases by a target date.

This calibrates the level of investment risk you are exposed to at different stages of life, and helps mitigate the risk of a market downturn at the point of exit.

Upon phased liquidation, investment sale proceeds will be transferred to the member’s CPF accounts

The funds in the Retirement Account can then be used to boost a member’s CPF LIFE monthly payout anytime they decide to start their monthly payouts from age 65.

2. Simplified choice

To simplify decision-making, the CPF Board will select two or three reputable product providers for investors to choose from. These selected providers are expected to be announced in the first half of 2027.

3. Low fees

All-in fees will be capped to minimise costs and allow investors to retain and benefit from more of their investment returns.

Which is the right approach to growing your CPF savings?

So to sum it up, you will soon have an additional option when it comes to growing your CPF savings:

1. Keep savings in CPF

CPF members who don’t want to take any risk with their CPF savings can let it earn risk–free interest. They may also consider making cash top-ups to their CPF accounts, or transferring OA savings to their Special Account to help boost their CPF LIFE monthly payouts in retirement.

2. New investment scheme

Singaporeans who want to invest over the long term but are not sure how to go about it, or prefer not to actively manage their investments. The new scheme will provide simplified, low-cost and diversified investment options.

3. CPFIS

Singaporeans who are financially savvy and confident in managing their own portfolio can choose their own investments within the existing CPFIS.

Do note that the CPF Board specifically does not endorse any product providers or investment products included under the CPFIS or the new scheme.

So, should you invest?

Although some may wish to start investing, others may be very risk-averse and prefer not to do anything that might jeopardise the safety of their retirement nest egg.

That’s why it’s important to make these considerations before deciding to invest:

• Investment objectives – Why are you investing? What financial goals do you want your investment to achieve?
• Risk tolerance – All investments are subject to risk, i.e. the possibility of losing part or even all your investments due to financial market changes. How much risk are you comfortable with and can afford to take?
• Investment time horizon – How long will your assets be invested? Does it have enough runway to ride out market fluctuations?
• Your overall financial situation – How much money can you set aside for investment over your investment time horizon, after factoring in your financial commitments (such as housing mortgage) and lifestyle expenditure?

At the end of the day, investing is not a one-size-fits-all endeavour.

It all depends on one’s individual circumstances, and priorities. For instance, as someone without a family to support, I can afford to take a little more risk and invest more to hopefully maximise my returns for my retirement years.

I don’t plan on buying a car, but I do value a good holiday overseas. Knowing what you can afford and what you can’t live without will set you in good stead to make a retirement plan that works best for you.

While the prospect of growing your savings sounds attractive in this era of rising costs, it is important to approach investment decisions with a sound understanding of your own financial situation, knowing what you are investing in and your appetite to take risks.

With the right understanding and preparation, investing your CPF savings can be a suitable strategy for some of us.

While the monies remaining in your CPF account continue to earn risk-free interest – growing them further could bring you closer to the financial security and freedom you are working towards.

This branded article is brought to you by the CPF Board.

Miss Universe Singapore 2025 winner Annika Xue Sager took to Instagram on Aug. 5 to appeal for help to find her lost bag.

This was after she spent 48 hours tracking her belongings across Singapore via the Apple Find My app as her Apple AirPods were in the bag.

Bag fell off

The 26-year-old said her bag was mounted on the side of her motorcycle, but it fell off at around 7am on Aug. 3 along Swiss Club Road while on her way to work.

She discovered her bag was gone when she reached her destination in the vicinity of Swiss Club Road.

She went to the spot where the AirPods were last located less than five minutes later.

But the bag was gone.

The bag contained her credit and debit cards, identity card, driver’s licence, spectacles, another set of keys to her other motorcycle, speakers, and makeup, as well as other items.

Bag picked up by black car

According to a security guard in the area, a black car was seen picking up the bag, Sager said.

She asked to review the surveillance footage from the guard house, but her request was denied.

So, she continued to track her bag via her AirPods.

Wild goose chase

Over the next 48 hours, Sager tracked her AirPods and found that it was on the move.

The location tracking showed it went to Changi Airport, Pullman Hotel Hill Street, St Joseph’s Institution and many other locations, she said.

She theorised that the driver could be a private-hire vehicle driver.

Tracked to Bukit Panjang

On Aug. 4, she tracked the AirPods to a car park near Block 146 Gangsa Road in Bukit Panjang.

She said: “I found a car parked exactly where Find My was indicating. I can’t say for certain that this is the correct vehicle because location tracking isn’t always perfect, but I was standing almost directly above the signal, and this was the only black car that it was showing.”

The driver was not at the car and Sager returned later in the evening.

The location then shifted to a block of flats.

Sager said she "went up and down all nine floors trying to reconnect to the AirPods to narrow down which unit they were in, but I could not get a precise enough signal".

All this was occurring as Sager was aware that any effort to track her AirPods could end the moment the battery in her earpieces died.

Police report

Sager revealed that she had made a police report within an hour of her bag going missing and was assigned an investigating officer.

She said in her video: "I just hope that my case can be looked into with some urgency."

She also said she hoped that the person who found the bag would return it since it had already been two days.

"I’m just asking for it to be returned, no questions asked," she said.

Sager said she went back to Bukit Panjang at 4am, but the car was on the move again.

“The driver’s schedule seems quite unpredictable, and because I don’t know who they are or how they might react, I’m a bit apprehensive about waiting around to confront them myself. Might reconsider and go down with some ‘backup’," she said.

“For now, I’m just hoping the video reaches the right person or helps in recovering my belongings. Thank you again for all your support, it really does give me hope.”

Her video was watched 148,000 times in a day.

Police find and return bag with cash missing

In a video update on Aug. 6, Sager said the police recovered her bag and items inside.

However, the cash in her wallet, which amounted to less than S$100, was missing, she told Mothership.

She said: "At around 8pm yesterday, my investigating officer called to tell me they had found my bag."

"A little while later, two officers came to my home, took my statement, and we went through all of my belongings together to make sure everything was accounted for," she added.

"Thankfully, almost everything was returned. The only thing missing was some cash from my wallet."

Sager said in her follow-up video that the person holding on to her bag was apparently “busy” and had tried to hand it over to a police station, but found that it was not an “active station”.

She added that she was not sure how the police found her bag, but she was “relieved” to have her items back and thanked those who helped her.

"I just want to say a huge 'thank you' to the Singapore Police Force for recovering my belongings, and to every single person who watched, shared, commented, and reached out after my first video. The support was far greater than I ever expected, and I’m incredibly grateful," she told Mothership.

Malaysian hip-hop artist and composer Wee Meng Chee, better known by his stage name Namewee, paid tribute to his late uncle in a video posted on Aug. 5.

According to Namewee, his late uncle died alone in his HDB flat in Singapore a few months ago.

Namewee also dedicated the video to "every friend who works hard in Singapore", hoping that people would remember that Singapore’s achievements today belong not only to the “great men”, but also to every “nameless hero” who has contributed quietly to the country.

Turned 66 this year

According to the video, Namewee's second maternal uncle, the late Ong Kwang Boon, turned 66 this year.

Ong never married and had no children.

Namewee shared his uncle's motivation for moving to Singapore after graduating from high school in 1979, saying:

"He knew his family needed money. So he chose to leave home alone, as if signing his life away, and gave his life to a machinery factory in Singapore. That work went on for more than 40 years, with money sent home every month to support his parents and help his siblings."

Namewee added: "Over those 40-plus years, he witnessed Singapore's rise and took part in its glory."

Namewee also recalled how his uncle would return to Malaysia during Chinese New Year and other special occasions.

According to Namewee, the pair had a "secret code" of greeting each other by bumping their foreheads, as if to say, "Uncle is back."

Namewee also shared that he always looked forward to bumping foreheads with his uncle, despite seeing him only a few times a year.

Although he eventually retired, he still chose to remain in Singapore.

"He has devoted his entire life to Singapore,"said Namewee.

Boon reportedly died alone in his HDB flat in Singapore, with his body remaining undiscovered for more than a week.

This was until a neighbour noticed a foul smell and alerted the police.

"Quietly, as if he had never been gone," Namewee described his uncle's death.

Emigration

In the video, Namewee shed light on the experiences of not only his uncle, but also many Malaysians who uprooted their lives in search of opportunities in Singapore.

Namewee said:

"Like countless Malaysians striving for a living in Singapore, he worked quietly and quietly grew old. Like one small screw after another, building this city with their own lives.

Perhaps this is Malaysia's sorrow, but it is also Singapore's pride."

According to The Straits Times, more than 1.18 million Malaysians are estimated to work in Singapore, with around 300,000 and 400,000 making the daily commute across the Causeway.

In the video caption, Namewee wished Singapore a happy National Day and hoped the nation would continue to prosper.

He also hoped that people would remember the contributions of everyone who played a part in Singapore's rise:

"On behalf of my uncle, and every Malaysian who has worked and struggled in Singapore, I want to say Singapore's greatness today belongs not only to great men, but also to every nameless hero who left their youth here.

Uncle, your name, Ong Kwang Boon, will not be forgotten. I hope Singapore, too, will remember your contribution.

Happy 61st National Day, Singapore!"

Around Jul. 26, feeders discovered that a white community cat in Marsiling was covered in black oil on its body, with oil inside its ears and on its eyes.

Concerned that the cat might have been abused by someone, the feeders have urged the authorities to investigate, Shin Min Daily News reported.

The cat, nicknamed "Bai Bai" (Mandarin for "white"), is about 10 years old, said a 62-year-old cat feeder surnamed Chen (transliteration).

Chen lives in Ang Mo Kio, but for eight to nine years now, has been travelling by bus often to Marsiling Industrial Estate to feed the cats there.

She told Shin Min that when she saw Bai Bai near Marsiling Industrial Estate recently, it could not even open its eyes due to the black oil.

Bai Bai was crying and looked very afraid at the time, she said. It would not let Chen and a fellow elderly cat feeder get close to touch it.

Possibly abused

According to Chen, some people speculated that Bai Bai might have accidentally got itself covered in the oil.

Chen believes that that might be possible if the oil was only on the cat's body, but there was also oil in its eyes and ears.

"Cats are not stupid," she said, and this made her suspect that it was the act of an abuser.

She and the other feeder have reported the incident to the authorities, and are waiting for the results of their investigation, she said.

She hopes that the perpetrator will stop after they are caught.

"Even if they do not like cats, I hope they won't hurt them," Chen said. "These cats were all abandoned by their owners. They are already so pitiful, and really do not deserve to be hurt again."

Receiving care

Chan and the other feeder raised some money and brought Bai Bai to see a vet, spending about S$1,095 on the medical fees.

After staying a night at the vet's, the cat appeared to be in better condition, though some black oil still remains on its body.

To prevent Bai Bai getting hurt again, Chan decided to bring it home to care for it.

According to her, there are currently 23 community cats at Marsiling industrial estate, though there used to be as many as 50.

Their numbers have gradually fallen due to dog bites and car accidents, she added.

Every month, she would spend about S$2,000 on food for these cats, and some more on their medical treatments.

Fortunately, other cat lovers have been donating canned food, and some have been willing to contribute towards the cats' medical bills.

A 28-year-old Singaporean woman was sentenced to 19 weeks and three days’ jail and fined S$5,000 after she facilitated the illegal smuggling of puppies into Singapore for sale on multiple occasions.

Ng Siew Teng faced 13 charges under the Animals and Birds Act.

She pleaded guilty to five charges and was sentenced on Aug. 5.

The rest of the charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.

Venture

In court documents seen by Mothership, in 2023, Ng and her husband, identified as Callurn Lim Yuan Jin, intended to bring in dogs from Malaysia to sell in Singapore.

Ng also had Lim’s friend, identified as Peh Jia Hao Bryan, help repost her TikTok stories advertising puppies for sale.

She instructed Lim that if interested buyers contacted him, he could quote a marked-up price, where the mark-up would be his commission.

In September 2023, the couple embarked on the venture and decided to bring in puppies from Malaysia to sell in Singapore to earn additional income.

The puppies were cheaper in Malaysia.

The couple started to look for puppy suppliers in Malaysia, and Ng eventually found a supplier through TikTok.

First batch

For the first batch of smuggled puppies, Ng purchased three golden retriever puppies at S$800 each from the supplier and collected them.

The puppies were kept in a plastic container, which was then placed in the boot of their car.

Ng then entered Singapore separately before Lim drove back to Singapore with the puppies.

The couple was aware that smuggling puppies was illegal and Lim did not want Ng to be implicated if he was caught.

After the puppies were smuggled in, Ng decided that none of the puppies was suitable for her as a pet.

She then decided to advertise the puppies for sale online through her Instagram account, created to market and sell the animals.

They sold the three puppies at about S$2,500 each and earned a profit of S$5,100.

The couple continued this illicit venture as they observed a high profit yield from the sales and were motivated by the financial gain.

Modus operandi

In October 2023, Lim approached Peh and asked him if he was interested in bringing in puppies from Malaysia.

Lim told Peh that he would pay him a fee of between S$250 and S$300 per animal depending on its size.

Peh agreed to the arrangement.

The modus operandi for the importations was similar in nature, where Ng would contact Malaysian sellers to check for availability of puppies before placing orders at an agreed price.

She would then confirm the delivery arrangements of the puppies to a rental apartment in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

Lim would then inform Peh to meet him at the apartment.

The supplier would then hand over the puppies to Lim, who would then hand over the animals to Peh.

The animals would be placed into a plastic storage container, which Ng purchased, in the trunk of the vehicle driven by Peh.

The trio would then leave the rental apartment separately and head to Singapore.

Peh would then be instructed to meet up with the couple in their residence in Singapore after entering the country.

The puppies would then be handed to them at a garbage collection point.

Peh carried out several importations for the couple in October 2023 using the same modus operandi.

For each successful smuggling, he would be paid between S$250 and S$300 per animal.

Five puppies

On Dec. 26, 2023, Ng was contacted by the Malaysian seller to arrange for the delivery of five puppies from Malaysia into Singapore.

The Malaysian seller would pay S$800 to Ng for each puppy that she imported.

On the same day, Lim contacted Peh, who was already in Malaysia on the previous day for a social purpose, asking for his assistance to smuggle the five puppies along with duty-unpaid cigarettes.

The puppies and the cigarettes were intended to be delivered to the couple at their Singapore-registered address once Peh entered Singapore.

Both men agreed on a total delivery fee of S$1,650: S$400 for the importation of cigarettes and S$250 for the importation of each animal.

On the same day, an unknown Malaysian man delivered a German Shepherd dog to the rented apartment.

The initial plan was for the animal to be smuggled via Peh’s vehicle, and the couple would be paid S$1,000 if the importation was successful.

As the animal was too active, Lim decided that he should be importing it instead of Peh.

Peh would then import five other puppies.

The smuggling plan was later aborted as the animal was deemed too active, and it was returned to the Malaysian seller.

On Dec. 27, 2023, at about 2am, Peh and Lim met up despite having agreed to meet up earlier at 10pm on Dec. 26, 2023.

Ng, together with Lim, was also present at the rental apartment to receive the puppies and await Peh’s arrival.

An unknown Malaysian man then arrived with the five Pomeranian puppies in a black cage and handed the animals to the trio.

They then loaded the animals into the vehicle.

Two of the animals were placed in a pet carrier while the other animals were placed into a plastic storage container lined with some towels.

Ng then left for Singapore with a friend, leaving behind Lim and Peh.

However, she returned to Malaysia soon after being informed by Lim that the German Shepherd would be returned to the Malaysian seller.

Ng then returned to Singapore with Lim to wait for Peh to arrive with the puppies.

Investigations revealed that Ng initially returned to Singapore with a friend as she would not ride in a vehicle carrying any illicitly imported animals.

At about 5:05am, Peh was about to enter Singapore via Woodlands Checkpoint when he was stopped by an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer for a random check.

Sales

During the couple’s stint between October and December 2023, they would keep the illicitly imported puppies in their residence located at Hougang,

They would also hold viewings of the animals at the void deck of their residence for prospective customers.

When a puppy is sold through the Instagram account, the customer would then collect the animal from the couple.

Ng sold 21 puppies through the platform and earned profits of about S$21,000.

She made S$1,000 in profit for each puppy sold.

Unnecessary suffering

According to an Animal Health and Welfare Assessment Report, the animals experienced unnecessary suffering, which would be exacerbated by their young age.

The plastic storage container used to transport the puppies did not meet regulations.

The animals placed in the container would have their movements restricted and would not be able to adopt their natural positions.

There was insufficient ventilation from the manner in which they were stored, and the situation was exacerbated by the cramped conditions.

All the puppies also tested positive for canine parvovirus.

These viruses typically cause anorexia, lethargy, vomiting and diarrhoea, resulting in rapid dehydration, sepsis and ultimately, death.

According to Lianhe Zaobao, Peh pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 16 weeks’ jail.

Lim's case is still pending.

A 50-year-old housewife from Perak, Malaysia has struck first prize for the Toto 4D jackpot for the second time in three years, walking away with nearly RM12.95 million (S$4,047,039) on Aug. 1, 2026.

According to Sports Toto Malaysia, the woman won a total of RM12,946,225.55 (S$4,047,039) with the numbers 5900 and 6900, placed through a computer lucky pick bet.

The years before the win

According to Oriental Daily, the woman shared that she and her husband both lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic when the Movement Control Order (MCO) was implemented. Over the next three years, the couple continued buying computer lucky pick tickets at Toto outlets.

The stress of that period took a toll on her health.

According to the statement, she developed depression and experienced partial memory loss.

Her husband would often take her back to places they had visited in their younger days, hoping it would help her recover her memories.

During one of these trips to Lumut in Perak, the couple stopped in Sitiawan for a meal and bought a computer lucky pick ticket at a Toto outlet there.

"My husband never gave up on me"

She collected her winnings at Sports Toto headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, together with her husband.

She said:

"Those years were the most difficult days of our lives. No matter what difficulties we faced, my husband never gave up on me and kept encouraging me to face life bravely. We never imagined that an ordinary stop during that trip would completely change our lives."

Her second jackpot

This was not her first time striking the Toto jackpot. Three years ago, she won the first prize with a computer lucky pick ticket as well, taking home about RM1.4 million (S$437,500).

The woman recalled that her husband had been checking the live draw results on his phone when he realised they had won. The couple went over the numbers again, unable to accept what they were seeing.

She said: "At first, we thought we had misread the numbers because it was all just too unbelievable. Winning the jackpot once is already a blessing. Winning it a second time is something I never imagined.”

What she plans to do with the money

The woman said she intends to use the winnings as a retirement fund, and will set aside a portion to donate to charitable organisations and vulnerable communities.

She said:

"We have been through the most difficult moments of our lives, so we understand how precious it is to receive a helping hand when you are down. I hope this blessing allows us to give back to society and bring positive change to the lives of others."

Guidelines are in place to govern the class of travel for Singapore political office holders and public officers when they fly overseas on official duty, said Minister for Defence and Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing.

These guidelines are designed to ensure that travel arrangements are appropriate, while making responsible use of public resources.

Chan shared this in a written answer to a Parliamentary question by the Workers' Party's Member of Parliament (MP) Fadli Fawzi on Aug. 5.

Fadli had asked what rules govern the use of premium cabin flights for political office holders and permanent secretaries while on official duty, and how these rules compare with those for senior private sector leaders.

He also questioned when the rules were last reviewed, and whether there is a need to review them.

Representing Singapore appropriately

In response, Chan said Singapore relies primarily on commercial flights, rather than dedicated government aircraft, for official overseas travel.

He explained that the guidelines on the class of travel of political office holders take into account several factors, including the seniority of the person travelling, the duration of the flight, as well as the purpose and requirements of the trip.

"The objective is to ensure that officials are able to perform their duties effectively upon arrival, and represent Singapore appropriately in their official engagements," he said.

The guidelines are reviewed periodically and updated when necessary to keep pace with changes in travel practices and operating needs.

They are also "broadly consistent" with prevailing practices for senior leaders in the private sector, Chan added.

No data collected

Fadli also asked asked for statistics on class of travel for flights taken by POHs on official duty in the current term of government.

Specifically, he asked about the total number of flights taken, and the average duration and cost of each flight.

Chan said agencies individually manage air travel for their political office holders and public officers, and the Public Service Division does not collect aggregate data on this.

"All ministries and agencies are expected to adhere to the established guidelines," he added.

Background

Travel arrangements of political office holders have made the news before.

As their overseas trips are public, variations in travel arrangements of political office holders from Singapore and other countries have been highlighted.

Other times, political office holders are known to post photos of themselves travelling overseas for work.

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong has been taking selfies while seated on commercial planes.

Recently, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung posted a photo of his flight on the way to Tokyo for the 31st Nikkei Forum on Jun. 9.

Beyond political office holders, travel arrangements of President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who is the head of state, have also made the news as he was once seen on a budget Scoot flight.

If you’re like me, you probably thought your ActiveSG credits were mostly limited to the usuals like buying either swim or gym passes, or booking a court for badminton.

That was until I took a quick browse through the programmes on MyActiveSG+ and realised there were options I hadn’t even heard of.

Turns out, you can sign up for many programmes, from yoga and K-pop–inspired cardio classes to something quite unusual called aqua tabata (nope, that’s not the name of an 80s boy band).

The credits can be used to offset up to 30 per cent of the programme fees.

So if you haven’t quite decided what to spend your credits on, here are five ActiveSG activities you can check out.

Aqua Tabata

Fancy trying out a HIIT-style workout, but always worried about how sweaty you might get or the impact it could have on your joints?

There’s Aqua Tabata – a high-intensity interval training session held in the pool.

Each Tabata round involves eight rounds of an exercise at high intensity for 20 seconds, followed by just 10 seconds of rest.

The exercise for each round will also vary so you can expect to hit all parts of your body for a full workout.

The best part? Because the workout takes place in water, it is also designed to be low-impact, making it gentler on joints even while delivering a full-body cardio session.

Boogie Bounce

Looking to get in shape while listening to some good music?

Boogie Bounce is a fun, funky workout with an entire exercise programme on a mini trampoline, complete with safety bar and choreographed to chart-topping music.

This activity is designed to build you strength and balance while also ensuring the impact to your joints is minimal.

As a bonus, Boogie Bounce also has sessions available for both parents and children, so if you are looking to channel your kid’s energy somewhere, this is a great option to consider.

K-pop cardio class

This is for all you girlie pops and guys who are either in need of your K-pop music tunes to boost your dopamine and serotonin levels, or want to seek out a fellow K-pop music lover.

The K-pop cardio class combines simplified K-pop choreography with aerobics and body-toning exercises, meaning participants get to move to familiar songs while still clocking what is, essentially, a cardio workout.

The comforting part is that no actual dance background is required, just enough willingness to move and perhaps the acceptance that there is a long way to go in looking like a full-fledged K-pop star.

Yoga

It’s not all just intense cardio activities that are available, however.

If you are looking for something slower-paced and more mindful, there are also plenty of yoga classes available.

The classes are available for all levels of yoga practitioners, whether you are just starting out, or have already been practicing yoga for quite some time.

For instance, there’s Gentle Stretch Yoga, to help improve your flexibility, release tightness and promote relaxation, making it ideal for beginners.

If you have already been doing yoga for some time, there are Vinyasa Yoga classes to help you focus on your breath and postures, and burn some calories while you are at it.

Inline skating, or rollerblading

Inline skating was something that immediately filled me with nostalgia upon seeing it on ActiveSG’s programme list.

It reminded me of school holidays, skidded knees and zooming down with the warmth of the sun on my skin and wind in my hair.

Popularly known as rollerblading, inline skating works both lower and upper-body muscles while also building balance and cardiovascular endurance.

Because staying upright is part of the challenge, the core ends up doing more work than expected, while the legs handle most of the movement.

Plus, the activity is available for people of all ages, so parents can sign up together with their kids for a fun family outing over the weekend.

Credits remain valid until end-2026

Under the SG60 ActiveSG Credit Top-Up, all Singaporeans and permanent residents who logged into MyActiveSG+ between June and December 2025 received a one-off S$100 ActiveSG Credits top-up.

Once claimed, the credits remain valid until Dec. 31, 2026, and will automatically roll over to the following year if at least one transaction is made.

This means that even if you are not planning to use everything at once, trying out one class may be enough to keep the credits going.

Offset your facility bookings plus gym and swim passes

Don’t forget that you can use your credits to fully offset gym and swim passes, facility bookings and Active Health programmes too.

Parents can also make use of either their own or their children’s ActiveSG credits to offset 60 per cent of the cost of ActiveSG’s school holiday programmes.

And on Aug. 8, you can use your ActiveSG credits to register for ActiveSG Celebrates! at just S$5 for unlimited sport try-outs and fitness sessions at Woodlands Sport Centre, Jurong East Sport Centre, Hougang Sport Centre, Heartbeat@Bedok, and Queenstown Sport Centre.

So go take a splash, dance a little and let loose, there are at least a few less expected ways to put them to use before they expire at the end of 2026.

This branded article by ActiveSG made this writer wish work would give her enough leave and money to try out all five activities.

Customers at all FairPrice outlets who spend S$61 in a single receipt will receive a S$6 return voucher from Aug. 6 to 16, 2026.

The promotion is available across all FairPrice supermarkets, FairPrice Finest, FairPrice Xtra, and Unity pharmacy stores islandwide.

The return vouchers can also be stacked and used in conjunction with CDC Vouchers, Chas card discounts, and senior citizen discounts, including Pioneer and Merdeka Generation discounts.

Vouchers can be redeemed on subsequent purchases until Aug. 31.

In a press release on Aug. 6, FairPrice Group announced that this initiative is designed to help Singaporeans stretch their dollar during the festive period.

Recent reports have highlighted public concerns over inflation and the rising costs of groceries, food, and utilities.

As a gesture of appreciation, the vouchers aim to provide shoppers with extra savings on daily necessities families rely on daily, FairPrice Group said.

Vipul Chawla, Group CEO of FairPrice Group, said: "By introducing these National Day Return Vouchers, we want to provide meaningful, everyday savings and assure Singaporeans that FairPrice Group remains steadfast in our dedication to keeping daily essentials within reach."

For more information on the National Day Return Vouchers and other FairPrice Group initiatives, shoppers can visit www.fairpricegroup.com.sg.

Officers from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) foiled an attempt to smuggle vaporisers into Singapore at Tuas Checkpoint on Jul. 20, 2026.

ICA officers profiled a Singapore-registered car for enhanced checks and found 60 vaporisers hidden in the floorboard compartment of the car.

The 51-year-old male Singaporean driver was arrested in connection to the case.

The case has been referred to the Health Sciences Authority for further investigation.

The driver was issued a composition fine.

Under the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act, which came into force on May 1, 2026, persons found in possession or use of vaporisers can be fined up to S$10,000.