How to save on renovations for a resale HDB (5i)? How to maximize use of credit card in this situation?

Look for a contractor instead of an interior designer. They will charge lesser but give you good designs too. Use credit card to buy furnitures/electronics. Personally I had also applied for multiple cards to earn sign up bonuses to pay for these purchases.

I have done up an entire video on how to save on HDB, hope its useful for you: https://youtu.be/TSFzi85AWBE

Hi there!

I would think the best way is to look for a trusted interior designer/contractor. I say this because, for people who are not in the industry, it could be easy to get swindled in the process.

Some might offer seemingly lower prices, but it could compromise on the quality of materials and even safety of the people living in the house. One of my friends experienced 'spontaneous glass breakage' where the glass toilet door just suddenly shattered, thankfully no one was hurt. This could be due to many reasons such as poor edge quality, frame related breakage and thermal pressure.

A good interior designer is one who can offer you a reasonable price based on what you are looking for, foresee any problems that you might face (e.g. your renovations must suit your lifestyle, if you are someone who cooks a lot, an open concept kitchen might not be the best choice) and give you good advice and recommendations accordingly.

Yep, and like Duane mentioned, the credit card situation really does depend on who you engage.

If you are for a recommendation, I can recommend my ID to you if you're keen. If not, I would think it's very important to look up reviews on not just the companies but individual IDs as well before choosing one!