To say that 2020 was a tough year, hell even, would be an understatement. Compared to the 0.1 per cent contraction in 2009, when the world last witnessed a financial crisis, the global economy shrunk 4.4 per cent this year, according to estimates by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). A new report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) showed that approximately 81 million jobs were wiped out in Asia-Pacific labour markets. People were left scrambling for basic needs like food and shelter, and businesses that were fortunate to tide through, were compelled to put on their best thinking caps to decide the way forward.

Although it is too early or rather foolish to say that the past is behind us as the Coronavirus and its strains continues to spread across the globe, 2020 was a year of reflection and reassessment of wants and needs, the terms of which are indeed, dictated by money. So, we invited three financial experts to share key lessons they learnt from last year, which will help us be wiser with our moolah, irrespective of whether there's another pandemic that awaits us.