Singapore has no choice. We have no natural resources hence our workforce is our only resource. If we do not work hard and slack, Singapore will be gone.

We, as individuals and educated individuals, can work around the system by understanding what we want in life and pursue our life goals. If not, we’d just merely be a slave to the economy.

But, we cannot blame PAP for being pragmatic, because that’s what brought us here in the first place – from third world to first in mere 40 years.

Cheers, and happy Lunar New Year.

What is it about people who lived and worked overseas that causes them to often spout things like ” i have been there and now let me tell you what’s life about” ?

Does the curry in india taste spicier somehow? Or does the curry made in india taste spicier?

Or maybe people who have not squatted in open toilets will not be able to aim correctly in enclosed toilets you think?

I must remember not to listen to monks who hibernate in caves.

Thanks.

“Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn’t.”

“Advice is seldom welcome, and those who need it the most, like it the least.”
Lord Chesterfield quotes (British Statesman, Diplomat and Wit, 1694-1773)

“No need to be so hurried in life and also no need to earn so much money.”

Please tell that to the PAP. They need to hear it so that we can all heed it.

Pang Sy

I find that we have time always to do what we want with our life.

Many here chase after material stuff – condo, cars, holidays and the like. All of their purchases are also in the form of bank loans.

We are simply spending what that is not ours and incur deep debts just to enjoy the possessions.

I am also one of those and was hit hard by the Sars crisis few years back. I have sleepless night trying to think of ways to pay off bankers who threaten me with bankruptcy and shame.

I learned my lesson during that period and have so far tried to pay off all my bank loans. We now buy houses using what we have in our CPF/bank acoount instead of going ahead with loans to buy something that is beyond us.

For example, our previous HDB resale flat was bought entirely with our CPF money. We tied our purchase in line with how much we have rather than taking up a loan to buy something that we don’t have in our account.

Many I know will not hesisate to take up a half millliond dollar loan from the bank. When they are laid off, their whole world crushes on them and they may even have to forcesell their houses and cars.

Let us learn to prusue after things that may remain with us forever rather than possessions. Time spent with families and friends will go on forever. Homes and cars don,t

in the year of the bull
may i wished all and each of you a big big bull run
if a bull misbehaved and charged @ you
siamed by all mean
but don’t run into a crystall glass or lighhouse shops
when you paved the streets of singapoor
be very very careFOOL of all the cowdungs dropped by the government cowboys
which is why they are labeled COWBOY…
for us the peasants
may i prayed for each and every1 of us
a decent 3 meals on the table
if you all have to
i really meant have to
seek a 2nd partime job
there is no shamed
nor laziness to think off
including yours truly
XONG XI FAI CHYE
tar niu tien tien rai

“No need to be so hurried in life and also no need to earn so much money.”

Well, its not up to u and me.
anyone living in singapore, except those who inherited, struck toto or somehow filthy rich, will need to be subjected to work till 65 and beyond .

You aint seen nothing yet. so the saying goes. Have we seen the future Cost of Living in Singapore? How costly if you have no job, fall sick ?

and does anyone expect to be paid 1st world citizen salaries?

What Gilbert Goh is saying is this: Be in the world but not part of it.”

Life is actually quite balanced in Singapore if you observe our parks, stadiums, beaches, etc. Many people will be spending the time with their loved ones on the weekends or holidays. The pursuit of happiness has a very broad definition. What is one’s bed of roses might be another person’s thorn. The perceived stress in Singapore is also due to the high expectations Singaporeans placed for themselves and the inability to reach these expectations can be the major contributor to those stress. Let us try to understand this statement which i have came across “All the best things in life are actually free.”

“Singapore has no choice. We have no natural resources hence our workforce is our only resource. If we ___________________, Singapore will be gone.”

a. do not work hard and slack
b. have a crutch mentality
c. stop bringing more foreign talent
d. pay top dollar for talent
e. (add whatever policy statement here)
f. still do not get the drift

It is amazing what a fact (no natural resources) can do when combined with a statement. Fallacies are built on facts.

If the best that the best people can offer is an insecure future, then even the best will not have long-term plans here. How do they not get that?

When you got no jobs and bills to pays, do you have the choices?
Tell me? Who don’t want ot retired early!

If Government bring in so much Foreign Talents to extract levy and depressed our pays.

Why not tender post of PM Singapore to the Whole World ?

The headline is true if you choose to live in a developing country…..

Human by nature follow thier leaders. Just 1 look in our system u will know what I mean. Fortunately I am not following them. Haha

I dun even bother to explain.

Thank Gilbert for the timely reminder to all here that life is not all about making $$ and being on the top of the “chart”

Dear Mr Gilbert,

In the case of your article, I must disagree. I cannot foresee how an ordinary salaried employee with a home loans, bills, taxes, expenses lined to be met,enjoy a stroll through life smelling every roses. The reality is that majority are stuck in a work life cycle that revolves around monetary commitments.

“No need to be so hurried in life ” You can hear this kind of talk in a tea house in rural China but maybe if you moved closer to Shanghai, then you could hear people lamenting the same old tune as Singaporeans.

I went to Malaysia during several occasions and already the laidback attitude is very apparent especially in the rural states. In Perth, where I dreamed a retirement for myself there, it looks as if the all seniors enjoy sunset drinking tea or coffee with good friends..We can only hear this and savour daydreaming as we do our rounds of clearing tables and cleaning toilets in our sunset days.

But there is some gold in the article where you mention to be prudent with our money. Wasting money on material goods are so passe and with the questions you pose in the article, I can safely say that the condos and fancy cars, I can do without.

Thanks and best regards..always.

aiyoyo

gong xi fa cai 1st.

we want to retire at 55, but can commoners in this country retire at 55?

is the system good enough to cover the commoners when they retire?

still not very sure about these & looking at current economy,

maybe I’m wrong, but it seems pretty difficult for commoners to retire at 55, and

enjoy the sunset as that in Perth…

but still I hope we can make it.

aiyoyo

Hi All

Thanks for all yr posts on the article. I appreciate them.

I must say that we all are brainwashed to be successful and elistic by the materialistic way.

During visitations today, parents commented how their kids go to Hwa Chong or RI. Thosw who did less well ended up quiet and feeling left out.

For those who lived in condo, they all spoke about their swimming pool drainage problem and falling property prices. Those in HDB kept rather quiet and listened to the private housing dwellers.

Those working in large corporate firms boasted of good bonuses and salaries whereas those in low end jobs kept quiet and only spoke of the recession when jobs may go anytime.

We are largely built to consume and focus on material possessions.

When I told some relatives that I may have a book launch sometimes next month, many ask me how much can I make from the book. Only one or two asked me about what I wrote on and why I wrote the book. The focus is still on money making reasons for writing the book.

We may have do alot of thigns bse on monetary returns. Sometimes we meet up friends becasue the eprson is seen as a potential networking opportunity.

When doing insurance, often I met people up for sales and after a while people avoided me. They knew that my reason for meeting them up is to sell them something and not becasue I like their company.

Nowadays, I met people to chat about anything under the sun and I was free of the burden of meeting people up to sell them a product. It is a liberal feeling.

“No need to be so hurried in life and also no need to earn so much money.”

This statement applies to people who live in big countries, like Australia and China, where they can always live off the land if they have no job or money. In the tiny Red Dot, we can’t emulate others so easily and so freely. There are serious constraints and limitations. It is easy to talk, but very difficult to apply. Otherwise, many would have already done it. People are not always as stupid as others may like to think that they are.

If your don’t pay your utility bills in time, your electricity and water supplies get cut off = no money no talk = no mercy; and you can’t go a get your water from the river or a well or a public tap, which we used to have some 35 years ago, when PAP was trying very hard to win over the people’s support.

If you don’t have money to pay for your bus fare, the bus driver will simply tell you to get off the bus = no money no talk = no mercy. Nothing to fall back on.

If you don’t have money to pay for your rent, if you are a taxi driver, the taxi company will get their enforcers to tow back the taxi either from your house on when they spot you in the streets = no money no talk = no mercy. Nothing to fall back on.

If you don’t have money to pay for your children’s school fees, the principals of their schools will simply expel them = no money no talk = no mercy. Nothing to fall back on.

If you don’t have money to pay for your phone bills, the telco companies will simply cut off your lines = no money no talk = no mercy. Nothing to fall back on.

If you don’t have money to pay for your traffic summons, the police will pull you to court and make you pay a heavier fine, and if you can’t pay, you will be put in jail = no money no talk = no mercy. Nothing to fall back on.

In Australia, which is one of the five continents in this world, which is many thousands of times the size of the tiny Red Dot, if you have no money you can still survive. There is always something for you to fall back on = i.e. the vast expanse of land, mother nature.

In China, which is about the size of Australia, which is also many thousands of times the size of the tiny Red Dot, if you have no money you can still survive. There is always something for you to fall back on = i.e. the vast expanse of land, mother nature.

In the tiny Red Dot, can you live off the land? Yes, collect cardboards, empty tin cans, become beggars pretending to sell tissue papers so that you do not break the law that forbids begging.

WTF! We can’t even beg for mercy! It is an offence to beg!

And can we expect a bright and good future for our children, grand children and future generations here in this tiny Red Dot??? Very, very, extremely DOUBTFUL!

P/S:
Kuan Yin is the Goddess of Mercy;
Kuan Yew is the God of No-Mercy.

Best solution for people who are struggling with bills is to cut down as much as they can. Now this is possible, what’s is likely to be impossible is not to have them at all if one is married with kids, has a car, has a expensive lifestyle etc. So everyone should look into areas of their lives if there are actually unnecesseary expenses being thrown out of the window. I have to say that there is no one-fits-all solution. And if prices keep going up, it makes sacrifices difficult. There are times when I used to say; “Want to save also don’t have the money!” Muhamad Nur’s has commented(# 9) very well.

To #17 No-Mercy! on January 26th, 2009 10.54 pm
“Kuan Yin is the Goddess of Mercy;
Kuan Yew is the God of No-Mercy.”

Thanks for the good laugh!

#9 Muhamad Nur on January 26th, 2009 3.05 pm comment is somewhat true. However, one mustn’t forget the time off-work and the transport fee needed to travel to enjoy the free parks, stadiums, beaches ;-P I was also thinking about the free things that I like in Singapore. Parks, beaches, public library and sunshine (vitamin D) are some of those.

Still I’m likely to head Gilbert’s direction of migration. The pace of life and pro-capitalist policies here do not suit me. Since Singapore is a tiny red dot that refuses change its policies for the long-term good of its people, I conclude that I should move to a larger country that can afford a more humanistic approach.

Happy Chinese New Year to all!

No-Mercy, indeed that’s a good one, did you think it up?

Likewise, I am thinking of heading towards Gilbert’s direction of migration, but then I wonder. I can migrate, but there will still be people suffering here, who can’t escape this fate…and that is sad. So before I make the decision to really migrate, i hope we can all change this red dot for the better

17) No-Mercy! on January 26th, 2009 10.54 pm
The system here all voiced down to only 1 thing, i.e. if you don’t pay up what we imposed, we will penalize you one way or the other. No Mercy!

hope more people with different ideas can be elected to be mp.

so things can change in singapore and laws can change also.

the only way to change things is to be a mp.

tan kin lian go all the way.

What Gilbert meant was not to do nothing earn nothing and can’t pay bills (please stop the PAP way of arguing).

Many are “psycho-ed” into thinking that we have to be hard up/stressed up in order to keep sg and its people surviving.

I will say this is a big lie to keep the white mouse running in the wheel.

E.g. no matter how hard Singaporeans work, the ratio of 80% will still live in sub-standards (not first-world) HDB flats.

e.g. even if one get pay increase, property prices will always move ahead of them.

This kinda of system and economy only feed those on the top.

I just think everyone in SG wants to choose a very safe path in their career. Just recently, after the O levels came out, my nephew and his friends have been asking their parents, and many of their aunties and uncles which courses are good for them in the future.

I thought Clean Energy is a good course with future prospect; but then others disagree, and argued that this is a new course the poly offered, so don’t know it’s good or not; and even after graduation; there are only a few companies in this green industry to employ graduates of this field.

If all parents (or SGporeans) are so ‘kiasi’ about venturing into ‘new territories’ and prefer to stay within the comfort ’sure safe’ zone, then how can we produce talents or entrepreneurs ? Also, would anyone really choose what they truly enjoy doing as a career rather than doing other things because they are better paid ?

iloveharrylee (#23),

Clean energy is a good topic now because of the global drive towards a low carbon economy and the belief in a Global Green New Deal. There is no guarantee it will continue to be a good topic when your nephew finally graduates from the polytechnic. Moreover, clean energy is virtually a non-industry in Singapore.

Clean energy development in Southeast Asia is driven by the UN-mandated carbon market. However, the carbon price has collapsed from 28 euro/tCO2 to 10 euro/tCO2 which makes European buyers/funds very unlikely to buy carbon credits from clean energy project developers now. This price is extremely close to the primary market price for carbon credit now.

I agreed with some here that we havea choice whether to subscribe to the govt’s drive to be materialistic and perfectionist.

They have advocate that only scholars win in this land and that you only have favours if you are the employer. Employees tend to lose out either in the labour law or welfaye system if any.

I met up with a PR here from HK and he is considering throwing in the PR and return to HK. I t asked him after 20 yrs here why decide to do that?

Being a foriegner he always feels that the pace is too fast for him and that he prefers a freer society. Maybe age has played a factor on how we have evolve and feels that our Red Dot is more for the young and energetic.

At the age of 47, I am already feeling the effects of unemployment bias. MAny employers never want to interview an oldie at such age whereby in other countries employees at the age of 40s is very well receibved due to their maturity and stability.

Like I say, we all have a choice here to spend within our means or beyond. I am not saying that we should just laze around and do nothing to imrpove ourselves. However, we need to be careful in following after the crowd here to chase after materialism.

The same PR friend told me that something which is a gem. He said that for those who worked and received $2,000 and spent $1,999 – they are richer by a dollar that eh has swaved up.

For the one who earns $5000 and spends $5001, he has overspent by a dollar and is thus in debt.

I have never forgot this statement and hope to live by this principle this year and beyond.

‘jobs for locals first. PRs and others can come later =)’

I agree with Mojo.

We have to because this country was built on patriotism. more than that, we need to go back to our fundamentals, e.g. patriotism, morality, ethics, equality, democracy and hold them true to our heart.

‘Jobs for the locals’ please!

Why hurry?. We are all going to die someday. Take time to smell the flowers.

Thanks smallvice585 ! I just let the parents decide so they picked I.T. for my nephew. It’s definately ’sure safe’ course because every company will use (or already using IT) right now.

The people chosed this system?

has it occur to people yet that this country has NO VISION of substantial value except which is based on pure CONSUMPTION?

when your life is decided by consumption, you end up behaving like hypocritical beasts ( relationships corrupted and screwed) especially during the years of affluence .
and when you get educated for consumption sake, you end up being stupider and that’s why you need to be constantly “reeducated”. in fact the better educated you are, the more useless you become as a human being with your heads puffed up.

this is because the overpaid leadership of this country has no soul to lead the people into greater things.

a leadership who risks the life of the masses in the hands of the bourgeois class are not leaders, they are …leeches of the country!

The root cause of all this is our obsession with competition. We compete the minute we step into the office, and we are still competing even we’re out of it. Everyone wants to impress the boss with their work ethic, and bosses are always rewarding the hardest workers.

Don’t forget that we are a KPI-driven country where every damn thing is measured in units of production.

Nobody wants to be at the bottom of the KPI-table.

I spoke to a relative of mine who just got back from London. He is fo course a Singaporean.

He told me having worked in London for the past 4 years he had difficulty adjusting back to the hectic working life here.

For one, people are more rude and competitive in the office. People tend to look over one’s shoulder especially if the person is favoured more by the bosses.

He also encountered difficulty working with the clients who tend to boss around as they are the ones paying the services.

He longed to return back to London given the chance as people there are more respectful of one another especially in the office.

People also lead a more balanced life rather than us who are merely working machines churning out products to boost up our GDP growth.

#32 253SA on January 27th, 2009 6.25 pm: “Don’t forget that we are a KPI-driven country where every damn thing is measured in units of production.”

IMHO, the problem isn’t with KPI alone. The problem is in the implementation of KPI. A good boss will state upfront his expectations and specific, measurable, achievable, realistic targets with a clear timeframe. The result-oriented boss will then not breath down one’s neck on “how” the targets are achieved (gives subordinates leeway to exercise judgement) and rewards as long as the targets are met. This boss will not bark if you leave office on-the-dot as long as your work gets done. Then, KPIs are useful measures of work done. E.g. KPIs can even be about the number of positive verbal feedback received from customers. The problem is with kiasu and kiasi boss who refused to write down S.M.A.R.T. targets or hold themselves responsible to the rewards promised. They manage by walkabouts, expect staff to work late (in self-delusion that it shows their “excellent” motivation skills), threatens staff instead of motivating them, encourage in-fighting instead of team building (this way, no one will be strong enough to take-over his position). Thus, KPIs are then “for-show” only. The rewards and recognition won’t come in even if they are achieved.

Just like the problem isn’t with allowing FTs into Singapore. It is with how uncontrolled import of foreign workers (talents or otherwise) displaced the locals. The devil is in the details.

OK, I think let’s look at what Mr Gilbert Goh is saying here. I don’t think he’s telling us to give up all our material possessions. I don’t think many Buddhist monks would tell you that. What I think he is saying, and he can correct me if I’m wrong here, is not to be so hung up on material possessions and wanting more of everything.

Life in Singapore and most big cities around the world requires money. You need a basic monthly income to keep a roof over your head and to feed yourself and your family. I suspect the government likes its citizens to struggle at achieving this because if we all became content, they’d have a problem. Singapore, like Israel and Taiwan needs it’s citizens to live under a ’siege’ mentality and people who are working hard to make ends meet create economic growth and don’t disturb political activities.

So, if you look at things this way, you’ll find that the government will always raise indirect taxes in good times, so that most of us will never be ‘financially free.’ If you get more income, they’ll raise GST, thus the cost of living so that you’ll have to spend that extra money you have just to stay a step ahead of being swallowed alive.

So, like it or not, we all need to work and earn an income to stay alive. Needless to say, the government will not cut GST in tough times, they’d rather give you some extra cash to cover your expenses, which will still stay high. So what can we the citizens do to deal with hard times.

The answer is to conserve what we have. In good times, it’s very easy to change things every so often, because money is assured and the banks are willing to lend it to us. In hard times, we can’t be so certain – economic conditions are such that the monthly pay cheque from our boss may be our last and we got to think about our bills.

But as Gilbert has rightly pointed out, we are our own worst victims. I mean, why do we always feel that we need the latest of everything. I remember I refused to help a friend apply for a car loan and he tried to appeal to my better nature by telling me how his daughters would ‘feel shy’ if they’re Daddy did not drive.

I thought the worse of him for that. So what if you don’t drive or live in a swank condo. I mean if you can afford it, nobody should stop you from enjoying life’s finner things. However, for the rest of us, I think we have to assess the way we live. Do we always need to change our possessions so often and why do we place so much of our self-esteem in material possessions like cars and houses.

I remember friends telling me that I should borrow my father’s Mercedes because it would be a ‘chick magnet.’ Much as I love sexy chicks, I refused – the car was not mine and frankly, I didn’t need the car to reflect my self-worth – I mean if the chick likes me because of my father’s car – I might as well go to Geylang – at least the paid for prostitutes would be good looking and won’t try and make their stay in your life permanent.

So, appreciate what you have. If you can find joy in simple things, you’ll be able to survive this downturn a happier person.

The problem is with kiasu and kiasi boss who refused to write down S.M.A.R.T. targets or hold themselves responsible to the rewards promised.

Well said indeed! Why are we working so damn hard? Because the big bossman said so, thats why! My experience in the working world tells me that the bosses who have bosses, who in turn have their own bosses, don’t have a damn clue what the target is all about. And do you know why? Because they don’t want to be commit to anything that might boomerang on them! Everyone at the top management likes to talk all macro and that numskull helicopter vision! Pure pigfeed if you ask me. So what happens? The poor SOB at the bottom of the food chain gets trampled upon because he gotta work his butt to please his boss, so that his boss can please his boss and so on.

So if there is any big bossman who’s reading this, have a heart, and give your folks a break sometimes.

#35 253SA on January 27th, 2009 11.11 pm: “Why are we working so damn hard?”

My personal experience from a couple of years with kiasu and kiasi bosses. Initially I conned myself with “Ah Q” spirit that it is my professionalism that keeps me going. Then it was my team cos all of us didn’t like the kiasu and kiasi bosses. Finally after some changes in personal circumstances and incidents at work, I quit conning myself and left the toxic environment for better. Have to be honest, it took some time before I was ready to forgive those bullies.

My conclusion is: try to leave such environment ASAP if one ever lands into it. It isn’t worth hurting one’s mental, emotional, and physical health over such people. The best revenge is to move on into a happy life :-)

Many years ago, while I was visiting China, I saw the poster that says that workers are the nuts and bolts of the society. We get the machinery going in order to achieve progress.It is very sad, Singaporeans are also nuts and bolts to keep the machinery going. in order to achieve peace ,and progress for our nation. We are told to sacrifice individualism for the good of our nation. Migration ,smelling the flowers is for the elitist. For the poor the worry is will there be the next meal on the table.So they become the sweatshop labourers ,faceless, voiceless and insignificant.Very sad.

Initially I conned myself with “Ah Q” spirit that it is my professionalism that keeps me going. Then it was my team….

It’s one of the hardest thing to do day after day after day. But I’ve been in an out of employment before, so I got not much of a choice but to still psyche (con is a little too extreme for me…) myself on a daily basis when the alarm rings at 6am.

best revenge is to move on

Good for you to have a back door. Unfortunately, mine’s a little tight shut because I’m at the ‘wrong age’ category where employers don’t think much of you and you don’t think much of yourself.

For the poor the worry is will there be the next meal on the table

Not just the poor, but those that are kinda stuck in between, working from one contract to another, worrying when you’re gonna become surplus to requirements. Oh hell, I’ll just think of the bills and the rent that I have to pay to get my workday going…..

Like Tang Li, I think Gilbert is not asking people to become monks and monks don’t preach like that.

I think he suggests that while money is important, eg. for basic needs, one should not be a slave to money.

In Singapore, money is very important. But money is not everything in life.
But too often we see singaporeans overcome by money.
This society has become cold, neighbors dont talk to one another like kampong days. People seem to be wearing masks every day in office. Not enough money, people still need to ‘buy face ‘ by getting money from banks to buy that car or house. They should depend on cash rather than on credit. This debt thing lead to many ills in society.

Well, I am in my 40s & I know how everyone’s feeling, especially now with the world’s economy sliding down so quickly. I have been working my butt off all my life since I was 16 & recently on my birthday, I made a wish. I wished that I neednt run around like some mad dog anymore & I dont need to be a slave to any material luxury. I am not into brands & a wallet could last me many years & so are my pair of die-hard Dr Marten!! I dont think I need to spend many thousands on a Breguet or a BMW. I am married with no kids & best of all, I have no debts, except for my 4rm HDB & car loan. Yes, the car & house do take up part of my salary, however I dont buy things that I couldnt afford or think I could pay off in many years time with my credit cards. I am not a rich bugger, just an average guy trying to make ends meet, so I dont think I need to spend much on the latest gadgets to keep my life going. Hell, the handphone I am using now is only my 4th since I started using mobile many years ago cos of work.

I know it’s not easy for many people nowadays cos of the Singapore’s Swiss standard of living but I think we have to look at ourselves too as I feel that many of us are spending future money at a crazy rate. We will probably end up penniless with so many bills to foot & so little in the bank. I know some families bought things with Courts easi-credit or something & ended up paying thru their butts!! End of the day, they have bnothing much left & if they get retrenched, the sky will fall on them.

Dont be a scrooge neither you should be some Richie Rich!!

Alex, you took the words right out of my mouth. If it weren’t for cyberspace, we can have a cup of tea and commiserate the fact we’re both at the ‘wrong age’! The problem is, even for those like us who stay within budget, there isn’t much left over for that rainy day. I don’t know about you, but where I’m working, if you don’t make management by 35, you’re gonna be a farmer for the rest of your corporate life. Yep, thats right, you plant the rice but the others get to eat them. Doesn’t help that your younger supervisor who can’t make a sale is telling me the fine art of closing a deal. Sucks like hell but for the sake of my family, I got no choice but to tough it out.

Many singaporeans are said to be well educated.
I wonder how smart?
majority all heavily in debt and paying the bank loans each month for cars and flat or house. Last time, people buy house with cash they have. last time people only buy what they can afford with cash. now time, people buy what they cannot afford and go to the banks for help. Herd mentality caused majority to loan from banks to buy what they can ill afford.

some dive into shares market and never came back.
money always on their minds, they live day after day without really being happy for 1 minute. at the back of their mind is how to pay and pay.

the new generation of ultra smart people .

I believe that Singaporeans have come into possession of a set of uniquely Singaporean trait, where the mentality is such, that if others have it, so must I; very much translated to its Singlish equivalent – kaisuism – the fear of losing out.

For years we have been thinking that to lose out on something good is plain stupidity; and so, the added drive to pursue that elusive possession, be it an academic degree, that car that everyone dreams about, that private apartment by the seaside and even to dining at the latest and desirable restaurant; to be seen amongst the society’s well offs.

The keeping up with the Joneses, becomes an addiction, very much like nicotine, which attaches itself onto us like superglue, which we cannot shake off; for to do so; would be equivalent to telling the Joneses that you are a failure and is throwing in the towel.

Periodically, friends, relatives and families would come together to get an update of where each one stands in this ladder of achievement. This is where the whole problem starts. Those who are not able to meet up to the standard, would beg, steal or borrow to be seen, at least, to be on par with the rest. Unfortunately, most times, it is the whole bunch of them, who are not up to standard, that would begin to live the lie, by borrowing and living beyond their means.

It is much later in their lives that they begin to realize; at least for those still sane enough; that this act of kiasuism, is the reason why they are having to continue to struggle at a time when they should be thinking of relaxing in the sun with an ice cold drink for simple pleasure.

Look around you today, and you will see the act of kiasuism very well and truly ingrained in the Singapore society. This is a very serious problem that must be tackled and if a mindset change has to be introduced and adopted, then the road cannot begin soon enough.

Personally, I would like to be able to live Gilbert’s advice and to slow things down and to place more emphasis on living a meaningful life than to live a life dictated by surrounding circumstances that are the doing of a mentality that follows the herd, so to speak.

I remember Chee Soon Juan bringing this topic up during one of his earlier election rallies when he suggested that the PAP government look more deeply into lateral thinking being introduced into our education system to allow our students to think in ways other than the way they are being told and taught to think, which was one-dimensional, at that time. This was initially ridiculed by the PAP; as usual, but was slowly and gradually introduced to a lesser degree of success.

Even in TODAY’s newspaper, we hear that the govt is doing away with the annual examination for our primary students to help them think in more colourful and non-standard ways. This is a good move in my opinion.

I look forward to the day when people would consider, and be willing to purchase that item that is less costly but just as useful as the original, or to consider that 4-room flat instead of 5; or to select that Japanese car over that Lexus.
I look forward to the day when we stop living up with the Joneses and live within our means so that we can retire, sit down and have a cuppa; you and I.

Great article Gilbert. Thanks.

to Mr. Pang or MS. Pang (#1)

Hong Kong didn’t have PAP and they still prosper.

We work hard and therefore deserve the success.

PAP (1st generation) perform well by setting good policies doesn’ t mean that PAP (3rd generation) is performing well.

If we didn’t work hard, even with good policies, Singapore wouldn’t have arrived.

Why do you give them so much credit?

Silly.

The issue now is, even if you listen to their policies, you would still end up being screwed.

That’s the issue.

I agree that we singaporeans should take some time to relax. Really, why do you need so much money for? Just earn enough for you and your family to spend. That’s it. I wonder what do people do witht that billions of dollars. Are they necessary more happy than those who earn only few thousands dollars and have time with family and friends?

Well, the fault is not entirely on PAP. They tried to change the lifestyle here in SIngapore. They introduce more Arts events for people to chill out, and they enourage 5-day work week. It’s not their fault that some people still choose to work on sat n sun.

you got to be kidding me Shing for the meagre effort to promote the arts by the Govt and attribute it to their ” apparent” effort to reduce the stress in our rat race.

Those events paid for indirectly by S’poreans are there to spruce up their lives not ours, much like the tennis teams and football teams.

Just lower the land cost and the transport cost in S’pore and providing people who has worked in difficult jobs for a long time, the use of their CPF, and you will have a more relaxed S’porean.

keeping kidding yourself shing

#43 gemami
[The keeping up with the Joneses, becomes an addiction, very much like nicotine, which attaches itself onto us like superglue, which we cannot shake off; for to do so; would be equivalent to telling the Joneses that you are a failure and is throwing in the towel....]

some say its due to bad upbringing. But I not sure also.

45) shing on January 28th, 2009 1.52 pm

you must be kidding right?

you said :
[ Really, why do you need so much money for? Just earn enough for you and your family to spend. That’s it. I wonder what do people do witht that billions of dollars. Are they necessary more happy than those who earn only few thousands dollars and have time with family and friends?]

Why do we need so much money? 1st of all, how much do you mean by much?
2nd of all, to live in singapore from now till 30 years time, one would need at least 500,000 cash as a basic requirement, in my honest opinion.

Given non-1st world salaries and 1st world cost of living that is breaking its own record every short while, its clear why people dare not or could not afford to retire.

#47) Grang Gor Pi,

It is bad upbringing coupled with the fact that it was made out to be sort of fashionable to be able to do so (yes, blame the govt). No one seem to see that it is bad until generations later when the young ones have grown older to realise that it is not an easy job to continue to keep up. Then the realisation dawns on them that this is foolish.

This is what we are experiencing now.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,
even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

(c) Max Ehrman 1926

There are only 2 types of people in Singapore

1. Money is not enough (80% of population who has 20% of money)
2. Money is never enough (20% of population who has 80% of money)

Its the common 80/20 scenario. Until the 20% elite decides to take the lead and start a culture of money-not-so-important, the remaining 80% will think what Gilbert is talking is bullsh*t.

It depends on what you want in your life.

Hate to be blunt here but I have to.

If you want money and is working hard for it but isn’t relatively well off yet, you haven’t worked hard enough or smart enough.

In order not to be working at the age of 65, just put in an astronomical amount of effort now. And put that effort into something that will pay off. If you’re working for $2000 a month with yearly increment guaranteed, will you be rich by your own standards?

For me, I’ll be working 14 days, 7 days a week from now on until I start my own web company. That’s beside the perm job I have which takes up 8 hours on a 5 day week.

For people who have ridiculous amount of money, you never hear them saying their didn’t put in ridiculous amount of effort.

Why do I need so much money?

Actually I don’t. I just want to experience the thrill of starting a business. Money is just a byproduct.

I am sure that people here will agree that we all need to live simply. I have compiled a list and hope that this will apply for some here:

1. Buy a modest house and never try to take more than 50% loan on your value of your house i.e.if your house is valued at $300,000 do not take more than $150,000 loan and try to pay it off in the shortest possible time.

2. Buy everything with cash and if you use credit card try to pay them off when the bill arrives.

3. Never change a electrical product that is working – I have seen too many people changing their TV set because they want the latest slim flat panel TV. I was surprised that my brother still retained his old fat 27 in Panasonic TV that is considered an antique nowadays. Power to him!

4. Never change your car if you need to trade in your old car at a loss. Some cars I see still have “life”even though they reach the old age of 10 years old. Try to drive it till it is dead to derive the maximum value out of the vehicle. Too many people lose money while changing cars.

5. Only buy a hosuehold item when you have the cash from savings or bonuses. Also ask yourself do you need that item or want it?

6. Instead of going for the movie which is now priced at about $9.50 a head, why not try to head to the beaches here which is free of charge. Family time spend sometimes can be free and our children only needs us to be around them. The company counts more than the things we do.

7. Living simply also means trying to clear your home of clutter. Give away your old books and CDs – those that were stored away in unopened boxes in the storeroom.You can donate them to the Salvation Army who will sell them for charitable causes.

8. Simple living also trying to give of yourself to others. Try to think of a charitable cause that you can contribute to. Too many of us here living our life for ourselves and half the time it is due to money making reasons.

9. Try to do things from an altrusic angle rather than questioning whether it can provide us with monetary returns. While starting an unemployment support site http://www.transitioning.org, many ask me if the cause can generate money for me. I am surprised that not many really see the value of altrusic return.

10. Always live our life with the end in mind. We all have a short life and it is always good to live it well and honourable. If we live our life by accumulating wealth, we may never have fully achieve what we can do with our life.

Hope this help.

7.

Have to hand it to you Gilbert, you sure know what it takes to add life to years instead of adding years to life.

i havent read all of the comments, but sometimes people forget that we have a choice no matter what, its called free will. to me its the kind of person we choose to be and the kind of things we fight for that defines who we are, i dont think anything else can and shall. so the next qn is how do we choose. someone once told me we choose based on worth.

i suppose money is just a tool, ppl get obsessed with such things and their sense of worth and value gets screwed up.

choose well people.

one more thing, ppl on tv say they want to achieve their dreams, when they are no more than obsessions of money and fame. bleh, it has a big impact, but ppl do have a choice, what they wan to live for.

quote from movie, But remember that, even when those who move you be kings or men of power, your soul is in your keeping alone.

hope whoever read this got my point :)

I am not materialistic, I just need a job to pay for my HDB flat, school fee for my kids, foods for the family, medical expenses when we fall sick.

Now that my job was replaced by China young man, I can’t open a kiosk in front of my high-floor HDB flat to sell tea to passes-by like the China rural folks.

if i tell you peeps
i survived on $600/month
would you believed it?
all my home/bike/whateverbarangs are fully paid
even to the extend of
overpayin my utilities/handfone bills by 6 months AHEAD
i eat WISELY
too expensive menu
i forgo
even to a cup of softdrink/copi C when i am outside
not because i am cheapskate
do i need a drink
if i am eatin soupbased meal?
don’t even enticed me to go
macdonald/starbuck
those were THE days
today
do i need to show my face in starbuck?
for who/whom
and most of the time i endup diggin MY pocket
payin for OTHERs….
i only entertained my closed kakis
if i make a few dollar$
if not
i order for MESELF 1 single cup copi C
direct
for if they are my true kaki
they should know why
simply because
I told them my situation
i don’t lie/show off…..

#55, 56,

Majority of singaporeans do not have land to have fish farm or pig farm or chicken farm or veg farm to be self sufficient.
Whatever they do in singapore needs money.
They live in a tiny city which itself is the country.
2million then 4.5million and going for the 6.5 million population.
Life is hectic. Life is competitive. Life is busy and stressful till the end.
not much things to do on weekends or holidays here.
It takes only a while to experience all things in singapore.
and then it gets boring.
Quality of life is questionable.
Someone instilled 5C mentality in singaporeans.
They only think about 5Cs and their lives revolve around the 5Cs.

Ho Teo Thong #59 said it right,
we lost all our farming and fishing(not fish rearing) using nets and kelongs.

As I have posted and asked at other sites, why are former villagers doing small scale farmings all resettled to HDB livings and many of the repossesed lands left unused except for the occasional stealth activities of criminals and illegal foreign immigrants?

Why the heck did the villagers got resettled for????

patriot

the best way to appreciate anything here is to be away….
yes – think in terms of 100 years block to try to achieve immortality..

the grass seems greener on the other side….honestly it is not (with only the continent of South America not worked in, can attest ….)

singaporeans are mainly croaking (complaining) frogs in a well- you think you know much, when all you can do is centre around speaking some one else’s language… you look down on everybody of your own kind and create problems by your own doing – and guess who are the beneficiaries?….
forget about your leaders if you are so incensed and cannot vote them out…. just lead yourself.

well guys – do more than TOC for your own sake, do not waste you time sniffling frangipani relegated to the cementries…..
Make your move before your mortal time is up….
In singapore it is no good to be” no need to be hurried in life,,,,no need to make money..” Opium smoking is encouraged by british colonalists……
Thank you guys for stirring me to respond……

moshetumy who survived on 600/month…thats quite impressive. was this in recent years?!?

I am sorry dear Singaporeans but we are too small to bum around and “smell the roses.” Unfortunately we do not have the luxuries of palm trees, rubber or oil. So what we lack in natural resources, we make up for in humans.

“No need to be so hurried in life and also no need to earn so much money.” That is surely not shared amongst most of the Chinese in China.

We live in a world where you can either join the rat-race or be left behind. It is one’s choice but I choose to work like hell to buy myself a nice condo and continental car.

haze on January 30th, 2009 6.02 pm moshetumy who survived on 600/month…thats quite impressive. was this in recent years?!?
yes till today
you want to know my dinner menu?
$0.80cts packard udong mixed with $1.20 frozen fishball (can be divided into 6 meal/mixed if kept in freezer
damned delicious dirt cheap as well
please take note
not everynight udong meal hor
or else hawkers centre went berserk and bankrupt…
do it alternately
if you have to
did try 4 dinners straight in 4 evennins
different flavours
still damned delicious…

Gilbert,
Thanks for speaking the truth from your heart. I read the first twenty or so posts and decided not to read further. I am awed by how many people here chant the mantra that Singapore has no natural resources and therefore must work beyond 65. Well, if they want to close their eyes and ears and minds then let them be. I have learnt that unsolicited advice is seldom appreciated. When they break down and then pay to see a shrink, then they will listen to the same advice, feeling good that they have paid good money for good advice.
That is the reality of life to most.
As for me, I fully agree with you and in fact retired at 45. No, I did not strike lottery as I do not buy lottery. No, I did not inherit millions. The idea that one must have millions in order to retire is a myth generated by financial advisers who are dreaming of making millions when you buy their ideas.
It is completely possible and doable once one is willing to open up to the possibilities and shift his or her paradigm. Right now most people buy the conventional story and stop thinking further. I know it can be done because I have done it. I am doing it because I do not want to drop dead early while working. Stress can kill and it has killed.
At the end of the day, to each his own. After all, it is their lives and they have the right to do what they want with it. Life is finite and it does not make sense to work till we drop.
We cannot compare with our leaders because their lives are different. They can afford to work till past 85. If you can get their jobs then you can too. But for the rest of us lesser mortals, our working lives are different. So it makes sense for some to work past 85. Do what makes sense to you and your lives.

Another thought for readers to ponder. This is what made me look at things from another angle and changed my paradigm permanently.
We all believed we are different from all other living things and whatever your religion we think we are at the very top of evolution. Certain religious groups believe that we are made in the likeness of God.
Look at all the animals and plants around us. Do they need to work to survive? The bees, birds and insects. All lesser beings than us. Do they have to work the way we do it? Why? Think about it.
All that man experienced now is created by man himself. They believed in certain paradigms that has been put into their minds. If we are the chosen species and we are so loved by God and we are the most intelligent beings on earth, then why on earth we have to suffer more than the lesser living things? Think long and hard and you will find the answer within yourselves.
Once you think through and shift your paradigms then you are liberated.

Hi Gilbert Goh,

I think what you have said hit the nail on the head. I’m fresh just out of school and I see a lot people with only $ in their brain. Can you provide some guidance. You seems well-educated, what makes you want to consider doing insurance you’ve mentioned. Are you still in the insurance business? How long did you take to reach your current insight on life?

44) gemami on January 28th, 2009 11.45 am

Great great post