I am resigned to the fact that I cannot plan financially for a family. I am 33 years old and if I had a son now, I would have to bear his expenses and the cost of education until he was 24 (including NS), and I would be 57. I am certain working life will be no easier in future, with ever-increasing competition from the younger generation and new citizens.
Christopher Chow , Straits Times Forum Page
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Chris, you have come out of the dream into Reality.
Welcome on-board.
Morpheus said so :
The Matrix is a system, Neo. That system is our enemy. But when you’re inside, you look around, what do you see? Businessmen, teachers, lawyers, carpenters. The very minds of the people we are trying to save. But until we do, these people are still a part of that system and that makes them our enemy. You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured, so hopelessly dependent on the system, that they will fight to protect it.
the fixation on money in naion policies with words like not practical, not feasible in turn affects social norms in the society. years down the road, with the majority of the armed forces made up of conscripts, it will become a national security issue.
… if not already. :?
Welcome to the club Chris,you are certainly not alone!
I’m 31,still single,no girlfriend,no social life coz i have no time for these social gatherings whatsoever,always busy with studies & work,i know how you feel,with the current influx of FTs & PRs’ in Spore,what will happen to us?
I can’t offer you a solution,what i can offer you is suggestions & alternatives,you have an option to migrate if you think its time for a change,a real change in environment,its not an easy decision,life is short & unpredictable,nothing lasts forever,its always about money,money,money & more money,women nowadays look @ your wallets,cars,condos,private apartments,HDB dwelling is fine,but it has to look like a studio apartment!
This is reality,our matrix lifestyle,i have taken the red pill,literally that means i have kissed marriage goodbye,that means i stopped attending social gatherings,birthday parties,weddings,other miscellaneous functions,it costs money,why should i spend it on these immaterial things when i can save it for my future!
I wish Chris all the best for his life & his future endeavors!
Peace
James Michael Parthi
Don’t be too disheartened. Just lower your expectations and all will be fine. Being calculative about financing your own child is not the way to go. Having a family will definitely fulfill your emotional and physical needs have a life with another human being. You cannot live your life if all you see is through the lens of money and cents.
Chris, dont give up. I have 3 sons and the first born was when I was 38, much older than you are now. It cost a lot to educate and bring them up but it is worth every cent to me. All three kids are in good top schools doing well and will be in university soon. Life is tough for me and I have to forgo many things in life like many overseas holidays, clubs and branded items. But having a familly beats all those material things. I can watch documentary and read books instead of trying to visit all corners of earth. I wear simple but acceptable clothing instead of branded items. So you can give up some of the things that are actually not that important and have a family that give you all the warm till the day you go.
All is pap’s fault. Jack up the price of so called subsidised HDB flats and youngster intending to get married have to loan for 30 years. It is a burden and how to have babies when we have to pay so many things and expenses. It is time the govt starts to replan their policy otherwise they will be booted out in the next election. It may be better if opposition take over the govt.
i am 40 and dont even have a wife. if i marry, how long would need to support my future son?
there is no distinct previleges over PRs or FT, only us against the ministers, well connected high society elites and super scale civil servants.
dont’ worry, HDB flats are very affordable, there’s a price to suit every budget as proclaimed by HDB!
for example, we can choose those flat that nobody wants in out of the way areas without any market nearby or coffee shop or places to buy things.
“dont’ worry, HDB flats are very affordable, there’s a price to suit every budget as proclaimed by HDB!”
That is true. HDB should start building dog kennel as flat because it is really really really really very affordable to many .
9) Daniel
If they want, they will build that and still sell it at the same price.
ITE, poly & university cert worth how much these days, evrytime got recession all the value drop like stones in a pond, uni grads oso need to queue up at Redhill E2i for courses. lol…
spend so much money to study, the cost in future dunno justified anot…
Yah, Opportunity Costs is very impt to consider before embarking on studies, especially high learining…
Dear Chris,
To plan a family and have a child(how about a daughter ),first of all you must have a spouse(a female one)and she must have an earning income and not a stay at home type,or else you won’t be able to survive seeing your child thru a tertiary education.If your combined income is S$6,000/mth ,you are ok and you are in the
family category that the government considered middle class.Do not spend to much on vacations during your child growing up.Do not even own a car.do not eat out
unnecessary .Do not buy expensive items,if possible buy used.Do not become a
habitual smoker or a alcohol drinker,gambler.Do not buy whole life insurance just
term insurance which is cheaper but has a much bigger coverage for your family.
I have taken into the account that both of your parents do not need your support
financially.If you could opt in the above don’ts,you can do well in later years.If not
tough luck to you and your family.This is life in Singapore.
Ordinary Singaporean are one very disadvantaged lots.
We have an influx of FT/PR/new citizens who compete for jobs and depress salary. Many Singaporeans I know have to slog and work long hours in order to make sure their job is not snatched away. Working till 8pm, 10pm or midnight with little life outside of work life.
Beside, due to the influx, cost of public housing is shooting up, with the better educated and richer PR and new citizens chasing up public housing prices. And the rich are able to bit the cherry many times and big one. They have made a pile from en-bloc by doing nothing and now have the money to buy up public housing for INVESTMENT or to just keep it vacant. They can speculate and invest and buy low and sell high because they already have a comfortable roof over their head whereas ordinary Singaporean DO NOT HAVE SUCH PRIVILEGES. Yup, they can rent out the HDB flats and still have a comfortable roof over their head.
Government said housing is affordable and ST Times said private housing is now more affordable than 1997. Can they be both lying? ha ha ha
The word “affordable” has been greatly mis-used and abused by the government that now the business in Singapore is abusing the word as well. The business will tell it is affordable but you “just” need to pay for longer period.
In the end, you are in fact paying much more.
If a thing cost $20,000, paying in full is not Affordable for many.
But breaking it down to $50 per day is affordable, but you will be paying for two years, => 50 x (365 x 2) = 36,500. Paying $16,500 extra is very very very affordable ?
Look at ShittyTimes, you know what I mean. ShittyAffordable
For those who enjoy expensive wayang show in Singapore
read this
Cheating scandal rocks Formula One as FIA investigates Singapore result
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/aug/30/fia-investigation-formula-one-result
Singaporeans must be very goondu to pay so much for wayang show, not that they didn’t have a choice unlike the wayang show of the kangaroos.
CAVEAT EMPTOR: Cheating but no one ask you to watch the F1. A stand that Sin gov well known for
3) James Michael Parthi on September 19th, 2009 7.49 pm
Hi James,
I am in the same shoe.
I am 37 and single. Used to be over occupied as consultant. Now, chronic unemployed. Have given up idea of working for people. That is no long term plan.
At my age, with years of unemployment and lost income , to go back to work as employee in such an environment would be unwise.
I have to find way to migrate if not live overseas and get married there as a PR which i dont mind considering between a rock and a hardplace, there is not much diff.
I am one of those who have UNPLUGGED from the system.
I have awoken and ready to cast.
12) mice is nice
///// ITE, poly & university cert worth how much these days, evrytime got recession all the value drop like stones in a pond, uni grads oso need to queue up at Redhill E2i for courses. lol…//////////
Some uni grad from the Phillipines are working as maids in Singapore.
A piece of paper is no longer a guarantee for a high paid job.
Probably because we are getting more “qualified” people to do what can be done by school drop outs previously.
That piece of papaer is worth less in these days as in the past a uni grad is the top 1-2% of the cohort, a poly grad the next 5-10%. These days uni and poly grads is the top 60% of the cohort.
James, Chris and Humphrey,
I would encourage you to migrate since you are still in your 30s. Consider countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada where the work and social life balance is much better.
KopitiamApek
post #19 on September 20th, 2009 2.29 pm
////Some uni grad from the Phillipines are working as maids in Singapore.
A piece of paper is no longer a guarantee for a high paid job.////
did those Phillipino maids attend the same schools as our local cohort? realisitcally speaking not all universities are held in the same regard, some are more prestigious than others.
also, have you wondered why they are willing to work as maids overseas? are there any maids from developed countries in the west working as maids (taking home $***) locally?
////Probably because we are getting more “qualified” people to do what can be done by school drop outs previously.////
so is it an inflation of sorts?
////That piece of paper is worth less in these days as in the past a uni grad is the top 1-2% of the cohort, a poly grad the next 5-10%. These days uni and poly grads is the top 60% of the cohort.////
1) does work experience not amount to anything?
2) maybe our youths are getting smarter? is there no difference between the content of P1 of 2009 & that of P1 20 years ago?
3) numbers do not tell the whole picture, more so over a timespan of decades. other vital information that do not translate into numbers may be omitted to give a distorted impression.
Francis @20,
can consider. But not before doing the casting if u know what’s my meaning .
I hope they enjoy the money withdrawal. Every cent of it.
provided you are not bein retired nor retrenched..even inciks in the armed forces are bein forced to retire upon 40 years and above..includin non-performin officers.
so what is the point of sirin a new born baby in which you will not be spared now with the new bills thrown in..if your newborn baby is ABnormal++ you have to dig out how much? $10,000 only…wah nowadays dr khaw sink songs liked $10,000 so easy to dig from pocket…today i have 1 eat rice waste seeds ole man upstairs asked me got money or not? i says you say ley? as though i scanned $50 bills and print them for everyday used..moments ago just had my $0.80cent packet udong dinner..hotwater and gas used nia…
[i]also, have you wondered why they are willing to work as maids overseas? are there any maids from developed countries in the west working as maids (taking home $***) locally?[/i]
let me answer you on this 1…
phillipine my speciality visit cebu every quarterly…do you know how much is a graduate over there earned per month? if they are LUCKY to be employed in the first place? either you be a bartop dancer or a maid if converted from foreign dollars into pesos..it a heavensend goldmine…many males graduates in phillippine worked in the service industries as cleanin maids/waitress/armed guards…if they have someone to pull string for them..if not? back to farming…
~sigh~
retired@40
post #24 on September 20th, 2009 8.40 pm
thanks for sharing, i hope KopitiamApek reads your post.
In Singapore, it’s better to have a wifeless home than to have a homeless wife.
26) mice is nice
Yes. I read them. What is your point, may I know?
KopitiamApek
post #27 on September 22nd, 2009 8.48 pm
“Yes. I read them. What is your point, may I know?”
your choice of comparison is way off biased. & to say,
“That piece of papaer is worth less in these days as in the past a uni grad is the top 1-2% of the cohort, a poly grad the next 5-10%. These days uni and poly grads is the top 60% of the cohort.”
post #19 on September 20th, 2009 2.29 pm,
shows how much of reality you chose to omit. how much our education has evolved, how much MSM trumpets our “world class” education. on its worth depreciating, maybe so should the cost? “faster, better, cheaper” since worth less mah? :)