Money matters - living a simple life, frugally

[VemmaMom]

Your SIL is very hardworking!

[VemmaMom]

Sometimes, the word live frugally exists in our society now? even the considered most economical car is no longer economical, food that advert themselves as economical rice is too expensive to eat n smaller portions… water n electricity bills also rising… probably next need to use candles…

[S-H]

Maybe we should consider immigrating to US;-)

[janet88]

Prices of basic necessities like food and flats have increased…even a small car has rocket high price. A box of economy rice is like $3 and that is just one meal for 1 person…if buying meat, that will costs more. What about dinner? Cannot be eating rice and tofu alone. Back to the issue of home cooked meals which has more nutrition. Oil, rice, salt, sugar all adds up.


When my kids finish school, can they afford to maintain themselves? Tertiary education not cheap. If don’t have sufficient education, can’t even sustain themselves, how to find girlfriend/boyfriend. How to get married?

School textbooks/uniforms not cheap. Sorry, list goes on.

[sharonkhoo]

S-H:

Maybe we should consider immigrating to US;-)

I know some US families who really stretch their money - they rarely buy anything new and either buy 2nd hand or get hand-me-downs. They always look for cheap housebrands and never buy 'branded'. They eat at home mostly, buy in bulk, and may even grow some of their own veg and fruit. They do a lot of DIY and mend things and continue using them until they really can't be fixed anymore. A lot of this can also be done in Singapore, but most Singaporeans probably find it 'too troublesome'.

[keroppi]

thoughtfulminds:

read somewhere in US a family of 4 survives only on $14,000 annually, and enjoying it.

I wonder if they bought any health insurance and how much state and federal taxes they are paying. The personal income tax DH and I used to pay while working there is already more than that. Childcare was abt U$200 per week per child.

[pirate]

janet_lee88:

When my kids finish school, can they afford to maintain themselves? Tertiary education not cheap. If don't have sufficient education, can't even sustain themselves, how to find girlfriend/boyfriend. How to get married?


School textbooks/uniforms not cheap. Sorry, list goes on.

A Singaporean construction worker or a lorry driver can easily earn more than $3,000 a month. No need tertiary education. Housing agents can earn tons of money, and only need 'O' levels. It's not whether can find a job to maintain themselves, it's whether willing to do those jobs and to work hard.

Hence back to living a simple life, frugally.

[jedamum]

A construction skilled worker can earn $ 3000 a month, yes, but not easily. 7days a week, more than 12hours a day yes. Not many can take this kind of work demands for that salary.

[janet88]

Housing agents can earn tons…but it is not the case every month. Car salesmen also used to earn lots…but come new policy set by govt…they suffer. Even though not many kids can eventually become lawyers, doctors, accountants etc…we encourage them to study hard in order to work in a air con environment. That’s our wish as parents.


I have friends who are photographers, housing agents and car salesmen…but their other halves are working full time to support their husbands’ dreams.

[ammonite]

jedamum:

A construction skilled worker can earn $ 3000 a month, yes, but not easily. 7days a week, more than 12hours a day yes. Not many can take this kind of work demands for that salary.

But if no choice will do right? But I don't think many Singaporeans are skilled at all with their hands. Dh likes to tell me the story of how he went on a volunteer programme to help build houses for the poor, and all the Singaporeans cannot hammer a nail in straight.