Middle class Singaporean no more.....Sigh

[MoJoe313]

Originally Posted by Nato17

I agree that the government does not owe us a living. But the last thing I expect from my leaders is sabotage my future and the future of my loved ones. When other countries practice trade protectionism, we do the opposite and we pay higher than others. That is unfair to our own people and that is what I do gripe about.

I think our electricity bill is kinda wacked if you ask me. I mean I think SG pays something like 0.22 cents per K/J and PRC pays something like 0.10 or something like that. And every time I see the SP Bill, I am like WTF, I always seem to be using higher than my neighbours etc. One day, I am going to seriously take a poll if my neighbours really use less than me.

LoL on the electricity part. I agree that QE and low interest rates accelerated inflation. Bad policies too made it worse. Unique to us, COE and property prices have a major role in the inflation index. The supply of COE should be smoothened. Not unmanaged, and subject to the vagaries of demand and supply which is making us miserable with peaks and troughs. And I find it passing strange that while our neighbours like Malaysia, Australia and Indonesia with almost inexhaustible land parcels have policies to protect residential properties for locals, in our land scarce country, Morgan Stanley Investment Fund can buy 12 residential condos and sell them like commonly traded commodities. May I ask, where is the thought for ordinary citizens in this?

[Nato17]

Originally Posted by MoJoe313

LoL on the electricity part. I agree that QE and low interest rates accelerated inflation. Bad policies too made it worse. Unique to us, COE and property prices have a major role in the inflation index. The supply of COE should be smoothened. Not unmanaged, and subject to the vagaries of demand and supply which is making us miserable with peaks and troughs. And I find it passing strange that while our neighbours like Malaysia, Australia and Indonesia have almost inexhaustible land parcels, they have policies to protect residential properties for locals, whereas in our land scarce country, Morgan Stanley Investment Fund can buy 12 residential condos and sell them like commonly traded commodities. May I ask, where is the thought for ordinary citizens in this?

I think a lot of policies are being made without serious thoughts and we react rather than plan ahead. But I guess I am going to be one of those quitters which SM Goh call those who leave lor. No loss to sg when I am only Son of Geylang, while the Son of Punggol can remain and stand to fight another day lor.

[SF2004]

Originally Posted by sammyboyfor

Dump them in an old folk's home in a neighboring country. It'll save you a lot of money.

It sad to heard this..."Dump"...u treat human as rubbish...

[MoJoe313]

Originally Posted by Nato17

I think a lot of policies are being made without serious thoughts and we react rather than plan ahead. But I guess I am going to be one of those quitters which SM Goh call those who leave lor. No loss to sg when I am only Son of Geylang, while the Son of Punggol can remain and stand to fight another day lor.

Bro, the Son of Punggol lost. Imho, the Daughters in Geylang/Macpherson are not well liked. We, the Sons of Geylang and Toa Payoh should just stick around to watch the drama unfold. An awakening should be happening soon when even the middle class do not believe any more.

[IamOld]

That's why ah peh now paddle bicycle

Originally Posted by MoJoe313

Bros,
Don't know if you feel it. I am beginning to feel like I am not even in the middle class in our country any more. Wife and me working. We earn average incomes. Combined >$10k a month. But young kids in school. Expenses super high.

My car is 9 years old. Went looking for cars and even a small korean car cost >$100k. Want to get a bigger flat because kids are growing. But prices are ridiculously high. Last time can afford to eat chilli crab once in a while. Now crab is $65 a kilo. Cannot afford to eat anymore. Durian price also gone crazy. If eat out, little bit here and there also cost $50-$100. The $50 bills in my wallet use very fast....maciam flow out like water.

Getting old. Tired of this impossible rat race. You feeling the pinch too?

[super_marvel]

Originally Posted by zeajay

Well said bro, I don't see how by voting pap out can improve our lives.

Sometimes, I think that voting for pap doesn't really improve my life either... Yes, country will be richer. But I don't.

[Wintermelontea]

Originally Posted by freezetheDB

its about spending within your means i guess
no money dont chiong

for me i even cut down on my favourite massages, sometimes money earn so hard, rather buy something for my wifey, or my parents.

Wholeheartedly agree. These days better save more money and spend on your love ones than give these ladies. Don't ever believe in their KC.

[Wintermelontea]

Originally Posted by IamOld

That's why ah peh now paddle bicycle

Ah peh on electric bicycles? Hahaha.

[IamOld]

Ha your langpar. Linpeh cannot afford car can let you laugh ar? You buy car i drive lah?

Originally Posted by Wintermelontea

Ah peh on electric bicycles? Hahaha.

[Wintermelontea]

Originally Posted by MoJoe313

Getting old. Tired of this impossible rat race. You feeling the pinch too?

Is there even a middle class to speak of?

At the current state of things, middle class has been eroded. There seems to be more and a wider gap between the elite and the lower band.

The only middle class that I can see are those either returning from overseas or FTs who are newly converted to citizenships.

[Wintermelontea]

Originally Posted by IamOld

Ha your langpar. Linpeh no money can let you laugh ar? You buy car i drive lah?

You obviously take it the wrong way. If you are so sensitive, I got nothing to say. In my area, the so call not rich are the ones riding electric bicycles and all.

You got no money then go and earn. I have money also need not buy a car and let you drive. Similarly, your bicycle let me ride lor.

[sammyboyfor]

Originally Posted by SF2004

It sad to heard this..."Dump"...u treat human as rubbish...

The truth hurts and I can't think of more appropriate term.

[furrybird]

Originally Posted by MoJoe313

Thanks for writing, bro. Second post in 3 years. You must feel something to speak out.

Some quick points. Staying with parents is different from parents staying with you. You bear all cost for the latter. Yes, I am not looking for counsel. You were the only one sharp enough to notice. The rest were busy offering unnecessary advice. LoL. Yes, I am coping well. Just letting off some steam here. Again, you are sharp.

But no, I am not worried about putting aside finances for rainy days or retirement. I have sufficient reserves. Like I wrote, I do not consider myself poor. I wrote >$10k income. Not $10k. I am just getting old and tired of the game. The rapidly increasing cost of living scares me.

I am inspired that you put in so much effort for your kid's study fund. And by this, I know you are a genuine parent. Some writers here just pretend to be one. Yes, physical health is the most important at our age. I wish you good health too. You are a good and sincere person. Peace, brother.

Yup I get what u mean, it tiresome to constantly keep up with the rat race. I seldom write because I think everyone have their right of speech, if it's not constructive then it's just web graffiti, I feel for u cos ultimately I sense in our case it's the exhaustion of constantly providing, whether its financial or physical , that duty constantly weights down and theres no end to it. A parent will always be a parent, while I do enjoy it as its parts and parcel of a family life, I do wish that sometimes there is an easier way to solve the issues. Like a government life line etc. While I find contentment in self rationalism in balances of life. I understand sometimes the best moral support is knowing there are someone out there in the same predicament and we are not alone on this route. So I wish u peace and contentment too in our walk, as you are not alone. Not due to he much we have or how good we are, or how we perform, just a tired family man, taking a break, trying to find comfort with mental speeches of our own on the web.

Peace to all bros, sorry about the once in a blue moon outburst, it strikes a cord.

[jacky43]

All my life no foreigners ask me an important Q. Is the red dot a good place to migrate rise a family and after passing, bury here yrs later?

I will say 51 % is ok. This is only me. PT girls latest competition is not PRC girls. Rather it is Myammar girls although they are not lookers. Neither selling flesh. Then how come?

Like every FT women they are so willing to please born local men. I am observing my 4 Myammar female colleagues for some times. They give me more GF feelings then the other male FTs. Sometime it make my days I though I was Jay Chow.

Whispering so close I could smell her perfume, although they are average looking. Why would I spend $ on PT girls, knowing they are operating biz nothing more. Still not to fall in on Myammar girls charm. Dont want to lose my job and, we all know.

No U turn after screw up in this red dot. No sec chance given.

[atcvin]

Originally Posted by Wintermelontea

Is there even a middle class to speak of?

At the current state of things, middle class has been eroded. There seems to be more and a wider gap between the elite and the lower band.

The only middle class that I can see are those either returning from overseas or FTs who are newly converted to citizenships.

what does middle class means? sandwiched in between lo... middle class maybe earning around 8k-12k a month, paying around $700-$1k tax per month, cannot buy BTO or EC once taking consideration of the spouse's salary.

Only choice is to buy resale HDB flat with no subsidies (HDB is really expensive compared to public housing in other countries) when we are locals and staying near parents, paying tax for govt to invite foreigners students to study free in sg whom may not be staying in sg to work..

another choice will be turning towards condo, which will make the middle income class to start getting sandwiched and getting into financial difficulties when the family start to have baby or one of the spouse get retrenched.
Eventually these will lead to two outcomes, either middle class work harder to be higher income earners or they get into debts/no saving every month, eventually lead to social problems.

TS I will suggest you find an experienced financial planner in helping you to get out of the rat race and to list out what are your current top priorities since you have already noticed, what you earn is not enough to pay for what you "need".