Honestly, I need to get this off my chest because the mental gymnastics required to live here right now is exhausting. Is anyone else feeling like they’re running a marathon on a treadmill that keeps speeding up?
1. The “Shrinkflation” is Real
I walked into a hawker center today and a basic plate of chicken rice—which used to be the “reliable” $3.50 meal—is now pushing $5.00 or $6.00 in some places. And for what? The portion size has halved. I’m paying more for less food, while the “service fee” and “GST hike” are treated like inevitable laws of nature. It’s not just food; it’s everything. Utilities, transport, even a basic coffee. My salary certainly didn’t get a 9% “adjustment” to match the GST, so where is that money supposed to come from?
2. The “Retrenchment” Ghost
Every time I open LinkedIn, it’s a sea of “Open to Work” banners. Tech, banking, even manufacturing—no industry feels safe anymore. Companies are posting record profits one quarter and then announcing “restructuring” the next.
It’s the sheer instability that kills me. You can be a “high performer” on Friday and be handed a cardboard box on Monday morning because some VP in another timezone decided to “streamline operations.” We’re told to “upskill” and “reskill,” but when do we have the time or the mental capacity to do that when we’re working 50+ hours a week just to keep the job we already have?
3. The “Passion” vs. Reality Gap
We’re constantly told Singapore is this world-class hub of opportunity. And sure, it is—if you’re a multi-millionaire or a C-suite expat. For the average Joe/Jane, it feels like we’re just the fuel for the engine. How are we supposed to plan for a future, buy a flat (don’t even get me started on BTO/resale prices), or start a family when the ground under our feet is constantly shifting?
TL;DR: Prices are soaring, jobs are disappearing, and the “Singapore Dream” is starting to feel more like a “Singapore Survival Kit.”
Anyone else feeling completely burnt out by the cost of existing here? Or am I just shouting into the void?