Set up a business with my ex-gf and regretting it

I never imagined coming here, but I really need a space to let out all my frustrations because I can’t afford a shrink LOL. Here’s my story:

3 Years Ago, I left my job (sales background) to start an ecommerce business on 3 major online retailers with my GF. It was a success! We became a preferred seller on S, and a power Seller on Q (L platform still a challenge till today)! I do the all the marketing and sales online (content to generate the sales, everything sales related and platform management) while she does the procurement and operations(warehousing, logistics, finances).

We generate a monthly revenue of close to $30,000 monthly and I pay a salary of $7500 Gross (including company CPF) to my GF (as part of an agreement to give her allowance when she quit her job so she has something to be proud of).  Since inception, I have only taken small payouts for myself to invest in my own portfolio and my investment in the business 3 times way higher than what she has invested.

I have not taken any salary for myself because I have always believed in investing back into the business to expand it (when we did a breakdown I found out almost all the profits goes to her salary for the past 3 years), she has always believed in taking salary so she can feel proud of herself and won’t feel inferior when compared to her friends (they are in their late 30s and the peak of their careers)

We have many disagreements in operating a business, when it comes to pricing strategies and marketing budget, I always will do whatever it takes to get a sale, such as selling it at a lower price(by giving vouchers to claim and follower prize) when sales season is over, she on the other hand believes in selling it at a very premium price and never giving a discount (we always lose our competitive advantage due to this).

Due to a recent quarrel we split, and my now ex-GF has recently asked for an increment despite the business not generating an extra revenue, if not she will quit, stop all operations and threaten a lawyer for compensation (she claims to have very powerful connections that can sabotage me in many ways should I choose to start a new business).

I have no idea on what to do. I feel at a loss because all the effort I have put in is now gone to waste for the past 3 years. We each have a 50% shareholding. Should I put the business on sale? Should I ask for compensation and bleed it dry or should I give in to her demands? Or should I just quit and say, “screw it, it’s all on you now to generate your own sales.”

Off note: I have paid for everything throughout the relationship (guess the number of bags(LV, Gucci and Chanel) I bought for her), that includes food, bills (phone bills, cc bills, etc.), rent for staying over and groceries for her recently retired parents. Nevertheless, everything is different from her POV so I’m wrong to the eyes of her people. Hard to accept the hard truth that I have worked for nothing.

Does Rich and young taitai in their early 30’s or 40’s really exists in Singapore?

There’s a friend of mine came blabbering to me that he met a really chio young taitai to “bao yang” him. Every week he would go out shopping just to make her happy, even with mthly allowance of 10k from her.

When I asked for photo and how did he knows that lady and from where he would just say ” aiya u dont believe sua la” U want i can intro to u~

If is really true, then cute guy, handsome guy no need work liao lo. Find one taitai make her happy and you huat liao.

Im handsome and cute, why no taitai find me leh?

Netizens’ comments

• Why not take him up on his offer and ask him to introduce if you’re keen?
• Since your frenz offer to introduce to u, take the offer then u know true or not ma
• You handsome and cute not say by ownself. Buay hiao bai
• Post pic here for us to verify if you’re handsome and cute.
• Don’t understand why the new generation of males so weak and aimless in life to find Tai Tai to “Bao”. Go make your own money yourself la why want to be a Titus Low ?

I am a someone (23F) who always have large pores with pimples and blackhead that never seem to go away. Tried many products here and there and always got disheartened when they never work. Been to dermatology clinics to seek for decent facial products yet stopped halfway many times because they were too costly (over hundred of dollars).

Having such skin condition affected my self-esteem a lot. Most of my friends have natural good skin which don’t require much maintenance. I was once labelled as having “strawberry nose” which I feel ashamed of. Sometimes I feel relieved to wear masks these days so that I can “hide” my face when talking to people.  Still, I feel ashamed and embarrassed to talk to people because of my skin.

In 2020, I was introduced to a brand new world of makeup. Things like this helped me to conceal my “bad” skin. When I look into the mirror with my makeup on, I feel like a whole new person. I started to gain more confidence and become more comfortable talking to people. I also had my first boyfriend that year which is something I have never thought of.

Every time when I meet my boyfriend, I would put on makeup which makes my skin look smoother and brighter. As time goes by, I start to feel the adverse effect of putting on makeup on my skin (I have naturally oily skin). Beneath my skin, I had more breakouts than usual which makes me shitty when I take off my makeup.

I am lucky to have known a dermatologist who is introduced to me by my cousin. I had been to a few facial sessions conducted by that dermatologist and from the way she does her work to her attitude, I see some light in getting my face treated for good. Also, as I started working, I am okay spending more on facial treatments and products.

According to the dermatologist, for my skin type, it is best to stop wearing makeup and let my face “rest”.

This is toughest part for me because I have difficulties showing my bare face to the people around me, especially my boyfriend. But at the same time, I really want to get my face treated for real. I mean I have spent all my life having a pimpled face, and how nice it would be like to seek proper treatment especially I earn my own money now right.

I cannot imagine how he is going to react when he sees my bare face since he and his family all have good skin. Should I go the extent of breaking up with him since I don’t want to destroy that “fair-skin” girl image?

My colleague recently resigned and he tell me his epic story.

Gm: our promotion exercise is coming in august. I have intention to promote you.

Colleague: i work in this company for 10 years. My starting salary is 1.6k. Every year i only get $50 increment. A new staff join do the same job as me straight away get 2.5k salary. You think this is fair to me?

Gm: i don’t know about this as i recently than take over your department.

Colleague: if want to promote me should have done it long ago, not wait till i want to resign. Even if promote me also just give me $100 or $200 increment. I work in this company 10 years already i know your promotion is bs with little increment.

Gm: wah. You go new job also may not be good. If you stay here at least can get a $200 increment when i promote you in april

Colleague: you think i am beggar is it. I leave already is the company’s loss. Now i go drive grab also can easily earn more than 3k a month. I don’t have new job i also want to resign. (Continues nagging about how good he is).

My colleague sounds like he is very proud of himself when he tells me this.

I hear liao arm chio. Just leave, don’t need talk so much crap because nobody will miss you. Go tell your sob story to your wife and mother. We are not interested to hear your sob story. Ppl have been doing grab delivery and earn more than 3k a month, since like what 5 years ago? Now than you want to do grab driver to earn 3k and you still can think you are very smart. 5 years ago you should have already quit and go be grab driver.