Of late, I’ve seen a lot of posts talking about financial issues, difficulty with housing, relationship/ intimacy problems, etc. faced my people & couples in their late 20s, early 30s.

I’m writing my own experience with no intent to offend anyone, or show off. Just share that these are normal and can be dealt with.

We are a couple in our early 30s, expat & living in Singapore for about 5 years with a toddler. 

Pay & finance: When we first moved, one of us was earning 7k & the other 5k. At the moment, we earn12.5k & 8k.

Both of us put away at least 50% of our salary towards savings & investment. Till date, just have about 100k in cash & 150k in investment. Own no property, vehicles, etc. We plan with the goal of retiring from full time employment maintaining the same lifestyle when we hit 45.

Living: We upgraded from renting a 1 bedder to a 2 bedder to currently a 3 bedder. We live at a fairly mature condo outside the city centre to have access to a larger than average house and all the condo facilities. Our rent is 2.9k.

We toyed with the idea of renting a newer property closer to the city, but couldn’t rationalize the rent.

Lifestyle: We do not spend on luxuries like Starbucks, or regularly eating at fancy cafes & restaurants. Neither do we spent on electronic, home appliances, jewellery & trinkets.

We usually do 1 date night and 1 family outing every 2 weeks that costs about $200 in total.

The only major enjoyment spend on is travel – we generally do 4-5 holidays per year, but plan for it way in advance – make our bookings & reservation months before, try to stay with friends & family whenever possible. Each trip usually cost us 2k to 15k (depending on where we go). Generally do just one high end trip.

Relationship/ intimacy: we are in a overall good & stable relationship. Like all things, there are ups & downs but we do agree that at the end of the day we talk about it with each other, share our views and accept each others differences & the challenges we face.

Our bedroom activities life took a hig hit after the baby. From going at it 2-3 times a week even during our pregnancy, we went to doing it maybe once every few months. It was very frustrating – YES! But we talked about it, understood each other and are in a much better place today.

We are still picking up the pieces of this aspect of life, acknowledge that it’s not going back to how it was, but we will make it work.

For those who may be wondering about our careers growth – we are both uni graduates, and Singapore wasn’t where we started our careers. Neither did we focus on taking up additional full time or part time education. What we did do was to always be open to every opportunity at work that’s presented itself to learn from & do more, not necessarily immediately having any short term financial gain.

Neither of us were star students while at school & uni, and we don’t put that pressure on our child too. We value hard work, working smartly and the can do attitude more important than paper credentials.

Advice to those that are struggling: don’t compare your life with others, everyone has their own story to write and do it at your own pace. Dont succumb to parental & peer pressure, or the general trend of the right thing to do.

Work hard and more importantly work smart at your job.

You do YOU!

A photo emerged online showing a group of about 11 cyclists cycling along a rather busy expressway on the SLE.

The incident happened on 10 June at about 8.55am, along the Seletar Expressway heading towards the Bukit Timah Expressway.

The photo was taken by a passing vehicle on the expressway, who saw the group of errant cyclists riding on the SLE.

The group was seen clustered together while riding on the expressway, with a few from the group cycling further ahead in front.

Potential penalties

Under the Active Mobility Act (AMA), which came into effect in May 2018, it is an offence to ride bicycles and electronic bikes on the expressways.

Persons caught riding bicycles on the expressways face a fine of up to $2,000 and/or a jail term of up to 6 months.

I’m a Singaporean when my family and I emigrated when I was 10 and became subsequently AWOL from NS under the Enlistment Act

I was born in Singapore to Singaporean parents, and was a typical Singaporean until 10. I attended a PCF Kindergarten. A neighbourhood primary school for a few years. Took the MRT, ate at hawker centres, etc.

My parents told me that I wouldn’t have any issues visiting Singapore as a tourist, as I will be able to renounce it immediately once I acquired a different citizenship. Turns out they were wrong.

You can’t renounce until you were 21 and after having served NS if you continued to use your Singapore passport after your emigration. I used it as late as 17 years old. I basically enjoyed “dual-citizenship” throughout my teenage years. My parents was just like “meh” when they found out.

Despite receiving the medical check-up + enlistment letter, my parents advised me not to return to serve as they said NS is too dangerous and risky. As I was just a teen back then, I didn’t really fight this. I’m now 31 years old. I haven’t been back to Singapore since like 2003, my last visit.

Obviously, my Singapore passport hasn’t been renewed since its last expiry after 21 years old. It’s safe to assume that I’m a fugitive in the eyes of the Singapore authorities. The airport closest to my adopted country’s city commonly conducts international transit flights via Changi, so I have to be extra careful when flying overseas.

Source: u/LatterCoaster

A netizen shared a story about how his insurance agent friend visited an escort and in the midst of “using” her service, proceeded to sell her insurance.

Here is what he said

“I have a friend who is working as an insurance agent, he is those very lupsup type of guy ah, like to go KTV play with girls, drinks, gamble, visit “fish tank” and etcetera.

But despite all these, he is quite a solid insurance agent. Like he will always be thinking about where to get his next sale so on and so forth.

He is also the type to post those cringy “work hard, play hard” motivational posts on his Instagram, where he take photos of his Rolex while holding on to his Benz’s steering wheel.

Then every time like to post photos of those atas insurance events where everybody wear suits at a gala dinner and whatnot, then hold up some trophy.

Anyway, he tried to sell me insurance once, but I declined because I am already covered by another agent from another company. And he is the type to target literally anyone.

So one time we were having drinks together to catch up after not meeting for a long time, and he then told me about the time he hired an escort to “settle his needs”.

And because the escort provided him with girlfriend experience, they then started chatting after he finished his “first round”.

He told her that he was working as a financial adviser for an insurance company, and one thing led to another he ended up selling her an endowment plan.

He even got his stupid iPad standby at the side, after he convinced her, straight away the iPad come out and lock down the insurance sale.

Sell the girl insurance already nevermind, then they commence their “round two”, and after they were done, still can follow up with her and tell her he will keep in touch with her about her endowment plan.

Wah I tell you this guy, don’t know want to facepalm or respect him… Like that also can manage to sell insurance.”

Editor’s note: Sia lah this fella next level lah bro, ultimate hustler.