Does anyone else feel like they’re playing a game of The Sims on “Nightmare Mode” lately, or have I just not had enough Kopi C today?
I was at a random hawker center in the heartlands yesterday—not even CBD, mind you—and I paid $8.50 for a basic plate of sliced fish soup with rice. No extra fish, no fried egg, just soup and vibes. I remember when this was $4.50. When did lunch become a luxury subscription service?
It’s not just the food. It’s the everything.
The “Sardine” Commute
I took the MRT during peak hour and I’m pretty sure I’m now legally married to the uncle who was pressed against my back from City Hall to Jurong East. We have the world’s best transport system, sure, but why does every train ride feel like a tactical extraction mission? Everyone is staring at their phones with this hollow, “zombie-glaze” look because if we acknowledge the person breathing 2cm away from our face, we might actually snap.
The “Work-Life” Illusion
And don’t even get me started on the “flexible work” arrangements. My boss says we are flexible, which apparently means I am flexible enough to answer Teams pings at 9:30 PM while I’m trying to watch Netflix. We live in a culture where leaving the office at 6:00 PM feels like you’re committing a white-collar crime. I see my grab delivery rider more often than I see my own parents.
The Entitlement Peak
Is it just me, or has everyone’s fuse gotten shorter? I saw a guy lose his absolute mind at a bus interchange because the bus was two minutes late. Two minutes! He was filming the poor driver like he was catching a war criminal. We are all so stressed out by the “Nuclear” pace of this city that we’ve lost the ability to just… exist.
The Verdict?
We’re “rich” as a nation, but why do we all feel so broke? Broke of time, broke of patience, and increasingly broke of cash because of the “GST hike” butterfly effect that makes every merchant round up their prices by a dollar instead of nine cents.
I love this island, I really do. The safety is top-tier and the food (when affordable) is elite. But man, the “Singapore Dream” is starting to feel more like a very expensive, high-speed treadmill that I can’t find the “Off” button for.
TL;DR: Prices up, space down, stress maxed out. Send help and a $3.00 chicken rice (if it still exists).
Edit: To the person who is going to comment “If you don’t like it, leave,” please lah. I complain because I care. And because I can’t afford the moving costs anyway.