I’ve had a pretty sobering realization lately, and it’s honestly quite alarming. I’m in my mid-30s, and after some deep conversations with my social circle, I discovered that a shocking number of my friends—guys who are 34, 35, 36—don’t even have $100 in liquid savings in their bank accounts. These aren’t people working entry-level jobs; these are grown men with full-time careers, yet they are living paycheck to paycheck, or worse, living on credit they can’t afford.
As I looked closer, I noticed a very clear common denominator among them. They all fall into what I call the “Ji Hong” (becomes dog when got girl) lifestyle. There is this toxic obsession with “face” and “lifestyle” that seems to override any sense of financial literacy.
It usually boils down to three main vices: Drinking, Gambling, and Girls.
Every weekend, it’s the same cycle. They’ll head to the Thai discos (biu hua), KTVs, or bistros, ordering towers of beer or expensive bottles just to look like a “boss” in front of the server or the girls working there. I’ve seen friends swipe their credit cards for a $500 or $1,000 bill, knowing full well they only have $50 left in their account and will only be able to pay the “Minimum Amount” when the statement hits. They are literally paying 26% interest just to feel like a high-roller for four hours.
Then there’s the gambling—whether it’s weekly 4D/Toto, heavy soccer betting, or frequent trips to the MBS/Resorts World casinos. It’s always “one big win away” from fixing their life, but the math never works out.
The scariest part is the delusion. They use credit cards as an extension of their income rather than a financial tool. They’ll buy branded clothes or treat a girl to a fancy dinner at a rooftop bar just to impress her, even though they are struggling to top up their EZ-Link card the next day. In a country like Singapore, where the cost of living is skyrocketing and our CPF is locked up, having zero liquidity in your mid-30s is a massive red flag. One medical emergency or a sudden retrenchment, and they are completely finished.
Is this a widespread thing in our generation? It feels like many Singaporean men are trapped in this “Lao Lan” culture where looking successful is more important than actually being stable. It’s heartbreaking to see, but at this age, if you’re still choosing the “Ji Hong” life over basic financial security, I don’t know how you’re going to survive the next ten years.