What’s considered poor in Singapore?
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I am curious what are the opinions of people about this YouTube video from Asian Boss after they did an earlier one about high cost of living in Singapore. You may want to view the “What’s considered poor” video first if you haven’t done so.
So what are your opinions about the interviewees’ responses and are they good reflections of Singapore’s overall situation?
Netizens’ comments
- I would think as long as you are living paycheck to paycheck yet you can’t even meet your basic living needs like food & shelter, you are more or less poor. Like to the point where you might have to skip meals or walk 🙃
- $2000/mth and you have rent to pay it’ll be pretty rough. After CPF it’s only $1600. Room rental $700/mth. $900 left to get through the month.
- When basic needs of clean food, water, shelter or safety are not guaranteed
- Poor is subjective. To me you can have 10m in your bank but if you live at your job and visit your home then thats Poor to me. Actual actual Poor to me is unable to afford 3 meals a day.
- Poor is when you have to work 8 to 12 hrs a day and after all your essential expenses you are left with little or no savings.
- IÂ think it depends on how people define poor. Poor as in it is financially difficult to live in relative comfort (ie not stressing about money or not needing to scrimp in a way that harms their long-term health), or poor as in difficulties in getting necessities?
There was a research made by NTU professors – Minimum Income Standard. Using a benchmark of 2 working adults with 2 children, the average (2021) is $2900 per adult. I personally would add a little bit more to account for saving for university fees (or other tertiary education) for both the children (perhaps over 15 years) because to me school loan is just a matter of who is taking on the debt. - Depends largely on whether you have to rent. Getting a roof over your head is very expensive, especially for foreigners
- It is better to be financially poor but emotionally rich.