Wah lau, I really cannot take it anymore. I was swiping on dating apps the other day, and it’s like if you don’t have four wheels and a steering wheel, you are basically invisible in this country. To get a girl in Singapore nowadays, I swear I die die need to buy a car. Even if I have to sell my backside, I will find a way to get that downpayment because the “No Car, No Date” culture is getting out of hand.
I know what you’re going to say—”Take public transport lah, so convenient what!” Bro, try asking a girl out for a nice dinner at Dempsey or some ulu cafe in Seletar, then tell her “Later we take Bus 117 then transfer to MRT together.” The vibe immediately dies. She will give you that “standard Singaporean smile” but in her head, she’s already thinking about the guy with the Mercedes who can send her door-to-door.
But have you seen the prices lately? COE is basically the price of a small apartment in other countries. By the time you settle the car loan and look at the interest rates, your monthly salary is already gone. And don’t even get me started on the car insurance premiums for a “young male driver.” It’s like the insurance companies think we are all street racers. Every month I’m looking at my personal finance spreadsheet and it’s just red color everywhere.
The total cost of ownership in Singapore is a literal scam. You pay for the petrol, you pay for ERP, you pay for parking that costs more than your meal. Yet, we still queue up at the dealership like siao lang. Why? because a car isn’t just transport; it’s a “success symbol.” If I want to compete in this marriage market, I need that “asset.”
I’ve even started looking into refinancing my soul just to afford a second-hand Japanese car. I’ve researched every bank loan and credit facility available, trying to find the lowest debt-to-income ratio just to survive. If my credit score could talk, it would be screaming for help. But what to do? In the eyes of society, if you don’t have a car, you’re just another “unsuccessful” Sinkie. I guess I’ll just keep grinding my side hustle until I can finally afford that downpayment. Truly, the life of a Singaporean guy is just one big financial struggle.
#SGCars #DatingWoes #COETooHigh #FinancialFreedomWhen #SingaporeLife