Middle class Singaporean no more.....Sigh

[leakypipes]

Originally Posted by MoJoe313

Don't see how I am living like an upper class when I have only 5 shirts and my only extravagance is enrichment classes for my kids. Nonetheless, an enriching discourse. I have learnt alot from our exchanges. Thanks bro.

Not referring to your possessions bro... But your dependents... Seriously I would cut the enrichment classes.. Support their eca... And provide bare minimum tuition...

I think you want the best for your kids.. But what is best for them is to have a happy and healthy father who can cope with adversity, so that they learn to do the same by example...

You seem to be caught in the Singaporean (not Singapore) trap... I believe you can break out... And if you do, they will also...

[leakypipes]

Just to share with you also, there was a period where my dad was asking for more money... He want try start a business...

After awhile I told him, no more. Either he shape up or I cut him off. He had to be realistic about the prospects. It was painful for me...but it had to be done. Otherwise it would have created a drain..

[MoJoe313]

Edited out

[kraam]

Originally Posted by DemonicSS

Dude, what the ts is talking about is not about the amount of money he is earning, but rather his only wish is that his lifestyle can be maintained. A govt's duty is to improve the lives of others, if they cannot, at least maintain the standard as is across all segments of society - and not degrade it. But our current system is doing totally opposite, causing the segments to change greatly, making the rich richer, the middle and poor poorer.

So Kraam, dun be so quick to mouth off who is worse off economically. that wasn't the topic here. If you wish, create another thread telling us how affected are you in your income group instead. We are all in the same boat afterall.

It shows u're quite stupid to even reply such a thing. So it is the govt's problem that you can't really control your own fucking expenditure? that's all what u're really stupidly fucking saying.

[Hokkienkia]

Originally Posted by MoJoe313

Ah hia,
Hun ki zha zha bo sio liao. Zar bor ah bo piak. Kwai kwai teh chu pak puay ki, kua kia. Bo kao peh, manna si Singapore lang. Wu a lao lang kong wa lang si Champion Grumblers. Wa ba lu tia eee a wei, confirm plus chop nia

lao hia, wa hmm si gong le la. wa si gong ji tao eh lang si bei su ka kao peh cheng hu. kao peh leow ma si sio siang.

singapo lang kao peh kao bu lumber 1! wa ma si singapo lang! hurhurhur

[Hokkienkia]

ji tao eh lang si bei su ka sio meh hor? lim beh na teh beh tao, ji tao si pa jian eh ti hng ah si chuay zar bor eh ti hng? knn..

[Fudge]

The is the cycle and monotony of life here.

[sammyboyfor]

Originally Posted by MoJoe313

Ah. Smartster. Trading businesses and cashing out. No wonder I am not getting this part of the equation right.

I will bear the lesson in mind. Thanks boss.

You can't own a business forever because all businesses have a "use by" date.

Technologies change, environments change, the business owner changes as time goes by.

A business is no different from any other form of asset. EG property is valued based upon the rental or lease return it can fetch. Businesses are valued based upon revenue stream and profitability.

If you don't cash out or go public at some point how are you going to realise the value of your hard work?

[godsfury]

How easy it is to just blame everyone or the gahment for how tough our life is. Do open your eyes to look at other countries to see how lucky we are. Don't compare. Be happy.

How much is enough in life? What are u after? The pleasures in life or more?

[Mora1Epitome]

Vote them out!

[oxlv]

one must always be contented with what one has & must never be greedy.

''don't bite off more than you can chew''

&

''don't wear such a big hat if you don't have such a big head''

[kraam]

Originally Posted by godsfury

How easy it is to just blame everyone or the gahment for how tough our life is. Do open your eyes to look at other countries to see how lucky we are. Don't compare. Be happy.

How much is enough in life? What are u after? The pleasures in life or more?

exactly. some bros here their brains really empty.

[Orchinno]

Originally Posted by MoJoe313

A honest hardworking couple trying to provide is called gaining sympathy, whereas a philandering bro telling his sexcapades here is worshipped? Haha. Power lah bro. But lets study your numbers.

Now bro, kindly return the honesty in reviewing my added figures. Lets see who is dishonest? Imho, you never ran a household. Thank you.

Err. that's my guess of your household income. Mine is a lot different from yours and is actually closer to leaky pipes.

As for sexual escapade, being that, done that long ago. Went thru a very bad patch in familial relationships but came out straight. See my power/points always in moderation.

Housing Loans : 3K per month
Transport : 500 per month, gas + amortized maintenance
Utilities : 360 per month
Conservancy : 330 per month
Credit Card bill : 1.6K per month (grocery, weekend meals for parents, misc)
Grocery at Wet Market : 600 per month
Telecom/CableTV bills : 200 per month
Pocket money for 3 kids : 400 per month
Parent's money : 500 per month

Total 7.5 K per month on my income only.

My wife pays for the maid's salary and levy (labour substitution). But everything else I bear, ie food, lodging, utilities and so.

Like leak pipes, I choose a very good wife. My family barely spent more than 2000 dollars on clothings in a whole year. And she does not use comestics and such, so that's one chunk of expenses not incurred. (But then that would be out of her pocket, not mine)

In fact, the bulk of my income goes to paying off the bank which I cannot avoid as we need to be close to the schools that the kids are in. If not, I can reduce my expense further down to 6.0 K per month.

Whether you believe me or not, I really don't care. As leaky pipe has done, we are showing you that the expenses can be managed. And I believe in paying forward, so I don't take loans for anything, even the car. The only thing that could not be avoid is the housing loan as that sum is too large for me to save in reasonable time to be able to buy a house.

I have live my life frugally and will continue to do so. Sometimes eye red red see the big bosses here, but always just remind myself that this is my karma and I to to live thru this cycle of the wheel to pay back those I owe in the last.

[MoJoe313]

Originally Posted by godsfury

Do open your eyes to look at other countries to see how lucky we are. Don't compare. Be happy.

When one is consumed with political inclination, he doesn't even realize how stupid he sounds. "Open eyes look at other countries and don't compare." It's an oxymoron statement.

[Orchinno]

1. How come you got maid but you don't include her cost. Ok, add it in.
Maid monthly salary 560 dollars only.

2. LoL. Add clothes cost.
Between her, me and our kids, we don't spent more than 2000 dollars a year on clothings and shoes. I am still going to work in shirts and pants that I bought 3 - 4 years ago. I just add 1 or 2 pieces whenever Robinson sales comes around GSS and my shoes last forever.

3. Her make up and beauty care are important. Add in.
Err. her expense, not in my accounts. but she does not use lipsticks, powder or anything like that. I believe her beauty expenses not more 60 dollars per month mostly for skin whitener.

4. Your kids live on milk only?! Can exchange? Mine need toys and clothes. Add in.
Toys only twice a year, X'mas and birthdays and limit to not more than 50 dollars. So, 50 x 2 x 3 /12 = 25 dollars per month. Clothings as explain above. Most of the clothing cost comes at the beginning of the school year, to buy replacement uniform and shoes and Chinese New Year.

5. Parents allowance missing. Add in.
I am assuming in your calculations since they are staying with you, they are not drawing an allowance. In my case, my parents and her parents stay on their own, and they are still working despite past retirement age. I inherit my thrift and work ethnics from them.

6. Parents in law allowance missing. Forget this and your wife gives you hell. Add in.
Her expenses again. I believe it's in a range of 1K - 1.5K. And there's no hell, we are amicable about this. She supports her parents and I support mine.

7. Waa. Your home air con no need service?
We don't use the aircon very much, so my utilities is already half of yours and it hardly requires servicing. Seriously, I don't know how you manage to rack up an utility bill of 600 plus dollars. My electricity bill is at around 160 a month, water another 60, gas for cooking another 60 and the rest the normal charges.

8. $100 car maintenance seem low. No road tax and insurance? Teach me lobang can?
Good point, i miss out the road tax and insurance. I service my car 3 times yearly at about 400 per service, so 100 dollars a month is sufficient. However, adding road tax and insurance probably bump transport expenses to 360 + 100 + 200 = 660 per month. Of course, this does not include unforseen repairs but that is out of the discretionary account.

9. Er....you no buy personal insurance ah? Add in.
No life insurance. Only investment linked insurance with medical riders which comes to about 400 per month. I intend to fully benefit from medishield should I need it. So insurance is not an expense, but a form of investment. In fact, one of my policy just mature after 10 years and i collected back 12K.

Just to add more, we travel overseas once a year to nearby countries from whatever is left in the discretionary account.