SINGAPORE: How do you “spend and save” on S$1,900 a month when you have a family to support? This is what a Singaporean father is trying to figure out, as his family of three relies on his monthly take-home pay of S$1,900 after CPF deductions from his S$2,400 salary.
On r/askSingapore, he explained that his wife is currently unemployed and that their monthly bills already come to S$500, excluding their child's expenses and transport costs. Unsure how to make ends meet, he asked how others would “spend and save” such an amount if they were in his shoes.
Netizens were divided over his situation. While some believed it was “impossible” for his take-home pay to support a family of three, others were optimistic that careful budgeting could help him get by.
One commenter pointed out that his salary was “no problem” for a single person, but would be “real tough” for a family of three. Another even suggested moving across the Causeway to Johor Bahru (JB) and “cosplay” as a Malaysian worker commuting to work in Singapore.
A third commenter, who was also pessimistic about the situation, said, “I used to think it was [possible], but you must also account for inflation and the rising cost of living. What if 10 years later, the cost of necessities increases 10x? Your basic hawker meal becomes S$20, etc.”
Others, however, were convinced it's possible, but only without the extra stuff. This means no insurance, no travelling and all the other wants, and no falling sick or losing a job.
Several others also advised him to rent as cheaply as possible and purchase only discounted food, while some suggested getting financial support from the government, such as having school fees waived and getting meal and transport subsidies.
The debate echoes a similar discussion in August, when TikTok content creator Jeff (THE PRINCE) Wang (@jeff_wang_jun) claimed S$1,900 a month was enough to survive on. Many commenters argued that surviving on the amount was “not nearly enough”.
Mr Wang, however, reiterated that he was referring to “survival” and a single person's monthly expenses.
If S$1,900 a month is already seen as a struggle for one person to survive on, what more for the Singaporean father trying to make that same amount cover a family of three? /TISG