I think it's been so engrained in Singaporean culture to save and save and save for your future. Not pinching pennies, but there's a notion that using that money to enjoy life will inadvertently "ruin" your future.
"What if you have an emergency?" Fair. "How will you afford to pay for a house? Even BTO is expensive." Doubt I'll ever get to the point of BTO-ing, to be honest. Resale lo. "What if-" WHAT if I drop dead tomorrow? What if I die in my sleep? What will become of the tens of thousands of dollars I worked so hard to scrounge and save? Money that I never got to spend in this lifetime. What then?
I understand their concerns. It's because they're valid concerns that I find myself looking up "average savings of a 30 year old Singaporean". I'm glad to know I'm on the right track and sit comfortably in the median range. But at some point, I need to learn to enjoy the 'now' as much as I am worrying about the future.
Growing up, my family never wanted more. We never were the type to go on family vacations often, or buying expensive clothes or electronics. Hell, we got our house for dirt cheap during a housing crisis. We were never frugal but we weren't big spenders either. I think that attitude to spending has been engrained in me so deeply that my lifestyle never needed a big budget. Which is good.
But at some point, when I want for more, I find that my brain automatically stops myself. "Yes, you can afford it. But it's a waste of money that can instead help to boost your savings. Your friends have $80k saved up, and you're nowhere near that." And there it goes. I know I'm not falling behind my peers, but I feel so cash-strapped all the time for whatever reason. I can afford a lot of things. Maybe not a house, but I can afford both my wants and needs. So why am I restricting myself for an arbitrary "ideal range"?
That's why for my next challenge, once I move out, I'm going to splurge more (within reason) on rent and create a save haven for myself. A curated and well-organised space that enables me to pursue my passions freely. Right now, mind you, I don't even have a table. I am typing this out on my phone at work because at home I'd be hunched over a low stool, fighting back pain to type this and subsequently lose all momentum.
I am looking forward to writing more, reading more, creating more, and most importantly: to see how I adapt to living alone for the first time - and if this "loneliness" will motivate (read: force) me to do more with my time.
What does this have to do with the whole spiel about money? Because 1) I shop when I'm bored, so my hobbies will keep me fulfilled while keeping my pockets lined and 2) I will finally push myself to spend my hard-earned money to furnish my space and make it the way I want it to be.
Until then, maybe writing at a cafe will do the trick?
