Materialistic lifestyle of Singaporeans

last SG · 2006-04-26T10:25:33+00:00

controlled inflation well said it used to be we could save up quite abit to have our own personnal "dream" of sorts. forumers old enough to recall will be a...

Gordonator SG

Everyday everywhere, we seems to be on an endless pursuit for a higher standard of living. Using the lastest handphone, changing new car, living in big house, buying big television set, wearing the best gear etc.

What are your point of views on this?

Manager433 SG

Some cannot even afford a car die die still want to buy one.

Rolling Eyes

End up heavily in debt.

FBI SG

actually it's only teenagers. but for me as long as can use it's good enough, don need very good.

This problem also reflects on how students nowadays wat kinda steads they want.

They want those that are nice and have alot of functions jus like those gadgets they owned lo.

They are still kids la..

Gordonator SG

it’s ironic in a sense that i find that in one corner, some singaporeans can afford posh sport cars, live a luxury lifestyle while in another corner, some can’t even make ends meet. For them, feeding their families and seeing their children through school is already quite a burden.

Thailand_Hero SG

If people are poor due to poverty or economic weakness i can understand.

however in Singapore where opportunities abound, i still can hear many men whining about high petrol prices, cost of living and basically anything they can think off.

When COEs were high...people whine...when COE became cheaper...people still whining.

Incompetant people would always be amoungst us. Its true that we love big homes, nice cars and have a huge appetite for wealth. Its so chinese to be in love with these things and remember its also people like us that made singapore what it is today.

dragg SG

singaporeans never learn.

alexkusu SG

For some, material things are forms of status. They like to show off their wealth.

Compared to some people..eg malaysians.. even tho some msians are rich, they dress shabbily, drives average cars, and lives in average houses.

BillyBong SG

This development is due to a variety of reasons. The 5Cs (coined by our govt), the deluded goal of 'SWISS STANDARD OF LIVING' (by SM GCT), the noble aim of reaching 1st world status (with a 3rd world administration).

Even the upgrading carrots at every election and control of COE prices have created a material-first society, the pursuit of a comfortable lifestyle has been warped by our people into the pursuit of material assets.

The more the merrier.

The more expensive = perceived 'higher status' in society.

Instead of earning enough to reside comfortably, we become deranged money-earners and this is certainly not helped by our rising costs of living - groceries, utilities, fuel, property etc etc.

Our low birth rates can also be linked to this factor as singles find it easier to pursue their careers without the added burden of family. The costs involved in starting a family are significant enough (without being materialistic) to discourage many Singaporeans of this generation to even consider the thought. Is it any wonder fewer and fewer among the better-educated prefer to stay unattached?

Just like the arrogant and empty boast of reaching Goal 2010, our purported SWISS STANDARD OF LIVING is fast becoming more of a fantasy.

dragg SG

maybe they are afraid of kidnappers.

alexkusu SG

yup, thats the point. Stand out too much, u get kindap, murdered, etc Mr. Green

dragg SG

singaporeans are pampered.

so much so they have no qualms about overspending.

Gordonator SG

not saying that having a high standard of living is bad or anything. just that i find that we are always constantly buying and changing to better and newer stuffs eventhough the things we are replacing are still brand new.

1 good example is handphones, it's amazing the frequency of singaporeans who changes their phones within a short period of time. take a look around and u see majority of the people using costly high end phones. sometimes i wonder whether they really uses those expensive features or they buy them for the sake of buying?

and those cars on the streets, most i see are brand new if not relatively new. and there seems to be increasing no. of sport cars on the road, even in the heartlands.

breytonhartge SG

to those who have the money and are secure about themselves, they do not need to justify anything, it is those people that really don't have the money and are insecure that have the problem, they pretend to be someone they are not, that is when the problem really starts.

Singaporeans basically have a good life. But at the same time, you've got to work for what you want. There are opportunities out there it is up to you to make the most of it. You don't like your situation, guess what? You are the only person who can do something about it.

nothing wrong with wanting a better quality of life. if you can afford it by all means enjoy it.

breytonhartge SG

Originally posted by Gordonator:
[b]

and those cars on the streets, most i see are brand new if not relatively new. [b]

you can blame the COE and the government for that one. Mr. Green

dragg SG

how many singaporeans are actually rich? or debt free?

most have borrowing power. once they lose their job they lose that power. with that everything crumbles.

The man who was death SG

nowadays no handphones, find job get discriminated one. Laughing

nabeiz

dragg SG

i dont know anyone without handphones.

Mr. Green

Ito_^ SG

my parents debt free. Embarassed but not rich. Laughing

dragg SG

they have finished paying all the housing and car loans?

The man who was death SG

now u know me Mr. Green