SINGAPORE – A young man recently voiced his frustration on social media, sharing that his monthly salary of S$2,100 is insufficient to meet his needs.
SINGAPORE – A young man recently voiced his frustration on social media, sharing that his monthly salary of S$2,100 is insufficient to meet his needs. Posting anonymously to the SGWhispers confessions page, he explained that he joined his current company shortly after graduating a year ago, accepting the offer as “reasonable” based on the job market. However, he now finds it challenging to make ends meet with his take-home pay of S$1,600 after CPF deductions.
Despite his efforts, he struggles to support his elderly parents and considers starting a family nearly impossible on this income. “Food, transport, bills—it leaves barely any money left. And as we’re expected to support our parents, it’s a difficult balance,” he wrote. “I love my parents, but starting a family feels out of reach. A degree seems necessary for a better salary in Singapore.”
Responses from netizens were sympathetic, with many urging him to consider upgrading his skills or seeking new opportunities. “Don’t stay there for years if you’re already unhappy,” one commenter advised, while another suggested that his salary was on par with entry-level cleaning jobs, indicating room for improvement in his current role.
This issue isn’t isolated. Earlier this year, another worker in the audit industry posted on NUSWhispers, asking if fresh graduates now earn S$4,000 to S$5,000. Despite two years in the field, his S$3,000 starting salary hadn’t kept up with reported averages, leading him to question whether he was simply in the wrong industry.
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