How a Singapore Student is Turning Inflated Prices into a Real-Life Budgeting Adventure
We all know inflation is nothing to brag about. From a basic cai fan cost of $11 to suddenly paying $72 for two raw chickens, the price increase feels like a never‑ending rollercoaster.
Enter the “Cash‑Stuffing” Trend
Thanks to some YouTube inspiration and the viral TikTok craze, a 23‑year‑old student in Singapore, who simply goes by Saeyeon, has found a quirky way to keep her wallet (and her sanity) from cracking under the pressure.
- Step 1: Hit the bank, grab your paycheck, and decide whether to withdraw cash or keep some online.
- Step 2: Carve the funds into colored envelopes, each tagged with a purpose: food, entertainment, transport, you name it.
- Step 3: Use the envelopes as a visual reminder of where your money goes.
“Seeing the money in a postcard‑sized pocket makes it easier to keep a lid on spending,” Saeyeon told AsiaOne. “I cut back on movies and junk Netflixie time so I could shell out more for groceries.”
Results That Spice Up a Budget
Since starting the envelope experiment in February 2021, Saeyeon has tucked away an impressive $5,000. She’s also discovered that cooking at home is way cheaper—and that you actually like eating a padded soup or stir‑fry in your own kitchen. Grab a saucepan, and the savings start rolling in!
Reality Check: More Than Just One Student
Inflation’s bite is felt by everyone—homes, petrol, and food prices all rising. A survey by AsiaOne in July rolled up the flags of 3,001 respondents of all ages.
- 73.9 % are nervous about next‑six‑month living costs.
- 81 % worry about food prices climbing.
- 76.9 % are concerned about everyday necessities.
So whether you’re stuffing cash into envelope corners or just trying to make your grocery list fit your budget, the challenge remains: the world’s culinary and economic costs are going up faster than a cat’s jump onto a cat‑tree.
By channeling your money the old‑school way—paper, envelopes, and a dash of DIY budgeting—you might just keep your funds from vanished into the inflation ether.
Bye bye iPhone 14
What People are Doing to Beat the Rising Cost of Living
Big news from a recent survey: more than half of folks—55.3 % exactly—are tightening the belt by ditching non‑essential luxuries. That’s the very same approach Saeyeon’s been taking.
Tech‑savvy Savings
- Upgrade procrastination: 37.2 % of respondents have decided to hold off on buying a brand‑new iPhone—or any gadget for that matter.
- Hunting for hacks: 35.6 % are rummaging through life‑hacking blogs and discount sites to stretch every dollar.
Work‑Life Hustle for the 25‑44 Crowd
- Job hopping on the rise: 25.7 % are eyeing a new gig just to bump up their paycheck.
- Moonlighting alert: 22.3 % are juggling a second job amidst their primary duties to stay ahead.
Retirement Re‑think for the 45+ Group
- Delaying the getaway: A solid 28.1 % are contemplating pushing back their retirement plans to keep the financial flow smoother.
Whether it’s cutting back on coffee, waiting to upgrade your phone, or swapping roles at work, people are flexing their budgets and finding creative ways to survive the rising cost of living—one strategy at a time.
Concerns about housing, jobs
Singapore’s Wallets Are Ticking
According to a recent survey, folks in their 20s and 30s are eyeing the skyrocketing house prices like a hawk, while those in their 40s to mid‑50s are glued to the job‑security screen. In plain speak, the “cost of living” is a bodega‑level worry for most working‑age Singaporeans.
What the Numbers Say
- 25‑44 year olds: “Home‑ownership feels like a VIP ticket that’s flight‑delayed.”
- 35‑54 year olds: “Will my job stay on the menu for another chapter?”
- 25‑35 & 55+ year olds: “Passthrough as they’re still unpaid, like a student loan!”
Edmund Chua of AsiaOne (because who else can put numbers in ice‑cream colours?)
He explains that the “tighter squeezes” in global economics — from Beijing to Brazil — have put new suction on prices for everything from noodles to electricity. “If you’re between nineteen and forty‑nine, you’re most likely to be nervous about the price tag on everyday goodies, and you’re already chasing a dream home or a job that pays more than the national budget spells out,” he says.
What’s on the Horizon?
The headline is that this financial trend is expected to be a persistent theme for at least a year. “You can’t expect the market to crinkle back like a fresh donut,” says Chua while balancing a camera and a calculator.
Quick Takeaway
Why does the cost of living become drama gold when the bank account hits mid‑life? Because people role‑play their life expectancy like a story. When you start a house or a job, your budget’s contour changes. And in the lower and higher age brackets, the float is calmer because they are still chasing or have finished that quest for something stable.
Monsoon on the Forefront!
Gain an instant open to how Srities’ sentimental heaps change with the economic climate.
Are you ready to grab a conversation about Singapore’s living? Send a line to [email protected] and start your research adventure!
