How much are you earning per annum?

Sound analysis. You must be among the top earning professionals. May I know how much did you pay for your GCB? I heard prices have dropped a lot to only $10m each. Is it a good time to upgrade to a GCB? Thanks.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

It is good to know that many posters are happy with their lives, no matter the income level they are currently in. This is important for a harmonious society where there is no envy nor jealousy among the different income levels.

The wealthy are happy with their bungalows/semi Ds, big chauffeured conti cars, expensive overseas holidays and their gilded lives. The upper middle income people are happy and proud of their terrace homes, condos/penthouses, conti cars, and annual holidays, yearly incomes of $500k and above.

The middle income and lower income people are equally proud and happy of their smaller condos, DBSS, or BTO flats.

I think this state of mind, which is a good thing, is mainly due to the following reasons:
1. Lower income people have the perception (rightly or wrongly) that the higher your income, the higher the stress level. So they are contented to earn a lower salary for the perceived lower stress. The fact is that capable people, coupled with the right skills and training and right job fit can manage their high paying jobs well.

2. People believe that meritocracy works here. They believe that if they work hard, upgrade themselves and invest well, they could also become rich.

3. Different income class tended to stay or cluster together. This is logical since people naturally buy properties in neighborhoods they can afford. So they look around them and say they are the same as their neighbors and they feel they are doing alright. They also sometimes do not believe the rich are actually rich. They thought the big landed properties, big cars and expensive holidays that the rich enjoy are all paid by taking on debts!

4. Posters also accept that if they don't work hard, they have to accept a lower standard of living or lower quality of life. Here you see many posters suggesting cutting back on their lifestyles, downgrading their homes, eating simply just because they want an easier, carefree lifestyle.

It is a good and natural outcome that ensure harmony in our society. Mind you, Singapore has quite a huge income/wealth gap!

[temp111]

Diploma holder with 3 yrs working experience.

$43,000 including all bonuses.

Originally Posted by temp111

Diploma holder with 3 yrs working experience.

$43,000 including all bonuses.

That's high for a diploma holder. Which industry are you in?

[temp111]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

That's high for a diploma holder. Which industry are you in?

Civil Service.

Diploma holders in Oil and Gas industry is far higher

Originally Posted by temp111

Civil Service.

Diploma holders in Oil and Gas industry is far higher

They have higher pay but they face high risk of retrenchment. Be contented.

[temp111]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

They have higher pay but they face high risk of retrenchment. Be contented.

What do u mean retrenchment?

Oil can never be finish up man.

As long as there is oil, there is job for this guys.

Deg holder, SG male in mid 20s drawing 64k p.a with about 1.8yrs of exp..

Seeing this thread demoralizes me a little... Wonder how long will it takes for me to reach that comfort level... As it is now, I would expect my pay to jump 20-25% more in 2 yrs time but still i do not see myself owning a car any sooner... let alone to provide a really comfortable lifestyle for my ailing parents...

For your generation, it going to be very difficult to own a car and live in condo - SG economy will be growing at most 2-3% per year, unlike in past few decades of 7-8%/year GDP growth, so your salary growth will be much slower. Just be contented taking MRT with so many new lines coming up

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Deg holder, SG male in mid 20s drawing 64k p.a with about 1.8yrs of exp..

Seeing this thread demoralizes me a little... Wonder how long will it takes for me to reach that comfort level... As it is now, I would expect my pay to jump 20-25% more in 2 yrs time but still i do not see myself owning a car any sooner... let alone to provide a really comfortable lifestyle for my ailing parents...

Originally Posted by Unregistered

For your generation, it going to be very difficult to own a car and live in condo - SG economy will be growing at most 2-3% per year, unlike in past few decades of 7-8%/year GDP growth, so your salary growth will be much slower. Just be contented taking MRT with so many new lines coming up

Being an economics graduate, even if i am earning in the 100Ks range, i still do not see myself paying 6 digits for a car haha. Told my foreign colleagues that even for japanese cars like vios cost about 100K in SG incl coe...

I would probably get a car if i am settled down with a baby, makes traveling easier.. But for now i'd make do with just taking taxi...

fresh graduate from one of the local uni.

about 75k including bonuses.