'As soon as I got a job, my parents cut off all financial support': Fresh poly grad left with S$150 before payday, asks, 'What can I do now?'

SINGAPORE: A fresh polytechnic graduate in Singapore has found himself in a bit of a financial pickle after his parents stopped supporting him as soon as he landed a job, leaving him with just S$150 to tide him over until his first pay cheque arrives next month.

In an anonymous post on the SGWhispers Facebook page, the young man explained that the money had to cover both his meals and daily commute to work. With payday still some way off, he was worried that his remaining cash would not last.

“[They] cut off all financial support (except utilities and phone bills)...and I've been trying to stick to below S$5 per meal (2x a day) and transport costs around S$4 for me to go to work and back home.” 

“My total spending in a day is about S$10-20 so far, but I'm definitely not going to have enough till I receive my pay,” he wrote, clearly worried about how he would stretch his remaining cash.

Unsure how he would get through the next few weeks, he asked netizens for help, writing, “Any advice on what I can do? I have already tried talking to my parents, but they still refuse to help.”

‘You need to better manage your finances’

Several commenters offered suggestions on how the young man could cut his food expenses and make his remaining money last until payday.

One user recommended buying discounted roast chicken from Cold Storage: “Cold Storage sells rotisserie chicken for about $7. If you go at around 7-8 p.m., they mark the price down to $5+. Size is big enough that just the chicken alone can feed you for 3 meals. Buy rice or potato as filler, and you can easily split the protein between 6 different meals.”

Another suggested that he eat dinner at home and bring his own lunch to work, adding, “It’s an important lesson for you, so think positively! They are training you to be accountable for your own finances. When you receive your salary, be sure to save at least 20% and keep an emergency fund of 3-6 months.”

A third user proposed a more unusual arrangement, suggesting that he offer “to help his parents with household chores” in exchange for some pocket money.

A fourth user, a father who did the same thing as the post author’s parents, also weighed in. 

“I have a 20-year-old girl in uni, and I have already stopped providing her with pocket money. She teaches tuition to cover her expenditure, and if not, it’s eating and cooking at home to bring over to school.” 

“During her school holiday, it’s part-time work. You are already working, so I think you need to better manage your finances.”

In other news, a Singaporean man has noticed a rather telling uptick in female attention on dating apps after giving his profile a makeover to make himself look more successful.

In a post on Reddit’s r/asksg forum, the man shared that he had swapped pictures of himself travelling around Malaysia and Vietnam for those taken in Europe.

Read also: ‘Europe photos and fancy job title’: Singapore man says they helped him get more dating attention