SINGAPORE: A Singaporean man took to social media to ask if he’s being selfish for giving his parents “only” $1,000 a month, despite earning a relatively high salary.
Posting on the r/askSingapore forum on Tuesday (May 13), the man shared that although he is financially stable, he has several personal commitments that leave him with limited disposable income each month. Still, some family members believe he should be contributing more to his parents simply because he “earns more” than they do.
“My take-home salary after CPF is S$10,000, and occasionally my side hustle brings an extra S$1,000 a month,” he wrote. “My monthly expenses include S$1,000 to parents, S$1,000 for my car, S$1,300 for rent (I don’t live with them), S$500 for groceries, and S$200 for eating out. I’m also getting keys for HDB soon, so the total reno cost divided monthly is averaging at S$2,000 a month.”
Looking for perspective, he asked the local community, “Am I giving too little allowance to my parents? I am comfortable giving S$1K at the moment, but I want to know if I am being selfish.”
“They are not paying your bills or your future.”
In the comments, many users came to the man’s defence, saying that S$1,000 was already a generous amount.
One said, “Give what is most comfortable and within the range you’re okay with. Never be pressured to give more because you have your own commitments too. Family, yes, but they should understand your circumstances too, so tell them what you have in mind and contribute however you like. IT’S YOUR OWN MONEY.”
Another commented, “Personally, no. Give what’s comfortable, given you also have big-ticket items lined up.”
A third added, “If other family members said you should give more, ask them to give more instead. They are not paying your bills or your future.”
In other news, a Singaporean man shared on social media that despite finally landing a well-paying job with decent working conditions, he continues to feel an overwhelming sense of emptiness and disconnection from his career.
In a post on the r/askSingapore forum, he reflected on his past work experiences, explaining that he had never managed to stay in one job for very long. For years, he believed it was simply because none of the roles were the right fit, comparing the process to searching for a life partner — something he hoped to eventually find and “commit to for the long term.”
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