SINGAPORE: A 30-year-old man took to Reddit to crowdsource answers, asking others with similar experiences how long it might take “till someone runs out of a chance to find a partner?”
In a post on r/askSingapore on Thursday (Feb 13), u/ExtensionAnswer4188 explained that he is currently “single by choice” as he wants to travel solo, explore the world, and live life at his own pace. However, he’s also concerned about reaching a point where finding a partner might become “hard and tricky.”
“Does it get hard when I decide to find a partner at 35?” he asked, inviting women to share their perspectives as well.
Perhaps in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, many Reddit users were quick to respond, reassuring him that “30 is still young in Singapore” but also reminding him that finding the right match requires effort.
“Unless you explicitly go and take steps to find a partner, it won’t be easy to just organically find someone from daily routines,” a commenter advised.
Some noted that after a certain age, things can move quickly after a couple gets together as both are more ready to settle down by then.
Studies have shown that many in Singapore prioritize their careers before settling down, and the median age for mothers went from 30.6 in 2018 to 31.9 in 2022. Women in maternity wards are more likely to be in the age range of 35 to 39 than 25 to 29, this piece pointed out.
One user shared his personal experience, explaining that to increase his own chances when he was in his early 30s, he expanded his dating pool beyond friends and acquaintances. Instead, he used both paid and free dating apps, as well as the matchmaking service Lunch Actually. He found success and is now married.
Others underlined the importance of adjusting one’s mindset and expectations as this could help the post author keep his options open.
“It might be challenging but it’s not impossible. I wish you all the best bro,” one Reddit user encouraged him.
A woman in her mid-thirties, however, said that while she’s tried some dating apps and met some people, nothing came out of it and she remained single for years.
“Have heard people saying you may meet someone later in life but [from] personal experience, it gets harder as you get older. So to answer your question, after 35, I think chances are minimal,” she wrote but added that she enjoys the freedom of being single. /TISG
Read also: Unhappy Valentine: Man drops S$12k on matchmaking, still no luck in love