Local family of 8 can survive on $1800

[Tomasky]

not everyone is as vain, greedy and materialistic as most singaporeans today

 

[Fcw75]

Putting aside whether it is government propaganda or not, who is one to dictate how other people live their life? If the man is happy with many children of his own, then it is good.

 

Those who grew up in poor family will strive harder to achieve more than those who are spoon fed with golden spoon since small. There are many cases of kids with single parent or come from poor family that has made good in life.

Edited August 25, 2012 by Fcw75

[Icedbs]

I look at this 2 parents and felt that they are irresponsible to the kids. Now the kids are young, it's fine to survive with $1800. Everyone is happy

 

I cannot imagine when the kids growing up and getting ready for teritiary education. Nowadays, must at least get a poly education in order to survive. Those smarter ones, go for University education

 

Now they have 8 kids. I don't want to say all 8 want to go to university. Let's say 4 are going to poly and 4 go to university. Its not unrealistic. Its highly possible and very realistic. Sit down and think. How are the parents going to afford the education?

 

When I say that the parents must be responsible for kids' future, I meant providing the required education that the kids need for survival.

 

If the parents can't even afford this education, it's called irresponsible. It's not only irresponsible to the kids, but also to the society.

 

If the 8 kids are smart enough to go poly or Uni, but parents no money, then what happens? Ask for busary? What if busary not approved? Kids stop school and go work with "O" levels?

 

Bro...there is this thing called tuition loan for poly/uni.

 

If the kids are good, they can always take the tuition loan and then pay back after they graduate. Or if they are really good, they will probably get a scholarship.

 

During my time, my parents told me they have no money for my university. I told them no problem. I didn't even take the loan. I work in McD/KFC and give tuition. I survived and graduated. Infact, those working days in MCD & KFC gave me a good headstart into working life and what P&L means to them. It was a great experience, much better than I had taken money from parents and just idle my time away in the campus.

 

To me, parents responsibility stops after the kid completely his secondary education. The parents had done what they need to do to bring hin up. After O levels, the kid will have to take care of himself.

Edited August 25, 2012 by Icedbs

[Icedbs]

You need to know the trick and dare to seek help. I got two years of milk powder for free. All clinic are given free sample of milk powder, some even in big can for new mothers to try. I managed to collect total of 58 cans (big can) across sg. There are places where you can seek help. I gone through it.

 

Very creative, I like that.

 

You have the attributes of an entrepreneur.

 

As the saying goes, if there is a will, there is a way.

 

 

[CKP]

There are many cases of kids with single parent or come from poor family that has made good in life.

 

There will always exist such annecdotal cases; using annecdotes is not constructive

in advancing public policies discussion which must focus on the general and bigger picture.

 

However, the real important fact is the trend of less social mobility now compared to the past.

 

 

Yesterday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong

[Heng51]

Bro...there is this thing called tuition loan for poly/uni.

 

If the kids are good, they can always take the tuition loan and then pay back after they graduate. Or if they are really good, they will probably get a scholarship.

 

During my time, my parents told me they have no money for my university. I told them no problem. I didn't even take the loan. I work in McD/KFC and give tuition. I survived and graduated. Infact, those working days in MCD & KFC gave me a good headstart into working life and what P&L means to them. It was a great experience, much better than I had taken money from parents and just idle my time away in the campus.

 

To me, parents responsibility stops after the kid completely his secondary education. The parents had done what they need to do to bring hin up. After O levels, the kid will have to take care of himself.

 

Can't agree more..after my secondary school... whenever there is school holidays... i will be working as some temp data entry... in some factory packing electronic stuffs into boxes... or as a waiter... My JC and Uni expd was largely from there as my mum wasn't making a lot of money...

 

Uni borrow tuition loan from OCBC... [cool]

[Hephaestus]

but the biggest widdening of the income gap and the arrested social mobility happened under LHL watch leh...

Edited August 25, 2012 by Hephaestus

[CKP]

Who is one to dictate how other people live their life? If the man is happy with many children of his own, then it is good.

 

 

Unfortunately, while "freedom and right to choose" has been cited several times,

people forget that freedom works in both ways.

 

So far no one has mentioned that this also means

it is also good to be free to have no/less children (vs 6 children),

and good to free to be materialistic (vs frugal).

 

People should try to be consistent in their own stances and not try

to champion self-contendedness with frugality,

if they also simultaneously view "freedom from external dictation" as most important.

 

 

In other words, don't try to have it both ways and say:

 

"Oh he must be free to do what he wants"

 

and then in the same breath make your own value judgement criticisms on others by saying:

 

"People do not know how to manage expenditures"...

"they are so materalistic... "

"they don't bother to make sacrifices etc"

 

 

Also, most of the criticisms are just that; criticism is not the same as dictation.

 

 

 

[Neko]

I look at this 2 parents and felt that they are irresponsible to the kids. Now the kids are young, it's fine to survive with $1800. Everyone is happy

 

I cannot imagine when the kids growing up and getting ready for teritiary education. Nowadays, must at least get a poly education in order to survive. Those smarter ones, go for University education

 

Now they have 8 kids. I don't want to say all 8 want to go to university. Let's say 4 are going to poly and 4 go to university. Its not unrealistic. Its highly possible and very realistic. Sit down and think. How are the parents going to afford the education?

 

When I say that the parents must be responsible for kids' future, I meant providing the required education that the kids need for survival.

 

If the parents can't even afford this education, it's called irresponsible. It's not only irresponsible to the kids, but also to the society.

 

If the 8 kids are smart enough to go poly or Uni, but parents no money, then what happens? Ask for busary? What if busary not approved? Kids stop school and go work with "O" levels?

 

Bro...there is this thing called tuition loan for poly/uni.

 

If the kids are good, they can always take the tuition loan and then pay back after they graduate. Or if they are really good, they will probably get a scholarship.

 

During my time, my parents told me they have no money for my university. I told them no problem. I didn't even take the loan. I work in McD/KFC and give tuition. I survived and graduated. Infact, those working days in MCD & KFC gave me a good headstart into working life and what P&L means to them. It was a great experience, much better than I had taken money from parents and just idle my time away in the campus.

 

To me, parents responsibility stops after the kid completely his secondary education. The parents had done what they need to do to bring hin up. After O levels, the kid will have to take care of himself.

 

Bro... you are assuming everything is smooth sailing and ideal. Of course if the kids are brilliant, they can easily get scholarships, but what is that probability? Most of us are just mediocre performers. Even with tuition loans, they still need to pay, it is not FOC. Has the father projected the cost of supporting 6 kids education (don't look far, just up to secondary school is enough)? What if the father, as sole bread winner, meet with accident, lose his job, contract some terminal illness, etc. Can the family of 8 survive without savings plus foot the exorbitant medical bills? The oldest kid is only 13, it would still be at least 4 or 5 years before he can start work and supplement family income. My point is their current survival model is just not sustainable. Cost for a family of 8 would only escalate and the father's pay just simply cannot support it.

[Tomasky]

Bro... you are assuming everything is smooth sailing and ideal. Of course if the kids are brilliant, they can easily get scholarships, but what is that probability? Most of us are just mediocre performers. Even with tuition loans, they still need to pay, it is not FOC. Has the father projected the cost of supporting 6 kids education (don't look far, just up to secondary school is enough)? What if the father, as sole bread winner, meet with accident, lose his job, contract some terminal illness, etc. Can the family of 8 survive without savings plus foot the exorbitant medical bills? The oldest kid is only 13, it would still be at least 4 or 5 years before he can start work and supplement family income. My point is their current survival model is just not sustainable. Cost for a family of 8 would only escalate and the father's pay just simply cannot support it.

 

 

what if you meet with a mishap one day or loses a leg?

[LTLT]

I have known such families with similar condition. One thing always linger in my mind is that their chidren tends to behave better than those rich spoilt kids( normally single child family), be it manners or generosity.

[Kiadaw]

Raising 6 kids is tough, thats for sure, but I think in Singapore, our mindset have to drilled that happiness means have to be rich. Good for kids means to throw a lot of money on enrichment course, all the toys, gadgets & oversea tour every 6 months or so.

 

Many of the people I met that is not Singaporean have the same opinion of us. That we are rich, seeing how we keep throwing money around, with expensive stuff, expensive trips, all the gadgetry, do not think twice about spending near to 6 or 6 figures on renovation. People having maids when their kids are already over 12 years old.

 

Of course like that cannot have money for more than a couple of kids for many people.

 

There is nothing wrong to wear clothes pass down by others ( I had mainly clothes passed down), it doesn't take long to prepare a healthy small meal for 4-6 person, you can lighten workload at home, by getting kids above 12 to take responsibility, to take care of siblings & do some house work. Their own room is a good start. 12 years old is old enough to be able to make simple meal like sandwich & cook rice. In some other countries, kids started to learn basic cooking & baking at around this age. Toys can be shared.

 

Responsibility & ethnics are the best enrichment course for the kids. Get them involve in washing car, water the plants, learn about fixing stuff. Let them know they use your car, live in your house they have responsibility to maintenance as well.

Edited August 25, 2012 by Kiadaw

[Kiadaw]

Bro... you are assuming everything is smooth sailing and ideal. Of course if the kids are brilliant, they can easily get scholarships, but what is that probability? Most of us are just mediocre performers. Even with tuition loans, they still need to pay, it is not FOC. Has the father projected the cost of supporting 6 kids education (don't look far, just up to secondary school is enough)? What if the father, as sole bread winner, meet with accident, lose his job, contract some terminal illness, etc. Can the family of 8 survive without savings plus foot the exorbitant medical bills? The oldest kid is only 13, it would still be at least 4 or 5 years before he can start work and supplement family income. My point is their current survival model is just not sustainable. Cost for a family of 8 would only escalate and the father's pay just simply cannot support it.

Doesn't Singapore have welfare system & can claim some form of compensation with you cannot cope due to unforseen reasons?

 

I mean, if you are gov encouraging people to have more kids, you must provide a form of social security right?

 

Even people with few kids, or no kids, they will drop to financial difficulties if main breadwinner (touchwood) meet with unfortunate events, since many people are have huge debt from HDB, cars, not to mention huge medical bills.

 

Just a question.

[Hephaestus]

Doesn't Singapore have welfare system & can claim some form of compensation with you cannot cope due to unforseen reasons?

 

I mean, if you are gov encouraging people to have more kids, you must provide a form of social security right?

 

Even people with few kids, or no kids, they will drop to financial difficulties if main breadwinner (touchwood) meet with unfortunate events, since many people are have huge debt from HDB, cars, not to mention huge medical bills.

 

Just a question.

 

how can you have this kinda of crutch mentality...

in singapore, you must have the you die is your problem

don't trouble the government mindset

[Ladykillerz]

tell me what will happen if every single house hold is doing like this family?

1.8k to survive? seriously tough. i don't know how they can sustain especially when the kids are ready for tertiary education.

good luck!

[Rustyz]

I do not think the kids are happy

 

Getting the newest and latest toy = to happy right?

Life is not about 1+1=2, simple life also have it happiness

[Ghostami]

Getting the newest and latest toy = to happy right?

Life is not about 1+1=2, simple life also have it happiness

 

Totally agree with you bro. Different people has different level of needs to be happy. To most, are they really happy after getting the new condo or are they already hoping for the next? Even for the rich, are they really happy after having so much money? Looks like from this thread already can tell you what is the main problem with the society at large now.

[Princey_anne]

Getting the newest and latest toy = to happy right?

Life is not about 1+1=2, simple life also have it happiness

Kids will be kids they will be unhappy looking at other kids around them