Woman wonders if friendships in Singapore have become too transactional: ‘I only have 2–3 friends I fully trust’

A woman in Singapore has raised concerns about the growing "transactional" nature of relationships in her country after observing the situation in her own social circle. In a Reddit post, she disclosed that she is fortunate to have two or three close friends who she fully trusts and believes genuinely care about her without expecting anything in return.

These friends are described as "steady types" whom she can always rely on. However, she feels that many of her other relationships are driven by convenience or personal gain rather than a genuine connection.

The woman observed that some friends only invite her out for meals when they need a favor or want something from her. Others only reach out when they are acting as insurance agents, trying to pitch a policy. Some only send messages when they require information or have a question they want answered. Additionally, she noticed a pattern where people tend to ask about her travel destinations and attempt to buy her items while she is overseas, even offering to reimburse the expenses.

The woman herself avoids asking her friends and close friends for purchases during their travels, preferring them to enjoy their vacation freely.

The comments section of the Reddit post featured mixed opinions. Some agreed with the woman's experience and believed that many relationships today feel transactional. Others argued that genuine friendships still exist. One commenter stated, "Yeah, I agree. Only a handful of people genuinely want to meet up just to connect, hear and share life updates, and be part of my life because they simply like and value me for who I am.

I invest my time and effort in the people who make me feel more alive and don't feel guilty about letting the rest naturally fade." Another said, "True. Nowadays, I don't post anything. Even if I were to post, I will usually do it after I come back from overseas, so you can just say you're not there anymore." A third commenter disagreed with the victim mentality, stating that genuine people exist and one just needs to put effort into finding them.

A fourth believed that every relationship involves some form of exchange, even without monetary transactions, as maintaining a relationship provides something else in return.