Son upset after mum earning S$14k demands a portion of his pay in the future: ‘She’s just asking for money for the sake of it’

A university student in Singapore has expressed frustration after his mother, who earns S$14,000 per month, demanded that he contribute a portion of his future salary. The son, who is already considering the financial responsibilities that come with graduating and starting his career, took to the r/askSingapore subreddit to seek advice on how to navigate this situation.

He explained that he had tried to explain to his mother that financial realities today are quite different from what his generation experienced, noting that he needs to save for his housing plans and the rising cost of living. The student also mentioned that he would have to pay his own university tuition fee after graduating under the Higher Education Student Loan (HESL) system.

With these expenses mounting, he felt that he simply did not have the capacity to set aside any money for his mother. His mother, earning around S$14,000 a month, was the primary earner in the family, as his parents are separated. She currently provides S$1,000 per month for his expenses and another S$1,000 for his sister. The student argued that his mother was not struggling financially and was merely asking for money for the sake of it.

While some people online empathized with his reluctance to part with his salary, others felt that his mother might be teaching him the importance of financial responsibility as an adult. They suggested negotiating the amount he gives to his mother or contributing in other ways, such as taking on more household chores or contributing to specific bills.

However, the student ultimately decided that he could not afford to give his mother any portion of his future salary, believing it would be better to build up an emergency fund first.