‘Have I screwed up?’: 32 y/o Singapore woman earning S$200k a year regrets barely investing after 8 years of work
SINGAPORE: A Singaporean woman earning around S$200,000 a year has found herself reflecting on her financial decisions after realising that she spent nearly eight years working without making meaningful investments or taking sufficient steps to grow her wealth. The 32-year-old, who shared her experience on Reddit's r/singaporefi forum, said she had spent much of her 20s concentrating on her…
A 32-year-old Singaporean woman who earns around S$200,000 per year is now reflecting on her financial decisions after realizing that she spent nearly eight years working without making meaningful investments or taking sufficient steps to grow her wealth. The woman shared her experience on Reddit's r/singaporefi forum, expressing regret over her lack of financial discipline during her 20s.
During her career, the woman worked hard and steadily increased her salary, climbing the corporate ladder. In 2019, she was earning over S$70,000 annually, and by 2026, her income had grown to over S$200,000 per year. However, she currently only has approximately S$200,000 in cash, which she accumulated through years of working and saving what remained from her salary.
The woman admits that she was financially disciplined only in retrospect and always excelled academically, considering herself "book smart." Unfortunately, she never learned about financial literacy, which her parents also lacked. Her parents lost a significant amount of money in the stock market during her upbringing, and she fell into the trap of lifestyle inflation as her income rose. She never budgeted or tracked her expenses, always buying whatever she wanted as long as her bank account appeared to be growing.
After buying a one-bedroom condominium to rent out in 2023, the woman found that the rental profit was negligible after accounting for mortgage interest, maintenance fees, property tax, and other expenses. She admits that her decision to invest in property may not have been the best financial move in hindsight.
Seeking advice from other Singaporeans who have experienced similar financial regrets in their 30s, the woman asked how they had managed to move past their past mistakes and focus on building wealth moving forward. Several users replied to her post, offering reassurance and advice. Some pointed out that she should not be too hard on herself, considering her current financial situation, the potential for her wealth to grow with time, and the lack of financial education commonly available in Singapore.
Written by urgent.news from The Independent Singapore's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
