{
  "id": 7718246,
  "title": "Some netizens praise Singaporean earning just S$2,400 who struggles to afford cai png but still supports his parents",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/some-netizens-praise-singaporean-earning-just-s-2-400-who-struggles",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-15T21:06:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Independent Singapore",
    "slug": "the-independent-singapore",
    "url": "https://theindependent.sg/some-etizens-praise-singaporean-earning-just-s-2-400-who-struggles-to-afford-cai-png-but-still-supports-his-parents"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Singapore, a man earning S$2,400 monthly faced criticism for supporting his parents while struggling to afford even basic meals like cai png, or economic rice. On Facebook group Complaint Singapore, he revealed that transportation costs take up S$120, with S$300 going to his parents and S$750 towards insurance premiums. This left little room for food expenses, as cai png prices had risen above S$5, making them unaffordable. Despite his financial hardship, he garnered praise from some netizens who commended his commitment to supporting his parents. However, others questioned his insurance premiums, advising him to spend less than 10% of his income on insurance. Some suggested cooking at home as a way to stretch his remaining salary. While cooking at home can be more cost-effective when preparing meals for three or more people, it may not be practical for those living alone due to rising grocery prices. Moreover, workers aged 30 and above with a gross monthly income between S$500 and S$3,000 may be eligible for the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS), providing additional support.",
  "summary": "SINGAPORE: Some netizens praised a Singaporean man earning S$2,400 a month for still giving S$300 to his parents, despite struggling to make ends meet, as he shared that even cai png, or economic rice...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Independent Singapore",
        "title": "‘Guess I have reached my ceiling’: Yet another Singaporean struggles with stagnant pay despite having 5 years work experience",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/guess-i-have-reached-my-ceiling-yet-another-singaporean-struggles",
        "published": "2026-09-16T19:38:35.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}