In 2019, OCBC began this Monetary Wellness Index to know the monetary well being of Singaporeans. They’ve 4 years of knowledge.
However I simply hope that they’ll current extra coherently. You’ll be able to assessment the previous survey outcomes right here, and chances are you’ll want that a lot of the info introduced in 2022 might construct from the 2021 or 2019 information.
There are most likely 4 areas within the 2022 outcomes that caught my eye.
1. A Sizable Variety of Singaporeans Usually Pay Solely the Minimal Sum on their Credit score Card Debt
The slides under present the state of non-public loans, which incorporates bank card debt of these surveyed:

The info is so incoherent from 2021 that we can’t actually inform a lot of a pattern. For reference, right here is the slide from the 2021 Wellness report:

In 2022 report, they break it down by revenue stage, but in 2021, they break it down by age.
The one factor we will inform is that Singaporeans have extra unsecured debt, however they belong to these with larger incomes. These with decrease incomes can’t borrow extra, which is sweet because it exhibits we have now good and dependable protecting measures in place.
I believe with revenue going up for those who has extra revenue, the diploma of unsecured debt will enhance as properly.
However what’s extra worrying is the second slide which signifies the proportion of individuals apprehensive that they can not repay their private loans.
43% of these incomes $10,000 and above OFTEN pay the minimal sum for his or her bank cards.
There may be completely no benefit to solely pay the minimal sum… until financially that’s all you can pay.
That is worrying to see.
The expansion from 2021 shouldn’t be important, which implies that in 2021, the proportion is about 39% for these incomes $10,000 and above as properly.
Within the Singapore subreddit, somebody working in a financial institution name heart additionally commented that folks repeatedly fail to pay these payments or had been late.
2. Singapore Shares Remained Widespread Securities for Singaporeans

The survey additionally exhibits that wealth builders are nonetheless very involved in native Singapore shares, along with fixed-income, worldwide shares and REITs.
3. 71% of Singaporeans have One other Supply of Revenue!

This one is kind of a shock to me.
I ponder if I promote the stuff that I don’t want on Carousell, would that think about a aspect hustle?
Nearly 48% of these of their 20s have a aspect hustle!
In case you are my youthful readers, do inform me if that is an correct reflection!
4. Singaporeans Persistently Underestimate the Value of Their Retirement Life-style
OCBC asks the respondents which is their most popular retirement life-style:

Most desire Retirement life-style B, which features a part-time maid, taking a taxi or having a automobile. Be aware: they weren’t requested about their most popular life-style whereas working however retirement.
Why is it that their retirement life-style appears like their present working life-style?
I typically ponder this and suppose folks can’t envision their retirement life and plan their retirement like they’re working.
From the info, you possibly can see the 20s and 30s are nonetheless hopeful they’ll dwell retirement life B and C. The 40-65 are nearer to it, and maybe extra sensible that they’ll solely afford Retirement life-style A.
Listed here are the outcomes from 2021:

Observed that the 2022 survey didn’t present the distinction from 2021. If we considered the info collectively, you’ll understand that for all age group, folks most popular Life-style A and fewer Life-style C going from 2020 to 2021, however from 2021 to 2020, all of them desire Life-style B.
So right here is the abstract:
- These of their 20s aspire for Retirement Life-style C over the previous three years. It has been growing.
- These within the 40 to 65 modified from Life-style A to Life-style B over the previous three years.
- These within the 30s are largely constant.
The info tells us that Singaporeans don’t want to accept a naked minimal retirement life-style however a richer one.

Singaporeans have aspirations for Life-style B and C as a result of they suppose it’s inside attain. However as you see from the illustration on the suitable, they’ve constantly underestimated how a lot that life-style prices.
This underestimation shouldn’t be new. Right here is the slide from the 2021 survey:

On common, they underestimate the approach to life price by 30%. 80% of them underestimate the associated fee.
This could not come as a shock as a result of most of us should not in tune with what we spend on.
For my part, I really feel that OCBC’s price for Life-style A appears to be like a bit excessive and Life-style B appears to be like a bit low. I really feel that with a mid-range automobile, the associated fee can be extra.
I may very well be mistaken right here, so let me know.
Retirement Life-style A Appears Achievable (If the Value Tag is Right)
However right here is the factor: I believe most individuals can have an honest likelihood of attaining Life-style A.
A would-be retiree that fulfills the CPF full retirement sum (FRS) with $192,000 at 55 would see his or her cash develop to $285,000 at age 65 which would supply him/her an revenue of $1,550 a month.

If each partner fulfills their FRS, then the revenue will probably be $3,100. However that’s 10 years later and if we regulate the revenue with a 3% inflation adjustment again to at this time, the $1,550 a month revenue can be value $1,153 a month at this time.
If we think about each spouses, then it is going to be $2,306 a month.
If we assume by your time the financial situations labored out, fulfilling your CPF full retirement sum would allow you to have Life-style A.
In the event you want Life-style B, then save up further for it.
As a 42-year-old which have been constantly being informed I don’t receives a commission properly, and haven’t top-up my CPF apart from one $40,000 lump sum OA to SA switch, I believe it’s cheap to hit your FRS by 55 years outdated.
So take that piece of data and see what you are able to do with it.
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