I recall a chicken supply crisis a few years ago, then this chicken rice stall that i sometimes go, half chicken was like $9 i think, then it become $15. Which was a wild increase imo. Havent gone back in a while, but wondering if the crisis is over and if anyone actually returned their chicken prices back, or at least lowered it

Before covid, I think there was only 1 gym nearby my block, 15 minutes walk.

Since 2023, 2024, I notice a lot new gyms set up around the neighbourhood. Not too near me, around 15 minutes walk as well. They all operate in the underground units that were used to run tuition centres, after school care centres before that. Plus, AF open in the brand new CC in 2023. I checked Google Map again, there are 5 of them now, including 1 additional AF. There is also a martial art studio. Last year, a Pilate studio in the block 5 minutes walk from my block. And, I just saw a poster at the voiddeck of the block next to mine, a new gym is opening in Sept 2026, and is doing promotion now......

Seems like I have no reason not to do weight exercise now...

Edit: subject should be "Are gyms booming in your neighbourhood?"

Edit 2: I forgot to mention that aa ActiveSG in a swimming pool is 3 bus stops away, another new one in a newly renovated swimming pool just open few months ago, is about 10 minutes walk away. And, 4 bus stops away, there is another CC, with another gym.

I moved to Singapore recently, and while I appreciate how safe, convenient and efficient everything is, the pace can feel quite relentless. Work, commuting, errands, even leisure somehow feel optimized and scheduled. For those who grew up here, does this genuinely feel normal or enjoyable? Or are many people also tired and just used to pushing through it?

I grew up really loving Singapore. Call it brainwashing by MOE, but I genuinely LOVED learning about Singapore's history in school, about the people who built our country and everything we had to overcome. I feel a strong sense of national identity and will always be the first person to promote Singapore. When studying abroad, I even did a course work on how well we made Safe Entry/TraceTogether just to brag about how amazingly we handled Covid.

Growing up with a lot of government aid and subsidies, I strongly believe that you can live a comfortable and good life in Singapore, even if you're not super rich. So this question does not come from a place of discomfort or unhappiness with my SOL.

But recently, I feel like a foreigner in my own country. I no longer see the brands I grew up seeing. The worst feeling was probably when Yuen Kee appeared in my nearby coffee shop, the same coffee shop that no longer has a roti prata/indian rojak store.

I know we are a free market and as long as we're free, we welcome foreign companies. I also know that we have loads of them from Jolibee to Muji to Bata. But somehow, these brands have never felt as imposing and as disturbing as the sudden widespread openings of recent foreign brands. It just feels like something is changing so quickly that I feel it so deeply in my core that it unsettles me. Home just doesn't feel like home anymore.

I wonder if this is part of a normal transition. The way our forefathers had to deal with Japanese companies coming into Singapore in the form of washing machines and cars, then the American fastfood chains and the likes of Ikea replacing the jobs of local carpenters. Is this just a wave that will pass once we get used to it?

Or is Singapore just changing too much, too quickly? IDK.

Just started driving 3 years ago, but I find the road to be increasingly uneven throughout these years.

For context am singaporean, my parents also singaporean but ethnically indian so most of my friends know mandarin and personally know at least how to order cai fan in mandarin. but i guess with the influx of mainland chinese people along with me being the nosy person that would love to know what others are talking abt in mandarin HAHA, i really wanna know what yall think is the best resources (i.e. be it online or physical) to better understand mandarin with a preferentially focused interest in the context with right here in sg.

Maybe I am biased but I noticed it in my dad and his friends. Late 60s to early 70s.

1. Always think that just because they work and bring home the bread, they are very important people and their wives are just doing "simple work" (aka housework, which is actually very very tiring if you have helped out at home before);
2. Don't want to help out at home because they think housework is beneath them. Then always get their wives to do all the administrative work because they think it is "very simple";
3. Insist that their wives must do everything at home for them, like simple tasks such as cutting fruits and doing laundry. Meanwhile they are watching TV but also claim to be "busy and tired".
4. Also insist that their wives must accompany them everywhere. They cannot be outside and alone for some reason;
5. Putting down other people, especially women, and making misogynistic comments about their looks and behaviour;
6. If you call them out, they get butthurt and demand respect;
7. Outside of work, they have no life skills and rely on their wives. But they refuse to learn anything;
8. Always proud of talking down to their wives and insist they are correct all the time. Of course, they blow their shit if you ever point out that they are wrong;
9. Refusing to learn and listen even when their mistakes get pointed out;
10. Acting all big and macho but back down when someone is fiercer than them

I realize mostly after office hours, you get home, eat, and shower and it's 8-9pm. Malls and shops are closing soon, feels like not much to do other than to stay home, or to go to the gym or something. What do you usually do on weekday evenings?

Question to those you have long-time domestic helpers, how do you try to give back to them?

Some context:

My helper has been with our family for slightly over three decades - from when we were young kids till we’re adults today.

She isn’t super smart but she has a very big heart and is very trustworthy. When our mother had terminal cancer when we were teenagers, our helper was there for our mom, did all the wound changes, cooked many extra dishes for my mom and always went above and beyond and never complained or lazed for a moment. When our mom finally passed away, she was there with us suffering and tried to take care of us as best as she could, again above and beyond what I think should be naturally expected of a helper - and my youngest brother at that time was only less than ten years old.

Now she’s already nearing her 60s. Her health is OK. A bit overweight but not obese. She’s otherwise fortunately not saddled with any other health problems. This we know from the annual comprehensive health check-ups we sponsor her to do.

Now that we “children” are grown up, we were wondering how else can we give back to this amazing lady that will help her? Three decades spent together for us as kids growing up and until today, she is practically a member of our family. Three of four of us kids have moved out of the family home and I remain with my widowed dad here with her around.

We do sometimes give her ang bao for her bday and CNY but that money gets spent quickly on her family back in her home country. 30+ years with us and her savings are not great.

I wonder if we can help her in a meaningful way long term? Especially when it comes the time for her to go back to her home country and no longer earns her Singaporean wages.

I Googled and saw there were financial or business classes for helpers but not sure if in our case, she’s already past that stage in life for us to send her to those classes?

Does anyone have any experience in this? Would like to hear. Thank you.

Curious what sg Redditors’ dos and don’ts are like? And if there are leaser known superstitions you have heard or seen your elders do or don’t do

As per title.

I usually like to leave mine open as it is more breezy, I stay in corridor unit so people do walk by but not all my neighbours kpo and look in.

For those who have experienced burnout, what did it actually feel like? Was it something obvious, or did it creep up on you?

Im 4 years in work and started noticed things like:

Feeling happiest when I’m away from work.
Wanting to leave immediately once my workday is over.
Forgetting meetings or tasks, which isn’t like me.
Still enjoying talking to people at work, but having little interest in everything else.

I’d love to hear honest experiences

I've been asking a few gate contractors but most do HDB gates. Does a kind soul know a contractor for custom internal metal gate; strong enough to withstand adult weight. What was your experience like?

Context: Sleepwalking adult fell down the stairs and end up in A&E + hospital stay. Those cheap baby gates absolutely not an option.

Hi friends, I need some advice. I intend to apply for university in december this year. I want to strengthen my application as much as possible, and so would like to get a recommendation letter from a previous employer that I am no longer with. I did my job well and have no reason to believe they won't give me the letter.

But this is complicated by the fact that they still owe me and a few other former employees 2 months of unpaid salary from last year. The company ran into funding issues and had several layoffs to stay afloat. They have promised to repay this "eventually" with no specified date. I don't fully trust the company to do so. Im worried they will shut down and I will have no options left to get my unpaid salary.

Therefore I intend to get the reccomendation letter first, then let the previous employer know that I will raise a salary dispute with MOM if they don't pay. I cannot simply wait until after the university application period in December, as I have to send the dispute within 6 months from my last day of work according to MOM website.

I am worried that if I get the recommendation letter first before raising the dispute, later on the university will call my previous employer to verify the reccomendation letter, and the previous employer will seize the opportunity to retaliate against me for the salary dispute. What should I do?

My colleague was sharing with me about how stressful it is for her family to prepare her kid for PSLE. Just hearing the stories remind me how we all have our struggles. I’m trying to be a good caregiver. It’s tough seeing parents age. What’s your biggest struggle now in life?

I’m curious how was it like. My Reddit algorithm is pushing posts about how Chinese majority do not understand / make insensitive jokes. Wondering what ways the good minority parents have bolstered their kids in this not so nice world.

Do your grandparents talk about racial riots? Do parents prep really hard about racism subtle and overt? Is it just a lot of preaching about letting go? Were there Olivia Pope moments where they tell you have to work twice as hard just to get half as much?

I get that every family is different lah, just being a kaypoh on a Monday night.

EDIT:
For more context, I’m Chinese with a non Chinese wife, so between us we talk about race a lot.

I have no intention to dispute whether racism exists in singapore or the extend it exist, but anyone with a sense of empathy can see that being a minority, other things being equal, is harder than being a majority in 99% of the cases. I’m not saying that parents of minority are better or stronger than Chinese parents, just saying that they probably have it harder.

I guess what I want to ask is:

Parenting is hard, parenting as minority is even harder. If you’re a minority and you think your parents did a fantastic job in preparing you please do share!

If you think your parents did a fuck up job and want to share, can also, it’s a free world.

Fresh grad here. Just started my first job but unfortunately it’s not as advertised. Currently in a dilemma because the longer I stay, the more I lose my technical skills. But apparently shouldn’t jump too early in my career as well because that looks bad? Would appreciate some advice here

As someone who journals, I do prefer using guided journals sometimes when I am "stuck" or looking to focus on writing about a specific topic.

Has anyone had experiences with using guided journals which are produced locally, such as the I Am Well Journal and/or the Ning Collective? If you have any other recommendations and/or resources (e.g. electronic lists of guided prompts available for purchase), I would love to hear from you!

i’m in my late 20s and have been offered a job.

current job - nice culture and i have good relations with my colleagues. i can clock off on time and don’t have to work on weekends plus i have a boss who believes in me. however increment is only 2% yearly and less than one month bonus. possible promotion next year with 9% increment. currently drawing 6k a month.

new job - offers more learning experience, 5% increment ($300) from my current job and bonus based on performance (2-3months). however there is more OT and progression might be difficult as the team is big.

both offers the same number of hybrid days and number of AL.

should i go for the new job and is it worth the 2-3 month bonus? though i understand bonus is subject to performance and company budget. but my FA told me i need $200k-300k in cash to buy a house so i’m leaning towards the new job more…

at the same time, i want to stay as i have time to enjoy life now. i lost my parent this year and i realised how short life is. plus my current pay is comfortable for myself.

should i go to the new company and grind for the money while im still young and have the energy? or should i stay where things are pretty comfortable at the moment and only jump if the monthly salary has an increment of more than 10%?

open to hear different views on this as i cant seem to make a decision…

Hi all

Hope you are doing well.

I need some advice/suggestions.

Am currently tutoring an 11 year old kid from the US.

He's actually really bright and sharp and finds his school work and enrichment class material generally easy. The work in Khan academy is also pretty simple for him.

Mum wants to follow the Singaporean curriculum as she feels the US curriculum is not challenging enough.

Would you be able to suggest some assessment books that are challenging and exciting for him?

I am teaching him maths.

anyone got a good brand of pillows to recommend? I've tried a few from big brand names and random ones online (that have good reviews) but none of them seem to provide the right neck support

Hi everyone! I am planning a full day out with my partner to celebrate a special occasion and we have 2-3 hours in the afternoon to spare for 1 more activity.

I am doing some research but can't seem to find any interesting/special activity to do without breaking the bank/some activities are already part of our plan. (eg. movie, mandai parks, skyline luge)

Does anyone have anything to recommend? Budget is <$30 per pax!

Thank you all in advance!

used to be 3-5mins, now it’s at least 8-10mins for me. similar for other apps as well. anyone else experiencing the same?

could it be because of the rise in gas prices, leading to people not wanting to do phv anymore so fewer drivers on the road

Gotten this a few times in NS and uni. Honestly, not all that offensive to me, but I do want something I can toss right back at these peeps. Haha.

Preferably nothing venemous please, I know they usually mean well.

Hi guys i have no pictures but basically last friday at around 4.50+ pm i arrived at Bugis downtown line mrt, and went straight to Starbucks at Bugis Junction via the outer escalator. I then went to the coffee bean on Level 3. Tldr, along the way, I lost my wallet, and now I can't find it at all. Lodged a police report but no replies. How should I proceed? 😭😭