00:00I think that the ability to respond to circumstances is what we've been designed for.
00:12I survived with two pairs of jeans for 13 years.
00:15I think that with rising costs, it requires some serious thinking.
00:20Being a first-time parent is definitely challenging in terms of navigating the financial costs.
00:28It's been a rewarding journey.
00:46My name is Yusof. I'm 28 years old this year and I work as a Customer Service Associate.
00:51And I'm Nabilah. I'm 27 years old this year and I'm working as a teacher.
00:55So we met through online and after that, we got engaged within two months.
01:01We got married within less than a year.
01:19Hi, my name is Jimmy. I'm 69 and retired.
01:23Hi, I'm Doris. I'm 68 and retired too.
01:27We left Singapore in 1988.
01:29We stayed on until about 24 years.
01:32Then we returned home permanently.
01:35I initially decided to go because when you are 33
01:40and there's an opportunity to work overseas for a big company, it's a rare opportunity.
01:48Transitioning to become a husband and then become a father
01:52I realised that I needed more time and stability to have more family time.
01:57We just moved into this house this year and we're new parents.
02:01Paying our bills for the first time.
02:02So we didn't know how much to mentally prepare ourselves every month.
02:06So there were some months where we were taken aback that it was pretty expensive.
02:09Then he was telling me, the bill is so high.
02:11But then suddenly, we pay zero, like nothing.
02:15It really helps us a little bit because the first few months were very intense.
02:23Jimmy is now working in Singapore as a full-time employee.
02:26He has been working in Singapore for over 20 years.
02:29He has been working in Singapore for over 20 years.
02:32He has been working in Singapore for over 20 years.
02:36For those who work overseas for the long term,
02:38it impacts quite a fair bit on people who retire
02:42because many people do not have a CPF contribution.
02:47And it can be a bit scary because you are quite far from the minimum sum.
02:52In the past few years,
02:54we have seen a rise in the number of people who have a CPF contribution.
02:57In the past few years, we have seen a rise in the number of people who have a CPF contribution.
03:00In the past few years, we have seen a rise in the number of people who have a CPF contribution.
03:03In the past few years, we have seen a rise in the number of people who have a CPF contribution.
03:06In the past few years, we have seen a rise in the number of people who have a CPF contribution.
03:09In the past few years, we have seen a rise in the number of people who have a CPF contribution.
03:12In the past few years, we have seen a rise in the number of people who have a CPF contribution.
03:15In the past few years, we have seen a rise in the number of people who have a CPF contribution.
03:18In the past few years, we have seen a rise in the number of people who have a CPF contribution.
03:21In the past few years, we have seen a rise in the number of people who have a CPF contribution.
03:24In the past few years, we have seen a rise in the number of people who have a CPF contribution.
03:27In the past few years, we have seen a rise in the number of people who have a CPF contribution.
03:30In the past few years, we have seen a rise in the number of people who have a CPF contribution.
03:34So our main expenses,
03:37probably fairly true for other retirees,
03:40is actually food.
03:43I remember when I came back,
03:45$1.60 was one particular fast food coffee that I had.
03:48$1.60 was one particular fast food coffee that I had.
03:51Today, it's $3.15.
03:57Inflation is not just a Singapore thing.
04:00Globally, people are affected. How they respond to it is important.
04:03And there are so many other ways whereby we can handle it as individuals ourselves.
04:06And there are so many other ways whereby we can handle it as individuals ourselves.
04:09Remember not to keep up with the Jonases.
04:16All my CDCs, all the CDC money,
04:19All my CDCs, all the CDC money,
04:22is used to buy groceries.
04:25Nothing else.
04:38The main expenditure,
04:41before the baby was delivered,
04:44was the clothes.
04:50The diapers alone cost $30 per bag.
04:53The diapers alone cost $30 per bag.
04:56When we give formula milk, the milk is on the higher price.
04:59It's about $70 per can, and it lasts for only two weeks.
05:02It's a reality for us.
05:05We finally see the cost to raise a baby.
05:14I think the health issue is really
05:17a thing that is affecting Singaporeans
05:20because it's an ageing population.
05:23To care-give is not easy.
05:26Recently, my aunt had a fall
05:29and that affected her mobility.
05:32So, that is a real challenge
05:35because it's not easy to care-give.
05:38So, it's not easy to care-give.
05:41So, that is a real challenge
05:44because first and foremost, she's a single lady
05:47and she's not married, so that responsibility fell on my sis.
05:50When we were parents, we were thinking
05:53that, wow, we're going to buy diapers for the kids, right?
05:56I never realised that I had to buy diapers
05:59for my ageing auntie as well,
06:02which is really a life cycle, the cycle of life that goes around.
06:11We're going to have a baby soon.
06:14We're going to have a baby soon.
06:17We're going to have a baby soon.
06:20We're going to have a baby soon.
06:23We're going to have a baby soon.
06:26We're going to have a baby soon.
06:29We're going to have a baby soon.
06:32We're going to have a baby soon.
06:35We're going to have a baby soon.
06:38We're going to have a baby soon.
06:41We're going to have a baby soon.
06:44We're going to have a baby soon.
06:47We're going to have a baby soon.
06:50We're going to have a baby soon.
06:53I've got one particular cousin.
06:56He's always looking out for the amount that we receive from the government
06:59and he's always happy to announce it in our family chat.
07:02It's always exciting to get WhatsApp that tells you,
07:05$255 has increased.
07:10Or rather, I'm getting more than $255 a month.
07:14So I know that all these schemes have helped
07:17to make our situation better.
07:24There will definitely be some people still complaining that
07:28I only need a few hundred dollars.
07:30It might be a few hundred dollars to you, it might be measly to you
07:33but it might be really helpful for us newborn parents.
07:37Naturally, you want the best for your child.
07:39When you grow up, everything will be taken care of.
07:42There'll be no days where there'll be no food on the table.
07:45Everything will be taken care of from A to Z.
07:50For this new year, I look forward to creating more memories with my family.
07:55My small family, my husband, my son.
07:57I never realised it's so fast to be crossing the almost 70 zone.
08:02So to me, critical, the importance is building relationships.
08:08Bonding with my siblings and my husband, my children.
08:13I still journal almost every day.
08:15I want to understand life and to live accurately
08:21by living carefully and slowly.
08:26And hopefully I can replace the word carefully to carefreely.
08:32For more information visit www.cdc.gov.au
09:02CREDITS
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