Turning 21 might be an exciting time for many people. “Freedom!” would be the word that many exclaim, albeit politely and silently, only in their minds. Because let’s be honest, you’ll still be living in your parents’ home. What happens when it is time for you to get your own home? What happens when the things you start to consider shift from “where am I going to party?” to “where am I going to live?” For some of you, it might not be a big deal but to me, there are legitimate concerns.
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Property prices in Singapore are notoriously steep and after recently being ranked as the most expensive city to live in, chances of being able to afford a decent home deteriorate. At 21, I can barely afford a $100 pair of shoes, how am I supposed to pay for a $300,000 flat? I mean, a job would help pay off those loans most of us would have to take but who is to say I would actually make it out of school successfully enough to do that?
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We all want our home to look good. Whether it’s to impress guests or make me actually want to say, “Home Sweet Home”, a beautiful, or at least decent, home is important. How do I want my walls painted? Carpeted floors? Marble floors? Would I even be able to afford a nice floor? How about furniture? Do I want leather seats or am I doomed to lawn chairs? Do I get an interior designer or trust my amazing lack of artistic touch?
I’ve never had to think about decorating anything more than well, my immediate surroundings (i.e. my bedroom). Let’s just say that there are many things left to be desired. Since I’m so woefully inept, I’ll rather be hiring an accredited renovation contractor or interior designer. I may not be aiming for a Pinterest home but I’ve seen enough failed attempts to know that a successful renovation requires comprehensive planning and lots of tips and tricks.
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There is a good chance you might want to upgrade where you live ever so often. Or will my first home also be my last. Despite a potentially romantic affair between you and your next first, most throw fidelity out of the window when it comes to homes. You might have 1 (or 2) more kids than expected and you might need to upgrade to accommodate for the excess. I mean it might be a little too hypothetical but if it does happen, you will be glad you read this article.
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We all know this day is going to come and when it does, it will hit us like a freight train. Whether it is for my phone, Internet, cable or utilities, the onus is now on me to make sure the house stays functioning. All those bills I used to just throw aside when I got the mail? Yeah, they belong to me now.
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Nothing says independence like having to cook your own breakfast in the morning. Instead of waking up to freshly prepared bacon and eggs, you only wake up to the silence of your oneness. You walk to the kitchen, having to decide what you are going to eat and we all know that you will probably just grab the (last) pack of instant noodles off the shelf.
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Unless you inherited a condominium, bungalow (or are just brilliantly wealthy), you would probably have to get a HDB flat. I definitely am not inheriting either of the above so I am left with only one choice. Now, here’s the worrying part. According to the HDB website, there are schemes for people in particular circumstances. The most conceivable way for me to get a HDB would be to have a fiancé and get one with her. If not, I would have to wait until I am 35 to be eligible under the any one of their Singles schemes. WHO KNOWS WHETHER I WILL EVER FIND SOMEONE?? AM I going to live in my parent’s house until I am 35??? What if I still cannot afford one after that????
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What if my neighbours suck? There are few scenarios as depressing as realizing that your neighbours are exactly the kind of people you wanted to avoid at all costs. What if they have a dog that barks non-stop? What if they love karaoke? What if they find no issue with shouting across the common corridor regardless of the time? What if they have children who shout at each other just to communicate? What if their cooking smells? (I am now just realizing that my family is a horrible neighbour)
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Imagine working in the east, but because the only BTO flat offered to you was in the west, you take over an hour everyday to get to work and then there is the commute back. “Get a car?” some of you might say but I would like to be able to afford a home first before even thinking of getting a car.
It might be a little too early for me to start thinking about things like this. Some of you might be telling yourself, “This boy finish Uni then talk.” But I would like to be mentally prepared for all my worst case scenarios because if they do come true, I would just curse my luck and hope that my parents will let me stay with them for a little longer; nothing too drastic.
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