Perhaps we are entering the realm of pragmatic philosophies....
1. Should one buy a car in cash or with just an under 30% loan for financial leverage purposes, it is fine & one would get a good night sleep. It is only one's own hard earned money.
However, should one buy a car with under 30% downpayment & the rest is on loans, then one would have sleepless night, as on top of loan repayments, one would have to worry about the MAINTENANCE costs of a car. Even should there be a minor dent on the bumper, it would costs $2000 to replace. Then should mechanical faults occur, such as the gear box or even the headlights, it would be another hefty cost as such cars uses original parts unlike Japanese cars with readily available parts. Also not to mention fuel prices.....& then KBKB to society on the high costs of living.....
2. It is fine if one buys a $70,000 Hermes or Gucci handbag. It is one's own money & also the quality of the bag. However, it also attracts the wrong kind of attention from the desperate whom may use direct or indirect means such as scams to rob one's wealth. Such bags are cleaned daily & kept in cupboards AT HOME. None will keep such expensive items in Bank's safety deposit boxes.
Thus one will have sleepness night, worrying about theft.....& then KBKB to society about the crime rate here.
Singapore has a strong middle class, with most earning sufficient honest avg salaries of $3000 to $5000/mth. They need not resort to crime to earn more as Singapore is a land of fair opportunities to all. However there still exists a segment, regardless if wealthy or poor, that believe in getting richer fast, thus a need for precaution. Low crime does not mean no crime...