I suggest bros here to read the biography of the late Subhash Anandan. His book reflected on the carefree life he had in his Naval Base , Sembawang kampungs back in the 60s and 70s with gang activities rampant throughout the kampungs around Singapore. Yes crime rates were high back then, union strikes everywhere, political instability rocking the country, good high paying jobs were hard to get but people of that era were still contented with their lives. I guess his book would resonate with what my father experienced growing up in the 60s with multi racial group of kampung friends and then entering the working world during the 70s. Life was much more simpler back then. With proper financial planning, most of the folks of that era are now probably happily retired without worrying anymore about HDB loans and other commitments. But I can't say the same of my generation and the future upcoming generations after me. Life will be more tougher. The influx of the FTs, your job security, the sky high prices of your HDB flats. Even with a 4K salary, I don't think it's going to be enough to support a young family.