Singaporeans Try: $1500 Monthly Spenders Live Frugally For 72 Hours

Can Sew & John, amongst our office's biggest spenders, spend 3 times less than their regular monthly expenditure for 72 hours? Watch to find out!
Thank you DBS for making this video possible!
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Featuring:
Brenda Tan - / brendatjy
Charmaine Sew - / charmainesew
John Lim - / johnjohnah
Produced & Edited by:
Estee Woo - / esteewoo
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[@TheSmartLocal]

What was your most expensive purchase in the past month? 👀

[@missfreaky789]

My badge!! 😅

[@Frooooooo]

My Chiropractic treatment. Set me back $3k++

[@MavisxsivaM]

Tattoo money

[@lipglossOne]

A denim romper @ $39.90. A shoutout to Brenda, you are an amazing girl👍👏 ! You are chio, humble, funny, cute and now I find out that you are also frugal (same like me), wow! 💯🌈💐

[@sourdurian2839]

cai png with fish. 5.50

[@ayuni5089]

can i be friends with brenda? she’s such a positive influence like we all need a brenda in our life

[@bettafavowner4356]

sorry, u have to queue up first. I’m first

[@User_pompompurin4eva]

Ya true WE ALL NEED A BRENDA IN LIFE

[@bladesocialxin]

​@@bettafavowner4356HELP NOT THE QUEUE

[@walaoeh_]

Sew is how I imagine a child adulting... like a child with access to adult money & freedom 😂 picky eater & uncontrolled spending 😂 She reflects the guilty side in all of us & I love how y’all drag her for every challenge !!

[@sunlightdavid]

Her genuine reactions and honest opinions while being game for these videos really complete the experience 😂

[@hobbob9938]

she is a disgusting women

[@GanXiang]

LOL at the part where John smirks and goes "ahhh smart local"

[@LSENathan]

Should totally get Sew & John to do a one month challenge to see how much they can actually save :)

[@AverageAufa]

their monthly expenses is some people’s monthly income or more :O

[@nick38785]

Oh man people please learn from Brenda and spend responsibly! What a great role model :)

[@NkingstonL]

In order to get qualified for the cash back you have to spent minimum $500 :) on the same mnth and keep cash withdrawal under $400 as well..

[@minlim8744]

Brenda is such a positive example!!!

[@friedrice0922]

i feel like brendas lifestyle is 80% of us and sew john is 20% of us

[@johnwig285]

Assuming ure single and not living separately from ur parents having to rent a room, i have tried ~$150 per month before, inclusive of food, transport, phone bill ($25), insurance ($20). My advice: Eat prata ($1) or ananas Nasi Lemak ($2.5) or ananas chicken rice ($2) and rotate. I combine breakfast and lunch into brunch so i save even more. This isnt that frugal yet but yah. Most ultimately pick up financial education. Even insurance can be an investment.

[@sunlightdavid]

PAP wants to know your location. You are their perfect poster child for their stance on "no need for min wage" and "$1000 income can afford HDB". 😂

[@jeddjoseph237]

@@sunlightdavid But it is true though, maybe not $1000, but $1500-$1700, you cannot live a luxurious lifestyle, or a very comfortable lifestyle, but you will live. And if you can save up, eventually you will get to a point that you can treat yourself to something good every once in a while. But of course employers need to support and also have wage increment along the way, which is why there is the progressive wage model. Having kids on the other hand, would not be advisable, so thats a concern.

[@sunlightdavid]

@@jeddjoseph237 I believe that the average Singaporean aspires to be more than just being alive - we all want to live life. The kind of income inequality and being unable to shoulder cost of living comfortably would create feelings of imbalance, bitterness and resentment. I think many of would agree that for a first world nation, just a roof over our heads and food on the table is setting a very low bar for standard of living.

[@jeddjoseph237]

@@sunlightdavid I don't disagree with you there, everyone strives to better themselves and their conditions. But practically not everyone can do it. If everyone can, then I believe we, as in humans in general, would've found that out long ago. I am not saying I don't hope for real equality, I am just calling the bitter truth as it is. Most first world nations, there is inequality, from my limited but i believe at least a little relevant experience in this world as a youth, I believe that the world is a Zero-Sum game. Someone, or something has to lose, in order for the other party to win. Not in every case, but generally in nature, your dinner, be it plants or animal, had to die for you to eat, and you win, you get to live another day. Other first world countries such as Australia, they may have a more fair economy, but their richness comes at the expense of their environment, exploitation of natural resources. Singapore does not have those resources, so the more prevalent inequality we can spot are within the only natural resource we have as LKY stated many years ago, our people. It is not fair, and I can only hope that things changed, but as far as civilisation has been around, so has inequality. For me personally, I believe this will be resolved with technology, robotics, AI, yes job displacement will be rampant when that comes, but that's also when the basic needs of everyone can be met, fairly, and humans can move on to other aims in life for fulfillment and the advancement as a society. Until then, I believe we will always be in this chicken and egg situation of trying to find the balance between desirability, and reality.

[@johnwig285]

@@sunlightdavid This has nothing to do with politics, it doesn't matter who u support, even if u support Trump or Putin, facts remain facts that if anyone were to do this as a challenge, it can be done within the boundaries i have stated. I myself am a WP supporter. That doesnt change the economics and facts. And minimum wage in Singapore exist in a different form that's more complex which is why there is no need for cookie cutter typical min wage system that doesn't help ur cleaners etc but ironically puts their job at risk when healthy young adults are attracted to the wage-revised $12/hr cleaning jobs and potentially becoming competitors to older cleaners, putting their livelihoods at risk. Firstly, instead of having a one size fits all solution that actually doesn't solve all, there's a Progressive Wage Model in place which increases min wage by encouraging workers to upskill instead of setting a flat out min wage for all jobs without any incentive to upskill. That apart, there are various other safety nets such as financial assistance, gst rebates, which makes up MORE than if the typical minimum wage were to be implemented. You would know if ure from a low-income family like me earning $1000+ but that amount itself is automatically increased to at least 2.3K when u factor in the FA and vouchers we receive. Some may not realise how privileged they are to downplay it as merely having a roof and food while typing their opinion on a Samsung/iPhone that's many times expensive than a budget phone. The common problem is financial management and education, the problem isnt whether one is a poster child or not. Now that u talked abt 1st world countries and roof over ur head, we are one of the countries with the least homelessness in terms of its ratio to population. Can SG do better? Obviously, we can start with the workplace culture which is why productivity is stagnant. U want the price of housing to drop so ppl can afford? Sure, then u urself can start by not selling ur house at a loss to others so that they can afford housing. As long as ppl sell their house with the intention to gain huge profits, the cycle will never end. This aint Finland or Norway where we have the luxury of natural resources. Not to mention, we are limited by land size, which is the biggest factor in the size n price of ur house.

[@Soulrrr]

finally 😭😭 ive been waiting a week for this video!

[@jtasticc]

Brenda's hair looks good on her!!

[@epiphadipity]

I think if Sew never take grab for 1 month she will save $500

[@amyyy6336]

i love this ep! keep making gr8 content! ❤️

[@eightfoldsg]

To all 20s folks, be financially woke when you can. Get a good headstart!

[@xysg1]

Ahah... I only spend 30% of my net salary, the rest goes to savings. That's about $800 a month for expenses

[@jeddjoseph237]

I get the foreign transaction cashback is a feature.. but putting it as united states website then telling people to make use of that cashback, may not be that great of an idea. The exchange rate and processing fees could be higher than the 2% you save as a foreign transaction, which makes it more expensive overall.

[@junjie2769]

i really like this series! so cool! i rewatched this again.!!

[@lipglossOne]

A shoutout to Brenda, you are an amazing girl👍👏 ! You are chio, humble, funny, cute and now I find out that you are also frugal (same like me), wow! 💯🌈💐

[@spicyjicken]

next episode sg try living on nsf allowance

[@johnwig285]

Must specify what's the allowance. Ur rota commanders from scdf are probly earning at least 1.2K while ur chao recruit from saf is earning arnd 600 (cant rmbr).

[@jianxiongRaven]

@@johnwig285 560 for rec I think

[@jerrywong243]

@@jianxiongRaven now rec earn 600

[@jianxiongRaven]

@@jerrywong243 haha I see. I know got changes while I was still in service

[@josephine3252]

Omg sew I feel you. I used to spent alot on grab rides and grab food and I decided to dare myself not to spend on those and then I realised I've so much money more. That's when I save and reward myself with like a starbucks drink.

[@xysg1]

$8 a day is $240 a month

[@geraldine3636]

I hope that from this challenge, the big spenders Sew and John who don't blink an eye on what they spend will really learnt to cultivate a healthier spending habit , now they can see how they spend daily.

[@redemptionex]

i literally spend less than $8 on my lunch and dinner on normal days lol. i know brenda’s level of healthy spending habit well 👍🏻

[@chenglau711]

I spend less than $5 for whole day meal because 1 Maggie mees and 1 egg cost 40cents only eat 1 meal outside

[@2129hours]

I eat at home where ever possible. For lunch at office, I will tabao the leftover food from previous night, if there is any and food that is suitable to tabao. Then at night go back have dinner at home again. Save money!!! Of course sometimes also got tabao outside food but at most once a week. The rest can save for some little splurge or entertainment with friends.

[@drkrpr155]

Kinda cool, got a better idea of what the usual “budget killers” are - Grab, Grabfood, Starbucks and fastfood etc! TBH though, I lived both ways before. Alone my expenditure ~$600, while dating (rarely) hit $1.5k exactly. Glad to know what a $500 budget is like!

[@rooowtwx]

When she stopped in her tracks as she passed by Starbucks, I couldn't help but say "No, don't do it" lol and she did

[@Banayaga]

I do the same thing as Brenda too! I cart everything I want and then I take my time to decide if I want them. I end up filtering and removing and buying those that I really need.

[@mingongju]

i’m 20 this year and to me $600 is perfect to last one month - $400 on food and $200 for bus+mrt transport (ever since poly ended, adult transport fees is so expensive!!!) i go out 6 days a week and i buy $7 drinks from cafes every day. When im outside, i only eat one meal or just snacks. it’s possible and comfortable!

[@souji0701]

thanks sew for the Gojo sticker recommendation

[@RobertHeslop]

Ooh I was quite Brenda today and only spent 320 Baht which is like $13.66 in SGD Breakfast I usually buy a coffee and a sandwich as a deal for 80 Baht which is like $3.42, then lunch is like 120 Baht ($5.12) Recent days off school and just being at the cafe at the condo I live at they’ve all been under 400 Baht ($17) There are times where I buy myself a treat after payday, but the rest is mainly on groceries. My rent is 8000 Baht ($341.55) per month

[@August-sk7oq]

omg this video is so good. pls do more of such videos with different people! am curious to know what are the Singaporeans spending habits.

[@TonyJaner]

15:32 most people I know would give the same advice LOL but it just doesn't work on me. I would still think of getting it and only feel regret within minutes after purchasing :'D

[@Love.RoslynnAria]

Wow..The luxury i wish i had. To spend $1.5k that easily?? This challenge will be super easy for me. Ha. Most of us are not blessed with a fat paycheck haha. Anyway with this DBS debit card cashback, the t&c are... 'Simply spend a minimum of S$500 on Visa and keep your cash withdrawals to S$400 and below in the same month'.

[@embershen364]

My boss’ Hermes birkin bag cost $30,000. She just go shopping buy 1 small item is like my whole month salary already lol

[@junyang1434]

"im saving a lot of money" followed by "maybe ill buy 2"

[@haokai1872]

I’m so excited so Sew’s “singing transformation”

[@Yeontan0w0]

When you’re a kpop fan and being thrifty is too difficult

[@alvinkoeswanto8622]

Brenda is a legit wife material.

[@freddyong504]

Brenda going to be a millionaire very soon :) If she invest her spare cash it would be even faster ahhaa

[@jaspertang86]

Oh... Brenda looks very pretty and elegant in the opening of this video... can try more this fashion & hair style more in the future...

[@troubledgirl97]

what switch game was John playing???

[@2frEaky]

The total bus trip should be within $2.15 as it is the max cap on a continuous trip

[@gabut299]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRENDA ALL THE BEST

[@HoneyMoneySG]

Oh wow, I'm so gonna do a reaction video to this!

[@chloeewee]

One minute ago WOOOO. I literally just logged onto yt. BUT SEW IS 27?! I THOUGHT SHE WAS YOUNGER WAT?!

[@TheSmartLocal]

If she dyed her hair black she could most definitely blend in a lower sec class tbh 😌

[@chloeewee]

@@TheSmartLocal HAHAHA YES YES

[@Study_with_Vanessa]

Love your vids ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@darkhuilong]

When Sew decide to buy to cook at home I don know why I was kind of expecting a call to her Boyfriend for the mushrooms part XD

[@whyyouseeme563]

brenda's new hairdo looks like the girl next door... before this was like ..the girl next few blocks away....😁😁😁

[@nurdiyana3970]

Honestly my Best Buy ever is my Nespresso machine! It seriously cuts down the cost of coffee/Starbucks

[@emmanuellacheng5786]

Hellooo John!! I love your sloth mask, may i know where did you get it from? :-)

[@minyuan86]

The cost of dinner/homecooked food day should be included as does not fall from the sky. Like that my breakfast lunch and dinner all home cook... My monthly expense is $0? You are going to pay for health issue if you have a pack of ramen everyday for dinner.

[@wrongamount]

5:31........did i just see vegetables in sew's cai fan???? round of applause please!!!

[@calmthefdown789]

Where’s the 50 Questions video with Zula team I’ve been waiting for months 😢🥺

[@kirubaadharshiniselvaraju3765]

Can say I am picky with food in Sense of flavour. So, I enjoy making myself the food. The process of making is also a enjoy.

[@xaverie303]

i was also watching a tsl video before this and this came out :)

[@Belryllium]

AYO SAME

[@Belryllium]

@@anvighimireystudent7346 HARLOW ANVI

[@kevtacy1]

Walk home from the MRT..... don't make sense when u are only saving less than 10 cents

[@amubi]

Sew wasted money unnecessarily in many ways which is a no no to saving for greater joys

[@seanlingham5254]

Have you looked at her? She screams spend! HAHA judging much.

[@sunlightdavid]

Ok la some ppl like to save for greater joys while some prefer a constant trickle of little joys. We can choose either and we if possible switch between the two every now and then depending on your stage of life and plans.

[@EsPpY]

Wah Brenda no joke sia, every ep more and more pretty, what kpop skincare regiment and makeup she use sia?

[@juliaaannee]

me: *sees my fave kpop idols release of their newest albums* also me after watching this video: *not everything new on the market means you have to really buy it right away* we gotta spend wisely and earn more ! :->

[@eviraaddict]

Same, but if u know how to curb yourself then I think its ok. I wanted to buy certain pc. But then the prices so ex. So i wont buy it unless its really worth it

[@chenglau711]

Try to budget $500/month. Eat instant noodle 1 or 2 meals a day. You still can save after this amount

[@syahsyah7477]

I'm living vicariously through sew

[@Marcus99998]

I'll take up this challenge any day

[@tanqs789]

uhm, but this expenditure is also not considered frugal uh

[@AntheaPeter]

I agree. Frugal should mean expenditure on absolute essentials/needs only.

[@leechong2291]

It's a sponsored video mah, LOL😆

[@nazscal]

This is what most of singaporean low wage worker earn in mth but lesser due to CPF contribution. 1 week is nothing at all, Easy

[@susugurlks]

What are their pay to spend 1.5k per month

[@peilee7510]

Is wad I do at home when I was alone lor

[@arissajoan]

If spending $1500 does not include insurance and investment then it’s really wasting all the hard earned money.

[@oo8342]

You are just poor.

[@yh4861]

Trying to squeeze too much out of every dollar can be a waste of life to others. No harm spending $1.5k if you can afford it. What’s the point of earning money if you prohibit yourself from spending on things that make you happy/ have a better standard of living. I personally spend about $1k a month which I used to feel it’s too much. Now I strike a balance between spending and saving to keep me happy. Otherwise I feel suffocated. Understand some people can’t afford to spend $1.5k just on food/ transport/ entertainment. It does not work for everyone but if you can and it makes you happy why not?

[@lendleasereit6797]

Best to invest in Lendlease Reit also. The one that owns JEM and somerset313 Earn dividends + capital gains

[@pinkapple6530]

@@lendleasereit6797 do you use syfe/stashaway?

[@lendleasereit6797]

@@pinkapple6530 no eh... but I have heard good things about syfe (I am also in favour of their picks/stocks/counters for their funds which I have taken a look at - looks safe and stable). I didn't look into stashaway

[@snorlaxDjoker]

Sew is 27!!! I thought I watched her show growing up man. Hafeez: Got money eat popiah no money eat bobian Waaq joy joy miss seeing her on screen

[@alwaystars]

Does anyone know where Sew’s top is from at 0:55?

[@sugarlove8064]

I was expecting this to happen TSL: your expenses will be fully paid by us Brenda: okay i dont mind if i need to follow sew’s and john’s total😁😁

[@TheSmartLocal]

if money fall down from the sky, can!!

[@BRANDONCHUAZR]

Sew and John needs UOB One card for 10% cashback on grab hahaha

[@lendleasereit6797]

They need to invest in Lendlease Reit also. The one that owns JEM and somerset313 Earn dividends + capital gains

[@yeeen123]

Should do it for 1 mth and give the budget for 1 mth

[@xinxin5682]

I think John and Sew will go back to their old ways. Because spending is not something u can change immediately 😅😅 personally,I monitor my expenses very closely and I already find it difficult. I'm pretty sure they will continue to spend all/most of their salary.

[@dhafyriman877]

i miss brenda’s old hairstyle i like her hair when it was short

[@myronlhr]

Just imagine Sew, John and Brenda in a SG Try challenge with The WokeSalaryman as collaborators... my gosh the scenes

[@zihern3976]

can you do a 72 hour only eating noodle challenge?

[@leechong2291]

Tbh, many people don't even make S$1500.00 a month$ 🥺😩

[@manofthehour_]

1.5k is likely more than half of their takehomes yikes

[@sunlightdavid]

@@manofthehour_ that's really excessive spending. I suppose it's partly a culture thing. If everyone around you takes PHV everyday to work, it could become internalised as acceptable habit which then becomes a lifestyle.

[@charlene1413]

omg sew's caifan is 1/3 veggie!!! so proud!

[@Wuyh99]

but u gonna pay for the foreign currency fee?no?

[@epiphadipity]

Wah this challenge would be super easy for me sia I also spend only 500-ish per month!

[@celineeng9167]

I onpy have $400 to spend per month,around $10 budget a day

[@kaili7564]

How come they can eat outside?

[@athinluvspurple]

definitely filmed before the heightened phase..

[@LingLing2709]

Sew is so funnnnnyyyyy im a fan now 😂❤

[@lixuanlu5995]

I am your biggest fan 😜🤠

[@peilee7510]

Wad else is me u still rmb me that I forget. Pls new episode

[@Frooooooo]

Oh the joy of those who are living with parents and don't have to give parents monthly allowance. Meanwhile, I need to pay for rent and give parents monthly allowance 😭 Ps: my parents lived overseas and it is not easy to be alone here especially because of this covid thing, haven't seen my family for almost 2 years now 😭

[@Aurica34]

Indeed, most parents expect that you pay for monthly allowance esp if you still live with them.

[@Frooooooo]

@@Aurica34 i don't even live with my parents since I was 15, but I still give them monthly allowance. Though it is because I want to help them financially, not because they force me too

[@themeowycat]

@@Frooooooo how did u earn money to give your parents allowance at age 15?

[@Frooooooo]

@@themeowycat i mean I start living alone by the age of 15. But I only started giving allowance to my parents at the age of 26 (a few years after I started working and paying off my student loans coz yeah, my parents didn't pay for my university)

[@johnwig285]

I dont understand, where are ur parents tho? Is this the case of a Johorean making their child stay in Singapore? But hey look at the bright side, it made u independent and gives u the freedom to do a lot of stuff.

[@YoutiaoVlogs]

Can they do it for a month? Haha would be awesome to see

[@y.ello._.w]

wah later the producers broke HAHHAHA

[@YoutiaoVlogs]

@@y.ello._.w haha opps

[@JuzNicky]

If Brenda does it on IG and ask us to follow can we do the same for a month ?

[@shanaetan2703]

The gojo stickerrrrr

[@Aurica34]

I don't even spend more than 600 a month.... how do these people spend like 1.5k a month? Super atas lifestyle?

[@TheSmartLocal]

tbh it's really not that difficult if you enjoy online shopping, food delivery and taxi rides! 😅

[@sumit6190p]

No family responsibilities leh.

[@embershen364]

Food in the CBD is expensive. Especially when have to join your older colleagues for team lunches and they are all earning many times your salary 🤦🏻‍♀️ now work from home I can save a lot.

[@sumit6190p]

@@embershen364 Haha totally get you point. Peer pressure

[@Aurica34]

My lifestyle must be quite frugal then, I don't spend alot on shopping online and always take bus/MRT only.

[@ssdd1316]

how they so rich

[@leechong2291]

Sew forever so KAWAII 😍 But please don't SING, tolong tolong 😂🤣😂🤣

[@dryolddesert]

Just one question. Is Brenda on the same pay grade as John and Sew? John and Sew might spent $1.5k per month but they can still be saving more than Brenda if they earn more

[@helloiamwendy2896]

Not really , that time sew mentioned in one video she saved 4 digit number for the first time , so I'm guessing she have poor spending habits .

[@sunlightdavid]

TBF it's not abt how much they make. Brenda being younger may make lesser but if your lifestyle inflation exceeds your income growth rate then its gg to be a snowballing mountain of card debts. I think the objective here is that your expense is the area you can control immediately since your income depends on many factors that aren't always in your control. Esp in this pandemic economy.

[@eunice4889]

Hello

[@AjoraJade]

I live near Sew :D Didn't bump into her before though :/

[@En0eR]

Hafeez n John damn funny!!!

[@kiwieee7]

Aaahh sew is love ehh

[@nattygymbro4692]

normally ppl take home cooked meals for granted but once you live alone or got put into a situation where u cant meet parents you really will miss it

[@deniseong4643]

Hiii

[@ordinaryobserver897]

@4:52 Sew looks like Yoon Eun-hye in her younger days.

[@embershen364]

I think Sew is prettier than YEH 👀

[@ordinaryobserver897]

👍

[@leellanwong2951]

Rainier so cute lah give sew a dumpling 🥟

[@zhixuanjeremy5305]

1500 to me is a lot… I can eat and sleep well every day with bills all paid I can even buy a house if you how to save. No big deal.