The 5Cs Are Dead—Here’s What Success Looks Like in Singapore Today

Ask any Singaporean what the “Singaporean Dream” means, and for decades, the answer was simple: the 5Cs. Cash, Condo, Car, Credit Card, Country Club. I remember hearing about them as early as primary school, lofty goals family members and teachers dangled as the big markers of success.

But somewhere along the way, the 5C rhetoric just… stopped. I no longer heard the 5Cs being brought up at gatherings and over kopi. The conversation quietly moved on, and the old checklist started to feel, well, outdated. These days, most Singaporeans just aren’t chasing the same dream.

In fact, a recent poll we ran with our newsletter readers showed this shift loud and clear: 64.1% said they no longer believe in the traditional “Singaporean Dream” because their priorities have changed. Only about a third still find those old ideals appealing.

Conversations aren’t about country clubs or flashy cars anymore. The cost of living keeps rising, priorities have shifted, and many of us are just trying to find some balance and peace of mind. So, what actually matters now? If you ask around, here are the “real” 5Cs Singaporeans are focusing on in 2025.

 

The new 5Cs that signal success in Singapore

1. CPF
2. CDC vouchers
3. Choice
4. Convenience
5. ChatGPT
6. Bonus C: Content(ment)
7. The bottom line

 

1. CPF

I used to groan about my CPF deductions, watching my take-home pay shrink each month and wondering if I’d ever see that money again. For a long time, CPF felt like an invisible tax—something our parents would joke about cashing out the moment they could.

But these days, the attitude has shifted. Now, CPF is something many Singaporeans actually care about and plan around, not just a background deduction. With its 4 accounts covering everything from retirement and housing to medical costs and monthly payouts, CPF is built for every stage of life, and it’s become the cornerstone of financial security and early retirement for today’s Singaporeans.

People are getting a lot more strategic about using it. It’s not just about forced, passive saving. Some are voluntarily topping up their CPF for higher interest, while others explore the CPF Investment Scheme (CPFIS) to invest our balances. After all, how many savings plans actually let you grow your money this way?

For many, CPF isn’t just a quiet constant anymore. It’s something to look forward to and maximise, especially for those chasing FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early). Whether it’s building up enough for early retirement or just wanting more options down the road, making the most of CPF has become an essential part of the modern Singapore Dream.

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2. CDC vouchers

You might laugh, but CDC vouchers aren’t just for aunties hoarding discounts at the wet market. With prices creeping up everywhere, those vouchers have turned into real lifesavers. This year with Singapore turning 60, we have an extra tranche of vouchers too—SG60 vouchers that work similarly to the CDC ones, dropping $600 or $800 into our accounts.

It’s pretty normal now to keep an eye out for which hawker or supermarket takes vouchers, or to trade the occasional tip with friends about where they come in useful. There’s even a certain pride in announcing you paid for an entire meal with just vouchers, and a smug joy in using CDC vouchers to pay for more upmarket items. They don’t have to be huge purchases. In fact, as I was writing this, my partner messaged me a photo of his afternoon snack—prosciutto. When I asked him “why so atas?”, he replied “Because the government paid for it in the form of SG60 vouchers.” True story!

But the real win isn’t just saving a few dollars here and there. It’s that by cutting costs on the everyday stuff, we’re freeing up a little more to spend on the things that really matter, like that long-awaited holiday, or treating ourselves to a special Michelin-starred meal where one feast on as much prosciutto as they want. For many Singaporeans now, these smart, small savings are what make the bigger dreams possible.

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3. Career Choice

I was going to call this section “Career,” but honestly, “Choice” is much closer to what success looks like these days. Not too long ago, we thought the dream was to stay with one company for decades, climb the corporate ladder, and collect those long-service awards. These days, that feels old-fashioned.

Now, the real flex is having options, whether it’s going freelance, trying a side hustle, or picking a job that actually lets you work from anywhere. I’m not the only one who thinks this way. According to Randstad’s 2024 Workmonitor survey, nearly half of Singapore’s workforce (49%) said they’d leave a job if it meant having to return to the office more often. Gen Z, especially, aren’t having it—69% say they’d rather quit than lose their flexibility.

It’s no wonder more companies are catching on. The share of firms offering flexible work arrangements has gone up from 68.1% in 2023 to 72.7% in 2024. For more and more people, the real definition of “making it” is being able to say no to burnout and yes to work-life fit. These days, walking away from a bad job or choosing your own path feels just as good—if not better—than a big promotion.

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4. Convenience

Ever watched the movie In Time? In that world, time is literally money—everyone stops aging at 25, and every coffee, every cab ride, every decision is paid for with minutes of your life. I always found that idea strangely fascinating, and honestly, it hits closer to home than we realise.

A friend of mine always says, “If money can solve the problem, it isn’t really a problem.” You can always earn money back, but time? Once it’s spent, that’s it. No refunds. Maybe that’s why so many of us in Singapore are happy to pay a bit extra for convenience these days, whether it’s for food delivery after a long day, a robot vacuum that cleans while you rest, or even just taking a Grab instead of squeezing onto the MRT during rush hour.

More and more, buying back a few precious minutes has become the modern luxury. We’re not just spending on things; we’re spending to make life less hectic, to carve out a little breathing space in the middle of the week. And in a city that never really slows down, that’s something worth paying for. These days, if you can afford the luxury of Convenience, you’ve made it in Singapore.

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5. ChatGPT

If you’d asked me about AI a few years back, I’d probably have shrugged and changed the subject. Yawn. Now? It feels like everyone I know is using ChatGPT for something, whether it’s writing work emails, planning family holidays, helping kids with homework, or figuring out what to cook with random leftovers.

For a lot of us, ChatGPT is the ultimate timesaver and a secret hack for getting unstuck. Need a quick summary, brainstorming ideas, or a grammar check before hitting “send”? There’s a prompt for that. And if you think it’s just a fad, think again. My job-seeking friends tell me that every job ad these days seems to want someone who’s “AI proficient” or “AI savvy.” Like it or not, keeping up with AI has gone from “nice-to-have” to “don’t get left behind.”

And if you’re wondering, yes, ChatGPT even helped me write this article you’re reading. In Singapore (where we love a good shortcut), why wouldn’t we get a little help to work smarter, not just harder?

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6. Bonus C: Content(ment)

I was trying to be a little cheeky (another C!) with this one. Social media content is everywhere now and, honestly, it’s become the root of many of our bigger dreams. Just a quick scroll and you’ll find yourself inspired to travel somewhere new, set fresh goals, or chase after new experiences. In a way, it’s great—social media gives us wanderlust, new ambitions, and sometimes even the motivation we need to finally tick something off the bucket list. Fulfilling those dreams can feel like a genuine win for the modern Singaporean.

But of course, there’s a flip side. The same platforms that inspire us can also make contentment feel much further away. There’s always someone landing a new job, getting engaged, or posting yet another flawless brunch. I’ve always known how powerful social media can be for keeping up, but these days, I put a strict cap on it—aside from the occasional post or story on my cats’ IG. I know how easy it is to slip into Comparing (another C!), which, let’s face it, usually just breeds (dis)contentment.

So I choose to consume content up to an upper limit—just enough to stay connected, but not so much that it chips away at my peace of mind. I’ve found that I’m genuinely content with what I have, even if it’s nothing flashy. It could be a quiet weekend, a meal with family, or just not feeling the need to post every moment online. Maybe it’s age, maybe it’s the endless news cycle, but these days, the real flex is not chasing every trend or like, but being quietly happy with enough. If the old 5Cs were about having more, maybe the new ones—especially this last C—are about knowing when to say, “This is good. I’m good.”

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7. The bottom line

If the old 5Cs were about having more, maybe the new ones—especially this last C—are about knowing when to say, “This is good. I’m good.” So maybe the Singapore Dream hasn’t disappeared, it’s just evolved. The new 5Cs aren’t about keeping up appearances, but about finding stability, saving time, and living in a way that works for us. 

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This article was first drafted with the help of AI and later reviewed and refined by the author.

Did one or more of my updated 5Cs hit home for you? Share this article with your family and friends!