It’s that time of the year again when the smell of bak kwa fills the air, and red packets start making their appearance. As I was preparing for this year’s festivities, I found myself reflecting on a big decision I made recently.
After years of saving up, I reached a milestone of $100k (yay me!). My first instinct was to finally put that downpayment on a car, especially when I was faced with a ton of obligations in the coming months that a fresh set of wheels would help with, like family gatherings, visiting friends in less accessible areas of Singapore, and the Circle Line renovations adding precious time to my daily commute. But then, I stopped to think.
What freedom looks like
Don't get me wrong, having a car during the festive season feels like a dream when you’re lugging cartons of oranges and navigating back-to-back house visits. However, when I looked closer at the cost of car ownership in Singapore, the numbers were eye-opening. Between the COE, insurance, and maintenance, that $100k would disappear faster than a plate of love letters at a reunion dinner.
The human brain has problems grasping numbers at scale. But when I broke down what $100k could mean for me, I realised that just having that money in my account gave me more peace of mind than a car ever could. And with that peace of mind, I could start spending just a little more money on the stuff that really matters.
What an extra $100k actually looks like for CNY
When you’re not tied down by monthly car instalments and the ever-fluctuating price of car insurance, you can upgrade your festive traditions in ways that actually create memories. Here’s what that saved $100k could mean for your CNY:
- The ultimate reunion feast: Swapping the standard home-cooked meal for a private room at some of Singapore’s best restaurants for reunion dinners.
- Upgraded ang baos: Having the financial breathing room to be the cool auntie or generous cousin who gives back to the elders and little ones without stressing over the budget.
- A home makeover: Investing in quality pieces from top furniture stores to make your home the most comfortable spot for hosting guests.
- Stress-free visiting: Using carsharing in Singapore to book a spacious MPV for the big family days, and a compact car for those quick errands, all without the long-term debt.
Flexing generosity where it matters
Now that I’ve finally saved up that milestone amount, I have the financial security to start thinking about what CNY really means. And to me, it’s about the smiles on my parents' faces when I tell them we’re taking a comfortable ride to visit my grandmother, and the peace of mind knowing I have a solid nest egg for the future. Being generous isn't about owning an expensive asset; it's about having the resources to create a lovely experience for your loved ones.
Huat’s for the taking: Share your $100k dream and win
We want to help you kickstart your journey to flex for the finer things in life! This year, we’re curious to know how you’d use an extra $100k to level up your family celebrations.
If you had an extra 100k, what would you do for your loved ones during CNY?
How to enter:
- Ensure you’ve made at least 1 valid GetGo booking between 1 January 2026 to 8 February 2026.
- Submit your GetGo registered email and mobile number, along with your answer here.
8 winners will get to upgrade their CNY with an exclusive hamper worth $100+!
Whether it's getting the best abalone for your yu sheng or finally getting that dream armchair for your parents, we want to hear it. Let's make this Year of the Horse one to remember.
See you on the road,
Amanda 💙
