Singapore's New 5Cs

Back when you were little, you probably heard your older sisters and cousins saying a guy needed to have the 5Cs. But what’s stood the test of time in our more fast-paced, high-tech society?

Cash. Car. Credit Card. Condo. Country Club. Sure, these are nice but do guys with all five really make the best mates? Singaporeans certainly thought so back in the early ’00s. In a way, this was the local version of the American dream; a way to show you had made it.

We’re not sure where it first came from, but the 5Cs is something inherently Singaporean. Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong referenced it many times, from a 2003 speech, to a more recent one in 2010.

But a lot has changed, and some of these Cs have become a little dated. An immediate one that comes to mind is credit cards. In the past, it might have been difficult to get credit in Singapore. You needed a solid paycheck to prove to the banks you deserved it. Today, banks left, right and centre have a non-stop stream of credit card sign-up promotions. Everyone has one.