Why More Millennials in Singapore Are Choosing ‘Soft Saving’ Over Hustling

Not too long ago, millennials were all about the grind. Crypto trading before work, freelance gigs after dinner, passive income from affiliate links, all part of the “hustle or die” mindset that dominated much of the 2010s and early 2020s. In Singapore especially, the pressure was turned up a notch: high cost of living, competitive job markets, and a culture that celebrates overachievement.

But here in 2025, something has shifted.

More and more millennials, now in their early-to-late 30s, are quietly walking away from the hustle. Not because they’ve “made it,” but because they’re tired. They’re choosing a softer, slower, more sustainable path. They’re choosing “soft saving.”

What Is ‘Soft Saving’?

“Soft saving” is a mindset, one that prioritizes mental health, small luxuries, and lifestyle balance over aggressive wealth-building at all costs. It’s not about being careless with money, but about rejecting the idea that you need to be rich, young, and constantly working to be successful.

Instead of striving to retire by 40, more are saying:
“I just want a job I don’t hate.”
“I want enough savings to feel secure.”
In this mindset, money becomes a tool for stability and peace, not a scoreboard.

From Crypto Highs to Crash Fatigue

Many Singaporean millennials rode the crypto wave hard. From Bitcoin’s surge in 2021, to NFT hype, to “degen” tokens and Discord pump groups, it was a wild few years. Some made money. Many didn’t. Almost all came out of it emotionally exhausted. I know I didn't make money and came out exhausted too at least.

The dream of striking it rich with one big crypto bet has faded, replaced by more realistic goals:
- Using stablecoins for passive income via DeFi protocols
- Holding long-term projects rather than chasing moonshots (although I still have a few coins which I hope will shoot to the moon, like striking Toto)
- Having some skin in the game, but not losing sleep over it

Crypto isn’t dead, but for many, it’s no longer a daily obsession. It’s just one part of a broader, calmer financial strategy.

Singapore Reality Check: Hustle Doesn’t Always Work Here

Let’s face it: hustling in Singapore is exhausting.
- Cost of living keeps rising — from BTO prices to kopi.
- Gig economy wages often don’t justify the hours.
- The CPF system locks up a huge chunk of your income.
- Burnout is real, and not everyone has time to “build a brand” after work.

In a city that runs on efficiency and prestige, soft savers are quietly opting out. They’re no longer trying to out-earn inflation, they’re trying to outlive burnout.

Small Joys, Low-Stress Investing, and Just Enough

Soft saving doesn’t mean giving up. It means redefining what “enough” means:
- Enough to enjoy a weekly cafe trip without guilt
- Enough to go for a short trip every 6 months
- Enough to say no to a toxic job offer
- Enough to have investments in ETFs, CPF, and maybe a little ETH, but without watching charts all day

It’s a mindset that blends realistic goals, mental health, and basic financial literacy. And in an era of global uncertainty, climate anxiety, and economic fatigue, it might just be the healthiest path forward.

Final Thoughts: From Survive to Sustain

Millennials aren’t lazy. We’re just tired of systems that promise too much and deliver too little. From crypto crashes to toxic work cultures, we’ve seen that “working harder” isn’t always the answer.

So we’re choosing to work smarter. Spend softer. Save with intention.

And for many of us in Singapore, that’s enough.