<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>UncleFond <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>Jun-22 11:10 pm </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (3 of 4) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>34993.3 in reply to 34993.2 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>
SINGAPORE - Can a secondary school student survive on $6 a day?
A parent posted in a local forum that her daughter, who is in secondary one, usually eats both breakfast and lunch in school. She gives her daughter an allowance of $6 a day, not including transport expenses.
But her daughter told her it's not enough, prompting this mother to ask netizens in a forum how much allowance a secondary school student should get.
Lianhe Wanbao interviewed both parents and students about their views.
Parents: More than enough
51-year-old assistant teacher, Madam Huang, who has a daughter in Secondary four, said that a meal at the school would not cost more than $3.
45-year-old Madam Tan, who has a 15 year-old son, said, "He does not need to pay for his bills or transportation fees, and there is nothing to buy in school. $6 ought to be enough for his daily expenses."
47-year-old babysitter, Madam Tan, said that her own meals each day do not amount to $6, much less those at the school canteens.
There were also parents who pointed out that students at such a young age do not know how to handle their finances and would readily spend every single cent regardless of the amount they were given.
Therefore, it's better to give enough or less, rather than spoil them.
On the other hand, most of the students interviewed said that $6 was not enough, and that they would need a minimum of $10 to make it through the day.
"A fast food meal alone costs $6, sometimes I would buy some accessories as well, so $10 is just enough," secondary five student, Su Ling Hui said.
Zhang Zong Hui, a secondary three student felt her daily allowance of $7 was not enough, saying that she "starved for days just to buy a top that costs $20."
Another student, Guo Jing Er, secondary two, claimed that a few cosmetic products would already cost $100, therefore a daily allowance of $6 was not enough.
However, a secondary four student by the name of Huang Xi Ting, begged to differ.
She said that her allowance is only $4 a day. She drinks plain water in school and spends $3 a day on two meals. She saves the remaining dollar to get the things that she wants.
Group Managing Director of APT Financial Solutions, Mr Jerry Lee, 50, told Wanbao that he gives his son only $1.50 a day.
Mr Lee says that teenagers of that age do not know how to manage money, so the more money they get, the more they will waste, and in the process, they learn to be overly extravagant.
He knows that a meal at his son's school costs $1.50, so that is all he needs.
Viva : “How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker centre, food
court or restaurant?”
<TABLE border=0 width=440 align=center><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=center align=middle></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<HR SIZE=1>Edited 6/23/2010 2:14 am ET by UncleFond
<HR SIZE=1>Edited 6/23/2010 6:47 am ET by UncleFond</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
SINGAPORE - Can a secondary school student survive on $6 a day?
A parent posted in a local forum that her daughter, who is in secondary one, usually eats both breakfast and lunch in school. She gives her daughter an allowance of $6 a day, not including transport expenses.
But her daughter told her it's not enough, prompting this mother to ask netizens in a forum how much allowance a secondary school student should get.
Lianhe Wanbao interviewed both parents and students about their views.
Parents: More than enough
51-year-old assistant teacher, Madam Huang, who has a daughter in Secondary four, said that a meal at the school would not cost more than $3.
45-year-old Madam Tan, who has a 15 year-old son, said, "He does not need to pay for his bills or transportation fees, and there is nothing to buy in school. $6 ought to be enough for his daily expenses."
47-year-old babysitter, Madam Tan, said that her own meals each day do not amount to $6, much less those at the school canteens.
There were also parents who pointed out that students at such a young age do not know how to handle their finances and would readily spend every single cent regardless of the amount they were given.
Therefore, it's better to give enough or less, rather than spoil them.
On the other hand, most of the students interviewed said that $6 was not enough, and that they would need a minimum of $10 to make it through the day.
"A fast food meal alone costs $6, sometimes I would buy some accessories as well, so $10 is just enough," secondary five student, Su Ling Hui said.
Zhang Zong Hui, a secondary three student felt her daily allowance of $7 was not enough, saying that she "starved for days just to buy a top that costs $20."
Another student, Guo Jing Er, secondary two, claimed that a few cosmetic products would already cost $100, therefore a daily allowance of $6 was not enough.
However, a secondary four student by the name of Huang Xi Ting, begged to differ.
She said that her allowance is only $4 a day. She drinks plain water in school and spends $3 a day on two meals. She saves the remaining dollar to get the things that she wants.
Group Managing Director of APT Financial Solutions, Mr Jerry Lee, 50, told Wanbao that he gives his son only $1.50 a day.
Mr Lee says that teenagers of that age do not know how to manage money, so the more money they get, the more they will waste, and in the process, they learn to be overly extravagant.
He knows that a meal at his son's school costs $1.50, so that is all he needs.
Viva : “How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker centre, food
court or restaurant?”
<TABLE border=0 width=440 align=center><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=center align=middle></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<HR SIZE=1>Edited 6/23/2010 2:14 am ET by UncleFond
<HR SIZE=1>Edited 6/23/2010 6:47 am ET by UncleFond</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
