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Fancy living the crazy rich asian lifestyle? Here's how you can do it on a budget

23 August 2024

7 min read

While Crazy Rich Asians isn't exactly Hollywood's love letter to Singapore, it has definitely created a lot of buzz since it debuted in August 2018. Based on Singapore-born Kevin Kwan's novel of the same name, the movie stars an all-Asian cast, with many Singapore-based actors and actresses involved.

Needless to say, Singaporeans have had much to say about the alleged "Crazy Rich Asians" lifestyle we're portrayed to live. Whether you love or hate it, here are five ways you can experience the "Crazy Rich Asian" lifestyle for yourself, without having to be too rich…or Asian…or crazy…

# 1 Flying business class

Nick and Rachel – the main characters in the movie, flies from New York to Singapore to attend one of Nick's best friend's wedding. This is when Rachel starts getting an idea of just how rich her beau is – flying in luxury, complete with their own private bedroom.

While this may be unattainable for most of us, we can all appreciate the comforts and extravagance of flying business class. However, this can be expensive as well.

This is why we need to be crafty to enjoy this "Crazy Rich Asian" luxury on a budget. One way to get around this is through applying for the right credit cards that give us the best bang, or miles, for our buck. One local blogger has detailed his experience of getting a business class ticket from Singapore to Japan for "next to nothing".

# 2 Yacht party! (actually, container ship party!)

While you'll need to dial it down a notch from the container ship party Nick found himself on for his best friend's bachelor's night, yacht parties sound like a compromise most of us will be willing to make to sample the high life.

You're in for a treat as rentals on some yachts are going for as little as $535 for two hours, split this between several friends and a few of you can treat yourselves to this exclusive experience on a budget.

# 3 High-stakes mahjong

I know we've already given away some spoilers, but the next one's a biggie – read at your own peril.

One of the most intriguing scenes in the movie was when Rachel pitted her mahjong skills against her would-be mother-in-law, Eleanor. In this high-stakes encounter, Rachel yielded victory to Eleanor, telling her that she was willing to sacrifice her happiness for Nick's.

Mahjong is a game which is familiar to most Asians. You can have fun playing it with like-minded friends without having to blow thousands of dollars. What's more, mahjong, combines cognitive training and stimulation, with social interactions, which has also been attributed to nurture mental alertness and help slow down degenerative brain diseases, such as dementia.

# 4 Newton food centre

One of the scenes that truly depicted how a Singaporean may splurge for a meal is when Nick and his companions have a meal at the famous (or infamous) Newton Food Centre. Equally notorious for being a tourist trap as it is famous for being a food lover's paradise – navigating Newton Food Centre is best left to a Singaporean.

Even then, ordering the staggering amounts of food Nick, Rachel and the to-be-married couple did in the movie is not just going to cost dearly, but is going to be near-impossible to finish, so don't get carried away ordering from over 80 stalls at the food centre.

Finally, it's really about making healthy food decisions. This may include opting for dishes with more vegetables or less oil, asking for a healthier variant of the dish as well as drinking plain old water and consuming a portion of fruit.

# 5 Marina Bay Sands

We couldn't have chosen a more apt end scene celebrating Nick and Rachel's engagement party. One of the most "instagrammable" things you can do in Singapore is to swim in the infinity pool at Marina Bay Sands.

This is still going to cost you a pretty penny as booking one night at the Marina Bay Sands hotel comes in at close to $400. One way to get around this is to book it as a birthday party celebration, and split to it among a few friends.

This way, several of you get to go swim in the infinity pool, two at a time, and get your moment at the peak of Singapore.

Being a Crazy Happy Asian

At the end of the day, everyone needs to realise that money is just a means to an end. You need it to buy food and clothes, pay for your home and utilities, and splurge on luxuries or invest in your children or your future.

You should aim to be a "Crazy Happy Asian" rather than focus solely on how much money you have. Happiness comes from answering one simple question – What's your why?

What's your why?

Your "whys" are what you live for – you want a long and happy marriage with your spouse, you want to grow up with your children, you want to catch up with old friends, you want to travel the world, you want to discover yourself and so much more.

Whatever your "why" may be, AIA can help you with the "how". AIA Vitality encourages you to live healthier, stay more active and better understand your health needs. This is the first step towards living a healthier, longer, better life.

^{This article was originally published on 28 November 2018 and updated with new information.}

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Fancy living the crazy rich asian lifestyle? Here's how you can do it on a budget

# 1 Flying business class

# 2 Yacht party! (actually, container ship party!)

# 3 High-stakes mahjong

# 4 Newton food centre

# 5 Marina Bay Sands

Being a Crazy Happy Asian

What's your why?

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