☕ My Pret Cappuccino Went Up 45% in 10 Years... Still Running in the Rat Race
- 15 hours ago
- 2 min read
Last weekend, I took a quick trip to Taipei.
Earning in HKD and spending in TWD made me feel rich:
Breakfast for HK$15 — egg pancake + soy milk.
Dinner at decent restaurants for HK$200 per head.
I felt like a queen in Taipei. 👑
But back in Hong Kong or Singapore, the contrast is sharp.
I feel poor coming back to Hong Kong..
📈 The Cappuccino Test:
When I graduated 10 years ago, working at Citibank in 3 Garden Road,
I’d grab a Pret breakfast combo downstairs:
Smoked Salmon Cucumber Brioche + Cappuccino = HK$31.
Cappuccino alone = HK$28.
⏰ Fast forward to today:
- Same Breakfast combo = HK$50.
- Cappuccino = HK$42.
Smoked Salmon slice? Smaller.....
But the brioche got bigger......
That’s a 45% increase in 10 years for the same cup of coffee!!
🏃♀️ The Rat Race Reality
If salaries only grow 2–3% a year, we’re actually earning less in real terms.
Stable jobs are now seen as “lucky” especially in the eyes of Asian parents.
My parents every day tell me how "lucky" I am to have a job
And ask me just to chill after work...
They don't understand the concept of restructuring/retrenchment or being fired when you are reaching mid or late 40s - which is extremely common now
Back in their good old days, employers and government take care of them.
Now? We can only count on ourselves....
(Topic for another day)
✏️ But here’s the thought that keeps me up at night:
From 30 to 40 years old, maybe I’ll see a 45% income bump.
From 40 to 50? Highly unlikely.
From 50 to 60? I’d be lucky to still be employed...
So what’s the solution?
For me:
- Shifting more future funds to invest in growth stocks to outpace inflation.
- Balancing with dividends.
- Building multiple income streams.
Because relying on one salary feels like running endlessly on a treadmill just to maintain the same lifestyle.
💬 Let’s Get Interactive
Do you feel the same way?
Have your daily expenses quietly climbed while your salary stayed flat?
Are you also considering side hustles or alternative investments?
Or do you believe discipline and frugality are enough to fight inflation?
🔑 Final Thought
A cappuccino isn’t just coffee.
It’s a mirror of inflation, lifestyle, and the rat race we’re all running.
The question is: how will you break free?
PS: If you’re job hunting today, feel free to check out my guides on:
📝 Fixing Your CV & LinkedIn in 1 Day
Comments