This Singaporean retired at 35 without getting rich. Here’s how he made it work
Colin Lau, a Singaporean man, achieved early retirement at 35 by purchasing a flat in full and drastically reducing his cost of living. His unconventional financial strategy has sparked public debate regarding the definition of security and happiness.
Why it matters
The story highlights alternative approaches to financial independence and the growing interest in 'FIRE' (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movements.
After losing his teaching job, Colin Lau reshaped his life by buying a flat outright and reducing his spending to a minimum. CNA’s Money Mind unpacks his financial choices, sparking a debate about money, happiness and security.
Derrick A Paulo & Jake Ho 04 Aug 2026 06:00AM (Updated: 04 Aug 2026 04:10PM) Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Read a summary of this article on FAST. Get bite-sized news via a new cards interface. Give it a try. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST SINGAPORE: Colin Lau did something unexpected when he lost his job at age 35. He bought a flat with his savings.
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