Romance & Finance: Life lessons from your favourite streaming hits

Do you love curling up on the couch with a binge-worthy tale? If your idea of a relaxing night is streaming your favourite movies and shows, we have shortlisted a few picks for you.

From nostalgia-flavoured K-dramas to smart romantic comedies, the past year has kept us entertained with buzzy hits about couples who break up, make up,and get to know each other along the way.

Yet there is more to these stories than fleeting fantasies. Whether you are searching for a compatible partner that shares your financial outlook, or navigating the realities of parenthood, these shows and films offer thoughtful reflections on protecting what is precious to you and planning life’s milestones together.

What's the story? 

In Materialists, a romantic drama-comedy starring Pedro Pascal, Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans, finding a match is a transaction where material wealth is the decisive factor. A matchmaker, Lucy, has to choose between two potential partners for herself: Henry, a wealthy bachelor looking for a serious relationship, and John, an ex-boyfriend who works as a cater-waiter while pursuing his dream career. The choice might seem obvious, but life is full of surprises.

What can you learn from it?

• Communication is everything

Sharing your doubts, goals, and expectations can strengthen relationships. While John’s financial struggle led to his and Lucy’s break-up years ago, the real culprit was their insecurity and internal doubts. Reconnecting when they’re older and wiser lets the pair align their expectations. While John is still working towards financial stability, Lucy now sees that he is serious about their future together, and she is ready to give their relationship another chance.

• Material comfort vs true connection

While Lucy excels at finding matches who ticked the right boxes for her clients, finding a compatible partner goes beyond a person’s looks or networth. Building a life together takes teamwork, so having shared values and genuine affection for each other is a must. Are you and your partner meticulous planners, or do you prefer to YOLO through life? Are you on the same page on money matters? Will you be ready to support each other through health crises, family emergencies, and old age? Life is not perfect, but having the right person by your side makes the journey worthwhile.

If you are starting a new chapter together like John and Lucy…

What's the story? 

When Life Gives You Tangerines, a slice-of-life K-drama, depicts the joys and challenges of a young couple’s life. Set primarily in Jeju, the story traces thecoming-of-age of a rebellious girl named Ae-sun (portrayed by IU) and a quiet, diligent boy named Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum) as they journey from adolescence to parenthood, falling in love along the way.

What can you learn from it?

• Work hard, plan smart for your golden years

Unfolding over several decades, small choices made when the characters were young compound in old age. Instead of a sweeping romance, love is represented through quiet resilience and hard work. The couple’s steady effort to save their earnings while living frugally grants Ae-Sun the freedom to pursue her dream of becoming a writer and a poetry teacher in their later years.

• ...but don’t accrue a health debt

While Gwan-sik laboured to support his family, he neglected to take care of himself until a critical illness diagnosis and aching joints caught up with his ageing body. Prioritising work over health is often seen as a necessary sacrifice, but overworking yourself can lead to burnout, chronic stress, and lifelong health issues. As you provide for your loved ones, aim for work-life balance and get annual check-ups with Healthier SG’s subsidised health screening programme.

If you are striving for a better life like Ae-sun and Gwan-sik…

What's the story? 

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, the bittersweet conclusion to the Bridget Jones franchise, revisits Bridget’s story (Renee Zellweger) as a 51-year old widowand mother of two. The movie follows Bridget’s healing process after losing her husband (Colin Firth) and her bumpy attempts to find love again.

What can you learn from it

• Community is a vital part of life

While rom-coms tend to focus on younger characters and first-love stories, this movie shows that older people still need to lead an active and vibrant life, even after experiencing the loss of a spouse. This topic is sure to strike a chord as more Singaporeans are now expected to live beyond age 90.

What’s the key to leading a successful ‘second chapter’? In Bridget’s case, she has a network of supportive friends on her side. The support of a tight-knit community will help you weather life’s challenges as you age, so find opportunities to make new friends, stay in touch with relatives, and reconnect with your peers. You need a strong body and mind to enjoy your golden years too, so be sure to work out, eat right, and engage inmental exercises.

If you are trying to rebuild your life like Bridget…

What's the story? 

Loosely based on Cinderella, the latest season of the period drama ‘Bridgerton’ focuses on the star-crossed love story between Benedict (Luke Thompson), the second son of the wealthy Bridgerton family, and Sophie (Yerin Ha), a scrappy housekeeper with a mysterious past. Can love conquer all?

What can you learn from it

• Take care of your loved ones with legacy planning

After her wealthy father passed away, Sophie was left penniless until a hidden will came to light. Sophie’s story highlights the importance of legacy planning. There are many ways to ensure your loved ones are supported beyond your lifetime, but make it a priority while you’re still active and healthy. Setting up your will and CPF nominations ensures that your assets are distributed according to your wish, while critical illness insurance and life insurance provide an added layer of financial cushion, preventing the need to liquidate assets should the unexpected happen. Remember, you don’t need to be a millionaire to leave a lasting legacy!

• Protecting multi-generational families

Benedict feels a sense of duty to protect his siblings’ future prospects, even at the cost of his personal happiness. Being part of Singapore’s‘ sandwich generation often means navigating conflicting priorities, but you don’t have to sacrifice what matters to you. Ensure that everyone inthe family is on board with your financial priorities by mapping out a family financial plan, setting up budgets, and creating separate savings for each goal. Boost your financial readiness with multi-generational plans that allow you to grow your children’s nest egg while addressing your parents’ healthcare needs, including the risk of neurological ailments.

If you are are a couple with a large family like Sophie and Benedict...

What's the story? 

The rom-com series Emily in Paris focuses on Emily (Lily Collins), a marketing executive from Chicago who found herself transplanted in Paris due to a corporate shake-up. While working for a boutique French luxury marketing firm in the city of love, she navigates culture clashes, career challenges, and romantic pursuits.

What can you learn from it?

• Settle your paperwork before moving overseas

Just like Emily’s whirlwind relocation to Paris, job opportunities or unexpected life changes might require you to relocate to a new country on a short notice. From sorting your finances to navigating foreign bureaucracy, the to-do list can pile up and leave you disoriented for weeks, especially for a couple or a family with school-age kids. You might find yourself wondering about your CPF savings and taxes while you reside overseas, and what you should do about your property back home. Give yourself enough time to settle the paperwork you’ll need for a smooth transition, and ensure that your existing insurance plans will cover your healthcare needs overseas.

• Running a business? Check your readiness

In the latest season, Emily heads to Rome to run the agency’s new branch, a business decision that soon proves hasty. When she loses a vital account, the Rome office is forced to shutter its doors. Whether you are freelancing as a sport trainer, running a home-based café, or putting together your own startup, managing your own business often means being ready for unexpected setbacks. From operational issues to safety hazards, ensure that you will be mentally and financially supported in your journey.

If you are navigating life or career transitions like Emily…

Sometimes, a simple piece of entertainment can nudge you to protect your finances, review your healthcare plans, or reach for life’s big goals with confidence. Turn that spark of inspiration into an actionable to-do list. Unsure of your next move? Simply reach out to a Great Eastern Financial Representative for a conversation.

Sources:

1. Tatler Asia - Economics of love: what ‘Materialists’ says about our dating class system