Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 2:55 am Post subject: Special school with mainstream education, living expenses
Hi, my husband is just being offered a job as a senior manager with S$10k monthly pay in Singapore, but there's no children education allowance, housing allowance & transport allowance . We are family of four with a 6 yrso boy & 4 yrso girl. My son is a slow learner with mild autism.
Glad that I found this forum. I've been searching & reading several informative posts here for these couple of days. However, I would still like to get more specific information & some precious advices according to our situation.
We plan to rent a HDB flat with 3bedroom, hopefully we'll get an ideal one with < 3k monthly rental fees. I think the 2nd part of our big expences will be on our son's education.
After reading some posts on this forum, I learned that Dover Court or Pathlight School is the best place for him. Although I've visited DC website that provides information about their fees (with some additional charges ..), I still don't have a clear picture in mind around how much we'll need to spend annually if my son joins the Department of Supportive Education Junior class. Does anyone here have a child attending this class?
Actually, we are not quite sure if my husband's salary will be able to afford such high fees. Pathlight sounds good too & cheaper but it seems not easy for a non-citizen to get a place. And I have read that DC may have long wait list or my son may not be accepted too. Lots of worries
For our daughter, if she goes to local pre-school, is it true that we have to pay double of the fees local pays? Around 1K permonth? If we spend 3K on housing, 3K on son & 1K on our daughter's education (possible more? ), will our family still be able to live comfortably? Hm... one more thing, we are still not sure if we should get a used car to bring the kids to/frm their school.
Pros & cons..
Pros,
1/.Wider & seems better choices of special education compare to the place we are living now. This is the most important thing we concerned about. Anyway, after reading through the forum, cause of the wait list(non-citizen harder) problem & high fees, I am DEEPLY worried we may endup failing to send our son to any school & regret the relocation. Any parents here can share their experience, for an expat's child in Singapore, slow learner, mild autistism, if we fail to get him into Pathlight or DC, what else can we do So far from what I had read, it seems not many choice of special schools offers mainstream education.
2/. The job seems to be a very good apportuniny to my husband's career, pretty big increase in his salary too, but of course the living cost in Singapore is higher. Currently, we can have around S$1500 for saving each month, we hope in future too.
Cons,
1/.We'll not have granny's helps any more to take care of our kids when necessary. We'll be on our own.
2/.Working lifestyle there? Employees are encouraged to work hard for long hour?
3/.Although I read that the public transport is excellent, with 2 kids, I am still worried if I'll have problem bringing them to&frm 2 different schools everyday. Will we be able to afford having a used car, not going to drive somewhere else, just for the purpose of sending kids to school?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 9:20 am Post subject: Re: Special school with mainstream education, living expense
cindycnl wrote:
Cons,
1/.We'll not have granny's helps any more to take care of our kids when necessary. We'll be on our own.
2/.Working lifestyle there? Employees are encouraged to work hard for long hour?
3/.Although I read that the public transport is excellent, with 2 kids, I am still worried if I'll have problem bringing them to&frm 2 different schools everyday. Will we be able to afford having a used car, not going to drive somewhere else, just for the purpose of sending kids to school?
Please advices, many thanks.
Cindy
let me just add some thing from my experience ..
smaller companies nowadays expect long hours .. and also depends on the trade / industry. If the industry is such that work is in Singapore, office off- all off .. if the coverage is regional .. it can stretch
Larger companies, generally are now going loud on "work life balance" and discouraging people from taking work home .. (atleast where I am, they do .. including compulsory lights off once a month at 4 PM .. )
Schools - most schools, have school busses .. you can check that with the school directly. Taxis can cost upwards of 15$ or more .. per day .. per trip . .. if you are not in walking distance to the school .. oh, it just went up by a +25% _________________ ============================
1) Don't forget taxes. You will pay next year for this year, so you're off the hook year 1. But (without checking) your rate will be about 8%. Also, if by chance you're US Citizens, don't forget you'll have to pay them a bit too. S$10k/month should just slip you under the earned income exclusion, but anything over (bonus, stock options/grants, etc) will be hit at a high rate. (28%+ ?)
2) Does the company your husband is going to work for do anything about their portion of his CPF contribution? Without getting into details on what CPF is, many large companies will invest or reimburse this directly to your husband until he becomes a PR. This could be another ~$800 a month to assist with savings.
2) Does the company your husband is going to work for do anything about their portion of his CPF contribution? Without getting into details on what CPF is, many large companies will invest or reimburse this directly to your husband until he becomes a PR. This could be another ~$800 a month to assist with savings.
My experience having worked for a few companies (oh, not by choice .. ) ... large companies consider the CPF as a fixed cost, and pay to you the 16% as additional 'allowance' the fallback being, those companies will insist you go for full contribution upon your getting PR, so, you loose out 20% + 16% of your pay in one go if you get PR
and a fair number of companies, primarily SMEs don't do the above .. they act quite as the CPF contribution is considered a 'cost' .. so you only get the 'fixed' pay .. nothing more ..
The 'extra' allowance should work out to about 700 $ a month if the employer pays the CPF as additional pay .. _________________ ============================
You can do it with $10k per month salary. It will be tight, and I'm not sure you'll be able to save much money. But if you're going to be living in an HDB, then you shouldn't have any problem getting your daughter into a local PAP kindergarten--maybe right in your estate. That way you'll save time and money ferrying her.
Your son is a whole other issue. There have been strides recently in dealing with autism in mainstream classrooms in local schools. My daughter's grade has at least three boys with mild autism. I don't know more about schools, but do send an e-mail to the Ministry of Education, they seem to be VERY eager to help these days.
Good luck in finding a 3 bedroom under $3k. It may be a struggle, but I know they're out there. I'll think happy thoughts that you get a good agent!
Prepared food is cheap here, but a car is not. The purchase price plus parking and petrol is VERY expensive. We got rid of our car about 8 months ago, it makes you budget your time better too.
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 4:32 pm Post subject: Re: Special school with mainstream education, living expense
ecureilx wrote:
cindycnl wrote:
Cons,
1/.We'll not have granny's helps any more to take care of our kids when necessary. We'll be on our own.
2/.Working lifestyle there? Employees are encouraged to work hard for long hour?
3/.Although I read that the public transport is excellent, with 2 kids, I am still worried if I'll have problem bringing them to&frm 2 different schools everyday. Will we be able to afford having a used car, not going to drive somewhere else, just for the purpose of sending kids to school?
Please advices, many thanks.
Cindy
let me just add some thing from my experience ..
smaller companies nowadays expect long hours .. and also depends on the trade / industry. If the industry is such that work is in Singapore, office off- all off .. if the coverage is regional .. it can stretch
Larger companies, generally are now going loud on "work life balance" and discouraging people from taking work home .. (atleast where I am, they do .. including compulsory lights off once a month at 4 PM .. )
Schools - most schools, have school busses .. you can check that with the school directly. Taxis can cost upwards of 15$ or more .. per day .. per trip . .. if you are not in walking distance to the school .. oh, it just went up by a +25%
Thanks for your reply. Ya, I read about the school bus, if both can go by school bus that's perfect. If just one, can't bring another to school if I have to wait for the school bus together with one kid ~~"
Unless the school provides all therapies my son should take, I have to bring him somewhere else for extra therapy classes like speech therapy, sensory integration therapy etc ...
I think all my problems can be solved only if I have a maid or a car huh....
Taxi fair went up? Everything seems up up up.. the house rent too ..
1) Don't forget taxes. You will pay next year for this year, so you're off the hook year 1. But (without checking) your rate will be about 8%. Also, if by chance you're US Citizens, don't forget you'll have to pay them a bit too. S$10k/month should just slip you under the earned income exclusion, but anything over (bonus, stock options/grants, etc) will be hit at a high rate. (28%+ ?)
2) Does the company your husband is going to work for do anything about their portion of his CPF contribution? Without getting into details on what CPF is, many large companies will invest or reimburse this directly to your husband until he becomes a PR. This could be another ~$800 a month to assist with savings.
Thanks for your kind remind, I'll check if my country will double tax or not. I think my husband has to ask them about CPF, they didn't mention about it.
1) Don't forget taxes. You will pay next year for this year, so you're off the hook year 1. But (without checking) your rate will be about 8%. Also, if by chance you're US Citizens, don't forget you'll have to pay them a bit too. S$10k/month should just slip you under the earned income exclusion, but anything over (bonus, stock options/grants, etc) will be hit at a high rate. (28%+ ?)
2) Does the company your husband is going to work for do anything about their portion of his CPF contribution? Without getting into details on what CPF is, many large companies will invest or reimburse this directly to your husband until he becomes a PR. This could be another ~$800 a month to assist with savings.
Thanks for your kind remind, I'll check if my country will double tax or not. I think my husband has to ask them about CPF, they didn't mention about it.
You pretty much only have to worry if you're from the US.
You can do it with $10k per month salary. It will be tight, and I'm not sure you'll be able to save much money. But if you're going to be living in an HDB, then you shouldn't have any problem getting your daughter into a local PAP kindergarten--maybe right in your estate. That way you'll save time and money ferrying her.
Your son is a whole other issue. There have been strides recently in dealing with autism in mainstream classrooms in local schools. My daughter's grade has at least three boys with mild autism. I don't know more about schools, but do send an e-mail to the Ministry of Education, they seem to be VERY eager to help these days.
Good luck in finding a 3 bedroom under $3k. It may be a struggle, but I know they're out there. I'll think happy thoughts that you get a good agent!
Prepared food is cheap here, but a car is not. The purchase price plus parking and petrol is VERY expensive. We got rid of our car about 8 months ago, it makes you budget your time better too.
Good luck!
Thanks for your good suggestion, so far, we haven't contacted any school yet, we'll do so & if necessary we'll try to send the e-mail, hopefully we'll be lucky.
It's good that we haven't agreed with the offer yet
Thanks all
1) 3 bedroom, <$3k is doable. Depends on location. Will be good if you can provide the address of your husband's office. Does he mind long bus/subway journey?
2) Public transport used to be excellent. A few years back it was good, but crowded. Nowadays, the subway has some serious issue. But then again, there is always bus and taxi.
3) Car is expensive. A low range Toyota, fresh from the oven cost about $100k.
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 8:41 am Post subject: Re: Special school with mainstream education, living expense
[quote="cindycnl"]Hi, my husband is just being offered a job as a senior manager with S$10k monthly pay in Singapore, but there's no children education allowance, housing allowance & transport allowance . We are family of four with a 6 yrso boy & 4 yrso girl. My son is a slow learner with mild autism.
Hi Cindy:
I just posted as well, moving from CA to S in February and feeling the stress as are you - car and maid - hmm...I keep saying no to car and no to maid but wondering if living on the 30th floor with groceries and a 4 and 8 year old will be a nightmare! would love to hear more about what you find out. Our company will pay education expenses but we have to pitch in $500SGD a month for both kids, although youngest is on wait list for pre-school at SAIS....and my oldest has mild ADD and takes meds for it but I was upfront with the school and sent all the tests/evals etc and they took her. I would love to know if preschool is an option for the "public" preschools? Did you find that in your research?
What is an HDB? I don't understand all the abbreviations! I wish there was a site that listed them with definitions so I could easily decode many of these posts and what people are referring to! Guess I better do more research.
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 12:15 pm Post subject: Re: Special school with mainstream education, living expense
Michelle Martin wrote:
What is an HDB? I don't understand all the abbreviations! I wish there was a site that listed them with definitions so I could easily decode many of these posts and what people are referring to! Guess I better do more research.
Hi Michelle,
welcome to Singapore
You gotta start learning the words used here, ERP, PIE, AYE, BTO, MRT ..
HDB - housing Development board housing for natives ..
Supposedly cheaper housing, but has gone a bit sky high .. unlike Condos, where most expats live (especially those on expat terms .. ) HDB lacks swimming pool, gym, and security
Essentially towers of public housing.
And with the lack of pool, gym and all such facility, the rental disparity between HDB and Condos can be very large .. like 2,500 for a 3 bedroom HDB flat, vs 5,000 or more for a smaller size Condo .. _________________ ============================
Since you're from the US (like myself), be aware HDB is *nothing*at*all* like public housing in the US. You don't have to speed through red-lights if you find yourself near one (Which you will), worry about getting caught in cross-fires, drug dealers, crack heads, meth labs, gangbangers, etc.
As for the price disparity, that is correct. They're rather expensive to rent (compared to how much they would be to buy), but about 50% or less the cost to rent a comparable condo. For example, I live on the East Coast directly across from the beach (next to the underpass even) with a full unobstructed view of the beach/water. (In reality, a parking lot for freighters and smoke from Indonesian fires). My rent is only S$2600/month for a 2 bedroom ~760sq/ft unit. A comparable condo in the area (with the view) would probably start at $S6k-7k, and only really add a swimming pool and workout room.
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 1:03 pm Post subject: Re: Special school with mainstream education, living expense
Michelle Martin wrote:
[
What is an HDB? I don't understand all the abbreviations! I wish there was a site that listed them with definitions so I could easily decode many of these posts and what people are referring to! Guess I better do more research.
Cindy, honestly, if one of your major reasons to move here is your son's schooling... Think twice, please. I do not know any expat (without PR) attending Pathlight. I doubt, seriously doubt your son will be able to get there.
As for Dover Court, you have to expect to get on the waitlist first, then go through admission process (it costs $$$, just for the assessment, where you will not be allowed to sit in, you will not be given any written report and only very brief verbal feedback, without guarantee that your child will be admitted there. And no refund if he does not get the place). It is great school, with all the allied health support (but, you pay for all the therapies ON TOP of their regular fees and they do charge at least as much as all the private therapies, even a bit higher...).
My thoughts - unless you really have a decent income, do not have to watch every cent before spending it - then it is an OK idea (given what you have written about your current place,t hat your son does not get appropriate support). Since you are wondering if you will be able to afford it, give it a second thought. Your son needs help without the rest of the family sacrificing everything for it, because he also needs happy family...
1) 3 bedroom, <$3k is doable. Depends on location. Will be good if you can provide the address of your husband's office. Does he mind long bus/subway journey?
2) Public transport used to be excellent. A few years back it was good, but crowded. Nowadays, the subway has some serious issue. But then again, there is always bus and taxi.
3) Car is expensive. A low range Toyota, fresh from the oven cost about $100k.
The office is located in the city centre, taking public transport shouldn't be a problem for him. The thought of getting a car is mostly for the kids. ^^
Michelle Martin wrote:
Hi Cindy:
I just posted as well, moving from CA to S in February and feeling the stress as are you - car and maid - hmm...I keep saying no to car and no to maid but wondering if living on the 30th floor with groceries and a 4 and 8 year old will be a nightmare! would love to hear more about what you find out. Our company will pay education expenses but we have to pitch in $500SGD a month for both kids, although youngest is on wait list for pre-school at SAIS....and my oldest has mild ADD and takes meds for it but I was upfront with the school and sent all the tests/evals etc and they took her. I would love to know if preschool is an option for the "public" preschools? Did you find that in your research?
What is an HDB? I don't understand all the abbreviations! I wish there was a site that listed them with definitions so I could easily decode many of these posts and what people are referring to! Guess I better do more research.
The abbreviations..haha I have been googling them a lot ..
zzm9980 wrote:
Just to head this one off at the pass...
Since you're from the US (like myself), be aware HDB is *nothing*at*all* like public housing in the US. You don't have to speed through red-lights if you find yourself near one (Which you will), worry about getting caught in cross-fires, drug dealers, crack heads, meth labs, gangbangers, etc.
As for the price disparity, that is correct. They're rather expensive to rent (compared to how much they would be to buy), but about 50% or less the cost to rent a comparable condo. For example, I live on the East Coast directly across from the beach (next to the underpass even) with a full unobstructed view of the beach/water. (In reality, a parking lot for freighters and smoke from Indonesian fires). My rent is only S$2600/month for a 2 bedroom ~760sq/ft unit. A comparable condo in the area (with the view) would probably start at $S6k-7k, and only really add a swimming pool and workout room.
Thanks for the details. HDB is good enough for us as long as the building is not too old, well maintained, & of course in good location.
gravida wrote:
Cindy, honestly, if one of your major reasons to move here is your son's schooling... Think twice, please. I do not know any expat (without PR) attending Pathlight. I doubt, seriously doubt your son will be able to get there.
As for Dover Court, you have to expect to get on the waitlist first, then go through admission process (it costs $$$, just for the assessment, where you will not be allowed to sit in, you will not be given any written report and only very brief verbal feedback, without guarantee that your child will be admitted there. And no refund if he does not get the place). It is great school, with all the allied health support (but, you pay for all the therapies ON TOP of their regular fees and they do charge at least as much as all the private therapies, even a bit higher...).
My thoughts - unless you really have a decent income, do not have to watch every cent before spending it - then it is an OK idea (given what you have written about your current place,t hat your son does not get appropriate support). Since you are wondering if you will be able to afford it, give it a second thought. Your son needs help without the rest of the family sacrificing everything for it, because he also needs happy family...
I agree with all your points Gravida. I did realize that the special education system there is not as good & easy as I expected,
maybe the quality is, but it's pretty limited, Some threads in other expat forum told me that the local schools that offering SE(special education) mainly support children from family with low income. Even the local family with income's a bit higher than average struggle to get a place for their child. For those private schools, international schools offering SE with good reputation, we have to worry about the wait list & unexpected high fees.
Thanks for all the solution & advices guys, I truly appreciate. Happy New Year, wishing you all the very best!
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. We are family of four with a 6 yrso boy & 4 yrso girl. My son is a slow learner with mild autism.
), will our family still be able to live comfortably? Hm... one more thing, we are still not sure if we should get a used car to bring the kids to/frm their school.
So far from what I had read, it seems not many choice of special schools offers mainstream education.
