Any upfront expenses

[Expat_SP]

Hi everyone
I was wondering if I should expect any upfront expenses while moving to Singapore? The company is paying for move including family airfare and the shipping of our stuff. They are also providing a furnished accommodation so no security deposits etc will have to be paid by me.

I really can't think of anything that'll require any significant cash right before or after my move. Am I missing something?

[beppi]

Apart from deposits for PUB (electricity, water) and starting balance to open a bank account, you'll certainly have some unexpected initial expenses and will have to pay more for almost everything in the first few weeks until you figure out how to do things right (e.g. taxi fees until you undertand the public transport system, restaurants until you figure out where to buy groceries, etc.). Bring a few thousand dollars for that and you'll be fine!

[Expat_SP]

Thanks beppi.

Wouldn't the utilities deposit be covered with the apartment? Since the company will pay the utilities, i think the deposit will be covered by them as well.

Higher taxi fare and more restaurant meals in the first month certainly sounds like something i'll need to add to the moving costs. The starting balance for the bank accounts should be withdrawable immediately, so no worries there.

[Hannieroo]

Assuming you have school age children, uniform is sometimes covered by the company and some schools require children over a certain age to have their own school laptop.

[Strong Eagle]

Orchard Towers could require a significant amount of cash depending upon how often you might participate.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Orchard Towers could require a significant amount of cash depending upon how often you might participate.

[BedokAmerican]

I know I've mentioned this before on this forum to others, but I can't stress it enough: If you see ants, get a monthly pest control service. Rentokil costs $900-$1,000 per year, but I don't know if they've changed rates in the past year (and there are other companies as well). Definitely worth the cost, in my opinion.

Over-the-counter products might work for a day or two but the ants will be back. Even if you live on a high floor in a nice, new condo and keep it clean, there's a good chance you'll still see ants. Where there's one, there are more. You kill one yourself, an army will show up within seconds.

[Expat_SP]

@Bedok American: Thanks for the heads up. I remember somebody mentioning a 2 year old with a slipper being an effective and a (very) slow method to get rid of ants. That should keep my son busy

But on a serious note: I would expect this to be covered by the company as well. The package includes a fully furnished accomodation maintained by the employer alongwith utilities. Thank God for MNCs

[Expat_SP]

@Hannieroo: I have a 18 month old son but we are not planning to send him to a pre-school just now. But thanks for the warning.

[Expat_SP]

Orchard Towers could require a significant amount of cash depending upon how often you might participate.

Can't imagine how this would be an upfront expense. But i can understand if it requires significant cash amounts in the monthly budget.

[Primrose Hill]

1. Temporary Service Apartment - employer
2. Rental and deposit - employer
3. School fees/play school - employer?
4. Utilities - deposit to SP Power $500 - payable yourself
5. Air con service contract - payable yourself
6. Pest control - payable yourself
7. Transportation - payable yourself/employer?
8. Utilities - payable yourself/employer

[Expat_SP]

Hi Primrose Hill - Thanks for the list.

Since the company is providing a furnished apartment and paying the utilities, i would expect 4,5,6 and 8 to be covered by them.

For transportation i am planning to use the public transport so should not have any significant upfront expenses other than the monthly / weekly passes for the metro and buses.

Not planning any pre-school immediately as my son is only 18 months old but this sure seems like a major expense for Jan '15. I have been "google-ing" the pre-schools but the websites usually don't list the fees etc so not sure about that.