Advice for someone clueless and heading to Singapore

[louy]

Sorry for the extremely vague question, I am trying to generate ideas of topics I need to be thinking of. I need answer whilst at the moment I don't even know the questions yet.

I am moving to Singapore. The opportunity came up last week, which I jumped at, and will likely to be in Singapore within the coming weeks.

I have worked in Singapore before, but things have changed greatly since I worked started working there 7 years ago. Back then I was young, free and single and now I am with a wife and 6month old baby.

What do I need to consider ? What advice can you give me ?

I will probably be therefor the next 3 - 5 years plus. My little one will probably start schooling there. As a foreigner, how is this done ? What sort of costs will I face ?

What if I have a second child. Will it be Singaporean ? if it is a boy will it have to do national service ?

[beppi]

Instead of posting random, vague and badly worded issues, maybe you would like to read some of this or other forums first - you are not the first person in this situation and most of what you are worried about has been discussed at length before!
If you then still have some detailed questions that were not discussed before, you are welcome to come back and post them here.

[louy]

Thank you !

[zzm9980]

What do I need to consider ? What advice can you give me ?

You'll hopefully save money by not going out to bars, OT, and Geylang as you may have last time. Instead, you'll be spending that money on baby supplies. General baby items (formula, diapers, strollers, anything really) is easily more than twice as much as it is in the West.

You'll find it much cheaper to buy items online from Amazon (or even Target.com) and ship them to Singapore than buy them at Mothercare or the local "baby stores" in the malls. We paid S$599 for a stroller in Mothercare (not even close to their priciest). I found the same one on Amazon shortly after for about $180 USD. A little planning would have saved us a lot of money.

I will probably be therefor the next 3 - 5 years plus. My little one will probably start schooling there. As a foreigner, how is this done ? What sort of costs will I face ?

Fpr pre-school, just go register like everyone else. For local public schools there are whole forum posts about just this in the schooling forum. Depending on when the kid will be leaving the country (what point in their schooling) it may be worth it to put them into an International School following the curriculum of the system they will be transferring into.

What if I have a second child. Will it be Singaporean ? if it is a boy will it have to do national service ?

No, he/she will not be Singaporean unless you or the mother are. Even then there are conditions.

If you become a PR, then yes your male sons would be legally required to serve NS. If they do not (via legal or illegal means) it will jeopardize you and your familys' PRs and ability to work in Singapore again. That's a long time away though.

[aster]

now I am with a wife and 6month old baby.

What do I need to consider ? What advice can you give me ?

\

Did you get a decent housing budget or at least a salary where appropriate housing won't be an issue?

I take it there is no mention of the company paying for the child's schooling (worth considering even though kindergarten is some years away still)?

[louy]

Thanks, this is useful to know.

A little planning would have saved us a lot of money.

This is the important one for me. Usually during all the rush of relocation, we never have the time to think, let alone plan.

I really worry about costly mistakes (in addition to the potential overall mistake of deciding to return to SG again).

If you were to do it all again, knowing what you know now - what would you bring over to Singapore with you ?

[sundaymorningstaple]

If you were to do it all again, knowing what you know now - what would you bring over to Singapore with you ?

A return ticket which had to be used.

[zzm9980]

Thanks, this is useful to know.

A little planning would have saved us a lot of money.

This is the important one for me. Usually during all the rush of relocation, we never have the time to think, let alone plan.

I really worry about costly mistakes (in addition to the potential overall mistake of deciding to return to SG again).

If you were to do it all again, knowing what you know now - what would you bring over to Singapore with you ?

As much children's stuff and clothing (for all) as possible. Shoes too.

[Brah]

You said it in your title - you'd have to be clueless to move here now unless you have a full expat package. Just read a lot of the threads on this forum.

[louy]

landing this weekend,
Excited but also pretty scared and stressed !

[JR8]

landing this weekend,
Excited but also pretty scared and stressed !

The stressed bit is an automatic and expected stage one should expect at this point.

No need to be 'scared' though, at least you've lived here before!

Have a good trip.