relocating with kids

[debbie davies]

what is the biggest expense in living in singapore with 2 children.

[um...]

how old are your kids? Mine are 1 and 2. The biggest cost by far is formula milk (approx $20 a tin). Wester veges are expensive. Otherise obvious things like International School fees or a car. Good luck with your move. I have been here a month and I am so glad we are here - it's a wonderful place to have a family

[KLS]

It's got to be housing, car, & school fees, I guess!

Mind you it also depends on your earnings doesn't it. I mean most expats are well looked after!

But with two kids you can manage well on 5 or 6k providing you live like a local that is. The majority of locals are only earning between 1500 to 3000 on average.

[Guest]

If they are anything from 3 onwards it will be schooling - unless your company pays for it. Very expensive! For half day preschool you may pay anything from 400 SGD onwards per month. It only gets more expensive when they are older. Unless you use church kindergartens. Starting from SGD 100. The public (government) kindergarten is mostly not suitable for expatriates.

[Mother of 2]

For cheaper milk powder, go to the housing estates' Chinese medicine shops. They are sometimes cheaper by upto $4 or $5 per tin!

[Guest]

thanks forthe help. kids are boys aged 7 and 9 from south africa needsome advice on school prices.

[Guest]

school prices:

All International Schools in Singapore are listed here:

http://www1.moe.edu.sg/privatesch/Directory/foreign.htm

Maybe you want to inquiry directly.

www.moe.eud.sg will bring you to the Singapore Education Ministry - info on Singapore school system

[singapore]

Unlike US or australia, the best schools in singapore are normally government schools. Perhaps the cheapest way to get quality education is through the local system. Try the ministry of education website to see how you can enrol your children. It cost next to nothing to educate them. International Schools are good too but they are not worth the money...

Getting a car in singapore is too expensive and you don't need it anyway. Transport is cheap and abundant here so use it.

[Guest]

[quote="singapore"]Unlike US or australia, the best schools in singapore are normally government schools. Perhaps the cheapest way to get quality education is through the local system. Try the ministry of education website to see how you can enrol your children. It cost next to nothing to educate them. International Schools are good too but they are not worth the money...

I strongly disagree with this, our children are at the OFS and they have a real good time there. If they return to their homeland for further studies they are accepted without questions asked. I don't see that happen when they attend a local school.

[been here 10 years]

Local schools are not suitable for expat children. Stick with school that most closely matches your nationality.

[Guest]

Hell no to local schools. Do you want your kids speaking Singlish? But then agian they'd be good at math and science.

[Lisab]

Hi,
We are moving over to singapore in one weeks time and our daughter has been offered a place at OFS, it was so nice to hear you saying what a good school it is.
Thanks