Singapore Expats

How to do saving & lower cost of living in Singapore?

Discuss about life in Singapore. Ask about cost of living, housing, travel, etiquette & lifestyle. Share experience & advice with Singaporeans & expat staying in Singapore.
Post Reply
Lisafuller
Governor
Governor
Posts: 6211
Joined: Sat, 07 Nov 2020 11:45 pm
Answers: 3

Re: How to do saving & lower cost of living in Singapore?

Post by Lisafuller » Tue, 21 Mar 2023 2:50 am

smoulder wrote:
Mon, 20 Mar 2023 1:01 pm
Lisafuller wrote:
Sun, 19 Mar 2023 10:24 pm
smoulder wrote:
Fri, 17 Mar 2023 7:41 pm
I agree with Mal. Figure out accommodation. Other than that, food might get a bit costly. All depends on your tastes. If you are good with local fare (hawkers or kopitiams) or cooking your own food then food cost should be quite manageable.
Transport as well, getting a place close to your work, or taking public transport instead of grabbing or driving can save a ton of money.
I'm guessing that someone asking how to live on a minimal budget is already mentally tuned to taking the train to get around.
You'd be surprised, many aren't too keen on public transport.

Lisafuller
Governor
Governor
Posts: 6211
Joined: Sat, 07 Nov 2020 11:45 pm
Answers: 3

Re: How to do saving & lower cost of living in Singapore?

Post by Lisafuller » Tue, 21 Mar 2023 2:50 am

jalanjalan wrote:
Mon, 20 Mar 2023 4:08 pm
Lisafuller wrote:
Sun, 19 Mar 2023 10:28 pm
malcontent wrote:
Fri, 17 Mar 2023 5:41 pm
Honestly, housing is usually the largest unavoidable expense here… while it’s not easy, you should apply maximum effort (and sacrifice) to achieve cost savings on housing — that is where savings can be really substantial. I would look for a flat sharing arrangement or HDB room rental.

The remaining cost saving opportunities are pretty obvious, and are not going to add up to much, TBH.
I was on Facebook the other day and noticed that a lot of people are listing rooms for rent at really reasonable prices. I'm assuming they go without an agent so they save a lot.
Watch out for scammers.
https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/r ... rs-2129101
Yep, definitely have to exercise discretion, though if you are smart about it, you can bag a really good deal.

Lisafuller
Governor
Governor
Posts: 6211
Joined: Sat, 07 Nov 2020 11:45 pm
Answers: 3

Re: How to do saving & lower cost of living in Singapore?

Post by Lisafuller » Tue, 21 Mar 2023 2:52 am

malcontent wrote:
Tue, 21 Mar 2023 12:31 am
Lisafuller wrote:
Tue, 21 Mar 2023 12:26 am

Tiger goes on sale often as well, though I'm not sure if I'd call it beer.
If you ever go on the APB factory tour (great team building idea), there is a bar at the end with unlimited free flow, but your first drink must be a Tiger. Normally I don’t like Tiger at all, but they served it super icy cold and that actually made it better — the coldness seemed to drown out the bad taste and it wasn’t half bad!
Any beer tastes better served ice cold. Tiger has a lemon Radler that's delicious, as a soda that is. I can't think of it as a beer, or my appreciation for it goes away.

smoulder
Editor
Editor
Posts: 1317
Joined: Fri, 25 Dec 2015 11:05 pm

Re: How to do saving & lower cost of living in Singapore?

Post by smoulder » Tue, 21 Mar 2023 5:36 am

Lisafuller wrote:
Tue, 21 Mar 2023 2:50 am
smoulder wrote:
Mon, 20 Mar 2023 1:01 pm
Lisafuller wrote:
Sun, 19 Mar 2023 10:24 pm


Transport as well, getting a place close to your work, or taking public transport instead of grabbing or driving can save a ton of money.
I'm guessing that someone asking how to live on a minimal budget is already mentally tuned to taking the train to get around.
You'd be surprised, many aren't too keen on public transport.
People on a shoestring budget?

User avatar
sundaymorningstaple
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 40376
Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
Answers: 21
Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot

Re: How to do saving & lower cost of living in Singapore?

Post by sundaymorningstaple » Tue, 21 Mar 2023 2:41 pm

I sold both of my cars within 6 months of the North/South line joining the new EastWest line in the late1980s. I lived at the end of Jln Kayu and took a feeder bus to the YCK station and fromm there to Raffles place and the short hop to Int'l Plaza. Haven't owned a car since, albeit I did have a car at my disposal for the last 5 years period till I retired but they belonged to others but I've adjusted just fine. Oh, and we raised two kids as well without any real issue at all. Youngest wasn't born till a year later.

Note: not a shoestring budget either, just realize the value of a dollar (as noted I actually owned two cars and was the only driver in the family).
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers

User avatar
Addadude
Reporter
Reporter
Posts: 881
Joined: Fri, 26 May 2006 12:37 pm
Answers: 1
Location: Darkest Telok Blangah

Re: How to do saving & lower cost of living in Singapore?

Post by Addadude » Tue, 21 Mar 2023 3:23 pm

sundaymorningstaple wrote:
Tue, 21 Mar 2023 2:41 pm
Note: not a shoestring budget either, just realize the value of a dollar (as noted I actually owned two cars and was the only driver in the family).
I took one look at car prices here shortly after arriving in Singapore in November 1993 and packed my driving license away. (It's actually long since expired!) Having a car just made no financial sense to me at that time or since. Public transport is excellent here and I certainly have no issues with it and I honestly don't see how anyone could. (My blood pressure is a lot better for not driving here as well!)
"Both politicians and nappies need to be changed regularly, and for the same reasons."

User avatar
sundaymorningstaple
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 40376
Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
Answers: 21
Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot

Re: How to do saving & lower cost of living in Singapore?

Post by sundaymorningstaple » Tue, 21 Mar 2023 3:37 pm

Yeah, that was the year before the locals decided to see where their COE pain threshold was. They finally found it in Aug & Sep of 1994 when the COE hit $104,000 for two months running before backing off a bit. It took them 27 years to make another run at it and it petered out at around the same point I believe (in 2019 dollars $104K using CGI would have been $137K thereabouts). I actually sold both of my cars during the 6 month window for obtaining a COE after it started for currently owned vehicles and have never been part of the COE hostage situation.

Oh, and I definitely hear you on the HBP!
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers

User avatar
malcontent
Manager
Manager
Posts: 2613
Joined: Sat, 22 Dec 2007 11:52 am
Answers: 8
Location: Pulau Ujong

Re: How to do saving & lower cost of living in Singapore?

Post by malcontent » Tue, 21 Mar 2023 7:03 pm

Lisafuller wrote:
Tue, 21 Mar 2023 2:52 am
Any beer tastes better served ice cold.
Don’t let my British friend hear you say that !

Sacrilege!

It was probably 15 years ago at a bar in Holland V where he schooled me on the British concepts of ideal beer drinking temps. Prior to that moment, I thought the same thing - best served ice cold.

Now I find myself storing beer in my wine fridge and appreciating it less cold (if it’s the right beer).
Every great and deep difficulty bears in itself its own solution. It forces us to change our thinking in order to find it - Niels Bohr

Lisafuller
Governor
Governor
Posts: 6211
Joined: Sat, 07 Nov 2020 11:45 pm
Answers: 3

Re: How to do saving & lower cost of living in Singapore?

Post by Lisafuller » Wed, 22 Mar 2023 12:33 am

smoulder wrote:
Tue, 21 Mar 2023 5:36 am
Lisafuller wrote:
Tue, 21 Mar 2023 2:50 am
smoulder wrote:
Mon, 20 Mar 2023 1:01 pm

I'm guessing that someone asking how to live on a minimal budget is already mentally tuned to taking the train to get around.
You'd be surprised, many aren't too keen on public transport.
People on a shoestring budget?
What they are keen on and what they will end up needing to do are separate things.

Lisafuller
Governor
Governor
Posts: 6211
Joined: Sat, 07 Nov 2020 11:45 pm
Answers: 3

Re: How to do saving & lower cost of living in Singapore?

Post by Lisafuller » Wed, 22 Mar 2023 12:39 am

sundaymorningstaple wrote:
Tue, 21 Mar 2023 2:41 pm
I sold both of my cars within 6 months of the North/South line joining the new EastWest line in the late1980s. I lived at the end of Jln Kayu and took a feeder bus to the YCK station and fromm there to Raffles place and the short hop to Int'l Plaza. Haven't owned a car since, albeit I did have a car at my disposal for the last 5 years period till I retired but they belonged to others but I've adjusted just fine. Oh, and we raised two kids as well without any real issue at all. Youngest wasn't born till a year later.

Note: not a shoestring budget either, just realize the value of a dollar (as noted I actually owned two cars and was the only driver in the family).
Under what circumstances would you end up with two cars for a one-driver family?

Lisafuller
Governor
Governor
Posts: 6211
Joined: Sat, 07 Nov 2020 11:45 pm
Answers: 3

Re: How to do saving & lower cost of living in Singapore?

Post by Lisafuller » Wed, 22 Mar 2023 12:40 am

Addadude wrote:
Tue, 21 Mar 2023 3:23 pm
sundaymorningstaple wrote:
Tue, 21 Mar 2023 2:41 pm
Note: not a shoestring budget either, just realize the value of a dollar (as noted I actually owned two cars and was the only driver in the family).
I took one look at car prices here shortly after arriving in Singapore in November 1993 and packed my driving license away. (It's actually long since expired!) Having a car just made no financial sense to me at that time or since. Public transport is excellent here and I certainly have no issues with it and I honestly don't see how anyone could. (My blood pressure is a lot better for not driving here as well!)
I completely get it, but driving is a huge stress reliever for me, though that might sound ironic considering how packed the roads are in this country. Driving at night is a whole different experience.

Lisafuller
Governor
Governor
Posts: 6211
Joined: Sat, 07 Nov 2020 11:45 pm
Answers: 3

Re: How to do saving & lower cost of living in Singapore?

Post by Lisafuller » Wed, 22 Mar 2023 12:42 am

malcontent wrote:
Tue, 21 Mar 2023 7:03 pm
Lisafuller wrote:
Tue, 21 Mar 2023 2:52 am
Any beer tastes better served ice cold.
Don’t let my British friend hear you say that !

Sacrilege!

It was probably 15 years ago at a bar in Holland V where he schooled me on the British concepts of ideal beer drinking temps. Prior to that moment, I thought the same thing - best served ice cold.

Now I find myself storing beer in my wine fridge and appreciating it less cold (if it’s the right beer).
I once visited a bar in Phuket where the beer served was sort of a slushy texture. I thought it was a little overboard but it was DELICIOUS! And especially refreshing in the unforgiving Thai heat.

Lisafuller
Governor
Governor
Posts: 6211
Joined: Sat, 07 Nov 2020 11:45 pm
Answers: 3

Re: How to do saving & lower cost of living in Singapore?

Post by Lisafuller » Wed, 22 Mar 2023 12:44 am

sundaymorningstaple wrote:
Tue, 21 Mar 2023 3:37 pm
Yeah, that was the year before the locals decided to see where their COE pain threshold was. They finally found it in Aug & Sep of 1994 when the COE hit $104,000 for two months running before backing off a bit. It took them 27 years to make another run at it and it petered out at around the same point I believe (in 2019 dollars $104K using CGI would have been $137K thereabouts). I actually sold both of my cars during the 6 month window for obtaining a COE after it started for currently owned vehicles and have never been part of the COE hostage situation.

Oh, and I definitely hear you on the HBP!
The COE makes cars prohibitively expensive. When I first moved here, I drove a sage green Mercedes. When my daughter was born, we opted for a more family friendly Chevy Optra. After that, we only bought secondhand cars. No regrets at all. Today I think if you're paying sticker price, you're getting ripped off.

jalanjalan
Chatter
Chatter
Posts: 377
Joined: Sat, 02 Jul 2022 12:46 pm
Answers: 2

Re: How to do saving & lower cost of living in Singapore?

Post by jalanjalan » Wed, 22 Mar 2023 11:56 am

in 2009 we managed to renew our COE for 10yrs for 3k. Oh I miss those days.

User avatar
sundaymorningstaple
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 40376
Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
Answers: 21
Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot

Re: How to do saving & lower cost of living in Singapore?

Post by sundaymorningstaple » Wed, 22 Mar 2023 8:48 pm

Lisafuller wrote:
Wed, 22 Mar 2023 12:39 am
sundaymorningstaple wrote:
Tue, 21 Mar 2023 2:41 pm
I sold both of my cars within 6 months of the North/South line joining the new EastWest line in the late1980s. I lived at the end of Jln Kayu and took a feeder bus to the YCK station and fromm there to Raffles place and the short hop to Int'l Plaza. Haven't owned a car since, albeit I did have a car at my disposal for the last 5 years period till I retired but they belonged to others but I've adjusted just fine. Oh, and we raised two kids as well without any real issue at all. Youngest wasn't born till a year later.

Note: not a shoestring budget either, just realize the value of a dollar (as noted I actually owned two cars and was the only driver in the family).
Under what circumstances would you end up with two cars for a one-driver family?
I'm a old farm boy and one of my pastimes was the rebuilding and/or restoration of motor vehicles and motorcycles. I'd done several restorations before leaving the US but when I came here I picked up a nice older Ltd Edit Ford Cortina that was celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Ford in Singapore. It was in perfect nick so it was great for traveling on the other side of the causeway up & down the peninsula. The other car I bought as a non-runner and rebuilt it as it had a reasonable history in Singapore. It was a former Sg Grand Prix Mk I Mini-Cooper with a special factory modified engine designed specifically for racing. It was raced with some success at the old Upper Thompson racecourse back in the 1960's. I got it and rebuilt it in my workshop behind the B & W I lived in in Seletar Camp. That one was for play. It was FUN to drive and could also scare the hell out of a Yank who, up till that time had never driven a front wheel drive car. It was a super-quick matchbox with wheels. It was also the last car I sold (own). Just for grins......
76 Ford Cortina_02_zpsfuyu3zgd.jpg
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Staying, Living in Singapore”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 22 guests