How much money do we need to cover costs of living?

fkoelbl · Post by **fkoelbl** » Mon, 29 Jan 2007 7:59 pm

We are a couple who wants to come to singapore for half a year with our baby (he will be 10 month by then). The condo will be paid by my husbandy employer, probably also the costs for water and electricity. Now I am wondering how much money we will need to cover costs for food, transportation (taxi) and having some fun. We don't plan to eat in very fancy restaurants or do long trips (because of our little son), but of course we want to have some fun and want to explore the area a bit - I guess like an average expat couple. Please let me know what you think, as I don't really know what things cost in Singapore. Thanx

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Mon, 29 Jan 2007 8:24 pm

Have you bothered to try searching through some fo the topics in this forum and the other forum "Relocating, Moving to Singapore"? before asking? I bring this up as the following is on the 1st page of threads in the above Forum: http://www.singaporeexpats.com/forum/ft ... 59b270ed58

We like to help you help yourself if we can. If you have something more specific then ask away.

sms

huggybear · Post by **huggybear** » Mon, 29 Jan 2007 9:12 pm

You need as much money as you possibly can. the more $$ you will have the more you can spend.

MissMotivated · Post by **MissMotivated** » Sat, 03 Feb 2007 10:07 pm

why are people so "narky" here? eg: "have you bothered checking....xyz"
it's hard enough a thing to deal with moving to a completely new country, without people being so unwelcoming?

I have to say, as much as there are MANY things I love about this place, I have never felt so unwelcome, and like I have to TRY so hard anywhere to conform....
safe and comfortable - sure.
friendly? - questionable

lost_canuck · Post by **lost_canuck** » Sun, 04 Feb 2007 12:00 am

MissMotivated wrote:why are people so "narky" here? eg: "have you bothered checking....xyz"
it's hard enough a thing to deal with moving to a completely new country, without people being so unwelcoming?

I have to say, as much as there are MANY things I love about this place, I have never felt so unwelcome, and like I have to TRY so hard anywhere to conform....
safe and comfortable - sure.
friendly? - questionable

I will weigh in here, even tho..... ah well anyway..

When I first heard from the other half that we may move here, I came on board and started a post and asked a question similar, and got a similar response, and thought, 'Geez people in singapore are not real helpful or friendly, sheesh' See if I ever go back, but then we moved here, and I needed some info, and input so I asked more and read more.

And even tho I have been here only two months I can sort of understand the response because the same questions come up again and again, really frequently, now I am not saying it is necessarily nice to be so blunt, but I wouldn't take it personally, it can feel to the regular readers and posters like someone is constantly asking where the milk is in the fridge, when all you have to do is move aside the mayonaise and there it is.

And I know from experience it is very intimidating to some to consider such a drastic move, and it is a world apart from where they are now (for some, for others almost around the corner) and they want quick answers. I know I was freakin out, but I must admit. Since moving here, getting to know some things myself, it is not a scary place. And if you ask the right questions, you will get great response.

So here are previous topics that cover that question

http://www.singaporeexpats.com/forum/ftopic38958.html

http://www.singaporeexpats.com/forum/ftopic38885.html

http://www.singaporeexpats.com/forum/ftopic39192.html

And I must admit the cost of living is a really recent topic which is covered quite well, and missmotivated they are friendly, but some may bite

fkoelbl · Post by **fkoelbl** » Sun, 04 Feb 2007 5:03 pm

Sorry for asking such a "stupid" question and thanks for your replys anyway. I guess costs of living just depend on the personal way of life and like everywhere one can live on a low budget or spend a lot of money. Eating out very frequently seems to be normal. I wonder if we will do the same with a baby, but we will see, and since we like asian food it shoult not be to expensive. So I feel a bit better now knowing more about what to expect!

lost_canuck · Post by **lost_canuck** » Sun, 04 Feb 2007 6:39 pm

not a stupid question, just a frequent one

Post by **jpatokal** » Sun, 04 Feb 2007 11:14 pm

lost_canuck wrote:I will weigh in here, even tho..... ah well anyway..

Thanks for weighing in -- great post. I'll do a collective

on part of all us moderators, because the point of this forum (well, aside from pimping our favorite rental agency) is to help newbies to Singapore, and us old farts sniping at them is not the way to do this.

Me, I try to reply to "stupid" questions just by posting a link to a previous thread or sticky on the issue -- it's fairly fast and fairly neutral. The heavy artillery is only brought out if they still don't get the hint...

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Mon, 05 Feb 2007 12:21 am

MissMotivated,

I've been called a lot of things, but "Narky"? is a new one. Care to define? Sorry that you feel unwelcome here but frankly, I don't quite agree with JP (except maybe the "old fart" part) but sometimes when we answer the same questions 3 times a week because some noob cannot be bothered to use the search function they deserve to be shocked to consciousness.

fkoelbl asked a question on a day when the thread directly at the top of this Forum prior to her post, was the same identical information being discussed. This goes to show that they did not bother to even try. Therefore, my question regarding same. I also indicated that "We like to help you help yourself if we can. If you have something more specific then ask away." Oh, I believe I even post the link to that article. So how was that unwelcoming?

So, personally, I think your response is somewhat unwarranted or your skin is unnaturally thin.

As far as "it's hard enough a thing to deal with moving to a completely new country, without people being so unwelcoming? " is concerned, I have a bit of a problem here as quite a numberof us have done the same move with or without kids and in a lot of cases without the internet as it wasn't around then! Gimme a break!

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Mon, 05 Feb 2007 12:31 am

lost_canuck wrote:And I must admit the cost of living is a really recent topic which is covered quite well, and missmotivated they are friendly, but some may bite

Excuuuuussssseeeeee ME!

Are you saying your Southern cousins are rabid dogs!

I"m very helpful but yes you are right. I am rather blunt. Even after being in Asia 2.5 decades hasn't helped. I still tend to call things the way I see them. Politically Correct? Nah. No fun. I believe in helping people help themselves.

Ma'am · Post by **Ma'am** » Mon, 05 Feb 2007 8:02 am

Dont forget though that in many cases the partner has come home to say that they have accepted a job in a new part of the world and 'we'll be leaving in a few weeks'! Mine did - maybe he just jumps first and checks with me later though...
Even if the partner takes time to talk the move through though (nice thought!), or its a joint decision, generally everything moves very quickly. Imagine looking after a young baby/toddler and trying to sort out what you have to do with your apartment/house, what the new country will be like, what your expenses will be like, what is the culture like, what about family, traveling back etc etc etc. When it happens it can feel like you need answers to a thousand questions all at once and you need them RIGHT NOW! Ok it gets frustrating when people miss the current threads that deal with those exact questions but I had never even been on a forum when Sir made the anouncemnt that we had 6 weeks to find tenants, hand in my notice and move to Singers, find out if I could work etc because he had accepted a position there! I did a desperate google, gave a huge sigh of relief that at least there was a source of information and jumped in with questions. Did I look at previous threads? No. Did I annoy regulars with the same questions made for the hundredth time? Of course - and I felt bloody stupid afterwards. Slunk off for a while actually until I returned with new names....
Anyway it doesn't hurt to show a bit of patience. Although to be fair I did think SMS was fairly calm about the whole thing and made the right suggestions about WHERE the answers were. Not exactly 'narky'

lost_canuck · Post by **lost_canuck** » Mon, 05 Feb 2007 8:28 am

sundaymorningstaple wrote:
lost_canuck wrote:And I must admit the cost of living is a really recent topic which is covered quite well, and missmotivated they are friendly, but some may bite
Excuuuuussssseeeeee ME!

Are you saying your Southern cousins are rabid dogs!

Would I be so bold? I am sure they have had all their shots

I"m very helpful but yes you are right. I am rather blunt. Even after being in Asia 2.5 decades hasn't helped. I still tend to call things the way I see them. Politically Correct? Nah. No fun. I believe in helping people help themselves.

I know, but some of us just freak out

and jpatokal thanks

please don't beat me *lol*

huggybear · Post by **huggybear** » Mon, 05 Feb 2007 11:59 am

Ma'am wrote: When it happens it can feel like you need answers to a thousand questions all at once and you need them RIGHT NOW!

i'm surprised you don't see how contradictary your statements are...you need answers RIGHT NOW. But when you post a question you have to wait for people to reply.

So as an example...in order to post a new topic, you have to first get to the forum which you have done magically. Then you click on the "relocating, blah blah blah" forum topic. Then there's a little button at the top left called "new topic" which i assume you clicked to post a redudant "Moving to Singapore, do people there live in Mud Huts?" The thing is if you really need answers RIGHT NOW don't you think it would be advisable to first scan the list of topics currently posted there? Sure it would take an extra 60 seconds of your time...but maybe you might discover that all your questions have been answered. If you really need answers RIGHT NOW, then posting a question and waiting for a response seems much more inefficient.

Ma'am · Post by **Ma'am** » Mon, 05 Feb 2007 1:11 pm

But of course my dear. But we dont all operate with perfect logic sense ALL the time. In my case I simply posted my topic and then looked at previous topics afterwards. Silly? Yes, but hopefully forgiveable! I certainly always check current postings/archives before posting these days...would hate to be the cause of somebody getting their knickers in a knot.

huggybear · Post by **huggybear** » Mon, 05 Feb 2007 1:21 pm

i don't think anyone gets mad. i just skip over them usually.

more often then not, a newer person just posts the reply.

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