Can you check my budget (pretty please)

[AUStoSG]

I know you all must get sick of these ... but I'll ask the question anyway

I've read as many threads as I can find on this forum and just want to check if my calcs are ok?

Hubby is negotiating a move to Singapore but it won't be an Expat Package, so we need to make sure what he's paid will be enough to live.

I don't need a fabulous standard of living but an ok one. I have 2 kids (5 and 3 years old) and will homeschool them. I'm a good cook and will do so as much as possible or just eat out cheaply.

Would like a 3 bedroom condo that has a pool if possible. This is my calculations per month:

Rent $2600
Food $1000
Transportation (just MRT/Bus) $800
Mobile phones x 2 (we don't use much) $75
Internet $100
TV $100
Utilities Basic (Electricity, Gas, Water) $300


We will budget travel, spending, fun etc with what's left. All insurances are covered (already have life, employer to cover health).

Have I forgotten anything important?

Thank you so much for your time!!! I really appreciate any help.

[JR8]

3 Bed condo with pool at $2600?

You can search online and see what your options are there. I had similar in D.12 (Toa Payoh) until mid 2010 and that would now be c. $4k. My point is that the latter is kinda local-ville rather than expat-ville, so $2.6k might not get anywhere that close in if that matters.

[AUStoSG]

Thanks so much for your reply.

This is definitely why I asked, it's hard to know how much is accurate just searching online.


2 condo's that I looked at online as examples of possible rent (through .) were:

Palm Gardens (d23) - $2700 3 bed 3 bath with swimming pool
Orchid Park Condo (d27) - $2500 3 bed with swimming pool

(I can't seem to put links to them in sorry)


Are they bogus or is there something that would be wrong with them that I can't tell online?

[Mary Hatch Bailey]

I've read as many threads as I can find on this forum and just want to check if my calcs are ok?

I would say you forgot one ~ homeschooling is not free. Books, pencils, paper, paste, scissors, paint, work books, enrichment materials, field trips, and extracurriculars like art and music lessons, gymnastics and language tuition should all be factored in.

Also, beware of online real estate portals like the one you mentioned. They are notorious for over-estimating square footage and underestimating the cost.

[x9200]

Thanks so much for your reply.

This is definitely why I asked, it's hard to know how much is accurate just searching online.


2 condo's that I looked at online as examples of possible rent (through .) were:

Palm Gardens (d23) - $2700 3 bed 3 bath with swimming pool
Orchid Park Condo (d27) - $2500 3 bed with swimming pool

(I can't seem to put links to them in sorry)


Are they bogus or is there something that would be wrong with them that I can't tell online?

I think it is doable and could be real but typically it is one or both of these two factors:
- far away from the central area
- old, dirty, obsolete

I know Palm Gardens and it's ok, the price also seems right. Where your hubby is going to work?

Probably you underestimated the food figures and if you are going to cook all by yourself and use aircon the utilities may also be on a low side.

[AUStoSG]

Sorry, I should have said, I have already budgeted money for Homeschooling, Extra-curricular activities, travel, clothes, presents, hair and general spending money.

Those costs I can work out far more confidently myself.

It's the others (rent, general grocery shopping, utilities, etc.) that I wasn't sure if I was way off base on.

Thanks for all your help.

[BillyB]

Looks a pretty reasonable budget. But from experience, whatever you allocate always look to add 10% as a contingency. Also try to factor in deposits for housing and utility deposits so they don't come as a shock in your first month.

Double check the mobile costs each month as they seem a bit on the low side as its easy to get stung by international calls, SMS and data. But if you are opting for pre-paid then your estimates are in the right ball park.

There are ways to have a decent life in SG on a budget, it's just that half of us are too lazy to do it!!

[Saint]

2 condo's that I looked at online as examples of possible rent (through .) were:

Palm Gardens (d23) - $2700 3 bed 3 bath with swimming pool
Orchid Park Condo (d27) - $2500 3 bed with swimming pool

These 2 condos are in completely different parts of Singapore so it looks like you are just looking a rental cost rather than the logistic of living in these particular areas. You need to take in to account where your hubby will be working. I'm guessing you are from AU so you might want to take in to consideration that these 2 areas are typical local heartlands where the vast majority of residents will be locals, so if you are looking for a thriving expat community, forget it.

[ScoobyDoes]

Double check the mobile costs each month as they seem a bit on the low side as its easy to get stung by international calls, SMS and data. But if you are opting for pre-paid then your estimates are in the right ball park.

Actually I don't think that's much of a problem either.

With StarHub, for example, I have a package of TV/Internet/HomePhone all for around $80 per month (actually the TV portion of the bill is only $4 per month). It also comes with a mobile data SIM Card with 10GB free data per month. The international calls via 018 are pretty cheap but failing that, since the internet is included and always on, turn on the PC and Skype/MSN home instead. If you don't want to turn on the PC, then buy a Skype phone and plug into the router........don't do int'l calls from a mobile.

Other than that the rest of the budget looks okay with the exception of housing. For a 3br I might be inclined to stretch that to 3k. I just saved you $120 on your Internet/TV part of the budget so start by moving that to the Rent