Singapore Expats

SGD$3000 Per month... Holly F*ck!

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beppi
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Post by beppi » Sun, 31 Jul 2011 8:19 pm

Sorry to put a negative post into the (in my opinion unrealistically) upbeat tone of this thread, but with your pay it will be very hard to maintain a lifestyle you'll like:
Rent for a private place for the two of you (i.e. not sharing with others) starts at S$2000 (and don't expect a convenient location for commuting at that price!). The remainder will then not allow you to drink any alcohol (a bottle of red wine fit for the homeless costs S$15 here, more drinkable stuff is S$30-50, beer over S$5 a bottle - these are supermarket prices), travel or eat out (other than hawker centres).
To share a flat (i.e. rent a room) will cost you S$800-1200, which allows the occasional drink, nice dinner or weekend trip.
(Don't forget to put away money every month for the tax bill, which comes at the end of a year - no deduction at source!)

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sundaymorningstaple
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Post by sundaymorningstaple » Sun, 31 Jul 2011 8:26 pm

The tax bill on 3K/mo will be around $550 for the tax year.
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

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nakatago
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Post by nakatago » Sun, 31 Jul 2011 9:38 pm

beppi wrote:Sorry to put a negative post into the (in my opinion unrealistically) upbeat tone of this thread, but with your pay it will be very hard to maintain a lifestyle you'll like:
Rent for a private place for the two of you (i.e. not sharing with others) starts at S$2000 (and don't expect a convenient location for commuting at that price!). The remainder will then not allow you to drink any alcohol (a bottle of red wine fit for the homeless costs S$15 here, more drinkable stuff is S$30-50, beer over S$5 a bottle - these are supermarket prices), travel or eat out (other than hawker centres).
To share a flat (i.e. rent a room) will cost you S$800-1200, which allows the occasional drink, nice dinner or weekend trip.
(Don't forget to put away money every month for the tax bill, which comes at the end of a year - no deduction at source!)
We've already established that OP would have to be very smart (and cheap) about spending with 3K a month. That said, it doesn't hurt to be reminded that it will be difficult without compromises.
"A quokka is what would happen if there was an anime about kangaroos."

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BillyB
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Post by BillyB » Sun, 31 Jul 2011 9:49 pm

He's Scottish - he'll be fine, believe me. They can peel oranges in their pockets!!

OP - no offence meant by the above!! :wink:

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nakatago
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Post by nakatago » Sun, 31 Jul 2011 9:51 pm

BillyB wrote:He's Scottish - he'll be fine, believe me. They can peel oranges in their pockets!!

OP - no offence meant by the above!! :wink:
I was avoiding going there but since you brought it up.... :roll:

OP seems to be fine man with a great sense of humor, don't he? :P
"A quokka is what would happen if there was an anime about kangaroos."

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Post by BillyB » Sun, 31 Jul 2011 9:54 pm

nakatago wrote:
BillyB wrote:He's Scottish - he'll be fine, believe me. They can peel oranges in their pockets!!

OP - no offence meant by the above!! :wink:
I was avoiding going there but since you brought it up.... :roll:

OP seems to be fine man with a great sense of humor, don't he? :P
Yep, seems like a very amiable chap, and fair play to him for following his heart to do something he really wants.

OP - all the best!

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Asian_Geekette
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Post by Asian_Geekette » Sun, 31 Jul 2011 10:22 pm

lindsayvine wrote:
I'd rather get alcohol from the supermarket and have a BBQ or friends round for some chill-out sessions - than go to a bar and pay through the nose.
Hi Lindsay,

Not to dampen your enthusiasm but depending on where you live, you may not have a chance to host a BBQ in your flat. Spaces are extremely limited and if you stay at HDB (government housing), (AFAIK) you can not grill in front of your flat. If I'm mistaken with this statement, could someone on this board clarify the BBQ issue. :)

Check the JTC SHIFT programme for flats. http://www.jtc.gov.sg/product/Housing/A ... index.aspx The SHIFT flats are cheaper but you don't get to view it before you move and it's unfurnished.

About the alcohol, I suggest you start befriending people who travel in and out of Singapore a lot (though not coming from Malaysia) so you can ask them to use their duty free privilege to buy stuff for you in the DFS. :) I once had a housemate who traveled far more than I did and between the two of us, we collected enough alcohol to have a nice "bar" in our flat. But since we traveled too much and I didn't drink, he had to drink all the wine while I just had Bailey's with my milk. :P

And... congratulations on jumping and doing what you'll be most happy doing! :)
My business is not to remake myself, but make the absolute best out of what God made. -Robert Browning

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nakatago
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Post by nakatago » Sun, 31 Jul 2011 10:46 pm

Asian_Geekette wrote:
Not to dampen your enthusiasm but depending on where you live, you may not have a chance to host a BBQ in your flat. Spaces are extremely limited and if you stay at HDB (government housing), (AFAIK) you can not grill in front of your flat. If I'm mistaken with this statement, could someone on this board clarify the BBQ issue. :)
We just discussed ways to achieve grilled-meat awesomeness right inside your flat some moons ago: http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic78884.html
"A quokka is what would happen if there was an anime about kangaroos."

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Post by kingw » Mon, 01 Aug 2011 1:31 pm

OP can also homebrew for a highly discounted source of inebriation. First batch is conditioning now, let's see how it turns out!

http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/sutra289964.html

Good luck,
b
-b

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nakatago
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Post by nakatago » Mon, 01 Aug 2011 1:33 pm

kingw wrote:OP can also homebrew for a highly discounted source of inebriation. First batch is conditioning now, let's see how it turns out!

http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/sutra289964.html

Good luck,
b
Problem is, OP would be renting a room and thus, may not be too sure if there would be room for the brewing equipment.

Hope to be able to taste the ambrosia, though. :wink:
"A quokka is what would happen if there was an anime about kangaroos."

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Post by thismyvoice » Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:36 am

There are BBQ pits in some HDB estates. Don't think they are that expensive to rent.

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Post by ScoobyDoes » Tue, 02 Aug 2011 10:59 am

nakatago wrote:
BillyB wrote:He's Scottish - he'll be fine, believe me. They can peel oranges in their pockets!!

OP - no offence meant by the above!! :wink:
I was avoiding going there but since you brought it up.... :roll:

OP seems to be fine man with a great sense of humor, don't he? :P

Talking cheap....... that was a cheap shot ;-)

I've met meaner guys in Hong Kong than almost anybody back home.

OP, get out while you can! I go home every couple of years and, of course, head for a pint and the same guys are on the same stools drinking from the same glasses as they were when I first left..... 17yrs ago. You have to take a chance to do something that will change your outlook completely and if you know it will 'only' be tight for a year or two then overall, worth it.
'When Lewis Hamilton wins a race he has to thank Vodafone whereas in my day I used to chase the crumpet. I know which era I'd rather race in.'

SIR Stirling Moss OBE

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nakatago
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Post by nakatago » Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:17 am

ScoobyDoes wrote:
nakatago wrote:
BillyB wrote:He's Scottish - he'll be fine, believe me. They can peel oranges in their pockets!!

OP - no offence meant by the above!! :wink:
I was avoiding going there but since you brought it up.... :roll:

OP seems to be fine man with a great sense of humor, don't he? :P

Talking cheap....... that was a cheap shot ;-)

I've met meaner guys in Hong Kong than almost anybody back home.

OP, get out while you can! I go home every couple of years and, of course, head for a pint and the same guys are on the same stools drinking from the same glasses as they were when I first left..... 17yrs ago. You have to take a chance to do something that will change your outlook completely and if you know it will 'only' be tight for a year or two then overall, worth it.
Is this like

"RUN! SAVE YOURSELVES! IT'S TOO LATE FOR US NOW!"

?

:P
"A quokka is what would happen if there was an anime about kangaroos."

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Post by richie303 » Wed, 03 Aug 2011 9:39 am

I am not going to tell you anything other people have in this thread, only that it'll be tough on that wage! as much as you skrimp and save, (My wife is also a Jock she can do it) it's still bloody expensive to live here! Any Salary under $60K PA makes it tricky as a foreigner, things are more expensive! And for gods sake, don't have kids until you are earning more ;)

Does your girlfriend have any "Vocational" skills? something that could be useful in Singapore? My wife got a job over here before she came over due to her work, it could be your GF has skills too?

SMS would possibly be the best to let you know what skills are in short supply, he's our resident employment guru (don't be disheartened if he says no!)

Good Luck, and get used to eating hawker food and drinking Kopi! Oh, and Mustafa centre is pretty cheap for shopping and even sells Walkers Oatcakes at $1 a box :) :)
Richie - East Coast Superbabe...

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nakatago
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Post by nakatago » Wed, 03 Aug 2011 9:50 am

richie303 wrote:I am not going to tell you anything other people have in this thread, only that it'll be tough on that wage! as much as you skrimp and save, (My wife is also a Jock she can do it) it's still bloody expensive to live here! Any Salary under $60K PA makes it tricky as a (insert adjective here) foreigner, things are more expensive! And for gods sake, don't have kids until you are earning more ;))
I would just like to emphasize that a lot of people do fine with less than 60K PA; it just depends where you're from and what you're used to. Context, people, context. :wink:
"A quokka is what would happen if there was an anime about kangaroos."

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