Budget Questiosn for a Newbie

[CurlyUK]

Hi Everyone,

I am trying to work out a budget for when I arrive in Singapore and was wondering if anybody could let me know if I have allotted the correct figures below for bills etc
The costing is based on 2 people (me and my boyfriend) per month


Rent - 3,500
Bills/Utilities - 1,000
Commute - 300
Food - 600
Going out - 1,000
Other shopping - 200
Clothes - 100
Misc - 300



Commute will exist of public transport (under 30mins) from place of work (MapleTree)

Bills utilities -gas/electric/phone/cable/internet/mobile

Going out will be 1-3 times per week for a couple of drinks nothing major

Food will be Hawker Centres mainly

Clothes nothing flashy just regular stuff

If anyone thinks these are way out then please let me know

Much appreciated

Thanks

[x9200]

Bills/Utilities - 1,000

This ^, if you are going to aircon yourself 24/7. Otherwise it should be closer to 500.
All the rest seem doable (for no specific preferences).

[JR8]

As X9 suggests, utils is way too high. you could easily do it on $500 all in, but then if you're recycling the latest iPhone contract each 3 months and fridging your flat it might be more.

p.s. don't think my utils were more than $250/mo on a 3 room room condo, but then I'm cheap to run

[zzm9980]

Clothes, for "nothing flashy", do you mean Gap, or no-name generics outside the hawker centers?

For example, $100 won't get you underwear and jeans at the Gap in Singapore. You could get away with Bossini and Giordano (semi-local brands), but be aware if you're not sized like most locals, you won't fit into their clothing. As an example, my dress shirts are solid sized "M" at Gap, Banana Republic, and from most western designers. At G2000 (Giordano's dress shirt shop) I wear an "XL". I don't think they have bigger options.

[x9200]

Clothes, for "nothing flashy", do you mean Gap, or no-name generics outside the hawker centers?

For example, $100 won't get you underwear and jeans at the Gap in Singapore. You could get away with Bossini and Giordano (semi-local brands), but be aware if you're not sized like most locals, you won't fit into their clothing. As an example, my dress shirts are solid sized "M" at Gap, Banana Republic, and from most western designers. At G2000 (Giordano's dress shirt shop) I wear an "XL". I don't think they have bigger options.

I think it's not that bad. While living here I've been wearing generally L-XXL and had no problems to buy reasonable (life time up to 2y) and inexpensive (S$20-70 for jeans, smart casual trousers, shirts) stuff in places like JohnLittle or Robinsons.

[the lynx]

But then again, do you really have to spend $100 on clothes EVERY month? Clothes are not perishables, nor they are not consumables.

[Barnsley]

1,000 a month for going out could be under pressure, especially for two folk, especially if you throw in a Taxi too and from home.

[ecureilx]

As X9 suggests, utils is way too high. you could easily do it on $500 all in, but then if you're recycling the latest iPhone contract each 3 months and fridging your flat it might be more.

p.s. don't think my utils were more than $250/mo on a 3 room room condo, but then I'm cheap to run

Electricity rates for condos are higher than HDB ..

Me, 4 room HDB, with three women, still we don't cross 200 ! Even though the aircon is always on in two rooms, plus the 200 includes piped gas .. (water heater is on Gas)

If you ask me, cut down on rental and budget more for other things, like "going out" .. for example, if you are addicted to Pasta Mania like a colleague of mine, her daily lunch is 12 $ plus .. and an occasional craving for Olio or Svenson can cost 30 $ or more .. !!!

Oh, a weekend eating out with Crab and fish can cost more .. so .. 600 for meals ? Not sufficient ..

[sundaymorningstaple]

Electricity rates for condos are higher than HDB ..

[ecureilx]

Electricity rates for condos are higher than HDB ..

http://www.singaporeexpats.com/guides-f ... e.htm#Cost

How does this translate ? HDB and condos are charged the same ?

Condos were ranked together with 'APARTMENT' unless PUB decided to charge lesser rates for condos

[x9200]

Electricity rates for condos are higher than HDB ..

http://www.singaporeexpats.com/guides-f ... e.htm#Cost

How does this translate ? HDB and condos are charged the same ?

Condos were ranked together with 'APARTMENT' unless PUB decided to charge lesser rates for condos

What is in the table is average electricity CONSUMPTION (kWh). The cost of the unit (1 kWh) is at the top of the table and is the same for the whole table.

[nakatago]

http://www.singaporeexpats.com/guides-f ... e.htm#Cost

How does this translate ? HDB and condos are charged the same ?

Condos were ranked together with 'APARTMENT' unless PUB decided to charge lesser rates for condos

What is in the table is average electricity CONSUMPTION (kWh). The cost of the unit (1 kWh) is at the top of the table and is the same for the whole table.

or, according to statistics collected by HDB, on average an HDB uses up X electricity much per month while an apartment consumes Y electricity. Your PUB shows you the average consumption of your dwelling unit type in them bar charts at the back for electricity, gas and water

[sundaymorningstaple]

Which is why I questioned squirrel. Electricity tariffs rates are the same for all housing units. Consumption is something controlled by the user. condo users "normally" make more than HDB dwellers therefore their pain threshhold is higher so they use more electricity and water than the normal HDB dweller who tend to watch their pennies a little more closely.

[CurlyUK]

Cheers...you guys have been invaluable as always!

[Aurora_sg]

Hi, I think you budget is quite right. Except
Utility is too much , clothing could be more.
2 of us use zircon daily from evening to next day morning.
It shouldn't be more than $500.

If don't mind eat at hawker often, food budget is all right.
It cost more for cooking, buying stuffs from cold storage, market place .