High school sports and school/homeschool

[Adventuresome]

We have 3 teens in competitive sports (fencing, gymnastics, swimming). We homeschool but would like the opportunity for our kids to try a local school.

Does anyone know about how much those sports are going to cost? We'd like to keep them on the track to a college scholarship in their sports.

Do schools allow homeschoolers to participate on their teams for a fee?

How expensive is it to get our kids in a local school?

Also, is there an active homeschool community?

[fishandchips]

Hi Adventuresome,

Have you had any luck getting a local school for your kids?

We just moved here over a month ago, and am basically having a hard time getting a school for my 12 and 6 year old girls.

[Adventuresome]

Sorry, we have not come over yet. We were just trying to do some preparation beforehand and get some information.

[Adventuresome]

OPPORTUNITY ... I work for a Fortune 25 global company. We have an opening in my organization for a lateral job that would require me to relocate to Singapore. The company is willing to move me, but it will be "a local hire".

QUESTION ... If my management chain wants to move us (two adults, three kids) with only a currency exchange rate adjustment (inflate my salary by 1.25 to $162,000), do any of you know whether $162,000 (annual, Singapore dollars) is "a lot of money" for a Manager-level non-manufacturing job? Another alternative is for me to also consider the cost of living adjustment of moving from a "low-cost US city" to an "urban lifestyle". That would move my request to approx $195,000 (Singapore dollars).

Thank you, in advance, for any help and thoughts.

[Jinki]

OPPORTUNITY ... I work for a Fortune 25 global company. We have an opening in my organization for a lateral job that would require me to relocate to Singapore. The company is willing to move me, but it will be "a local hire".

QUESTION ... If my management chain wants to move us (two adults, three kids) with only a currency exchange rate adjustment (inflate my salary by 1.25 to $162,000), do any of you know whether $162,000 (annual, Singapore dollars) is "a lot of money" for a Manager-level non-manufacturing job? Another alternative is for me to also consider the cost of living adjustment of moving from a "low-cost US city" to an "urban lifestyle". That would move my request to approx $195,000 (Singapore dollars).

Thank you, in advance, for any help and thoughts.

First of all, congratulations on the opportunity to relocate to Singapore. Your question have been discussed before. Try scrolling thru the forum. The question to "lots of money" is subjected to your choices. International Schooling in Singapore is expensive and there is a lot of expat enrolling their kids into local. There's the road we are taking. Its not an easy path nor is it a difficult one. Kids have to take the AEIS test.

Good luck in whatever route you are taking.

[cw1483]

Congratulations on the offer, but I think in the end you may be better off in USA vs Singapore.

Reasons:
1.) USA IRS excludes tax on first $95,100USD annual income, then excess is taxed. Plus you have to pay Singapore IRAS as well. (Unless you make $95K and your spouse makes $95K, which then the exclusion applies, or currently will be taxed in Singapore and USA).

2.) Singapore (to my knowledge) does not allow home schooling, so you have to either place the 3 teens in the private International Schools (around S$20,000+ a year each) or in public school and hope that they can all be placed together in a location near your home. You won't know as you can not register them until you have a Singapore address and when they arrived in Singapore and acquired a FIN (Foriegn Identical Number), so if public school is required, let's hope they don't have an hour commute across town.

3) Rental for a 4bedroom will be at least S$3000, depending if you are willing to live in HDB. If you require pool and gym, that will definitely run over S$4000. For that price, you can get a fairly big home mortgage in suburban US and write off those interest.

4.) Car ownership is very expensive. However, it does open up many locations to live. (Public transit is great, but more time consuming, of course). It's not likely that your teens will get to drive here. In the US, they could start driving at 16 and own a cheap car easily.

I think if you had dual income vs one big income and maybe less kids then it is doable. Otherwise, I highly recommend you negotiate for a non-local package (aka Expat package that includes housing, tax adjustment, company car usage, and schools) before relocating.

It is possible though....just depends if you are willing to live in HDB, take public transit, put kids in public school, etc. Some expats don't mind. However, I know some didn't stay after their expat package expired due to this reason.

[Adventuresome]

What an HDB? Thank you for your response.

[scarbowl]

A HDB is like a big college dorm. Don't consider it until you've been here for a while. Plenty of illegal rentals going on and it's a hassle if you get caught up in what you think is okay but turns out not to be.

There's an organisation called SACAC which offers sporting programs without the need to be enrolled in an International School, though much of what they offer is up at Singapore American School. Maybe they have something in town as well?

US taxes - you can offfset much of what you pay to Singapore against your US income taxes. You don't have to pay twice on the same income. A tax credit is provided for.