anyone expats out there on local terms?

[jimjam]

Hi - I was wanting to chat with any expats who are on local terms (135k, no extras)? We are from Australia and are considering a move to Singapore. Just wondering how to put two kids aged 5 and 7 through school (International school) and afford the cost of living. I'd really appreciate chatting to anyone with the same background.

Ta

[Bart]

Hi - I was wanting to chat with any expats who are on local terms (135k, no extras)? We are from Australia and are considering a move to Singapore. Just wondering how to put two kids aged 5 and 7 through school (International school) and afford the cost of living. I'd really appreciate chatting to anyone with the same background.

Ta

International Schools are about 3k/mth a shot, that makes 6k for the 2
then rent at 2-3k/mth that leaves you with 2/3 k for food etc
Possible? Yes Probable? No

[Bonbon]

nothing wrong's on local terms, if you really want to give Singapore a try. Most local families - 2 kids survive with what just $40-50k?

$135k will get you a pretty decent, great life here, including a nice condo (with a swimming pool, kids play ground, a gym, a tennis court) a nice car, nice food , and a nice fun safe environment for kids to grow up ....


think list can go on and on

[Luz]

I agree...your income will allow you to pretty much live as you want, provided you don't have a lot of debt to maintain. And at International Community School...the monthly cost for your 2 children (5 & 7) would be less than $4,000 per month ...for both...if you choose to use the monthly payment plan. ...so you'd even have even more to live on. ...nothing to worry about. pm any questions. Enjoy!

[Sentosa]

It can be done but you may have to curb your lifestyle expectations a bit. Eating out at western restaurants is expensive, housing is expensive, transportation is expensive (taxis add up and cars are a small fortune to buy or rent), electricity (read air cond) is expensive, and International Schools are expensive. Basically, anything that is oriented to the expat community will come at a premium. That said, you can probably find affordable housing if you look in areas outside the popular districts (9, 10, 11) where many of the expats and wealthy Singaporean live. In fact, there are many nice places to live in Singapore (East coast area is fairly affordable ~S$2500-3500 for 3/4 bdrms if you don't live in a big complex with all the extras). You will also find that food is cheaper (especially at hawker centers, food courts, HDB area grocery stores and wet markets where Singaporean frequent).

Private International Schools are ghastly expensive here. I think they must be price regulated because they all seem to be equally as expensive and the quality does vary. Public schools will provide your children with a good education although maybe culturally different than what they are used to in Australia. You may want to inquire around for public schools that have expat children in them.

There are a variety of things to do in Singapore that won't cost you a lot. The Singapore Zoo's annual family pass is probably one of the best deals in Singapore. It's a terrific zoo. Sentosa Island is an inexpensive way to spend the day at the beach. Westcoast Park and East Coast Park are very good places to go for outdoor family fun, but the heat is a bit daunting at times. In fact, it takes about a year to get used to the Singapore heat. One good thing about Singapore is the opportunity that your spouse will have to work. They are fairly flexible about it here so your family can supplement your income if you need to. At least you have that option, which is a lot better than most other countries with much stricter provision against working spouses.

Bottom line is Singapore is not cheap and it's getting more expensive quickly. However, if you live somewhat like a Singaporean, you will find that your income will support you just fine. Good luck!

[riversandlakes]

I think you're more like a 'senior expat'. Senior as in respect la hehe

[mum without package]

My advice is to get yourself accomodation that is as cheap as possible. This doesn't necessarily mean nasty or in the middle of nowhere. We live near the Canadian International School (elementary campus) and there are lots of expat families out here. The rents are very reasonable and it would be dead easy to get a three bed place in a nice condo for about $1500-1800 a month (furnished).

Your younger child could go to kindergarten in an expat-run but not International School based (of which there are also a few in this area) and this would help keep your costs down for another year or so.

If you have a parent at home, you might want to consider half day schooling for your younger child and taking your older child to school on the bus and letting him/her take the school bus home only. The school buses can be very expensive.

[zikke]

Hi - I was wanting to chat with any expats who are on local terms (135k, no extras)?

International Schools are about 3k/mth a shot, that makes 6k for the 2
then rent at 2-3k/mth that leaves you with 2/3 k for food etc
Possible? Yes Probable? No

Whoa! Who got those $$$? I moved to Singapore without having any package or employment before I got here. Just moved here because of the sun. (However, it's not really that safe and clean as you can expect.) With the numbers you mention I could pay for one child in int school without a single cent left over for anything else that month. Besides, who pays 3k in rent?! What does 135k mean? Your life savings?

Anyway, I live a dream life here in Singapore and everyday is like a holiday on a tropical island.

[ksl]

Hi - I was wanting to chat with any expats who are on local terms (135k, no extras)? We are from Australia and are considering a move to Singapore. Just wondering how to put two kids aged 5 and 7 through school (International school) and afford the cost of living. I'd really appreciate chatting to anyone with the same background.

Ta

Is 135k $ really local terms, don't think so!!!

[jpatokal]

Whoa! Who got those $$$? I moved to Singapore without having any package or employment before I got here. Just moved here because of the sun. (However, it's not really that safe and clean as you can expect.)

Compared to what, Sergels Torg on a Friday night?

With the numbers you mention I could pay for one child in int school without a single cent left over for anything else that month.

Have you considered the possibility that both of you are correct? And tip: Ansell LifeStyles Super condoms are $4.95 for a 12-pack at Watsons.

Besides, who pays 3k in rent?! What does 135k mean? Your life savings?

There are people on this island who pay 30k in rent...

Anyway, I live a dream life here in Singapore and everyday is like a holiday on a tropical island.

Have you considered becoming a PAP candidate?

[Left Wing]

mum without package...what area do you live in ?

[ringo100]

I think to send two kids through International School will be tough.

I earn less than this but I am a youngish single man, I can live quite a good lifestyle but I am not living a lavish lifestyle and I save money by sharing a place. I wouldn't have thought you could afford a car either.

Consider sending the kids to a local school, that'll save you a lot.

To those who said this is a senior expat package, you must be joking. A senior expat gets that in housing allowances.

[Alexojus]

Well, for me, we do live on a real local contract, means the same salary as a local would earn and that is not 135K!
We live in a three bedroom flat in a very nice condo for $1900 per month in Jurong (West part) and our salary is half of the one mentioned.
Our two kids (3 and 5) don't go to an International School but a local.
They are the only Caucasians and they are just fine.
We don't have a maid, but we can cope without, we did it in Europe!
We have the cable, air conditioning 24 hours a day.
We go every so often to the restaurant, the cinema. We take the bus and sometimes the taxi. And we are not starved.
So, with 135K depending of where you live is definitely possible!

To everyone, a local contract doesn't mean without any package, it means receiving the same salary as a local!
Considering that the average salary for basic manager is $60K (average 5 years experience),(administrative assistant $15K!!!)
everything above that can be considered as more expat salary or luck.
I would say that the salary is a bonus, but that is the experience you can have by living here that is important! Lots of people focus too much on the salary within the expats community

[shef]

HI, we too are from Aust (Melb) just arrived last week. While $135k sound like a lot, Singapore is a very expensive place to live, not just International Schools and housing but also your daily staples.

Consider 1 litre full cream milk at S$2.50 - $2.85. Bread 425g loaf (smaller than the Aust 600+g) is S$1.90. Beef starts at S$40/kg for mince.

I am finding it very expensive to have a young toddler who drinks 6 litres of cows milk a week. You may wish to try the local milk at half the price but it is sweetened!!!!! So are most drinks here, not just soft drinks. Formula is not much cheaper unless of course the local sweetened ones.

We too are considering sending our daughter to int school only because of the easier transfer back to Aust or another country. This way the curriculum are more or less the same when they reenter Aust or another country AIS (Aust Int School) and most other International Schools are around $9 - 15K /year for preschool to primary per child. local schools are very different to what we know as schools- veryy academic at a very young age. I am told multiplication and division by age 5 is a must in local schools. Not much play based learning as we are used to.

Given that we are used to a lot of room in Aust, most condos here will seem small unless you are in older apartments and paying a bit more. I am also told that rent for 2006 has gone up by $1k for all condos compared to last year. Expect to pay $4K/mth up if you want room like you are used to in Aust. regardless of location.

I hope I have helped, I am new and I am sure there will be lots of there that will criticise what I have just said. It is so far my experience.

[EADG]

expats who are on local terms

that is kind of an oxymoron

most foreigners here are on local deals, fewer and fewer companies are paying their way

the rest of us foreingers on local packages (but not local salaries) do not get what most regard as "expats" do - housing, American Club, taxes paid, schooling for children, etc.