Singapore Expats

steturner123 wrote:Hi,

I am relocating to Singapore from the UK in the new year.


Hey Ste, and welcome aboard

These questions have probably already been asked hundreds of times but…

1) Can anybody recommend a bank account - seems like a mine field when i search online. I want to be able to use as a normal current account and send money back to the UK easily with minimal charges.

First time I used local bank DBS. 2nd time StanChart. Others also like Citibank. Cheapest way to send £ to UK is take your S$ cash to 'Change Alley', convert to £ cash, and fly it home in Sterling cash and bank it. I.e. the alt of wiring S$ to a UK (or US!) bank to convert is like financial rape in comparison. Just remember to declare it if you have a real £Donkey-choker of 50s if you're going back into HRW.You're perfectly entitled to of course, but customs will want a little chat about it, and it's source and destination. If it's legit there is nothing to worry about (been there done that)


2) Mobile phone sim only plans… do these exist in Singapore and again any suggestions? I will be bringing my trusty iPhone and iPad along so i could do with decent amount of internet so i can use on both devices - i would rather not get into a contract.

Yes can. Others are better able to advise than me, so I'll leave it to them. For Day#1 though worst case any 7-11 can sort you out.

3) I am being put up in a studio for my 1st month to settle but then i will be looking for a flat share… anybody need a new room mate???

Try a board-search on 'flat-share, flat share, room-mate, room mate', etc.... you'll find prior info on people's plans/searches/results.


Best of luck, and let us know how it goes ok?

Thanks

Steve

steturner123 wrote:2) Mobile phone sim only plans… do these exist in Singapore and again any suggestions? I will be bringing my trusty iPhone and iPad along so i could do with decent amount of internet so i can use on both devices - i would rather not get into a contract.