husband driving me nuts

[mega dilemma]

ok guys, I need some moral support here...i'm going nuts.

Husband was in the process (don't know what the status is right now) of negotiating a contract to come out  to work in S'pore.

Anyway, the long & short of it is that one ex colleague gave him some feedback about living in S'pore etc., and I gave him some thru reading these  pages.  He was thinking of an average of US$12 K a month to cover school costs, condo, car , utilities and club membership....are we on the right track??

The company man says that's too high and could get another expat for much less...
so I don't know if my husband just blew his chance to come over there and work.....
Husband is presently in Equador and getting "squat" assistance from HR dept (so what's new?)
can any of you help out and give me some guidelines-maybe we can rectify this before it's too late.

we're a family of five -
two adults, two teenage kids plus a dog

thanks to all

[nice going]

USD 12K is about SGD 21K - as you will see under FAQ's and Tips, that should more than do it. As stated in a great number of posts, it all depends on what you expect and to what standard of living you are used. Of course, it also depends on how senior a post your husband will be holding.

[Singaporean]

***SIGH!*** Maybe it's better if he does blow his chances ... don't you see all the posts here EVERY DAY about what a CRAPPY country this is?

After you get over the initial relief that, unlike S America, it's English-speaking, more efficient and probably safer, you'll probably hate everything and everyone else like so many people do after living here. Don't get your hopes up and be resigned that it may not be your fate to come. Que sera, sera

If you don't make it and are disappointed, comfort yourself by reading this board to learn vicariously that Singapore/its people are boring, contrived, dictatorial, expensive, stupid, uncreative, unhelpful, ill-discliplined and rude. It's not exotic, it's sterile. Equador by comparison is probably everything else ...

[AzRaeL]

SGD 21K?
what does he do to deserve THAT Much Money?

You could live comfortably for half that.

[Aceman]

I am sure if Singaporean had more time S'porean could have gone on.....taxis, maids, overcharging, rats at eateries, rude, expensive, drivers attitude, impatient passengers, smelly taxis, bad service, bad after sales, Local Papers, local radio, noisy mahjong playing neighbours, local TV, radio, strict government, claustophobic singapore, bad pasta, censorship,weather, chicken eggs, SuperMarkets products, Taxi Meters, cinemas, cycling on roads, pizzas, pasta, land lords....

[This message has been edited by Aceman (edited 05-07-2001).]

[mega dilemma]

ok guys....let's not get  into some of the usual banter that goes on-
I don't need that on my plate right now-I've got plenty to deal with.
I am genuinely asking for some advice just so  I can attempt to understand  what is going on in my husband's  head.

I DID read thru some of the related threads however, as one pointed out...it just depends
on what you've been  used to....and I don't mean that in an obnoxious manner.  I'm trying to weigh the pros & cons  before I attack my husband  on the possibility of screwing up!  I don't particularly like his ex colleague-a pompous Brit who goes around in the "been there, done that"  warp zone. ...so I think that some of the info he gave my husband is a bunch of  c**p.
The last time I saw my husband..he was sound of mind and a very very down to earth Brit ...as for me...well, I'm from a very different background and have travelled extensively ...sometimes not thru much choice....I'm from  wherever we live...born in  Luxembourg  -Brazilian parents and lived in four other countries before "settling" in the States...so cut me some slack, I don't need  to be treated with sarcasm about  having the chance to live overseas and  offered a great deal etc.,-what I do need to know is  if that sum  will cover  schooling, housing etc.,  and by the sounds of it...it does.
I don't want to get there and have to hassle through all this t at that late stage....I have two teenagers -they give me enough to deal with....
I don't  want a car-public transport sounds fine but I do want to be near bus stops/train/taxi stands..that sort of thing.

So please...if you can look thru the list I posted and help me figure out what I will be spending approximately per month on the general things...plus home entertaining...part of the job-(company frowns on just "restaurant" entertaining!)...., let me know.  Children will attend an int'l school -they are both doing IB.

thank you

[SoSo]

Singaporean

Although I am also one of those that has not settled here, I do appreciate your objectiveness. Don't get too het up about it all! It is also quite obvious that there are also many expats who do like Singapore. Unfortunately it is difficult to know whether you'll like it or not until you come here to live since Singapore presents a whiter than white image to the "outside world".

What I do find from this board though is that there appears to be little middle ground but two camps on the extremes. Unfortunately there is also a general confrontational attitude amongst the posters that doesn't promote objective discussion. All this ever does is force people further into extremes...

Shame... but there we go...

[Bewildered]

Trying to a bit more helpful....I get USD8k pcm gross. The lifestyle this funds for me incorporates a new 3-bed condo close to the CBD, private school fees for my 2 kids, groceries, utilities, meals out, taxis, etc, etc. I save about $1k a month. We do not have enough for a car, live-in maid or club. I am quite happy with my living standards, although it would be nice to run a car.

In short, I think USD12k pcm will be enough to fund a very nice lifestyle in Singapore. If you have no kids you will have a truly excellent lifestyle.  

[mega dilemma]

Thank you Beweldered-

that's what I need to know just to have an idea -
so let's just say you had a car , hired some help and joined a club....US$12K ought to cover it.  Are you centrally located (CBD-business sector?) -is that close to residential areas?  In one of the threads it mentions the gardens..so is that in the vicinity of CBD?  What would condo prices be on average in that area.
I'd be happy with a pool -save me going to a club everyday.  However we are expected to join a club for socialising...that way we don't become too involved in one place...our contacts will be balanced, so to speak!

Many thanks again.

[mega dilemma]

Aceman-
thanks-
would you happen to know what the tax rate is?
We were told it's 28 %-does that sound right to you?
MD

[Bewildered]

Yes, USD12k would be enough for a car, maid and a club. I live in lower Bukit Timah Road near Newton. This is regarded as one of the prime residential areas, my place is 1200 sq ft fully-furnished for USD2300 pcm. All condos come with pools, many with gyms, tennis courts etc.
Good condos in this area can go a lot more expensive than mine, but I am more than happy with the place.
28% is the top rate marginal tax but only kicks in on income above SGD400k pa so you won't pay that. Without doing detailed sums I suspect your average tax rate will be around 18%, so that you will need to put around USD2200 away each month for tax. this will still leave SGD18k every month, which as I said before is really a very good package.

[Professor]

Bear in mind that you and your husband will need the extra $ to compensate for a relatively short-term contract, i.e 1 to 2 years I suppose. The company usually will decide at the end of the contract to renew or not to renew. And if your husband is not compensated adequately for the risk of taking on a new job, the prospect of losing this job after moving in a short time and the burden of looking for another one after the displacement is daunting, for the entire family. The money is not all about lifestyles and expenses. It is also about the cost of displacement and uncertainty in the short term. Posters here who seem to only think in lifestyle terms do not fully understand the whole scheme of executive compensation. Being on contract is not like getting a special exempt job with the company where multi-million $ stock options and other golden parachutes apply.

When you or your spouse are on contract, live modestly and save some for that rainy day.

[cs]

The key point that your husband's HR put across is probably correct. They could probably get another expat in for a lot less. With the slowdown, wages have come down as much as 20-30%. In the IT sector, the head count freeze has moved on to compulsary leave. In the financial sector, there is widespread anticipation of layoffs because of the recent flurry of M & A activity.  

On the supply side, the queue to come and live and work here is overwhelming. This is despite all the bad stuff you might have heard abt Singapore (sometimes I wonder if it is a conspirarcy by expats here in on a good thing to keep other expats out). Wish I could get a cam shot of what the Singapore Immigration looks like on a typical day.  

[Slim Pickins]

As stated above, the tax rate is something to take into account. Its very low in Singapore. You will want to do your sums based on your after-tax income as this will make a big difference.
hehe 28% for 400K per year. I was paying almost 30% in Australia on 30K per year. lol

[SeriousD]

I keep reading this web site and seeing all sorts of discussions on salary costs etc.

Why is it that expats living in Sing feel like they are intitled to club membership, a maid etc? This is not some outpost of the Empire, it is a modern city.  You wouldn't expect your company to provide you with these things if you were going to work in New York, so why here?

mega dilemma  I think your dilemma is minor.  Why don't you go and pay for some advice, you can offered it.  That way the rest of the world who need to struggle to survive from day to day can live there lives in peace.