Sell me singapore!

[TripleTime]

It looks like we could be moving to Singapore (shhhh), so come on ladies. Sell it to me!

[biscotti]

It's very clean, they love kids, great expat community, wonderful food, you'll love it :yes:

[TripleTime]

What about the cost of living? Housing, groceries etc??

[tiggerfields]

It's WONDERFUL. My DP lives there and I'd move in a heartbeat if I could. It's orderly; quiet; clean; wonderful restaurants; cheap help (you can have a live-in maid for WAY less than you pay for one child in part-time childcare in Oz); zero crime; everything is convenient and close; the shopping is fantastic; expats are friendly; weather is consistently warm; heaps to do with kids; 15% tax rate; stone's throw from Bali and Malaysia.

It's a fabulous place. You'll love it!

[faroutbrusselsprout]

It's WONDERFUL. My DP lives there and I'd move in a heartbeat if I could. It's orderly; quiet; clean; wonderful restaurants; cheap help (you can have a live-in maid for WAY less than you pay for one child in part-time childcare in Oz); zero crime; everything is convenient and close; the shopping is fantastic; expats are friendly; weather is consistently warm; heaps to do with kids; 15% tax rate; stone's throw from Bali and Malaysia.

It's a fabulous place. You'll love it!


WOW!!
You've sold me!
How exciting TT, what a wonderful opportunity.
Is it for your DH's work?

[Jax Tellers Old Lady]

I just asked Dp if we can move to Singapore I sooooo want to go now lol

[TripleTime]

WOW!!
You've sold me!
How exciting TT, what a wonderful opportunity.
Is it for your DH's work?

Sure is.

[tiggerfields]

What about the cost of living? Housing, groceries etc??

Rents are high. If you're relocating, DH's company should cover most or all of it for a period of time (have heard various people having it covered for anywhere between 12 months and five years).

Groceries are a little cheaper than here.

Home help is CHEAP. Everyone I know there has a maid.

[tiggerfields]

Cars are REALLY expensive. Many people just catch cabs which are really really cheap, although can be difficult to get when it's raining and in peak times. The island is so tiny you don't really need a car, although it's definitely a nice to have. Look on www.sgcarmart.com and prepare to be horrified!

The train system is efficient and cheap.

[trishalishous]

the heat!
great public transport
close to Malaysia (and the BEST food ever - we used to cross to Johor for a meal haha)
clean and generally friendly
lots of other expats/ tourists (I went 2 years in rural Malaysia, only seeing another white person twice! and I forgot a lot of English since I never used it)
if you shop around food is reasonable, avoid the malls and supermarkets and learn to haggle

[travelmum]

Hello

Did you post this is a thread somewhere else? I was reading a thread yesterday about Singapore or Melbourne... just wondering if it was you, if not, there could be another hubber thinking of moving to Singapore! I would have replied yesterday but I was on my phone and it is too hard to reply on that thing.

Anyway, I love Singapore. Everything is organised and very clean. Asia is so child friendly.

I can't really tell you what cost of living is like, but I imagine that if your DP is moving for work, he will be on quite a good package, which will afford you a nice apartment and relocation costs.

I have never lived in Singapore, but I have been there sooooo many times with work and I just love it. It is always 30 degrees and overcast, but that's fine.

The shopping is amazing. The food is amazing. Taxi drivers are so polite. Everyone is so polite.

I am sure you will be able to join a nice expat mothers group...High tea at Raffles anyone???

Embrace it. And like I say to anyone who moves overseas (I've done it twice), if you really don't like it, come home! But the opportunity to live in another country, your children to be able to learn a different language and be exposed to it, is really worth it!

[gizmoduckus]

As I said in the other thread, my DH has lived in Singapore. I fell in love when we had gone to visit friends there and would move there in a heartbeat.

Our friends had a live in maid (which was really, really cheap). They were able to put their kids down to sleep at night and then go out for a meal all the time. The apartment block that they lived in had a swimming pool, tennis court and kids playground.

It is extremely family-friendly and a lot of things revolve around family and children. We went to a massive shopping centre which had a huge children's play area and had live music playing. We had a great time!

It is hard to get a car there but it is really easy to get around and it is extremely safe.

As Travelmum said, give it a go. You can always come back if you don't like it.

[lemongrass]

Housing/renting is expensive
Groceries - If you shop in supermarket where the expats shop, they can be quite expensive, especially meat. I shop in cheaper supermarket or traditional/wet market.
It's really hot!!! and humid.
Car is very expensive. we dont have one, we go everywhere by bus or train and sometimes taxi which is cheap.
It's really safe, Singapore is the only place I can go around till 10 pm or 11pm with public transport and still feeling safe.
It's child friendly, people are polite.
Day care / kindy is quite expensive.
You can have live in helper if you like, they are affordable.

I like singapore cause I am asian and the culture suits me.

[TheCatsMeow]

http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=343435

^MummaFug and the other posters sold me when I wasn't sure about Singapore!

Loved every minute of it, and you will too.

[SpecialPatrolGroup]

All I know about Singapore is that there are really harsh penalities for spitting gum on the footpath - I like it. Sorry, I really have nothing meaningful to add....

[bellalika]

All I know about Singapore is that there are really harsh penalities for spitting gum on the footpath - I like it. Sorry, I really have nothing meaningful to add....

Your limited on how much you can bring into the country. I like it but i'm a gum hater.

From a former expat to a potential expat, you'll enjoy it. The lifestyle takes some getting use to. Of all the places OS to be transferred you've been offered a good one.

[TheCatsMeow]

All I know about Singapore is that there are really harsh penalities for spitting gum on the footpath - I like it. Sorry, I really have nothing meaningful to add....

Yeh! No gum to step on! They are strict about drinking on the streets, swearing and being a public nuisance, and bringing drugs into the country but on the flip side I was able to celebrate Singapore Day, go right into the middle of the crowded city centre and enjoy the fireworks with thousands of other families and not worry about drunk louts or getting mugged or anything like that.


The lifestyle takes some getting use to.

I actually took to it quite quickly. Singaporeans definitely have their own type of culture but I found them to be really lovely and helpful. I found expats stuck to certain areas (where other expats tended to go) but loved venturing out to where the locals went and never felt out of place or made to feel I wasn't welcome. Trust me - your kids will be a talking point for all the locals and everyone will be gushing over them. Just don't be surprised if people start pulling out their phones wanting to take photos of Triplets!

[TripleTime]

Not going to Singapore now, going to Melbourne instead

[Little-Pink-Hen]

Not going to Singapore now, going to Melbourne instead

Melbourne as in the CBd or a outer suburb
Must be so exciting I envy your courage to relocate it's something dh and I have discussed but I'm so nervous

[TripleTime]

DH would be working in CBD, living in Point Cook. Offer is to god to refuse.

[krystallxx]

Point cook is fairly nice ..
Not sure whats there but my nan is just up the road in hoppers crossing and theres a big Westfield, lots of play centers around, big swimming place and the hospital isn't too bad either. Close to the beach too.

Good luck with the move!

[TripleTime]

I know its old farm land. I don't mind what's there, as long as I can drive places.

[bellalika]

Drive to the other side of the city and visit me. :) My BIL & SIL use to live in Point Cook. They then moved out East near us and are moving back that direction, to Hoppers Crossing on June 10.

It gets just a tad cooler here than Singapore.

[krystallxx]

Drive to the other side of the city and visit me. :) My BIL & SIL use to live in Point Cook. They then moved out East near us and are moving back that direction, to Hoppers Crossing on June 10.

It gets just a tad cooler here than Singapore.

Where are you?

You can drive north 45odd minutes to visit me lol. Although there is things to do in that area. My area is crap and boring.

[MelandBen]

My Brother & sil are selling there house in Melbourne if your interested :D They moved from Perth to Melb, and now are moving to Sydney. (For job reasons) but other than it being cold, they both loved it in Melbourne!
Even better shopping in Melb than singapore..... cause it's cheaper!!

[bellalika]

Where are you?

You can drive north 45odd minutes to visit me lol. Although there is things to do in that area. My area is crap and boring.

Where are you? There are things to do here with kids, although a post of yours elsewhere makes me think you wouldn't be open for a visit any time soon.

[TheCatsMeow]

Point Cook is great! I lived there for awhile and found it to be a great family friendly suburb. I lived near the Sanctuary Lakes plaza but this was 4 years back though I hear it's a lit more built up. Point Cook town centre is meant to be great now and we would drive over to Weribee Plaza which wasn't too far either. I ended up moving to the Eastern Suburbs for work but the only thing better about the east is that Chadstone is more accessible! Not looking like farm land anymore these days it's definitely built up heaps. You have better access to the beaches, Williamstown is lovely. Because point cook is a fairy new suburb you will find that houses are a lot more spacious and all the streets look brand new. I'm sure you will love it. If I was still living in Melbourne I would choose Point Cook to raise my family. Doesn't beat Singapore but it's still awesome lol