Potential Job in Singapore...
Discussion
Hi all,
Long-time reader, first time poster…
Basically I’m after some advice and opinions on my situation.
I have potentially been offered a job in Singapore (Still early days), new job, different company, no transfer involved. It will require me to quit my job in the UK and move out to Singapore to start a fresh. It’s a great opportunity but before I committee I just need a few queries answered is possible.
I wish to take my girlfriend with me who won’t be having a job to go to – What’s the longest visa she can get? Will they let her in if she doesn’t have a job?
She would like to look for a job once we’re settled down out there – Is this possible? Will a new visa have to be applied for?
I currently have a mortgage in the UK and it will remain this way while I’m out there – are there any tax implications when sending money back to the UK? It’s currently with HSBC, assuming I can’t pay for it in SGD?
If you have any other advice of opinions on my situation I would be grateful.
Thanks in advance.
Long-time reader, first time poster…
Basically I’m after some advice and opinions on my situation.
I have potentially been offered a job in Singapore (Still early days), new job, different company, no transfer involved. It will require me to quit my job in the UK and move out to Singapore to start a fresh. It’s a great opportunity but before I committee I just need a few queries answered is possible.
I wish to take my girlfriend with me who won’t be having a job to go to – What’s the longest visa she can get? Will they let her in if she doesn’t have a job?
She would like to look for a job once we’re settled down out there – Is this possible? Will a new visa have to be applied for?
I currently have a mortgage in the UK and it will remain this way while I’m out there – are there any tax implications when sending money back to the UK? It’s currently with HSBC, assuming I can’t pay for it in SGD?
If you have any other advice of opinions on my situation I would be grateful.
Thanks in advance.
I don't know the process for a dependents pass for a girlfriend but i know it is possible because EJ74 and Dom9 both did it, information will probably be on the MOM.gov.sg or ICA.gov.sg websites. If you just fly in, she should be able to get 3 months tourist stay as a UK / European passport holder. You can renew this with "visa run" trips
There is no problem in her looking for a job once here, but does she have a degree, industry qualifications or a specialist skill that is in demand? otherwise she might find it hard, Threshold for the top level EP is $9'000 / month i think, if she can earn in that level then she should be fine no matter what, again, all info on the two websites i mentioned above.
Bing o should be able to advise on the UK property as he has been doing the same for the past 18 months.
If you are coming out here on your own money, make sure you have the following cash sorted out as start up money.
Cash for hotel for 1 month whilst finding a place.
2 months deposit + months rent (plus a second months rent)
$1,000 to be able to leave in a bank account (local bank accounts expect you to leave a float in them or you get charged a penalty)
$1,000 deposits / set up costs for utilities, phones, internet and TV
$1,000 / head for health insurance (if company not fully covering you)
If possible, have your employment pass ready to collect when you arrive, if you don't have this, you will not be able to start doing anything else, everything will be done of the FIN number on that ID
If you are carrying a Mortgage back in the UK, and will be supporting your girlfriend, do not even entertain coming here unless you have been offered $180k as an absolute minimum, should be looking at $200k plus ideally.
It sounds like a lot when you convert to sterling, but that is because the GBP is worth f
k all, assume living costs in singapore are based on GBP3.2 / $1 as they were in 2008
Rental - $4k is cheap these days i gather
Don't want to put you off, its a great place to live, i have been here for years and love it, but you have to come out here with your eye's open... i have seen too many guys from the UK coming out here on $100k thinking, its GBP50k and much lower tax, but it does not go very far, especially with UK commitments.
fire away with other questions and i am sure the other guys will be along too.
useful links
http://www.mom.gov.sg/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.ica.gov.sg/
http://www.iras.gov.sg/irashome/default.aspx
http://condo.singaporeexpats.com/
http://www.sgcarmart.com/main/index.php <-- this one may give you a heart attack / make you cry
There is no problem in her looking for a job once here, but does she have a degree, industry qualifications or a specialist skill that is in demand? otherwise she might find it hard, Threshold for the top level EP is $9'000 / month i think, if she can earn in that level then she should be fine no matter what, again, all info on the two websites i mentioned above.
Bing o should be able to advise on the UK property as he has been doing the same for the past 18 months.
If you are coming out here on your own money, make sure you have the following cash sorted out as start up money.
Cash for hotel for 1 month whilst finding a place.
2 months deposit + months rent (plus a second months rent)
$1,000 to be able to leave in a bank account (local bank accounts expect you to leave a float in them or you get charged a penalty)
$1,000 deposits / set up costs for utilities, phones, internet and TV
$1,000 / head for health insurance (if company not fully covering you)
If possible, have your employment pass ready to collect when you arrive, if you don't have this, you will not be able to start doing anything else, everything will be done of the FIN number on that ID
If you are carrying a Mortgage back in the UK, and will be supporting your girlfriend, do not even entertain coming here unless you have been offered $180k as an absolute minimum, should be looking at $200k plus ideally.
It sounds like a lot when you convert to sterling, but that is because the GBP is worth f
k all, assume living costs in singapore are based on GBP3.2 / $1 as they were in 2008Rental - $4k is cheap these days i gather
Don't want to put you off, its a great place to live, i have been here for years and love it, but you have to come out here with your eye's open... i have seen too many guys from the UK coming out here on $100k thinking, its GBP50k and much lower tax, but it does not go very far, especially with UK commitments.
fire away with other questions and i am sure the other guys will be along too.
useful links
http://www.mom.gov.sg/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.ica.gov.sg/
http://www.iras.gov.sg/irashome/default.aspx
http://condo.singaporeexpats.com/
http://www.sgcarmart.com/main/index.php <-- this one may give you a heart attack / make you cry
XJSJohn said:
Bing o should be able to advise on the UK property as he has been doing the same for the past 18 months.
Expat mortgages are a bh at the moment. I tried remortagging and got kicked on the rates, so have gone onto lenders SVA. I'm on about 70% LTV. Most places won't touch you as an expat. Switching BTL may be different - I can't comment.Bear in mind for your missus that a lot of the fill in, part time jobs are for PR/Singaporean only, so she may only be able to get voluntary work at the expat clubs. If she's not planning to work, she will get very bored.
Many thanks for your replies and the links provided.
I just have a few more questions on some of the things you said...
My girlfriend has no industry qualifications or specialist skill but she has been working in retail for seven years. As Bing o mentioned, it’s really a job to give her something to do, full time earning of SGD$1,400 a month would be fine. Is there demand for retail jobs?
XJSJohn - I haven't spoken money yet, but it won’t be anywhere near the region of $170+
Perhaps SGD$80,000 - $90,000 + bonus.
With regards to rental, are condos generally around the SGD$4,000 a month mark? I have seen some at SGD$2,000 - 2,500 which seem reasonable – Do these tend to be few and far between?
The car prices are ridiculously high!! Luckily in Singapore it appears to be one of the amenities I can live without.
Bing o – With regards to the mortgage, is there not a way to keep your currently UK mortgage and send money over to your UK bank account? If so; are there any tax implications?
A tourist visa only allows 90 days… if my girlfriend was to leave and re-enter would the 90 days start over? And can this be repeated?
Appreciate you taking the time to reply, and apologies for the continuous questions. It’s been a lot to take in, this time 2 weeks ago Singapore hadn’t even been mentioned. Surprising how things change and how quickly things happen.
Thanks again.
I just have a few more questions on some of the things you said...
My girlfriend has no industry qualifications or specialist skill but she has been working in retail for seven years. As Bing o mentioned, it’s really a job to give her something to do, full time earning of SGD$1,400 a month would be fine. Is there demand for retail jobs?
XJSJohn - I haven't spoken money yet, but it won’t be anywhere near the region of $170+
Perhaps SGD$80,000 - $90,000 + bonus.
With regards to rental, are condos generally around the SGD$4,000 a month mark? I have seen some at SGD$2,000 - 2,500 which seem reasonable – Do these tend to be few and far between?
The car prices are ridiculously high!! Luckily in Singapore it appears to be one of the amenities I can live without.
Bing o – With regards to the mortgage, is there not a way to keep your currently UK mortgage and send money over to your UK bank account? If so; are there any tax implications?
A tourist visa only allows 90 days… if my girlfriend was to leave and re-enter would the 90 days start over? And can this be repeated?
Appreciate you taking the time to reply, and apologies for the continuous questions. It’s been a lot to take in, this time 2 weeks ago Singapore hadn’t even been mentioned. Surprising how things change and how quickly things happen.
Thanks again.
I don't know what you are earning currently or what your UK lifestyle is, but i would be crunching some numbers at that sort of income.
$7,500 / month might break down roughly as such
$2,000 - cheap small condo somewhere out of town (could be reduced by flat sharing, but not that common + if GF likely to be at home all day, she is going to want some space & stuff to do)
$200 - electricity (just using AC in Bedroom at night
$60 - Cheapest internet and cable TV package
$100 - 2 x mobile phone contracts
$800 - travel for 2 people (this goes up because you will be living further away from amenities)
$300 - money aside for taxes
$400 - money aside for flights home
$2000 - money aside for UK property
that gives you about $1,500 a month for food, entertainment and travel (i assume you want to see some of Asia) and no opportunity for savings That is probably a quiet months food and drinks for me and my wife (and my wife does not drink alcohol at all)
The Girlfriend might get something in one of the boutiques on orchard road, especially if she is slim and blond, these places are very "aesthetic" but even then its unusual, and $1,700 is quite high for retail.
I don't wish to sound pessimistic, but i have seen too many people in the past 2 years coming out here on that sort of money thinking it will be a fantastic opportunity and having great ideas for doing all sorts of stuff, only to end up disillusioned and heavily out of pocket for the exercise.
Asia is cheap to live in, Singapore is not - it is up there as one of the most expensive places out there, you can live local style for not very much, but someone new here will find that very difficult to do, there is only so much rice & veg one can eat!
edit - you are lucky, tourist visa used to be only 30 days, still is for most people. This can be renewed a few times by traveling out of the country, can probably get away with it for a year before eyebrows are raised.
$7,500 / month might break down roughly as such
$2,000 - cheap small condo somewhere out of town (could be reduced by flat sharing, but not that common + if GF likely to be at home all day, she is going to want some space & stuff to do)
$200 - electricity (just using AC in Bedroom at night
$60 - Cheapest internet and cable TV package
$100 - 2 x mobile phone contracts
$800 - travel for 2 people (this goes up because you will be living further away from amenities)
$300 - money aside for taxes
$400 - money aside for flights home
$2000 - money aside for UK property
that gives you about $1,500 a month for food, entertainment and travel (i assume you want to see some of Asia) and no opportunity for savings That is probably a quiet months food and drinks for me and my wife (and my wife does not drink alcohol at all)
The Girlfriend might get something in one of the boutiques on orchard road, especially if she is slim and blond, these places are very "aesthetic" but even then its unusual, and $1,700 is quite high for retail.
I don't wish to sound pessimistic, but i have seen too many people in the past 2 years coming out here on that sort of money thinking it will be a fantastic opportunity and having great ideas for doing all sorts of stuff, only to end up disillusioned and heavily out of pocket for the exercise.
Asia is cheap to live in, Singapore is not - it is up there as one of the most expensive places out there, you can live local style for not very much, but someone new here will find that very difficult to do, there is only so much rice & veg one can eat!
edit - you are lucky, tourist visa used to be only 30 days, still is for most people. This can be renewed a few times by traveling out of the country, can probably get away with it for a year before eyebrows are raised.
Why do you have to tell the mortgage people you are out of the country? I never did when I had a UK loan, ok the insurance you need to tell the house is unoccupied, but I'd just keep dume on the loan.
There is no problem transfering money from Sing I use the ANZ bank, used to be Ambro then RBS, I actually send money KL-Sing-UK, rather than KL_UK direct, I think HSBC are usless, mainly because they think they are entiltled by right to do all the banking for UK people and do not offer service, (but my view is not held by everyone).
There is no problem transfering money from Sing I use the ANZ bank, used to be Ambro then RBS, I actually send money KL-Sing-UK, rather than KL_UK direct, I think HSBC are usless, mainly because they think they are entiltled by right to do all the banking for UK people and do not offer service, (but my view is not held by everyone).
CoffeeMate said:
Many thanks for your replies and the links provided.
I just have a few more questions on some of the things you said...
My girlfriend has no industry qualifications or specialist skill but she has been working in retail for seven years. As Bing o mentioned, it’s really a job to give her something to do, full time earning of SGD$1,400 a month would be fine. Is there demand for retail jobs?
Most if not all jobs will ask for PR/Local. So forget that. Charity work is all she'll get if she's lucky. Or an Ang Moh in Circular Road or the Foor Floors would command a good premium I reckon... I just have a few more questions on some of the things you said...
My girlfriend has no industry qualifications or specialist skill but she has been working in retail for seven years. As Bing o mentioned, it’s really a job to give her something to do, full time earning of SGD$1,400 a month would be fine. Is there demand for retail jobs?
CoffeeMate said:
XJSJohn - I haven't spoken money yet, but it won’t be anywhere near the region of $170+
Perhaps SGD$80,000 - $90,000 + bonus.
What industry are you in/level are you at - that sounds very low for Sing, and as John says, you want to be able to travel, and save as well. Perhaps SGD$80,000 - $90,000 + bonus.
CoffeeMate said:
With regards to rental, are condos generally around the SGD$4,000 a month mark? I have seen some at SGD$2,000 - 2,500 which seem reasonable – Do these tend to be few and far between?
The car prices are ridiculously high!! Luckily in Singapore it appears to be one of the amenities I can live without.
The car prices are ridiculously high!! Luckily in Singapore it appears to be one of the amenities I can live without.
My budget started off at 2-2.5k. It was either an hour away from work, or in a s
thole. If you're working outside of the CBD you can get away with paying less rent though, and get a better standard of accomodation. You'll be tied in for 2 years, and have to put down 2 months rent as deposit. Can you not get your company to pay for your accomodation up to an agreed amount? What is the value of your relo package?CoffeeMate said:
Bing o – With regards to the mortgage, is there not a way to keep your currently UK mortgage and send money over to your UK bank account? If so; are there any tax implications?
That's what I am doing, as I can't move to a better rate. Not sure of tax implications to be honest - I rented my place to family out of necessity, not for tax reasons.I have been out here just over 6 months - and enjoy it.
Costs are pretty much like prime Central London for rent ... a decent 2 bedder with good facilities AND near a central MRT station will be around $5,000+ , nice 3 bedders $6,000 - $7500.
Rents drop significantly as you move further out
If you rent an HDB [Govt built] condo further out of town you could get something for more like $2500 perhaps , or $3,000 - $4,000 for a private block 2 bedder not toooo far out , but would probably have limtied facilities or not be near an MRT station.
Use www.propertyguru.com.sg to get a feel for rents [you may achieve 5- 10% off stated asking prices shown on the web ]
Beer is $12 a pint , street or food court food is very cheap [$5 for a meal ].
You dont need a car if you are nearish to an MRT station or bus route [bus services are good and airconditioned ]
to add : minimum wage is less than the UK [$6 /hour ? ] - working in retail doesnt pay all that well .. a friend of mine who works in a coffee shop / bar gets about $1700 - $2000 on a GOOD month including all the tips and works weekends - her basic would be more like $1200 [ a guess ]... many retail staff in F+B are Filipina / from other ASEAN countries .
I would think shop work would pay similar to the above [in case you were thinking of that for your gf]
Costs are pretty much like prime Central London for rent ... a decent 2 bedder with good facilities AND near a central MRT station will be around $5,000+ , nice 3 bedders $6,000 - $7500.
Rents drop significantly as you move further out
If you rent an HDB [Govt built] condo further out of town you could get something for more like $2500 perhaps , or $3,000 - $4,000 for a private block 2 bedder not toooo far out , but would probably have limtied facilities or not be near an MRT station.
Use www.propertyguru.com.sg to get a feel for rents [you may achieve 5- 10% off stated asking prices shown on the web ]
Beer is $12 a pint , street or food court food is very cheap [$5 for a meal ].
You dont need a car if you are nearish to an MRT station or bus route [bus services are good and airconditioned ]
to add : minimum wage is less than the UK [$6 /hour ? ] - working in retail doesnt pay all that well .. a friend of mine who works in a coffee shop / bar gets about $1700 - $2000 on a GOOD month including all the tips and works weekends - her basic would be more like $1200 [ a guess ]... many retail staff in F+B are Filipina / from other ASEAN countries .
I would think shop work would pay similar to the above [in case you were thinking of that for your gf]
Edited by alfaman on Thursday 17th November 06:06
alfaman said:
XJSJohn said:
No such thing as Minimum Wage here Alfaman, how else you get your flip maid's ?
I stand corrected [as maid's earn 2/10 of squat per hour ] 
... but thought that most retail jobs paid a minimum of around $5-$6 / hour ??? [even if not a legal / regulatory requirement ??]Heed John's warnings.
I am on a relatively decent income for Malaysia (KL), with enough to do what I like, travel and save. Put me in Singapore on the same income though, and either my lifestyle would take a nose dive or there would literally be nothing left.
If you are prepared to live like the locals (remembering that you don't have access to probably the most significant local perk - HDB housing), then you can do alright by public-transporting it everywhere and eating local food. However, you need to ask yourself if this really is the life you want. A large proportion of the expat community in SG live and spend well; if you have any intentions of mixing around with your countrymen, a food court budget ain't gonna cut it.
I am on a relatively decent income for Malaysia (KL), with enough to do what I like, travel and save. Put me in Singapore on the same income though, and either my lifestyle would take a nose dive or there would literally be nothing left.
If you are prepared to live like the locals (remembering that you don't have access to probably the most significant local perk - HDB housing), then you can do alright by public-transporting it everywhere and eating local food. However, you need to ask yourself if this really is the life you want. A large proportion of the expat community in SG live and spend well; if you have any intentions of mixing around with your countrymen, a food court budget ain't gonna cut it.
alfaman said:
XJSJohn said:
plenty of teen shop girls on $500 a month ... thats why they aren't that interested in actually working, cant blame them really!
Thats about what the Filipina maids earn !However the girls working in the shops still live at home, with parents, grandparents etc, and will do until they marry, when they will move into their husbands parents hdb !!!
I've heard so many stories (from a friend in Singapore) about western men taking their western girlfriend to live in Asia and it all ending in tears. Having spent some time in Singapore I can understand why...
I'd love a job in Singapore eventually, you should definitely go for it if you get the chance.
I'd love a job in Singapore eventually, you should definitely go for it if you get the chance.
Bing o said:
As a mutual friend of mine and John's explianed to me the other day, as a western male in Asia, you don't so much get older as increase in value...
so true!!! 
and i wonder who you were talking to that quoted that perl of wisdom Or as another mate of mine said when his wife turned 36, "does that mean i can trade you in for two 18 year old's now?"
about 6 months later he did .......
^^^^ and the same is true in Tokyo and don't get me started on the horror stories that I have heard coming out of HK...
OP: act on the advice above because you only have ONE opportunity to get your package right when you move abroad for the first time. I too have heard about people who didn't push hard and their stay in Singapore cost them a huge amount of money. SWMBO and I did OK because we had some good advice like that posted above; but if we were doing again, I would push far harder in some areas.
Other things to think about:
Pension
Holiday entitlement
Relocation costs - and an additional cash allowance as you WILL end up buying stuff on arrival!
Repatriation costs - who pays if it goes wrong? After how long?
Local or Expat contract?
Are you going to get the services of a relocation agent?
Can you get local "club" membership thrown in?
All these are negotiation points as you really, really don't want to do this on a shoestring! And you certainly don't want to be "the stupid white monkey that came here cheap"! Even living in a +very+ nice apartment in a great bit of Tokyo, my wife's salary and accom allowance are still lower than they would be paying a local....
Do not be afraid to walk away.
and the same is true in Tokyo and don't get me started on the horror stories that I have heard coming out of HK...OP: act on the advice above because you only have ONE opportunity to get your package right when you move abroad for the first time. I too have heard about people who didn't push hard and their stay in Singapore cost them a huge amount of money. SWMBO and I did OK because we had some good advice like that posted above; but if we were doing again, I would push far harder in some areas.
Other things to think about:
Pension
Holiday entitlement
Relocation costs - and an additional cash allowance as you WILL end up buying stuff on arrival!
Repatriation costs - who pays if it goes wrong? After how long?
Local or Expat contract?
Are you going to get the services of a relocation agent?
Can you get local "club" membership thrown in?
All these are negotiation points as you really, really don't want to do this on a shoestring! And you certainly don't want to be "the stupid white monkey that came here cheap"! Even living in a +very+ nice apartment in a great bit of Tokyo, my wife's salary and accom allowance are still lower than they would be paying a local....
Do not be afraid to walk away.
Just a quick one for the OP; feel free to PM me and I will send you a longer email if you have any questions.
Rachael and I live at Robertson Quay in a nice, 2 bed, 2 bath place. Rent including bills is about S$7k a month. I actually don't know anyone who lives in a 'good' area that spends less than S$4k on a place, unless they are just renting a room, which I doubt you would want to do, as a couple.
Having said that, you can live further out from the 'main' areas (CBD, Orchard, Quays, Novena etc) and I am starting to meet a lot of people who live 'north' towards Jurong/ Tuas, who seem to pay naff all rent, they just have a bit of a mission getting home after a night out. Then again; taxis are pretty cheap.
My ex-missus was given a Long Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP) and we have helped a couple of our other friend's girlfriends get them. They are pretty simple and as long as you have a few items of post (like tax letters, council tax bills etc) that show you having lived at the same address in the UK for a period of time i.e. you are common law husband and wife, you will be fine. They never even asked us for the 'proof', they just gave Lou it (however, she had a degree and was earning good money in the UK).
She left me as she actually got very homesick out here, which seems quite common if you don't have kids and you aren't working...
So the current Mrs-Dom9 has an EP and she is a yank and has lived here for 4 years. Having an EP is definitely the way forward.
As I am sure the others have said (I just skimmed it); it's generally pretty expensive here. Booze specifically. On the sort of figures that you are talking about; I am sure it can be done but I don't know how restrictive you would find it. Put it this way; my missus doesn't appear to contribute to any of our bills at home or most of our socialising, together, and she earns around the figures you are suggesting and doesn't have a bean to rub together at the end of each month. Then again, she is a bit of a rockstar and goes out most days.
The package is important though. I got relocation, uplift, a car, help with finding housing (though I pay for it myself) and setting everything up, flights home every year and expatriation when I leave and they pay my Singapore tax (though I still pay about 10% to the US for some unexplainable reason).
I enjoy Singapore and I have been here about 18+ months now, which have flown by... However, I am not sure I have more than another 18 months in me and maybe no more than 6 months, before I/ we want to go back to the UK. The weather is generally good, but probably isn't sunny enough for me and slightly too hot. There doesn't appear to be too much to do outside of slamming beers at various bars (though I have just taken up boxing, again) and it can get very small, very quick if you don't travel and despite flights and hotels abroad being cheap; if you are paying for both of you on one salary; it can add up.
I will never regret coming here for the experience and meeting Rachael and I have made some amazing friends, but I definitely cannot see myself staying here forever. It's a smash and grab, for me. Make bank and head home. If you aren't going to save a packet to go home with and you know you won't stay here forever, then you need to ask yourself whether you will have enough money to actually enjoy yourself over here. Sorry, not wanting to be the downer, just know of a few people who have struggled and then gone home with a bad impression of life here, which is probably a bit unfair on Singapore
Rachael and I live at Robertson Quay in a nice, 2 bed, 2 bath place. Rent including bills is about S$7k a month. I actually don't know anyone who lives in a 'good' area that spends less than S$4k on a place, unless they are just renting a room, which I doubt you would want to do, as a couple.
Having said that, you can live further out from the 'main' areas (CBD, Orchard, Quays, Novena etc) and I am starting to meet a lot of people who live 'north' towards Jurong/ Tuas, who seem to pay naff all rent, they just have a bit of a mission getting home after a night out. Then again; taxis are pretty cheap.
My ex-missus was given a Long Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP) and we have helped a couple of our other friend's girlfriends get them. They are pretty simple and as long as you have a few items of post (like tax letters, council tax bills etc) that show you having lived at the same address in the UK for a period of time i.e. you are common law husband and wife, you will be fine. They never even asked us for the 'proof', they just gave Lou it (however, she had a degree and was earning good money in the UK).
She left me as she actually got very homesick out here, which seems quite common if you don't have kids and you aren't working...
So the current Mrs-Dom9 has an EP and she is a yank and has lived here for 4 years. Having an EP is definitely the way forward.
As I am sure the others have said (I just skimmed it); it's generally pretty expensive here. Booze specifically. On the sort of figures that you are talking about; I am sure it can be done but I don't know how restrictive you would find it. Put it this way; my missus doesn't appear to contribute to any of our bills at home or most of our socialising, together, and she earns around the figures you are suggesting and doesn't have a bean to rub together at the end of each month. Then again, she is a bit of a rockstar and goes out most days.
The package is important though. I got relocation, uplift, a car, help with finding housing (though I pay for it myself) and setting everything up, flights home every year and expatriation when I leave and they pay my Singapore tax (though I still pay about 10% to the US for some unexplainable reason).
I enjoy Singapore and I have been here about 18+ months now, which have flown by... However, I am not sure I have more than another 18 months in me and maybe no more than 6 months, before I/ we want to go back to the UK. The weather is generally good, but probably isn't sunny enough for me and slightly too hot. There doesn't appear to be too much to do outside of slamming beers at various bars (though I have just taken up boxing, again) and it can get very small, very quick if you don't travel and despite flights and hotels abroad being cheap; if you are paying for both of you on one salary; it can add up.
I will never regret coming here for the experience and meeting Rachael and I have made some amazing friends, but I definitely cannot see myself staying here forever. It's a smash and grab, for me. Make bank and head home. If you aren't going to save a packet to go home with and you know you won't stay here forever, then you need to ask yourself whether you will have enough money to actually enjoy yourself over here. Sorry, not wanting to be the downer, just know of a few people who have struggled and then gone home with a bad impression of life here, which is probably a bit unfair on Singapore
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