Anyone in Singapore?

[Brit]

I would like to learn about your experience.

[flymetothemoon]

Many (30) years ago. What are you interested in learning?

[mrsukyankee]

My H's cousin is in Singapore. If you wanted to connect with someone currently living there (he's actually been there for ages) I could connect the two of you.

[Brit]

Apr 29, 2018 14:07:46 GMT -5 flymetothemoon said:

Many (30) years ago. What are you interested in learning?

Thank you! I think I need more recent experience though! I am mostly interested in schools, neighborhoods to live in, housing costs, car costs (I heard they are super expensive there), etc.

[Brit]

Apr 30, 2018 1:20:35 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

My H's cousin is in Singapore. If you wanted to connect with someone currently living there (he's actually been there for ages) I could connect the two of you.

Thank you, I may take you up on that, but not quite yet. I will see how the opportunity progresses before I take up someone’s time. There are still a lot of moving parts, so my interest is theoretical at this point.

[rupertpenny]

I don’t have any real experience, but I know several people who live/have lived in Singapore. There’s a ton of back and forth between Hong Kong and Singapore.

From what I do know I wouldn’t bother with a car. Public transportation is really good. I guess if you had one you could drive to Malaysia on the weekends, but you could also probably just rent a car or even hire a driver for that. Taxis are also plentiful and relatively cheap, and they have an uber like service called Grab.

I’m pretty sure that your children will have to go to international school. I think local schools are reserved for locals. I’d probably secure a school place before figuring out where to live. There are probably some “Singapore moms” type Facebook groups where you can get specific advice.

Housing will be expensive, but I’ve heard that almost all apartment buildings in Singapore have a swimming pool, so that’s nice haha.

One thing to keep in mind when looking for apartments is whether or not you will hire a foreign domestic helper and whether or not she will live with you. It is a really weird concept at first to have a live in nanny/housekeeper but in Hong Kong at least everything is arranged around the assumption that everyone has a helper. Like there is no day care at all, there is no full day pre school, no extended day programs, etc because everyone had a nanny/helper. I assume it is similar in Singapore. I was very apprehensive about the whole thing at first but now our helper is my favorite person ever and the main thing keeping me in Asia.

[Brit]

Thanks rupertpenny! We had a lot of parallels with what you mentioned when we were in Dubai (expensive housing, no access to local schools, house set up for live-in maid/nanny, and very limited daycare options). The daycare thing was the hardest thing for me, the rest I suppose I would be mentally prepared for.

Did you have any challenges adjusting to someone living in your house? If so, were there any strategies that you used to improve your comfort level with it?

[rupertpenny]

May 1, 2018 19:15:18 GMT -5 Brit said:

Thanks rupertpenny ! We had a lot of parallels with what you mentioned when we were in Dubai (expensive housing, no access to local schools, house set up for live-in maid/nanny, and very limited daycare options). The daycare thing was the hardest thing for me, the rest I suppose I would be mentally prepared for.

Did you have any challenges adjusting to someone living in your house? If so, were there any strategies that you used to improve your comfort level with it?

It was actually not as bad as I expected, but our helper had already been working for us for about 7 months before she moved in. When we hired her we didn't have space and she illegally lived in a boarding house. When our first lease was up we moved to a bigger place so she could live with us, mostly because the illegality of her living out really bothered my H. I think it also helps that we made sure she would have her own real bedroom and bathroom, so she has space to hang out. Most maid's quarters here aren't actually big enough for anyone to actually live in, Singapore might be better though, I'm not sure. Overall, while it was weird for us, it was normal for her so we just kind of followed her lead. The hardest part is just getting my daughter to leave her alone in the evenings. 

I also think its also been really good for our careers for us to basically have a SAHM even though we both work. I don't have to daycare/school drop off and pick up so I can stay at work a few minutes late, I don't have to take time off for sick kids, my H can sign back on and work more after the kids in bed or on the weekends without either of us worrying about how the laundry is going to get done, etc. It's also great for B because our helper has made friends with other helpers in the neighborhood and they do play dates every afternoon. She has a way better social life than she would if I were in charge, that's for sure! 

[Brit]

Thanks rupertpenny it is great to hear that perspective!

[expatjen]

I have a few friends who live there and could put you in touch with them when you’re ready.

[StephaniePlum]

I’m mostly a lurker, but have been living in Singapore for 16 months. I have a kindergartner and a third grader. My husband and I both work.

Properyguru.com is a great real estate site for Singapore.

We don’t have a car- just Grab, taxis and public transportation. All of the Int’l schools offer great bus service all over the island. If you want a car, lease is the way to go, I hear. The govt requires you to purchase a separate cert for a car that doubles the car price.

We do have a helper and it’s great. The older apt helper quarters are much more reasonable than newer construction. Leasing landed property is also an option if you don’t want to be near the central business district. You can get a live-out nanny if you want, but really you get used to having someone in your home quickly.

Feel free to ask me any other questions.

[pamelasaur]

I have an Aunt in Singapore.

[mrsukyankee]

Brit, what did you end up doing? (going through old threads)