Hard for me as I don't plan my sundry purchases. I know what I want to buy but I usually like to be flexible when (or which trip) I'll ultimately buy it. And I also don't like always having to walk around with lots of cash on me. Got enough things to think about already without having to worry about this as well.

How? Go earn a higher salary and make more money. That's the only way how.

The higher you go, the more your work is defined by objectives / results - rather than time spent. Depending on one's aptitude for working smart, that can either be a boon or a curse.

There's also tradeoffs. You may have great standard office hours but when you travel, you can lose whole weekends each way. Conference call with the US, and the whole night is gone.

Yeah, it's not the number of months that matters. It's how much you have in your bank account at the end of the year.

Just put it in your handcarry and walk out the green lane. If anybody asks, say that they are gifts for your family members. At most, you only need to pay 7% GST on your purchase cost (so keep the receipt to prove the purchase price). The guy who went to US with me last month brought 5 back.

Depends on who you ask. The 2 keywords in the GST relief verbiage is "new articles" and "import".

I don't see how it is a downgrade if they pay you more in absolute terms. Maybe your current job in Malaysia isn't that high a grade after all.


If you are Paris Hilton, S$4K is definitely not enough. If you're a Bangla, S$4K is enough for the whole year, lodging AND food. How would we know whether S$4K is enough for you, if we don't know who you are and how you like to spend money?

A fresh graduate's salary is S$2K or so. Use that as your benchmark whether you're getting enough.

This post has been edited by seantang: Jun 17 2010, 05:51 PM

Golden Mile at Beach Road. It's like Puduraya.

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Added on June 18, 2010, 12:26 amWhat has your research revealed so far? We can add on to whatever list or results you have obtained.

This post has been edited by seantang: Jun 18 2010, 12:26 AM

A few things:

- You've estimated meals for 28 days a month. That's about 2-3 days less than a calendar month. But should be okay as you are also returning to KL once a month. S$500 a month is okay. I usually spend about S$20-30 a day on makan on average. About 5-10 for chap fan->Subway and 20-50 for a nice meal a few times a week.

- You don't need S$200 for a return ticket to KL. It only costs RM250 to fly to Subang return using Firefly. So around S$150 for the flight plus taxi to and from Changi.

- S$200 traveling expenses is very high for 100% public transport, but ok if you're going to take taxi a few times a week. For me, I spend about S$500-600 on taxis per month if I avoid public transport that month.

- S$500 per month for entertainment and toiletries/utilities is high, from my perspective. But since I don't drink, smoke, gamble or club... (using my own money, that is) my perspective might be skewed.

- Mom's allowance and utility bills is a non-determinant or non-incremental item ie. it makes no difference whether you're in Singapore or KL. So if you're using this estimate to weigh a SG vs KL decision, then it should be taken out. If you're simply doing budgeting or calculating savings, then include.

- Same as above for expenses in KL.

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Added on June 18, 2010, 10:58 pm
It's a family thing, no? I fly back to Ipoh every 2 weeks.

This post has been edited by seantang: Jun 18 2010, 10:58 PM

You can't import a used Malaysian car into Singapore.. actually you can, but you have to jump through a lot of rings and you'll end up paying a lot of taxes which you might as well put towards a new car.

You can drive a Malaysian car into Singapore but it will cost S$20 per day (there are a number of free days etc) but there is also a limit as to how many days the car can brought into Malaysia. The rules get more complicated if you have a long term pass (work permit or employment pass etc) where your car cannot stay in Singapore beyond a certain number of hours each day. Then if you have residency (PR or citizen), you cannot drive a foreign car altogether in Singapore.

Let me put it this way... if your current career level allows you to (comfortably) buy a BMW in Malaysia, then the potential new job in Singapore will allow you to do the same thing in Singapore. I wouldn't worry.

My survival skills not so good. About S$5K at least to survive.


I like somewhere around Marina Bay overlooking the F1 track. Holland Village also quite good.

Perhaps you might want to elaborate more about how this affects your job & career. Or better yet, how it affects the job & career of other forumers here.

Anyone around Orchard right now? CNA reported flooding at intersection of Orchard & Scotts Rds about an hour ago... but don't know if things are better now. Rain in AMK area seems to have lessened.

... I need to go to work...

I wouldn't help any guy who wears panties.

Some pics from CNA's website re: this morning's downpour.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/photosgalle...00625111606.htm

Not all managers are expat/relo recipients, and not all expat/relo recipients are managers.

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Added on June 25, 2010, 3:25 pm
That depends on the company you work for and the size of your portfolio, no?

I would say generally about 13-14K for a new mktg manager in a global MNC.


This post has been edited by seantang: Jun 25 2010, 03:25 PM

If I take the chemical global MNCs as a reference, basically any managerial job will bring you to $10K a month.

Like I mentioned a couple of posts above, my company's managerial pay scale starts at $13K.

I rather not say out loud... but it's at the top end of this list: http://www.icis.com/Articles/2007/09/17/90...-companies.html


Of course there are. Apply from the career sections in their websites.


A manager in one company, may not be a manager in another company. It depends on the job scope (regional, global etc), how big is your portfolio and how profitable is the company.

But one word of qualification... is that the old American MNCs are very stingy on titles. Managers and sometimes senior managers from Big4 accounting firms join us as executives/analysts/specialists, because that's where their pay scale lies. It's quite common for our experienced finance analysts or finance managers to join other companies as financial controllers or finance directors/CFOs respectively. My previous boss who left us as a finance director joined a SGX listed company as CFO. He's now the Deputy CEO.

That would be BASF. Maybe they are not hiring at this moment. They should finish digesting the acquisition of Ciba soon. Could still have retrenchments instead of hiring though.

No harm just sending your resume in to HR to KIV.

This post has been edited by seantang: Jun 25 2010, 07:36 PM

I'm sure you'll think of something to spend it on. Seriously, a lot of people in Singapore draw that kind of salary. Look out for the Bottega or Hermes bags, Panerai wristwatches, Ferragamo shoes etc... Lots of them.

This post has been edited by seantang: Jun 25 2010, 10:31 PM