I don't see much difference between Singaporeans and Malaysians when it comes to weekday lunch. If you and your colleagues are all earning roughly the same salary, I don't see how they can afford something but you can't. Unless the managers or higher paid guys always decide where the group goes for lunch, I don't see an issue.

Locals will pay 20% of their salary to CPF. You won't. In terms of disposable income, it's all about the same.

Take it from someone who's been living outside since SPM. Don.t be stingy on food. Allocate $20 a day for meals. That's only $600 per month. If you spend it all, good.. If you don't great. But don't limit yourself to such a low budget like $3 per meal unless it company subsidised meals or worse still, reduce food budget to pay for booze, fags or girls. That's the stupidest thing you can do.

Don't be afraid tp use a bit more of your salary on good, nutricious food. Your salary will ALWAYS increase and the % you spend on food will fall. But if you screw up your health... get an ulcer or some sort of nutritional deficiency, it will haunt you for life. Especially so at this stage when you're coming into the working world and at the same time moving to another country away from everything that's familiar. Your body is under a lot of stress.

And if you believe in nutritional supplements, spend a dollar a day to get a bottle of Pharmaton capsules or something similar. There are a lot of required nutrients that a constant diet of economy rice cannot provide.

Good luck with the ulcer and diabetes.


Most companies will give an annual increment to people who are just average.

And ultimately, it depends on YOU. If you feel you deserve a higher salary but your company won't give it to you, then change company.

This post has been edited by seantang: Apr 17 2011, 01:36 PM

Despite all the calories, a cup of milo at lunch is not much substance for the stomach's acids to digest for all the hours between breakfast and dinner. I know a lot of people with chronic gastric because they skipped meals etc and quite a few end up with ulcers by the time they are in their mid 30s.

Milo contains 7g of sugar per 3 scoops (30gms). That's more than 23% pure sugar.


I prefer a broad based supplement with multi-vitamins/minerals/antioxidants. My pharmacist usually gives me Pharmaton or Bio-Energee.

This post has been edited by seantang: Apr 17 2011, 02:43 PM

Depends on whether it's kopi, kopi kau, kopi O, kopi si, kopi siu dai or kopi nutrasweet.

Soy has high levels of purine, which some studies say increases uric acid in the body. Lot of gout and joint pain sufferers stay away from it.

Too much cereal and grains (like rice etc) and you might have too much simple carbs which become glucose in the body. That's why diabetes sufferers eat very little rice.

Anyway, I think the best is moderation. The key thing to stay away from is chemicals. I was the business analyst for my company's agricultural chemicals division in Asia for 6 years. Believe me when I say eat organic and unprocessed food as much as you can. Always read the labels. A lot of ingredients on the ingredients list look like they came from a bottle of kitchen cleaner.

Btw, I hope your cordycep supplements originate from Japan, not China.

This post has been edited by seantang: Apr 17 2011, 03:55 PM

You already quoted what I wrote...Any pharmacy lah.

The supplements from Eu Yan Sang seem to be a lot costlier than the American stuff. I'd be careful of that. I don't think it's supposed to work like a can of Red Bull or smoking a joint... you're not supposed to get a kick after taking a hit.

Cordyceps Mycelia Capsules

Lingzhi/Lingzhi Cracked Spores Powder Capsules

I don't know. From what I read, it's to aid immunity and fortify kidney and liver functions. It's this whole 'burst' or 'surge' of energy which I find strange.

Drinking milo won't cause ulcers of course.

But thinking you can replace meals with milo over a long period of time...

At the wheel?

Just say: You like this job opportunity and you're mobile. Given these circumstances, why not Singapore?

I think it's Zuji.com.

Does the SG job have the same job description as your current job? If it's practically the same, and in the same type of company or industry - then I would ask for the same salary as your current (in S$) as a minimum. Why would you voluntarily factor in -25% when the fact is that they called you, not you call them.

If the job is significantly different, ask the recruiter what the salary range and average salary is for a job of that nature in SG. Do this BEFORE telling him what your current salary or expected salary is. Also ask around, ask your friends, colleagues and your network in the industry.


Since when is your salary based on a "cost plus" formula? Don't even bring up living expenses with the recruiter or hiring manager unless it is in the context of ADDITIONAL relocation allowances ONLY. If you bring this up in a salary negotiation, then I know automatically you have no idea what you should be paid.

This post has been edited by seantang: Apr 19 2011, 08:41 AM

Not quite accurate to compare the "domestic purchasing power" of Malaysia (as a whole) with Singapore. Simple fact is that there are a LOT of rural areas in Malaysia where a little income equals a lot of domestic purchasing power. In Singapore, a $1500 HDB is "primary accomodation", in Kuala Pilah, a RM300 terrace house is "primary accomodation". If you compare primary accomodation in Singapore vs an area within 25km circumference of KLCC, then you'd find that Singapore is a lot cheaper. I rent a flat for $1300 now and in comparison, I rented a terrace house in PJ for RM1500 7 years ago. To me, rent in Singapore is cheaper.

My decision was a no brainer.

Stay in KL, I can buy a nice house in PJ and a little sports car but I would be burdened by the loans practically until I retire.

Come to Singapore and work for 10 years, I can go back to PJ, pay cash for that house and car, and then continue working with no loan commitments and total financial freedom.

150K... must be an old R32.

It's a figurative statement that I could earn in 10 years in Sg, what would essentially take me a lifetime to payoff in KL.

But to answer your question, the key is rental. If you can rent it out, then out makes sense to take a loan and buy now. But if for whatever reason, you are unwilling to rent out or don't think you will be able to rent out continuously over the entire loan period or don't want to risk being screwed by a bad tenant ie. the rental income will not be forthcoming - then the interest burden will usually be significantly more than the capital gain. Secondly, highly liquid investments like stocks also pay a dividend return as well provide capital gains. Lastly, the value of having the cash freedom to take advantage of (or in fact defend yourself against) unexpected events is grossly underrated.

Wah, you got go to school or not? With hailat english like "wanna be the practice becoming..." also want to make fun of people?