Train...very unreliable. I took it once, that's it. Never gonna trust KTMB anymore.

Ofcoz is a high jump, imagine, SGD600 you might get a common room which is smaller(maybe a maid room still price is depend on location), without toilet, >SGD900, you can get a master room which is abit bigger and with you own toilet. basically is like your own small world in the master room, so the price is much higher.

So let me share with you my experience of finding room on what you need to take note of:
-Room rental cost(does it worth the price you paying for? normally within walking distance of MRT would be higher)
-Any agent fee and how much?
-Does rental included PUB?(this is how they address electric bill and water bill)
- Aircond(optional, if don't have can ask if owner provide fan for the room without ceiling fan)(sometime you see your room got aircond doesn't mean you can use, you need to ask)
- Internet(optional)
- what other utility provided?(e.g:water boiler,washing machine)
- cooking allowed?

this is my experience, might not applicable to all, you can take as reference if you want. normally you just ask room rental included what and they will give you all the answer already.
For my experience, i never met any arrogant agent before, all quite nice. they don't want waste so many times to layan you as they got alot customer so you give them your criteria they will look for you, you noneed to rush them, useless one. You can view the room, why not.

hopes this help.

Budget? room type?you just tell the agent your lower end budget then they will tell you if is too low for the room you looking for, i have friend staying at sembawang and ang mo kio single room, one is 500 included aircond(is a condo if not wrong), one is 450 for maid room(utility room), so within the range should be ok gua i think, alway look for cheaper and better room to save money.

Agent can help you find room, no worry, you only pay upon you agreed for the room and agreement are made.
if you don't trust him then don't use him, there are alot more agent.

Agent fees 1/2 month of your rental + some stamping fees + 7% GST for a 12 months contract...
1 month fees for a 24 months contract...normally just sign for a 1 year with the owner...then when the time comes...can just make another simple agreement for both parties to sign for extension. Or else...then you can even go on a monthly basis after the initial agreement

I used to buy jb-kl bed ticket with RM at jb then just took SGD $2 train from Tanjung Pagar to jb. Iirc the ticket price is same but one side use sgd while the other use RM.

The plus side was you clear both immigration check at Tanjung pagar at one go. So don't need to get down the train at JB.

I am not too sure how the custom works at JB train station now.

No more train (KTM) service in Tanjung Pagar, KTM line ends at Woodland now.

I know that and I stop taking train when it move to woodland. I miss Tanjung Pagar, I used to eat at the mamak stall before boarding the train. Sleep flat on bed till 7 am when I arrive KL then use the ticket to buy commuter train to Klang at promotion price. Walk 5 min to eat Bak kut teh near Klang station before going home.

When i was single and I have the time, I took train because I can do all the above. Once they move the Tanjung pagar station, the bak kut teh change taste and the old Klang bus stop no longer provide the connecting bus . Then it is not so attractive to me anymore.

Guyys, can i save much with SGD3500 salary? would like to know how much approx i can save. Will be looking for a HDB room with aircon.

From saving nothing to near to 3k depending how u want to live. HDB with aircon - 15-20% salary gone.

what you all recommend for 2 ppl room ? a normal room or a master room ?

$800 a month is $26 a day, how on earth can you "fine dining" in Singapore on that budget, lol.

i dun fine dine...so i duno the "market"
so please pardon my mistake.

Share room with 4 person = $250
1 meal each day (chicken rice) = $ 90
walk to work = $FREE
Emergency fund =$ 10

Saved = $3500 - $350 = $3150 * 2.48 = RM 7812 !!!!

wah lao....
1 meal of chicken rice everyday....
instead use that $3 to buy 3 packs of Bihun.

Depends on your living lifestyle....
Common room with aircon on average +-SGD550 no attached bathroom you want attached bathroom then its a MASTER room at min SGD1000
Mind you the above rates still depends on location. Those nearer towards town area(eg Redhill, Tiong Bahru) a master room may cost you 1.2-1.5k

Meals around SGD450(5 bucks per meal x 3 meals a day x 30 days)
Transport(MRT/Bus) SGD100-200
Necessities(toiletries n etc) SGD100

That's around SGD1,300(common room) and around SGD1,750(master room)

If you don't club/drink/smoke that's the estimated expenses.....

P/S:Once in a while can still go to a decent restaurant for your meals like Ajisen/Pasta Mania/MFM n etc

This post has been edited by tailtwist: Mar 19 2013, 05:17 PM

You all sure elaborate a lot when most of the points are already in the first post.

charge to company's corporate card.

I bought my force saving cum insurance plan with my second month salary. About 30% gone, then live with the balance. Share room with 2 people then twin sharing later, older estate room are larger than new hdb. $2 dinner at pasar stall etc. It is doable for freshies.

Seriously, please buy at least medical/hospitalization insurance and upgrade your medisheild if you have one. Please do this during your fittest years say around 20s. There are saying, can die but can not fall sick in expensive places like SG.

Buy it even your company provide one because you never know what will happen when you change jobs or when will the company fire you during your long MC.

If you are main income source of your family, you need to buy "a few years of your current income" just in case you need some time off to recover from health issue. Your dependent will have enough time to adjust for the lost of income.

Have you see young people suffer from critical illnesses in your workplace?

I just wanted to rant here after just a few months of working here. One thing I somewhat came to a conclusion to is that I will go back Malaysia after a few years.

I dunno about the rest of you, but the lifestyle here is so much of a pressure cooker. I feel stressed at everything. Going to work is stressful. Trying to find a place to eat at Raffles is stressful. Finding a seat is stressful.

I think I'm having issues coping with the generally high stress levels of Singapore.

Guys, quick question to help me do some sums.

How much would you be willing to pay for a common room in a condo (normal facilities, gym and pool etc) that is 2-3 minutes walk from MRT (from MRT platform to condo guardhouse) and across the road from shopping mall?

Basic furnishing ie. queen bed, built in wardrobe, air conditioning and the common bathroom practically for the your use only?

Include utilities (say $200), very light cooking only (instant noodles, rice or porridge) and no overnight or "lounging" (ie. hang out the whole afternoon etc) visitors.

Nearby condos are renting out at $4-4.5K. But they are about 7-10 minutes walk from MRT.