How's Singapore? (II)
Continuation from How’s Singapore?
The next topics will be on:
6. Getting a phone line – There are mainly three main operators. Singtel, Starhub and M1. After looking at all, we chose Starhub. Why? Because it has one of the cheapest and best offers for calling overseas. We went all the way to the Starhub centre at Orchard. First, when you’re there, you take a look at the phones and choose which phones you want. (Of course, according to your budget). Next, choose and confirm your package plan. Basically, package plan for my phone is $398 (now already $368). Jason’s was $458 (now, $498!). This is because we got the 2-yr contract and not the promotional package that they had. So, ours was $29.90 each. After 30% discount for corporate rates (most companies have corp rates here) $20.93. We get free local calls up to 160 mins (always can’t finish using it), free IDD (overseas call) to 14 countries. And, if we pay through GIRO (auto-deduct from bank account), we get free 100 local sms till the end of the year. For global sms, it’s $0.15/sms. If not, you can pay your bills at any 7-11 stores. All this is more than enough for both of us.
Average cost for phone bills/ mth : ~$30 (inclusive of GST%)
7. Taxes & CPF – Currently everything you buy here has GST (Govt. Service Tax). For income tax, please click here. Currently, we can’t give info on this because we have yet to pay the tax here, but it should be about 5%. As for CPF here, which is equivalent to EPF back in Msia, we also have not experienced it yet as we're only going to apply our PR once Jason gets his birthcert. :P. Though, have heard that you can choose gradual increase, or a straight 20%. However, if you choose 20%, you get more from your employer, but at that amount, it's hard to save or have much $$ left in your bank account. We're still calculating our budget though. :)
8. Groceries, misc. - Basically, for the groceries here, it's equivalent to Msia. If in Msia it's RM11, here, you might pay close to S$5.00. Everything is ok here except for the Cutie Compact Toilet Rolls which sells for a whopping of S$11.00 here! Have no idea why. But we got our supplies from Msia, for perhaps, can last us till June 2008! (Jason's mum brought down for us a few bags). Basically, still able to save on groceries because whatever spent here is "half" of what is spent back in Msia. You can do the math if you're earning 1:1 the same salary in Msia and here. Perhaps that's why people here can get slightly better quality stuffs in terms of clothes,food and etc. :) For more info on this, do email me or pop a question in my Chatbox.
For children's care centre and education here.. perhaps, I will only write about it when I get one. :P.. Till then... chaoz...
Posted in: chit chat, Life and Living on 1 August 2007 at at 6:55 pm
