!!!!!____Advice plz for the stay in US

[mona9]

Hii,

I need your advice plz. It sounds funny but i want to know that.
My younger sis is shifting to New York i just want to know will 4500 US$ monthly will be enough for a family of 3 (2 adult and 3months old baby) I am not aware of any thing in US. Is this money enough to have a normal family life with a baby.........????

Thanks

 

[pinkjji]

Hi,
It really depend on what kind of lifestyle they are looking at.
Generally it should be enough. Does the 4500 include accommodation? In new York transportation is not a problem but a car will be an advantage for traveling out. It really depends on how they spend, eating out everyday or cooking at home. Not to worry I think with 4500 for 3 person they should be able to have a comfortable lifestyle.

 

[mona9]

Hi Pink,

Thanx. A bit relaxd after reading your mail. Company will be giving accommodation for a month, n after that they will shift on a rented house. I heard that US is very costly as compaired to Singapore..is it so...??

 

[ayoon]

with this amount, shouldn't be a problem to stay in US.

So far, I can't find anything that is more expensive than singapore.

 

[hiccup]

Yes, USD 4,500 should be more than sufficient for a small family of three. The food items in Walmart are cheaper and in bigger portion than Singapore. One pkt of beef, which comes in 3 big slices is around USD 8. 3 big chicken thighs (gigantic) cost only USD 3.50. Enough for 3 meals.
So long as your sis family does not go to outlet malls so often, USD 4,500 should last them more than a month.

 

[x_raid]

Kindly note, been US a few times, I think its better to cook as per meal easily cost USD$7-10 = SGD$10-15.. on average.

Dun even try to go for chinese food. Cost a bomb and find it not worth it.

anyway which state/town you are moving to?

 

[oldnavy]

The biggest problem is the very expensive and yet very poor healthcare in the US. It costs me around SGD$300 just to see a doctor for flu. I don't think US is a good destination for anything more than a holiday if you have a very young baby. You cannot just walk in to any clinic. Only pediatricans can treat children and an appointment must be made first. Usually the next day or so. Then you have to take the prescription and go to the pharmacy to get the medicine. With very young children, they can get terribly sick very quickly so prompt medical care is important in my opinion.

The system is so bad. Doctors only work office hours. No stand-in when doctor or pharmacist is on leave. Pharmacy do not stock your baby's medicine (hard to find). They don't even have chairs for you to sit while waiting an hour for the medicine to arrive. Only hospitals open on weekends. Even the pharmacy next to the hospital is not open on sunday. So went to hospital and still no medicine! We are so used to our healthcare system that this can be very shocking. Self-medication is common in US but with such a young baby, I think they should really reconsider. Certain parts of US also gets very cold. So imagine coping with a baby in such cold winter.

Part-time maid costs around US$50 for 4 hours. With a baby, it is not possible to cook so expect to spend at least US$10 per meal per person for getting food delivery. If there is family support in the US, it will be much better.

 

[jyeo48]

Do we nd to find a job 1st then move to US??

 

[doodleger]

hey folks,

so glad to have found this forum with its wealth of practical info and insights to living abroad!

my spouse and i and my 2 babies will be moving to san fran probably end of this year

i've lived in singapore all my life so the move is definitely a HUGE change. i'm nervous, worried, yet full of anticipation.

there seems to be so much things to be settled...

really need to hear from those who've "been there, done that" to advice me on the things that i'll need to settle before we leave...

some stuffs like:

- is the SF's tap water clean to drink? or need to always buy bottled drinking water?

- do i need to inform all the banks, ICA tat i will be moving to SF?

- wat is the taxes now? 30%. i heard if i rent out my spore HDB, i need to pay taxes to US govt?

- wat kind of housing can i rent in SF? wat is the rental is like?

- since i have 2 kids ( one is 2 yrs old tod, & 1 4mth old baby), any gd PD in SF? wat is the charges like to see a PD in SF?

- tax matters. my hubby is currently tax payers. but what happens when we leave the country? do we have to inform IRAS? do we still need to declare SG earned income (e.g retainer commissions, rental income, dividends) eventhough we'll no longer be SG tax residents

- anything i need to take not since i hav 2 kids?

any advice on the above issues or any other issues that i haven't thought of?

 

[concernedmommy]

SF is a nice place to live. Congratulations!
Tap water is potable, but when I was in California, somehow I always boiled my tap water first.

If your hubby is US resident/citizen, then he needs to pay taxes on all income earned in the US or worldwide. Otherwise, you might want to seek advice from tax consultant regarding double-tax-treaty agreement between US and Singapore.

 

[qling85]

hey fellow mummies,

I have also just moved to Ohio, US. gosh.. Its just so different. I am currently 3months pregnant with a 14 months old son. The only thing I am thankful for is that I managed to bring my helper with me or I would have had a very hard time adjusting.

The taxes here is very high as compared to spore. My husband's income is usd7500 but after tax, it became usd5600.

Regarding food, I think Singapore has so much to offer. I miss the taiwan street food found in Bugis. Plus I have so many cravings that I cant satisfy.I always buy mineral water, the tap water here even after boiling just doesnt taste the same.

 

[jolin2012]

stayed in usa , california monterey area for 1 yr with a 2mth old baby till 13mths old. Very easy to live there, just top up portable water. Supermarkets food are even cheaper than singapore. The variety of babies stuff are cheaper and wider than sg. Family life is better. In fact,in my own opinion, PD there may be expensive as we are not US citizens, but once u buy the medical insurance, its all claimable. And the PD there is better. More family oriented than singapore. If you can cook, you practically can whipped up anything like singapore food even if you are in USA. we didnt have any hard time at all in usa for 1yr. my hub earns ard same as qian ling and we can afford a lot of more stuff compared to sg and can even go for domestic holidays every few months.

Always count your blessings whenever you go. Its all about embracing different cultures. For me, its I cannot adjust back to sg lifestyle after living in usa for 1yr. Till now back for 3mths , i cant adjust. Cost of living here is so high.

 

[michiimich]

Ohh gosh... my hubby will be posted to Texas to work for 2 years this December & i'm currently preggy & baby's due in August... I'll most probably be joining him next year when the baby grows older... I'm also worried about the cost of living & the standard there...

 

[joyce0310]

hi joleen
just saw ur posting..my hb client was in monterey area last 3 mths so we stayed at marriot hotel for
michelle..me also just arrived here nt long..last yr dec..tt time my bb was onli 5 mths old..the tax here super high..bt since u gt bb and u nt working..can deduct more bt still v high..my hb tax was 1k plus per mth..his fren ( nt married) the tax was 35 or 38%..y dun u add me in skype ?? we chat more ?? peixi0310

 

[mice99]

Hi jolene

Was your hb in NPS?