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LIFE&FAMILY
130
June15
Expat Living
’s Editor-in-Chief REBECCA BISSET
offers her thoughts on how times have changed
for expats, and whether it’s worth living here even
without the expat package.
D
uring and after the last two major global recessions,
Singapore offered opportunities that simply weren’t
available in other countries. The outlook for graduates
in the UK, for example, was bleak, which meant that many
were happy to take a localised package here, or indeed any
salary, to start them on their career path. At the same time,
some people made the move without realising how expensive
it would be, but they ultimately decided that having less
spending money was still better than the alternative in their
home country.
For those facing the end of an international role, career
options back home can be limited. They may have to
compromise and move back to live in a different city, rather
than the place they were born or grew up in. Staying here on
a localised package means they do have to watch what they
spend, but knowing that they can at least have more choice
in where the money gets spent is still a preferable option.
The concept of the expat package was initially developed to
compensate for the “hardship” of life on foreign postings. Yet
many countries are no longer considered hardship postings,
and Singapore is a prime example: it’s a modern and safe
option with the best of everything.
I have friends who lived here in the 60s and hated it.
There was no air-conditioning, spouses couldn’t drive or
work, shopping options were limited; the list goes on. Now
Singapore is a first-world country that is, in many ways, easier
to live in than our “homes”.
We arrived here over 17 years ago on a local package,
though we did get $2,500 for rent (when the property market
was very high). We always knew that I would have to work
when the time came for the kids to go to school. But it was
still a much better option to live in Singapore with home help
and childcare, warm weather and easy access to much of
the world.
It has been difficult sometimes, especially when you have
people around you that never have to think about a school
payment or finding the cheapest airfares home – but it’s a lot
more normal and grounding. I think living in this international
hub with low tax and very little bureaucracy is worth it even
without the perks of an expatriate package.
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