zirconiawoods
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- Feb 14, 2011
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this is a good insight and review. I will go there when I am in London 
Living in the UK
- Thread starter tanchoo1
- Start date
this is a good insight and review. I will go there when I am in London
Glad you found it useful. Sorry, but where exactly do you plan to go?
Receive Tweets on your UK Mobile for free!
I know I'm going to sound very suaku; I can't be an expert on everything.
I've just joined Twitter yesterday.
And I realized, to my disgust, that I cannot get free tweets to be sent to my SG mobile number. Unless I'm on Starhub, that is. But still, Starhub says MobiTweet will only be free until 31st March 2011, after which everyone who forgets to unsubscribe will be charged SGD 5.35 per month.
If anyone knows how we can receive unlimited tweets for free in SG on SingTel or M1, please let this suaku person know. I've searched around but the only thing I found was one-way tweets, i.e. you can only send tweets for free, but not receive for free.
Here in the UK, no such problems. Perhaps it's because the UK is a much bigger market, but I can receive unlimited Tweets on my UK mobile for free. All it cost me was one single activation SMS to be sent to a Twitter "short code", and I'm in business. And because all incoming calls and SMSes in UK are free, it will cost me nothing. Woohoo! Now I can really keep up to date with my favourite news feeds and favourite people.
http://i54.tinypic.com/2z6t5df.gif
Yet another advantage, it seems, of living in the UK.
Strangely, Maxis and Tune Talk subscribers in Malaysia can get tweets for free too. Argh.
I know I'm going to sound very suaku; I can't be an expert on everything.
I've just joined Twitter yesterday.
And I realized, to my disgust, that I cannot get free tweets to be sent to my SG mobile number. Unless I'm on Starhub, that is. But still, Starhub says MobiTweet will only be free until 31st March 2011, after which everyone who forgets to unsubscribe will be charged SGD 5.35 per month.
If anyone knows how we can receive unlimited tweets for free in SG on SingTel or M1, please let this suaku person know. I've searched around but the only thing I found was one-way tweets, i.e. you can only send tweets for free, but not receive for free.
Here in the UK, no such problems. Perhaps it's because the UK is a much bigger market, but I can receive unlimited Tweets on my UK mobile for free. All it cost me was one single activation SMS to be sent to a Twitter "short code", and I'm in business. And because all incoming calls and SMSes in UK are free, it will cost me nothing. Woohoo! Now I can really keep up to date with my favourite news feeds and favourite people.
http://i54.tinypic.com/2z6t5df.gif
Yet another advantage, it seems, of living in the UK.
Strangely, Maxis and Tune Talk subscribers in Malaysia can get tweets for free too. Argh.
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Glad you found the posts useful.
Sounds good.
Do you plan to venture into the beautiful English and Scottish countryside as well?
Stallone
Arch-Supremacy Member
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
- Messages
- 21,006
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YES, that's precisely my purpose!!
which is why i'm avoiding london, which is commercialised n very expensive..
For Body Shop Lovers...
This is for those of you who get some, most, or all your toiletries from Body Shop in Singapore...
Let's focus on a basic product: Shea Bath and Shower Cream, 250ml bottle size.
For comparison's sake, let's assume generously that GBP 1 = SGD 2.10. The actual rate is between 2.04 to 2.09.
SG's price is SGD 12.90:
http://i51.tinypic.com/r8c76c.gif
UK's price is GBP 4.00 (SGD 8.40):
http://i53.tinypic.com/14b87pl.gif
That's a savings in the UK of about 34.89% over the SG price, even after conversion.
(They also have a 60ml bottle for GBP 2.00; I didn't see such an option on the SG website.)
Right now, SG has quite a good promotion, two bottles for SGD 14.90:
http://i54.tinypic.com/2jg1d7b.gif
This is quite a good promotion, and unless you see some sort of clearance sale, you should grab it.
Not to be outdone, UK has a similar promotion:
http://i52.tinypic.com/120s65h.gif
2 bottles for GBP 6, 3 bottles for GBP 8, and 4 bottles for GBP 10. Still cheaper than SG, especially if you go for 4 bottles.
And here is finally, the sucker punch.
UK has this discount website called Groupon. They sometimes have REALLY good discounts, not like the crap that SG has. The advantage of living in a country with a big market like the UK.
http://i55.tinypic.com/rj1i5u.gif
Amazing, isn't it? You pay GBP 12 for a GBP 30 Body Shop voucher! That's a 60% discount!
So, on top of the fact that the products in the Body Shop stores are consistently cheaper in UK compared to SG, Groupon teams up with Bodyshop to over a further 60% discount on Bodyshop products. And the voucher can also be used on already-discounted products!
What's the catch? We were given only two days (yesterday and today) to purchase the voucher. Notifications were sent out through e-mail, so we had enough time to act. Also, the vouchers are valid for three months; more than enough time to make your purchase.
I just received my personalized voucher today:
http://i51.tinypic.com/24ax5b7.gif
Of course the voucher is useless because my personalized information has been blanked out.
Gotta love living here.
Savvy Body Shop lovers can make use of such discounted vouchers to grab their products here if they're visiting the UK at the right time.
This is for those of you who get some, most, or all your toiletries from Body Shop in Singapore...
Let's focus on a basic product: Shea Bath and Shower Cream, 250ml bottle size.
For comparison's sake, let's assume generously that GBP 1 = SGD 2.10. The actual rate is between 2.04 to 2.09.
SG's price is SGD 12.90:
http://i51.tinypic.com/r8c76c.gif
UK's price is GBP 4.00 (SGD 8.40):
http://i53.tinypic.com/14b87pl.gif
That's a savings in the UK of about 34.89% over the SG price, even after conversion.
(They also have a 60ml bottle for GBP 2.00; I didn't see such an option on the SG website.)
Right now, SG has quite a good promotion, two bottles for SGD 14.90:
http://i54.tinypic.com/2jg1d7b.gif
This is quite a good promotion, and unless you see some sort of clearance sale, you should grab it.
Not to be outdone, UK has a similar promotion:
http://i52.tinypic.com/120s65h.gif
2 bottles for GBP 6, 3 bottles for GBP 8, and 4 bottles for GBP 10. Still cheaper than SG, especially if you go for 4 bottles.
And here is finally, the sucker punch.
UK has this discount website called Groupon. They sometimes have REALLY good discounts, not like the crap that SG has. The advantage of living in a country with a big market like the UK.
http://i55.tinypic.com/rj1i5u.gif
Amazing, isn't it? You pay GBP 12 for a GBP 30 Body Shop voucher! That's a 60% discount!
So, on top of the fact that the products in the Body Shop stores are consistently cheaper in UK compared to SG, Groupon teams up with Bodyshop to over a further 60% discount on Bodyshop products. And the voucher can also be used on already-discounted products!
What's the catch? We were given only two days (yesterday and today) to purchase the voucher. Notifications were sent out through e-mail, so we had enough time to act. Also, the vouchers are valid for three months; more than enough time to make your purchase.
I just received my personalized voucher today:
http://i51.tinypic.com/24ax5b7.gif
Of course the voucher is useless because my personalized information has been blanked out.
Gotta love living here.
Savvy Body Shop lovers can make use of such discounted vouchers to grab their products here if they're visiting the UK at the right time.
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Bath and Shower Gel
From the seemingly lofty heights of Body Shop, we come down a little lower...
Sometimes we want to pamper ourselves a little with a nice bath and shower gel. We are sick of cheap bad products from ASEAN and China. We want something a little better, something made in UK. Usually the first thing that comes to mind is Body Shop. But as we know, their products are pricey.
So we go to Cold Storage and we see:
http://i55.tinypic.com/wvya1e.gif
And it's really quite decent stuff. Made in the UK, with real natural essential oils like Lavander Oil and Tee Tree Leaf Oil (see link below). But at SGD 10.20 per 250ml bottle, it's luxury most of us are willing to forgo. Cheaper than Body Shop, yes, but still... we'd think twice about buying it.
I just popped by Sainsburys today and look what I picked up:
http://i54.tinypic.com/2lvcpxl.gif
Yes, the exact same product. Normally GBP 2.05, now 92p. Wow. Even the regular retail price is cheap compared to SG; the discounted price at under SGD 2 screams "load me up!"
So it isn't actually a luxury product. Or, what passes of as a "luxury" product in SG, is actually a normal everyday product here. Yet again.
And it's really good stuff. I've used their Shea Butter and Honey "flavour". Fabulous. Even better knowing it's been light on my wallet.
From the seemingly lofty heights of Body Shop, we come down a little lower...
Sometimes we want to pamper ourselves a little with a nice bath and shower gel. We are sick of cheap bad products from ASEAN and China. We want something a little better, something made in UK. Usually the first thing that comes to mind is Body Shop. But as we know, their products are pricey.
So we go to Cold Storage and we see:
http://i55.tinypic.com/wvya1e.gif
And it's really quite decent stuff. Made in the UK, with real natural essential oils like Lavander Oil and Tee Tree Leaf Oil (see link below). But at SGD 10.20 per 250ml bottle, it's luxury most of us are willing to forgo. Cheaper than Body Shop, yes, but still... we'd think twice about buying it.
I just popped by Sainsburys today and look what I picked up:
http://i54.tinypic.com/2lvcpxl.gif
Yes, the exact same product. Normally GBP 2.05, now 92p. Wow. Even the regular retail price is cheap compared to SG; the discounted price at under SGD 2 screams "load me up!"
So it isn't actually a luxury product. Or, what passes of as a "luxury" product in SG, is actually a normal everyday product here. Yet again.
And it's really good stuff. I've used their Shea Butter and Honey "flavour". Fabulous. Even better knowing it's been light on my wallet.
Wine Does Not Have To Be A Luxury
I picked up two bottles of this a few days ago at Asda. It was almost sold out, I got the last two bottles, and had to reach precariously to get it off the top shelf:
http://i51.tinypic.com/20kdm3p.gif
Normally GBP 9.42, reduced to GBP 5.00.
Absolutely stunning value for a Sancerre, a Loire Valley white from France. Probably the best expression (apart from Bordeaux) of a Sauvignon Blanc, anywhere in the world.
This wine would typically cost between SGD 30 - 40 per bottle in SG, and easily SGD 10 per glass if served in a restaurant.
At the ridiculously cheap price of SGD 10.50 per bottle, it's a steal. We just had it tonight. Crisp, fresh, fruity, minerally, nice acidity and balance, medium bodied, nice finish, it has everything going for it. Went great with scallops and a quiche.
At such prices, wine doesn't have to be a luxury. It's just an "it's the weekend" celebration. Nothing special.
Not only is it cheap, but had the wine turned out to be not so great, I would have just returned the second bottle for a full refund at Asda. No questions asked.
As expected, the second bottle won't be going back to Asda.
I picked up two bottles of this a few days ago at Asda. It was almost sold out, I got the last two bottles, and had to reach precariously to get it off the top shelf:
http://i51.tinypic.com/20kdm3p.gif
Normally GBP 9.42, reduced to GBP 5.00.
Absolutely stunning value for a Sancerre, a Loire Valley white from France. Probably the best expression (apart from Bordeaux) of a Sauvignon Blanc, anywhere in the world.
This wine would typically cost between SGD 30 - 40 per bottle in SG, and easily SGD 10 per glass if served in a restaurant.
At the ridiculously cheap price of SGD 10.50 per bottle, it's a steal. We just had it tonight. Crisp, fresh, fruity, minerally, nice acidity and balance, medium bodied, nice finish, it has everything going for it. Went great with scallops and a quiche.
At such prices, wine doesn't have to be a luxury. It's just an "it's the weekend" celebration. Nothing special.
Not only is it cheap, but had the wine turned out to be not so great, I would have just returned the second bottle for a full refund at Asda. No questions asked.
As expected, the second bottle won't be going back to Asda.
French Cheeses
France arguably produces the best cheeses in the world.
While we do naturally like to get our top quality French cheese from a good cheese speciality stall in Oxford, sometimes there are decent deals in Sainsburys. (Asda does not generally stock edible French cheeses at good prices.) I picked this up yesterday:
http://i53.tinypic.com/e5g1o7.gif
Camembert is a great soft cheese; creamy, rich, full-bodied, great for baking. We love strong cheeses; Laughing Cow is so bad it's no laughing matter. A lot of the Camembert you get in Singapore are weak, tasteless versions. Le Rustique is not one of those. Not the strongest Camembert, but medium to full-bodied; good enough for us.
Camembert de Normandie is the highest quality cheese coming from Camembert; it tends to be a little bit more pricey here starting at around four pounds each. Le Rustique is originally GBP 2.11 each, but with the other cheese that I bought (below), it's two cheeses for GBP 3.00, or of course, GBP 1.50 each.
You will struggle; no, you will NEVER find quality French cheese at this price in Singapore. Even if it's two months past its expiry date and a whole forest is growing out from it.
The other cheese is an interesting one, originaly GBP 1.99 each, now GBP 1.50 together with Le Rustique:
http://i52.tinypic.com/2a9sgfl.gif
A lesser known Saint Agur, it is like a mild version of the famous stinky blue cheese Roquefort, which I absolutely adore. But a Saint Agur will do too. Vive La France.
I think I will try a baked Camembert recipe. At such a reasonable price, I can experiment until I get it perfected. I think the baked Camembert is going to be absolutely heavenly. See recipe here:
http://www.dreamcheese.co.uk/lr_recipe2.html
As for the Saint Agur, it's great just on its own. Maybe will try a Spanish red with it. We'll see.
France arguably produces the best cheeses in the world.
While we do naturally like to get our top quality French cheese from a good cheese speciality stall in Oxford, sometimes there are decent deals in Sainsburys. (Asda does not generally stock edible French cheeses at good prices.) I picked this up yesterday:
http://i53.tinypic.com/e5g1o7.gif
Camembert is a great soft cheese; creamy, rich, full-bodied, great for baking. We love strong cheeses; Laughing Cow is so bad it's no laughing matter. A lot of the Camembert you get in Singapore are weak, tasteless versions. Le Rustique is not one of those. Not the strongest Camembert, but medium to full-bodied; good enough for us.
Camembert de Normandie is the highest quality cheese coming from Camembert; it tends to be a little bit more pricey here starting at around four pounds each. Le Rustique is originally GBP 2.11 each, but with the other cheese that I bought (below), it's two cheeses for GBP 3.00, or of course, GBP 1.50 each.
You will struggle; no, you will NEVER find quality French cheese at this price in Singapore. Even if it's two months past its expiry date and a whole forest is growing out from it.
The other cheese is an interesting one, originaly GBP 1.99 each, now GBP 1.50 together with Le Rustique:
http://i52.tinypic.com/2a9sgfl.gif
A lesser known Saint Agur, it is like a mild version of the famous stinky blue cheese Roquefort, which I absolutely adore. But a Saint Agur will do too. Vive La France.
I think I will try a baked Camembert recipe. At such a reasonable price, I can experiment until I get it perfected. I think the baked Camembert is going to be absolutely heavenly. See recipe here:
http://www.dreamcheese.co.uk/lr_recipe2.html
As for the Saint Agur, it's great just on its own. Maybe will try a Spanish red with it. We'll see.
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Magazine Subscriptions
Do you subscribe to National Geographic, Time Magazine, or The Economist?
I'm just going to let the screen shots speak for themselves.
To be fair, these are the advertised non-discounted non-student rates.
First up, National Geographic:
http://i54.tinypic.com/33k3vq0.gif
SG: SGD 57.00 per year.
UK: GBP 15.00 per year.
Next, Time Magazine (cheaper and quite lousy):
SG: http://i51.tinypic.com/ogvsi0.gif
UK: http://i53.tinypic.com/rkwvg7.gif
SG: 162 issues at SGD 445.50.
UK: 3.5 years (6 months extra given free) for GBP 104.97. See small print on the bottom right.
Lastly, The Economist newspaper (not cheap, but the best):
SG: http://i52.tinypic.com/123xnrc.gif
UK: http://i54.tinypic.com/fz3qew.gif
SG: 153 weeks for SGD 915.00.
UK: 3 years for GBP 237.00.
I rest my case.
Do you subscribe to National Geographic, Time Magazine, or The Economist?
I'm just going to let the screen shots speak for themselves.
To be fair, these are the advertised non-discounted non-student rates.
First up, National Geographic:
http://i54.tinypic.com/33k3vq0.gif
SG: SGD 57.00 per year.
UK: GBP 15.00 per year.
Next, Time Magazine (cheaper and quite lousy):
SG: http://i51.tinypic.com/ogvsi0.gif
UK: http://i53.tinypic.com/rkwvg7.gif
SG: 162 issues at SGD 445.50.
UK: 3.5 years (6 months extra given free) for GBP 104.97. See small print on the bottom right.
Lastly, The Economist newspaper (not cheap, but the best):
SG: http://i52.tinypic.com/123xnrc.gif
UK: http://i54.tinypic.com/fz3qew.gif
SG: 153 weeks for SGD 915.00.
UK: 3 years for GBP 237.00.
I rest my case.
You're most welcome. Lots of times the only thing you hear about UK, Europe, US, Canada, Australia, NZ, etc. is that these places have high VAT and high income tax. But you never hear the real story, of what the day to day costs are like.
At the end of the day, it's simply your take-home pay (high taxes yes, but often the gross pay is high too) minus your daily living expenses; I'm trying to show that living in UK is not as expensive as many people think; in fact, for people who are already buying a lot of "made in UK" and other first-world country products in SG, it will certainly be cheaper living here, after also taking into account also the much cheaper cars and cost of accommodation. It's also about the purchasing power.
Funny how even though the VAT here is 20% (but not for all products; some products like books have zero VAT), the cost of the products here in the UK are still far lower; apparently importing them into SG and still taking into account that GST in SG is only 7%, the prices of the UK products in SG is still often double the prices in UK, even after conversion. So imagine how much money they are making off people in SG.
Do you plan to visit the UK soon?
Very insightful thread indeed!
I'm a fellow Singaporean who have been living in London for about 3 years now and I very much agree with the things you've mentioned in your posts...and the feelings seem to grow stronger with each and every visit back to SG.
As you mentioned, London is a more expensive place to stay compared to the rest of the UK and the world...but I don't think it's that much more expensive in comparison to SG. At least when I'm dining out at a restaurant in London, service charge can be discretionary, which I have on occasion asked for the charge to be removed where I felt that service was not up to scratch. On the contrary, I'm not so sure if anyone's been game enough to do that in SG?
I'm also a big fan of the New Covent Garden Soups...and am always stocking up whenever Sainbury's got one of their 2 for 1 deals on. Oh and not forgetting the 2 for £4 deals on Ben & Jerry's as well.
Good on you for starting this thread...now I just need to show it to my relatives and friends who keeps giving me a hard time for choosing to leave a country where everything is #1 in their opinion.
One more thing actually, I just had my wisdom teeth removed at a local hospital all paid for by the NHS. Not sure how much that would have cost me if I had done it in SG?
I'm a fellow Singaporean who have been living in London for about 3 years now and I very much agree with the things you've mentioned in your posts...and the feelings seem to grow stronger with each and every visit back to SG.
As you mentioned, London is a more expensive place to stay compared to the rest of the UK and the world...but I don't think it's that much more expensive in comparison to SG. At least when I'm dining out at a restaurant in London, service charge can be discretionary, which I have on occasion asked for the charge to be removed where I felt that service was not up to scratch. On the contrary, I'm not so sure if anyone's been game enough to do that in SG?
I'm also a big fan of the New Covent Garden Soups...and am always stocking up whenever Sainbury's got one of their 2 for 1 deals on. Oh and not forgetting the 2 for £4 deals on Ben & Jerry's as well.
Good on you for starting this thread...now I just need to show it to my relatives and friends who keeps giving me a hard time for choosing to leave a country where everything is #1 in their opinion.
One more thing actually, I just had my wisdom teeth removed at a local hospital all paid for by the NHS. Not sure how much that would have cost me if I had done it in SG?
Hi Atelier,
Nice to meet you. Actually I'm surprised none of the "Singapore is #1" people have appeared on this thread yet. Maybe they are so brainwashed that they don't bother to read anything here. Haha.
Or they simply don't believe what I've posted. Even though (I hope) it is very well documented and with ample evidence; screen shots, zero manipulation, and what I've posted can be easily verified by going to the websites directly.
But as I did mention, it really depends on each individual's preferences. If they are always eating made in China canned food (we all know how BAD those are for your health), buying cheap local and Malaysian produce, and think everything Western is very "atas" and expensive, never buy Body Shop, never step into Crabtree and Evelyn, etc. etc. (you know the pattern, the very very Cheena type); then yes, it would be a waste in my opinion for them to come to the UK. Just stay in Singapore and wallow in their own ignorance. London is crowded enough as it is, don't you think? Let's keep the good stuff to ourselves!
On the other hand, if when they read this thread, many posts "click" with them, then they have to seriously think if their assumptions about "living overseas being very expensive" have been wrong all this while.
Yes London is more expensive, but salaries there are also quite a bit higher to make up for the difference.
Agree with you on the NHS; people think always "high taxes", but forget the benefits that come with it. I had to pay over SGD 130 just to clean my teeth in SG; thankfully my company has a good dental policy that covered all of it; most companies don't; civil servants can only claim 50% of their dental fees, subject to a measly maximum SGD 70 bucks a year. My wife had her teeth cleaned at the local dentist and because it was subsidized by the NHS, she paid only about GBP 16. And she isn't even a local!
Unfortunately my local Asda only has the Ben and Jerrys for 3 pounds deal; however, my local Sainsburys has a wonderful Two for GBP 4.29 on Haagen-Dazs ice-cream, which I stocked up on.
Oh, did you get the Sunday Telegraph deal yesterday? I paid 2 pounds for the Sunday Telegraph (which I usually don't buy), found the New Convert Garden coupon, cut it out, went to my local Morrisons which is just five minutes drive away, and got my FREE New Convert Garden cook book! Free parking, parking not a hassle at all (got a lot just in front of the main entrance), zero queues, zero fuss, no crowds, friendly civilized people who give way to and have consideration for one another. This is what is meant by a high standard of living.
Usually priced at about 15 pounds, Amazon at about 8+ pounds, now I got it for 2 pounds, or effectively free, since I get to read the newspaper. Haha.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soup-Occasions-Covent-Garden-Company/dp/0752226797/
I also love the "moneysaver" websites: in particular, I use:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/
Their forums are great:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/
My favourite forum, "Quick! Grabbit while you can":
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=36
Stay tuned, will post more stuff later today.
PS: Feel people dare to refuse to pay service charge in SG; consumers don't know their rights and you know, Singaporeans are a very compliant people. Very unlike the active consumer rights groups here.
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Thanks for your reply!
Yes I'm an avid fan of the moneysavingexpert website...also I like to use cashback websites too such as www.quidco.com and www.vouchercodes.co.uk which have both helped me save a great deal of money on eating out, mobile phone bills, broadband etc.
Speaking of the moneysavingexpert website...my favourite bit is the recommendations on the best current and savings accounts where you're entitled to the top interest rates! In comparison, the fixed deposit rates that my parents are getting from their UOB accounts look so sad...
Unfortunately, I have had the displeasure of meeting several of those SG#1 people over here in London...many of whom work in the major banks in the city. Sadly for them, I feel that they are not fully embracing the opportunity to live and experience a different kind of lifestyle which many other people I would have cherished!
Anyway, I think I'm ranting on too much...have a nice wintry day!
Yes I'm an avid fan of the moneysavingexpert website...also I like to use cashback websites too such as www.quidco.com and www.vouchercodes.co.uk which have both helped me save a great deal of money on eating out, mobile phone bills, broadband etc.
Speaking of the moneysavingexpert website...my favourite bit is the recommendations on the best current and savings accounts where you're entitled to the top interest rates! In comparison, the fixed deposit rates that my parents are getting from their UOB accounts look so sad...
Unfortunately, I have had the displeasure of meeting several of those SG#1 people over here in London...many of whom work in the major banks in the city. Sadly for them, I feel that they are not fully embracing the opportunity to live and experience a different kind of lifestyle which many other people I would have cherished!
Anyway, I think I'm ranting on too much...have a nice wintry day!
Laptops and Printers
Everyone thinks technology products are cheaper in Singapore. There are tales of foreigners coming to SG, and in particular Sim Lim Square and Funan Centre just to buy their products. But is this really the case?
Yesterday I was looking for a new printer. I was surprised at my findings, so I decided to do a bit of research on the prices of Dell Laptops as well.
In line with the theme of this website, this should interest everyone.
First up, a Canon Printer with wireless capability.
In SG, the Canon Pixma MP497 is going for SGD 229. They throw in a SGD 30 NTUC voucher, so if the voucher is not out of stock, the effective price of the printer is SGD 199. And certainly no free delivery.
http://i54.tinypic.com/2ni6z4y.gif
Fuwell in SG was selling it at SGD 239 according to their 26/02/2011 price list. That's even more expensive than the official Canon price.
In the UK, the almost equivalent Canon Pixma MP499, original price about GBP 68, is now going for GBP 49.99. And oh, delivery is free as well, this is quite standard in the UK (Amazon has free delivery too). So I just need to sit at home and wait for the product to come. No need to lug it on to the bus, MRT, or waste money on taking a cab.
http://i52.tinypic.com/1zx7ehx.gif
Free delivery:
http://i54.tinypic.com/2dtdlqv.gif
Even the original retail price of about GBP 68 is cheaper than in SG; the reduced price is amazing. The difference is almost double, SGD 199 vs GBP 49.99!
Next up, Dell laptops. Here the difference is not so stark, but still, you would think it is cheaper in SG. NO IT ISN'T.
SG first, Dell Inspiron 15 Laptop, going at SGD 799. Also not clear if delivery is free.
http://i55.tinypic.com/6hnp1e.gif
http://i52.tinypic.com/23ktc9z.gif
UK next, Dell Inspiron 15 Laptop, going at GBP 348.99. Delivery is free, plus if you look at the specs carefully, everything is virtually identical, except that in UK, you get 3GB RAM instead of 2GB RAM in SG! So not only is it cheaper in the UK, you get more RAM too.
http://i51.tinypic.com/5d80hk.gif
http://i54.tinypic.com/erwi03.gif
I should go work for mythbusters.
Everyone thinks technology products are cheaper in Singapore. There are tales of foreigners coming to SG, and in particular Sim Lim Square and Funan Centre just to buy their products. But is this really the case?
Yesterday I was looking for a new printer. I was surprised at my findings, so I decided to do a bit of research on the prices of Dell Laptops as well.
In line with the theme of this website, this should interest everyone.
First up, a Canon Printer with wireless capability.
In SG, the Canon Pixma MP497 is going for SGD 229. They throw in a SGD 30 NTUC voucher, so if the voucher is not out of stock, the effective price of the printer is SGD 199. And certainly no free delivery.
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Fuwell in SG was selling it at SGD 239 according to their 26/02/2011 price list. That's even more expensive than the official Canon price.
In the UK, the almost equivalent Canon Pixma MP499, original price about GBP 68, is now going for GBP 49.99. And oh, delivery is free as well, this is quite standard in the UK (Amazon has free delivery too). So I just need to sit at home and wait for the product to come. No need to lug it on to the bus, MRT, or waste money on taking a cab.
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Free delivery:
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Even the original retail price of about GBP 68 is cheaper than in SG; the reduced price is amazing. The difference is almost double, SGD 199 vs GBP 49.99!
Next up, Dell laptops. Here the difference is not so stark, but still, you would think it is cheaper in SG. NO IT ISN'T.
SG first, Dell Inspiron 15 Laptop, going at SGD 799. Also not clear if delivery is free.
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UK next, Dell Inspiron 15 Laptop, going at GBP 348.99. Delivery is free, plus if you look at the specs carefully, everything is virtually identical, except that in UK, you get 3GB RAM instead of 2GB RAM in SG! So not only is it cheaper in the UK, you get more RAM too.
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I should go work for mythbusters.
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I've heard of quidco and the rest; is it worth it joining? Since I'll only be here for a couple of month more. *Sigh*
You're in a good place; London is arguably one of the most happening cities in the world to live in; it has so much life, culture, museums, performances, etc. and it's a true cosmopolitan city.
Only problem for me is that London is a bit too crowded and polluted; reminds me too much of SG. So I'm quite happy where I am, in Swindon.
But we've enjoyed all our day trips to London; caught a musical, walked in Hyde Park, met my friend who stays in Southwark, walked around the lovely St Katharine Docks, and ate (twice) at a fancy restaurant for just 20 pounds per person for a weekday lunch.
Not sure I'd use the higher savings rate as an argument for how things in the UK are better; as you know, higher savings rate also means higher interest rates for borrowing. So it cuts both ways.
But of course, for pure savers who have no loans and who have no future need for loans, like more "settled" people in their 40s and older, then of course it would make more sense to put their money in UK banks.
You said it right; they are still living in their microscopic myopic brainwashed delusional world of the superiority of SG; let them be. For some, there is just no hope. But for the enlightened like you and I, we'll just carry on living our far superior quality of lives; the way life is meant to be lived.
Still, these people who have come to London, stayed a few years, and decided that London is not for them; at least they have gone overseas, and made an informed decision to return to SG.
The worst are those who lived in that tiny microscopic island all their lives with their equally tiny and myopic viewpoints, and then declare the superiority of SG as if they've travelled round the whole world. Truth is, they've only seen the world through Chan Brothers tour buses and foreign hotels when on short business trips, and they think they know it all. They haven't experienced the true reality of living in another country and they pour heap and scorn on other countries. These are the ones that deserve my utmost scorn.
I love the quiz culture here in the UK; people are just generally more knowledgeable and able to carry on meaningful and interesting conversations. Eggheads is one of my favourite quiz shows, although the questions are relatively elementary, but the Eggheads are a joy to watch; as much as I love Mastermind, I'll never ever get to that standard; University Challenge is really good too and it makes our grads look dumb (I can hear cries of "But it's not in the syllabus!"); Only Connect is my favourite lateral-thinking quiz show, and QI is one of the few comedy quiz shows where you actually get to learn something.
Rant over, but honestly, I could go on and on...
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unclebutcher
Senior Member
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2007
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tanchoo1,
you are making me so look forward to arriving in the UK later this year!
Body Shop soap at 4 for £10? That's like the price of kuching kurap soaps here!
you are making me so look forward to arriving in the UK later this year!
Body Shop soap at 4 for £10? That's like the price of kuching kurap soaps here!
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