u/milo_peng

Haven't had Stuff'd in a while, so I was a bit lost what combination to get. Eventually I told them I don't need all the options and kept it simple (the base salary minus onions, chicken, mayo wasabi, rice, and some eggs). I also used to switch the rice with soba. Don't really like the mashed potatoes (tasted artificial).

What are the other combos or sauces mixs do you prefer? I am keen to try other combinations with different sauces.

Singaporean with Japanese spouse, planning my retirement (near future, between 2 - 5 years) by splitting between Thailand and Japan.

Why Thailand

1. LCOL option, allows me to rent out my existing Singaporean home for additional source of income, in addition to investment income.
2. High quality healthcare in BKK, close to Singapore.
3. Visa situation: Eligible for Non Immigrant O-X visa for long term stay (past age 50, requires 3 mil THB deposit)
4. Tax situation: Tax resident if length of stay is less more than 180 days, else would need to pay foreign sourced income to TRD (Thailand Revenue Department)

Why Japan

1. Wife prefers Japan than Thailand for retirement.
2. Visa situation: spouse visa, but I may want to keep as a tourist visa (max of 90 days for Singaporeans) since I don't plan to stay more than 90 days.
3. Tax situation: My wife will rent a place. If I am on a tourist visa, it means I don't have to declare a juusho (住所). Will transfer money (300k yen monthly) to my wife as cost of living allowances. Nothing major (> 1.1 mil yen) that will attract zōyozei (贈与税) from National Tax Agency.

Other tax jurisdiction

1. I will pay Singapore taxes on the rental income of my property. Investments are Singaporean companies and no capital gains/dividend taxes.

Target Operating Model

1. March - May in Japan, (Spring)
2. June - Sept in Thailand (less than 180 days)
3. Oct - Dec In Japan (Autumm)
4. Jan - March in Thailand (less than 180 days)

If given a choice, our common preferred destination is Taiwan for retirement but they don't have a retirement visa option and I am not keen to start a company and get APRC later since there is uncertainty.

Question: From my research, if I don't stay more than 90 day or acquire any status beyond a tourist, that should be fine for me. And for my wife, as long as I provide for her COL, it won't attract gift tax for her? Have anyone done something like this?

While it does not break any law in filing a missing person report, and parents are rightly concerned about her choice of destination (Cambodia), unnecessary public alarm (a.k,a cry wolf) is going to affect actual scam victims in the future.

Came across this two articles from financialhorse.com and thought I will share them here. Most of the questions here are around how to invest, what to invest.

I suppose there is a bias towards more younger people here. But still important to know what happens with your IBKR, moomoo, Tiger accounts if you pass.

1. https://financialhorse.com/you-die-with-s500000-in-your-brokerage-account-how-long-before-your-family-sees-the-money-can-you-give-your-password-to-your-spouse/
2. https://financialhorse.com/die-holding-us-stocks-and-pay-40-tax-what-singapore-investors-need-to-know-about-us-inheritance-estate-tax/

Due to a change in job (CBD, have direct green MRT line from Tiong Bahru), I am looking at selling my car soon.

Am planning to use motorist sg to get quotes. Have existing loan and car has 6 years left.

Will the dealers account for the road tax that was paid up front (6 months) and insurance? Anything else that can nego with dealer on the price?

Am looking at a few mansions in Yokohama, more central or popular areas such as Kannai, Motomachi. Does property prices depreciate as they say (does not seem to be the case for Tokyo) or is holding stable? Older property fit our budget for the size we are looking for (2LDK).

As we have no employment income after retirement ( we would depend on investment income and eventually, superannuation), rental might be difficult hence the idea to buy. Visa is not an issue as spouse is a jp national.

I pump Esso 5000/Extra but since I stay near Queensway / Bukit Merah area, Cnergy is now an option. Wanted to find out

1.) Any difference (I don't think so) with Esso 95 from performance wise?

2.) I use DBS Esso card; on paper I think Cnergy without any CC promotion still cheaper, am I right?

Been seeing a few questions about IT companies offering contract jobs to deploy within the government and whether this is normal. Wanted to provide some explanation why this is a common thing.

TLDR: GovTech are pushing to do more staff augmentation because of their own motives.

You might be familiar with careers.gov.sg. Those roles are direct roles with the government agencies (and most of them will be contract due to MMF limitations). However, those roles are still considered to be a head count under the agency, just not a permanent headcount.

GovTech is changing how it works, by advocating a product mindset and building internally capabilities. While they still do turnkey projects with private sector, they are doing more internal (software) development by themselves.

System or S/W dev usually causes a spike in headcount during the delivery phase, but they don't need all these developers / BA /testers / devsecops when a system goes into production and maintenance/BAU/day 2 mode. So last year, they issued a manpower supply contract to the entire Singapore IT industry where they can buy resources.

Who is in that contract ?

Every single big or small brands, from all Big4, to your Temasek linked companies to your Indian, Vietnamese, French MNCs, and local firms to your staff augmentation firms like Jobster.

What does it mean for companies?

Staff retention is a problem since people want a career and growth, not be a resource to be augmented out. It is also shitty because gov uses the process as an talent filter; they have on occasions "poach" really good people away. Companies will keep a core team of talents for projects, but the rest will be resource augmented out and these will be pure contracts.

What does it mean for those looking for a job?

Be aware that there is this situation and clarify with the company if the role is to be staff augmented out to the agency. Unlike a traditional job, the roles are narrowly defined by the agency that created the request, so if you don't like what you do or your team (e.g not the company's team but the agency team), your options are very limited.

Heading to Kaohisung and Taitung end of May.

Was planing to do Chishang, Sanxiantai. Will be in Taitung for 2 days. What is the best way to get around there? We can take a train up to Chishang from Taitung, but getting to Sanxiantai seems complicated. Was thinking of getting taxi. Or should we just find a day tour?