COE and Car Prices

[Musicwhiz]

Hi, MW, many young couples with young children in Singapore feel that a car is a necessity. You are among the sane minority who feels otherwise. What adjustment do you have to make without a car?

Haha I will not call it "sane". I think I just managed to adjust my expectations and my life to one without a car - and once you free yourself of that nagging feeling, you actually start to adapt much better. It's a mindset thing as well, if you constantly hanker for a car or covet for something better, then you'd never be happy.

For me, I take the bus very frequently to malls and central areas; and the MRT now and then as well. We have no problems even though I have a young child.

If it rains or the distance is far, then we take a cab.

[egghead]

I have a 5 month old son, my second child, who is under the care of my mother in law and we stay in the same estate. Instead of having to get my wife to take a bus (20-30min including walking, waiting) or taxi (10min if you can get one, waiting time uncertain) to my in law's place in the morning, she has decided to sleep at my in law's place every night before a working day. I take care of my elder daughter and we sleep at our own home which is nearer the train station and we commute by train to my daughter's childcare and my workplace. This is still workable for 2 children, but if I do have 4, I may need to think of more drastic measures like shifting house to within short walking distance of my inlaws.

You mean the family is separated during the work week? If so, it is quite a big sacrifice.

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Hi, MW, many young couples with young children in Singapore feel that a car is a necessity. You are among the sane minority who feels otherwise. What adjustment do you have to make without a car?

Haha I will not call it "sane". I think I just managed to adjust my expectations and my life to one without a car - and once you free yourself of that nagging feeling, you actually start to adapt much better. It's a mindset thing as well, if you constantly hanker for a car or covet for something better, then you'd never be happy.

For me, I take the bus very frequently to malls and central areas; and the MRT now and then as well. We have no problems even though I have a young child.

If it rains or the distance is far, then we take a cab.

Well, there are some practical "problems" like difficulty in family outing when you will have a pram and it is not exactly easy to manage in public transport; and of course problems such as that mentioned by psolhawk.

[CityFarmer]

I have a 5 month old son, my second child, who is under the care of my mother in law and we stay in the same estate. Instead of having to get my wife to take a bus (20-30min including walking, waiting) or taxi (10min if you can get one, waiting time uncertain) to my in law's place in the morning, she has decided to sleep at my in law's place every night before a working day. I take care of my elder daughter and we sleep at our own home which is nearer the train station and we commute by train to my daughter's childcare and my workplace. This is still workable for 2 children, but if I do have 4, I may need to think of more drastic measures like shifting house to within short walking distance of my inlaws.

Good arrangement. There is always way out for life without a car, same for SME without cheap foreign labor. We just need to think hard enough

Call-in taxi is a good alternative to avoid uncertainty in waiting time. Pre-arranged service with a taxi driver may also help as well.

[thefarside]

I have a 5 month old son, my second child, who is under the care of my mother in law and we stay in the same estate. Instead of having to get my wife to take a bus (20-30min including walking, waiting) or taxi (10min if you can get one, waiting time uncertain) to my in law's place in the morning, she has decided to sleep at my in law's place every night before a working day. I take care of my elder daughter and we sleep at our own home which is nearer the train station and we commute by train to my daughter's childcare and my workplace. This is still workable for 2 children, but if I do have 4, I may need to think of more drastic measures like shifting house to within short walking distance of my inlaws.

Seriously, a cheap runaround will cost about 10-12k p.a. all in. Do consider your household finances if it is something that you can afford given various commitments (savings, mortage, expenses etc), and definitely cheaper than changing house. And you will not need to split your family even during the precious few hours every day in the morning / night when your baby will see you and the sister.

[Temperament]

I have a 5 month old son, my second child, who is under the care of my mother in law and we stay in the same estate. Instead of having to get my wife to take a bus (20-30min including walking, waiting) or taxi (10min if you can get one, waiting time uncertain) to my in law's place in the morning, she has decided to sleep at my in law's place every night before a working day. I take care of my elder daughter and we sleep at our own home which is nearer the train station and we commute by train to my daughter's childcare and my workplace. This is still workable for 2 children, but if I do have 4, I may need to think of more drastic measures like shifting house to within short walking distance of my inlaws.

Seriously, a cheap runaround will cost about 10-12k p.a. all in. Do consider your household finances if it is something that you can afford given various commitments (savings, mortage, expenses etc), and definitely cheaper than changing house. And you will not need to split your family even during the precious few hours every day in the morning / night when your baby will see you and the sister.

Yes! Unless you known something about basic car maintenance and where to buy wear & tear replacement parts and choose a reliable workshop to do the job for you, you are going to pay through your nose to the Car Mechanics in Singapore. Usually a lot extra unnecessary charges. Sorry if i say something some people don't like in Singapore.

[funman168]

Actually, in life u hv to enjoy somethings e.g. the convenience of a car
I personally find that if your expenditure on car is <10% of total income(passive+ active), it is fine to go own one.

[Temperament]

Actually, in life u hv to enjoy somethings e.g. the convenience of a car
I personally find that if your expenditure on car is <10% of total income(passive+ active), it is fine to go own one.

Agree! If not a car for you, maybe golf or more holidays oversea. Ya? But think of the bloody blood sucking COE like leeches on your calf when you try to cross a swampy river on foot, you have "heart - sickeness". HA! HA!

[psolhawk]

Seriously, a cheap runaround will cost about 10-12k p.a. all in. Do consider your household finances if it is something that you can afford given various commitments (savings, mortage, expenses etc), and definitely cheaper than changing house. And you will not need to split your family even during the precious few hours every day in the morning / night when your baby will see you and the sister.

Hmm.. Not feasible, I will be paying my car more than I pay my mother in law for caretaking fees. and as a % of my income, it is >10% and not quite minute. I will pass. Rather save the money for my investments. My brother in law spends 33% of income on his car cos his job requires him to. He is not one to save and he will be broke from now till god knows when. I will not have any of that.

When I do get my first few millions and a car costs a few % of it, I will get one if the situation still necessitates it.

[thefarside]

Hmm.. Not feasible, I will be paying my car more than I pay my mother in law for caretaking fees. and as a % of my income, it is >10% and not quite minute. I will pass. Rather save the money for my investments. My brother in law spends 33% of income on his car cos his job requires him to. He is not one to save and he will be broke from now till god knows when. I will not have any of that.

When I do get my first few millions and a car costs a few % of it, I will get one if the situation still necessitates it.

You do not need to contrast your brother in law's spending choices with a decision that you have made on your own. The price here is the time you have chosen to sacrifice for a few dollars of NPV every year. I fully respect these hard choices as we have to make them all the time in our course of life.

Yes! Unless you known something about basic car maintenance and where to buy wear & tear replacement parts and choose a reliable workshop to do the job for you, you are going to pay through your nose to the Car Mechanics in Singapore. Usually a lot extra unnecessary charges. Sorry if i say something some people don't like in Singapore.

I don't find this post offensive, if you that is what you mean. This is an internet forum. People can say whatever they want. Unless you incite hatred etc I see no reason why you cannot be sanctimonious about the folly of car owners in Singapore and the wisdom of not having one.

[Big Toe]

Speaking of transport. I have multiple work locations and I carry a lot of goods on a daily basis.
My 9+ yr old car(which is used as a truck most of the time) is about to expire. I don't have a solution yet as all cars/vans(new or used) are too expensive to own. I have a colleague who can share his car with me but his old car spends a lot of time in the workshop and falls sick easily.

Seriously, are people and businesses making so much that they can afford 100K van / 150K car?
Am I just making too little? I would like to think that the later is true. If businesses and people are making so
much on top of the escalating rent/overheads, how can the products and services they provide be affordable?