Hi oneheart,


Mine was a Filipino maid, perhaps they were in demand due to the recent increase in Indonesian maid pay hike, hence very few transfer ones available. Anyway, we trusted what the staff told us via phone and did not stop by their office to check.

During the 3-weeks, the agency staff only offered a Myanmmar transfer maid who had been transferred about 4-5 times, and there were no other offer.

She kept asking me to take in a new maid - which means I have to pay for their documentation and training fees and a waiting period of about 8 weeks!

My 1st maid was transferred within 10 days. The staff always promised to update me once she has an employer and when the cheque is sent to me. We realised it's only lip service as there were no calls from her! When the cheque came, there was no note to explain on the balance returned amount - I suppose we should know?! This is so different when we first signed up, where there were tons of documents to be signed everywhere on various paragraphs etc!

Huge disappointment! :stupid:

Hi,


Replacement Transfer Maids
Just want to caution all that if the first maid does not work out and you need a replacement maid urgently - beware that you are on very low priority and may end up paying agency fee again to get a fresh one.

We've been hiring fdws for the past 20 years through 1 agent and most maids stayed on average 4-6 years. As our regular agent in Lucky Plaza has not been active in recent years (semi-retirement), we decided to put up our request via Netmaid.

There were several maid agencies but only one ie Labour Express (People's Park) was very efficient and follow up with several bio datas, including phone interviews (at their cost). The 3 phone interviews went well and the maid claimed that she could do all the things we said. We were impressed and took a fresh maid from them.

The first maid did not work out (complained that she was tricked into this job as she wanted a Sales job but was intimidated by them to accept, could not cook simple dishes eg fried rice, sweeping floor without floor contact etc..). We waited for 3 weeks but there was no transfer maid available - not even an interview. In the end, we went to another agency, paid $1500 and get an immediate transfer maid.

Labour Express is one of the biggest players and thru MOM records, they have >2000 deals a year, whereas most smaller ones has about 200/yr. I find it hard to believe that they did not have any transfer maid available for us during the 3 weeks. In the end, we learnt that they work independently and earn commission hence, each staff will keep the maid to themselves. Also, it is more lucrative to give the transfer maid to a NEW client where they charge a fee! The staff also persuaded me to bring in a NEW transfer maid as this means more commission for them and I'm subsidising the placement & training & MOM SIP fee for the 2nd maid!

They made us sign lots of documents prior to collecting the maid, some pages multiple signatures at various paragraphs. However, when we returned the maid, there was no acknowledgement (of the maid, her PP, docs etc) and we had to insist on one. We paid up 8 months of the maid's salary but had to wait about 1 month to get back the balance - and there was no document to explain the breakdown!

http://i49.tinypic.com/1zv4jrt.jpg\"> Hi,


I have 2 tubes of brand new Physiogel AI Cream for sale. Great for children eczema or sensitive skin.

Selling 2 tubes at $58 (UP $38 per tube).

pls email rubytan991@gmail.com if keen.

jasmineong:

maki:

[quote=\"jasmineong\"]I suggest selling as pte property prices are good now and if you can be free of your bank loan as least you can really start on saving up cash and then later maybe get a pte apartment on cash alone. Or you could use any leftover money from selling to invest in a condo (new launches) and sell it once it TOPs and also earn from there.

Sell at TOP? Sorry but I don't think it's feasible now with the stringent government measures to curb property speculations. Pls note that there are hefty taxes for the first 4 years!

If I am not wrong (according to advice given by a property agent friend), you can buy a condo now that will be ready in about 4 years' time and then 4 years later when you sell, you do not have to pay the seller stamp fee at 16%, it will be much less. So the best to invest in are the new launches.[/quote]Most condo TOP in 2-3 yrs so if you're targetting to sell high at TOP ONLY, you have to be prepared for the stamp fee.

jasmineong:

I suggest selling as pte property prices are good now and if you can be free of your bank loan as least you can really start on saving up cash and then later maybe get a pte apartment on cash alone. Or you could use any leftover money from selling to invest in a condo (new launches) and sell it once it TOPs and also earn from there.

Sell at TOP? Sorry but I don't think it's feasible now with the stringent government measures to curb property speculations. Pls note that there are hefty taxes for the first 4 years!

keenDaddy:

totsboy:

Hi,


For those who did F & E by yrself, did u apply the VISA on yr own too? If yes, did u apply straight from Aust embassy online? I am looking at this website http://www.australiavisa.sg but not sure if it's reliable. Anyone use them before? TIA! :lol:

just went there last Nov...

what we realised is that processing visas thru tour agenices is cheaper than online. e tour agencies probably hv a linked system in place and you just need to pay them an admin fee. i paid $10 per pax using east asia people's park. i saw e tour agency at shenton hse also displaying $10 for visa application.

Wah, that's a good deal as we paid ours at S$20 thru Star Travel. If you book online via Aust High Comm, it's A$20 (~S$26).

DesertWind:

maki:

yes, am curious why helper gets so much too, perhaps that's her bonus too?

PILs - $400 x 2
our kids - $120
helper - $28 (she got her bonus in Dec. Usually give $50 but she's only with us <1 yr and her work is so-so only.)
nieces/nephews - $20
friends' kids - $10 - $12 (will give $20 if for 1-child).
others kids - $6

Hi maki,

Wow, your ang pow rates are certainly generous indeed! Its a lot of money you are giving your PILs and kids.

No, my maid's ang pow is not her bonus. Her bonus is one month and will have to wait until I got mine!
:celebrate:

Hi DesertWind,

Thanks for the \"insight\". Agree, just go with your own \"gut feel\" and comfort level!

恭喜发财！ :celebrate:

jnj0910:

Hi jnj0910,


Wah, got to explain the rationale behind all my numbers, ke...ke...ke! Anyway, I just go by heart-feel/gut-feel and I think I would like to be generous but do not want to give at a rate which I will feel \"heart-pain\" or reluctance. It all has to do with who I feel is worth-it for eg:

1. My maid helped me a lot and gives me almost zero problems hence the gratefulness is manifested through the ang pow rate of SGD100. This rate is on par with my PILs & Grandmother who does not look after my kid for me nor help me do housework. SGD100 x 2 for my PILs is enough and btw, they gave us back ang pows of SGD102 x 2 which means I got back more and seriously they don't need our money! Grandmother got SGD100 sign of my respect for her and I heard from my mother she has always commented I am one of the most generous among the grandchildren.

2. Why my son, niece & nephews got SGD 10 \"only\"? Simple lah, I am already paying my darling son's school fees, clothes and have a monthly savings plan for him so this SGD 10 is only a token from mummy. According to my rate, this is \"above market\" of the usual SGD4 & SGD6 so OK. As for my niece and nephew, same thinking, it is already above the normal market rate plus why give so much to them when their parents can provide?

3. My parents this year I gave \"only\" SGD60 ang pow, anything more I would really feel heart-pain so no more and is the lowest compared to the past. Why? Because each month I already give them their allowance plus one extra month for my mum to handle the CNY festivities/food. Also just hired a maid for them hence already a lot of expenses so....

4. As for SGD6 below market rate, really meh? No lah, I think it is still the market rate most common being SGD4 for children so I give a little bit more SGD6 sounds good - \"luck\"!

So just go by your gut feel think should be ok.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!
:celebrate:

Hi desertwind,

thanks for your interesting insight into your rationale behind the
ang-pows !

my rates are actually the same as Maki's, such a coincidence!
also excluding cny expenses for parents/in-laws etc...

and at least judging from our children's ang pows this year , their market rate is like that too...

first year i gave my nieces/nephew and fren's kids $10 only to realise everyone gave $20 to mine, so very paiseh, and upped accordingly after that.

My hubby rationale is that in our time, we were already receiving about $10 or even more, rarely single digit, so what more in our kid's generation, with so much inflation, anything less can't buy very much.

I suppose it really depends on our own circle of relatives/friends, and adjust the \"market rate\" accordingly lor...

But you are right, the most important is to go by gut feel and be happy giving :D[/quote]

Hi jnj0910,

Wah, didn't know our rates are same-same!

Yes, the amt to my PILs are in addition to the monthly & CNY expenses. They are one of the best in-laws I've came across, hardly ask us for any form of help (financially or physically) and yet always ever ready to render us help! Always decline our monthly allowance and got to really push hard for them to accept. They are extremely thriftly on themselves but splurge good food on us! I always tell my DH to appreciate them! BTW, this year, they gave our DDs ang pow of $200 each!

jnj0910:

DesertWind:

My ang-pow rates:


1. Parents/In-laws - SGD60 to SGD100
2. Own maid - SGD100, mother's maid - SGD16, other relatives' maid - SGD10
3. My son, niece & nephew - SGD10
4. Cousin's children - SGD6, teenagers or older not married - SGD10
5. Colleagues - SGD10-12 (considering to give SGD20 this yr), one very helpful colleague - SGD100
6. Waste collectors - SGD10

hi,

just curious... cos very confused about ang pow rates...

in your case desertwind, how come your maid get more than your son and niece/nephew, and SAME as your parents/in-laws?

sgd 6 is really way below market rate leh.. like living in the past...

no offence hor... really really...

Happy CNY!

yes, am curious why helper gets so much too, perhaps that's her bonus too?

PILs - $400 x 2
our kids - $120
helper - $28 (she got her bonus in Dec. Usually give $50 but she's only with us <1 yr and her work is so-so only.)
nieces/nephews - $20
friends' kids - $10 - $12 (will give $20 if for 1-child).
others kids - $6

mrswongtuition:

maki:

Crystal Jade Bread Bakery & Prima Deli are open to franchise too.

I've seen quite a few Prima Deli franchises downscaling. I think it's due to heavy competition from other bread shops, especially in the heartlands.

Crystal Jade is a good open if you manage to secure a good location. I love their bread.

Esp their bbq pork bo-lo-pau !! :love:

And to all aspiring biz owners, do read up more on setting up a biz. There are many of such books available in the library on the various ways to run your business eg internet-based, home-based, franchise etc. Doing business is never easy but getting started on the right track will ease your worries by half! Do make an effort to read up widely on Business management and personal financial management. You need to set aside at least 6-12 mths of operating costs to really see results. This is your hard-earned money, so do start it right!

Good Luck!