Do you become immune to prices if you live somewhere expensive

[Clueless2727]

We're moving to singapore shortly and i know it's expensive. Funnily enough ok with big things like rent school fees and possibly renting a car, but think i'll find it hard to spend 3 times as much on say a birthday card or kids present than i would in the uk, the little day-to-day spending.
Do you become accepting of just paying more than you would in the uk or does it grate?

[butterfliesinmytummy]

I don't know if you become immune, more resigned. I know that a litre of milk is going to cost GBP1.60 and baked beans are 80p a tin and it doesn't stop me buying them but I look for promotions and try not to buy fruit and veg at the supermarket (they do a box of huge US strawberries for GBP10 and I've bought them once or twice as a treat, trying not to think about the price). I am more careful about using leftovers and using everything before it expires. Ironically if we ate out every day (hawker centre 100m from our house), we could slash our food bills but it's a lifestyle choice to eat a bit more western food.....

If you are interested in Singapore food prices, take a look at Cold Storage online shopping

Birthday cards are about GBP1.50 - GBP2 but to be honest lots of kids in our school (including mine) make them which is nice and free - and a good art project for a rainy afternoon! Birthday gifts come in just under a tenner here, which is more than I would pay in the UK but its not every day.

Most clothes are the same price as the UK (Zara, Dorothy Perkins, Topshop, Esprit, Uniqlo, Gap etc, though M&S and Monsoon are much more expensive)

It does grate but everyone's in the same boat and after a while it becomes the norm.... There are more expensive countries to live in after all

[TheExpatWife]

I agree, not really immune but you get used to it. And you have to take it all in to account rather than doing a like-for-like comparison of specific items. Think about the benefits - lower tax rates; cheaper taxis & very cheap public transport; less expensive holidays!; inexpensive live-in housekeeper/babysitter; local food is very reasonable (great fresh juices in the food centres for GBP1) - and set that against the fact you inevitably pay more for western brands and some other items like household goods, wine etc. Though John Lewis, Debenhams etc all ship here for a reasonable price.

The birthday cards drive me mad - everyone I know stocks up in M&S while on UK trips, as cards seem to be in short supply, a dire selection and very expensive.

[iloverainbows]

You do get used to it, you plan accordingly and you remind yourself that some things are cheaper/free. For example my children now make all their birthday cards, I buy food on special, we hardly buy any new clothes. I would say however that this is also to do with the fact that there is just such limited choice here (NZ) and the quality is poor.

[Mosman]

I bring stuff over from marks and Spencer's, when they have free delivery I stock up on birthday cards, wrapping paper, stuff for kids parties, socks, pants the lot. I know that's not good for supporting my local economy but tbh it feels like they just take the piss anyway.

[Mutley77]

I think day to day you do get used to the costs - when I first arrived in Perth, Australia, I really used to baulk at the cost of things like going out for a coffee. 2.5 months later I am settling in to it - DH is paid in local currency which helps.

I did just go to the post office today and had to pay the equivalent of £8.50 to post a children's top to Hong Kong which nearly killed me!!! I imagine there will always be things that take you by surprise and get your goat but I guess you have to get used to it.

I am like Mosman though - really like M&S free delivery - ordered some sheets on the recent free delivery and DH ordered a whole work wardrobe from Autograph! I was told that next do free delivery overseas too.

[DolomitesDonkey]

Yes, it'll make you roll your eyes when people say sainsburys is expensive!

[SunshineandShandy]

I think you have to stop converting or it can drive you crazy. If you earn in local currency, then spend in local currency and think in local currency.

That said, today we were meeting friends who are here on holiday and I called the hotel to ask them how much it would cost us to use the pool - 400 dirhams each, which is about 70 pounds per person (for a swim!). Funnily enough arranged to meet them somewhere else!

[RichManPoorManBeggarmanThief]

You do start just factoring it in, but also there's usually stuff that's cheap to offset it- so for example, in HK dairy products are expensive but taxis might as well be free they're so cheap.

i shop online when I get organised to buy a lot of stuff (just bought DS a duvet and some bedding and both DCa load of clothes from M&S and Boden), BUT sometimes its a false economy because you end up buying stuff that doesn't fit and then you cant be bothered to send it back so just give it away. IAs a result, I buy the majority of my own clothes here.

[Alligatorpie]

It drives me nuts when I go somewhere like Next or Mothercare and the local price is marked next to the UK price. We usually pay 2.5 times the UK price on the tag. i know i am being ripped off, but i hate to know exactly how much.

I bought dd1 a pIr of shoes for the equivalant of £22 in mothercare, a month later i saw them in the UK on sale for 5 quid. Import taxes are very high here.