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Hey all daddies can share info on your child's k2 graduation concert. Understand that all schools different policies, thus charging differently. But just want to get a feel of the supposedly "atas branded" preschool vs the normal ones. Quite buay song that after new management took over this year, my girl concert will b held at atas place (somewhere sentosa) and costs $180 per child (regardless of age..those playgroup kids same price) Parents are charged $70 per head. siblings @$45 Too godam hiong for my taste..haiz

why the hell is used car still so expensive ?

My first time starting thread. Lets talk about new car in the market. Why COE so expensive..? I did abit of brain storming, this might be 1 of the reason why its forever so high.. AD bidding up high.. as they are earning base on commission. how much to earn from 110k & a 40k with 0.2% - 0.5% ++ SO maybe they bid up high as well as to easily secure a ticket for their own payroll. *if we stop AD to bidding behalf for us, this might improve alittle bit more.. instead AD keep calling us & told us to top up abit more to get the COE. & second solution is, not to allow AD to keep the COE bidding. I heard that AD are able to keep it for some grace period. AD

6 years old japanese car selling for 30k++ is simply too expensive... am i the only one who feel so? am i missing something here? think my pay didnt go up as much as i think i should be....

Wow, saw on SGcarmart a 1.2m Alfa. Dun know I mountain Tortoise or owner dreaming. At this price range, can get a brand new Ferrari / Lambo. Why a used Alfa? http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=475458&DL=1000

#10 – Buddha Shaped Pears ($9.00/Each) We visit the country of China for our first fruit, and it is perhaps the most bizarre in all of the world. When we say Buddha shaped pears, we are not messing around at all. These pears look exactly like a Buddha statue, even down to the facial details. A mold was made by Chinese farmer Xianzhang Hao of the Hebei province. Hao would then grow the pears into these molds and they would resemble Buddha to a T. For the amount of work that goes into these pears and the fact that immortality is offered by eating one (as foretold by the Chinese myth of a magical Buddha shaped fruit), I guess $9 isn’t asking too much. Still, we have to know. Average pear cost at your local market? Around $0.50 each (minus immortality). #9 – Sekai Ichi Apples ($21.00 Each) The name Sekai Ichi translates into English as “World’s Number One”. That’s a pretty bold statement, but these apples have backed it up. After celebrating the 40th birthday of the apples in 2014, they are still the most expensive in the entire world. The average fruit has a circumference of 15 inches, so their waist lines are almost bigger than some supermodels. They also weigh around two pounds each, so you can do some damage with them. Average apple cost at your local market? Around $0.85 each. #8 – Dekopon Citrus ($80.00/Pack Of Six) Mandarin oranges are nothing new, but the Dekopon version of the fruit (that first started growing in 1972) is particularly fresh. Dekopon is the brand name for the fruit, and only the top of the line oranges make it through. These oranges look much different than others due to the fact that they are the size of softballs and have a huge hump on the very top. They are also lauded as the most delicious and sweet oranges in all of the world. Average orange cost at your local market? Around $4 for a pack of six. #7 – Sembikiya Queen Strawberries ($85.00/Pack Of 12) The Senbikiya Queen Strawberry package is perhaps the fanciest of all arrangements on this list. You have seen the perfect strawberry at your local market, the one that is red all the way through with a dark green leaf at the top and has the seeds of pure white popping out from the skin. It’s mouthwatering just thinking about it. What makes these strawberries so special is that they all look like that. The ones that don’t get tossed out, never to be seen again and disrupt the brand. In one package, you get 12 absolutely gorgeous strawberries, but you might not even want to eat them due to their beauty. Average strawberry cost at your local market? Around $2.75 per pound. #6 – Square Watermelon ($800.00/Each) Guess where these square watermelons are grown each year? If you guess the obvious choice of Japan, you would be right. In 2014, these square watermelons were finally shipped to countries outside of Japan, but they come at a high price. They are grown in a box, which forces them to take the square shape. That only works with fruit, so don’t try to make a square person. At around 13 pounds each, these watermelons are sold at department stores across Japan. Most people don’t even eat them, and instead opt to use them as decorations. It’s a great conversation starter, like “How the hell did you get a square watermelon, Linda?” Average watermelon cost at your local market? Around $5. #5 – Pineapples From The Lost Gardens of Heligan ($1,600/Each) The Lost Gardens of Heligan is one of the most well known botanical spots in all of the United Kingdom. Pineapple pits aren’t quite common in Europe, as Heligan has the only one left in the entire continent. To keep the pit going, two giant mud structures are based in rotting manure to help the pineapples grow and stay ripe. That’s right, people are willing to pay $1,600 for one pineapple that was grown in mud and rotting poop. The most expensive one to ever be sold out of this pit went for over $15,000. The poo grown pineapple must have been juicy. Average pineapple cost at your local market? Around $3. #4 – Taiyo no Tamago Mangoes ($3,000/Per Pair) Taiyo no Tamago translates into English as “Egg of the Sun”. You don’t want to eat mangos that taste like eggs, but they are just shaped that way. The Egg of the Sun is a brand of fruit that you see in Japan, much like the Dole brand that you see in North America. Dole fruits cost a considerably less amount than these ones, though. For their mangos, the Egg of the Sun company refuses to sell any single one that is over 350 grams and isn’t packed with a high sugar content. Each year, the auction for the first harvested juicy mangos nets a high price, but $3,000 per pair is the tops. Average mango cost at your local market? Around $1.50…per pound. #3 – Ruby Roman Grapes ($4,000/Per Bunch) Are you surprised to see that these grapes come out of the country of Japan? No, alright then. These grapes are known as table grapes, and they are about the size of a table. That’s not actually true, but they are the size of ping pong balls. The Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan is the only spot where you can find the mighty Ruby Roman grapes, and they weren’t produced until the year 2008. It was there that interested buyers offered $910 for just one small sampling ($26 per grape!) of a bunch. Average grape cost at your local market? Around $3…per pound. #2 – Densuke Watermelon ($6,100/Each) What makes the Densuke watermelon that much rarer than any other watermelon in the world? It’s quite a bit larger at around 24 pounds and has a black rind, but that’s about it. What in the world could possibly make it so expensive? The ludicrously high price tag comes as a result of its rarity. You can only find the Densuke watermelon in the island region of Hokkaido Japan, and around 10,000 are grown each year. Rich people love the taste of rarity, so the first one of each harvesting season is put up for auction. The top one in 2008 netted this amazing price to sneak into the list of most expensive fruits. Average watermelon cost at your local market? Around $4. #1 – Yubari Melon ($23,000/Per Pair)Cantaloupe is one of those things that you either really love, or just absolutely detest. For those that do love the taste, then the Yubari King is the top of the line in the family of orange melons. You can only find these bad boys on the Hokkaido island near Sapporo, and the Yubari is a result of a hybrid between two other sweet cantaloupes. In Japan, the Yubari melons are given as a gift since they are so expensive. While you might send your wife a fruit basket, some guy in Japan spent thousands for a pair of melons. Get your mind out of the gutter. Average cantaloupe cost at your local market? Around $3.

I have been monitoring the used car price since 2013 for a particular model. Based on all same specification (OMV avg to be about 35k) In 2014 October, I saw a 2008 Aug model going for $59,800 Just when I intend to buy the car when it was April 2015 (because I wanted to drive my car till 10 years), the same model 2008 Aug model was going for $68,800. I had to settle for a older model as I felt the asking price was too high. My yearly depreciation calculated to be 11k which is consider a good deal now. Now July 2015, same model Nov 2008 registered going for $69,800. All 3 time zone based on Cat B COE of 70k to 75k. Is it because of the new CEVs regulation that make used cars to be more "valuable"? For people who in need a car, like my father, might not even able to afford to buy a basic proper car now. FYI, my father bought a used 2.0 Korean car in 2013 Nov, paid 40% deposit and monthly of $474.00 instalment for 29 months. I find that the car price in used car market is rubbish. I know, take it or leave it. No cheap cars at all in the next 3 years at least.

Detroit man with marathon walking commute surprised with new car "A Detroit factory worker who has walked more than 20 miles (32 km) during his daily commute to work for a decade was surprised on Friday with a brand new car, donated by a suburban car dealership. ... Leedy told Reuters he was initially quoted a $15,000-a-year premium, a quote that illustrates Detroit's notoriously high insurance rates." http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/06/us-usa-michigan-walkingman-idUSKBN0LA2E420150206

I was queuing in singpost when a auntie in front of me approach the counter and say want to pay road tax. She have the standard road tax slip with her. After the counter process, the cashier blip around 4.5k and she paid by cheque. When it's my turn I see the counter keep the slip, only 1 slip mean paying for 1 car. I may be suaku but What kind of car's road tax cost 4.5k?? A Ferrari issit? How is road tax calculated?

I mux complain... I just drunk the most expensive Teh-o in hawker center @ old airport road mkt.. the stall next to the big prawn noodle.. the teh-o is just your regular teh-o and it's @$1.30.... cant believe it when i pay..

Singapore is racing to become the most expensive city in the world. Everything must be no 1, i think brain damage. We only have 4 million population (singaporean only) but why we have 500 billion in reserve. Every citizen work like mad, then skin u like a cat. iF population going to 6.9 million , i think as a singaporean we better migrate.

http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=385598&DL=2224 Is this fact or fiction?

http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=402162&DL=2011 Eurokars pre-owned must be out of their f**king mind. Who would want to buy a used Saab 9-5 at 168k? The reason why anyone would buy a used Saab is because the first owner would have made a loss of 50k. It's not as if this car commands the price tag of a BMW or Mercedes so I'm curious as to why it's priced so high. The most a used Saab should depreciate by is 6-7k per year because there is absolutely no body value for the car when the car is sold. It's a good car but it just ain't worth that kind of money.

How many hold their wedding in high end hotel? Mine is just a catering at the Church, after wedding mass. http://www.tnp.sg/content/till-debt-do-us-part Cope the chinese version (more details) from Hawrdwarezone.

Some of you think Americans have it bad when it comes to buying a car. With low car prices, cheap gas and a great road network, I say you're one of the lucky ones. Don't believe me? Just check out how much it costs to buy a Prius or FR-S in one of these countries. 10) Cuba 9) North Korea 8) St. Kitts and Nevis 7) United Kingdom 6) Brazil 5) China 4) Nicaragua 3) Indonesia 2) Malaysia 1) Your guess is as good as mine Source: http://jalopnik.com/the-ten-most-expensive-places-to-buy-a-car-1256855393

many years ago, maybe 10years ago, heard from autobahn boss that someone offered 1M for SS1, SS2 and SS3 but was rejected by owner. anyone heard any 6 or 7 figure sums for car plates in s'pore?

http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/insigh...titled-20130713 Are Singaporean workers... expensive & entitled? These are the charges some employers have levelled against locals in a recent debate over wages and skills. Robin Chan investigates. Published on Jul 13, 2013 A YOUNG university graduate walks into his first job interview at a shipping firm waving a salary survey his school provided for him and demands a starting salary above $4,000. But that is what a more senior employee gets only after three to four years on the job. Another, applying for an analyst position at an investment bank, asks if he will have his own office and secretary. There are others: Singaporean professionals turning down overseas postings, job-hopping with a vengeance or wanting more benefits and less work. These stories of professionals behaving badly have emerged in the wake of a Sunday Times commentary last month in which a multinational corporation (MNC) boss asked: "Do Singaporeans deserve the salaries they are paid?" They lack the skills, and the hunger, he observed. The article sparked much discussion, with readers writing in worried that the new generation might be too soft and lack the skills to keep up in the global contest of talent. Others empathised with the plight of the Singaporean worker, saying salaries need to rise faster to keep up with the high cost of living. There does seem a growing perception that the Singaporean employee is getting more demanding and less deserving of his pay. But are the criticisms justified? Or are these Singaporeans just misunderstood? Common complaints CERTAINLY, there is no lack of gripes about the Singaporean worker. The more than 10 employers, headhunters and human resource experts The Straits Times spoke to mostly agreed that some of the criticisms are deserved. Mr Chan Chong Beng, president of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (Asme) and the founder of interior design firm Goodrich Global, says he finds foreign professionals much more motivated at work. "The foreigner is worried that you don't give him work," he says. "The Singaporean is worried that he has too much work! The foreigners are also actually more committed to their work, that is the general consensus within my company." Mr V. S. Kumar, managing director of local courier company Network Express Courier Services, says Singaporean workers only seem motivated just to do enough and have no qualms about dropping everything and leaving on the dot at 5.30pm every day. However, his staff from India, the Philippines and Vietnam are keen to stay back after office hours to learn new skills. Others criticised Singaporeans for lacking communication skills. One consultant from the United States says his Singaporean team members tend to be more quiet during team meetings and conference calls with clients. Mr Na Boon Chong, managing director at HR consultancy Aon Hewitt, says: "If you're talking about the ability to present their ideas, to communicate, then, in general, local PMETs are behind their Western counterparts. The differences might be down to culture and the respective education systems." When they do speak up, however, it is to demand things such as more work-life balance and faster promotions. Mr Asothan Samynathan, general manager of Ark Vision Spare and Engineering, a distributor of marine equipment, says: "Singaporeans are quite impatient and want to become managers and above in a short time." In MNCs where overseas assignments and postings are common, Singaporeans have also tended to be more resistant to being moved, the employers say. Mr Peter Baker, director of human resources at shipping firm Maersk Line in the Asia-Pacific region, says: "People from countries like Vietnam, China, Indonesia or Australia are more willing to move away, whereas Singaporeans, historically, have been less willing to move outside of Singapore." What do employees think about all this? Some found the criticisms unfounded or an over-generalisation. National University of Singapore (NUS) student Claudio Chock, 24, who is set to graduate with an arts degree, says: "It is very subjective. There may be some who lack communication skills, but there are others, too, who do have the soft skills." Others say Singapore workers may be falling behind foreign co-workers. An assistant manager at OCBC bank, Mr Gary Hoon, 25, says there "is a basis of truth" that it has been relatively easier for Singaporeans in the past five to 10 years. But he says a bit of perspective is needed: "Comparing the entire Singaporean workforce with this small select group of employees who left their home country to make it into another country to work here, naturally they would be more driven." Another, who gave his name only as Mr Toh, 34, and is now self-employed after leaving a job in sales at an MNC, feels it is only fair that a salary should reflect the amount of work put into the job. But he adds Singaporeans probably want more out of a job than before: "I also look at opportunities for personal growth and good mentorship. If a company can't give me what I am looking for, then I'll find a better job." Generation misaligned? PERHAPS Singapore has become a victim of its own success. The much-celebrated rapid economic growth and first-class education has led to a better quality of life for the majority of Singaporeans very quickly. Just over the last decade, Singapore's per capita gross domestic product rose from $38,865 in 2002 to $65,048 last year. According to the World Bank, this makes Singapore, on a per head basis, wealthier than Hong Kong and the United States. The number of degree and diploma holders has surged from 31 per cent of the labour force in 2002 to 48 per cent last year. Could this affect the hunger and competitive drive? Indeed, former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew once observed: "The spurs are not stuck on the hinds (of Singaporeans). They are part of the herd - why go faster? But when you're lagging behind, you must go faster to catch up with the herd." With this economic and educational progress has come higher expectations from Singaporeans for a certain quality of life. Says Mr Toby Fowlston, managing director at recruitment firm Robert Walters Singapore: "Good academic qualifications are not a rite of passage, especially given the ever-increasing numbers of graduates who are hitting high academic standards." Aon Hewitt's Mr Na, too, has noticed a distinct change in attitude to work: "Where I'm seeing change is in these workers wanting work-life balance instead of just focusing on career progression, the more qualitative aspects. "The PMET (professionals, managers, executives and technicians) is becoming more assertive about what he or she wants and is more comfortable voicing these concerns. It is very different from 10 to 15 years ago." Better work-life balance has been a major topic in the Our Singapore Conversation. A recent survey of 6,000 university students here by consultancy Universum found that the main thing they want from their careers is work-life balance, beating job security, intellectual challenge and an international career. In the last decade, unemployment has also been remarkably low here, so finding a job or switching jobs has not been difficult. More than nine in 10 polytechnic and university graduates who entered the job market last year were able to get a job within six months of graduating. The impact of a tight labour market has also created "an employee's market", says Mr Victor Tay, chief operating officer of the Singapore Business Federation. "Workers can be a lot choosier, not just with salary, but also the job scope, exposure they will receive and even the location of their offices," he says. The shortage of workers has also led to a situation where people are prematurely promoted before they reach the necessary performance level, he adds. A tight labour market - getting tighter with more restrictions on foreign workers - has also inflated wages in some sectors. Salaries do not reflect real productivity-driven growth - straining companies' costs, while further raising expectations of employees. Dr Richard Arvey, head of the Department of Management and Organisation at NUS Business School, says: "When unemployment is so low that people can hop jobs, that puts pressures on companies to maintain or raise the salaries and it raises expectations of many of the people here." The latest unemployment rate is 1.9 per cent, and among residents it is 2.9 per cent, both much lower than in the United States and Britain where unemployment has soared. Even compared to other competitive Asian economies such as Hong Kong, where unemployment is 3.4 per cent, and South Korea, where it is 3.2 per cent, it holds up well. This has been supported by new growth drivers in the form of the integrated resorts, as well as government intervention by way of the Jobs Credit Scheme during the financial crisis, which prompts employers like Goodrich Global's Mr Chan to bemoan that the Singaporean worker is "overprotected" by the Government, leading to a stronger sense of entitlement among workers. "How will they react when the economy really gets bad?" he wonders. At the same time, the pursuit of higher salaries is partly because Singaporeans are increasingly worried about maintaining social mobility and their living standards. Property prices have soared, fuelled by low interest rates and easy money. An influx of foreigners to boost the economy has put a squeeze on resources. A survey of 1,000 white collar workers in Singapore by recruitment firm Michael Page found their most pressing concern this year to be meeting their growing cost of living with their current salary. Sociologist Tan Ern Ser at the Institute of Policy Studies says that a younger generation entering the workforce is finding it much more difficult to achieve their aspirations compared to their parents, creating a "misalignment" of expectations with reality when they start to work. "With rising competition for jobs and rising costs of the big ticket items, they feel that the goal posts have shifted further away," he says. Regaining its mojo THERE is no quick fix to helping the Singaporean white-collar worker recover his edge. The answer lies with employers, employees and schools and the need for them to adapt to changing economic circumstances and societal expectations. In the workplace, HR practices need to evolve to get the best out of the new generation workforce, and retain and develop individuals better, say the experts. OCBC bank has changed its HR programmes across different generations to allow for leadership development, there are job rotations internationally and any employee who has worked for five years in the company is entitled to a three-month unpaid break, no questions asked, says Ms Jacinta Low, head of HR planning at the bank. As for improving communication skills and critical thinking, schools could start honing these skills at an earlier age. More project work at schools that requires teamwork and problem-solving, and public speaking and presentations to build up confidence are all needed, employers suggest. Schools and employers need to also emphasise and better reward technical skills rather than just academic ones, they say, to encourage Singaporeans to place more emphasis on these abilities. Many employers also point to overseas experience as doing wonders to a person's development, especially at an early age. This requires support from schools, parents and a mindset change among Singaporeans themselves. Improving commuting to workplaces outside the CBD such as Tuas will also help make it easier to attract and retain Singaporeans in a larger variety of sectors. But all that cannot replace what is perhaps the biggest factor - self-motivation and pride to continually get better. As living standards and aspirations rise, it is even more of an imperative for the individual Singaporean to strive to improve, to compete and stay relevant. "You feel the stress of competition, but it is fair game. In this day and age it is unavoidable, and it should spur you on to greater heights," says bank assistant manager Mr Hoon. [email protected] Additional reporting by Debbie Lee and Lester Wong

Wonder who would buy this Kia sportage? http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.ph...806&DL=2095

Do you think these items really work?

This stupid building in Sin Ming Road is one bluddy expensive parking lot. From 10:30am to 1:30pm my parking ended up $9.00 !!! WTF ?

This have shown the world, we are all rich?? Interested? Read on. Singaporean Pride

SOME? only some? i thought everything is... Obviously all these while... some people some where some how haven' t got the slightest clue as to why... geeez. ---- Why some things are more expensive here MAS wants to identify factors that could explain price differentials across countries by Neo Chai Chin 04:45 AM Nov 19, 2012 SINGAPORE - If you have always wondered why that chair from IKEA or that pair of jeans from Gap is priced higher in Singapore than some other countries, you are not alone. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) seems just as keen to find out. Calling a tender to conduct a consumer products price comparison study earlier this month, the MAS said: "Despite these goods being exactly the same in many instances, the law of one price does not appear to hold. Anecdotal evidence suggests that prices of IKEA products and mid-range apparel, including Gap and Abercrombie & Fitch, are higher in Singapore compared to many other countries." Some factors that could explain the price differentials include productivity and wage differences across countries, variation in non-tradable costs like rental and taxes, transport costs and price stickiness when it comes to exchange rate fluctuations, the MAS stated in its tender document. The study's aim is to identify which factors, and their significance. Using case studies of an international mid-range clothing retailer, a consumer electronics retailer and possibly furniture giant IKEA, the MAS also wants to identify the extent of price differentials of the same products between Singapore and at least 10 other countries, the document stated. As Singapore grapples with inflationary pressures stemming from the tight labour market and rise in global food prices, economists told TODAY that the study would help the country's central bank better understand factors driving prices and inflation here. It would in turn help the MAS determine "what targeted policies might be needed to help contain inflation", said Singapore Management University economics don Davin Chor. "It would be useful to know, for example, whether it is operating costs in Singapore that are primarily driving price levels here or whether it is competitive conditions and strategic considerations that are leading firms to mark up their prices in a particular way in the local market," he added. Through the study, the MAS could also understand how much of exchange rate movements are passed on to consumers, and how quickly, said Assistant Professor Chor. Citigroup's Vice-President of Economics and Markets Analysis, Mr Kit Wei Zheng, agreed. "For instance, if for whatever reasons, price mark-ups are kept consistently high, import cost savings from a stronger exchange rate may not be fully passed on to consumers," he said. Singapore's exchange rate is among the instruments used by the Government to manage inflation, and the MAS last month decided to continue its gradual appreciation against a basket of currencies. Inflation this year, excluding imputed household rentals on owner-occupied homes, is expected to be slightly below 4 per cent, said Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam last week in response to a Parliamentary question. Previous research on price differentials has been conducted. A 2001 study using prices of 119 IKEA products across 25 countries - including Singapore - concluded that price differentials were not due to differences in exchange rates, local costs, tariffs or taxes, but were largely due to differences in mark-ups as a result of strategic pricing across countries, said the MAS tender document. The tender closes on Nov 27. --- TODAY

What a high mark up on the body. http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.ph...847&DL=1038

Time to re-look at the purchase of expensive chairs. http://liangkaixin.wordpress.com/2012/08/1...o-about-chairs/ Much ado about chairs Posted on August 15, 2012 by kyeixhin Hi guys, you know there was this hooha on Ministry of Manpower and their ergonomic chairs right? Link to story: http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/S...325-270092.html In short, they

http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.ph...711&DL=2408 as compare to http://www.sgcarmart.com/new_cars/newcars_...p?CarCode=11167 Thought PI normally cheaper? Somemore sell as used car.