PM Lee urges more babies in Year of Rabbit

[MMM]

Funz:

How about this, tax refund on income tax, not on taxable income. Meaning after computing everything, govt give you a tax refund of $X for 1st kid and $X+ for 2nd and $X++ for 3rd and so forth. And for those who do not need pay much income tax, part of the money goes into CDA, part of it CPF? That way the higher income earners get some relief and the lower income earners also benefit mah.

:goodpost: Yes a ongoing tax rebate for working father up till the child is 18 yrs old.

[janet88]

mamemo:

whether raising children in singapore is expensive or not depends on


1) whether you believe in expensive preschool education
2) whether you believe in expensive medical care (trade off with waiting time?)
3) whether you believe in tuition and enrichment classes like piano etc
4) whether you enrol in schools with lots of rich kids (i heard some of these rich parents throw lavish birthday parties in hotels with entertainers, so you need expensive gifts)

and there are other expenses. Child care (if both parents are working), food (more ex if both parents are working and no time to cook 3 dishes and 1 soup)

I guess every parent has diff expectations but I believe in preschool education (Nursery to K2) but not Pat's Schoolhouse, Eton or Montessori.
See GP instead of PD. CL tuition while the rest like piano, ballet etc are not required. Meals are 2 dishes or else all dump in soup (meat/vege).

[3Boys]

toddles:

Basically times have changed... so many things in our society are different, even we are very different from our parents (how many of us would be willing to look after our grandchildren 24-7?)

So we each have our own circumstances to live with, and have to make the best out of our resources and the people who are willing to help...

Completely agree

[Brenda10]

janet_lee88:

I guess every parent has diff expectations but I believe in preschool education (Nursery to K2) but not Pat's Schoolhouse, Eton or Montessori.

See GP instead of PD. CL tuition while the rest like piano, ballet etc are not required. Meals are 2 dishes or else all dump in soup (meat/vege).

Yes. Janet. I agree there is a huge saving when consult GP instead of PD, the amount can be different by about $30++. We are also not particular in eating as such everything dump in soup is the best way and don’t need to clean the kitchen. :celebrate:

[janet88]

Brenda10:

janet_lee88:

I guess every parent has diff expectations but I believe in preschool education (Nursery to K2) but not Pat's Schoolhouse, Eton or Montessori.

See GP instead of PD. CL tuition while the rest like piano, ballet etc are not required. Meals are 2 dishes or else all dump in soup (meat/vege).

Yes. Janet. I agree there is a huge saving when consult GP instead of PD, the amount can be different by about $30++. We are also not particular in eating as such everything dump in soup is the best way and don’t need to clean the kitchen. :celebrate:

My GP knows my kids, and that I believe in antibiotics only when all medicines don't work. Super nice and understanding guy. PD is so ex and the waiting time is madness even with appointment.
All dump in soup is healthy and saves the trouble of cleaning up...esp when my kids must have soup.

[phankao]

mamemo:

and there are other expenses. Child care (if both parents are working), food (more ex if both parents are working and no time to cook 3 dishes and 1 soup)

If both parents are working then the INCOME will be greater too, so can't compare with families like ours where only 1 parent is working.

[Funz]

buds:

3rd child got tax rebate right?

Oohhh.. you want refund for the first two that came out arh? :lol:

Funz:

haha. Just tossing ideas

And knock off at 3pm on Fridays, no work on Saturdays and start work on mondays only at 10am. :lol:

Do-able in my opinion. :idea:

A good start i would say.. :celebrate:

Your staff can don't work Saturdays arh, Funz?

Dunno whether 3rd child got rebate. But I know got tax relief. But I am talking about beyond the relief. Parents to be given a refund. Relief at the end of the day kwa boh. And for lower income earners, no diff.

My staff can dun work Saturdays if parents don't work Saturdays.

[laughingcat]

phankao:

buds:

[quote=\"phankao\"]
And what makes you think we have grandparents able to look after our children? How about being the one that is responsible to look after the children on our own? If not, why would I talk about exhaustion and stress?

Gee, I do have my MIL staying with us, but no, she is not relied on to do the cooking, marketing, looking after grandchildren. She is incapable of doing so.

What i think phankao is referring to is that while many may have grandparents
how many of them are truly wanting to care for the grandchildren be responsible
caregivers? That said, the ideals of a responsible grandparent may be subjective
between one person and another's.

Nope, that's not what I am talking about. I think one parent was saying that some of those who have grandparents very \"ho miah\" so why complain?

For us, our children's grandparents are *incapable* of helping even though they are around. Don't ask me to Help them good enough already, man![/quote]

mamemo:

...we cannot expect our parents to look after our kids. It's a bonus if they do. hmm, i'm not sure if I would want to look after my grandchildren when I'm old. Play ok, but look after...haha, must think twice.

Precisely that is my earlier argument.....it is lucky and a bonus for some who have grandparents to help out. Be it doing marketing, cooking or taking care of children or looking out for children in a short while......still comes in handy. Perhaps it is too early to tell.....but when I am a granny, I will be glad to help.

laughingcat:

Not everyone is as lucky as you - having parents to stay with you and do the marketing and cooking. For some who does not have the grandparental support, having a maid is a necessity.

laughingcat:

I hope there are more support in terms of maid levy......hoping the government can look further in optimising the current scheme in taking a bolder measure in considering the maid levy for parents who have 2 or more kids. And not just monetary system such as baby bonus. Having a robust system for long run to me is having better supports. With today higher inflation, it is quite difficult for any single-income-young-family to manage especially for families with more than 1 kid.

For those who does not have such support, either quit to be SAHM/D or engaging a maid or sending kids to CC are one of the few options right. But heh.....this is what most parents are doing right.

So my earlier point of argument was to hope that the government can consider a much bolder measures that is lifting the maid levy for parents with 2 or more kids. That was what I am talking about. Nothing in my statement or sharing about \"those who have grandparents very \"ho miah\"\". You have definitely mis-read or mis-interpret.

Call me that I am \"reliance on maid\".....I don't give a hoot. My household needed that coz it is impossible to have a single income. Also I want to give my children full attention and less quarrel with hubby. As life is short, family unity matters.

[laughingcat]

phankao:

mamemo:

and there are other expenses. Child care (if both parents are working), food (more ex if both parents are working and no time to cook 3 dishes and 1 soup)

If both parents are working then the INCOME will be greater too, so can't compare with families like ours where only 1 parent is working.

phankao is correct that cannot compare between families with dual and single income. The difference are so wide. If anyone choose to become SAHM, I am sure you can save quite alot.

In general, I believe most of the expenses go to childcare (cheapest I ever find is $600 for whole day and 10% discount for sibling), enrichment classes, car (for some), housing loan, medical fees (family plus extended families), food and maid. Some very good PCFs charge about $300 (like Tamarind's kids).

[mamemo]

phankao:

mamemo:

and there are other expenses. Child care (if both parents are working), food (more ex if both parents are working and no time to cook 3 dishes and 1 soup)

If both parents are working then the INCOME will be greater too, so can't compare with families like ours where only 1 parent is working.

Yup, income greater, but there are other trade offs like time spent with the children, housework, additional stress from work.

Therefore, it's really the family's choices and expectations.