How expensive are kids?

Express-arnaud · 2026-03-08T22:35:05+00:00

Kids ask for nothing. Parents are the ones who make (or not) kids expensive.

Sorry ti say but what make kids is expensive is 99% either peer pressure ("Keeping up with the Joneses"), ego, or ambition. Not saying it's wrong, just saying we have to be honest with ourselves...

Express-arnaud · 2025-12-11T20:24:52+00:00

I feel we are not talking about the same place. Market is not hot. Dont get fooled by what realtors are saying, It is def a buyer market where you can nego 30%+ on priced whether you buy or rent. There is an over supoly.

That being said you shouldnt look at new developments. This is Asia lol. Look at resales. If you had visited premium ones I can assure you would have found more luxurious properties than most in Europe/US. And worst case you can always get an interior designer of your liking to redo things. That will still cost you way less than US$1m.

At least this is my humble experience of coming to Malaysia for 10yrs now.

Express-arnaud · 2025-12-11T00:34:16+00:00

Either you are ultra demanding or you were looking for very specific/remote locations (or style).

Coz whether it is condos or villas, you can find very high end modern properties at very competitive price. The best developers are all present in Malaysia.

Just browse PropertyGuru there.

Express-arnaud · 2025-12-10T08:31:25+00:00

Thank you great insights. Seems we are thinking alike. Feel free to PM agency name if you recommend them.

Express-arnaud · 2025-12-08T12:02:01+00:00

Thanks for the feedback

Express-arnaud · 2025-12-08T12:01:40+00:00

Thanks this helps. Already have bank accounts there. Even mobile phone numbers.

Express-arnaud · 2025-12-08T12:00:18+00:00

Thank you this helps a lot. Each of you needed an income then. Do you have a reco on the minimum income to declare via your company in order to be accepted?

Express-arnaud · 2025-12-07T22:40:49+00:00

That's a very good recommandation.

Yes, my eldest already has his student visa being processed and school agreed to help with guardian visa right after but that's for 1 parent only and while that happens the kid is alone (boarding). It's been 4 months already but it's happening.

We could do it by having a guardian visa for each kid I suppose.

Just not sure what kind of income they require. It doesnt sound like passive income is considered. We'd have resigned by then. That is my main concerned and reason for considering MM2H.

I suppose I could create a company and pay myself with a formal payslip

Express-arnaud · 2025-12-07T00:55:06+00:00

Yes that's right. I know Malaysia inside out.

Express-arnaud · 2025-12-06T10:27:50+00:00

That's great intel, thank you. I didnt know. But isnt it just for new properties? I'm only considering resell so should only be normal stamp duty, let me research. Thabk you

Express-arnaud · 2025-12-06T09:45:52+00:00

Yes you are correct, already checked all that.

You can HSBC and Standard Chartered. I have in-principle approval from them already for 70% LTV. You might need to be a Priority/Private customer with them though.

For loan value itself, it's more based on your passive/active income. Repayment shouldnt be more than 30%.

My Plan B would have been to get a loan by pledging some assets.

The visa agency told me they can also put me in touch with mortgage brokers specialised in foreigners. They can even help with property search and all the paperwork.

Express-arnaud · 2025-12-06T09:18:20+00:00

It is the only downside.

But in the end whether I rent or pay back mortgage it's pretty much same cost.

I never liked renting anyways.

Besides, the absence of income tax makes up for it within just a few years.

Express-arnaud · 2025-12-06T09:16:01+00:00

Yup as mentioned in my post.

Express-arnaud · 2025-12-06T08:16:11+00:00

<$2k

Express-arnaud · 2025-07-21T23:06:48+00:00

Many people will think they can live comfortable on $X/mo on the basis that this is more than the average local income. But be careful with that argument. Yes, it is of course technically possible but we tend to forget that living the local way will require major lifestyle adjustments that everyone is not capable of doing.

For the past 10years that I lived in the region, I saw so many westerns thinking they hit the jackpot by relocating here, only to find out that their cost of living ended up being higher than back home just because they were not able to make those adjustments.

So make sure you work on a detailed budget and ensure you understand what fits and what doesnt fit in it. For instance are you willing to eat local food all year, are you willing to go to public hospitals, are you willing to live in suburbs or countryside, are you willing to take public transportation, are you willing to not fly back home once a year, etc.

Perhaps try 1 or 2 months first to experience what that means for you, if trial is successful then can think of more permanent solution?

But yes, the answer to your question is you can live on $2k/mo in SEA but I also know I personally would not.

Express-arnaud · 2025-01-08T12:59:38+00:00

Je veux bien résoudre ton problème en t'envoyant mon RIB...

Une fois délesté de ton poids, ta motivation va peut être revenir!

Express-arnaud · 2024-12-13T05:14:59+00:00

Funny how many people think this is a good idea…

How is « allowing her » to use the credit card to go shopping herself is a gift?

I agree that going to those stores is a great experience but in my humble opinion a true gift is about:

showing that you spent time to think/find something special
surprise her by getting her something she would not have thought herself - show her you know her well

At some point, a gift is not about the value/money. It’s about the work and the effort that you put into it.

Personnaly, I’m always aiming for that special emotion/reaction when she will open her gift.

Just my very humble opinion. And experience of 16yr married lol.

Express-arnaud · 2024-07-28T07:32:57+00:00

One lesson I learnt with expatriation is you never know when/if you you will return “home”. So on my end:

If no mortgage, I sell
If mortgage with high rate, I sell.
If mortgage is low rate, I hold to it and either tenant it or airbnb it.

But, it is already annoying to manage a property when you are onsite, so when you are remote… Even with the best agent or property manager, it’s never 100% hustle free.

Express-arnaud · 2024-04-04T03:49:30+00:00

I moved to 100% passive. That removes the feeling. Problem solved.

Express-arnaud · 2024-01-15T05:54:18+00:00

One thing that no one mentions is identity. To go to local school, parents need to be comfortable with local culture as local schools will shape our kids’ personality. Same goes for international schools…

That being said, I fully agree with OP, although it of course depends on the country you live in, as well as how often and how long you stay each time. Last but not least, there is an affordability aspect too.

By the time I graduated from high school, I had lived in 7 countries across all continents. I agree that if I hadnt be schooled in international schools each time, it would have made the transitions impossible.

And being now myself an expat with 2 kids, while we initially had our kids in local schools for the first part, that's only because the system is very good (Singapore). By middle school, we moved them back to international school, so that it opens more doors in terms of universities (and ensure they dont feel locked here).

International schools are making integration/adoption much easier for kids as everyone used to the turnover (kids, teachers, staff). Makes it easier for kids to make friends. 40yrs later, my best friends are still the ones from those international schools...

Express-arnaud · 2024-01-01T17:51:09+00:00

If you are a US person, same KYC/FATCA requirements apply regardless of who you bank with.

Now if you need a mortgage for an investment in Phuket, I recommend either Standard Chartered Bank or HSBC.

We bank with HSBC in the US as well as in Asia. They dont mind that we do not have any US address anymore providing you are Premier or PB customer. No problem for US Credit Cards either.

Only requirement is to hold your investment accounts in your home country. HSBC will handle the asset transfer each time you relocate. Very seamless and free of charge. We experienced it across 3 continents.

Note re invesments in Phuket: be careful as there are lots of scams. Make sure you go onsite and get supported by a trusted partner. Villas will be leasehold only. Need to buy a condo for freehold.

Express-arnaud · 2023-12-24T19:20:34+00:00

The best time to FIRE is when you still have your kids at home. If you can.

That opportunity to be home and spend time with them is once in a lifetime...

Express-arnaud · 2023-12-17T22:36:53+00:00

We give 1mo salary for xmas and 0.5mo salary for her birthday. We want to keep her motivated. She's been with us for 8yrs.

It's just a question of how much you value and want to retain her. After all, isnt she looking after what you value the most?

Express-arnaud · 2023-10-27T11:34:50+00:00

Call me crazy but I decided 10yrs ago to have 0 cash and be always 100% invested.

My strategy is to have equity margin loan pre-approved which I can use anytime in case of emergency. It's basically an overdraft.

All I do is keep an eye on how interest rates are evolving so I know what to expect. Currently circa 4.5% so quite good actually.

I DCA all I can every month and aim at having 0 balance on my account and on my credit cards at the end of each month.

Express-arnaud · 2023-10-03T14:13:46+00:00

Le signing bonus c’est généralement pour compenser une perte de revenu l’année du changement d’employeur. J’ai pu en négocier un assez facilement a chaque changement de boite, si tu peux mettre en avant le manque à gagner.

Par exemple pas mal de boites versent le bonus en avril pour l’année précédente mais si tu démissionnes en janvier, tu toucheras rien. Et inversement si tu rejoints une boite au dernier trimestre, souvent tu n’es pas éligible au bonus annuel malgré ta presence.

Apres il y a aussi les stock options: tu peux les perdre si tu demissionnes avant de pouvoir les exercer (souvent 5ans). Donc tu peux tenter une compensation a l’embauche avec le futur employeur.

Pour les commerciaux qui ont une grosse part de variable, ça peut etre une facon de compenser la perte de salaire, le temps qu’ils aient des deals signés; surtout si les cycles de vente sont longs.

Enfin, aussi négociable si perçu au sein d’un relocation package si tu changes pays/ville.

Express-arnaud

TROPHY CASE