It’s no secret that the rental market in Singapore is a bit of a disaster, and finding a good deal is even harder than finding a needle in a haystack. But her persistence paid off, as Manyi managed to find a deal for a room in an HDB flat for $450/month. Here’s how she found it, the challenges of furnishing a small space, and her experience of living alone.
Find a room to rent on Telegram for $450
Photo credit: Manyi
Most of us turn to portals like PropertyGuru or 99.co when we are looking for a new room to rent. However, there is a thriving community of landlords and tenants on alternative platforms like Telegram. There is even a group – Room rental Singapore – which currently has over 16,000 members, and that’s where Manyi found her ace.
A landlord offered a spare room with a bed with storage, a super single mattress, and a window for the low price of $450/month. This was well under her budget of $600-700/month, and the room was also close to a subway station, so it was a no-brainer for her to immediately respond to the landlord who posted the ad.
Photo credit: Manyi
Granted, the room was in Woodlands and there were restrictions like no cooking and no visitors. There was also no air-conditioning in the room. But Manyi felt it was time for her to have her own space and she was also willing to compromise on the room’s shortcomings. So she took the plunge, contacted the landlord and took the rare opportunity to live in an apartment that was way below her budget.
Furnishing her room for $300
Photo credit: Manyi
After the lease was signed, Manyi immediately got to work setting up her cozy room. She found an affordable single mattress on Shopee, a used Dyson pedestal fan, and used Ikea furniture like a table lamp, floor lamp, and nightstand on Carousell.
“The prospect of turning an empty room into my personal oasis was challenging, but I was excited about it,” said Manyi. The biggest challenge for her was arranging everything to fit into the admittedly small space.
Photo credit: Manyi
Luckily, the room was big enough for the mattress, the nightstand that also served as a dressing table, and an open clothes rack. The Dyson tower fan also took up very little space. However, Manyi’s saving grace was the storage platform under the bed. This was also a help, as she only needed a room to rest in and worked and studied outside most of the time.
All in all, furnishing her room cost her only $300, a small price to pay for comfort.
Living in a shared apartment in Singapore for $450/month
One of the most daunting aspects of adulthood is independent living. Not only can it be a big change, but it can also eat up a significant portion of your monthly expenses – especially in the current market. Manyi hit the jackpot in this regard when she found a room that met all of her needs for just $450/month.
“Being independent is liberating, and managing daily tasks, finances and responsibilities has taught me a lot about self-discipline and management,” she said of her first foray into independent living. Although it went smoothly, she still thought about how she could have better planned her first move and setup costs.
For those who also want to move out of their parents’ nest and live independently, Manyi recommends being careful when looking for a suitable place. “Joining groups or platforms, like the Telegram group I found, can lead to hidden treasures,” she said.
She also recommends considering hidden costs such as transportation, groceries and utilities. “It’s not just about rent,” she warns. “And finally, be flexible and open-minded. Sometimes you get the best deals if you’re willing to compromise a little.”
Read more stories about renting in Singapore:
Photo credit cover photo: Manyi
This article was originally published on September 20, 2023 and updated on August 12, 2024.
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