Headed to the States for the summer? What do you plan to bring back with you?
When I first moved here, I'd cart four giant empty suitcases to the States and stuff them full. The longer I live here, however, the less stuff I drag across the globe. I've gotten used to what's here and less dependent on my products from my youth. Still, Singapore is a foreign country and things are not the same as back home. So here is a list compiled with lots and lots of input from folks on Facebook.
What to Bring
Keep in mind that Amazon, Lazada and Shopee deliver almost everything here, but at a premium. I just ordered a baby gift that was going to cost me $62 to deliver here. It was free to ship to my relative in the States. Needless to say, I'll be carting that back with me!
Below is a list of items people have suggested to AAS to bring over the years.
Clothing
As anybody who lives here knows, sizes here are for tiny Asian frames so if you are wear larger sizes, stock up on clothes – especially bras. And if you have big feet, buy your shoes at home!!
I usually bring lots of casual clothes, flats, dresses when I'm back home - but don't forget a few winter items, too. If you decide to go skiing in Japan, home at Christmas or to visit Australia in the winter, you'll need sweaters and jeans. These items are pricey and hard to find in Singapore.
Groceries
Food is delicious in Singapore. Cold Storage and Little Farms has almost everything you want and they even bring in special items for holidays like Thanksgiving. Spices are much better here, too! But there are some things you just get can't here yet and some things are here, then they aren't here due to shipping issues, then they're back again.
Cheez-its
Cornbread mix
Costco nuts
Diet Dr Pepper
Dried chilis such as ancho, chipotle et al
Everything but the Bagel seasoning
Everything you love from Trader Joe’s
Fritos
Frosted Poptarts (they only have unfrosted in Singapore)
Gravy mix packets
Jolly Rancher candies
Jones breakfast sausage patties
Heinz 57
Kraft Mayonaise
Pumpkin spice
Ranch dressing (powdered)
Shelf stable coffee creamer
Velveeta
Here's a tip:
If you have a Yeti cooler, you can bring frozen food all the way to Singapore without it thawing! I love being able to wake up and have some Jmmy Dean sausage.
Medications & Toiletries
Singapore has many over-the-counter meds, but may not have your favorite. This is true for lots of things like tampons, deodorants and more.
Advil
Antibiotic cream
Benadryl
Children's Medicine (pain relievers and cold medicines)
Cortisone Cream
Crest toothpaste
Dayquil/Nyquil
Deodorants
Over-the-Counter meds if you have favorites
Pepcid
Pepto BIsmol
Q tips
Sunscreen
Tums
Vitamins (pricey here!)
Other Items
All of these items are available in Singapore, but at a premium so it may be best to bring your own from home:
Baby swag
BBQ grills (tho note that some condos only allow electric)
Bicycles
Cards for birthdays and other occasions
Coleman or Yeti cooler (I checked mine as luggage)
Sheets to fit your mattress (mattress sizes are different here)
Wrapping paper
Closing Thoughts
For a more complete list, purchase Living in Singapore 16th Edition Reference Guide. This book is the bible for life in Singapore. Written by expats for expats, it covers everything from the move to shopping to hiring helpers to where to travel. And there are a lot of good suggestions in the book, too, for what you might want to schlep back to Singapore.
Did we leave something off the list you wish you'd known before? Email us at communications@aasingapore.com so we an update this list!
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