Key Takeaways
- Singapore reality: Great for prime working years, but immigration favors contribution over long-term stay
- FIRE planning: If you don't want to work in India, achieve financial independence first
- Daughter's transition: CBSE school in Singapore made India adjustment easier
- Community value: Knowing others are on the same journey provides confidence
- Life after FIRE: From "no time" excuse to "too much time" challenge
The Singapore Context: Different from US/UK
Nithin explains why Singapore is unique among expat destinations:
"Singapore is slightly different from other common countries like US, UK, Australia. Their immigration is kind of very restricted, challenging. They want people to come as expats to work during their prime years, contribute to their economy, but they don't want them to live there forever."
The Age Factor
"They want them to contribute from their prime years until maybe 45-50 or whatever. Unless you go to very senior position, then you are welcome to stay until 60 also if you become like a director. If you're like a low-level individual contributor, your prime years will be until 40-45."
Singapore's Expat Reality
- Great for prime working years (25-45)
- Must keep growing in role to justify place
- Age increases but output expectations remain
- Hustle culture required to stay
- Eventually, return is inevitable for most
"Singapore is for people who are in that hustle culture who want to keep growing. Somehow that also didn't suit me because age-wise I was already 40 plus and career-wise I was not willing to put that much effort."
The Decision: Why Not Now?
Nithin's reasoning was practical:
"Eventually I decided anyway the next step is to go back to India. So it can be another 5 years, 10 years, or now. So if it has to be that we have to go back to India, might as well go now because we can then go and get accustomed to the environment."
The Daughter Factor
"Especially my daughter - for her it'll be like the longer she stays in Singapore, the more difficult it is to come back and adjust here."
Top Concerns Before Moving
Concern #1: Financial Independence
"The top number one was financial reason. If I come back to India it will be extremely difficult for my age to get an individual contributor role unless I put like double, triple kind of effort. So I wanted to make sure that if I return to India, it should be that I don't have to work in India."
The FIRE Logic
"At least I have some upside - otherwise if I have to go to work then I might as well continue there. It's much more easier in transport, everything is taken care. Singapore is much better to keep working. But India, if you don't really want to work, then India is good."
Nithin's approach:
- ✓ Double-checked corpus multiple times
- ✓ Verified withdrawal rate sustainability
- ✓ Ensured expenses could be covered
- ✓ Only moved when financially confident
Concern #2: Family Adjustment
"The second thing was about my family - whether they can get accustomed to India. My daughter, whether schooling-wise she'll be fine or not."
The Smart Planning
"The lucky thing was that my daughter was going to CBSE school already in Singapore. Foreigners are not allowed to go to the local school there. So we have to go to international school - either CBSE or Cambridge, IB, whatever - but not the local syllabus."
Benefits of CBSE in Singapore:
- Interaction mostly with Indian kids
- Indian teachers
- Familiar cultural territory
- Same language and communication style
- Bangalore's cosmopolitan nature matched Singapore experience
Concern #3: Wife's Independence
"For my wife, the major thing was that the kind of independence that she had in Singapore - she could go on her own on the trains, public transport is very efficient. She and my daughter would go independently, they'll never need me. Coming here it will again be like a dependency - she'll not be so independent because transport is not so convenient."
How Desi Return Helped
The Power of Community
"Desi Return's main factor was to know that there are other people also who are doing the same. So it's not just me who's taking this step. There are like thousands of other people who are moving back from even more developed countries like US, Australia, UK. So everybody's moving back."
"If they can do it, I can also do it."
Social Circle After Return
"The most important thing was the social circle. Once I moved back to India, I have missed my social circle. Just being part of the WhatsApp group, helping others, taking input from others, bouncing ideas - the social circle was a very big factor why I continue to stay in touch with everybody because we are now in the same boat."
Validation on FIRE Lifestyle
"Another factor was how to convey this message about being financially independent. Is it okay to tell this? Should we keep it a secret - 'I'm working from home and doing my thing'? After I watched the videos I realized that it's kind of okay, you can tell people that you are financially independent and people are not that nosy."
Life After FIRE: The Opposite Challenge
"Now I have a lot of time. So it became opposite. Before I had this excuse that I don't have time - 'I'm not exercising because I don't have time, I'm not doing this because I don't have time.' Now it is like I have a lot of time and I have to make good use of it."
From Autopilot to Steering Wheel
"When you have no time you can be on autopilot. You can say 'I'm going to work' - that's a good excuse. Life is on autopilot. Now life is not on autopilot. Now you are on the steering wheel and you have to decide what to do every day."
Nithin's New Routine
- ✓ Started playing badminton
- ✓ Drops daughter to school every day
- ✓ Picks her up from school
- ✓ Meets parents every day
- ✓ Family bonding time increased
"Before, the meter is running so at least some money is coming - you can while away your time, it's okay. Now you have to kind of justify. If you while away your time, you'll be guilty that you could do something else."
What's Next for the Family
"We're looking to do a lot of traveling within India and lot of leisure time, leisure activities that we can spend together. We're more bonded together now. We go and play badminton together. I take my daughter for badminton classes and I stay with her over there - if I was working then I can't do that."
Future plans:
- More family bonding and activities
- Traveling within India
- Leisure activities together
- Being present for daughter until she grows up
- Eventually empty nesters spending time together
Advice for Others
"Desi Return is a very good set of people who can share their knowledge and ideas. If somebody has some plans to move back, they can watch the videos and bounce their ideas. The logistics, tax planning - lot of things were not applicable for me because I was coming from Singapore, but for people coming from US they have to plan their taxes, investments."
Key Insights
- Community provides confidence that you're not alone
- Same questions get asked repeatedly - learn from others
- Tax and investment planning varies by country
- Social circle is crucial after return
- FIRE in India is achievable with proper planning
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Singapore different from US/UK for long-term stay?
A: Yes, significantly. Singapore's immigration favors expats during prime working years (25-45) who contribute to the economy. Unless you reach senior positions, staying beyond 45-50 becomes challenging. The system expects continuous career growth to justify your place.
Q: Should I achieve FIRE before returning to India?
A: If you don't want to work in India, yes. As Nithin says, "Singapore is much better to keep working. But India, if you don't really want to work, then India is good." Getting a job in India at 40+ as an individual contributor requires significantly more effort.
Q: How do you handle the "too much time" challenge after FIRE?
A: Structure your days intentionally. Nithin started playing badminton, does school drops/pickups, meets parents daily, and focuses on family bonding. The challenge shifts from "no time" excuses to being intentional about how you spend your time.
Q: Is it okay to tell people you're financially independent?
A: Yes, people are generally not as nosy as you might fear. Nithin was initially unsure whether to keep it secret, but found that being open about financial independence is acceptable and people don't pry excessively.
Q: How important is community when returning to India?
A: Very important. You will miss your social circle from abroad. Being part of communities like Desi Return WhatsApp group provides connection with others in the same boat - for bouncing ideas, getting input, and maintaining social connections.
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