Money issues

Now that I've got a job, I've been thinking about applying for Permanent Residency in Singapore. It sounds great since thats like...being HALF a citizen..but when I think of the financial effects, I dont really want to.

Since I'm only on a work permit currently, I am able to save a lot more money than I would if I had a CPF (The Singaporean version of the EPF) and the income tax to pay. This would mean that by the age of 26, I would have about SGD 33 000 saved. You do the math. Its a very appealing figure because that means I will be able to *at least in some small way* fund my own events business. My conservative mother would argue that I would have enough to pay for my own little wedding; she still refuses to believe me when I tell her I'm not getting married.

However, this figure dimishes significantly once I have my own CPF account and I have to pay income taxes. Try SGD 6000 in 5 years. Yes...Its a very depressing figure. You slave like a dog and thats ALL you have in your bank account.

So should I or should I not apply to be a Permanent Resident? It would make emigration a whole lot easier, I'll admit....BUT THINK OF ALL THAT MONEY! The faster I can get my business launched, the faster I can be my own boss and meet my own demands instead of having to live my working life by what my employer says and feels.

I have a year to think about this and then I have to decide. PR or work permit?

Which one, which one?

Whats a money minded, materialistic, individualistic bitch like me to do???

S.I.G.H.