My R2I (Bangalore) diary / experience - Kalpesh145

[kalpesh145]

All,
Sorry to post this experience after rather long time, but just wanted to give impression after spending at least 3 months here in India.

Background:
Spent 11 years in US and returned back in Sep 07. Returned with REP, kids are USC. I am originally from Gujarat, but don't have good employment opportunity in Gujarat, so decided to go with Bangalore. In fact, I was open to relocate anywhere in India.

I got a job offer from US, but didn't start immediately. I took 1.5 months off after coming back to India. (That was one of the great advice came from Raja Hindustani, if I remember correctly). I wanted to get enough driving experience in India and spend some quality time with family before getting back to routine life. I have been driving my car and two wheelers myself here. That has been good so far.

One of my friend, who R2Ied with me is having tough time dealing with his driver. Driver calling sick, not coming on time..etc. So, my advice to would be R2Ier, don't depend too much on anyone here. Be it maid or driver.
My wife is also getting used to maids and life-without-maid now :)

Since many ask about initial expenses, my total calculation is close to 4 lacs on initial furnishing/setup (excluding car). I tried to create small sheet for monthly expenses. It could go between 30-40 K per month. I am renting 3 bd in Outer Ring Road for 14.5K. Initial months, expenses ran high as buying household items/utensils..etc.

Here is break-up for others information

No. Item Expenses
1 Rent 14,500
2 School 4,000
3 Airtel Mobile 800
4 Grocery 3,500
5 Electricity 400
6 Car/Activa Petrol 2,000
7 Milk 1,500
8 Newspaper 300
9 Misc (movie/dinner..etc) 3,000
10 Maid 800
11 Car Cleaner 300
12 TV Cable 200
13 Broadband 2000
Total ~ 33,000

My impressions about bangalore: Too crowded. But in a way, every metro/major city is crowded in India, so no need to complain about it.

Kids: They got adjusted pretty well, as my younger one is 2 yrs and older one is 4 yrs. My older one had hard time in beginning to catch up with writing skills and so on. But my wife spent good amount of time in first few months with the kid to get him on track. Now he seems to be enjoying his school and study.

Work: I am enjoying the work here. Work pressure seems much less compared to US. So far peers/co-workers also seem professional. Maybe 3 months is not long enough to judge that. Here companies have good culture of working from home, so that you can avoid driving in peak hours.

Feel free to ask queries.

[nand]

thanks for posting that. keep posting. your expenses seem rather low to me. i estimated 75-90K for myself incl 2 school going kids.


my guesses
1 Rent 25,000
2 School 10,000
3 Airtel Mobile 800
4 Grocery 7,500
5 Electricity 2000
6 Car/Activa Petrol 8,000
7 Milk 1,500
8 Newspaper 300
9 Misc (movie/dinner..etc) 3,000
10 Maid 800
11 Car Cleaner 300
12 TV Cable500
13 Broadband 2000

14 entertainment 2000
15 holidays 10000 (annualized?)
16 cook 4000
17 driver 6000

what am i missing. and this is comfy but not extravagant. you seem to be missing driver, holidays, too low on ent and grocery and petrol...

that aside, how are you liking it so far?? how do you pass your spare time??

thx and keep posting.

expenses aside

[kalpesh145]

Nand,
I haven't thought about other things that you mentioned like holidays, as I just started job after vacation.
Regarding rent, I am renting 1700 sqft apt in Sarjapur-ORR area (5 kms from my work) 3 bd/3bath for 14.5. If you go with sobha, it should be 15-16K. I didn't try any villas/bunglaws for rent.
Regarding school, monthly fees range from 5-50K here, so depends what you choose. My second kid hasn't started school yet.
Regarding Electricity, I am putting as per my bill for last month. May go high in summer.
I think need to average out for one year, before getting final numbers.

Regarding time-pass, so far our weekends are very hectic with shopping/buying necessary items, taking care of issues such as ration card, gas connection, FRO for kids..etc.
We do have cricket and volleyball team, so I am on the ground every sat/sun morning.

[nand]

thanks for filling in the details. now it makes sense.

Nand,
I haven't thought about other things that you mentioned like holidays, as I just started job after vacation.
Regarding rent, I am renting 1700 sqft apt in Sarjapur-ORR area (5 kms from my work) 3 bd/3bath for 14.5. If you go with sobha, it should be 15-16K. I didn't try any villas/bunglaws for rent.
Regarding school, monthly fees range from 5-50K here, so depends what you choose. My second kid hasn't started school yet.
Regarding Electricity, I am putting as per my bill for last month. May go high in summer.
I think need to average out for one year, before getting final numbers.

Regarding time-pass, so far our weekends are very hectic with shopping/buying necessary items, taking care of issues such as ration card, gas connection, FRO for kids..etc.
We do have cricket and volleyball team, so I am on the ground every sat/sun morning.[/quote]

[aagrawal98]

Thanks Kalpesh for posting your experiences and all the best settling down. A couple of questions that came to my mind:

1. Where is your work place and whats your mode of commute and time required?

2. You say 4 Lacs for initial furnishings, what does that include given that you live in a rented apartment. Didn't it come with some basic furnishings done?

We'll be R2Iing back to Bangalore in about a year's time. Just trying to learn from the experience of other R2Iers.

[vishwa777]

Hi Kalpesh,

Glad to know that you and your family have adjusted well in B'lore. Your info on expenses is very useful. That is what I estimated as well + 40 to 50k per year for holidays.

[kalpesh145]

Thanks Kalpesh for posting your experiences and all the best settling down. A couple of questions that came to my mind:

1. Where is your work place and whats your mode of commute and time required?

2. You say 4 Lacs for initial furnishings, what does that include given that you live in a rented apartment. Didn't it come with some basic furnishings done?

We'll be R2Iing back to Bangalore in about a year's time. Just trying to learn from the experience of other R2Iers.

1. My work place is on Outer Ring Road, 5 kms from my apt. I am driving car myself, so try to go early around 8-8:15 and come back early and work from home in evening if needed. This way I can avoid traffic.
If I start late for some reason, I go with my 2-wheeler.

2. Rental apartment comes with cupboards and geyser/lights/fans. 4 Lacs include other furniture like bed/sofa/dining table; electronic appliances like tv/fridge/washing machine/microwave; 2-wheeler (activa, mainly for my wife). I didn't ship anything from US.

[aagrawal98]

Thanks Kalpesh for the answers. Where do you do your groceries? I'm asking this question as we'll be moving to the same area as you (Akme Harmony, you must've seen it.) and whatever little time we spent in Bangalore didn't come across any Supermarket in that area.

[sftrade]

Nilgiris is right next to the sobha complexes. opp Akme Harmony.

[aagrawal98]

Thanks sftrade. Had to google Nilgiris to find out it was a Supermarket, but the description on Wiki about it is real good.