How an Indonesian Professional Manages Money and Career in Singapore [Chills 230 ft Mickey Salim]

What does it really feel like to be an Indonesian professional building a life in Singapore?

We sat with Mickey Salim – a Jakarta-born, Hong Kong-raised marketing tech pro who’s now making her mark in Singapore. From landing a rare internal transfer without a job lined up… to navigating the messy, months-long process of relocating across Asia… Mickey spills the real tea on what it takes to make the move – connections, hustle, and a whole lot of persistence. She shares:

• The unexpected advantage she had from studying in Hong Kong – and why it made all the difference
• How she negotiated her relocation package & pulled off a bold, self-initiated international transfer against all odds
• A shocking “buyout” clause that let her jump to her new job faster
• Why she says living a decent life in Singapore might actually be cheaper than in Jakarta – yes, really
• Her bold money moves: from frugal beginnings to investing across borders, playing with crypto, and leveraging SRS for tax savings
• And the surprising reason she’s now certain she wants to *settle down in Singapore for good*

Mickey’s also a rising voice in the Indonesian community here – turning her content channel into a platform that’s connecting and empowering fellow expats.

This is a story of strategy, survival, and finding your place. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s packed with insights for anyone building a life away from home.

Don’t miss it. This one’s for every aspiring expat– and anyone who’s ever wondered what it takes to build a life across borders.

What We Discuss:

• 03:39 - Can you share more about your profession and background?
• 08:36 - How did you negotiate the transfer? What is the process?
• 11:30 - Are you on an expat or a local package?
• 14:55 - How is life in Singapore as an Indonesian professional, beyond work?
• 22:13 - How do you approach insurance when moving between countries for work?
• 26:40 - With a good surplus, how are you managing and investing your money?
• 30:12 - How did you develop your investment strategy with ETFs and currency?
• 35:22 - What makes you certain about staying in Singapore?

Episode Resources:

• Spotify
• YouTube
• Apple podcast

New episodes every Thursday