Planning to go home for good: how to make your savings work harder before you leave
14 October 2026
Leaving Singapore well takes more planning than leaving early. Here's how to think about the final stretch.
Most domestic workers think about going home from the very first week they arrive. That's not a bad thing. Keeping the goal in sight helps. But the workers who leave Singapore in the strongest position are usually the ones who planned the final year — not just the final flight.
Know your actual number
Before anything else, be clear on what you need. Not a vague amount — a real figure. What does it cost to build or repair the home? Pay for a child's school year? Start the small business? Write it down. Then work backwards from your expected last day of work to see how many months you have left to close the gap.
Many workers carry a number in their head that hasn't been updated in years. Prices at home change. The cost of land, materials, school fees — they shift. Call your family. Get a current estimate. It may be higher than you expect, and it is better to know now.
Separate your savings from your spending money
If your salary arrives in one lump and leaves the same way, it is very hard to track progress. Workers who save consistently tend to use a simple split: one account for remittances and locked savings, one for personal spending in Singapore. Even a rough system is better than none.
Some banks in Singapore offer accounts with no monthly fees that are straightforward to open. Apps like GCash, GrabPay, or bank-linked remittance services can also help you track what you send and what stays. The goal is visibility — knowing your number at any given moment.
Think about what you are returning to, not just what you are leaving
The workers who struggle most after going home are often the ones who planned the departure but not the arrival. If you are starting a business, have you spoken to anyone who runs one like it? If you are relying on a spouse or parent to manage funds, is that arrangement clear and agreed?
None of this needs to be complicated. It just needs to be thought through before you are exhausted from your last week of work and already on a bus to the airport.
Your profile is part of your plan too
If you are one or two contracts away from your target, the employer you choose next matters. A role that matches your skills, pays fairly, and treats you well is not a luxury — it is a financial decision.
At Anisya, workers build their own profiles and apply directly to employers. That means you can be deliberate about what your next placement looks like, not just grateful for whatever comes along.