Welcome to Geneva!

Welcome to Geneva!

This blog will give you an heads-up on living in Geneva. Take a deep breath and start reading it....

Housing...

Section A: Getting an idea on housing

• Renting a flat can be in multiple ways. You can get it 
• from flat owner directly OR 
• via Regie OR
• Regie - is an organized real estate agent who manage apartments /  buildings. There are many regie's in Geneva and Switzerland
• via Tenant (this is called Sub-Let)
• Usually via owner, most appliances (white goods) will be there. some flats comes with furnishing
• via Regie – mostly flat will be empty - this is best way, as the rents will be cheap and getting via them is bit tricky (you will learn, when you start applying for flats)
• Sub-let – mostly fully furnished. Technically existing tenant rents you since he is abroad or will be moving out soon or going on vacation 
• Sub-let can be three ways.
• Long Term stay (legitimate option) - if the existing tenant (via Regie) has a valid contract, where he can sub-let his/her flat to others. He gives a valid contract of stay with you & him/her.
• Long Term stay (legitimate option) - via Regie – this will involve your documentation with Regie
• Temporary / short stay (ok) – Long Term ( no – don’t take it) – existing tenant or sub-let’er is NOT ready to give contract OR you can stay in JohnKnox

Initially to save cost, go in sub-let (will save you hotel costs), then search for flat via Regie or owner - usually this will take 2-3 months and depends on availability, your likeness on the flat and etc...

Alternatively, lease-takeover is easy option.

By default, a rental contract with Regie is for minimum 1 year and sometimes 3 years or 5 years period. If someone has to move out, then s/he is required to submit 1-2 eligible applicants to Regie/owner who will take over the flat. The existing tenants will post their ads in internet using glocals & FB groups, asking to visit and apply for lease take over. This does not mean that you have to serve remaining period, but it will be new lease in your name. Don’t worry, you will find an applicant when you need to move out.

You can view the ads, by joining / searching in the below websites/groups

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Genevelocation/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/396738560372636/
http://www.glocals.com/classifieds/geneva/housing-and-real-estate/ (similar to sulekha in India)
Geneva Indian Email Group
Indians in Swiss Email Group

Few sites where you can view the ad from Regie

HomeGate
ImmoScout
ImmoStreet
RealEstate Search Engine
BilFinger
Consolidated Regie's Website List


Section B: Understanding how flats are classified & rent sample

• Every room is called piece here. For a 1 BHK - 1 hall, 1 bed room, 1 kitchen, it will be called as 3 pieces flat. You can opt of 3-4 piece flat (1 or 2 BHK). - rent varies from CHF  1200 to CHF 2200 (very old flats [40+ years old] costs less, and new flats costs more)

Average rent price per 20 sq. m = CHF 600.

Decent Studio (size 20-30 sq.m) - CHF 800-1400
Decent 1 BHK - 3 piece (size 40-55 sq.m) - CHF 1000-1800
Decent 1.5 BHK - 3.5 piece (size 60-75 sq.m) - CHF 1500-2000
Decent 2 BHK - 4 piece (size 60-100 sq.m) - CHF 1800-2500
Decent 3 BHK - 5 piece (size 80-150 sq.m) - CHF 2200-3200

Section C: Furnishing

• Appliances & Furnishing (mattress / cost / sofa / TV / washing machine / dish washer / cook top with grill / microwave / vessels / kitchenware ) based on flat, you can get it. 
• Even if you get an empty flat, white goods & furnishing (NEW) will cost around 4 to 6K max as one time.
• If you feel, your stay is 2 years or less, you can think of buying used items also.
• Check out glocals classifieds OR FB groups below
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/132683256821749/
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/Goodeal/

Section D: Deposit

• Deposit is 3 months when you sign a contract with Regie or Owner.
• You need to Open an account to deposit the Advance. Check UBS Rental Surety Account
• Duration of contract is by default 1 year or 3 years. 
• 3 months’ notice period and you can't break within 1st year. if you break, then either you need to pay OR find a suitable tenant
• For sub-let. Usually 1 month deposit.
• Remember here, it is advance rent. It means 1st April; you pay rent for April month.
• you need to get Liability insurance 

Living

• Veg - average cost - per person CHF 300-500 month (on the higher end)
• Non-veg - average cost - per person CHF 400 - CHF 600 month (on the higher end) 
• All spices & food is available with grocery shops managed by Srilankans, Pakistani & Indian people.
• http://www.namasteswiss.ch/en/grocery_stores
• check out Asian Spices & Madhura Marché
• Grocery Shopping
• CoOp
• Migros
• Denner
• Aligro
• Border cross-shopping / carrefour

Transport 

• If you know your contract/stay period in Geneva, then opt of an year pass CHF 550 (instead of monthly CHF 70) as it will save cost. TPG is the Geneva transport provider.
• If you love driving (minus parking cost + other expenses), buy used / new car 
• If you are determined to get an car, remember within 365 days of  your arrival to Geneva, you can convert your existing Indian driving license to valid Swiss License.
• Ensure that you have a valid plastic card based license (not an book format), else change it before coming from India
• OR else get an half-fare SWISS PASS (CHF 165 annual renewal)
• Swiss trains/bus are almost ON-TIME
• Get 1 day travel pass (regular CHF 73…if you buy 5, you will get 6, works out CHF 60 approx)
• OR get commune (fixed date) day pass (subsidized rate). Check out the commune site you live in.

Insurance

• Health (compulsory)
• Your travel insurance is NOT a valid insurance in Geneva
• Health Insurance is compulsory and you need to take within 3 months of your arrival in Switzerland. Refer Link and News Link
• Usually if you are deputed from India, medical insurance is managed by your employer, else add CHF 800-1300 for the whole family (of 2 adults + 2 kids) per month.
• Opt for Standard insurance which would cost CHF 400-600 per person with max outgo as CHF300 (premium reduces with deductible increase)
• If you want to save on premium, opt for TelMed or HMO model. Premium would be CHF 200-300 with max outgo as CHF 2500
• Check for Assura PHARMed 
• Check https://en.comparis.ch/krankenkassen/default.aspx 
• Liability (compulsory) when you take an flat from Regie. Check Axa

Income Deductions / Taxation (based on your employer / your work contract)

• Taxation period - Jan to December
• Tax rates varies based on your marital status, income source from members, dependents etc..
• Tax rates vary from 0.04% to 37%
• Based on your employment contract with your employer, you might need to pay for Pillar 1 (Swiss State Pension scheme) OR you can pay EPF in India (Social Security Agreement between India and Switzerland entered into force on 29 January, 2011)
• Pillar 1 (complusory), Pillar 2 (your employer) and Pillar 3 (optional from your end to save tax). To get an idea, do read this.
• If your spouse is home maker, no income, then you need to submit a form with employer so that your tax deduction is less. Do check with your attorney/ employer.
• http://ge.ch/impots/system/files/documents/IS/2014/is_avis_aux_employes-2014-en.pdf
• Refer to the Geneva Canton income tax rates
• if above link does not open, search for bareme impot source geneve 
• Tax rate for 2016 

Typically an bachelor / spinster with 96K will pay 12% tax rate

a couple with spouse no income with 96K will pay 8% tax rate

a couple with spouse no income and 1 kid with 96K will pay 5% tax rate

a couple with spouse no income and 2 kid with 96K will pay 2% tax rate

Schooling

Canton (district administration) has French as the medium, however if your stay is temporary (say 2 years on L permit) then joining to an international school with British (English) curriculum is relevant in Geneva, if you have grown up kids (8+).

There are around 5-7 schools in Geneva. Would recommend http://www.iil.ch/en/ . The overall cost for private schooling is between 25K - 40K (depends on which school you join). If your employer will take / coverage of schools fees from 50-85% ...so it would be well in control on the finance.

Schools start on Sept. while admission starts in Feb/Mar of every year (in some schools previous Dec itself). Get school admission and then search for flat, so that you have walkable distance from it.

If you want to join public school, select flat near your work place, as public schools are there everywhere.

Public School is subsidized or say free, so you will have to pay nominal charges, when required.


Swiss Banking / Transferring Money to India

• Before travelling open an SBI NRE account else convert your existing account from SB to NRO.
• Recommended would be opening an NRE Account from your favorite bank, in case you feel SBI is cumbersome
• UBS is recommended bank as have nominal charges and have ATM's widely.
• Transferring to India (international transfer) they charge only CHF 5
• remember to select *charges borne by the receiver* when sending money to India
• You can also use TransferWise instead of UBS direct transfer.

Miscellaneous

• Internet, TV/Mobile device licensing, other charges (heating / electricity), mobile  - approx 100-250 CHF per month
• Mobile
• If you will be speaking only to people in India, buy an LycaMobile. Data plan is the cheapest and you can opt for VOIP & WhatsApp / Viber calling.
• If your work depends on mobile locally, then opt for Company provided or Sunrise / Swisscom better.
• Internet for home comes with bundle or standalone.
• Standalone package is only internet, which can be subscribed from UPC. They have tie up with Naxoo (who are local providers) separate charge (CHF 20-30) for them. Do check with Regie, before subscribing to Internet, as sometimes only certain provider will be allowed/subscribed to.
• BILAG
• This is mobile (radio) /TV licensing. If you have internet connection and watch programs using it, then you need to opt for BILAG with radio licensing. If you don’t do it, ISP will send report and automatically you will get bill. So better opt on your own.
• If you have TV, then opt for TV licensing

To sum-up, Monthly Expenses would be

Housing (rent/heating/internet/BILAG) - CHF 1200-2000
Living (food) – CHF 500-1500
Health Insurance - CHF 300-900
Transport – CHF 70-200
TDS / Tax - approx CHF 500-600 (varies on your marital, dependent status)


Enjoy your stay in Geneva!

Health & Food - See them the way, you are!

Update on Dec'14 : ScienceAlert on "How to reduce fat in our body?"

When ever there is topic on health or food, many in fact start talking about many types of exercises and diets that should be followed to be healthy. I just wonder, how many people really can stick to that regime for life?

We are made of 5 senses, which are unique to us and shunting them is one of the most disaster things we do to our healthy well being, which many forget.

Just to recap the senses we have Sight, Hearing, Taste, Smell, Touch. Though we have more than these senses, but these are the profound for  being a human and makes us unique.

In our human civilization, there are many cultures and traditions every place has to offer, it is up to you to understand and live, else you need to follow what others tell you, which would forgo your own identity and trying to become someone else, while they will never welcome you. This is the bitter truth. Oops spirituality in health. Thoughts are so weird that health, food and spirituality all can co-exist and do exist.

In simple terms...

Health - live a life without the need/help of others

Food - eat the way you feel that is good for you

Now when I think of Health - everyone recommends to do exercise like walking, swimming, jogging/running, aerobics, cycling, air silk, gym, treadmill etc... and so many. I just wonder what these do? They burn your calories or fat or excess stuff that you have in  your body and make you look healthy. But are you really healthy? These exercises are so rigorous that your physical body gets like a molding formation structure. It is like a car, you need to keep the structure of it in the way it looks, but are we a car or a material? For how many years you can keep this? Just wondering how many can realize this?

We are human living beings and can never be in the same form or shape, but what we can do it, adapt to the age and have a form that is acceptable by ourselves for a better well being. This leaves us to  understand what these exercise does or how it works.

Most of the people in cold countries, do these techniques. I feel that it might be required, as they don't have heat energy naturally, so they generate it by doing these rigorous activities. Now is this applicable in general(all weather)?

I would say, a big NO. The reason is simple, the food we eat is based on the climate we live in. Though industrialization has happened and many dishes/food varieties are available in most the places, but people eat the most, which is want is available in their surrounding environment. This is the reality.

I am not referring to the immigrants or refugees but the natives in these places!

Stating this, in a climate with no chill breeze or cold weather, what is better? Already there will be heat in the climate, what ever we eat, it drains out and makes to always intake more. Doing these kind of rigorous activities, is like you increase the portions of your food and going against the nature/environment you live in.

How or what this does (rigorous exercise)? It increases your breathing capacity in turn rejuvenating the whole body/mind by increasing the oxygen levels. 

Can we achieve this by any other method? Yes. It is simple and requires only the space you occupy. It is called Holistic Exercise and in local terms called as yoga. This is one form of exercise or say positions that increases your breathing capacity there by changing/improving your health overall. If you think that rigorous workout is the only option , think again. Try learning these positions, there are many, however start with Sun Salutation or locally called as Surya Namaskar formation, which has 12 positions that makes you feel the purpose of your body in the way, you are.

When your mind and body is conditioned with all the energy to burn it, why should you worry about food? Just eat what you like, when you like. But remember anything excess can be harmful. So understand your body and fine tune them where it is required. Restricting your 5 senses is not the only way, to be healthy. Being holistic healthy is more important.

2 GB Internal Storage Android Phones & Issues

Growth of Android phones was majorly due low pricing and during early 2012-13, most of the phones that were sold was having 1 or 2 GB as internal storage and running in Jelly Bean version of Android OS. 

But around mid-2013, many mobile manufacturers started introducing phones with internal storage with 8/16 GB, while users fumed on it, as it didn’t come with SD card slot. However lately (2014) we have phones with 8/16/32 GB as internal storage and SD card slots with 32/64/128 GB capacity.

Now why did they increase internal storage suddenly from 1 GB to 8+ GB?

These pre-2013 phones were having an issue, which manufacturers or say even Google recognized lately that most of the app was getting installed on the phone storage and these apps like FB, G+ or any app started consuming lot of cache / data space which displayed ‘storage issue’ whenever we try new app as there was no space in the phone. This started making the phones unusable or not able to experience new apps and features.

Many users either changed phones or were using old features. Instead of changing your mobile or rooting it, I am going to list few steps that might solve this issue, to an extent.

Tips:

• Clear the cache of the apps that you are using in your device. You can search for App Cache Cleaner in your Play Store. Do them at regular intervals or schedule it.
• Move the apps to SD card, if the developer has given an option during install. You can use App2SD or Move2SD apps for this.
• Usually apps working from phone storage are faster, but now that we have Class 10 SD cards available in the market, apps running from SD card (class 10) has also similar experience. 
• There are some apps, which is not required to be in the Phone Storage, but still gets installed and occupy space, as the developer makes it with his program. These can be moved by doing the below steps.
• Connect your phone to the PC /Notebook and install the correct mobile driver in your PC or Notebook, so that the phone is recognized by the system.
• Download ADB tools
• Windows Version : http://dl-ssl.google.com/android/repository/platform-tools_r19.0.1-windows.zip
• Linux Version : http://dl-ssl.google.com/android/repository/platform-tools_r19.0.1-linux.zip
• Other Platforms : http://ady.my/viewer/platform-tool.html
• How to do this?
• http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-install-apps-onto-your-SD-Card-No-Root/?ALLSTEPS

Enjoy the same phone with all the new features, instead of changing them ;)

Home remedies

We have become so much dependant on external factors, that sometimes, we feel that without these we can't live/survive. Well, I am talking about medicines, which has become part of our daily routines now-a-days due to the environmental changes, social changes, work, relationship, climate ......changes.

Change is inevitable, but does medicines really bring change?

Our human body are designed in such a way that it has self-healing capacity, however we need to give some time. But due to various external factors, we want things to happens 'NOW' and due to that reason, we take the medicines / drugs.

Not only human body, every living creature has this capacity, but only WE don't use it properly.

I found a book written in Tamil, which provides some benefits of daily veggies, herbs, fruits etc.... that can bring back or reduce the usage of drugs in the long run.

Recommend you to read it, so that you can get benefited.

Here is the link for the same 'Home made remedies'

NOTE: The book is pretty exhaustive [321 pages]

Landing : UK

Few things you need to know and do before and after coming to United Kingdom.

Before You Start

1. Check out what you need from your Country : Handy Travel Kit List
2. Plan your  flight 
1. You can book additional baggage for least cost, if  you are travelling by BA or opt for any flight which provides 46 Kg luggage space!
2. Visit SkyScanner to get good prices for your air-trip
• Tip :  If you travelling from South India. Why can't  you try booking flights from Delhi - London? Costs will be halved! Check out plans & options.
3. Take a chest X-Ray of yours and keep it in Hand luggage
1. Currently there is Restrictions on TB patients or diseases related to it. Do check before travel.
4. Planning to buy a new mobile?
1. It is 30-40% cheaper compared to India, so why not shop @ UK?
5. Get your friends or relatives address, where you are planning to stay.
6. Get the bus or transport / contact details, to where you are going. Keep them handy.
7. If you know car driving and have valid India Driving license, then would recommend you to get a International Driving License from your RTO. The International Driving License or your Indian Driving license is valid for 1 year here, after that you need to obtain a UK Driving License. Driving in UK is one of the cheapest mode of transport for trips especially and you can rental car which are very affordable.

Once you Land in UK

1. Get a mobile number [ SIM]
1. If you are always going to get in touch with your friends & relatives back in India, then you might need specialised SIM from any vendors like Lyca / Lebara /  Vectone /  Nowmobile / GTmobile etc...
2. If your profile requires UK calling and India [personal] calling then opt for providers like O2 /  Orange /  Vodafone etc.... 
3. Tip : Every vendor has various schemes, which will work out from ½ pence to 1 pence, when you top-up depending upon the scheme you are in. Currently direct calling to India is 1 penny. If you manually dial the number, then it might be ½ pence. You can take 'Unlimited Landline scheme' from Orange or any similar providers and top-up, which will make you ½ pence.
2. Get a bank account [Similar to Savings Account in India is called as Current Account in UK]
3. If possible [just ask for it, will be very helpful], get a Credit Card provided by your  UK Bank
4. Register you UK debit & credit card in the CashBack Sites listed below
1. Fivers
2. TopCashBack
3. Quidco
4. FutCash
5. BeforeIShop
6. uPromise
7. FatWallet 
8. Bing 
9. ePionions
10. Quidsinuk
11. Cashback
12. Wepromise
13. UKRewards
14. PennyMix
5. Accommodation [Either plan with your friends or get enquire an agent to get houses/flats for rent]
1. Rent Cost Approx : UK except London City - £500 - £700 for 1 or 2 BHK
2. Rent @ London City - £ 900 - £1600
• Tip : Don't worry about furnished or unfurnished accommodation! There might be difference of £50 - £150 on monthly rental between unfurnished flat & furnished flat. hmmm...so where or how to furnish a flat then? Check out your local area / nearest charity shops. You would find Good Sofa Sets, TV [CRT] at a very high discounted price and they will also deliver them with minimal cost! Though it might be seconds, it is worth trying them. You can recover the cost in 3 months. While departure, you can either return to the charity shops for free and throw them away!! [This is how it works here]
6. Shopping – Grocery
1. ALDI for Veggies & fruits
2. Asian Shops – for Asian Veggies & sub-continent products
3. LIDL for Special Weekend offers
4. Morrison’s – multiple offers, value for money
5. Sainsbury’s – multiple offers, value for money & quality
6. ASDA - multiple offers, value for money & but it might  be far from your place :( 
7. Tesco – Think of this, as a last option, as mostly it is Volume based buys
8. Co-Operative - If this the nearest!
• Tip 1 : Most of the dishes we use need Tomatoes. Try 'Can Peeled Plum Tomatoes' the nutrients or tastes the same with less cost. Other items, which you can try from frozen or can are Garden Peas, Corn and some times drumstick, bitter-gourd, cauliflower.
• eShopping for Groceries..
• Amazon
• AsianCookShop
• eMasala
• SpiceofIndia
• iTadka
• Heera
• Thanima
• For Germany : GetGrocery
7. Shopping – £1 or cheaper shops
1. Poundland
2. Pound-stretcher
• Most of your initial purchases and also while returning to your home country, will/can be in  Poundland, which will save you a lot :)
8. Internet Connection [ In UK, you need to have phone connection to get this]
1. For bundles - Phone, TV, Internet - Virgin Media / Sky / BT
• NOTE: You need to have TV License to watch live programs [ it can be broadcasting from anywhere]
2. For only Internet + Phone - Plusnet / O2

Will add more, based on further experiences... do pop-in later!