Pants

Grayling..just thought I would add my 2 pennies worth !

Hubby's income..approx $83,000. Hubby is in IT and works shifts

We are a family of 3 plus dog.

This is not trying to scare anyone but we have no money put aside at the end of the month for anything much at all. We are by no means frivolous...just basics. My hubby can earn more in the UK and we can have the equivalant mortgage etc back home.....maybe we just came to the wrong State..I know it's pretty expensive in NSW. !!All in all we are no better off except we do own an investment property which just pays for itself !!Of course I could go and work and pay childcare fees which would propably be what I earn in wages..!!!

All in all I do think it depends on where you live...circumstances.
As I said this is just the basics.....I could go into details but I don't want to bore anyone.!!!Any info needed I am happy to oblige !!

HUP

I am not trying to scare you here but the figures you are talking about are roughly what we are on for a family of 4. We own one car out right and have a loan of $15000 for the other car. Our outgoings (Mortgage, utilities, insurances, $300 into savings (That'll really go far NOT) )leave us around $350 a week for general living including food, petrol, clothes, doctors, dentists etc etc.

At this moment we are feeling the pinch. It is not as though we are struggling majorily but we are having to budget carefully. Hevs extra income will relieve the burden and make our lives easier. We are very lucky that we have a permenant child minder just up the road (Hevs mum) and gives us both the freedom to work (She aslo feeds us and sends us food parcels when we can't put food on table )

The figure of $80000 is one I would put for an average family of four with a modest mortgage who want to have an enjoyable familty life. Of course this is based on my experiences and every family will have different circumstances. I would just say think very carefully about it, research your salary expectations.

Jaykay

I posted this on a previous thread a while ago.

Hope it helps.


We are also a 2 adult, 1 child (5 year old daughter) family. Our monthly outgoings are as follows:

Rent - $185 per week (we rent a friends house so may be a bit lower than normal).
Food - $600-$700 per month.
Petrol - $35-$40 per week, depending on what we do and where we go. We are a one car family at the moment.
Mobile Phone $21 per month. Currently also a one mobile phone family, but we have seen a pre paid for $75, so will probably buy this for other half.
School fees - $1200 per year. This includes uniforms (both summer and winter, and sports).
Gas - $20? We've only had one gas bill so far so not really sure.
Electricity $250 this quarter (and that wasn't even winter heating)
Phone $50 per month.
Internet $60 per month. This is for broadband.
Car Insurance/Rego $800 per year.
Phone Card $20 per month (for international calls)
Outings/Activities - $200 per month. This also includes all of our daughters sports groups i.e. swimming lessons, pee wee tennis, pee wee netball, kids gymnastics.
Clothes - No idea as I haven't needed to buy anything for a while....okay I bought 3 new t-shirts the other day but they were only $15 each.

Can't think of anything else offhand, but I know there's more as our bank balance keeps depleting.

We are also on a one income wage at the moment. I'm doing about 30 hours a week @ $24 per hour, so on average bring in just over $1200 per fortnight.
This doesn't actually cover our outgoings, so we are eating into our savings a little bit.

Regards

Jensen Healey

Gross or net?

Bix

Here's a thread I started in Jan ref wages:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...ighlight=wages

Makes interesting reading considering some of the comments on this new thread.

WBB

either really.

maxpaxx

Good thread G,

This subject has been quite topical in our house too.

Ed is going to be on a $105,000 package in Perth so don't feel thats at all bad.

We have been spending more on food here than on our mortgage so I think we will make a great saving here. Still I am not going to be working with the kids so small but i think if you can stay debt free (apart from the mortgage) it makes life easier!

The question is when do you stop thinking in ££ and start living in $$

Max

Andy Pandy

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Grayling
Debs
A lot of this concerns me too.
Iwill be selling a house here , will be taking a lot of money and both my wife and I will have good pensions. Theoretically we have nothing to worry about.

Trouble is I don't have a clue about relative costs and it is something that is very difficult to find out about.
No body knows what their salary will be.
A lot of reports on here state that people are earning less than they thought they would and things cost more

I can work if I choose as I am a registered Nurse. It was not my intention though
Maybe I will have to if I want a good lifestyle like I have here.
I am all for adventures but common sense has to play a part as well.
I WANT to hear people's experiences. Warts and all!!

HI GRALING,
From experience so far, and I understand that not everyone can do this, but I would not bring all your investments to Aus. For at least 12 months, rent your house out with the option to sell later. We are a family with four kids and I would agree that 70 to 80,000 dollars per year is not to far out to have a good life style here.

hevs

It amazes me that because many people think that they will be mortgage free that they will live easily. Our mortgage in the UK was paultry £250 per month. Its the monthly out goings that add up.

Set up cost will vary massivly, but the norm is

Removals and customs clearence
House (remember STAMP DUTY)
Car (REMEMBER STAMP DUTY)
Driving test and licence (varies state to sttate $23 for test $140 for 10 years)
Mobile phone (PAYG cos no jobs $99 each)

YEARLY:
Rates $800 p/y
car rego $500 p/y (times2)
house ins $600 p/y (REMEMBER STAMP DUTY)
car ins $400 ish p/y (times2)(REMEMBER STAMP DUTY)
school fees $250 (times 2)
School camp £210 (next year huge cos their going to Canberra)
TAX BILL!! unknown quantity yet. (everybody has to do a tax return!)
Vaccinations for mutts ($120)

MONTHLY
Phone $90 p/m
Water $12.50 (very cheap cos not on mains!)
electricity $130 p/m (D/D)
internet $29.99 (dial up)
car loan $485 ( a bummer, but hey, i need transport!)

Weekly
Food $160 ish
Petrol $50-60
Bunnings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Termly
Netball $25 (cheap cos school subsidize)
Money for joey scouts and cubs (don't know exact costinga but will be a couple of hundred)
Shool trips ($50 so far)

OUTGOINGS IN THE UK......
Life insurance (must really get round to sorting this out )
Endowment
Timeshare maintainance

On top of this there are things like Birthdays (both my kids july)
Weddings, barbies, days out, clothes, uniforms, you know the usual stuff that we all need.

HOLIDAYS!!!! (camping seems a great option at the mo!!!)
OUTINGS!!! cinema, playzone etc (granted, less overhere)
PRIVATE HEALTH (if you want it and can afford it)
Then there the very important issue that Megs raise PENSIONS!!

Yeah, that mortgage payment is a really bonus


Now i know as i send this there is stuff i've forgotten. Having no mortgage is not the massive thing that its being made out to be, you still need to spend money just to live

Badge

It is exactly the same in the UK. Bought a house prior 1999? In a half decent job. You're OK. Anyone else - your're buggered - but at least in Australia you have free sport and free lifestyle and lifestyle extras that cost less or are free.

Also that paultry 250 a week/month that HUP and Matt talk about is a dream for most of us now back in the UK - my mortgage would be 1500 pounds a month for a family home.

Remember Matt and Hevs spend a lot of money on the house recently, and Matt, the only earner, is underpaid at least 20pc.
Don't want to be rude mate, but you have a grouse bathroom now - of course you are skint. Its the cost of start up..once you get the payrise and the DIY over - bingo.

80k OK I reckon. Depends. Not a bad figure. I agree. Many of you will have no mortgages too.

I earn AUS100,00 and am spending it all (!)- but this includes mega spending on wedding, house kitting out, and
AUS1,200 ute bill
annual rego, NSW-VIC transfer, inspection, new tyres, brakes

to sort it for the year - maybe 2. A huge overhaul to make it good so I don't begrudge the spend - all it will need now is oil changes which I do myself.

Once we are through this we will save 1000-1500 a month. And still have a AUS1000 disposable money for crap as well as our actual budget spend. 1500pm?

Actual spends. For 2. Monthly.

AUS50 bucks a month gas for the fire which is on all the time!!
AUS50 bucks phone a month.
AUS100 bucks electricity - 3 months?
AUS50 broadband ADSL. 4gb download 512/xx Swiftel.
AUS200 bucks fuel- I drive 100km a day M-F, and a bit at the we (quite a bit sometimes).
AUS1000 rent a month.
AUS320 Food for 2 - includes bread, fillings for sandwiches(lunch).
AUS60-100 bucks per meal, for 2, eating out. I never drink coffee after a meal, we might share a pudding. Don't want to get fat.
Some money on drink - we have a glass of wine or two each a few times a week. I don't drink too much as I want to preserve my power to weight ratio, aerobic fitness and stamina. I might get through a carton at home every 6 weeks at most. More if I get invited out.
AUS400 MrsB housekeeping extra for coffees, gym once or twice a week. Seems little buts its the little things she does.

I spend literally nothing *routinely* on myself in the week, except for fuel. No paper, no coffee, no coke. I'm at my desk working. Luxury - Melbourne Storm Rugby League Half Season Ticket plus free entry to bar. 75 bucks.

We spend 80 a week on food and have all the staples. Meat every day in sandwiches - thanks darling - meat in the evening every day it seems! - a swag of fruit and veg - most I have ever bought in my life. Cheese. Vitamins. Milk. It never ceases to amaze me how much money people spend. I have never ate so well. A packet of Tim Tams a week.

One other thing - people /families always spend too much EVERYWHERE. I look at the other people in the supermarket and their baskets are full of junk. On my own I bought some chocolate and crap, and spent 40 dollars one week rather than the 30 I normally spent on myself.

If we had no mortgage we would be very comfortable. And I estimate our mortgage to be 150,000. Maybe 1000 a month to service it? Same as rent. And then eventually MrsB will work too - she will earn more here than we ever realised!!! More than in London. I was gobsmacked when I realised what she would be earning.

When we have kids we will cut all unnecessary spending on ourselves - run cheap car(s) - exp cars are a complete waste. I will never buy a new car. What's the point - buy one 3 yrs old at most - but I would spend c 10k - 15k is my rule. Money that we might spend on exp clothes, gadgets, holidays, shoes, CDs, DVDs will go on the kids. eg they get the Tim Tams, get the idea? All I need to be happy is Mrs B, somewhere to train and run - no cost at all - ADSL, rugby on the TV, my body, fitness, and health, good company, and a good book.

BM

ABCDiamond

I was paying £1,100 pm !!! Now i'm not paying any

But I agree that there will be different extremes, and not everyone will be as comfortable as some others.

Don't worry too much about the Tax Bill, unless you are self employed, as most wage earners get tax refunds. Obviously if you have investment income or UK income, that may well be different.
But I can't wait for the end of june, and get the tax return done, and look forward to that annual tax refund cheque

The bottom line is that most people will end up being in a similar financial position, but in a sunnier climate

hevs

Badge mate, you missed my point entirely.

People are saying how much BETTER off they will be here in Aus because they have no mortgage. The fact is that day to day living is as dear, if anything dearer. FACT.

Out off all the things i listed the only thing cheaper is my water rates, now they would take some beating

Theres also the extras here that we don't pay for in the UK such as school fees, medicare etc.

Now you cannot accuse me of being a winger and if you do i'll be down to sort you out later:lecture: BUT all i am doing is pointing out that once you are earning an AVERAGE Aussie wage things seem more expensive. You also cannot accuse me of living friviolously cos you know a day out for me is a trip to Bunnings

You earn a WELL ABOVE average wage and there are only TWO of you, so you will be feeling very well off at the moment, i hope for both your sakes that it continues.

PS I hope you like homebaked wedding presents

Peter

I thought you were a Lloydy fan? That'd make you a full-forward!

hevs

i'm more of a Hirdy girl meself

Go da bombers toninght, go get them Lions

Go Banana's !!

Good thread and extreeeeeemly relevant to us.

I breathed a huge sigh of relief when I read it, as it confirms we have done our research. The rels in Oz have been great and provided us with their outgoings and in goings.

We are well aware of the fact that in reality the cost of living is more expensive in relation to the wages.

But we WILL be mortgage free in fairly decent house, school fee's dramatically reduced. We constantly review what we will have to live on in Oz and we feel we will be better off. We will be able to buy 2 cars for cash and due to both our work/school journey's our petrol bill will be slashed amoung other things.

We have a hefty mortgage at the mo, but have alot of capital tied up too.

Our short term situation is that Warren will be sending daughter and I a monthly allowance which will be about $3,000 and have calculated that will be fine (no initial rent as in house owned by an Aunt and car will be paid for in cash).

We will in the short term, be careful as once we have built/bought a house we won't have any rent to pay if that makes sense.

We have also put in an emergency fund and enough money to live off for a year if Hub's doesn't get a job.

I think we as risk free as we can be under the circumstances (having family really helps), but you do have to think very carefully and realistically just how much money you will have.

Top tip make sure the emergency fund is healthy.

Good luck everyone
Jill

In Perth by 14th July 2004

:scared: