rsbhj

One thing I think is really missed when people are looking at making the move from UK - Aus is the cost involved to just get there and set up, if they have no job offer and doing it all themselves.

At the moment I am at a standstill as my occupation was removed form the list need to wait until next July to see if its back on.

How do the figures below look for making the move possible

£30k (flights, shipping, visa's family x 4, 3 months wages)
£10k (extra pot for the above)
£15-20k (buy 2 cars outright)

Total - £55-60k

carcajou

We spent around $50,000 AUD, but furnished initially from IKEA etc and it was just my wife and I. You could easily double that or more.

Remember that virtually everything needs to be re-purchased down to the forks and candlesticks.

Three months' wages, in my view, is not a deep enough cushion. Go for 12.

rsbhj

I worked the £30k out at approx

£8k Visas
£4K Flights
£6k Shipping
£12k 3 x months wages

£10k is for anything that we need to dig extra into

The cars well thats hopefully what that will be £15-20k

I would struggle to get 12 months wages but I guess there comes a time if work is not happening you have to return

garyp

Everybody is different and depends what you are prepared to pay. A family of 4 I did it it for less than £20000 and that was with buying a car. Only had to pay medical costs as employer funded visas.After shipping,flights etc I took £10500 with me converted to about $17000. Gave myself 2 weeks before I started a planned job to sort everything. Bought car for $9000, payed short term rental,bond for long term rental and food. We managed no problem until the regular income came in

verystormy

But getting a job within two weeks is unusual. I always advise people to have enough funds for living costs for a minimum of 3 months and ideally 6.

Pollyana

Thats great if you have a job lined up, but if not.....

rsbhj

Yeah I would definitely be doing this all on our own no job to go to, no company to pay visa etc

The how much to take is the big question, right time right place and all good I think I’d be able to budget for another 3 months to allow 6 months but that would be the max.

Myself and wife and both said whoever gets work first full time, the aim is for me to work full time but when starting out it’s going whoever Gets the first opportunity.

The amounts of money is really starting to freak me out!! It is what it is but just huge amount

Beoz

I have moved country many a time.

Costs can vary depending on how you do it.

Last time I moved it was $25k-$30k but I had someone else paying for it and I certainly did not do it on the cheap. Flights, expensive accom, lawyers, shipping, purchases of whitegoods, furniture, etc.

The time before that was a fraction of that cost. Flights, and a bit of accommodation at the other end. No shipping. Nothing else.

It varies.

sr71

The cars seem excessive, you could go cheaper, get one car etc.

Pollyana

Not always practical for a family - kids going to the interminable activities after school need a car, and if one parent has the car for work......

rsbhj

We have 2 cars in the uk just now. I can’t imagine how things would work with one car. A lot would depend on the work situation once there.

Jilliebee

That's true. We've always had two cars till we moved from Darwin to Melbourne. Now we have one car and both commute to the city by train so it sits in the garage most of the time. No way would I drive into the CBD everyday x

Beoz

We (family) have 1 car. It only gets used on weekends and on the odd occasion on week days if I go to the office - that is rare. .... Sydney

Pollyana

How do your kids travel to their activities?

carcajou

With the cars it really depends on your circumstance.

We live in a rural area. My wife works in Town A, I work in Towns B, C, and D, and we live in Town E. Two cars are essential.

However they are small, economical cars that combined cost us less than what your average Australian would pay for one car.

If we both worked in Town E, things here are walkable and we could get by on one old jalopy if need be.

Public transport is deceptively expensive. I do think that, for example in Perth - factoring in both expense and time, one is actually better off with a small cheap car than relying on TransPerth.