iamthecreaturefromuranus

No, I wouldn't make the move currently either.

spartacus

Me neither . . . not if I was having to exchange GBP to $ . . . doing that would just make Australia seem really expensive permanently . . . when really it isn't.

iamthecreaturefromuranus

Dead right.
When I arrived the exchange rate was about 2.3 and the cash I had behind me was enough to get me established in a similar sort of set-up as my life in the UK. Now, at 1.5, I would be taking a, financially, backward step of about 10 years. No way would I be taking that on.

BadgeIsBack

Nor would I, and nor would my wife....move that is..

(I only read the thread to pick up the latest witticism that Sparty might have left for us...)

Bix

On same conditions, me neither.

Company that brought me over would have to cough up a much higher signing on fee for want of a better expression.

iamthecreaturefromuranus

Ditto.
Now if I had very little to lose in the UK, then yeah, I would still make the move now, but not if I had a house to sell in the UK. Just about everything seems to be against a move from the UK, at least financially, at the moment.

In Exile

when we moved over and wanted to change money in 2007, i remember grumbling because it was only at 2.2 at the time. We didnt have a house to sell, just cash. We sent a small amount.

Then there was the spike where it went back up to about 2.7 where we sent the balance over, in 2008 and then its been downhill from then onwards!

I personally wouldnt be disuaded from a move overseas, but I would like to be earning AUD as soon as possible, and I would be inclined to leave all money and assets in the UK. Otherwise it would be a bitter pill to swallow. If I were doing it now I would send one of us over to set up shop and then move the other(s).

The easier it is to start earning and thinking in dollars then the cost of living wont seem quite so horrific, and it becomes easier to hunt out bargains. Thats not to say that I dont find certain things here expensive, but like the UK there are counter-balances and offsets.

Currently instead of a hot bikini girl on the Tourism Australia commercials saying "where the bloody hell are you" they should have one saying "convert AUD amounts back to GBP at your peril, mofo's!"

Turban Explorer

That's the problem with the 'want to be in Oz' gang. They comment that the UK is 'going down the pan' but don't realise it's taken their spending power with it.....

murwullambah

What you have to ask yourself is is it better to be in paradise with little money or in that hole they call "UK", definately a better life for your kids, less hoodie idiots and drugies, more opertunity, lots of sun, which always makes you feel better. At the end of the day you will always regret it if you dont give it a go.

Grayling

northernbird

Constructive as usual then!

Grayling

only where idiots are concerned

isgraham

Exactly and I bet most of them have never spent any real time in Australia to see just how corrupt it is over there but with better weather.

verystormy

Have you ever being to Australia. Regarded as one of the drug centres of the world. As for opportunity - there are lots of people who arent in mining who are losing their jobs at a fair old rate that might disagree with you.

BadgeIsBack

Around the time we moved, we reckoned that we had in some ways gained 10 years financially by making the move...

As I've alluded to before, if the idiots get their free sun and a break from the cess-pit lot that was their UK life, then for them, it's a winner. I've always said that some do well, and have every reason to be happier.