11 months in Oz and we are out of here (thank god!)
Mar 8th 2009, 6:16 am
#91
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,872
Re: 11 months in Oz and we are out of here (thank god!)
Well thank god I don't live anywhere near that area!I'm heading back to Adelaide (holiday to see rellies)in May so will take some similar pics because worldwide there are scenes of that nature.(Will post them on here when I return)
Mar 8th 2009, 12:25 pm
#92
Reg. Migration Agent
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 319
Re: 11 months in Oz and we are out of here (thank god!)
Thanks, Martin, and others, for an entertaining read, with a few exceptions.
Regardless of the detail in the various posts, some people settle in more quickly than others after moving countries while yet others have the ability and wherewithal to say I've made a mistake, accept the financial and time loss, and move back.
Yet others move back to the UK for a couple of years and then decide that they really do prefer to live in Australia. (And that I've seen very frequently.)
People are different, their expectations are different; even the places they move to in Australia are very different.
I left the UK 40 years ago and since then have lived significant amounts of time in Singapore, Sydney and (mostly) Melbourne.
Price comparisons are meaningless, especially with, I think someone said fresh fruit and vegetables. If Martin was living in Mosman in Sydney his local greengrocer's prices would have been probably twice that of many other Sydney suburbs and three times those of Brunswick in Melbourne.
For business purposes I spend a lot of time travelling, mostly around Asia but also Europe and the USA, with my last European trip a couple of months ago. The cost of living in Europe (I was in France, Italy and Switzerland) and the UK is roughly double that of Australia.
A friend of mine is a doctor who moved to Australia relatively recently. As he told me, his standard of living has increased fourfold as his cost of living is half what it was and his income has doubled.
As an aside, like Martin I also feel very much at home in Germany, especially Bavaria, even though I don't speak a word of German.
For me, I feel most at home in Melbourne, but also acknowledge that there are parts of Melbourne where I would not wish to live.
Regardless of the detail in the various posts, some people settle in more quickly than others after moving countries while yet others have the ability and wherewithal to say I've made a mistake, accept the financial and time loss, and move back.
Yet others move back to the UK for a couple of years and then decide that they really do prefer to live in Australia. (And that I've seen very frequently.)
People are different, their expectations are different; even the places they move to in Australia are very different.
I left the UK 40 years ago and since then have lived significant amounts of time in Singapore, Sydney and (mostly) Melbourne.
Price comparisons are meaningless, especially with, I think someone said fresh fruit and vegetables. If Martin was living in Mosman in Sydney his local greengrocer's prices would have been probably twice that of many other Sydney suburbs and three times those of Brunswick in Melbourne.
For business purposes I spend a lot of time travelling, mostly around Asia but also Europe and the USA, with my last European trip a couple of months ago. The cost of living in Europe (I was in France, Italy and Switzerland) and the UK is roughly double that of Australia.
A friend of mine is a doctor who moved to Australia relatively recently. As he told me, his standard of living has increased fourfold as his cost of living is half what it was and his income has doubled.
As an aside, like Martin I also feel very much at home in Germany, especially Bavaria, even though I don't speak a word of German.
For me, I feel most at home in Melbourne, but also acknowledge that there are parts of Melbourne where I would not wish to live.
Mar 8th 2009, 6:34 pm
#93
Victorian Evangelist
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Melbourne, by the beach, living the dream.
Posts: 7,704
Re: 11 months in Oz and we are out of here (thank god!)
For business purposes I spend a lot of time travelling, mostly around Asia but also Europe and the USA, with my last European trip a couple of months ago. The cost of living in Europe (I was in France, Italy and Switzerland) and the UK is roughly double that of Australia.
A friend of mine is a doctor who moved to Australia relatively recently. As he told me, his standard of living has increased fourfold as his cost of living is half what it was and his income has doubled.
A friend of mine is a doctor who moved to Australia relatively recently. As he told me, his standard of living has increased fourfold as his cost of living is half what it was and his income has doubled.
A lot of people believe the widely held myth that Australia is "cheaper than England".
I live in a nice suburb of Melbourne. I used to live in a nice suburb of London. I earn EXACTLY the same as I did in London, if the rate of $2.5 : £1 is considered, which is the rate when I arrived. I have a similar lifestyle with regards to expenses.
Yet I have LESS disposable income here in Melbourne than I had in London.
My quality of life is without question far higher here.
To make statements about Australia being half the price of England is just rubbish, and I would controversially suggest you are "talking up the market" as your business is bringing new immigrants to Australia. Some things here are cheaper, some are more expensive. However overall, as indicated above, we find we have less spare cash in almost identical circumstances. I am not complaining about this fact at all, but I am concerned about people believing what you say and making their own financial plans based on your inaccurate information.
Buzzy
Mar 8th 2009, 6:41 pm
#94
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,872
Re: 11 months in Oz and we are out of here (thank god!)
I would argue the fact the UK is roughly double to Oz?Not where we live it is'nt!I speak to family in Oz (I've lived there myself for 30 yrs)and regularly look at supermarket websites (Oz)and it looks bloody expensive compared to what I pay!Second hand cars are expensive in Oz,o/s travel in Oz is very expensive?What Martin are you referrring to exactly thats double the price in the UK?hhhhhhmmmm?
Mar 8th 2009, 9:21 pm
#95
Auntie Fa
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Seattle
Posts: 7,344
Re: 11 months in Oz and we are out of here (thank god!)
Buzzy, you've partially quoted Les but ignored the part where he said price comparisons are meaningless.
I read it more as, it really depends on your circumstances, where you live, where you came from, etc., which is spot on although not rocket science.
I'm close to and in a similar situation to the Mosman he mentioned
and I'm still reeling at paying $13 for a plate of noodles that would cost me $3 where I've been living 
I'm paying similarly shocking prices for good veg but I'm paying less for meat - shame I don't eat much of that.
I'm still happier here.
I read it more as, it really depends on your circumstances, where you live, where you came from, etc., which is spot on although not rocket science.
I'm close to and in a similar situation to the Mosman he mentioned
and I'm still reeling at paying $13 for a plate of noodles that would cost me $3 where I've been living I'm paying similarly shocking prices for good veg but I'm paying less for meat - shame I don't eat much of that.I'm still happier here.
Mar 8th 2009, 11:00 pm
#96
Victorian Evangelist
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Melbourne, by the beach, living the dream.
Posts: 7,704
Re: 11 months in Oz and we are out of here (thank god!)
Price comparisons are meaningless because you can't do anything about prices once you have moved somewhere.
However when planning your emigration it is important to understand whether you will be able to live financially in the way you are accustomed to in your home country, or better, or worse. Anyone who based their planning on statements saying Australia is half the price of the UK might come here and go very quickly bankrupt, which would be very unfair on them.
In my experience which is very valid as I have such a similar life financially to that which I had in the UK, the overall monthly/weekly/annual bills are slightly higher in Australia, and as a result I have less disposable income now than in the UK.
Buzzy
Mar 8th 2009, 11:23 pm
#97
Auntie Fa
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Seattle
Posts: 7,344
Re: 11 months in Oz and we are out of here (thank god!)
But are you ok with that - that's what's important.
We have a lot less than we had in Singapore due to the tax differential, but we knew that and were prepared to take the hit. I see my husband more than one week a month, and he now has time (sort of!) to pursue the masters he's been wanting to do for years.
As you say, you need to do lots of research, believe a fraction of what you read
and make up your own mind if it's the right move for you personally.
We have a lot less than we had in Singapore due to the tax differential, but we knew that and were prepared to take the hit. I see my husband more than one week a month, and he now has time (sort of!) to pursue the masters he's been wanting to do for years.
As you say, you need to do lots of research, believe a fraction of what you read
and make up your own mind if it's the right move for you personally.
Mar 9th 2009, 12:29 am
#98
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: newbury
Posts: 943
Re: 11 months in Oz and we are out of here (thank god!)
But are you ok with that - that's what's important.
We have a lot less than we had in Singapore due to the tax differential, but we knew that and were prepared to take the hit. I see my husband more than one week a month, and he now has time (sort of!) to pursue the masters he's been wanting to do for years.
As you say, you need to do lots of research, believe a fraction of what you read and make up your own mind if it's the right move for you personally.
We have a lot less than we had in Singapore due to the tax differential, but we knew that and were prepared to take the hit. I see my husband more than one week a month, and he now has time (sort of!) to pursue the masters he's been wanting to do for years.
As you say, you need to do lots of research, believe a fraction of what you read
and make up your own mind if it's the right move for you personally.
Mar 9th 2009, 5:16 am
#100
Account Closed
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,784
Re: 11 months in Oz and we are out of here (thank god!)
Yes I couldn't work out why he said that and then went on to talk about Australia being cheaper.
Price comparisons are meaningless because you can't do anything about prices once you have moved somewhere.
However when planning your emigration it is important to understand whether you will be able to live financially in the way you are accustomed to in your home country, or better, or worse. Anyone who based their planning on statements saying Australia is half the price of the UK might come here and go very quickly bankrupt, which would be very unfair on them.
In my experience which is very valid as I have such a similar life financially to that which I had in the UK, the overall monthly/weekly/annual bills are slightly higher in Australia, and as a result I have less disposable income now than in the UK.
Buzzy
Price comparisons are meaningless because you can't do anything about prices once you have moved somewhere.
However when planning your emigration it is important to understand whether you will be able to live financially in the way you are accustomed to in your home country, or better, or worse. Anyone who based their planning on statements saying Australia is half the price of the UK might come here and go very quickly bankrupt, which would be very unfair on them.
In my experience which is very valid as I have such a similar life financially to that which I had in the UK, the overall monthly/weekly/annual bills are slightly higher in Australia, and as a result I have less disposable income now than in the UK.
Buzzy
Mar 9th 2009, 7:41 am
#101
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2005
Location: Mornington
Posts: 1,650
Re: 11 months in Oz and we are out of here (thank god!)
I agree with this, I am on exactly the same wage as I as in the UK and so is OH.
I think it is such a small difference that it's not really noticeable.
New people beware, once you GBP has gone, you won't find it so cheap. I still can't belive that some people reckon it is cheaper.
Mar 9th 2009, 9:07 am
#102
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Beerwah, SE QLD hinterland
Posts: 229
Re: 11 months in Oz and we are out of here (thank god!)
I am a little confused -
Food prices have also gone up, and fuel prices will surge further now we have nearly exhausted all our natural resources. We have lost a huge portion of our farming because our non-monopolised supermarkets have driven the price down so far, the farmers cannot survive.
Food prices have also gone up, and fuel prices will surge further now we have nearly exhausted all our natural resources. We have lost a huge portion of our farming because our non-monopolised supermarkets have driven the price down so far, the farmers cannot survive.
Mar 9th 2009, 11:32 am
#103
Reg. Migration Agent
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 319
Re: 11 months in Oz and we are out of here (thank god!)
Hi Buzzy,
At the end of the day, isn't
the main reason for moving here?
Les
At the end of the day, isn't
My quality of life is without question far higher here.
Les