3 years on the Gold Coast, after arriving skint
Sep 11th 2008, 2:01 am
#1
GC family day carer
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Pacific Pines
Posts: 2,212
3 years on the Gold Coast, after arriving skint
Well I've been a bit quiet on the forum these last few months but I realised that yesterday we've actually been here 3 years...doesn't time fly when you're enjoying yourself.
As you may or may not know we came here with $2000 and debt in the UK. With the cash we bought an old banger of a car (which is still going) and not much else. Fortunately we had my husbands mum to stay with, which we did for the first 9 months of being here. Wasn't easy at all as we had back then a 4 year old who loved disrupting everything. Things were hard especially back then. I got a job fairly easily and Steve got one then had an accident at work so had to quit, which left not alot of money after paying board, food, childcare etc.. but atleast we were together in Oz with a roof over our head. As time went on Steve got a job in a hotel as a handyman, this was hard on us again due to the shift work involved and due to lack of childcare in the area something had to give so he quit that job and became a security guard, night work but none the less the hours were better.
So after 9 months of struggling and saving we put a deposit on our house, not alot though so we do have a large mortgage.
We've managed to pay off our English debt, we've got a new car now aswell as the old banger, and we have Ethan...our 10mth old baby. Things are going well for us now. I've just quit my job and started my own business as a family day carer from home so I can be around Ethan and also because I am aware of the shortage of child care here as we had problems finding it ourselves. Steve is still a security guard and is about to venture into busines on his own setting up a security company. Having worked in the industry going back 12 years or so and also being familiar with the way it works in Oz now, he has developed his own business plan putting forth and covering some weaknesses he's discovered, so fingers crossed that takes off too.
As for holidays, we've not had 1 night away from home as yet, not been out of QLD, we are finlly in a position to visit England and are about to book some flights for next year.
To anyone out there who thinks life is tough...it probably is, it was for us but after 3 years it has finally all come good.
marie
As you may or may not know we came here with $2000 and debt in the UK. With the cash we bought an old banger of a car (which is still going) and not much else. Fortunately we had my husbands mum to stay with, which we did for the first 9 months of being here. Wasn't easy at all as we had back then a 4 year old who loved disrupting everything. Things were hard especially back then. I got a job fairly easily and Steve got one then had an accident at work so had to quit, which left not alot of money after paying board, food, childcare etc.. but atleast we were together in Oz with a roof over our head. As time went on Steve got a job in a hotel as a handyman, this was hard on us again due to the shift work involved and due to lack of childcare in the area something had to give so he quit that job and became a security guard, night work but none the less the hours were better.
So after 9 months of struggling and saving we put a deposit on our house, not alot though so we do have a large mortgage.
We've managed to pay off our English debt, we've got a new car now aswell as the old banger, and we have Ethan...our 10mth old baby. Things are going well for us now. I've just quit my job and started my own business as a family day carer from home so I can be around Ethan and also because I am aware of the shortage of child care here as we had problems finding it ourselves. Steve is still a security guard and is about to venture into busines on his own setting up a security company. Having worked in the industry going back 12 years or so and also being familiar with the way it works in Oz now, he has developed his own business plan putting forth and covering some weaknesses he's discovered, so fingers crossed that takes off too.
As for holidays, we've not had 1 night away from home as yet, not been out of QLD, we are finlly in a position to visit England and are about to book some flights for next year.
To anyone out there who thinks life is tough...it probably is, it was for us but after 3 years it has finally all come good.
marie
Sep 11th 2008, 4:46 am
#2
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: utopia within my head
Posts: 1,990
Re: 3 years on the Gold Coast, after arriving skint
Well I've been a bit quiet on the forum these last few months but I realised that yesterday we've actually been here 3 years...doesn't time fly when you're enjoying yourself.
As you may or may not know we came here with $2000 and debt in the UK. With the cash we bought an old banger of a car (which is still going) and not much else. Fortunately we had my husbands mum to stay with, which we did for the first 9 months of being here. Wasn't easy at all as we had back then a 4 year old who loved disrupting everything. Things were hard especially back then. I got a job fairly easily and Steve got one then had an accident at work so had to quit, which left not alot of money after paying board, food, childcare etc.. but atleast we were together in Oz with a roof over our head. As time went on Steve got a job in a hotel as a handyman, this was hard on us again due to the shift work involved and due to lack of childcare in the area something had to give so he quit that job and became a security guard, night work but none the less the hours were better.
So after 9 months of struggling and saving we put a deposit on our house, not alot though so we do have a large mortgage.
We've managed to pay off our English debt, we've got a new car now aswell as the old banger, and we have Ethan...our 10mth old baby. Things are going well for us now. I've just quit my job and started my own business as a family day carer from home so I can be around Ethan and also because I am aware of the shortage of child care here as we had problems finding it ourselves. Steve is still a security guard and is about to venture into busines on his own setting up a security company. Having worked in the industry going back 12 years or so and also being familiar with the way it works in Oz now, he has developed his own business plan putting forth and covering some weaknesses he's discovered, so fingers crossed that takes off too.
As for holidays, we've not had 1 night away from home as yet, not been out of QLD, we are finlly in a position to visit England and are about to book some flights for next year.
To anyone out there who thinks life is tough...it probably is, it was for us but after 3 years it has finally all come good.
marie
As you may or may not know we came here with $2000 and debt in the UK. With the cash we bought an old banger of a car (which is still going) and not much else. Fortunately we had my husbands mum to stay with, which we did for the first 9 months of being here. Wasn't easy at all as we had back then a 4 year old who loved disrupting everything. Things were hard especially back then. I got a job fairly easily and Steve got one then had an accident at work so had to quit, which left not alot of money after paying board, food, childcare etc.. but atleast we were together in Oz with a roof over our head. As time went on Steve got a job in a hotel as a handyman, this was hard on us again due to the shift work involved and due to lack of childcare in the area something had to give so he quit that job and became a security guard, night work but none the less the hours were better.
So after 9 months of struggling and saving we put a deposit on our house, not alot though so we do have a large mortgage.
We've managed to pay off our English debt, we've got a new car now aswell as the old banger, and we have Ethan...our 10mth old baby. Things are going well for us now. I've just quit my job and started my own business as a family day carer from home so I can be around Ethan and also because I am aware of the shortage of child care here as we had problems finding it ourselves. Steve is still a security guard and is about to venture into busines on his own setting up a security company. Having worked in the industry going back 12 years or so and also being familiar with the way it works in Oz now, he has developed his own business plan putting forth and covering some weaknesses he's discovered, so fingers crossed that takes off too.
As for holidays, we've not had 1 night away from home as yet, not been out of QLD, we are finlly in a position to visit England and are about to book some flights for next year.
To anyone out there who thinks life is tough...it probably is, it was for us but after 3 years it has finally all come good.
marie
Sep 11th 2008, 7:55 am
#3
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 91
Re: 3 years on the Gold Coast, after arriving skint
Lovely post, Glad it is all going well for you now. We have the Inlaws to stay wih as well first off and also a nearly three year old who likes to disrupt things also I can see it being fun lol!
Sep 11th 2008, 8:41 am
#4
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 23,400
Re: 3 years on the Gold Coast, after arriving skint
A brilliant and inspiring post.
Sep 11th 2008, 8:43 am
#5
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,147
Re: 3 years on the Gold Coast, after arriving skint
hello stranger!!!
wondered what happened to you - congratulations on baby ethan!!!
and congratulations on showing that you dont need mountains of cash to make it work
and ... 3 YEARS!!????
blimey, has it been that long!!??
good luck with the business ...
sue x
wondered what happened to you - congratulations on baby ethan!!!
and congratulations on showing that you dont need mountains of cash to make it work
and ... 3 YEARS!!????
blimey, has it been that long!!??
good luck with the business ...
sue x
Sep 11th 2008, 9:06 am
#6
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2007
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Posts: 337
Re: 3 years on the Gold Coast, after arriving skint
Well done, you deserve a huge pat on the back. Lets hope its all plain sailing from now.. and best of luck with the businesses
and best of luck with the businesses
Sep 11th 2008, 9:28 am
#7
I'm now an Aussie too!!!
Joined: May 2006
Location: 'Home by the Sea' Elanora
Posts: 5,030
Re: 3 years on the Gold Coast, after arriving skint
Brilliant, great post x. C x
Sep 11th 2008, 3:56 pm
#8
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Posts: 237
Re: 3 years on the Gold Coast, after arriving skint
Just wanted to say that your post has made me smile - we have had house on market and no joy were going to give it all up (australia that is) but have decided to just scrape together what we can, sell the house at a loss. I have a job to go to and between us we will be pretty much selling everything and shipping essentials and kids stuff. I know it will be hard but i earn a good wage and will start quickly when we arrive, i want to do this for my kids and family and was so pleased to find someone giving a honest account of ups and downs. Thank you for post and good luck in all you do!
Sep 11th 2008, 5:38 pm
#9
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Tropical North QLD
Posts: 21,434
Re: 3 years on the Gold Coast, after arriving skint
What a great update & well done for sticking with it & making it work for you both.
It is very reassuring to hear of people who have gone out with very little & made it happen, it means it is possible with hard work!
I wish you both well with your new business ventures
It is very reassuring to hear of people who have gone out with very little & made it happen, it means it is possible with hard work!
I wish you both well with your new business ventures
Sep 12th 2008, 2:31 am
#10
GC family day carer
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Pacific Pines
Posts: 2,212
Re: 3 years on the Gold Coast, after arriving skint
What a great update & well done for sticking with it & making it work for you both.
It is very reassuring to hear of people who have gone out with very little & made it happen, it means it is possible with hard work!
I wish you both well with your new business ventures
It is very reassuring to hear of people who have gone out with very little & made it happen, it means it is possible with hard work!
I wish you both well with your new business ventures
In all honesty it probably took about 18 months for me to actually feel settled, I'd left behind all my family, friends etc although Steve's mum lives here I'd only met her twice previously and kind of felt like an outsider when we arrived at hers. That soon changed but still it wasn't my house, and I found it very hard adapting to living with my MIL. I'm not particularly a quiet person but on the same token I can't just walk up to someone and start talking as if I've known them for years, which could've been my downfall. I'm still like it now, I'll go to a meet and be the one person everyone thinks is a newbie.
Anyway, my business has only been going a few weeks and so far so good, Steve's biz rego came through this morning so hopefully we can get cracking on with that.
It's taken 3 years for us to be financially OK but I think that's pretty good considering we came with debt and have managed to pay that off in the meantime.
Would I do anything differently?.....No, I don't think so. Due to the circumstances I would've liked to come with more money but it hindside that wasn't possible anyway. The only way we'd of managed that would be if we had left our dog behind....there's no way we could of done that and it was never considered.
If anything, it's made us a much stronger family unit as we managed to pull through a really tough spot and have come through the other side with smiles on our faces.
Marie
Last edited by 68MEVY; Sep 12th 2008 at 2:33 am.
Sep 12th 2008, 6:08 am
#11
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Tropical North QLD
Posts: 21,434
Re: 3 years on the Gold Coast, after arriving skint
You should be very proud of yourselves and as I said before, I wish you every success with your new ventures as you deserve it after working hard!
Sep 12th 2008, 12:18 pm
#12
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Essex - Now on the Sunshine Coast
Posts: 212
Re: 3 years on the Gold Coast, after arriving skint
What a great post. It is hard starting out again. Wishing you and your OH success is your businesses. kate
Sep 13th 2008, 3:03 pm
#13
Ok this isn't so bad
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Dundee (Scotland) now Bayside Brisbane
Posts: 4,824
Re: 3 years on the Gold Coast, after arriving skint
Well I've been a bit quiet on the forum these last few months but I realised that yesterday we've actually been here 3 years...doesn't time fly when you're enjoying yourself.
As you may or may not know we came here with $2000 and debt in the UK. With the cash we bought an old banger of a car (which is still going) and not much else. Fortunately we had my husbands mum to stay with, which we did for the first 9 months of being here. Wasn't easy at all as we had back then a 4 year old who loved disrupting everything. Things were hard especially back then. I got a job fairly easily and Steve got one then had an accident at work so had to quit, which left not alot of money after paying board, food, childcare etc.. but atleast we were together in Oz with a roof over our head. As time went on Steve got a job in a hotel as a handyman, this was hard on us again due to the shift work involved and due to lack of childcare in the area something had to give so he quit that job and became a security guard, night work but none the less the hours were better.
So after 9 months of struggling and saving we put a deposit on our house, not alot though so we do have a large mortgage.
We've managed to pay off our English debt, we've got a new car now aswell as the old banger, and we have Ethan...our 10mth old baby. Things are going well for us now. I've just quit my job and started my own business as a family day carer from home so I can be around Ethan and also because I am aware of the shortage of child care here as we had problems finding it ourselves. Steve is still a security guard and is about to venture into busines on his own setting up a security company. Having worked in the industry going back 12 years or so and also being familiar with the way it works in Oz now, he has developed his own business plan putting forth and covering some weaknesses he's discovered, so fingers crossed that takes off too.
As for holidays, we've not had 1 night away from home as yet, not been out of QLD, we are finlly in a position to visit England and are about to book some flights for next year.
To anyone out there who thinks life is tough...it probably is, it was for us but after 3 years it has finally all come good.
marie
As you may or may not know we came here with $2000 and debt in the UK. With the cash we bought an old banger of a car (which is still going) and not much else. Fortunately we had my husbands mum to stay with, which we did for the first 9 months of being here. Wasn't easy at all as we had back then a 4 year old who loved disrupting everything. Things were hard especially back then. I got a job fairly easily and Steve got one then had an accident at work so had to quit, which left not alot of money after paying board, food, childcare etc.. but atleast we were together in Oz with a roof over our head. As time went on Steve got a job in a hotel as a handyman, this was hard on us again due to the shift work involved and due to lack of childcare in the area something had to give so he quit that job and became a security guard, night work but none the less the hours were better.
So after 9 months of struggling and saving we put a deposit on our house, not alot though so we do have a large mortgage.
We've managed to pay off our English debt, we've got a new car now aswell as the old banger, and we have Ethan...our 10mth old baby. Things are going well for us now. I've just quit my job and started my own business as a family day carer from home so I can be around Ethan and also because I am aware of the shortage of child care here as we had problems finding it ourselves. Steve is still a security guard and is about to venture into busines on his own setting up a security company. Having worked in the industry going back 12 years or so and also being familiar with the way it works in Oz now, he has developed his own business plan putting forth and covering some weaknesses he's discovered, so fingers crossed that takes off too.
As for holidays, we've not had 1 night away from home as yet, not been out of QLD, we are finlly in a position to visit England and are about to book some flights for next year.
To anyone out there who thinks life is tough...it probably is, it was for us but after 3 years it has finally all come good.
marie
Take my hat off to you guys. Remember you all well and the stories you told. Wish you all the very best for the future.
Cheers
Ginny
Sep 13th 2008, 10:19 pm
#14
cheeky tart
Joined: May 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 2,239
Re: 3 years on the Gold Coast, after arriving skint
Well I've been a bit quiet on the forum these last few months but I realised that yesterday we've actually been here 3 years...doesn't time fly when you're enjoying yourself.
As you may or may not know we came here with $2000 and debt in the UK. With the cash we bought an old banger of a car (which is still going) and not much else. Fortunately we had my husbands mum to stay with, which we did for the first 9 months of being here. Wasn't easy at all as we had back then a 4 year old who loved disrupting everything. Things were hard especially back then. I got a job fairly easily and Steve got one then had an accident at work so had to quit, which left not alot of money after paying board, food, childcare etc.. but atleast we were together in Oz with a roof over our head. As time went on Steve got a job in a hotel as a handyman, this was hard on us again due to the shift work involved and due to lack of childcare in the area something had to give so he quit that job and became a security guard, night work but none the less the hours were better.
So after 9 months of struggling and saving we put a deposit on our house, not alot though so we do have a large mortgage.
We've managed to pay off our English debt, we've got a new car now aswell as the old banger, and we have Ethan...our 10mth old baby. Things are going well for us now. I've just quit my job and started my own business as a family day carer from home so I can be around Ethan and also because I am aware of the shortage of child care here as we had problems finding it ourselves. Steve is still a security guard and is about to venture into busines on his own setting up a security company. Having worked in the industry going back 12 years or so and also being familiar with the way it works in Oz now, he has developed his own business plan putting forth and covering some weaknesses he's discovered, so fingers crossed that takes off too.
As for holidays, we've not had 1 night away from home as yet, not been out of QLD, we are finlly in a position to visit England and are about to book some flights for next year.
To anyone out there who thinks life is tough...it probably is, it was for us but after 3 years it has finally all come good.
marie
As you may or may not know we came here with $2000 and debt in the UK. With the cash we bought an old banger of a car (which is still going) and not much else. Fortunately we had my husbands mum to stay with, which we did for the first 9 months of being here. Wasn't easy at all as we had back then a 4 year old who loved disrupting everything. Things were hard especially back then. I got a job fairly easily and Steve got one then had an accident at work so had to quit, which left not alot of money after paying board, food, childcare etc.. but atleast we were together in Oz with a roof over our head. As time went on Steve got a job in a hotel as a handyman, this was hard on us again due to the shift work involved and due to lack of childcare in the area something had to give so he quit that job and became a security guard, night work but none the less the hours were better.
So after 9 months of struggling and saving we put a deposit on our house, not alot though so we do have a large mortgage.
We've managed to pay off our English debt, we've got a new car now aswell as the old banger, and we have Ethan...our 10mth old baby. Things are going well for us now. I've just quit my job and started my own business as a family day carer from home so I can be around Ethan and also because I am aware of the shortage of child care here as we had problems finding it ourselves. Steve is still a security guard and is about to venture into busines on his own setting up a security company. Having worked in the industry going back 12 years or so and also being familiar with the way it works in Oz now, he has developed his own business plan putting forth and covering some weaknesses he's discovered, so fingers crossed that takes off too.
As for holidays, we've not had 1 night away from home as yet, not been out of QLD, we are finlly in a position to visit England and are about to book some flights for next year.
To anyone out there who thinks life is tough...it probably is, it was for us but after 3 years it has finally all come good.
marie
Sep 14th 2008, 9:47 pm
#15
I'm no dog
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 129
Re: 3 years on the Gold Coast, after arriving skint
Hi Marie,
Do you think you'd be in the same situation if you'd stayed in the UK?
I mean, if you'd put your minds to paying off debts etc.... Or do you think Oz offers more?
You've done fantastically well x
Do you think you'd be in the same situation if you'd stayed in the UK?
I mean, if you'd put your minds to paying off debts etc.... Or do you think Oz offers more?
You've done fantastically well x
Last edited by poppie; Sep 14th 2008 at 9:48 pm. Reason: can't spell