paulry

Could well be. I have noticed some funny looks when at cashdesks/tills I've been asked "Credit card transaction?" and I've responded "No - Savings"

Good to hear that, Wendy

77hil

They always seem to want to press credit when I'm at the pay counter. One time when I corrected them and said "cheque" the guy said "good for you". They really do love their credit cards.

Beoz

Unless you spend a tonne of money on things like cars and clothes (all the expensive stuff in Oz) you can't possibly be better off in London right at this point with the FX rate. Can you explain how this works?

bcworld

What difference does the ex rate make to someone who lives and works in London?

DownUnderPaddy

It may just be perception.
I don't honestly think Aussies in general are any more obsessed or reliant on credit cards than Britons.

UK : Britons owe £60.4 billion ($AUD 93.62 billion at current exchange rates), with around 60 million credit cards in issue, on accounts of which 66% have an outstanding balance.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukp...1291647678240A

AU : Aussies owe $AUD 47.79 billion, with 52% of consumers holding outstanding balances.
http://www.businesswire.com/news/hom...Consumers-2010
http://www.businessspectator.com.au/...ument&src=hp25

Yes, the population of UK:AUS is approx 2.8 to 1, but with 48% of Aussies clearing their credit card balance fully at the end of each month, you would can hardly consider all Australians slaves to credit surely ?

We have a wide circle of friends here in Australia, with varying levels of income and from varying backgrounds and cultures. I can honestly say that I don't know any of them that live beyond their means or depend on credit to fund their lifestyles. I guess we simply don't gravitate towards people who would live unsustainably like that.

xzibit

If I can find a job here in the UK, then I will be much better off staying here for a while and saving as much money as possible. Moving back to oz will require costs, that are far more expensive at the moment than ever before.

I'm not saying that in 1/2 years the situation will be any better, but if I've been putting money away each month whilst I'm back here, then it will be much easier.

Haven't decided yet - will see what happens in January.

The Genie

We are out of time visa wise ,it is now or never, I do not look at the exchange rate any more, or I would cry,but it is also very expencive here at the mo food and fashion,houses are not cheap if you want to buy in a good area With decent schools as most do you are talking 250'000 to 300'000kand I am being really honest, if you are in the south east of England,where the jobs are,:eek

Beoz

It does make a lick of difference for someone who is embedded in either London or Sydney earning that currency and spending that currency. But if someone has a choice to be earning £££'s or $A dollar, the A$ surely has to be the currency of choice right now.

Ianevs

1.93 to the pound!!!!! This headline looked dire a few months ago but looks fantastic now, I exchanged my house proceeds at 1.62 and thought that I was done! espessialy when it bounced to 1.75. Having been a frequent visitor to oz I remember exchanging money at 2.67! As for a slow down in commodities- I live in the coalfields where the locals have seen it all before- miners selling all their toys because they`ve been laid off and who am I to challenge them.

MrCro

are you saying miners are being laid off now?

I've been in Sydney for 2 months now and everything feels to be at an extreme and 'stressed' to say the least - hard to explain the feeling but was similar in UK with house prices booming etc before things went pop!

Talk to so many locals who have no money for xmas, no money for going out, they just graft to pay the home loan! It ain't much of a life

I'm in construction and even tho immigration are dishing out 60 points and fast tracking there ain't that much work here! So many tradies vehicles and tools for sale around here, might get me a bargain.

My hunch is housing will be next but then I do get it wrong ALOT!!

So................1.53 is proper doing my head in now as can't bring a chunk of money over at that level. When I started this thread and moaned about 1.93 I wish I had the hindsight (bloody hindsight!!!!! bar steward of a word!) to exchange everything then. But then with such great hindsight I'd be a millionaire Rodney!

It'll stay in UK and I'll earn these little golden aussie nuggets instead!

Merry Christmas all and thanks for making this a great thread!

paulry

Same here with bringing (or rather not bringing) a chunk of money over at this rate. Going to try and make what I've already brought over stretch a bit further - hopefully until I can sort out a job!

...Merry Christmas to you all!

DownUnderPaddy

Observing the pretty constant devaluation trend of the GBP Vs AUD over the last 16 months since this thread started has certainly been interesting.

Live goes on though, so eat, drink and be merry over the holiday season and may 2011 bring everyone everything they are seeking.

MrCro

cheers DUP,

that'll be $2.50 to the pound and house price drop of 40% for me then!

and Liverpool to win the premiership

and England to win the Ashes

and real ale on tap in my local here!

that'll do for now!

edmontron

During the last week or so, was it the Pound falling or the Aussie dollar gaining?

Ianevs

pound falling (unemployment figures)