Originally Posted by fin (Post 5607039)

commonweath bank do have a debit card :confused: it's just called savings.

Hmmm, i asked twice and the woman there deffo said it was a CREDIT card and not a DEBIT card. She also said they were starting to do one next year or something.

What did you do in the UK when you had left over garbage? As the Wheelie bins here are just as big.

In the UK you put your rubbish in black bags, and theres no limit as to how many you can put out in one go, whereas here you can put out as much as will fit in a wheelie bin. I HATE sending stuff to landfill and recycle as much as i possibly can, but there are times like this when we need that little bit of extra bin space due to emigrating.

You'll be glad you were doing 110km when you hit a roo on those big open roads.

Thats true! I nearly hit a deer near where i lived in Cornwall, i was doing about 70mph and this thing just darted out of the hedge! Pretty scary!

I find food prices just as expensive over here. Somethings are cheaper some things are dearer. I think it's pretty much of a muchness in my opinion.

but anyway enjoy your stay! :thumbup:

Will do! Thanks :)

Originally Posted by moneypen20 (Post 5605835)

I firmly believe everyone should do the theory test here before switching their licences over. There are just too many rules that are different here from the Uk that expats now have no knowledge of.

Originally Posted by dj nee (Post 5605560)

Please look at this post light-heartedly! It's amazing here, so the last thing i want to do is sound like a whinging pommie!! It's just there's a few things that im finding funny / weird / bizarre etc and just wondered if anyone shares these views on certain things :)
Feel free to add your own!

1. Bank account

Getting to grips with it, but why the Savings or Credit? I just find that weird!
Are you talking about the question "Check, Savings or Credit?". This is because you can get cards that do multiple functions (i.e. EFTPOS and CC).

Paying money each month to have an account!
That's your choice. Change to one that doesn't if you don't want to pay.

No Visa DEBIT card with Commonwealth bank....u gotta be kidding me.
The main reason for not having DEBIT cards is because it is already covered by EFTPOS for card transactions and for internet purchases you normally just transfer the money. There's been no need for them. I think Westpac may have started one recently though.

2. Speed limit

We have bought a great car...but can't really 'drive' it due to the speed limits. I agree that 60 is fair play in built up areas, but a max of 110 on deserted freeways is ridiculous. Does anybody actually have accidents here? If so...HOW??!
110kph is only 1.5mph slower than the UK speed limit. So not a big difference there. The roads are more inherently dangerous here (i.e. junctions that cross central reservation, junctions that join from the right on motorways, etc...) so the speed limit is appropriate for the roads found here. NT has a speed limit of 130kph and the urban speed limits are faster here.

It's weird as i actually find it more tiring driving at these low speeds.. has anyone else found that too?

3. Bin night!

We bought new kitchen appliances when we got here....but silly me forgot to get the delivery men to take the packaging. 7 weeks on and i'm still trying to cram bits of polystyrene into that tiny bin! I have tons of cardboard waiting for space in the recycle bin too! I can't wait for the fun that awaits me when our container arrives from the UK in December, as pretty much EVERYTHING is packed in cardboard boxes, which in my estimation i will still be ripping and putting in the recycle bin until late 2014.

Anyone know of a better way of clearing recyclables without paying?

We can take all our cardboard to the local tip without paying anything. If your local council doesn't do it and it's not to far find another local council that may do it. I've never been asked where I live when taking stuff to the tip.

4. Road signs

Anyone else struggling with these? I must admit, the UK deffo got it right with junction numbers on motorways.
The amount of times i've found myself going the wrong way!!
A lot of the time you don't see the signpost until you are right on top of it....so you do a u-turn and go back...only to find that then you can't turn right..aaaargh!! Well....happened to me in Melbourne anyway!

Speed limit signs are in the wrong place :D Other than that I've found the direction signs to be good.

5. Food prices

If we wanted to live on Hungry Jacks we'd be sorted! Im quite suprised how expensive 'proper' food is. Bread / Milk / mushrooms / peppers etc...well pricey. It probably evens out with other stuff here being cheaper than the UK though....i guess time will tell.
Buy seasonally. It's definitely cheaper. As you say, some stuff is more expenisve some is cheaper. The price of fruit and veg varies more throughout the year as it's mostly produced here.

As for beer prices....i've had to start the home brew up!
Beer is expensive but wine is cheap. Have a look for cleanskins. They are dirt cheap and I've yet to have a bad one.

It's someone elses turn now! :)

Originally Posted by moneypen20 (Post 5605835)

I firmly believe everyone should do the theory test here before switching their licences over. There are just too many rules that are different here from the Uk that expats now have no knowledge of.

Originally Posted by moneypen20 (Post 5605878)

No one tried that with my kids in the UK. Are old ladies different here?;)

Originally Posted by lil_ol_wine_drinker_me (Post 5608311)

Oh yes, old men, old women all sorts of folk touching your (usually) sleeping baby - an aussie friend of mine calls her netting device a "Nanna Net".

Originally Posted by lil_ol_wine_drinker_me (Post 5608311)

Oh yes, old men, old women all sorts of folk touching your (usually) sleeping baby - an aussie friend of mine calls her netting device a "Nanna Net".

Originally Posted by Timber Floor Au (Post 5605867)

Intersections are the main issue, but i agree.. all poms should take a test, cannot see why they dont, just because brits drive on rhs of the rd, shouldnt be a pre-requisite for not doing at least a theory test

Originally Posted by Daz n Mel (Post 5609221)

Pedestrians crossing when the traffic lights are green!
How weird is that? It took a lot of getting used to and a lot of practise!!:D

Melis:D

Originally Posted by dj nee (Post 5605560)

Please look at this post light-heartedly! It's amazing here, so the last thing i want to do is sound like a whinging pommie!! It's just there's a few things that im finding funny / weird / bizarre etc and just wondered if anyone shares these views on certain things :)
Feel free to add your own!

1. Bank account

Getting to grips with it, but why the Savings or Credit? I just find that weird!

Paying money each month to have an account!

No Visa DEBIT card with Commonwealth bank....u gotta be kidding me.

)