Garry, we have said that the cost of living is expensive here, because we are finding it much more expensive than it used to be and both recent arrivals and old-timers tend to report this. It is also possible to live more cheaply, and if you can share accommodation or stay in backpackers, you can save on living costs in ways that families can't.

I had a look at the Working Abroad by Profession section of BE and a few people on there (in the welding thread, I think), have posted that pipefitting seems to be almost an unknown skill over here, or perhaps they call it something else. There also might not be many pipefitters on here, so there is almost no one to give you the direct information you want, because we just don't know it. Many people have also said that it can be hard getting work when you're new here, and that it's who you know, rather than what you know. One thing you can do is to get here and get yourself known, or to try and get a foot in the door somehow, even if it means that you're doing some other work in the meantime.

There also seems to be conflicting stories about where is busier, QLD or WA, and which projects are at the stage where pipework is needed. If you search for pipefitting or pipe on welding and plumbing (try using the advanced search function), you would find other people in the same occupation as you. Did you follow up on keel's lead? If you can't attach your CV on a pm, perhaps ask for their email address so that you can send it to them directly.

It might be that you just have to bite the bullet and get yourself over here, on the cheapest flight that you can find and it is often only a bit more money for a return flight. Re-read the thread you started "Preparing for the big push" and working out a budget for house sharing by looking at http://perth.gumtree.com.au/f-Unit-H...W0QQCatIdZ9296. House/unit sharing will save you money and provide instant contacts if you pick the right one - ie sharing with another trade/construction/resources/FIFO worker(s). Your accommodation would ideally be near public transport, or in a location where a fellow worker could pick you up to take you onsite. If you need a vehicle due to your tools, that can make a big dent in your budget, but you often see workers waiting to be given a lift by their workmates. There are also backpackers dotted around, but they might be more expensive than house sharing.

If you are really desperate it is possible to camp, even as a family and save money on accommodation this way. Best to come in summer though and also be open to living in the outdoors and surviving off the land.

There are quite a few tourists and locals living in their campervans at beach car parks at the moment. Wonderful views, lighting, toilets, cold showers and bbqs, all free, courtesy of ratepayers. I read something about one council wanting to wheel-clamp the vehicles because they seem unable to fine them and the happy campers pay nothing.

Fees for a Fremantle camp site are $28 unpowered, $34 powered per night, off-peak, so house sharing looks very reasonable indeed, especially if you haven't already got camping equipment.

Hi,

We are going to rent out our house in order to move. We haven't started advertising yet but did have an estate agent over to view the house and give us some advice and now he's chasing us as he has people desperate to come see it.... for us its the way to go because we would lose too much money trying to sell quick. Plus it keeps the family happy, as not everyone wants us to go so we're not giving everything up and if we come back then we're not starting from stratch (or living with the parents)

Like so many others our dream was of being mortgage free but failure to sell the house when we first emigrated put paid to that.

We rented it out and by the time we sold it house prices in the UK had dropped, house prices in Aus had gone up and the exchange rate moved against us.

In addition when we did decide to sell we had a real time waster who took us on a ride for 6 months so by the time we did actually sell our savings had been cleaned out having to pay a mortgage in the UK and rent in Aus. We really hit the breadline at that time and didn't know where the next dollar was going to come from.

Anyway that's water under the bridge and we survived.

What I really want to share with you is that there was another option open to us at the time but one we were unaware of. It would have made a very big difference to us had we known about it so maybe it's something you can consider.

We had people viewing our house who wanted to buy it but wouldn't commit as they couldn't sell their own properties. A few of these were upgrading in the property ladder so we should have bought their property.

This would have allowed a quick sale and completion between just two parties so no bloody chain. We would have effectively downgraded properties and released some equity in the process.

It's always the lower end of the housing market that moves first so owning a lower value property means it's easier to either rent or sell.

so are we - we had a really stupid offer today for the house, 60k less than what its up for, so we probably will rent it out. The urge to have a different way of life is more than just hanging on for dear life here!

i've been offered a great job, hub is an electrician and will hopefully get licensed over there...either that or i'm sending him to the mines!

good luck whatever you choose

"Buy and hold"

Stay put, and holiday in Europe