MrsDagboy

This is a very good point - it's fine to say that it costs so much to go to the UK to holiday, but I doubt many from the UK would be holidaying in Australia twice a year either.

You need to compare apples with apples.

Lots of aussies go overseas every year - to say that very few travel o/s is a lot of rubbish.

ABCDiamond

I just read an article in todays paper, that made me think of this thread.

The quote was:

"I have seen a single person on an income of $170,000 have nothing in the bank at the end of the year, while a family of four on a combined income of $60,000 save $10,000 per year.

The difference is lifestyle""

tracey.d

Thanks, shall have a look at that later.

Tracey

anya4oz

FWIW, I would say that Myer is the Debenhams equivalent, while David Jones (if you have it in your city) is the John Lewis, so a bit classier (& more expensive!). Both the main branches of these stores in Melbourne have really excellent food halls . The clothes in both are fine, lots of choice, and range from quite reasonably priced, to very swish designer stuff (the sales here are very good for picking up bargains in the latter).

At the cheap & cheerful end, you can buy the same quality/price clothing as one would buy in Tescos in K-Mart & Target. However, there is definitely a gap in the market on that 'middle ground' where M&S would be in the UK.

Cheers,
Anya.

bridiej

Errr, I think you'll find that's the point of the "Take it Outside" forum, so people can let off steam and post what they want.

There was also no need to start a whole new thread about the cost of living, a simple search of the forum would have produced several threads, one of which was running last week if I remember correctly.

autra

well i just wonted answer to how i live in the uk andcompare to aus most have sent verry helpfull replies, if people were asking about lifestyle in uk i would tell them and help them too , and say providing you work 60hrs + a week you will cope but if you work 9-5 in a shop etc then you wont ok

bridiej

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...ht=cost+living
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...ht=cost+living
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...ht=cost+living

MrsDagboy

Good post Anya, tried to give you karma but it wouldnt let me .

Merlot

Could not agree more with this, we done the coming back to the UK bit after 7 years for me and 17 for hubby in Oz. If it wasn't for the kind help of family and friends financially we would be REALLY struggling in the UK.

It has not been plain sailing coming back, we have had to start everything from scratch - something you will have to do in Australia. It takes time, you don't walk off the plane a duplicate every aspect of your life in the UK over in Oz, be it material objects, friends, etc. You have to build up contacts and experience all over again.

You really have to soul search what is right for you - if you love the material things in life, I would highly recommend you stay in the UK as they are all bloody money or labels mad here.

Personally, I miss the laid back attitude of Australia and the less "gotta have it" outlook.

Your choice, best of luck with it.

M

autra

thankyou

Glenn210277

yeah right we earn less than 30 and we get nothing

tracey.d

I thought everybody who had children got tax credits. It replaced the child tax allowance. Those on a high income get about £500 a year don't they?

Tracey

Poolguy

Did I read that your are thinking to move to Adelaide????

I presume that you are in the South of England at the moment.

Well let me tell you, that unless you are addicted to wine then you will find the city of Churches a bore. Especially the people.

Its unbearably hot in Summer sometimes 40+ its quite cold in winter bleak but no snow. and then there is the desert..... 1000's of klms of it in every direction.


Mercy in heaven there are nice place to live in Oz than that. If you fancy the facts rather than someones opinion I suggest you take one of your yearly holidays and visit Oz and then you will know.

Incidentally how will you get on with an immigration visa.. or is that already granted?

Poolguy

autra

try saying your from bosnia etc maybe they will then LoL

coxfamuk

This is not correct. Woolworths in Oz is more like OK Bazaars in South Africa (only maybe slightly more upmarket now). We were in Melbourne in December visiting my sister-in-law and she said there is nothing like M&S but you just adapt to whatever is around you. Target over in Oz reminded me of BHS here in the UK. We were in Melbourne and my sister-in-law lived right near Southlands shopping centre which I thought was fabulous - much like Eastgate in South Africa.

It can be argued that UK is a far more developed country with people demanding more and more materialistically which is why it is the never-ending ratrace. If you are prepared to go without some things materialistically you will adapt far better.

We lived in South Africa for 21 years and you cannot even compare the lifestyle there to the one in Australia. The cultures are completely different. Only the weather is similar and I suppose the outdoor lifestyle to a degree. The sense of security and safety in Australia is far higher. It is a very relaxed environment (IMHO and also according to my sister-in-law), but I would say that materialistically speaking you are not going to find what you are hoping for, not initially anyway. There have been other threads on this and it is a known fact that when you move countries, you always take a step backwards.

What I think would be wise is to ask yourself why you are moving to Australia because it is not the UK with the sun. Most people accept that financially they won't be better off, but are after the more relaxed lifestyle and being able to enjoy life a lot more than the weather here affords you here in the UK. I don't think the majority of people are hoping for more materialistically, if anything, they want less - a more simple life.

You need to do as much research as possible - get in touch with recruitment agencies, potential employers and such in the area you need to live to guage what your earning capacity might be, then look at the money you will be taking over and what housing you can afford. You need to remember that you pay for medical stuff there (even on medicare) and that schooling (state) is payable as well (each school differs, but the one we are sending our children to is about $200 a year, plus all stationery, books, uniform, excursions and camps). We have factored in private insurance, car insurance and life insurance. We have looked at the cost of gas, water and electricity. The key is do as much research as possible and then decide if you can adapt to the reductiion in finances, if there are any.

Hope that helps

Sarah