CasG

Oh !

How long?? Where you heading for ??


It is lovable..well, I love it

Vash the Stampede

Well said; it's definitely about swings and roundabouts.

Groceries are generally cheaper in the UK, but I find that everything comes in such tiny portions that you have to buy more items than you would in Australia (resulting in a lot more garbage every week); and of course, the quality is lower.

The cost of public transport in the UK is ludicrously high, unless you use nothing but local buses. Property is outrageously expensive; give me Australian prices any day!

Cars are much cheaper in the UK, but (a) the suburban road system is poor, (b) parking is virtually impossible unless you have plenty of cash to throw around (or don't mind walking the last 2 miles to your destination), (c) civic planning is virtually non-existent, and (d) the roads are permanently clogged with traffic.

I think its all down to where you live (ie. city or suburbs), and how you choose to live.

On the basis of 2 years in the UK and 30 years in Australia, I would have to say that UK = lower quality of life, far greater disparity between rich and poor, and a lot more pressure to keep up with the Joneses.

Give me life in Australia any day - even if I have to pay a little more for it.

Dinnie

We fly out of Manchester on January 15!!

I'm from Melbourne originally so going home in one sense but leaving another which is equally as emotional.

So glad you love it! Where are you?

We will most likely try and live in Brunswick as it is between my brother (Hurstbridge) and my sister (Ascot Vale). Not quite halfway in between but Hursty is just that bit too far from town which is where I'll most likely work.

Why are you still up on a school night?!

Dinnie

fnord

My big problem with Mercer is they don't do this survey based on disposable income of the local population. It's all based on earning US dollars. It's used for calculating living expenses for US workers posted to other countries not people living and working in that country. I think this ranking is very misleading.

Buzzy--Bee

Thank you Vash, I hadn't considered the option and will now do so. Is it much the same cost for any car?

Cheers

Buzzy

CasG

Because I'm forty with no kids !!! LOL

Am in Elsternwick

I flew from Manchester - a year ago - and haven't looked back

Dinnie

Possibly but overall, as Vash said, quality of life is better. Not a valid argument I know but I'm knackered and not had enough caffine today.

I hope wherever in Oz you end up Fnord you love it.

Dinnie

Dinnie

But don't you miss the German Markets in Albert Square? I know I will...

Elsternwick - my brother lived there for a while. Fabby little suburb. Do you go to the Turtle Cafe and the Beach House? Can't wait to revist all my old cafe haunts!!

Dinnie

CasG

Go to the Turtle Cafe

Why the ? Bored or knackered ?

Vash the Stampede

"Based on earning US dollars"? I don't find that anywhere in their criteria.

The results are based on local factors specific to each country; income is totally irrelevant.

For example, the criteria for their "health and sanitation" rankings are as follows:

• Scores are based on the quality and availability of hospital and medical supplies and levels of air pollution and infectious disease. The efficiency of waste removal and sewage systems, water potability and harmful animals and insects are also taken into account.

Source.

This has nothing to do with disposable income, nor does it rely on the assumption that you're a US worker posted overseas.

See also:

• Mercer’s study is based on detailed assessments and evaluations of 39 key quality of life determinants, grouped in the following categories:
  
  
• Consumer goods (availability of food/daily consumption items, cars, etc)
  
  
• Economic environment (currency exchange regulations, banking services, etc)
  
  
• Housing (housing, household appliances, furniture, maintenance services, etc)
  
  
• Medical and health considerations (medical supplies and services, infectious diseases, sewage, waste disposal, air pollution, etc)
  
  
• Natural environment (climate, record of natural disasters)
  
  
• Political and social environment (political stability, crime, law enforcement, etc)
  
  
• Public services and transportation (electricity, water, public transport, traffic congestion, etc)
  
  
• Recreation (restaurants, theatres, cinemas, sports, and leisure etc)
  
  
• Schools and education (standard and availability of schools etc)
  
  
• Socio-cultural environment (censorship, limitations on personal freedom, etc)

Source.

So again, income is totally irrelevant; nothing is measured by US dollars or disposable income.

I would say that it's a very accurate ranking, myself.

Vash the Stampede

No worries, mate; my pleasure.

Pretty much, as far as I can tell; I'd imagine that the only significant differences would be due to engine size.

OzTennis

[QUOTE=Vash the Stampede]Well said; it's definitely about swings and roundabouts.

QUOTE]

Swings and roundabouts was intended to refer to the exchange rate. If, as all the wannabe's on this site hope, the dollar weakens or the pound strengthens (less likely now with Gordon's Budget forecasts of growth so overly optimistic) then the cost of living will become relatively cheaper in Australia.

Just to complicate the issue further most of us on here will have a mixture of £'s earned in the UK at a different time at a different exchange rate that you might have earned interest on and $'s earned in Australia - so just using the current exchange rate to make a comparison of prices does not give an accurate view (which part of your wealth are you spending in the shops?) Still, it keeps threads like this going arguing about it.

OzTennis

Dinnie

Knackered.

Feeling the stress of the impending move and in honesty am not coping very well! I keep wanting to cry and laugh hysterically at the same time. We are leaving so many wonderful people behind but there are so many more waiting for us in Melbourne. I'm feeling torn!

I will miss England immensely. I never, ever thought I'd feel this way but I will. The rolling green hills, the Yorkshire Dales (God I'll miss them), the people, the idiosyncracies that make this place so special. I am quite sad.

Then there is the logistical nightmare that is moving your life from one country to another. I'm sure many here have been through it and survived but I'm beginning to doubt I'll come out the other end intact!

I wrote myself a personal disclaimer this week - I'll share it with you...

I am having a meltdown of epic proportions and no longer have my wits about me. I can see them. They are running off into middle distance as we speak and I can hear their inane giggling as they mock me. I can no longer process sentences that use numbers so please restrict your use of them accordingly. My long suppressed emotions are erupting into the stratosphere revealing to me, once again, that the people I know and love here in the UK will soon be half a world away. This thought alone has led to my present state so considering the additional logistics of packing up our house, finding the cash to put it on a boat heading in the vague direction of Melbourne, working productively at my job until 3 days before we leave the country and maintaining a sane and sensible relationship with my husband and those close to me is, at times, just too fe**ing hard.

:scared:

Dinnie

Clever clogs.

CasG

I know where you are coming from Dinnie, and like you say..there are many people here that do too..

But just remember this..you have people here you know, and you are coming home....to a place that has a massive heart and arms that are wide open.
So when you want to say **** it - say it........ then remember why you are coming back.

Maybe I'll see you in the Turtle Cafe sometime ?