expensive
#151
Account Closed
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,374
Re: expensive
Lee we came with $20,000 , now have £15,000 left, we are both working and have two kids, it depends also how you wanna live, if thats what you want, then i would say do it, if your looking for a big house with a pool, then i would say dont do it If i'm honest with you i hoped hubby who is a printer would get a better paid job than in scotland , which he has, but not much more than he was earning. He loves it here, and i will have to drag him back kicking and screaming, may have to drag teen back the same way.....................
as i said we are strongly considering going back, at 43 , i want some security, we could still get a mortgage and afford a wee house in scotland , but right now i cant see that ever happening here, howeve i have absolutely no regrets about doing it, it has given us all a great experience, and when people say its an emotional rollercoaster, believe me it is!!
#152
Re: expensive
sorry to hear that jo!!
the patient i was talking to was diagnosed with prostate cancer and denied he had private health insurance coz he said he would have had to make up the 'differnce' and couldn't afford it, therefore he got it done in the public sector at no cost its madness the health care system here, however i here that a large private health company is starting to investigate some areas of the health care here.
the patient i was talking to was diagnosed with prostate cancer and denied he had private health insurance coz he said he would have had to make up the 'differnce' and couldn't afford it, therefore he got it done in the public sector at no cost its madness the health care system here, however i here that a large private health company is starting to investigate some areas of the health care here.
Jo
Last edited by joho; Mar 1st 2008 at 5:05 am.
#153
Re: expensive
Lee we came with $20,000 , now have £15,000 left, we are both working and have two kids, it depends also how you wanna live, if thats what you want, then i would say do it, if your looking for a big house with a pool, then i would say dont do it If i'm honest with you i hoped hubby who is a printer would get a better paid job than in scotland , which he has, but not much more than he was earning. He loves it here, and i will have to drag him back kicking and screaming, may have to drag teen back the same way.....................
as i said we are strongly considering going back, at 43 , i want some security, we could still get a mortgage and afford a wee house in scotland , but right now i cant see that ever happening here, howeve i have absolutely no regrets about doing it, it has given us all a great experience, and when people say its an emotional rollercoaster, believe me it is!!
as i said we are strongly considering going back, at 43 , i want some security, we could still get a mortgage and afford a wee house in scotland , but right now i cant see that ever happening here, howeve i have absolutely no regrets about doing it, it has given us all a great experience, and when people say its an emotional rollercoaster, believe me it is!!
The same as many other people i have children to consider in all this.If it was just me and the missus it would be easier to make the move.
When you have no money it aint no fun...no matter how nice the beaches and bbq's are.
Lee
#154
Account Closed
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,374
Re: expensive
The thing is margaret when you mention money and the cost of stuff in this forum you get attacked for being materialistic.
The same as many other people i have children to consider in all this.If it was just me and the missus it would be easier to make the move.
When you have no money it aint no fun...no matter how nice the beaches and bbq's are.
Lee
The same as many other people i have children to consider in all this.If it was just me and the missus it would be easier to make the move.
When you have no money it aint no fun...no matter how nice the beaches and bbq's are.
Lee
#158
Account Closed
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 723
Re: expensive
There is an article in the West today (page 9) saying that due to the worldwide food shortage beef and lamb are going up by 20% here. Also veg prices are increasing.
I don't know how to post links so maybe some clever person can. It's an interesting read. I appreciate that food is going up in price all over the world but when you are earning ozzie dollars it seems to hit harder.
I don't know how to post links so maybe some clever person can. It's an interesting read. I appreciate that food is going up in price all over the world but when you are earning ozzie dollars it seems to hit harder.
#159
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 413
Re: expensive
If i dont get a 60 pointer from the TRA i will be re-thinking my move to Australia.
In the last 4 years i have worked my @ss into the ground.
To come over to Australia and barely be able to buy a flat way out of the city on a much lower wage and that coupled with exchange rates.
Its not about money for me but i have had a mortgage since i was 23 and im now 31.
I dont want to go backwards in life as im sure we all dont want.
Atleast if i get a skilled independent visa it will last for 5 years when verified.
In the last 4 years i have worked my @ss into the ground.
To come over to Australia and barely be able to buy a flat way out of the city on a much lower wage and that coupled with exchange rates.
Its not about money for me but i have had a mortgage since i was 23 and im now 31.
I dont want to go backwards in life as im sure we all dont want.
Atleast if i get a skilled independent visa it will last for 5 years when verified.
#160
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Perth
Posts: 3,453
Re: expensive
I would advise anybody with doubts not to move to Australia. WA has plenty of jobs but outside of the mines they don't seem as well paying as you might imagine.
With high interest rates, a dreadful exchange rate, house prices, lack of rentals and inflation, this has got be one of the worst times to emigrate to Australia.
#161
Aussie lost in the UK
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Terrigal, NSW Central Coast
Posts: 682
Re: expensive
And in relation to the costs of living in each country, I don't think that I have to do much reading, (although I ahve been reading this forum almost daily for 2 years.... and contributing daily for the past year)
My comments come from experience, and, like I said, I live half my life in Australia and half in the UK....so I'm pretty well experienced to comment - I have done the London - Sydney flight more than 20 times and the last decade I've spent pretty much as much time in the UK as Australia....
Everyone's experiences are different, as are their priorities - I LOVE both places, I love the UK for many things (pubs, ease of travel to europe, I love London, I love how busy it is...... I could go on) But there is also much that I love about Australia (I'm a keen surfer, I love the beach, I love the lifestyle, I love being outside, I love the friendly people......).
In my experience, and based on my lifestyle and priorities, I think Australia offers more to me (without a doubt)...... my lifestyle here, and my home, are far beyond what I could have in the UK, but this comes from having priorotoes taht revolve around being happy, enjoying life and having a lifestyle that, in my opininon, I could not better in the UK...
I'm not here to argue, because your experience is obviously different than mine, and that is fine .... I wholeheartedly agree that you can't move to Australia to inprove your financial situation - my last move cost me near to ten thousand pounds to start with..... and to think that people come here, sit on the beach with a schooner of forsters and survey the beach everyday is misleading....
But don't presume to tell me that I need to do more reading..... if you don't like the fact that I'm happy here, and that Australia offers more for my life, than thats up to you, but I suggest you take your unapporving tone and head of the hills.....leave me to my surfing, my coffee overlooking the beach and a life that I'm pretty damn happy with.....
And on that note, I'll have to leave you........ from my balcony I can see that the predicted southerly swell is producing some pretty mean looking 6 foot sets at the local beach....and I ahve a new surfboard thats itching to be ridden.......
ahhhhh.....this is the life.......
#162
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,375
Re: expensive
Its interesting how many people are giving the 'dont do it' advice even Badger, that really surprised me.
I wouldnt say that at all, and I have always been quite open about australias many problems, BUT what happened to all the people doing it for the experience, relaxed lifestyle, healthier lifestyle, less crime, drugs, etc etc etc and the many many posters who said Uk was a dump had to get out, just because the exchange rates dropped what happened to all those reasons. Bit like dumping your true love cause it got a pay cut
Turns out it was all about money
#163
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 110
Re: expensive
where do you have "cheap Australia"?
I compare prices and see is more expensive than the UK ii almost everything; everyday shoppings; checkprice:
http://www.tesco.com/todayattesco/pricecheck.shtml
or:
http://www.sainsburys.com/groceries/...=1204357213045
i see one whole fresh chicken costs: 2.66£/kg, here over 10$
or beer, i used to buy one box of 18 cans (carlsberg) for 10£, here 6 small cans costs at least 13$, now i see Sainsbury's sells a box - 24 cans of Carling for 12.98£
vegetables - red peppers in the UK I used to pay about 0,7£ per unit, here almost 10$/kg;
do you think petrol ich cheaper here? how much did you pay in the UK, weekly petrol bill? here i had "only" 60 km one way to my workplace, so 120 km daily,
wages for the same job, in the UK i had over 1400£ monthly after tax, here i was offered 17$/h, i showed my english payslips, so got 20$/h, but still was much less than my english salary, i converted $/£ it looks like here i had little more than 1000£ after tax; so this is a difference earning for the same job 1000 and 1400;
cars in Oz are 3 times more expensive than in the UK; car insurance also expensive;
do you still think australia is cheaper? see airfares, from the UK to spain a flight lasts about 3 hours, and costed me 70£, here on the same distance is more expensive, flight from Melbourne to Cairns, lasts also about 3 hours and costs over 400$ (200£); you can calculate costs of living in both countries within 5 years, including all bills, holidays, shoppings, you will see that in the UK after 5 years you will save more money, even including council tax, and Gordon's Brown tax ideas;
I really think to come back, Australia WAS cheaper than the UK, but is not now; I see my bills from Coles and Wollworth, luckily I shop in chinatowns, is cheaper; the same items here are at least 3 times more expensive;
in Melbourne i visited british consulate, fantastic, no queue, few australians only, and i was asked about appoinment, so do i need an appoitment? yes, lot of australians gets working visas to go to the UK, very long queue, waiting takes few weeks, i asked them why? they wanna go stay in the UK permanently, because Australia became too expensive I was told,
public health service, very dodgy in both countries, but in australia you must pay additional few $;
public transport - London Tube is dodgy, but Connex is Melbourne is worse
who more wants to come back to the UK?
I compare prices and see is more expensive than the UK ii almost everything; everyday shoppings; checkprice:
http://www.tesco.com/todayattesco/pricecheck.shtml
or:
http://www.sainsburys.com/groceries/...=1204357213045
i see one whole fresh chicken costs: 2.66£/kg, here over 10$
or beer, i used to buy one box of 18 cans (carlsberg) for 10£, here 6 small cans costs at least 13$, now i see Sainsbury's sells a box - 24 cans of Carling for 12.98£
vegetables - red peppers in the UK I used to pay about 0,7£ per unit, here almost 10$/kg;
do you think petrol ich cheaper here? how much did you pay in the UK, weekly petrol bill? here i had "only" 60 km one way to my workplace, so 120 km daily,
wages for the same job, in the UK i had over 1400£ monthly after tax, here i was offered 17$/h, i showed my english payslips, so got 20$/h, but still was much less than my english salary, i converted $/£ it looks like here i had little more than 1000£ after tax; so this is a difference earning for the same job 1000 and 1400;
cars in Oz are 3 times more expensive than in the UK; car insurance also expensive;
do you still think australia is cheaper? see airfares, from the UK to spain a flight lasts about 3 hours, and costed me 70£, here on the same distance is more expensive, flight from Melbourne to Cairns, lasts also about 3 hours and costs over 400$ (200£); you can calculate costs of living in both countries within 5 years, including all bills, holidays, shoppings, you will see that in the UK after 5 years you will save more money, even including council tax, and Gordon's Brown tax ideas;
I really think to come back, Australia WAS cheaper than the UK, but is not now; I see my bills from Coles and Wollworth, luckily I shop in chinatowns, is cheaper; the same items here are at least 3 times more expensive;
in Melbourne i visited british consulate, fantastic, no queue, few australians only, and i was asked about appoinment, so do i need an appoitment? yes, lot of australians gets working visas to go to the UK, very long queue, waiting takes few weeks, i asked them why? they wanna go stay in the UK permanently, because Australia became too expensive I was told,
public health service, very dodgy in both countries, but in australia you must pay additional few $;
public transport - London Tube is dodgy, but Connex is Melbourne is worse
who more wants to come back to the UK?
#164
Re: expensive
Not true about cars that are new though hubby has just got a mazda cx7 for $42k in the UK £24k. Second hand cars are a bit pricey. Look at the end of the day if you have doubts dont do it, if you want to give it a go then rent out your house and do it that way.
Capsicum (red peppers are $4 a kilo here. Beef joint $25 for a big whole rump cut into 3 huge joints. Australia is still seasonal on its fruit and veggies. Washing powder is cheaper here. These are my observations and maybe not everyone elses. I buy things when they are on offer and the selection is much less, you have to make food from scratch as not so much convienence food.
Weather apart from this summer usually much nicer, beaches beautiful, pool in garden fab, coffees at the local cafe outside magic, birds fabulous, wages for us better, house better, disposable cash better, flights are getting cheaper and cairns is bout 4 hours from Melbourne as its 3 hours from Sydney we did it last year 5x adult flights cost us about £125 return each. Adelaide to sydney one way $79. Spain is only 1.5-2 hours away.
We have been lucky.
I can live with the negatives as the positives make up for it.
Jo
Capsicum (red peppers are $4 a kilo here. Beef joint $25 for a big whole rump cut into 3 huge joints. Australia is still seasonal on its fruit and veggies. Washing powder is cheaper here. These are my observations and maybe not everyone elses. I buy things when they are on offer and the selection is much less, you have to make food from scratch as not so much convienence food.
Weather apart from this summer usually much nicer, beaches beautiful, pool in garden fab, coffees at the local cafe outside magic, birds fabulous, wages for us better, house better, disposable cash better, flights are getting cheaper and cairns is bout 4 hours from Melbourne as its 3 hours from Sydney we did it last year 5x adult flights cost us about £125 return each. Adelaide to sydney one way $79. Spain is only 1.5-2 hours away.
We have been lucky.
I can live with the negatives as the positives make up for it.
Jo
Last edited by joho; Mar 1st 2008 at 7:31 am. Reason: should have read pounds
#165
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Perth
Posts: 3,453
Re: expensive
Its interesting how many people are giving the 'dont do it' advice even Badger, that really surprised me.
I wouldnt say that at all, and I have always been quite open about australias many problems, BUT what happened to all the people doing it for the experience, relaxed lifestyle, healthier lifestyle, less crime, drugs, etc etc etc and the many many posters who said Uk was a dump had to get out, just because the exchange rates dropped what happened to all those reasons. Bit like dumping your true love cause it got a pay cut
Turns out it was all about money
I wouldnt say that at all, and I have always been quite open about australias many problems, BUT what happened to all the people doing it for the experience, relaxed lifestyle, healthier lifestyle, less crime, drugs, etc etc etc and the many many posters who said Uk was a dump had to get out, just because the exchange rates dropped what happened to all those reasons. Bit like dumping your true love cause it got a pay cut
Turns out it was all about money
Sideways shift in career or even take a step backwards - yes - but that's about it. Perth house prices are, compared what you can get in the UK, massively out of line. The thought of selling our house in the UK to buy an overpriced hen-house here gives me sleepless nights.
This, coupled with a relatively (in historical terms) dreadful exchange rate and retail interest rates of 8% and set to go higher and the number of people on here who, after 3 months say "I've made a dreadful mistake" makes it a huge, huge gamble these days.