expensive
Feb 29th 2008, 10:41 am
#106
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Somers;Mornington Peninsula
Posts: 241
Feb 29th 2008, 10:55 am
#107
Ping-ponging Pom
Joined: Nov 2005
Location: Midlands - Brissy - Midlands - Brissy
Posts: 355
Re: expensive
If people are thinking it's an easy option coming here then they're sadly dis-illusioned and obviously not done enough homework. We're only early into our new life and I can see hardtimes ahead, both financially and emotionally but we were fully aware of what we were getting ourselves into.
Yes, as raised by the OP things are expensive and we stand no chance of buying a house anytime soon. Some foods are extortionately priced, but others are cheaper. Things like car insurance and petrol are cheaper and we only have to pay the electric on our rental which surprised us coming from everything you have to fork out in a rental in the UK.
In short, if you want a cheap life look elsewhere. If you want to see what Oz has to offer and you're not so tight with money it'll ruin the experience, then you're half way there.
Feb 29th 2008, 10:56 am
#108
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 150
Re: expensive
I see these posts about the cost of things a lot and don't really agree most of the time.... sure I see that some things are more expensive, but many of the other things aren't and it evens itself out....
I live half my life in Australia and half my life in the UK, on comparable jobs and in comparible parts of the country...
petrol is cheaper here, as is eating out (we can eat out in our local town for under $50 and for less than $70 you can get some real;ly flash places - and this is considered to be one of Austrlias most expensive suburbs), my council taxx in Australia is $1300 per year, for my house that overlooks the beach, compared to 1350 POUNDS in the UK for the my one bedroom apartment...my electric bills, phone etc much cheaper here (internet still sucks), I spend less on going to the pub because the beach in the afternoon is a better investment of my time.......
I have to say that financially I fee better off in Australia, but probably not by much - I live in a nice place, always have, and I lived in a nice place in the UK. The thing is, in the UK I didn't have an apartment in Chelsea with great views.....so I wouldn't expect to have a house on Sydney Harbour or overlooking hte beach ......
Many of the English people I know make that mistake - move to Australia from some little town or medioclre sized city, and want to live in the middle of Melbourne....or overlooking Manly Beach..... thats the same as my parents moving from there 5 bed house on the mid-north coast NSW to London and complaining that the can't afford even a tiny bedsit in Kensington....
I said it on a post here the other day - lifestyle (for me) there is nothing like Australia, and much of it is free...... but this is a personal decision for me (if you like the pub egery night, then perhaps the UK is the best for you.... I like the pub everynight....for about 2 years, then I long for hte beach again)...
I can't find anything better than coming home from the office and going for a surf, or a walk on the beach, or just being outside in the garden digging up stuff cause its warm and sunny (not today, admitedly)....
Money is not everything, and if its lifestyle and happiness then I'm a far wealtheir man for the times that I am in Australia than the times I spend in the UK.....no question.
I live half my life in Australia and half my life in the UK, on comparable jobs and in comparible parts of the country...
petrol is cheaper here, as is eating out (we can eat out in our local town for under $50 and for less than $70 you can get some real;ly flash places - and this is considered to be one of Austrlias most expensive suburbs), my council taxx in Australia is $1300 per year, for my house that overlooks the beach, compared to 1350 POUNDS in the UK for the my one bedroom apartment...my electric bills, phone etc much cheaper here (internet still sucks), I spend less on going to the pub because the beach in the afternoon is a better investment of my time.......
I have to say that financially I fee better off in Australia, but probably not by much - I live in a nice place, always have, and I lived in a nice place in the UK. The thing is, in the UK I didn't have an apartment in Chelsea with great views.....so I wouldn't expect to have a house on Sydney Harbour or overlooking hte beach ......
Many of the English people I know make that mistake - move to Australia from some little town or medioclre sized city, and want to live in the middle of Melbourne....or overlooking Manly Beach..... thats the same as my parents moving from there 5 bed house on the mid-north coast NSW to London and complaining that the can't afford even a tiny bedsit in Kensington....
I said it on a post here the other day - lifestyle (for me) there is nothing like Australia, and much of it is free...... but this is a personal decision for me (if you like the pub egery night, then perhaps the UK is the best for you.... I like the pub everynight....for about 2 years, then I long for hte beach again)...
I can't find anything better than coming home from the office and going for a surf, or a walk on the beach, or just being outside in the garden digging up stuff cause its warm and sunny (not today, admitedly)....
Money is not everything, and if its lifestyle and happiness then I'm a far wealtheir man for the times that I am in Australia than the times I spend in the UK.....no question.
sounds like he has to do alot more reading on this forum
Feb 29th 2008, 11:04 am
#110
NO ADDED SUGAR
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Center Parcs, WA
Posts: 1,322
Re: expensive
This is exactly the reason we came, and before we got here were under no illusion it'd be a walk in the park and I'd be able to sit on my ass half the day and pay for a huge 6 bed house with a million acres of land. We came with a bit of money and this has been well used buying things like cars, furniture etc. I've landed a job and once I start we'll go about saving money and enjoying the experience of being here.
If people are thinking it's an easy option coming here then they're sadly dis-illusioned and obviously not done enough homework. We're only early into our new life and I can see hardtimes ahead, both financially and emotionally but we were fully aware of what we were getting ourselves into.
Yes, as raised by the OP things are expensive and we stand no chance of buying a house anytime soon. Some foods are extortionately priced, but others are cheaper. Things like car insurance and petrol are cheaper and we only have to pay the electric on our rental which surprised us coming from everything you have to fork out in a rental in the UK.
In short, if you want a cheap life look elsewhere. If you want to see what Oz has to offer and you're not so tight with money it'll ruin the experience, then you're half way there.
If people are thinking it's an easy option coming here then they're sadly dis-illusioned and obviously not done enough homework. We're only early into our new life and I can see hardtimes ahead, both financially and emotionally but we were fully aware of what we were getting ourselves into.
Yes, as raised by the OP things are expensive and we stand no chance of buying a house anytime soon. Some foods are extortionately priced, but others are cheaper. Things like car insurance and petrol are cheaper and we only have to pay the electric on our rental which surprised us coming from everything you have to fork out in a rental in the UK.
In short, if you want a cheap life look elsewhere. If you want to see what Oz has to offer and you're not so tight with money it'll ruin the experience, then you're half way there.
Feb 29th 2008, 11:18 am
#112
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 150
Re: expensive
I previously lived in the south of england, and moved across a couple of years ago and in my own experience I am better off (in terms of work/life balance, and financially) - therefore agree with the comments.
I don't intend on buying any time soon as interest rates are on the up, but on the plus the reason they are on the up is because the economy is doing well (e.g. employment is at a 30+ year low). Jobs are therefore easier to come by, and you have better leverage for negotiating your package. Also, the mining boom (which is going to go on for a good few years) is a major contributor to why the Oz' economy is strengthening at a time when Europe and the US looks like its heading for recession.
I appreciate everyone's got their own views and experience, but its not like Oz is alone in increases in property affortability, etc (the same has been happening throughout Europe for a number of years). I think some people have a perception that Oz is going to be cheap, which its not, but comparing Sydney/Mebourne to their UK equivalent London in my experience Oz is cheaper overall.
I don't intend on buying any time soon as interest rates are on the up, but on the plus the reason they are on the up is because the economy is doing well (e.g. employment is at a 30+ year low). Jobs are therefore easier to come by, and you have better leverage for negotiating your package. Also, the mining boom (which is going to go on for a good few years) is a major contributor to why the Oz' economy is strengthening at a time when Europe and the US looks like its heading for recession.
I appreciate everyone's got their own views and experience, but its not like Oz is alone in increases in property affortability, etc (the same has been happening throughout Europe for a number of years). I think some people have a perception that Oz is going to be cheap, which its not, but comparing Sydney/Mebourne to their UK equivalent London in my experience Oz is cheaper overall.
Last edited by nickUK; Feb 29th 2008 at 11:20 am.
Feb 29th 2008, 11:23 am
#113
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 150
Re: expensive
lots of folk outside the UK don't understand the distinction between brits, scots, english, welsh and irish.
Feb 29th 2008, 11:29 am
#114
Account Closed
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,374
Re: expensive
I previously lived in the south of england, and moved across a couple of years ago and in my own experience I am better off (in terms of work/life balance, and financially) - therefore agree with the comments.
I don't intend on buying any time soon as interest rates are on the up, but on the plus the reason they are on the up is because the economy is doing well (e.g. employment is at a 30+ year low). Jobs are therefore easier to come by, and you have better leverage for negotiating your package. Also, the mining boom (which is going to go on for a good few years) is a major contributor to why the Oz' economy is strengthening at a time when Europe and the US looks like its heading for recession.
I appreciate everyone's got their own views and experience, but its not like Oz is alone in increases in property affortability, etc (the same has been happening throughout Europe for a number of years). I think some people have a perception that Oz is going to be cheap, which its not, but comparing Sydney/Mebourne to their UK equivalent London in my experience Oz is cheaper overall.
I don't intend on buying any time soon as interest rates are on the up, but on the plus the reason they are on the up is because the economy is doing well (e.g. employment is at a 30+ year low). Jobs are therefore easier to come by, and you have better leverage for negotiating your package. Also, the mining boom (which is going to go on for a good few years) is a major contributor to why the Oz' economy is strengthening at a time when Europe and the US looks like its heading for recession.
I appreciate everyone's got their own views and experience, but its not like Oz is alone in increases in property affortability, etc (the same has been happening throughout Europe for a number of years). I think some people have a perception that Oz is going to be cheap, which its not, but comparing Sydney/Mebourne to their UK equivalent London in my experience Oz is cheaper overall.
could you take your accountant hat off for a min and think of people who did it and knew they would never, ever be better off financially, but might be better off 'in life experience', we 'scraped by' in scotland. we 'scrape by in oz', we couldnt afford holidays abroad or ;visits to europe;, but we are pretty certain by taking a 'crazy plunge' already we and the kids have 'gained' in life!!
ok, looks like we will got back to scotland coz of it it too ;expensive' here, but we all go home alot older, wiser and the kids with , and yes it has been, a bloody good experience for them
Feb 29th 2008, 11:32 am
#116
A rather curious boy
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 5,917
Re: expensive
could you take your accountant hat off for a min and think of people who did it and knew they would never, ever be better off financially, but might be better off 'in life experience', we 'scraped by' in scotland. we 'scrape by in oz', we couldnt afford holidays abroad or ;visits to europe;, but we are pretty certain by taking a 'crazy plunge' already we and the kids have 'gained' in life!!
ok, looks like we will got back to scotland coz of it it too ;expensive' here, but we all go home alot older, wiser and the kids with , and yes it has been, a bloody good experience for them
ok, looks like we will got back to scotland coz of it it too ;expensive' here, but we all go home alot older, wiser and the kids with , and yes it has been, a bloody good experience for them
Are you resigned to it Mags?
Feb 29th 2008, 11:44 am
#117
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Auckland
Posts: 291
Re: expensive
Sorry but I think that's nonsense. It's the same as saying your house is worth X when you are not selling it. Whatever the rate has been is irrelevant. You haven't 'lost' anything other than what you perceive others to have got on their exchange rate.
Have to agree with others, if the only reasons you (general) were/are coming over are monetary ones then perhaps you should rethink and just downsize in the UK. It's been a good six years since anyone could say with hand on heart that they are better off monetary wise here than the UK.
Have to agree with others, if the only reasons you (general) were/are coming over are monetary ones then perhaps you should rethink and just downsize in the UK. It's been a good six years since anyone could say with hand on heart that they are better off monetary wise here than the UK.
Feb 29th 2008, 11:50 am
#118
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 150
Re: expensive
could you take your accountant hat off for a min and think of people who did it and knew they would never, ever be better off financially, but might be better off 'in life experience', we 'scraped by' in scotland. we 'scrape by in oz', we couldnt afford holidays abroad or ;visits to europe;, but we are pretty certain by taking a 'crazy plunge' already we and the kids have 'gained' in life!!
ok, looks like we will got back to scotland coz of it it too ;expensive' here, but we all go home alot older, wiser and the kids with , and yes it has been, a bloody good experience for them
ok, looks like we will got back to scotland coz of it it too ;expensive' here, but we all go home alot older, wiser and the kids with , and yes it has been, a bloody good experience for them
My point is just that, in my own experience, Oz isn't more expensive if you're doing a fair like for like comparison with a similar place in the UK (eg. comparing London to Melbourne, and not Falkirk to Melbourne).
Appreciate it varies experience to experience, and on your job.
Feb 29th 2008, 12:05 pm
#119
pink 'n' bouncy
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Zombie nation
Posts: 6,087
Feb 29th 2008, 12:29 pm
#120
NO1SPARKY!
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Hallet Cove Ellite
Posts: 601
Re: expensive
Hi Mrs Martin here, we've been here 3 months now and i do find food shopping and toiletries more expensive than the uk. And we're just getting into the habit of paying for everything ie schooling, driving licences, sporting events (3 boys) and hospital visit. But on the whole i still wouldnt go back, its much more relaxing here. Back home my husband wouldnt be finishing work at 4pm and saying to the boys lets go to the beach, lets go fishing,play some football or tennis. He would come home at god knows what time and sit in front of the tele and turn into a zombie until bed time(thats no life for anybody). But i do miss my ASDA with its BOGOFs, who knows ASDA might come to oz as well.
ps, my boys love it here, they love their school, they've found new friends and new hobbies.
pps, So dont come out here thinking its going to be cheaper, its just a better way of life.
Hope this helps
LISA X
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ps, my boys love it here, they love their school, they've found new friends and new hobbies.
pps, So dont come out here thinking its going to be cheaper, its just a better way of life.
Hope this helps
LISA X
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