Finances - Better or worst than the UK?
Feb 13th 2007, 10:41 am
#1
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Finances - Better or worst than the UK?
Hi Everyone
How many of you in Australia find yourselves better off financially than in the UK? This is not a rant or moan, just interested in others experience.
I suppose I mean wages vs cost of living. Had a conversation with my friend and fellow BE member today and we discussed the dire wages which tradesmen receive, despite working physically hard often in extreme heat.
I am hoping it is early days and perhaps the longer you are here and the more you prove yourself, you are either paid better or other employers are willing to take you on when applying for higher paid positions.
Not looking for facts and figures or to get personal, just general views. O/H is struggling at the moment as he feels depressed on the work front, he is not afraid of hard work (he works very hard by the way!!), yet I think he feels he is breaking his back for crap wages and lately his boss has tried to pull a few fast ones...luckily we are on the ball and ahead of the game, but this has still unsettled my O/H, who just wants an honest days pay for an honest days work!!
FYI we are in NSW and have been here for over 5 months, we have agreed to give ourselves 2 years to see if we are going forwards or backwards in all aspects of family life (not just based on finances!).
Nikki
How many of you in Australia find yourselves better off financially than in the UK? This is not a rant or moan, just interested in others experience.
I suppose I mean wages vs cost of living. Had a conversation with my friend and fellow BE member today and we discussed the dire wages which tradesmen receive, despite working physically hard often in extreme heat.
I am hoping it is early days and perhaps the longer you are here and the more you prove yourself, you are either paid better or other employers are willing to take you on when applying for higher paid positions.
Not looking for facts and figures or to get personal, just general views. O/H is struggling at the moment as he feels depressed on the work front, he is not afraid of hard work (he works very hard by the way!!), yet I think he feels he is breaking his back for crap wages and lately his boss has tried to pull a few fast ones...luckily we are on the ball and ahead of the game, but this has still unsettled my O/H, who just wants an honest days pay for an honest days work!!
FYI we are in NSW and have been here for over 5 months, we have agreed to give ourselves 2 years to see if we are going forwards or backwards in all aspects of family life (not just based on finances!).
Nikki
Feb 13th 2007, 10:48 am
#2
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,199
Re: Finances - Better or worst than the UK?
Hi Everyone
How many of you in Australia find yourselves better off financially than in the UK? This is not a rant or moan, just interested in others experience.
I suppose I mean wages vs cost of living. Had a conversation with my friend and fellow BE member today and we discussed the dire wages which tradesmen receive, despite working physically hard often in extreme heat.
I am hoping it is early days and perhaps the longer you are here and the more you prove yourself, you are either paid better or other employers are willing to take you on when applying for higher paid positions.
Not looking for facts and figures or to get personal, just general views. O/H is struggling at the moment as he feels depressed on the work front, he is not afraid of hard work (he works very hard by the way!!), yet I think he feels he is breaking his back for crap wages and lately his boss has tried to pull a few fast ones...luckily we are on the ball and ahead of the game, but this has still unsettled my O/H, who just wants an honest days pay for an honest days work!!
FYI we are in NSW and have been here for over 5 months, we have agreed to give ourselves 2 years to see if we are going forwards or backwards in all aspects of family life (not just based on finances!).
Nikki
How many of you in Australia find yourselves better off financially than in the UK? This is not a rant or moan, just interested in others experience.
I suppose I mean wages vs cost of living. Had a conversation with my friend and fellow BE member today and we discussed the dire wages which tradesmen receive, despite working physically hard often in extreme heat.
I am hoping it is early days and perhaps the longer you are here and the more you prove yourself, you are either paid better or other employers are willing to take you on when applying for higher paid positions.
Not looking for facts and figures or to get personal, just general views. O/H is struggling at the moment as he feels depressed on the work front, he is not afraid of hard work (he works very hard by the way!!), yet I think he feels he is breaking his back for crap wages and lately his boss has tried to pull a few fast ones...luckily we are on the ball and ahead of the game, but this has still unsettled my O/H, who just wants an honest days pay for an honest days work!!
FYI we are in NSW and have been here for over 5 months, we have agreed to give ourselves 2 years to see if we are going forwards or backwards in all aspects of family life (not just based on finances!).
Nikki
Hubby works harder and does more hours for less money. He needs 3 types of licences and still waiting to get them after 9 months, so hopefully he can earn more then.
Our morgage is higher over 30 years
This is something we need to change as we didn't come here to be up to our eyeballs in debt. We only bought a small house but in Perth the cost of houses and living is quite expensive, so you need to work your balls off to pay the bills.Hopefully for us things will change, if not, it's bye bye Perth.
Feb 13th 2007, 10:56 am
#3
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Re: Finances - Better or worst than the UK?
Well for us our finances are much lower than in the UK.
Hubby works harder and does more hours for less money. He needs 3 types of licences and still waiting to get them after 9 months, so hopefully he can earn more then.
Our morgage is higher over 30 years This is something we need to change as we didn't come here to be up to our eyeballs in debt. We only bought a small house but in Perth the cost of houses and living is quite expensive, so you need to work your balls off to pay the bills.
Hopefully for us things will change, if not, it's bye bye Perth.
Hubby works harder and does more hours for less money. He needs 3 types of licences and still waiting to get them after 9 months, so hopefully he can earn more then.
Our morgage is higher over 30 years
This is something we need to change as we didn't come here to be up to our eyeballs in debt. We only bought a small house but in Perth the cost of houses and living is quite expensive, so you need to work your balls off to pay the bills.Hopefully for us things will change, if not, it's bye bye Perth.
We do love the country and want to stay, just hoping given time things can improve. It won't be for the want of trying and hard graft!
It seems those tradesman who want to work for themselves face a tough first year, working for less money whilst attempting to set up on their own. We are thankful though for the one income!!!!
Feb 13th 2007, 11:12 am
#4
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Re: Finances - Better or worst than the UK?
I'm earning more than I was in the UK and Mrs M was too in her last job (she is 'between jobs' right now 
). We are loads better off but that's because a) we don't have a mortgage and b) we just seem to handle our finances better - I can't explain why. If and when we buy a property, we will definitely be worse off but that might never happen anyway. We're happy renting and being able to save, invest and still spend 
). We are loads better off but that's because a) we don't have a mortgage and b) we just seem to handle our finances better - I can't explain why. If and when we buy a property, we will definitely be worse off but that might never happen anyway. We're happy renting and being able to save, invest and still spend
Feb 13th 2007, 11:45 am
#5
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Re: Finances - Better or worst than the UK?
Overall we are a little better off here. That will change a little when we buy our house (at the end of March 
), but the major difference is that we only have one income here as opposed to two in the UK.
I agree that some trades people do get a bum deal, especially for the first few months/year. We have been very lucky, the licencing was easy (that's one of the reasons we picked SA ) and hubby landed a good job within a day of getting his.
), but the major difference is that we only have one income here as opposed to two in the UK. I agree that some trades people do get a bum deal, especially for the first few months/year. We have been very lucky, the licencing was easy (that's one of the reasons we picked SA
) and hubby landed a good job within a day of getting his.
Feb 13th 2007, 1:04 pm
#6
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Re: Finances - Better or worst than the UK?
Earn roughly the same as UK, maybe slightly higher now but then I have more responsibility.
Taxation is higher (for me anyway),
Cost of living is roughly the same apart from housing which is cheaper here.
I would say overall about the same UK/Australia for us.
Taxation is higher (for me anyway),
Cost of living is roughly the same apart from housing which is cheaper here.
I would say overall about the same UK/Australia for us.
Feb 13th 2007, 2:11 pm
#7
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Re: Finances - Better or worst than the UK?
Buzzy
Feb 13th 2007, 4:47 pm
#8
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Re: Finances - Better or worst than the UK?
Agree that I felt I had a better standard of living when I moved there in 2000. But then, my salary was just the current exchange rate, so I was looking good. Think it 2.5 back then. Did get frustrated that the 47% tax was there, but fortunately found out soon enough that Super had to go on top of salary and not part of it. Then got a decent accountant to ensure I always got a decent rebate.
The interest rate is a pin for house purchasing etc - our holiday home in QLD costs a fortune as renting does not cover the cost and we're thus topping it up, as well as having a UK mortgage. But some cars were cheaper, some were more expensive, fuel was cheaper so that made life easier, and food was cheaper so that helped.
Wish taxes were not so high though as it did seem to hurt more, but in general, because the exchange rate valuation on salary, I was better off. Funnily enough would now be earning double my Australian salary if I moved there now, so would be a lot better off I imagine. May just have to do it again....
The interest rate is a pin for house purchasing etc - our holiday home in QLD costs a fortune as renting does not cover the cost and we're thus topping it up, as well as having a UK mortgage. But some cars were cheaper, some were more expensive, fuel was cheaper so that made life easier, and food was cheaper so that helped.
Wish taxes were not so high though as it did seem to hurt more, but in general, because the exchange rate valuation on salary, I was better off. Funnily enough would now be earning double my Australian salary if I moved there now, so would be a lot better off I imagine. May just have to do it again....
Feb 13th 2007, 5:54 pm
#9
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Posts: 3,507
Re: Finances - Better or worst than the UK?
Agree that I felt I had a better standard of living when I moved there in 2000. But then, my salary was just the current exchange rate, so I was looking good. Think it 2.5 back then. Did get frustrated that the 47% tax was there, but fortunately found out soon enough that Super had to go on top of salary and not part of it. Then got a decent accountant to ensure I always got a decent rebate.
The interest rate is a pin for house purchasing etc - our holiday home in QLD costs a fortune as renting does not cover the cost and we're thus topping it up, as well as having a UK mortgage. But some cars were cheaper, some were more expensive, fuel was cheaper so that made life easier, and food was cheaper so that helped.
Wish taxes were not so high though as it did seem to hurt more, but in general, because the exchange rate valuation on salary, I was better off. Funnily enough would now be earning double my Australian salary if I moved there now, so would be a lot better off I imagine. May just have to do it again....
The interest rate is a pin for house purchasing etc - our holiday home in QLD costs a fortune as renting does not cover the cost and we're thus topping it up, as well as having a UK mortgage. But some cars were cheaper, some were more expensive, fuel was cheaper so that made life easier, and food was cheaper so that helped.
Wish taxes were not so high though as it did seem to hurt more, but in general, because the exchange rate valuation on salary, I was better off. Funnily enough would now be earning double my Australian salary if I moved there now, so would be a lot better off I imagine. May just have to do it again....
Feb 13th 2007, 6:36 pm
#10
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Joined: Oct 2005
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Re: Finances - Better or worst than the UK?
Hi Everyone
How many of you in Australia find yourselves better off financially than in the UK? This is not a rant or moan, just interested in others experience.
I suppose I mean wages vs cost of living. Had a conversation with my friend and fellow BE member today and we discussed the dire wages which tradesmen receive, despite working physically hard often in extreme heat.
I am hoping it is early days and perhaps the longer you are here and the more you prove yourself, you are either paid better or other employers are willing to take you on when applying for higher paid positions.
Not looking for facts and figures or to get personal, just general views. O/H is struggling at the moment as he feels depressed on the work front, he is not afraid of hard work (he works very hard by the way!!), yet I think he feels he is breaking his back for crap wages and lately his boss has tried to pull a few fast ones...luckily we are on the ball and ahead of the game, but this has still unsettled my O/H, who just wants an honest days pay for an honest days work!!
FYI we are in NSW and have been here for over 5 months, we have agreed to give ourselves 2 years to see if we are going forwards or backwards in all aspects of family life (not just based on finances!).
Nikki
How many of you in Australia find yourselves better off financially than in the UK? This is not a rant or moan, just interested in others experience.
I suppose I mean wages vs cost of living. Had a conversation with my friend and fellow BE member today and we discussed the dire wages which tradesmen receive, despite working physically hard often in extreme heat.
I am hoping it is early days and perhaps the longer you are here and the more you prove yourself, you are either paid better or other employers are willing to take you on when applying for higher paid positions.
Not looking for facts and figures or to get personal, just general views. O/H is struggling at the moment as he feels depressed on the work front, he is not afraid of hard work (he works very hard by the way!!), yet I think he feels he is breaking his back for crap wages and lately his boss has tried to pull a few fast ones...luckily we are on the ball and ahead of the game, but this has still unsettled my O/H, who just wants an honest days pay for an honest days work!!
FYI we are in NSW and have been here for over 5 months, we have agreed to give ourselves 2 years to see if we are going forwards or backwards in all aspects of family life (not just based on finances!).
Nikki
Last edited by Australia_bound?; Feb 13th 2007 at 6:40 pm.
Feb 13th 2007, 7:35 pm
#11
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Re: Finances - Better or worst than the UK?
I am probably back in the work force next week, so things should look up - like Wendy, it hasn't helped with only one income. Likewise, our house should be built in July and it will be mortgage time then, so more money find than the rent we currently pay, but hopefully the longer we are here the better we should get on (positive thinking!!!).
Feb 13th 2007, 9:29 pm
#12
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Re: Finances - Better or worst than the UK?
Im pretty sure i will be worse off finacially once in oz. i wont be able to afford to buy for a couple of years at least but to be honest im quite looking forward to having the freedom of renting, may regret saying that if the prices keep going up and up oh well - anyone got a tent for sale?
oh well - anyone got a tent for sale?
Feb 13th 2007, 10:29 pm
#13
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Re: Finances - Better or worst than the UK?
Im pretty sure i will be worse off finacially once in oz. i wont be able to afford to buy for a couple of years at least but to be honest im quite looking forward to having the freedom of renting, may regret saying that if the prices keep going up and up oh well - anyone got a tent for sale?
oh well - anyone got a tent for sale?
Feb 13th 2007, 10:33 pm
#14
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Re: Finances - Better or worst than the UK?
oooooooh yes please that will do for me and daughter. just need one for the boys please - any offers? Oh and it would be good if anyone has a generator that they no longer need please - doesnt have to be that powerful just enough to power my hair straighteners
Feb 13th 2007, 10:59 pm
#15
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Re: Finances - Better or worst than the UK?
I could be earning more in the UK, but OH earns more in Australia than he probably would in the UK. As he's now earning more than me, he wins and we stay.
I think things will become a lot harder for us when we buy a house, and if we were to ever go down to just one salary life would be difficult and my cheese and wine budget would be slashed.
I think things will become a lot harder for us when we buy a house, and if we were to ever go down to just one salary life would be difficult and my cheese and wine budget would be slashed.