elmtree

( and I'm sure it's already been done to death but I can't find the thread )

..... do you guys in Aus feel less well-off financially ?

I know finance is not the only consideration, but it's just one of the many I'd like to get a feel for.

Pollyana

yep

elmtree

MUCH worse off ?

and what have you had to sacrifice ( if you don't mind me asking )

madsad

My hubby's wage is not the greatest,even tho he is highly sought after,he works longer hours with very little left over after mortgage & bills are paid even tho i recieve family assistance to top hubby's wage up,we manage but only just!

I started work about 6 wks ago 10 hrs a week & the family assistance payments i received halved & my daughters childcare fees increased so i was literally working for nothing extra
I now realise why so many mums dont bother to find work as in the long run it just isn't worth working part-time only to get by on what you were originally receiving from Family assistance leaves you feeling very down hearted.

I am now working just under 30hrs a week & no longer depend on family assistance payments,(i will collect anything i may be entitled to at the end of the tax year) I feel i didnt have a choice other than to work more hours to gain the benefit of making extra money.
We are now a bit better off but both working bloody hard for it!

Donna.

MartinLuther

I'm better off in Aus. I have more left in the bank account at the end of each month than I did in the UK. Having a less costly house would be the main reason for this. Tax is about the same, groceries are about the same (slightly cheaper in Aus but I have to buy seasonally), Transport costs lower, clothing is about the same.

The Corderys

Financially I'd say we're no better but no worse, I work less hours here and earn about the same and after 2 years my hubby earns about the same here as he did in the UK (but only just). But it'll depend on your work, we're both in office based jobs, some tradies definately seem to be better off.

It's just a different life here as many have already noted. There's no such thing as the one stop shop, you need to go to the veg market for your veg, and keep an eye supermarket for where has the specials at the time, some utilities are more, the only alcohol that costs less is locally produced wine and then it's not dirt cheap but good value.

It's more of a lifestyle thing, if you have little money, then there's still some wonderful things to do without spending a penny. And the likelihood of being rained indoors is a heck of a lot slimmer.

jad n rich

Both working so doing OK, but long hours :scared: partner leaves at 4.45 am and gets back at 5.45 , 6 days a week, so dont ask about lifestyle

Still not really going ahead financially tho, 2 boys heading for private schools, older one an apprentice, poor lovey needs subs now and again, sick parent in the UK means we are up for $9000 of airfares for 4 just to get back to UK. All expensive habits.

Were also healthy eaters, the boring sort who really do eat the 7 serves of fruit and veg a day types, quite scary in a country where healthy food, like lean meat, fish and fruit and veges are expensive as hell, its the junk thats cheap, we dont eat that. Petrol is a nightmare for us, one vehicle currently is doing 1500 klm a week for work.

Anyway we live well but no way financially better off.

chels

Still on a lower salary than I would have been in England (after 2 years)

Mortgage payments in England were lower than they're going to be here.

Public transport is cheaper because I travel by bus these days, rather than train, and only live 4k out of the CBD.

Food costs - much more budget conscious, home cook more, so about the same. Lunches + takeaways are cheaper.

Clothes - spend more

Socialising - spend less because social life is not like it was in England

DVD rental - spend less (can't think of anything else to add!)

On balance, I'm financially less well-off. Partner is financially better-off, so as a couple we are doing better. But I'm an independent lass so I'd rather be doing better in my own right.

As time is passing, I'm remembering less of the price of things in England so can't compare as much as I used to.

andrew63

Financially worse off because we had very little mortgage until we came here and took out 4 x income.
We would have done the same if we lived anywhere else and be just as skint I am sure.
Wages less too and wife now working part-time (reluctantly).

Still - far better to be poor here!

Andrew

coxfamuk

We are less financially off, but we don't live on credit like we did in the UK - literally we budget to make our monthly income last, which means pulling in our belts - even more so since buying our own house and the nice big deposit that was sitting in the bank is now bricks and mortar!

But, for us the flip side is that we spend more time as a family.

Sarah

nickyjohnt

Our situation is exactly the same !

Nicky

sid_s

Like most people my salary is less here if I convert it to pounds, but I don't seem to feel worse off. We have a lovely house in great location overlooking the bay and it costs about half as much per month as our 1.5 bed flat did in London.

Sandra

After four years now on equivalent of what I left the UK on , it also took Hubby four years as well.

We have a bigger mortgage than the UK now but we also have a very different house.

Less well off in terms of disposable income, still work long hours and have less holiday - can't quantify the other changes some days they seem better other days not.

Pollyana

i earn less and work longer hours at present, yet with no security as I have to reapply for my own job every couple of months.
Hardly ever go out as The Bloke prefers to stay in, so if I do go out I need to pay for it myself, and for a texi - from a far smaller disposable income pit than I had in the UK.
We rarely go anywhere at weekends, as one or both of us is usually working, and when The Bloke does get a day off, he's just too tired.
Trips home are paid for by the family back there (thank goodness!) and will have to be funded in future from the money my dad has left me. Without that there would be no holidays - back in the UK I could afford a good holiday in Aus every year.
Don't have time to shop around, I have to buy everything from the supermarket in one go.
No cash left at the end of each month, and if I was trying to pay the rent on my own I would be in esious trouble.

Not a whinge, just reality.