Idea on cost of living
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 36
Idea on cost of living
Wife and I plus 4 kids (Daughter 7, Son 5, Son 3, Son 1).
Electricity (keeping the house pretty cool around 75 degrees farenheit)?
Gas?
Water?
Trash?
Sewer?
1 Cell phone?
TV/Cable?
Internet?
Home Security Alarm System?
Groceries?
Petrol?
2 Auto leases or purchases?
Rent/Mortgage?
Electricity (keeping the house pretty cool around 75 degrees farenheit)?
Gas?
Water?
Trash?
Sewer?
1 Cell phone?
TV/Cable?
Internet?
Home Security Alarm System?
Groceries?
Petrol?
2 Auto leases or purchases?
Rent/Mortgage?
#2
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 440
Re: Idea on cost of living
You can get two new cars on a four year lease for around $30K. Your company should offer this on a "salary sacrifice" basis so it comes out of pre-tax income.
Decent TV, you need cable at around $1300 per year.
Groceries are expensive here; someone else with kids your age can give you some numbers.
Electricity; on TV the other night they said the average bill was about $1300 per year, but if you want to stay cool in Perth it will be higher than average.
Decent TV, you need cable at around $1300 per year.
Groceries are expensive here; someone else with kids your age can give you some numbers.
Electricity; on TV the other night they said the average bill was about $1300 per year, but if you want to stay cool in Perth it will be higher than average.
#3
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2009
Location: Perth
Posts: 2,237
Re: Idea on cost of living
Rent/mortgage payments vary hugely. Do you want to live near the beach, river, CBD? Presumably you will want a a larger house - do you want a bedroom for each child? Are you in the executive lifestyle category? Will you get LAFHA?
#4
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 36
Re: Idea on cost of living
I have no idea what LAFHA is. If you are up to it and feel like explaining it I'd appreciate it. Probably would want a 4-5 bedroom house...don't have to be on the beach or anything but 15-20 minutes would be nice...more important to be closer to work (CBD) and in an area where schools are good...any recommendations? Any places to avoid and why you'd avoid them?
#5
...giving optimism a go?!
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Brisbane (leafy, hilly western suburbs)
Posts: 2,202
Re: Idea on cost of living
Only a complete chump would pay that for cable TV! Its just as crammed with ads and unwatchable as FTA.
Spend the money on a decent internet conection ($60pm gets you unlimited ADLS2+) - and learn to source your media from other places. Even if you have to pay $500 for a new computer to store and play all the files you download, you'll be financially ahead in no time and will have viewing experiences FAR superior to trying to watch anying on FTA or cable channels.
FWIW - Here in Brisbane our 4 bed house with ducted a/c and pool runs up electricity bills of around $2000-$3000 per year.
Spend the money on a decent internet conection ($60pm gets you unlimited ADLS2+) - and learn to source your media from other places. Even if you have to pay $500 for a new computer to store and play all the files you download, you'll be financially ahead in no time and will have viewing experiences FAR superior to trying to watch anying on FTA or cable channels.
FWIW - Here in Brisbane our 4 bed house with ducted a/c and pool runs up electricity bills of around $2000-$3000 per year.
#6
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Joined: Oct 2009
Location: Perth
Posts: 2,237
Re: Idea on cost of living
LAFHA = Living Away From Home Allowance - quite a few threads here on BE about it and several members receive it.
I read somewhere that Perth has well over 300 suburbs, so there is something available for everyone, from billionaires downwards. You can rent in some very nice suburbs for reasonable amounts of money, but you might never be able to buy in that suburb - it all depends on your personal circumstances. For starters, have a look on www.realestate.com.au and try looking at Nedlands, which would give us an idea if that might be your sort of suburb.
There are lots of other good places, it all depends on what you can afford and the sort of lifestyle you want. Lots of Perth suburbs are within 20 minutes of the beach and the CBD. There are also dozens of suburbs to avoid, although there can be a great deal of heated discussion on here about Perth suburbs, just to warn you. Generally speaking, the most expensive (desirable) suburbs are those closest to the river (going west from the CBD) and the coast.
I read somewhere that Perth has well over 300 suburbs, so there is something available for everyone, from billionaires downwards. You can rent in some very nice suburbs for reasonable amounts of money, but you might never be able to buy in that suburb - it all depends on your personal circumstances. For starters, have a look on www.realestate.com.au and try looking at Nedlands, which would give us an idea if that might be your sort of suburb.
There are lots of other good places, it all depends on what you can afford and the sort of lifestyle you want. Lots of Perth suburbs are within 20 minutes of the beach and the CBD. There are also dozens of suburbs to avoid, although there can be a great deal of heated discussion on here about Perth suburbs, just to warn you. Generally speaking, the most expensive (desirable) suburbs are those closest to the river (going west from the CBD) and the coast.
#7
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Perth from Paisley
Posts: 327
Re: Idea on cost of living
There's no mention on the type of visa your coming on as lahfa generally is only available for people on temp work visas e.g 457.
If your on a Pr visa then it's not available.
If your entitled to it then your employer has to offer it although not all do. Lafha is a way of reducing your tax liability. Your employer allows you a food and rental allowance which is not taxed, this can amount to quiet a bit and well worth getting.
If your on a Pr visa then it's not available.
If your entitled to it then your employer has to offer it although not all do. Lafha is a way of reducing your tax liability. Your employer allows you a food and rental allowance which is not taxed, this can amount to quiet a bit and well worth getting.
#8
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,188
Re: Idea on cost of living
Only a complete chump would pay that for cable TV! Its just as crammed with ads and unwatchable as FTA.
Spend the money on a decent internet conection ($60pm gets you unlimited ADLS2+) - and learn to source your media from other places. Even if you have to pay $500 for a new computer to store and play all the files you download, you'll be financially ahead in no time and will have viewing experiences FAR superior to trying to watch anying on FTA or cable channels.
FWIW - Here in Brisbane our 4 bed house with ducted a/c and pool runs up electricity bills of around $2000-$3000 per year.
Spend the money on a decent internet conection ($60pm gets you unlimited ADLS2+) - and learn to source your media from other places. Even if you have to pay $500 for a new computer to store and play all the files you download, you'll be financially ahead in no time and will have viewing experiences FAR superior to trying to watch anying on FTA or cable channels.
FWIW - Here in Brisbane our 4 bed house with ducted a/c and pool runs up electricity bills of around $2000-$3000 per year.
#9
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 666
Re: Idea on cost of living
you would have cable tv if you liked sport and were not that interested to be bothered to download anything. personally I coudl do without but my husband quite likes the old fashioned approach of coming home, push button on tv, lie down, adjust crotch etc.
mind you - he is a chump.
Groceries are expensive. you will see on other threads that my life in general is expensive but groceries with 3 children for us 6/5/3 cost around 1600-2000 a month. That includes popping out for milk etc. And cleaning products.
it can be done more cheaply and mine eat like adults
mind you - he is a chump.
Groceries are expensive. you will see on other threads that my life in general is expensive but groceries with 3 children for us 6/5/3 cost around 1600-2000 a month. That includes popping out for milk etc. And cleaning products.
it can be done more cheaply and mine eat like adults
#10
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 36
Re: Idea on cost of living
So please tell me if this expectation is reasonable, or correct problem areas:
Rent/Mortgage: $3,000/month (4-5 bedroom in a fairly nice area)
2 cars: $750/month ($375/month for a 4 year lease on each)...follow up question-how many miles is typical per year on an lease in Perth before you have to pay the per mile fee for driving too much?
Electricity and Gas: $200/month (4 bedroom house keeping it around 74-75 degrees year round)
Groceries: $2,000/month (2 adults, 4 smaller eaters 7/5/3/1)
TV: $110/month
1 cell phone with data plan: $100/month
Security System Monitoring: $40/month
Water/Sewer: $75/month
Thanks for your help
Rent/Mortgage: $3,000/month (4-5 bedroom in a fairly nice area)
2 cars: $750/month ($375/month for a 4 year lease on each)...follow up question-how many miles is typical per year on an lease in Perth before you have to pay the per mile fee for driving too much?
Electricity and Gas: $200/month (4 bedroom house keeping it around 74-75 degrees year round)
Groceries: $2,000/month (2 adults, 4 smaller eaters 7/5/3/1)
TV: $110/month
1 cell phone with data plan: $100/month
Security System Monitoring: $40/month
Water/Sewer: $75/month
Thanks for your help
#11
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2009
Location: Perth
Posts: 2,237
Re: Idea on cost of living
Do-able. Non-food items can catch you out a bit, eg nappies, laundry items, toiletries, cleaning products, medical charges.
We don't bother with cable, there's loads of programmes available on free-to-air TV.
Look up different plans on that whirlpool link I gave elsewhere.
You don't need to pay this at all, but it might give you peace of mind.
If you're a tenant you would probably pay water usage charges. If an owner, you pay usage charges and water rates (might be about $1000 annually). Usage depends on how frugal you are and we all need to be more frugal in Perth. You are allowed to water your garden twice a week in summer by reticulation, but daily if you do it by hand or with a hose. Some houses have a bore, which apparently allows you to be more wasteful. If you have a pool, you will use more water and it will cost more.
Thanks for your help[/QUOTE]
Other costs to consider:
- Insurance - house and contents (or just contents if renting), car, medical (medical costs can be considerable here, but perhaps it won't be so noticeable for someone from the UK).
- Activities for children - swimming lessons, any other sporting/creative activities they are into.
- Tuitition - if school is not meeting your child's needs.
- Car running fees - registration, petrol, driver's licence, servicing.