No not the Cher song,

Just wondering for the people that are already here if there was one thing; i.e. a mistake, error in judgement, or anything that you would change, that you have done since you have been here what would it be???

It will be interesting reading to those not here yet, they could probably learn from our mistakes.

Mine would be to take more time over cars, we bought 2 after being here for a few weeks, and ended up getting shut of them less than a year later at a massive 30 -40 % loss.

So come on spill the beans what "mistakes" have you made in haste and repented at your leisure?

We moved over to the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria in July 2004 from sunny Rochdale. We'd had a holiday in Oz in '92 and our only regret now is that we didn't move sooner. It's a great place to bring up the kids and it's so safe compared to the UK. Merry Xmas everyone.

Andy

I would agree entirely about the car. Stupidly brought new, even though I told myself I would never buy new again !

I would also have not been in such a rush to transfer out money over.
We didn't need it for 6 months (until we bought a house) and probably lost
a fair amount on the exchange rate.

1) Not pushing the company for more money - I could have gotten another $7000 onto my salary.
2) Should have come over for 5 weeks on my own beforehand and then made the decision to move.
3) Most important - should have really discussed what the job entailed and have understood 'you are joining a top team' actually meant 'there's no team - we need people like you, and you'll be on your own'.

Having said that, if I'd have done the last 2 I wouldn't have come over and would have regretted not coming later in life.

I'd have bought the two blocks of land I intended to buy when I first arrived, I'd have been happily retired by now:curse: Such is life

Not getting to say goodbye to my nanna. But most of all not thanking her for the 21st birthday card - last birthday card she ever sent me(well someone in the nursing home sent it). I've carried it around for 13 years to remind myself never to procrastinate as you can pay dearly. Even now it puts a lump in my throat.

not force my 16 yr old daughter to go to college(were she met some kn**head and thinks she is in love and now not coming to oz with us)

oh how i regret it

We should have kept our property in the UK. We paid 28,000 for it

Not coming years ago when the kids were younger and would have settled better

Wish we had come here a couple of years earlier !

Bought the car in a rush too.

But we didn't leave enough time to sort through the house at the UK end and as a result of lack of organisation, left a lot of stuff that we should have packed. A lot went to the tip/recycling, which frankly, was heartbreaking.
Bring everything... even if you think it won't be any use. You can always sell it here.

I wish that too, so life would have been a bit more easier on my eldest boy, yes another older teenager who hates it here, but just staying until he finishes his year 12.

We rushed buying a car when we got here. It's a good car (we bought second hand) but it's just not me

Moving money out here when the exchange rate was better would also have been good. Our UK pensions will be transferred soon so we probably won't get a great on them at the moment although it is going in the right direction for moving money from the UK to Oz.

Regards,
Karen

Rushing into buying a gas guzzling car

Not buying a few blocks of land or a couple of investment properties.

Buying a house, without truely considering if we were settled and not checking out other suburbs (or States!)

Thinking in £'s on arrival and over spending as a result.......including that new car purchase

Not taking lots of photos of my favourite haunts and 'memory places' in the U.K (It's a woman thing)

Jan