renth

I try to buy Aussie produce, even local WA produce whenever I can. Our local supermarket in Ocean Reef proudly announces how it supports local farmers by selling their stuff.

I love seeing a mango or an avocado with a "made in WA sticker" and it drives me mad to see "produce of NZ" on an apple when they grow so many in Donnybrook WA.

At the end of the day I look at it this way, a country needs to be able to generate its own power, to feed its own population because one day, maybe soon, but one day the sh*t is going to hit the fan. It could be bird flu, a "peak oil" driven global recession, a natural disaster, who knows but one thing is for sure - sooner or later it will happen.

Here's another thing for sure, Australia will be much better placed to weather the storm with huge coal reserves for energy(unlike the UK who closed all its mines down despite still having coal in them, for political reasons), with the ability to grow more than enough food to feed the population. Whereas back in the UK everyone buys ther beans flown in from Kenya or expects strawberries in the middle of winter. There will be mass starvation.

Back in sunny WA I'll be wetting a line to supplement my families protein with some fish. Not many of those left in the UK since they sold all their fishing licences to the Spanish and French - nice job Maggie, Tony, John!

So I'll continue to buy Australian, to suport our local economy, to invest in our countries future. Back in the UK the concept of nation and national pride went out of the window once Bliar put devolution on the agenda. What do we have now? A Scottish parliament but not an English one and the country run by foreigners like Gordon Brown.

ABCDiamond

How many Dentists do you have in your area ? I suggest checking the others for their prices. Our one charges $35 for the 1st Comprehensive Oral Exam, and then $24 for each 6 monthly one after that.

You mention that none of your doctors bulk bill. What type of area do you live in ? One of the latest statistics states that about 75 per cent of doctors are bulk-billing. It did however say that country areas are a smaller %, and there is a variability in bulk-billing rates across the country.


It can be difficult in the beginning in a new country. My wife found the food in the UK very expensive when she moved there, but she just needed to find out the British way, which took some time.

I think that prices can vary a lot depending on the area a person is in.
eg: If you have 5 supermarkets and loads of other food shops all within 2 minutes of you, I get the feeling the competition keeps prices low, but if a person is in a rural setting with no choices, then prices tend to be high.

With Organic food, I do feel that Australia may not be the best place for it, as the majority of posters who have high food bills, seem to also be organic food eaters. But not being into organics, I don't really know about those costs.
But like some others in my area, about $125 pw feeds 3 of us.

JayneS

Hi there I've been here 1.5 years and would agree with most of that.
Saying that I love it here and have no desire to go back
But yes its expensive (I'm in Sydney) pay a fortune in rent, but i live near the beach...
I spend a fortune in the supermarket and the supermarkets aren't anywhere near as good. But I do find meat cheaper and good qualifty.
And eating out is cheaper and my lifestyle is much nicer.
Yes Aussie Aussie Aussie is everywhere you look but I think one of the main differences between British and Aussies is Aussies are a lot more confident and big themselves up where most brits have a tendency to put themselves down as its what we do. My Aussie girlfriends wouldn't dream of slagging off their own appearance whilst I will often role up to work and declare 'my god I look a right dog today' etc etc.
As a few people have said its swings and roundabouts - we all come here expecting paradise - and mostly it is - I have a lovely life - but of course some things won't be perfect and there are bound to be a few chinks in the armour.
But I have to admit - moving back to the uk appeals to me NOT one bit and I'm very happy with my new life. Just wish friends and family were closer!

Koala Konnection

That's honesty for you! Good on you!

Gill and I have been out here a little over a year now (Sunshine Coast, Qld) and I have to say from the verbal bashing she sometimes gives me, supermarket food shopping can be an expensive and sometimes noisy habit. Clothes less so, but she's promised me some unshrinkable Ts from Marks & Spencer on our next "holiday" trip back! You can find farmer's stalls around here (just a few) and inland (lots) - not sure about the city though, and the value for money is really noticeable at these - good value veggies.

Schools? We haven't got kids, yet, but you've certainly put me off!!! Cleaning bogs? Whatever next?!

Winters in QLD are the best. Summers, especially nights, are a little unbearable unless you've got air-con, which we haven't (yet - check out our web site for our house build saga). And we hope not to have any air-con because we've chosen to live 400m above sea-level over-looking the Sunshine Coast where it's more scenic and cooler both during the day and night. We've also put extra insulation around us!

The regulations over here are unbearable at times. You're absolutely right. Work on the job counts for little and certificates are the order of the day. My brother in law and his two sons are plasterers in the UK and they have said to me that Europe is now beginning to demand paper qualifications. One of them has had to go back to college to gain a diploma in something or other to do with plastering. What amazes me with the building trade is the diversity of tasks - it seems everyone is a specialist and only specialists can do their specialised jobs. To give you an example, the oven range hood over the gas hob can't be fitted by the company that is building our house. They won't do it! We have to call in a specialist! Absolutely daft. They can build a house, fit a bath, even fit the oven and hob, but ask them to fit an extractor hood... Have you noticed the DIY ceiling lights - designed to connect to existing bayonet fittings. How good is that? But that's all you're allowed to do unless you're a qualified sparky. Sure, who wants to get electricuted, but the principal of being a specialist with paper to back it up can be seen everywhere, in all states.

Sorry, I'm waffling. Hope I haven't strayed too far from your point. Just my views.

Hang on in there. There's heaps of good stuff amongst the bad. We're loving it here. Houses are cheaper, even our Subaru was heaps cheaper here than a comparable version in the UK, but the cost of second hand cars is frightening! If you feel like you need a change of scenery, head further north up to Montville and Maleny where the insects are nowhere near as bad and the nights much more pleasant. Stick with it!

Paul & Gill.

Neil & Shell

I don't get this whole bank charging thing!

I have an Australian HSBC account and I DO NOT pay bank charges. I can use eftpos unlimited times with no charges, write cheques with no charges, withdraw cash from an HSBC ATM with no charges, withdraw cash from other ATMS (upto 6 a month) with no charges, withdraw cash from any Aus post office with no charges. I have statements sent to me every month and again no charges. I also have online banking with no charges.

I used to pay more bank charges in the UK for withdrawing cash from a cash machine!

Anyway, this is only my opinion

Shell

renth

Yeah, I've got an HSBC account here too and I'm pretty pleased with it.

ABCDiamond

and mine

diddy

Just checking guys and this is for you too Renth. Is this just a normal HSBC account in Oz? If so, I'm off to open one.

Paul.

finsbury

[QUOTE=eatstatic]What Thatch knew and Labour do not are the fundamental rules of capilitalism. Survival of the fittest,...QUOTE]

The fundamental rule of capitilism is bend the rules if you have the power to do so.

And that's essentially the problem with Australia and consumer prices. Your rules of 'market forces' don't neccesarily work all that well here. And here's why....

It's a small country spread over a huge land mass so effective competition is more difficult to generate because of transport, refridgeration, production costs etc. There's no surrounding populations to bolster national competitiveness (compare the UK to its EU neighbours and Aus to NZ/Fiji. No comparison). Existing competition is between huge companies that really have a monopoly between them so there's no real incentive to reduce prices, whilst at the same time, they are using their market power to put smaller traders to the wall.

And in my experience much of Australian history and life alway boils down to those three factors - the land, the remoteness and vested interests.

I think there's also something else to bear in mind. Last year, we went on a wine tour in Margaret River. We got nattering with a winery owner and I asked him how come Australian wine was cheaper in the UK than Aus. He said there were several factors - Aus taxes on wines (inevitably), Aus wines have made a concerted effort to break the UK and European markets and have reduced prices but, and importantly in this discussion, he thought that the main UK buyers were just so much better at their job. They hammer Aus prodcuers on price because they know they can. He used the example of some of the London wine trading companies have been in operation for centuries and have done every kind of deal under the sun. And that's the real point - Australia is still a young country and it's still working a lot of things out.

What irks me at times is the acceptance that most Australians exhibit towards paying ridiculous bank fees. But then again, they haven't known anything else and it's only through our UK experiences that you can see that the banks are ripping folks off left, right and centre. And I guess that also applies to shopping as well.

It's just one of the joys/pains of living in a different country. But whatever happens you benefit from it because you see and think about things in different ways. And for me, that's more important than paying a couple of extra bucks on a bag of carrots each week.

F

renth

Yes, I think it's called an on line saver account. But it's got the on line banking which is great.

diddy

Thanks.

BadgeIsBack

Tell you what, the way Europe legislation is going, Europe will be a minefield of redtape soon anyway. People seem to forget that, there are hundreds of UK businesses breaking EU law. They're fine now, but when Brussels clamps down..or when Strasbourg rules a precedent...

BadgeIsBack

The Holdens of the 70s were beautiful cars. I'd love one, one day. Engineered well, maybe too well.

petafray

Just like to put my 2 pennorth in. We are 3 years in and live in North Brisbane. We have had a great time so I guess it is all down to individual circumstances and attitudes.
We moved here from a small village just outside Leicester, not expecting better or worse - just different. We knew noone - just packed up and left - me hubby and 2 kids. I had already arranged a job adn started within a week of arrival. It took us 6 weeks to find daycare for my youngest so hubby didnt start work until then. He is a chemist and picky with his work so has managed to have 5 jobs in 3 years without being unemployed for any time - luck or what!
My oldest was in Grade 1 when we arrived and she was well ahead in reading and writing compared to the Australian kids, and she has remained as such, getting special work from the teachers to stimulate her. We decided not to put her into Grade 2 as she was young for her year and woquld have been 18 months younger than the other grade 2 kids.
We use a state primary. I did a lot of research before we came and we chose to live where we did because of the school. We will use a private school for senior and there are a wide choice to meet your needs. My daughter will probable go to a more academic school where as my son will go to one with a sports and outdoor based curriculum which better for him.
As far as the weather is concerned, we have acclimatised over the 3 years. We dont get so troubled by mozzies now but I know there are certain suburbs such as Banyo that get them more than others.
Food - we manage on $150 per week for 4 and use Coles, however I love goign tothe speciality stores that dont seem to exist in the UK any more. Near us is a place called Clayfield Markets that has teh best fruit and veg and butchers store that I have ever come across.
I have found it really easy to make friends which may be because I was very involved in the Girl Guides in the UK and found a unit on my second day in the country. This has helped me meet loads of people and I now have friends all over the country through this.
I have changed jobs once since my arrival and now work for a trans tasman plumbing firm. I love it and although I am earning way less than I was in teh UK $ for Pound, I dont feel worse off. We think that it is about dollar for pound in cost of living, taking into account the ups and downs. I have to agree with the person who said the fruit & veg tastes better. I couldnt believe the difference in taste in the fruit when we came here. Probably because it is local and if you buy from a specialist shop, hasnt been frozen for months on end like spanish tomatoes.
Do I miss anything from the Uk - honestly No. I havent had an urge to go back there and this is really home. I have loved my 3 years here and have only dropped in on this forum because I realised it has been an age since I have been on and thought I would see what was going on. I used to be on th eforum every day when I was waiting for the Visa, but since moving here, havent felt the need as we have settled in so well.

THis is just my experience. I know it is not the same for everyone. We chose to come with no real expectations - it was just a bit of an adventure - and we have loved every second of it. I cant give advice to those struggling to settle as I havent had that experience but I did want to post to let people know that there are some success stories out there.

Thanks
Peta

rossifumi

Some really interesting posts, well here goes for March.

One of our main concerns is the schooling, we have already expressed our thoughts and concerns on this to a few of the school principals that we chatted to. We'll just have to wait and see, no point getting too excited.