Sammy T

$1500 part time? We both work, one full time and one part time, and only just earn that amount, wish we could both be part time and get that!

Remember, any interest you earn will also be taxed, whether in the UK or Oz.

Sam

steve`o

electrician?

ozzieeagle

Orthodontist probably gets that in one day, looking at my bleeding charges.

HelenTD

It doesn't seem that you are in a similar situation, as jad n rich has 2 teenagers and you said that you have 1 pre-schooler. Apart from the usual clothing and food costs (and a pre-teen or teenager eats enormous amounts of food, more than some adults), plus school fees (state or private), there's before- and after-school care, vacation care, out of school sports activities, tuition (when the state or private school doesn't do its job, maybe Melbourne schools are better). There's also potential health costs. In WA checks are done on pre-primary school kids that might identify some development issue - don't rely on the state health system to provide your child with all the speech therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychologists, paediatricians and anyone else you might have to see. A 6 figure salary can disappear very quickly, especially when the ATO/Centrelink seems to think that a $100k means that you're rich. If you have your own business and an accountant to make all the tax claims, good for you, but it's the middle-income families who are ripped off, providing for others but getting very little back.