Our Cost of Living in Melbourne
Jan 25th 2009, 8:30 am
#46
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Our Cost of Living in Melbourne
If you haven't had it done..you probably should do it.
Everyones and expert though! BUT the council do recommend at least every 3 to 5 years. Ours is the 5 year mark and smells after rain. From memory it cost us $400 ish last time. We have to get it done ready for prospective tennants in a couple of weeks time (sob!)
We try to limit the use of chemicals and when we go away we flush a large pot of live yogurt down each loo...the good bacteria do the septic wonders apparently
Everyones and expert though! BUT the council do recommend at least every 3 to 5 years. Ours is the 5 year mark and smells after rain. From memory it cost us $400 ish last time. We have to get it done ready for prospective tennants in a couple of weeks time (sob!)
We try to limit the use of chemicals and when we go away we flush a large pot of live yogurt down each loo...the good bacteria do the septic wonders apparently
I put down some eco-friendly, reusable, made from recyclables, save the earth toilet cleaner - we don't tear the arse out of using this - and this solved it. But you're right, we might find some yoghurt next time.
Mate, in my work I have to program the sodding logic that our systems use to calculate all these things - but we are ourselves so confused that right now, out of work, I cannot help reliably. Another confusing thing is the Certified Age of Entry...we even coded it the easy way as even the analysts were confused...and then found something else to do.
Last edited by BadgeIsBack; Jan 25th 2009 at 8:54 am.
Jan 25th 2009, 10:28 am
#47
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Lower Chittering, Perth
Posts: 4,646
Re: Our Cost of Living in Melbourne
Water: $18
Electric: $105
Wish my water bill was that low!!!:
Electric: $105
Wish my water bill was that low!!!:
Jan 25th 2009, 10:56 am
#48
High in the Dandenongs
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Listening to Puffing Billy
Posts: 9,183
Re: Our Cost of Living in Melbourne
Jan 25th 2009, 11:09 am
#50
High in the Dandenongs
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Listening to Puffing Billy
Posts: 9,183
Jan 25th 2009, 11:49 am
#52
High in the Dandenongs
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Listening to Puffing Billy
Posts: 9,183
Jan 25th 2009, 7:54 pm
#53
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,316
Re: Our Cost of Living in Melbourne
Private medical does save you paying the surcharge (the extra 1% for those that earn more than a certain amount) but the underlying levy still has to be paid. And in fairness, people with private medical still have access to free A&E and (if they choose) free hospitalisation, so they should pay the levy.
Jan 26th 2009, 1:28 am
#54
High in the Dandenongs
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Listening to Puffing Billy
Posts: 9,183
Re: Our Cost of Living in Melbourne
Private medical does save you paying the surcharge (the extra 1% for those that earn more than a certain amount) but the underlying levy still has to be paid. And in fairness, people with private medical still have access to free A&E and (if they choose) free hospitalisation, so they should pay the levy.
And i for one am happy to pay the surcharge too..its a great service and we have used it a fair bit
Jan 26th 2009, 2:37 am
#55
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,807
Re: Our Cost of Living in Melbourne
I'll carry on as I am then
Jan 26th 2009, 3:17 am
#56
High in the Dandenongs
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Listening to Puffing Billy
Posts: 9,183
Jan 26th 2009, 6:19 am
#58
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Our Cost of Living in Melbourne
It seems that there is confusion over the Medicare Levy and the Medicare Levy Surcharge.
Medicare Levy
Almost all workers pay the standard 1.5% Medicare levy towards funding the cost of the Medicare system in Australia. (Similar to NHS contributions in UK)
The only exemptions/reductions to this are for the very low paid, (2008 is about $17,309pa)
Medical Levy Surcharge (MLS)
If you are a single person, earning more than $70,000 per year, or a family earning more than $140,000 per year combined, then a correctly chosen Private Medical Insurance Policy will save you from paying the extra 1% Medical Levy Surcharge (MLS).
Medicare Levy
Almost all workers pay the standard 1.5% Medicare levy towards funding the cost of the Medicare system in Australia. (Similar to NHS contributions in UK)
The only exemptions/reductions to this are for the very low paid, (2008 is about $17,309pa)
Medical Levy Surcharge (MLS)
If you are a single person, earning more than $70,000 per year, or a family earning more than $140,000 per year combined, then a correctly chosen Private Medical Insurance Policy will save you from paying the extra 1% Medical Levy Surcharge (MLS).
Jan 26th 2009, 8:10 am
#59
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 93
Re: Our Cost of Living in Melbourne
That landline bill is huge! Do you make a lot of calls overseas? I have a Telstra landline with the cheap calls back to the UK and the bill including line rental and 2 calls home a month never exceeds $50.
Do you work a 5 day week and spend $12 a day on lunch or is that for both of you? I am centrally located and spend between $6 and $8 on lunch.
Good indicator though
Do you work a 5 day week and spend $12 a day on lunch or is that for both of you? I am centrally located and spend between $6 and $8 on lunch.
Good indicator though
Jan 26th 2009, 10:44 am
#60
Jedi Princess
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Melbourne,Australia
Posts: 2,089
Re: Our Cost of Living in Melbourne
Hello Folks
Its been about 8 months here in Point Cook, Melbourne. So I thought I would post our cost of living per month.
I hope it helps:
3 bed townhouse rental: $1387
Foxtel: $106(platinum package)
VisionAsia: $60 (indian channels)
Broadband: $75(60GB telstra)
Landline: $130 (Telstra)
2 Mobiles: $80 (virgin png and contract)
Water: $18
Electric: $105
Gas: $112
Rental Insurance: $14
Car Insurance: $50
Petrol: $160
Train Ticket: $104 (Zone 1)
Food Shopping: $500(2 of us)
Slab: $54 (Stella)
My lunch money: $240 (i eat out everyday
Grand Total : $3195 per month
All the best
G
Its been about 8 months here in Point Cook, Melbourne. So I thought I would post our cost of living per month.
I hope it helps:
3 bed townhouse rental: $1387
Foxtel: $106(platinum package)
VisionAsia: $60 (indian channels)
Broadband: $75(60GB telstra)
Landline: $130 (Telstra)
2 Mobiles: $80 (virgin png and contract)
Water: $18
Electric: $105
Gas: $112
Rental Insurance: $14
Car Insurance: $50
Petrol: $160
Train Ticket: $104 (Zone 1)
Food Shopping: $500(2 of us)
Slab: $54 (Stella)
My lunch money: $240 (i eat out everyday
Grand Total : $3195 per month
All the best
G
2bdrm unit (shared) I pay $65 pwk my flatmate, $50pwk.
Broadband: $80 per month but $40 shared for for first 12 months (deal) = $20 each a month
Landline (Telstra) $17.70 per month plus calls (we share cost)
Elec & Gas Approx $80 per month ($40 each shared)
Food: About $60 per week each
Water: No noticeable charges at present.
Total approx: $132.90 each per week, so x 4 = $583.35per month.
Discretionary spending not included.
We do live in a outer melbourne suburb.