NKSK version 2

I realise that there is great subjectivity in determining what is a decent salary but I have been quite taken aback by some posts on here - particularly when the average salary is about half the OP's salary.

Those who feel that the $120k quoted is basic or just doable, what would you consider a good salary?

fish.01

Yes they have. A lot. TV's especially.

Bermudashorts

I think people were just surprised. My UK house is victorian, in the middle of nowhere, poorly insulated and oil fired central heating. I wasn't there last winter but was winter before, I reckon the bills were maybe £750 per year? Yours does sound very large but perhaps you house was nearly four times as big.

iamthecreaturefromuranus

No. You get more allowance for your money but I've not seen any price cuts. Toowombats might be more expensive than some of the prices quoted by posters on here. It really does depend where you are as to what you can get and at what price. ADSL2 hasn't made to me yet and probably never will. National Broadband Network will get here first.

Heating might come as a bit of a shock. Australian houses are, generally, excellent at dissipating heat... great in Summer, but bloody hopeless come Winter. You will need the heating on.

Amazulu

These kind of things are roughly the same, or cheaper in Australia

Wendy

I earn $48k plus super and manage fine....how? because that's what I earn and I have to.


I just bought a 50 inch plasma for $666 Don't know how that compares to the UK as I haven't looked.

jezandem

Absolute rubbish. £750 a year for domestic oil heating (approx £60 a month) Our house is a 4 bed, not a huge farmhouse.

Some people will be paying much more than that for mains gas central heating, which is much, much cheaper.

Please see this thread and remember that oil prices have gone up a lot since then. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...d.php?t=161843

When you woke up Bermudashorts......were you back in Australia??

There really are some unbelievable comments on here!!

Thank God some of you are honest, impartial, straight and are on here to help.

And to those of you who are just a little lonely and wish to give your opinions for something to do......just bear in mind that people are making life changing decisions and seek honesty and relevance to their situation.

iamthecreaturefromuranus

I have no gas. My Electricty costs are $3510pa. Gives you some idea that utilities aren't cheap here either.

Pollyana

People are giving you their honest opinions and honest figures. How do I know? Because I live here and I've been on this forum reading the figures for several years.
I spent a lot of my childhood in a large Victorian house with oil-fired central heating. We had a VERY small fuel bill because we had a small income and couldn't afford heating. We wore more clothes, drew patterns on the ice on the inside of the windows and spent most of each winter with large parts of the house as No-go zones. Our bills were lower than anyone else in the village. So don't assume that someone's figures are wrong unless you have walked in their shoes and lived their life.

If you want real help from people then I suggest listen to all our opinions - especially people such as Bermuda Shorts who post an awful lot of useful and accurate info. We've all been in your shoes, looking for help, so don't dismiss it or you may find it isn't offered so freely.

britToAussie

I think that the answer here is "It depends". It depends on your lifestyle and how thriftily you live. I do think that 120,000AUD is do-able, though.

I'm on a similar salary and my wife also works (albeit on a slightly lower salary than me) and we have a nice, comfortable life. We don't have kids, though.

Amazulu

Anyone who makes a life changing decision based on what they read on here is a f**king idiot

HelenTD

A reasonable primary salary and a 2nd "slightly lower" salary and no kids is very different from a reasonable salary that is the only salary and with kids.

britToAussie

Exactly.

Bermudashorts

What on earth are you so angry about?

Soooo you are outraged that a couple of people dare to question your statement about your bills because how could they possibly know... but then tell me I'm talking rubbish when I mention what mine are. You can't have it both ways.

I know what my bills were too, not much need for oil central heating all year round so working out a monthly average is a bit meaningless for me. If you heat your house all day all year round then I imagine that cost would creep up. We topped up the tank about three times a year and it cost about £250 a time. I find my utility bills here quite reasonable too, so far anyway, I guess I must just be very green.

MMC_HGV

I think alot really depends on your lifestyle and expectations. I'm hoping to come over on $100k pa with my wife, we'd be hoping she would pick up a basic rate job, all be it part or full time. So no kids and we dont see ourselves as extravigant . I compaired our weekly shop from asda(using the reciepts) with a shop with woolworth. It didnt shock me at all, was slighlty higher as expexcted. The main thing is to know your own area your going too and price everything from there, everyone is different with different circumstances