Re: Oz Wages
 

God, what do you people spend your money on?

$120k will be fine, plenty if you are only paying $400 a week rent.

As long as you dont have loads of debt left behind in the UK

Re: Oz Wages
 

Can you please explain about the comment "even more so when for a kid" as here in the UK it is the other way round if you are a kid it's all systems go?????? I have a child who has had cancer and needs frequent check-ups so this comment is a bit worrying as here we have open access to our hospital and oncology doctors???? Makes me wonder if we should move then? As here his treatment has been EXCELLENT!!!

Re: Oz Wages
 

We had a bad experience last year at the one and only children's hospital in WA, but lots of people have great experiences at the same hospital. I met a lot of other mums during a long (privately funded) rehab, and most of the mums I met also had bad experiences. It appears that experiences can vary depending on which ward/consultant your child gets referred to. There are also different experiences if your child needs treatment for one-off accidents, versus chronic or longer-term conditions. We had to visit there again last week and I wasn't impressed again, but we were so traumatised by last year, I'm not surprised.

Other cities have more than one children's hospital, so there is an alternative. Here in WA, what can you do? Well, you could always fly to another capital city for treatment - but that's not going to work in an emergency and would be very tiring and expensive. You can see doctors and allied health professionals privately, which can also be expensive, even with the top cover. However, even if you have loads of money, it can take months to get an appointment. I was in a specialist's rooms in March and heard the receptionist tell a caller that they were not seeing any new patients for the rest of the year:blink:. A couple of months ago the GP gave me a referral to a paediatrician, but they weren't taking on any new patients. The GP gave me another name, but they weren't seeing any new patients either, same with a 3rd paediatrician. I've given up for the moment:unsure:, will try again next week (it's not an urgent medical condition).

If your child has a health condition that requires long-term management, I would suggest contacting a support group in Australia to ask about recommended specialists, treatment, and follow-ups. Many other people have had great experiences, I have written about my own, so you need to do your own in-depth checking.

Re: Oz Wages
 

I agree.

Re: Oz Wages
 

Well it depends if 1 or 2 people are earning the $120K remember if it's 2 then you have 2 sets of tax allowances rather than 1 set. It makes a big difference. You should also be aware that if you are using the exchange rate to calculate your GBP equivelant earnings in AUS then you will be severely dissapointed in the lifestyle available. I moved back from $150K to £75K and was vastly better off obviously now im on £150K+ its academic but the point remains Australia is wildely expensive.

Re: Oz Wages
 

Some perspective..some good points..

Saying that $120k is not alot of money is a bit misleading but it depends. It's a reasonable salary and anyone in management will be there. There are plenty of CBD professionals with families who are on $60-80k - I'm talking about non-managerial 'value-add' positions. There are plenty of battlers in the public sector or in admin who earn far less. $120k does not go far due to house prices, so it depends on housing costs.

2 people earning $120k between them will be far better off than one person.

Re: Oz Wages
 

do you never tire of dribbling out the same old tired shite

Granted I’ve no debts but we live a hell of a good life on substantially less than 120k a yr

Re: Oz Wages
 

For a lot of people what he said will be true.

Re: Oz Wages
 

That would classify as an average salary for a couple. It is doable.

Re: Oz Wages
 

The $120k would be just a single wage as the wife would not be working initially, however hopefully in time she'd be able to pick up something, all be it part time. If 9% super is paid on top of this, what sort of cash could I expect to see in the bank at the end of each month? I'd initially be going over on a sponsored visa (if this makes a difference) and was looking on the net at properties around $400 a week. Getting slightly concerned by the comments that it might be a non starter.:confused: :confused:

Re: Oz Wages
 

220 a week gets two of us 700 square feet about 30 mins (by train) outside of Melbourne. It's a shoebox and doubling that might enable us to get something livable in the same or similar area. I would aim to be well out of town if that's your budget with more than two of you - which in itself is not a bad thing at all.

Re: Oz Wages
 

It also depends on what you call a good lifestyle as that is very subjective. I would say that $120k would give you a lifestyle equivalant to earning 40k pounds in the UK.

Re: Oz Wages
 

We are coming over in September. I will be working in Gatton (SE Queensland) and we will probably rent in Toowoomba. We are a family of 4 (2 small kids)

My wage will be $70000 initially + super & some travel allowance.

We will have no debts, initial capital for car and caravan, deposit for rental etc. and the rest of our capital stays firmly in the UK for the time being.

OH may need to get some part time work and she also hopes to carry on with a nursing degree on a part time basis.

Where there's a will there's always a way. Who dares wins!

Don't forget that some of the posters on here are on very high wages....more than double the national average!!! Their expectations will certainly be a lot higher than mine and maybe yours?!

I will be on a 119 visa and we are planning on staying for 2 years minimum. If it doesn't work we will return back to UK. Life is too short to worry about money, its quality of life that counts. Quality of life does not have to cost the earth.

Re: Oz Wages
 

In Toowoomba it is a bit more do'able than any of the capital cities. Looking on line a decent 3 bedroom house can be had for $300-400 a week. That wouldnt get a appartment in Melbourne, Perth or Sydney. The last appartment we had in Sydney was $600 a week and that was nearly 3 years ago.

You will find though that even in Toowoomba $70k isnt a lot of cash, especialy for a family. I am always amazed at things like food costs.

Yes i earn a fair bit more than the average wage. But we certainly dont lead an extravagant lifestyle. Go out for dinner or a lunch maybe once a month and odd trip to something like the cinema. We dont struggle as such, but dont have anything left at the end of the month.

There is only two of us and groceries with the odd bottle of plonk and some cheap wine and can easily be heading in the pretty high hundreds per month.

I know from others that childcare / school fees can be high, medical insurance isnt cheap, household bills can be eyewatering - especially things like internet.

Thats why there are a fair few on here looking at heading back. Its just become way too expensive.

Re: Oz Wages
 

Yeah, we were a family of 4, one income, living on a lot less than 120K when we first arrived...it was a pretty basic, simple life, but we got by.