Originally Posted by Gjn200

Do you think the amount you were earning in the Uk was Normal? I recon thats over £100000 between you for 40 hour weeks. Jeez........

Originally Posted by NAC

I just wanted to say thankyou to everyone who has contributed to this thread. As someone planning to emigrate this is exactly the kind of thread I personally need. You need to see the reality without the rose-tinted glasses. We have done a lot of research and I do have big doubts. We have always tried to be realistic and see this as a 'big adventure' rather than the pursuit of a better life (although we wouldn't be doing it if we didn't think that our lifestyle would be better). I doubt whether we will be any better off financially, you just hope that other things will make up for that side, but until you live there you will never really know. Everyone's situation is different. We aren't leaving behind inner city life but a rural life in Scotland which possibly makes the decision harder however, at this stage in the application process, the decision to back out and stay where we are actually seems harder to make than the decision to go!
Carolyn

Originally Posted by ozzieeagle

Maybe they are from the following part of London


http://forums.cpfc.org/poll.php?s=&a...ts&pollid=2526

Originally Posted by ABCDiamond

An interesting thread there. That group have an average wage of about £41,000 per year, compared to the quoted estimated national average of about £25,700.

Originally Posted by Gjn200

Do you think the amount you were earning in the Uk was Normal? I recon thats over £100000 between you for 40 hour weeks. Jeez........

Originally Posted by jwinch

Normal for someone that spent six years studying partime at university to become a qualified Accountant and working full time whilst bringing up four kids. Its taken me twenty years of full time work to get to that level.

My husband was a self employed plumber who was on call 24 hours a day and as the press would like everyone to believe was earning £000,000's

Originally Posted by Innyjim

It is a big decision and it's important to remember that the door is always open to go back. We've been here eight months now and I was just having a 'shall we go back' conversation with my wife this morning. We've been unhappy here for the last few months. I think the turning point was getting burgled in February and being shocked to peoples attitude to it. Like 'yeah so what it happens all the time'. Kind of shocked us a bit. The crime levels here are high, just not sure it's the place we want to bring our kids up. We'll probably give it another six months and see how we feel....... Still, I'm glad we gave it a go.......

Originally Posted by jwinch

Normal for someone that spent six years studying partime at university to become a qualified Accountant and working full time whilst bringing up four kids. Its taken me twenty years of full time work to get to that level.

My husband was a self employed plumber who was on call 24 hours a day and as the press would like everyone to believe was earning £000,000's

Originally Posted by Innyjim

It is a big decision and it's important to remember that the door is always open to go back. We've been here eight months now and I was just having a 'shall we go back' conversation with my wife this morning. We've been unhappy here for the last few months. I think the turning point was getting burgled in February and being shocked to peoples attitude to it. Like 'yeah so what it happens all the time'. Kind of shocked us a bit. The crime levels here are high, just not sure it's the place we want to bring our kids up. We'll probably give it another six months and see how we feel....... Still, I'm glad we gave it a go.......

Originally Posted by NAC

Thanks for that. We do know that we could come back but financially it would set us back years if we did but I suppose if we were very miserable it would be worth it. Where about do you live? It must have been devastating getting burgled ( I think I would have wanted to pack up and leave, there and then!). I hope things improve for you and you decide to stay,
Carolyn

Originally Posted by Merlot

Funny you said that about the attitude to being burgled. Had that too in Oz!

I have been a victim of crime in Thailand twice (mugged) and 3 times in Oz, never in the UK (touch wood), is this luck, good planning or an indication that the world ain't always great, this includes the UK.

M

Originally Posted by Vanessa

Oh dear looks I am going to have to work when we arrive after all! My husband's salary is going to be about the same in Melbourne as it is in the UK and I was hoping that I could become a 'lady that lunches'. however taking in to account this thread and several others about the cost of living it looks like work will be calling .........

Originally Posted by floss

Anybody willing to stick their neck out and suggest what they think is a reasonable "livable" (is that a word?) wage for life in, say, south Queensland or Sydney.... not including rent/mortgage expenses because, of course, any second now there will be an upturn in the housing market here and those of us trying to sell houses will be left mortgage-free in Australia... okay, maybe not, but I am finding it hard to get to grips with the real cost of living and would genuinely be grateful for anyone's opinion.