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-   -   Reality check - monthly budget (https://britishexpats.com/forum/australia-54/reality-check-monthly-budget-339677/)

worzel Nov 27th 2005 12:59 am

Reality check - monthly budget
 
I finally got around to putting together a family budget last night so I could figure out how much to give Sam each week for housekeeping and herself.

The good news is that cost of living is similar on the whole to the UK.

We seem to spend an awful lot more on groceries but that is probably because we are still stocking up with store cupboard ingredients and aren't thinking about the cost of things as clearly. Insurance is more (house and car if you include Compulsory Third Party on your rego) but then you don't need a TV licence or an MOT.

Utilities seem about the same (don't have many bills to go on yet). Petrol is half the price but then you will probably run a thirstier car and do more miles which evens itself out.

We aren't planning on holidays as we can sit in the sun at home and do local things which saves a lot.

But the thing I had taken for granted is that I won't have a company like the one I last worked for in the UK paying me silly money over here and Sam isn't planning on working either. So our income will be only 60% of what it was in the UK. We were hoping to offset that by having a smaller mortgage but house prices are rising so fast in Perth that won't be as true as we hoped.

Time to get a job methinks!

rapitts Nov 27th 2005 6:45 am

Re: Reality check - monthly budget
 
Sorry but an MOT is a pink slip here :)


Originally Posted by worzel
I finally got around to putting together a family budget last night so I could figure out how much to give Sam each week for housekeeping and herself.

The good news is that cost of living is similar on the whole to the UK.

We seem to spend an awful lot more on groceries but that is probably because we are still stocking up with store cupboard ingredients and aren't thinking about the cost of things as clearly. Insurance is more (house and car if you include Compulsory Third Party on your rego) but then you don't need a TV licence or an MOT.

Utilities seem about the same (don't have many bills to go on yet). Petrol is half the price but then you will probably run a thirstier car and do more miles which evens itself out.

We aren't planning on holidays as we can sit in the sun at home and do local things which saves a lot.

But the thing I had taken for granted is that I won't have a company like the one I last worked for in the UK paying me silly money over here and Sam isn't planning on working either. So our income will be only 60% of what it was in the UK. We were hoping to offset that by having a smaller mortgage but house prices are rising so fast in Perth that won't be as true as we hoped.

Time to get a job methinks!


Rabc Nov 27th 2005 7:05 am

Re: Reality check - monthly budget
 
Pink slip ! :confused: We only have one of those when we sell it or dump it which ever comes first :p

kevinl Nov 27th 2005 9:40 am

Re: Reality check - monthly budget
 

Originally Posted by worzel
I finally got around to putting together a family budget last night so I could figure out how much to give Sam each week for housekeeping and herself.

The good news is that cost of living is similar on the whole to the UK.

We seem to spend an awful lot more on groceries but that is probably because we are still stocking up with store cupboard ingredients and aren't thinking about the cost of things as clearly. Insurance is more (house and car if you include Compulsory Third Party on your rego) but then you don't need a TV licence or an MOT.

Utilities seem about the same (don't have many bills to go on yet). Petrol is half the price but then you will probably run a thirstier car and do more miles which evens itself out.

We aren't planning on holidays as we can sit in the sun at home and do local things which saves a lot.

But the thing I had taken for granted is that I won't have a company like the one I last worked for in the UK paying me silly money over here and Sam isn't planning on working either. So our income will be only 60% of what it was in the UK. We were hoping to offset that by having a smaller mortgage but house prices are rising so fast in Perth that won't be as true as we hoped.

Time to get a job methinks!

Are the house prices still rocketing or are people expecting a slowdown?
We were going to rent to start with but with the prices still jumping don't know whether to just buy.

Kevin

leezo Nov 27th 2005 9:42 am

Re: Reality check - monthly budget
 
Am cracking up laughing at your first sentence... "how much to give Sam each week for housekeeping and herself." - cant she just take what she needs & leave you the rest?

Mrs Leezo



Originally Posted by worzel
I finally got around to putting together a family budget last night so I could figure out how much to give Sam each week for housekeeping and herself.

The good news is that cost of living is similar on the whole to the UK.

We seem to spend an awful lot more on groceries but that is probably because we are still stocking up with store cupboard ingredients and aren't thinking about the cost of things as clearly. Insurance is more (house and car if you include Compulsory Third Party on your rego) but then you don't need a TV licence or an MOT.

Utilities seem about the same (don't have many bills to go on yet). Petrol is half the price but then you will probably run a thirstier car and do more miles which evens itself out.

We aren't planning on holidays as we can sit in the sun at home and do local things which saves a lot.

But the thing I had taken for granted is that I won't have a company like the one I last worked for in the UK paying me silly money over here and Sam isn't planning on working either. So our income will be only 60% of what it was in the UK. We were hoping to offset that by having a smaller mortgage but house prices are rising so fast in Perth that won't be as true as we hoped.

Time to get a job methinks!


Wave the Sails Nov 27th 2005 9:51 am

Re: Reality check - monthly budget
 

Originally Posted by worzel
I finally got around to putting together a family budget last night so I could figure out how much to give Sam each week for housekeeping and herself.

The good news is that cost of living is similar on the whole to the UK.

We seem to spend an awful lot more on groceries but that is probably because we are still stocking up with store cupboard ingredients and aren't thinking about the cost of things as clearly. Insurance is more (house and car if you include Compulsory Third Party on your rego) but then you don't need a TV licence or an MOT.

Utilities seem about the same (don't have many bills to go on yet). Petrol is half the price but then you will probably run a thirstier car and do more miles which evens itself out.

We aren't planning on holidays as we can sit in the sun at home and do local things which saves a lot.

But the thing I had taken for granted is that I won't have a company like the one I last worked for in the UK paying me silly money over here and Sam isn't planning on working either. So our income will be only 60% of what it was in the UK. We were hoping to offset that by having a smaller mortgage but house prices are rising so fast in Perth that won't be as true as we hoped.

Time to get a job methinks!

Good luck with the job hunt :)

tiredwithtwins Nov 27th 2005 9:55 am

Re: Reality check - monthly budget
 

Originally Posted by leezo
Am cracking up laughing at your first sentence... "how much to give Sam each week for housekeeping and herself." - cant she just take what she needs & leave you the rest?

Mrs Leezo



lol....that was my exact thought too!!!!

Rooksie Nov 27th 2005 10:49 am

Re: Reality check - monthly budget
 

Originally Posted by worzel
I finally got around to putting together a family budget last night so I could figure out how much to give Sam each week for housekeeping and herself.

The good news is that cost of living is similar on the whole to the UK.

We seem to spend an awful lot more on groceries but that is probably because we are still stocking up with store cupboard ingredients and aren't thinking about the cost of things as clearly. Insurance is more (house and car if you include Compulsory Third Party on your rego) but then you don't need a TV licence or an MOT.

Utilities seem about the same (don't have many bills to go on yet). Petrol is half the price but then you will probably run a thirstier car and do more miles which evens itself out.

We aren't planning on holidays as we can sit in the sun at home and do local things which saves a lot.

But the thing I had taken for granted is that I won't have a company like the one I last worked for in the UK paying me silly money over here and Sam isn't planning on working either. So our income will be only 60% of what it was in the UK. We were hoping to offset that by having a smaller mortgage but house prices are rising so fast in Perth that won't be as true as we hoped.

Time to get a job methinks!

Nice one mate - i find your posts really grounding and you tell it the way it is. :D Its good to hear how it all is in reality :D

wmoore Nov 27th 2005 10:53 am

Re: Reality check - monthly budget
 

Originally Posted by leezo
Am cracking up laughing at your first sentence... "how much to give Sam each week for housekeeping and herself." - cant she just take what she needs & leave you the rest?

Mrs Leezo

Spoken like a true woman :D

glittababe Nov 27th 2005 5:56 pm

Re: Reality check - monthly budget
 

Originally Posted by tiredwithtwins
lol....that was my exact thought too!!!!

I also looked at that and thought WHAT????? Mark and I control the finances together, we just take what we need when we can. We both have seperate bank accounts, I pay the mortgage, mark pays household bills and groceries. I never really think about how we organise things. Just shows how different people do it. I suppose with one person doing it, it'll be more organised. Umm...worth thinking about.

Worzel we found groceries incredibly expensive. Our weekly shop here in the UK is between £45-75 a week, that includes specialist foods we need cos of allergies etc There it was $400 a week!

Rooksie Nov 27th 2005 6:04 pm

Re: Reality check - monthly budget
 
has it ever occurred to anyone thats its none of our bloody business how Iain and Sam run their finances!!!!!

He was trying to be helpful and give us all an idea of what to expect.

:rolleyes:

leezo Nov 27th 2005 9:32 pm

Re: Reality check - monthly budget
 
Chill out - I believe that the remarks were tongue in cheek & not meant to be offensive.

I couldnt care less about how others run their households, that is exactly their business I just found it amusing that he posted that he wasnt sure how much to give her - surely if the boot was on the other foot & she was working & him at home then she wouldnt be deciding how much to give him in spending money, he would just take what he needed. But then again if she was deciding how much to give him you can bet your ass that she wouldnt be posting that on an open forum for all to see & comment.

Mrs Leezo


Originally Posted by Rooksie
has it ever occurred to anyone thats its none of our bloody business how Iain and Sam run their finances!!!!!

He was trying to be helpful and give us all an idea of what to expect.

:rolleyes:


Grayling Nov 27th 2005 9:38 pm

Re: Reality check - monthly budget
 

Originally Posted by leezo
Am cracking up laughing at your first sentence... "how much to give Sam each week for housekeeping and herself." - cant she just take what she needs & leave you the rest?

Don't have such problems in our house. :cool:

I am given pocket money and that's the end of it :o

G

stokesy43 Nov 27th 2005 9:44 pm

Re: Reality check - monthly budget
 
The wife does all the finance in our house mainly due to the fact that I spend it too easily and seeing as she managed to come out of university with only a £2000 student loan I'd say she is emminently qualified to do it.

Included in the monthly budget are allowances for each of us to spend on whatever we want. If she wants to waste it on shoes and handbags then that's her lookout :eek:

It will be interesting to see how far our monthly income goes in Australia. I was hoping it would go a bit further than it does in the UK.

leezo Nov 27th 2005 9:50 pm

Re: Reality check - monthly budget
 
We went from 2 salaries to 1 when we moved to Perth & manage just fine on a Sparky's wage.

You just need to shop around for everything & try a little bit of haggling - some places will give you discount for cash sales - though dont think this works in the supermarkets.

Depending on where you work you will probably get paid less for your job in Aus, though we find that the money is not an issue here as the life is so good.

Mrs Leezo


Originally Posted by stokesy43
The wife does all the finance in our house mainly due to the fact that I spend it too easily and seeing as she managed to come out of university with only a £2000 student loan I'd say she is emminently qualified to do it.

Included in the monthly budget are allowances for each of us to spend on whatever we want. If she wants to waste it on shoes and handbags then that's her lookout :eek:

It will be interesting to see how far our monthly income goes in Australia. I was hoping it would go a bit further than it does in the UK.



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