Is it really that bad?????
Apr 26th 2007, 10:44 am
#46
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2004
Location: South Yorks
Posts: 738
Re: Is it really that bad?????
I've found that what looks like it's a bargain seldom is - there's usually a reason why a house is so much cheaper than others in the same area, and usually it's either the location or its condition. Photographs can never be a sustitute for viewing something close up, REA's know all the tricks when it comes to making something look its best despite limitations, and a good property stylist can fill the house with lovely furniture that looks great in the photos.
When I'm a bit bored I like to have a look, but it's always with a healthy does of cynicism - mind you, we've a history of buying sheds to do up
Apr 26th 2007, 11:27 am
#47
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Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 510
Re: Is it really that bad?????
We used to earn a decent income in the UK, but had loads of debt, mortgage, car loans etc, and worked long hours.
Now we live in rural NSW - 2 years ago bought a nice 4 bedroom house for $100k in a great community and have no debt. Although there is plenty of work around the area, we choose not to work much and live comfortably on about $15k per year. It's a million miles away from our old life. We grow veggies and hubby brews his own beer (costs about 50 cents per litre and surprisingly tastes great
).
There's a lot to be said for rural living while you find your feet in a new country. By the way, when I say we're rural, the town is small but we're only 40 minutes drive from the nearest city/3.5 hours drive from the coast.
Now we live in rural NSW - 2 years ago bought a nice 4 bedroom house for $100k in a great community and have no debt. Although there is plenty of work around the area, we choose not to work much and live comfortably on about $15k per year. It's a million miles away from our old life. We grow veggies and hubby brews his own beer (costs about 50 cents per litre and surprisingly tastes great
). There's a lot to be said for rural living while you find your feet in a new country. By the way, when I say we're rural, the town is small but we're only 40 minutes drive from the nearest city/3.5 hours drive from the coast.
Wow S,
GOOD FOR YOU GUYS!!
I'd love to do that too.
Kind regards,
Vegemite.
Apr 26th 2007, 11:32 am
#48
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Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 510
Re: Is it really that bad?????
I find my fuel bills a lot less because in Sunny Qld we don't need heating in the winter. A small fan heater is fine for the odd nippy night. Air con is used sparingly so we worked out we are using $100 per month fuel (gas and electric) and in the UK 2 years ago were paying about 60 or 70 GBP. If you were to move to somewhere like Melbourne or Tassie I would imagine your fuel bills would be higher. Just something to bear in mind.
Also keep in mind that the Queensland government subsidizes fuel in Queensland - that's why fuel in Queensland is a bit cheaper too!
Vegemite
Apr 26th 2007, 11:39 am
#49
Aussie wannabe!!
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Leeds...hopefully Sydney before end of 2008!
Posts: 157
Re: Is it really that bad?????
) and the sunshine and gold coasts, (for a bit of a holiday
touristy stuff)Sunny leeds is crap!! Although the weather is being kind for this time of year everything else is the same
the latest is the council are on about starting to charge us to take away our rubbish...errrrr thought we already paid for this??? were does my £105 a month council tax go then??What part of leeds did you come from?
I think anyone who can live on £22K in the UK with four children and manage to pay bills and still have a live can do anything. That is award worthy imo.
I find my fuel bills a lot less because in Sunny Qld we don't need heating in the winter. A small fan heater is fine for the odd nippy night. Air con is used sparingly so we worked out we are using $100 per month fuel (gas and electric) and in the UK 2 years ago were paying about 60 or 70 GBP. If you were to move to somewhere like Melbourne or Tassie I would imagine your fuel bills would be higher. Just something to bear in mind.
)Not to even mention the leccy on top!
Apr 26th 2007, 11:46 am
#50
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Joined: Jul 2004
Location: South Yorks
Posts: 738
Re: Is it really that bad?????
We've got an electric oven etc. and our gas bills are still horrendous and we're a terrace, it's not on constantly, etc.) gas prices are really high atm.
Apr 26th 2007, 11:54 am
#51
Aussie wannabe!!
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Leeds...hopefully Sydney before end of 2008!
Posts: 157
Re: Is it really that bad?????
Apr 26th 2007, 11:59 am
#52
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Joined: Jul 2004
Location: South Yorks
Posts: 738
Re: Is it really that bad?????
They normally call here when I'm in the middle of cooking dinner and my 3 year old is trying to help herself and the 16month old is trying to climb on the dining room table (his new obsession) and the older ones are bickering and what I really, really do not want is someone knocking my door.
What's the door-to-door salesperson probability around Aus? And for that matter, sales calls (again, always when I'm in the bath, just going out, changing a nappy etc. - I don't know how they manage, but every bloody time).
What's the door-to-door salesperson probability around Aus? And for that matter, sales calls (again, always when I'm in the bath, just going out, changing a nappy etc. - I don't know how they manage, but every bloody time).
Apr 26th 2007, 12:03 pm
#53
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2005
Location: at the bottom of a wine glass
Posts: 28,176
Re: Is it really that bad?????
They normally call here when I'm in the middle of cooking dinner and my 3 year old is trying to help herself and the 16month old is trying to climb on the dining room table (his new obsession) and the older ones are bickering and what I really, really do not want is someone knocking my door.
What's the door-to-door salesperson probability around Aus? And for that matter, sales calls (again, always when I'm in the bath, just going out, changing a nappy etc. - I don't know how they manage, but every bloody time).
What's the door-to-door salesperson probability around Aus? And for that matter, sales calls (again, always when I'm in the bath, just going out, changing a nappy etc. - I don't know how they manage, but every bloody time).
Oh you get them here too. I'd only been in our new house for 4 hours and I had one trying to sell me the cheapest Gas and Electric in South Australia.
As for the phone call, well put it this way, sometimes I'm glad I have dialup internet
You can pay for your number to be 'silent' though (not advertised), costs $2 a month I think.
Apr 26th 2007, 12:08 pm
#54
Aussie wannabe!!
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Leeds...hopefully Sydney before end of 2008!
Posts: 157
Re: Is it really that bad?????
I just ask them to hang on a mo whilst i put the stair gate on/ turn the oven down/get my husband etc then just leave the phone off the hook!!
Sometimes my baby will grab it a drible a few babbles down the line! After a cou[ple of mins they tend to hang up!
Anothwer one is just to press the buttons loads as its really noisy down the other end (not to mention irratating) and they have headsets on!
I know i'm cruel, i have 3 friends that work in call centres and they think i'm just awful!
Sometimes my baby will grab it a drible a few babbles down the line! After a cou[ple of mins they tend to hang up!Anothwer one is just to press the buttons loads as its really noisy down the other end (not to mention irratating) and they have headsets on!
I know i'm cruel, i have 3 friends that work in call centres and they think i'm just awful!
Apr 26th 2007, 12:10 pm
#55
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2005
Location: at the bottom of a wine glass
Posts: 28,176
Re: Is it really that bad?????
I just ask them to hang on a mo whilst i put the stair gate on/ turn the oven down/get my husband etc then just leave the phone off the hook!! Sometimes my baby will grab it a drible a few babbles down the line! After a cou[ple of mins they tend to hang up!
Anothwer one is just to press the buttons loads as its really noisy down the other end (not to mention irratating) and they have headsets on!
I know i'm cruel, i have 3 friends that work in call centres and they think i'm just awful!
Sometimes my baby will grab it a drible a few babbles down the line! After a cou[ple of mins they tend to hang up!Anothwer one is just to press the buttons loads as its really noisy down the other end (not to mention irratating) and they have headsets on!
I know i'm cruel, i have 3 friends that work in call centres and they think i'm just awful!Glad it's not just me then
Apr 26th 2007, 1:19 pm
#56
Oxford - SEQ August 07
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Little Mountain, QLD.
Posts: 377
Re: Is it really that bad?????
How would an internet site, ostensibly for Aussies, not be accurate? I put my house on the market in the UK and the price was accurate!
Are Aussie real estate websites well dodgy then?
Apr 26th 2007, 1:19 pm
#57
Australia's Doorman
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: The Shoalhaven, New South Wales, Australia
Posts: 11,056
Re: Is it really that bad?????
I just ask them to hang on a mo whilst i put the stair gate on/ turn the oven down/get my husband etc then just leave the phone off the hook!! Sometimes my baby will grab it a drible a few babbles down the line! After a cou[ple of mins they tend to hang up!
Anothwer one is just to press the buttons loads as its really noisy down the other end (not to mention irratating) and they have headsets on!
I know i'm cruel, i have 3 friends that work in call centres and they think i'm just awful!
Sometimes my baby will grab it a drible a few babbles down the line! After a cou[ple of mins they tend to hang up!Anothwer one is just to press the buttons loads as its really noisy down the other end (not to mention irratating) and they have headsets on!
I know i'm cruel, i have 3 friends that work in call centres and they think i'm just awful!http://www.xs4all.nl/~egbg/counterscript.html
Apr 26th 2007, 1:23 pm
#58
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2005
Location: at the bottom of a wine glass
Posts: 28,176
Re: Is it really that bad?????
Why not give the anti-telemarketing script a go ... turn the tables ...
http://www.xs4all.nl/~egbg/counterscript.html
http://www.xs4all.nl/~egbg/counterscript.html
Quality. Think I may have to be offline tomorrow
Apr 26th 2007, 2:45 pm
#59
Aussie wannabe!!
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Leeds...hopefully Sydney before end of 2008!
Posts: 157
Re: Is it really that bad?????
Why not give the anti-telemarketing script a go ... turn the tables ...
http://www.xs4all.nl/~egbg/counterscript.html
http://www.xs4all.nl/~egbg/counterscript.html
Maybe it works undercover for british gas hmmmmmm??
Apr 26th 2007, 2:49 pm
#60
Australia's Doorman
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: The Shoalhaven, New South Wales, Australia
Posts: 11,056
Re: Is it really that bad?????