lele.juggins

Sorry cannot think of anything other than Bread, which is more expensive over here. My wife has just been back to England and has been shocked by the prices. Things that are cheaper here - petrol, most food, clothes except socks!, rates, water rates, electrical goods, gas bill, lots more. I've just been to Target this afternoon to buy my daughter a digital camera. Got one - Kodak - that also comes with the docking printer as well for $42 thats 20 quid!! The bargains out here sometimes are incredible. Never buy anything like that though on a Weds, cos it will always be less on a Thursday!!

ACE

Hi Kapri,

You have to shop around to see what you can borrow. We are building a house and we were assured by our bank that we could have the money to build the house based on our income, our plans and the land which we bought with a small mortgage with them. Based on that information we went ahead and signed the building contract. When it was time to get the ball rolling we had the valuation done and the bank valued our package at $260,000 less than our estimate which was based on how much it is costing us to build. We panicked a bit and tried Bankwest who valued it at $50,000 more than it is costing us to build. Both banks assured us that we could easily service the loan but clearly had different valuation criteria. That is a huge range and for us it meant the difference between being able to build our house and being stuck with a houseless bit of land and a huge bill from the builder for costs and loss of profit.

I know two other people who have tried to buy established homes and have been refused the money based on the valuations eventhough they could both easily service their loans. I am beginning to think that Bankwest know something we don't as they both went to BW and got their loans approved. I guess if some banks are basing the valuation on the current market I can understand why they are being so cautious.

It is really hard to know how much you will be able to borrow until you find something you like and get the valuation done. However, you will know very soon after you arrive how much you will be able to afford.

If I was in your position I would rent. We have been renting since we arrived in Sep 2006 and it is the best thing we could have done. We live in a beautiful house in a fantastic spot, we couldn't afford to buy this house but we are enjoying a great lifestyle living in this great house while the landlord pays for the gardener, house insurance, rates, water rates, half the water consumption and all maintenece and repairs. Many of our friends arrived 2005/2006 and rushed into buying. Some of them are now in the situation where they have realised that the area is not for them or they have found houses they prefer but are in negative equity and are unable to move or simply cannot sell. Just take your time and find somewhere you like. It is not the end of the world if you have to rent for a couple of years until you are both working and are able to find somewhere you like.

Best of luck

Georgina H

Not trying to make you feel negative about it all but until your OH gets a job you will need to really watch what you spend. One tip I can give you is to not buy fruit and veg from the supermarkets, its very expensive and not very good quality, usually supermarkets are in shopping centres like carousel, garden city etc and they have fruit and veg shops which sell at a fraction of the price. Or go to markets for your food.

Just keep an eye on the pennies and be aware before you go that its going to be more expensive.

ianhutch1

Sorry but without trying to sound argumentative I wholeheartedly disagree. Petrol yes i'll give you that one but food, alcohol, clothes, DVD's, Music, Electronics and bills are way more expensive over here in our experience. If anyone can tell me where to buy these things cheaper than the UK then please step up because im dying to save us some money!

Congratulations on the good deal on the camera, though, sure I could find you something more than comparable using UK websites.

At the end of the day it depends what you buy and what standard you expect but like for like I firmly stand by my guns that Australia is substantially more expensive to live in than the UK but we could go on with this discussion forever couldnt we

Agreed, we are leaving our UK house sale cash in the bank over here and renting for the foreseeable future.

worzel

I agree that top notch stuff is expensive. But if you don't mind shopping in Kmart, Big W or Target the ordinary stuff is dirt cheap. Probably something to do with proximity to China. I can get a work shirt for about $15 - it doesn't have a posh label but the quality is fine.

lele.juggins

I still believe clothes are generaaly cheaper here, you just need to shop around. Mind you I cannot see the atraction of a label. nor the need to pay over the odds to get it. Even if you like to spend like that on clothes, then the savings on petrol, rates, water rates etc would I hope more than cover such expense - I would hope.

Funky Monkey

I think that it depends on what cars e.t.c you want to drive and if you want the latest gadgets e.t.c so the salary question is difficult because it is subjective.

Btw can anyone tell me what they are actually living on with 2 children and I mean living a very average lifestyle not eating out all the time and spending lot's on luxries but not living poorly either. I know it is a sensitive subject for some but I would be interested as we arrive in August. I have tried to work it out but until you are there paying your way I don't think you can.

geordie downunder

The average wage in Perth is around 60K so a lot of people must be getting by on it.. To somebody earning 40K a year it would be a fortune.According to little johnnys govt anyone in a family earning 60k is tax free,they get all their tax back through various welfare payments.Tax cuts come in in july and they would give you around $100 a month extra.

Live close to a railway line and I think you can get weekly or monthly passes which would be cheap.An old runabout would be cheap for the shopping,reasonable cars can be bought for 2K and traded in 2 yrs later for 3 or 400 on another 2K car until you get established.

Clothes are very cheap at target and K mart etc.The cook and I buy all clothes in Thailand and K mart and Target are not much more expensive than that.Of course the Thai clothes do have the labels on them so we can pose.

Where there is a will there is always a way.

renth

These people are ones who bought years ago or are renting in dodgy suburbs.

I can't see how, or more importantly why anyone would want to come here without any equity and struggle on 60 grand a year. It would be enough to make you slit your wrists.

Ozzidoc

Can I ask when the pancetta was £1.60 in sainburys?

I'm a full-time student with my head in books when I'm not on BE. For the first time in several months, last week I really looked at the price of groceries. I was in Tesco. The starting price for pancetta was well over £2, closer to £4 for a brand name. (And a single capsicum cost 99p!) I was actually quite shocked at how much prices have increased since Christmas.

geordie downunder

Ah, I see ,so the kids just coming out of apprenticeships now and renting in Rockingham and surrounds all bought years ago.The ones that became tradesmen over the last 3 or 4 years all bought years ago?

worzel

I doubt the average income is still $60K, I heard that a couple of years ago - Maybe $65-70K now? The average family income must be about $20K higher again with many families having a second earner.

If I had to guess I would also say that the average immigrant family tips the $100K mark because the majority of us had to have a high-level of skill to get in in the first place which usually helps with the salary. Some tradies do seem to struggle to be accepted / have qualifications recognised (while others thrive???) but professionals, engineers etc, can earn mega-bucks which must push the average up.

daddyofthree

Hi Kay,
I am looking at moving over next year and providing that I can obtain a teaching job, I will only be on 60k. I have a wife and three young children but hope to have a morgage of 200k. Have you been before?
Alan

rockpeblar

We have two young children and one salary. We live in a nice house ($450/wk rent) but don't eat out or drive flashy cars and we get by on $100k gross salary - not living poorly but hardly the high life either!!

geordie downunder

I think those figures are from around 1 or 2 months ago,in the west aust so could be faulty.WA had the highest average WOTE in OZ.Probably bureau of stats would give figures,or RBA.Averages are always dodgy though.

I would agree that the average household income would be 100K or more when 2 people are working,I think it was just over 100K the last figures I saw.

There are a lot of low paid jobs,the guy that takes away your bin and such get around 40K a year.For metalwork trades the start would probably be around 50K but they are all working O/T and would be on 70- 80K a year without working away.

Just looking at the west there are a lot of $20 an hour jobs,cleaners and night fill staff at coles etc.

Starting on average wages no matter where you (pl) live can be a struggle and then gets easier as you get older and children grow up etc.Everybody has to start somewhere.The 150k a year means test for benefits puts you in the top 3% of earners according to the budget papers so there are a lot of people earning a lot less than that.