Pollyana

You mean you can buy clothes and get your hair done without earning $170k?

Dreamy

::koffs embarrassedly:: I'm lucky that Himself probably earns about that but I don't work and although we never have any money left at the end of the month, we don't go without anything we want.
Oh and we support three flaming expensive older teens/young twentysomethings who don't earn either.

I know it's horses for courses - we choose to live out in the sticks because I don't like city living so our mortgage will be less than most even though we have (I think) a beautiful house on a large plot... but even when we were supporting the mortgages on two houses we still had disposable income (not much, obviously, and there wasn't a great deal of saving going on). I guess you have to decide where your priorities lie and if Bonnie Scotland finds it hard to manage on 170k then he either has to do something about it or learn to compromise somewhere.

asprilla

I know that the big expat salaries are now largely a thing of the past. But my point still remains (and it is backed up by both of your posts ) that cash in the bank at the end of the month, is the primary consideration of expats living in ME.

Whether you're a well paid engineer from America, a truck driver from Yorkshire, a maid from the phillipines or a labourer from India, the key driver is $$.

Just my opinion, no offence meant at all

seanpears99

I earn more than Bonnie in Brisbane and live on the Gold Coast, our rent is 575 a week for a 4 bed house over looking coomera river. Have the trappings of a nice job and salary but I kind of agree with Bonnie in that, house prices are ridiculous over here. We are looking at moving in to a new rental which is 675 a week, 4 beds and a pool on the gold coast. I prefer to live further down the coast and if your in loganholme, I dont think I would be looking at Brisbane, you could rent where I do in Coomera Waters for between 450 and 550 a week for an average house or be on the water with your own pontoon for 750 a week. We only need one car but they are mega expensive too. Dont get me wrong, I have just done my 4 years and currently applying for citizenship and I will not be going back ever, but you can ask anyone, over the past 10 years, Australia has become very expensive.

But no matter what any of us say, its your decision Will, it is difficult, missing family and friends for uncertainty, but just dont regret it in 5 years time when the UK has imploded.

Bonnie Scotland

I have compromised...lots!
I am sick of bloody compromising.
I'm board of being skint
I'm board of watching crap TV
I sick of terrible service
I'm going to punch the next person who beeps there car at me
I'm fed up paying $6 a pint
I'm going to ram a stick through the front wheel of the next cyclist who shouts at me to get out of the road.
I'm going to set fire to the next abo who asks me for money
I'm going to break the knees of the next runner who hurumphs at me walking and not diving out of his way
I'm going to twat the next traffic warden I see
I'm going to get skin cancer
I'm going to squish spiders
I'm going to Kill bull frogs with my 6 iron
I will destroy the avocado crop
I've had enough of many many things


But I'll probarbly still be here next year...its quite good really

bcworld

I'd love to pay $6 a pint!

Pollyana

I'm hearing you

bobbyftm

And i'm hearing you too he must be supping home brew !

bobbyftm

Managed to pay $13.50 for a pint cider a couple weeks ago down your way