With all the recent talk about maternity benefits, medical costs, education costs etc. etc, I wonder what people who have already made the move to Australia think. Are you better off (financially and otherwise).

Realise this is a circumstancial question (i.e. we won't be mortgage free when we get there), but just wondered what people felt. Your thoughts are appreciated.

Sarah

Otherwise = Better off
Financially = Not better off, although more by choice.

Overall = Happy here

Hello,

Better off financially?-No! not struggling,just managing!

Otherwise?- 100% Happier with life in general !!

Donna.

Couldn't say it any better than Donna really! Although the struggling bit isn't such a struggle now we've been here a bit longer, but way worse off financially than in UK!

About the same - more expensive than we though it would be - although quality of life 100% better.

Farm more expensive than we thought it would be, we were basing prices on the old days my oz husband remembered, prices have caught up and cost of living is similar to what it cost us in UK. If we had jobs we would be in hot water, fortunately we work for ourself and the oz economy has had a really good run.

Happy yes, but notice we are less stimulated mentally, everyone around you is the same so you dont notice it day to day, then like last weekend, was mucking around with the kids with scrabble and a dictionary we found asking them what simple works like vigilant, humble, devout, etc mean, they had no idea, I guess with a simple beach barbie lifestyle you dont really get to use a lot of deep conversation take the news for eg, its about sport and local stories, I guess life is far less worldly than in the UK. Will be making the Kids watch the international news from now on

My daughter comes home with learning words like the following:
adversity
alkaline
bludgeoned
bodices
bullockies

These are the first 5 of a list of 100 words for this term, and she is only 8.

I need to check the dictionary myself to help her on some of them.

Word number 72 is "Scottish" How does one explain what that means ?

Definitely not better off financially . Our salaries went much further in the UK. However, previously we both worked late on in the evening and most weekends. Now we spend evenings walking by the sea and weekends are times for socialising, having BBQs and using the swimming pool. We have not worked on the weekend since we arrive.

Molly

Our littlen' is 7 and this weeks spellings include:

archaeologist - which I have just lean't to spell
heiroglphics - ditto
sphinx
myth
soldier
cleopatra
pharaoh

studying ancient history

Jill

PS.......... far far better off in everyway, now all we need is Perth to open an M&S and life would be 100% perfect.

Jill

Tight

Also describe bullockies please

On the whole happier. But life is completely different for me anyway because I used to work full time and now I don't go to work.

Husband has to work harder than he had anticipated. Aussies generally work hard in his workplace....(this was a bit of a surprise ).

Have quite a big mortgage - but then.....we're also in Sydney.

It depends on the individual and the circumstances.

To give an example

a) we were from London where it is expensive
b) we did not buy 10 years ago.

The chances of us being financially better off are therefore less likely than if you had bought 10 years ago and have a tiny mortgage, for example. if you are from outside London and have a 70k mortgage and a good job you have to reconsider whether or not Australia is really an option financially.

You have to decide whether the perceived "fringe benefits" will outweight these.

Badge

It must be cause your in bayside

Just looked up the definition for ya, it means

"Noble, Handsome, caring, intelligent, funny, erudite, profound, can hold their drink, doesn't get arrested at Hogmany Parties in the Grand View Hotel"

It does go on a bit, but I think you get the idea

JTL