Want to move back to Aus
May 17th 2021, 11:17 am
#121
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Posts: 22,348
Re: Want to move back to Aus
London is not the relaxed place it once was where a young Aussie could still experience the vibe, sights and sound even if living twenty Colonials to a household, doing what ever job they could find. Bar tending was one as it provided accommodation and was a big pull for young Aussies and Kiwi's. Not so today. I suppose far less pubs, but a different type of Australian going over these days in reduced numbers. They expect to earn well and are university educated for a large part. So it's not a case of London being more than Aussie bar tenders at all. The entire focus has changed. Many that would have once gone to London, now just as likely to go to Canada.
But onto topic. Australia has changed a lot as well. Very far removed from the country of the nineties. Now among the most expensive in the world . Definitely something that requires careful consideration as to the validity of moving from UK these days. If one is doing well over there seems very much tempting fate and attempt to recreate the same success in Australia. There was a time, when it could be almost guaranteed. A lot more luck required these days. I'd say you should be close to owning own home as well to escape a mouth watering debt , if wanting to live in a more desirable suburb.
But onto topic. Australia has changed a lot as well. Very far removed from the country of the nineties. Now among the most expensive in the world . Definitely something that requires careful consideration as to the validity of moving from UK these days. If one is doing well over there seems very much tempting fate and attempt to recreate the same success in Australia. There was a time, when it could be almost guaranteed. A lot more luck required these days. I'd say you should be close to owning own home as well to escape a mouth watering debt , if wanting to live in a more desirable suburb.
May 17th 2021, 1:12 pm
#122
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May 17th 2021, 1:38 pm
#124
Concierge
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 21,139
Re: Want to move back to Aus
Significantly cheaper in the UK - fresh fruit and veg, pork, chicken, bread, household cleaning/personal care stuff and over the counter stuff medications. Also the cost of hiring tradespeople such as painter/decorators and builders.
Somewhat cheaper in the UK - pint of lager, in-home services such as cleaning, supply and installation of home improvements such as built-in wardrobes and flooring, good second hand vehicles.
Significantly more expensive in the UK - anything to do with pets, especially vet surgery fees. Fuel. Council tax (although that may be off-set by less government tax for some people). Natural gas for heating - we paid 3 times as much to heat our home there as we pay to air condition it here.
Just a few examples that come to mind, I haven't done an exhaustive analysis but it just seemed that in the end, day to day costs came out around the same.
May 17th 2021, 1:52 pm
#125
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,348
Re: Want to move back to Aus
On balance it's probably works out about the same. The price of petrol is great here compared with the UK. We have found that we're paying just a bit more in rates here than we would have been paying for our house in the UK, but income tax is lower and we always get a good chunk back come tax return time. Funny how some news and magazine articles claim we come out as the third highest tax payers in the world but they then say that when you factor in that we don't pay National Insurance here then that that bumps us out to position 25. So glad I gave up smoking within 6 weeks of moving here. I think a pack of 20 is about $40 now. I calculated a couple of years ago that a 20 a day smoker could afford a brand new Kia Picanto for the price of the cigarettes that they burn every year. A crap car but you get the point on the scale of what it costs to smoke here.
May 17th 2021, 2:20 pm
#126
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,148
Re: Want to move back to Aus
On balance it's probably works out about the same. The price of petrol is great here compared with the UK. We have found that we're paying just a bit more in rates here than we would have been paying for our house in the UK, but income tax is lower and we always get a good chunk back come tax return time. Funny how some news and magazine articles claim we come out as the third highest tax payers in the world but they then say that when you factor in that we don't pay National Insurance here then that that bumps us out to position 25. So glad I gave up smoking within 6 weeks of moving here. I think a pack of 20 is about $40 now. I calculated a couple of years ago that a 20 a day smoker could afford a brand new Kia Picanto for the price of the cigarettes that they burn every year. A crap car but you get the point on the scale of what it costs to smoke here.
I would also say that food costs, clothing costs are very similar and at the end of the day anyone can buy a cheap bag of rice, or look for a bargain online. The worst tax is property tax and the biggest expense for many these days is housing and kids (you don't have to have them:-). If your mortgage is 300 instead of 1500, then you won't mind paying a bit more for a pair of socks at the local shop.
Last edited by Moses2013; May 17th 2021 at 2:31 pm.
May 17th 2021, 3:59 pm
#127
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,348
Re: Want to move back to Aus
I suppose different taxes suit different people. Many always moan about the high tax on alcohol/cigarettes but at least that gives you a choice and I'd rather have them tax alcohol before they tax more of my income.
I would also say that food costs, clothing costs are very similar and at the end of the day anyone can buy a cheap bag of rice, or look for a bargain online. The worst tax is property tax and the biggest expense for many these days is housing and kids (you don't have to have them:-). If your mortgage is 300 instead of 1500, then you won't mind paying a bit more for a pair of socks at the local shop.
I would also say that food costs, clothing costs are very similar and at the end of the day anyone can buy a cheap bag of rice, or look for a bargain online. The worst tax is property tax and the biggest expense for many these days is housing and kids (you don't have to have them:-). If your mortgage is 300 instead of 1500, then you won't mind paying a bit more for a pair of socks at the local shop.
May 17th 2021, 6:32 pm
#128
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Posts: 6,148
Re: Want to move back to Aus
We usually fill the boot on the way back from Spain to Ireland. I can imagine that they will probably reduce the amount you can bring back in the future but as it stands now 90 litres wine per person. Port another 20, so more than enough.
May 17th 2021, 10:33 pm
#129
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,348
Re: Want to move back to Aus
Wow, that's a lot of wine!
I remember doing the booze and fags cruise, taking the ferry from Dover to Calais. I suppose duty free shopping is back now that Brexit has happened. I wonder what what the duty free prices of things are on those ferries these days.
May 18th 2021, 4:19 am
#130
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Re: Want to move back to Aus
May 19th 2021, 2:27 am
#131
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May 19th 2021, 2:35 am
#132
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Joined: May 2003
Location: Alloha snack bar
Posts: 24,246
Re: Want to move back to Aus
Ah, you're in Ireland
Wow, that's a lot of wine!
I remember doing the booze and fags cruise, taking the ferry from Dover to Calais. I suppose duty free shopping is back now that Brexit has happened. I wonder what what the duty free prices of things are on those ferries these days.
Wow, that's a lot of wine!
I remember doing the booze and fags cruise, taking the ferry from Dover to Calais. I suppose duty free shopping is back now that Brexit has happened. I wonder what what the duty free prices of things are on those ferries these days.
What's the thing I miss most about the UK? France
May 19th 2021, 8:39 am
#133
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Location: Perth
Posts: 6,775
Re: Want to move back to Aus
We used to go 6-10 times a year via the tunnel. From my house in Surrey, driving to the terminal in Folkstone, driving onto the train to driving off in Calais - about 2 hours. We loved it. Find a nice place for lunch, go to the beach (they're much nicer on that side of the Channel), loads of shopping. We were renovating properties back then and I found that hardware, gear and tools were much cheaper, so spent a lot of time in Leyroy Merlin (their version of B&Q/Bunnings). Before my son arrived, we'd often stay a night too. The deals on the tunnel were great and we also had their version of frequent flyers, which also had loads of discounts.
What's the thing I miss most about the UK? France
What's the thing I miss most about the UK? France
May 19th 2021, 9:22 am
#134
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,348
Re: Want to move back to Aus
I used to hate that slip road in Calais where if you weren't paying very careful attention (which is very easy when you're concentrating on driving on the other side of the road, in the pre-satnav days, and without a good navigator), you would find yourself entering the motorway bound for Paris and would be forced to drive something like 25kms before you could turn off and travel back the other way. That happened to me twice over the years!
May 19th 2021, 9:24 am
#135
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,148
Re: Want to move back to Aus
We used to go 6-10 times a year via the tunnel. From my house in Surrey, driving to the terminal in Folkstone, driving onto the train to driving off in Calais - about 2 hours. We loved it. Find a nice place for lunch, go to the beach (they're much nicer on that side of the Channel), loads of shopping. We were renovating properties back then and I found that hardware, gear and tools were much cheaper, so spent a lot of time in Leyroy Merlin (their version of B&Q/Bunnings). Before my son arrived, we'd often stay a night too. The deals on the tunnel were great and we also had their version of frequent flyers, which also had loads of discounts.
What's the thing I miss most about the UK? France
What's the thing I miss most about the UK? France