gregster10217

I am trying to work out some figures, based on me earning only, initially, and would just like some advice on what we'd be looking at paying out weekly. The job I'm looking at, after tax, Medicare etc, would pay $1,051 a week. We have planned the costs as follows, but would like to know if we're way out, over or about right. Our family comprises of me and her, plus two kids aged 5 and 2.

Weekly

Rent $400
Food $200
Gas and electric $50
Phone and Internet $25
Insurance (contents) $30
TV $25

That totals $730, but then we haven't included costs of transport or a car. Would we be able to get a car, fuel and insure it for $150-200 a week, I hope so!!

We also haven't included mobile phone costs either, whilst not essential, nice to have. Just looked a Vodafone Australia and would guess that $30 a week would cover us both.

Adding all of the above together would give a total of $960.

I know it doesn't give us a lot spare, we'll have some savings behind us too, until my wage increases and we get the second income, which would obviously make life a lot easier, although we'd then be paying out for childcare.

$960 a week seems like a lot, and we appreciate that things are more expensive over there. We couldn't afford that on my salary alone over here, so to be able to do so in Aus is, hopefully, fantastic.

The above is my guesstimates from what I've read on here, so hopefully it's about right, but I'm hoping you lovely BE members will be able to help. We'll be in Perth.

Thanks again for you invaluable assistance.

B_D_J

Hi,

I'm in a similar position, planning a move I had roughly those figures too however I was told it would be around $300 for food shopping a week. Probably better to slightly over budget to be safe.

rasen78

I'm not in Perth so can't give you an idea really. To get a good idea of rental costs, check out realestate.com.au.

There are several threads on BE regarding living costs, especially in Perth, so try a search using the facility above.

You will also need to factor in school fees/childcare costs (public schools have fees too), school uniforms etc, private health insurance (unless included in your salary package), water rates.

Japonica

We're a family of four in Perth (2 adults, 2 kids, 8 and 5) and your food estimate seems low. We're anywhere from $250 to $290 a week and we don't eat out or do take-aways.

Rent...has gone up what, 17% in the past year I believe it was reported on ABC. $400 pw might get you a 3 bedroom in the outer suburbs. Most four bedrooms in my area are going for around $450 pw because the owners can ask it and the vacancy rate is so low.

Water rates...when we were renting, we didn't have to pay rates but usage. That said, we were also responsible for lawn care etc. so had to pay mowing (or do it ourselves), fertiliser and the like.

PominOz1

Personally I think you are way under on food and utilities. Our food bill, for three, is about $400 pw and we rarely eat put. They just hiked utilities on jan 1 by > 3x inflation here. Our phone/Internet is $50 pw, but tv is free in Vic, unless you have ppv.

I don't see any contingency there either...if it all goes wrong how would you get back? I'd allow £20k to do the move back.

Broad Shoulders

There is no such thing as a TV license here, so there is no ongoing charge for that.

You can get Phone and internet bundles for about $40 here.

Zen10

I think that $4000 per month for a family of four is stretching things, but possible. Unlike others, I think you could easily do food for $200 a week, so long as you forget about convenience meals and takeaways, and your rent seems reasonable I guess (we pay about $250). Utilities seem about right.

Thing is you will need a car, of course, and that is where things get expensive. Despite the lower fuel cost, motoring in Australia can be very expensive. For a start, second-hand cars are so over-valued it's almost worth buying new. Second, driver's licences in Australia are expensive and have to replaced every 15 minutes. Third, "rego" fees are so expensive they are like another utility bill and must be considered also (maybe $70 a month, depending).

Also, if you are a drinker, booze is more expensive here - no more 500 cans for £2.50 or whatever Tesco does. Decent wine is $20 a bottle, and a six pack of good beer is $20. I mention it because if you drink two bottles of wine and a couple of six packs a week, that's $160 a month.

Nice Guy

.........and do not use Vodafone Australia.......have the reputation of being the worse telco in OZ!! Apparently 100 people per day are leaving Vodafone (Vodafail) due to network problems, poor customer service and over billing.

Preferable choice is Telstra (can bundle with internet and Foxtel) or Optus.

PominOz1

Another thing I'd factor in is that kids clothes are very expensive here, especially shoes. My daughter's school shoes and a pair of trainers just cost me $200. $200pw on food is $50 each... Yep, living on spag bol is possible.

Zen10

The food thing I never understand. Just do not know what people eat, or how much they must eat. With a bag of rice and some pasta you have a base for curries, stir-fries, Bolognese, lasagne, carbonara, you name it.

Quick example - $3 for a kilo of rice, and 100g an adult serve, there's 30 servings of rice in a pack.

I always get an argument when I say how little I spend on food but I'm starting to link these arguments with the number of chubbies I see waddling around Coles and when I stand behind them at the checkouts and see all their packet sauces and cokes ringing up up at $575. I want to tell them - if they replaced all that crap with vegetables and rice not only would they be thinner but they'd be hell of a lot richer as well.

jad n rich

Nothing for health and education??

Kids going to dentist, docs, prescriptions, school books, uniforms, stationary packs, levies and excursions, all due even in a state school. Lots of costs for kids.

However on only $1000 a week you will get family tax benefits, however dont claim the jackpot on arrival, many do then have to pay most of it back, easier to claim with your tax at return time.

rasen78

Not too sure what branch of mathematics you used there, but surely that's 10 servings of rice in a pack?

We have rice with most meals (OH won't eat pasta and I don't like spuds), and I easily buy 2 bags of rice a week.

Zen10

It surely is. I was thinking of a three kilo weight. Ten servings for $3, say, with a family of five, and the kids will eat 50g each, and you see how far a simple bag of rice goes. If you buy the very large bags (10 kilo) which we do sometimes they just last forever for $15.

I say again I have no idea why people say $200 per week is unreasonable. I saw a programme once about the amount of food that goes in the bin after meals as well and I think this is connected.

In edit - how many people are you cooking for, and do you throw a lot away?

rasen78

2 adults and 2 kids with healthy appetites. Rice certainly doesn't get thrown. I make a large amount and keep any left overs for the next day - fried rice etc

But you must add into the equation things like toiletries and cleaning products. I try to buy those all at the same time (ie near pay day ), and it can easily double my shopping and I buy things on offer. I am savvy with things like washing powder and fabric softener (ie only using half the recommended amount and watering down the softener) I would say that my major shop (ie once a month, full restock of pantry and cleaning stuff) is around $400 then the rest of the month is around $120-150 pr week.

Am also not sure whether it is better to bulk buy my meat from the butcher or just get it weekly...still working on that one

jad n rich

I wonder how many people dreaming of emigrating plan on feeding the family a bowl of boiled plain rice for dinner each night,

Livin da dream

And before anyone has a go, yeah its a good cheap meal and many in the world live on it.