What would you buy before you leave the UK?
Feb 18th 2010, 2:39 am
#31
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: with the Carnaby cockatoos
Posts: 526
Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
Join www.quidco.com before you leave. This is an excellent UK based cashback site which pays 5% cashback on M&S purchases plus 100's of other sites. Whenever we buy from M&S during one of their sales the cashback helps to pay towards the shipping cost of £15. We had our last parcel arrive last week and the actual shipping cost to M&S was over £32.
Feb 18th 2010, 3:00 am
#32
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 34
Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
Join www.quidco.com before you leave. This is an excellent UK based cashback site which pays 5% cashback on M&S purchases plus 100's of other sites. Whenever we buy from M&S during one of their sales the cashback helps to pay towards the shipping cost of £15. We had our last parcel arrive last week and the actual shipping cost to M&S was over £32.
I am also stocking up with curtains xxl as i found them to be so expensive, and new outside furniture.
looks like our container is going to be full full full!!!!
Feb 18th 2010, 3:04 am
#33
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 34
Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
I have just started selling all my daughters clothes on ebay which they have now out grown, as i have been putting them on i have noticed a lot of new childrens clothes so now i have started buying really nice swim bikinis and costumes and anything else i know they will need. bought a brand new pair of roxy white jeans for 99p and some boden shorts 99p, summer doesnt last that long here!!!!!!
I am also stocking up with curtains xxl as i found them to be so expensive, and new outside furniture.
looks like our container is going to be full full full!!!!
I am also stocking up with curtains xxl as i found them to be so expensive, and new outside furniture.
looks like our container is going to be full full full!!!!
Feb 18th 2010, 6:55 am
#34
Banned
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,348
Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
We're planning on bringing along/buying then shipping just about everything that we are going to need. It'll save us the hassle of bargain hunting when we get there and allow us to better focus our efforts on finding jobs and settling in.
But is there anything that we typically wouldn't already have in the UK that would be useful in Australia? For example, mosquito nets?
But is there anything that we typically wouldn't already have in the UK that would be useful in Australia? For example, mosquito nets?
Feb 18th 2010, 7:08 am
#35
On the Dark Side :-)
Joined: Apr 2004
Location: South Wales to New South Wales!
Posts: 3,065
Feb 18th 2010, 12:19 pm
#37
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Gold Coast
Posts: 24
Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
Clothes are poor quality here so stock up.
Get a haircut before you leave as it will be the last decent one you have.
If you are planning on bringing any UK electrical appliances bring some UK power boards. Then only need to change plug on power board rather than every appliance.
Some other tips:-
Complete form P85 Notice of Leaving UK and send recorded delivery to Inland Revenue.
Consider continuing to make voluntary NI payments.
Keep some UK bank accounts open, preferably with internet banking.
If you have a NHS dentist go see them before you come as dentists here will clear out your bank account.
If considering private medical insurance in Australia get in within 10 months(?) of arriving. Otherwise you will get a lifetime loading for each adult, something 2% for each year you are over age 30.
Request from car insurance provider a letter confirming you non-claims bonus.
Get a haircut before you leave as it will be the last decent one you have.
If you are planning on bringing any UK electrical appliances bring some UK power boards. Then only need to change plug on power board rather than every appliance.
Some other tips:-
Complete form P85 Notice of Leaving UK and send recorded delivery to Inland Revenue.
Consider continuing to make voluntary NI payments.
Keep some UK bank accounts open, preferably with internet banking.
If you have a NHS dentist go see them before you come as dentists here will clear out your bank account.
If considering private medical insurance in Australia get in within 10 months(?) of arriving. Otherwise you will get a lifetime loading for each adult, something 2% for each year you are over age 30.
Request from car insurance provider a letter confirming you non-claims bonus.
Thanks for those handy tips, didnt even know about the P85!
Feb 18th 2010, 2:05 pm
#38
Living the dream
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: The Vines WA
Posts: 1,441
Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
Def extension leads!!!!! Loads of them!!!! Auzzie houses dont seem to have as many sockets as uk houses...
Bisto!!!! lol expensive over here $6 a tub!! when back in the uk you can get 2 for £1
Can't find a decent aussie gravy 
Buy an intex bestway pool from Argos that includes the cover & filter pump £49.99 in argos, over here $180 + $45 for the cover!!!! It def does the kids on a hot day, we would be lost without it. Roll on our house getting built & we can have a big one
Bisto!!!! lol expensive over here $6 a tub!! when back in the uk you can get 2 for £1
Can't find a decent aussie gravy Buy an intex bestway pool from Argos that includes the cover & filter pump £49.99 in argos, over here $180 + $45 for the cover!!!! It def does the kids on a hot day, we would be lost without it. Roll on our house getting built & we can have a big one
Feb 18th 2010, 2:18 pm
#39
Mostly Harmless
Joined: Dec 2009
Location: Semi-rural wonderworld, Brisbane
Posts: 15,109
Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
Books from the UK, free delivery to Oz ...
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/
Exchange rates and all that but it may be worth a look before paying the extortionate prices here ... actually, there are book bargains to be had but not generally from the major retailers.
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/
Exchange rates and all that but it may be worth a look before paying the extortionate prices here ... actually, there are book bargains to be had but not generally from the major retailers.
Feb 18th 2010, 2:32 pm
#40
Banned
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,348
Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
Books from the UK, free delivery to Oz ...
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/
Exchange rates and all that but it may be worth a look before paying the extortionate prices here ... actually, there are book bargains to be had but not generally from the major retailers.
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/
Exchange rates and all that but it may be worth a look before paying the extortionate prices here ... actually, there are book bargains to be had but not generally from the major retailers.
Feb 18th 2010, 2:42 pm
#41
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,375
Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
Our local one is great, you can hire a newish book for $4 for 10 days, great scheme as new release novels etc, would have 200+ reserves.
If your going to canberra, bring all the winter stuff, weve been down there to visit BIL arriving in minus 5 and the relatives are dressed like they live in Canada. Canberra really does throw out some numbing cold at times
They (rels) dont run central heating like people in the UK either 
cost I guess, huge amounts of bedding at night.
Feb 18th 2010, 2:42 pm
#42
Mostly Harmless
Joined: Dec 2009
Location: Semi-rural wonderworld, Brisbane
Posts: 15,109
Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
Feb 18th 2010, 3:16 pm
#43
Banned
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,348
Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
Our local one is great, you can hire a newish book for $4 for 10 days, great scheme as new release novels etc, would have 200+ reserves.
If your going to canberra, bring all the winter stuff, weve been down there to visit BIL arriving in minus 5 and the relatives are dressed like they live in Canada. Canberra really does throw out some numbing cold at times They (rels) dont run central heating like people in the UK either cost I guess, huge amounts of bedding at night.
If your going to canberra, bring all the winter stuff, weve been down there to visit BIL arriving in minus 5 and the relatives are dressed like they live in Canada. Canberra really does throw out some numbing cold at times
They (rels) dont run central heating like people in the UK either cost I guess, huge amounts of bedding at night.
. My family and I use the library quite a lot. For my kids I usually buy them the first book of a series which I think is good and if they want the rest they get them from the library.
Feb 18th 2010, 4:05 pm
#45
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,375
Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
I take it she likes the cold then
I was warned it got cold down there and was thinking oh yeah aussie cold
, bit nippy, might need a jumper lol: it really is bloody freezing, , it was foggy or a minus quite a few nights of our first stay which was in winter.
I didnt mind it, I love the cold. Funny place, lots of new roads, all purpose built, lots of rules, BIL was constantly on at everyone about road rules, seemed to have some terror of being picked up. They lived in a quite expensive unit when we first visited, houses were not cheap! for very surban look alike homes. Nice restaurants. City centre weekdays looked very business like of course. They were happy with the education there, which isnt the case with most rels we visit in other states. Still think its a place people live more for a reason than any lifestyle factors. BIL and wife both need to be there for jobs but have grown to like it. Everyone they knew seemed to be in police or immigration.
I was warned it got cold down there and was thinking oh yeah aussie cold
, bit nippy, might need a jumper lol: it really is bloody freezing, , it was foggy or a minus quite a few nights of our first stay which was in winter.I didnt mind it, I love the cold. Funny place, lots of new roads, all purpose built, lots of rules, BIL was constantly on at everyone about road rules, seemed to have some terror of being picked up. They lived in a quite expensive unit when we first visited, houses were not cheap! for very surban look alike homes. Nice restaurants. City centre weekdays looked very business like of course. They were happy with the education there, which isnt the case with most rels we visit in other states. Still think its a place people live more for a reason than any lifestyle factors. BIL and wife both need to be there for jobs but have grown to like it. Everyone they knew seemed to be in police or immigration.
