hubbard

What I was trying but failing to point out in my post is that to us and our friends this is NORMAL - yes it is different fom your normal but to us it is a standard of living we are used and can support. So if you are reading this post and you are hoping to replicate a similiar standard in Sydney that is what you need to earn. If you want to drive a porche, wear designer clothes (that's Prada and Jimmy Choo), live in a large house with sea views, you need to earn oodles more.

Shellfish

I really think it all depends on where you are in your life which determines how comfortable you will be on a certain wage. My husband and I are 29/32 and have a combined income of around $150k, we have no children so most people probably think we live the life of Riley but quite honestly that's not the case. We have only recently bought our first property after renting for 5 years, we are paying off a new car, we are trying to put away savings as when we do have children I will stop working and that's a good chunk of our income gone, we pay high taxes and get back virtually f'all, we are made to take out private healthcare because of high wages which we are yet to use it after 2 years. I would say that we are probably about 5 years behind where we should be at this stage in our lives because of travel and immigration etc and therefore, while we earn good money we certainly aren't on the same level as other people our ages who earn in our income bracket.

And of course, it also depends on what your classify as a good life. We certainly have a good life in that we get take-aways once or twice a week, probably eat out twice a month, go to special events (Aus open tennis, concerts, cricket etc), go to movies (not often because dvd's are much more reasonable) and being a computer nerd, my husband has a fetish for gimicky things but we don't buy designer clothes or belong to a golf club.

skywalker

It depends what everyone thinks it's normal! What we talk here is about a median "normal" cause if you have 500k maybe someone will tell this is normal for him, yes right, maybe for him but not for the most!

BadgeIsBack

Good post. The only thing I would say is that a lot of savings can be had by changing habits. eg you can source food cheaper elsewhere, and you don't have to pay Myers prices. But in Sydney, you do need those sort of incomes up to a point.

(I wasn't pointing the finger at you about my Posh and becs quote. I just said that people discussing money in terms of needs and requirements have every right to do so without being labelled Middle England tossers. I'd invite people to budget as it is what all responsible parents would do.)

Shellfish

ooh, don't tell my husband that...

Pollyana

And I will freely admit that we ahve no kids, don't need to save for them as we don't plan to have any, and have never considered private healthcare, as financially its not something we can justify.
we will probably never buy a place, renting is cheaper in the short term, and we have no savings, so short term is all we have. I bought years ago with a previous partner, and all we got out of it was negative equity and an adopted cat!!
Still, I guess we are all different and thats what makes the world go round, and the forum stay interesting.
Off to bed now to dream of $200K..................................

Vanessa

I thought that this site was about lifestyle and Culture and therefore sharing experiences etc whether they have money or not. There are good wages to be earned in Australia as there are in Brittan. People are frightened to say what they earn if it is high as they are jumped on and classed as not 'normal'.

What is 'normal' - is it the average wage earner? If so, then most people on this site are not normal!

ozzieeagle

For what it is worth Hubbard, I share your view that you could be considered up there at the top end of what is considered Normal. I have a couple of tradesmen freinds with Nurse's for wives, that would consider themselves Knockabout type of people.

That pay for kids to go on State run "school trips" to Japan and the US, have a holiday homes, pay for orthodontic work on their children. Drive around in normal type cars to fund the costs of the kids. Basically they are the kind of people that have Spa's or swimming pools in the back garden, and socialise a lot, with their place being the centre of attraction. They also tend to mix with all types of people, without placing labels on anyone.

Just read Vanessa's post and thoroughly agree, that we need to hear more from people in your position. I again I reiterate I do consider you in the realms of normal "successful" Aussie income earners.


Karma on way for copping some flack.

ABCDiamond

no comment

However; This site does have many different types of people, some highly skilled, with the relevant visa to prove it, who should, and often do, earn good wages here.

It also has people who come out with smaller skills, sometimes without skilled visas at all, and earn smaller wages.

Most of us really are normal though


I agree that it would be good to hear from those who have really succeeded, and now earn really good wages, just to show that it can be done. ( I personally know that it can, but i've been in the country here longer than many)

hubbard

Thanks for your comments. I was just trying to show that you can do well here and need not necessary take a massive drop from what you earnt in the UK. My husband and I are in no way rocket scientists and neither are our friends, just fairly ordinary folk.

NickyP

My hubby is but it doesn't pay very well

Nicky

gedge

Does he get fired often?

NickyP

Unfortunately his current job isn't as a rocket scientist as Australia isn't really very big in that area so he has had to change his job a bit, much to his disgust. The pay and conditions have never been that good which is why it makes me laugh when people use it as a benchmark.
He now makes bicarb and vinegar rockets for the kids at school, though it is hard to tell who is the kid at times .
Nicky

gedge

wtf? who cares?
kaboom!

diddy

Which one of you two has got the flag upside down?