wow how do peeps do it ......
Apr 12th 2012 | 10:04 pm
#106
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,375
Re: wow how do peps do it ......
Very true...
13 yrs in here... Here's somethings to compare...
1999/ 2012
Weekend newspaper $1.20 / $2.30
Petrol $0.70/ $1.50 per l
Phone bill (just basic line rental) $14.99 / $30+
Rent 4x2 (same area, different decade) $160pw / $400 pw
Property buying (as above) $130k + / $400k +
Nappies (thank god our kids are older) $18 for huggies box/ now $40+ if on sale
Simple thing is that prices have gone up massively, wages barely keeping up unless you are in mining.
We live on a fairly low wage, about $100k a year combined with wages and FTB included, 3 kids, 13, 11 and 8 in public schools and to help future migrants, this is a rough breakdown of our costs. We counted our annual costs of EVERYTHING and divided fortnightly according to pay. So even if car rego is due only once a year, we put aside towards it fortnightly.... As I said, rough estimate, last budget was counted 10mths ago and we WILL HAVE to revise as prices have increased since alot!
Currently... Prices fortnightly
Rent $ 760
Food $ 500 (++)
Petrol $ 80 (I work locally, driving 30kms+ daily, Prado 4wd, Hubby has company car with free petrol)
Rego + 2 drivers licences annually $25 per fortnight (hubby free rego)
Car insurance $25 (Hubby free insurance)
Personal loan $250
School (book orders, uniforms, school photos, excursions, incursions, swimming lessons part of curriculum etc) $90 per fortnight
Our birthdays $70
Laybys for Xmas and kids going to bday parties $40+
Pets (vets and should something go wrong) $30
Gas $40 (with GHW and gas cooking plus gas bottles for BBQ)
Electricity $40 (reverse aircon, but 6 solar panels at highest tariff, without solar panels would be double that)
Water $10 (renting so no rates)
Kids hobbies $50 (school based dance groups, scouts and girlguides)
Mobile $30 (Vodafone prepaid, hubby free mobile from work)
Homephone, broadband +t hub bundle with very few calls $60
Entertainment (movies, drinks, weekends away etc) $200
Medical (annual meds, winter flues, medications etc) $30
Just from memory so may have left some out. We rarely get takeaway, all of that little left over goes to savings account which can go all very quickly as we found out as we bought new Dyson and digital camera, total close to $1200 just before Xmas, 2 days later our dog had to be put down $400, Hubby got a new puppy for Xmas for kids and all vet cost etc made it a close to $3000 Xmas... Lucky we had budget in place.
Now for balance, we moved here with $500, one 3mth old baby in tow (OH an aussie, picked up work at "high rate" in his field of sales at $28k and I got all of $23 fortnight from Centrelink), so this was before GST and rates increase with Centrelink in 2000.
However, should I still work where I worked when I started my wages would have gone up (award rates) about $8 an hour, however I now run my own business and happy to do so despite the time it takes as I call the shots, hours and wages.
Anyone moving here with very little money, I hope to God you've got some bail out plan, with us, family bailed us out few times, and for very simple reasons.... 2nd hand car broke down, either spend $3000 for repairs, or get another lemon.... Kids got sick, I had serious health problems and unable to work and budget is out the window. Never did we have to be bailed out in tune of thousands $$ but reality is, unless you've got healthy bank account, EVERYTHING and ANYTHING can throw you out of balance.
We don't do much take aways, rarely go to movies, we simply make our own fish'n'chips and rent load of movies but it all costs. We did start with 3 suitcases so everything in our house (into our 3rd washing machine, 3rd dryer etc) from TVs, furniture to little things like DVDs, cutlery, pots, plates, kettle, microwave, fridges and freezers (remember, they DO NOT come with rental) to sheets and beach towels have been bought by us. This in return explains why we are still trying to grow that deposit for a house.
So to the OP, yes, some comments in BE can be bitchy or short of temper. This may be due to HUNDREDS of posts each month asking "surely it can't be that bad". If you rely on your family and friends to tell you exactly how it is, sorry to tell you, but they love you and want you here, and they will make it sound GOOD. The only way to get objective sometimes is to ask strangers.
I hope you understand that we have spent YEARS to fine tune our budget to lowest possible so if you, or anyone in BE can lower it further, hints are welcome!!!
Just to say, had only one kid at home for Easter so went to movies for 1st time as a couple, $42 for movie tickets, $6 for popcorn and $4 for water, kiddo cost $16 for his movie (and no we don't go often so don't have discount cards). Afterwards bought 2kg of prawns $50 and day later, chinese from local cheapo for 3 of us (large special rice, couple of dishes $40), day after fish n chips with 3 pieces of shark, $3 of chips = $30). I do wonder why we don't do takeaways too often
13 yrs in here... Here's somethings to compare...
1999/ 2012
Weekend newspaper $1.20 / $2.30
Petrol $0.70/ $1.50 per l
Phone bill (just basic line rental) $14.99 / $30+
Rent 4x2 (same area, different decade) $160pw / $400 pw
Property buying (as above) $130k + / $400k +
Nappies (thank god our kids are older) $18 for huggies box/ now $40+ if on sale
Simple thing is that prices have gone up massively, wages barely keeping up unless you are in mining.
We live on a fairly low wage, about $100k a year combined with wages and FTB included, 3 kids, 13, 11 and 8 in public schools and to help future migrants, this is a rough breakdown of our costs. We counted our annual costs of EVERYTHING and divided fortnightly according to pay. So even if car rego is due only once a year, we put aside towards it fortnightly.... As I said, rough estimate, last budget was counted 10mths ago and we WILL HAVE to revise as prices have increased since alot!
Currently... Prices fortnightly
Rent $ 760
Food $ 500 (++)
Petrol $ 80 (I work locally, driving 30kms+ daily, Prado 4wd, Hubby has company car with free petrol)
Rego + 2 drivers licences annually $25 per fortnight (hubby free rego)
Car insurance $25 (Hubby free insurance)
Personal loan $250
School (book orders, uniforms, school photos, excursions, incursions, swimming lessons part of curriculum etc) $90 per fortnight
Our birthdays $70
Laybys for Xmas and kids going to bday parties $40+
Pets (vets and should something go wrong) $30
Gas $40 (with GHW and gas cooking plus gas bottles for BBQ)
Electricity $40 (reverse aircon, but 6 solar panels at highest tariff, without solar panels would be double that)
Water $10 (renting so no rates)
Kids hobbies $50 (school based dance groups, scouts and girlguides)
Mobile $30 (Vodafone prepaid, hubby free mobile from work)
Homephone, broadband +t hub bundle with very few calls $60
Entertainment (movies, drinks, weekends away etc) $200
Medical (annual meds, winter flues, medications etc) $30
Just from memory so may have left some out. We rarely get takeaway, all of that little left over goes to savings account which can go all very quickly as we found out as we bought new Dyson and digital camera, total close to $1200 just before Xmas, 2 days later our dog had to be put down $400, Hubby got a new puppy for Xmas for kids and all vet cost etc made it a close to $3000 Xmas... Lucky we had budget in place.
Now for balance, we moved here with $500, one 3mth old baby in tow (OH an aussie, picked up work at "high rate" in his field of sales at $28k and I got all of $23 fortnight from Centrelink), so this was before GST and rates increase with Centrelink in 2000.
However, should I still work where I worked when I started my wages would have gone up (award rates) about $8 an hour, however I now run my own business and happy to do so despite the time it takes as I call the shots, hours and wages.
Anyone moving here with very little money, I hope to God you've got some bail out plan, with us, family bailed us out few times, and for very simple reasons.... 2nd hand car broke down, either spend $3000 for repairs, or get another lemon.... Kids got sick, I had serious health problems and unable to work and budget is out the window. Never did we have to be bailed out in tune of thousands $$ but reality is, unless you've got healthy bank account, EVERYTHING and ANYTHING can throw you out of balance.
We don't do much take aways, rarely go to movies, we simply make our own fish'n'chips and rent load of movies but it all costs. We did start with 3 suitcases so everything in our house (into our 3rd washing machine, 3rd dryer etc) from TVs, furniture to little things like DVDs, cutlery, pots, plates, kettle, microwave, fridges and freezers (remember, they DO NOT come with rental) to sheets and beach towels have been bought by us. This in return explains why we are still trying to grow that deposit for a house.
So to the OP, yes, some comments in BE can be bitchy or short of temper. This may be due to HUNDREDS of posts each month asking "surely it can't be that bad". If you rely on your family and friends to tell you exactly how it is, sorry to tell you, but they love you and want you here, and they will make it sound GOOD. The only way to get objective sometimes is to ask strangers.
I hope you understand that we have spent YEARS to fine tune our budget to lowest possible so if you, or anyone in BE can lower it further, hints are welcome!!!
Just to say, had only one kid at home for Easter so went to movies for 1st time as a couple, $42 for movie tickets, $6 for popcorn and $4 for water, kiddo cost $16 for his movie (and no we don't go often so don't have discount cards). Afterwards bought 2kg of prawns $50 and day later, chinese from local cheapo for 3 of us (large special rice, couple of dishes $40), day after fish n chips with 3 pieces of shark, $3 of chips = $30). I do wonder why we don't do takeaways too often
Good post, similar time here to me.
Lamb legs $3.99 kilo
Health insurance $110, now 310 and rising 30% soon, and the benefits have totally dropped, we rarely used to encounter a gap.
Fish and chips for 5, under a tenner.
I remember the lamb and fish ones clearly, the family from UK raving about it.
House & pool brand new, $180,000
My mum buying a bonds sweatshirt, $3.99, that would be $40 now.
Somehow my childcare bill was $2 a day. It must have been subsidised, it was a council centre, very hard to get into, fabulous place, my sons loved it. But $2.
First school book pack, you know the list, $26
and the teacher would put the names on the door of parents who didnt supply a box of tissues and a pack of copy paper
$5 movie ticket.
Its interesting you call $100,000 a low income, I bet a few go
but I agree with you, if that person has a family to support, its not going to go far.Your petrol is cheap, we do easily $150 week, but both need vehicles for work and teen borrows the ute a lot.
Last edited by jad n rich; Apr 12th 2012 at 10:13 pm.
Apr 12th 2012 | 10:18 pm
#107
Banned
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 9,910
From: The REAL Utopia.
Re: wow how do peeps do it ......
We arrived back in 2000 and at that time it really was dirt cheap, houses, food, petrol, electricity etc were all very very cheap, i dont know what happened the last 12 years but it isnt the case anymore and everything seems to point to wages definitely not keeping pace.
That doesnt mean that Australia isnt a nice place to live but it isnt cheap anymore.
That doesnt mean that Australia isnt a nice place to live but it isnt cheap anymore.
Apr 12th 2012 | 10:31 pm
#108
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 100
Re: wow how do peps do it ......
I would not put anyone off moving anywhere if they can afford to do it.
Truth is this is an horrendously expensive place to live now So is the UKand jobs are not as easy to find as many seem to think unless you have special skillslike the UK. Having no money and no job, plus dependents in tow, is a recipe for disaster.so you know what lies ahead for the family
My situation is irrelevant as I don't really need to work, came with a big pot of money, and had a house waiting for me.
Suffice to say I will return to the UK when I retire....I would not want to grow old in this country.
Truth is this is an horrendously expensive place to live now So is the UKand jobs are not as easy to find as many seem to think unless you have special skillslike the UK. Having no money and no job, plus dependents in tow, is a recipe for disaster.so you know what lies ahead for the family
My situation is irrelevant as I don't really need to work, came with a big pot of money, and had a house waiting for me.
Suffice to say I will return to the UK when I retire....I would not want to grow old in this country.
Apr 12th 2012 | 10:42 pm
#111
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 112
Re: wow how do peeps do it ......
We arrived back in 2000 and at that time it really was dirt cheap, houses, food, petrol, electricity etc were all very very cheap, i dont know what happened the last 12 years but it isnt the case anymore and everything seems to point to wages definitely not keeping pace.
That doesnt mean that Australia isnt a nice place to live but it isnt cheap anymore.
That doesnt mean that Australia isnt a nice place to live but it isnt cheap anymore.
We are aware we may be swapping one holey bucket in the UK for another in Australia, yes we have kids in tow and they have been our main concern.
We are not expecting though to swap one imperfect life for a perfect one, we have never had LOADS of money or a big pot sitting in the garage our big pot of money sits in our bricks and mortar currently
, we could keep it bricks and mortar here in the UK, it doesn't make us rich - outside of the glowing bricks and mortar lol is a family who very much watch the pennies. I think the argument goes back and forward - it's not cheap here, it's not cheap there, is there anywhere that's cheap to live? If so would you actually want to live there?
Is it a mistake to make the move? Is it a mistake to not make the move?
You could ask yourself these questions constantly? It's not a test at school, to me there seems to be no right answer that's the same for everyone?
Apr 12th 2012 | 11:00 pm
#112
Bitter and twisted
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 17,503
From: Upmarket
Re: wow how do peps do it ......
Because I have a son and a grandson here....that is the reason we came for a few years.
We don't all turn our backs on our families.....like many seem to
....and I know what things cost in the UK....I will be there next month to buy a house.
It is far more expensive here as you will, no doubt, find out.
We don't all turn our backs on our families.....like many seem to
....and I know what things cost in the UK....I will be there next month to buy a house.
It is far more expensive here as you will, no doubt, find out.
Apr 12th 2012 | 11:19 pm
#114
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 100
Re: wow how do peps do it ......
Because I have a son and a grandson here....that is the reason we came for a few years.
We don't all turn our backs on our families.....like many seem to
Confused
....and I know what things cost in the UK....I will be there next month to buy a house.
It is far more expensive here as you will, no doubt, find out.
We don't all turn our backs on our families.....like many seem to
Confused....and I know what things cost in the UK....I will be there next month to buy a house.
It is far more expensive here as you will, no doubt, find out.
. Would have been a different story if I had my family with me though.
Apr 12th 2012 | 11:19 pm
#115
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 112
Re: wow how do peeps do it ......
Evidently the only opinion that matters on here is that of someone whose been on here years and buddies with everyone else!
My opinion has been dragged again an again.
Odd I thought after reading through the website this was exactly the place for newbies? to ask any questions they had, surely without being made to feel like they shouldn't have asked anything.
Perhaps if this is just a forum for existing members to post threads anyone whose new should only be allowed to view the forum?
My opinion has been dragged again an again.
Odd I thought after reading through the website this was exactly the place for newbies? to ask any questions they had, surely without being made to feel like they shouldn't have asked anything.
Perhaps if this is just a forum for existing members to post threads anyone whose new should only be allowed to view the forum?
Apr 12th 2012 | 11:23 pm
#116
Bitter and twisted
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 17,503
From: Upmarket
Re: wow how do peps do it ......
We can not live in two places at once.....so try to spend time in both but it gets very expensive.......England is by far the cheaper place for us to live when I am no longer working.
Apr 12th 2012 | 11:26 pm
#117
Bitter and twisted
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 17,503
From: Upmarket
Re: wow how do peeps do it ......
But what happens is that people come on and ask a question or for advice and then get upset if the answer is not what they want to hear....as has happened on this thread.
Apr 12th 2012 | 11:29 pm
#118
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 16,623
From: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Re: wow how do peps do it ......
Please read my posts - do I not make it fairly clear I don't expect anywhere to be flowery stuff and don't believe I mentioned Dolphins?
Is it so long since some of the people made the move there they've forgotten the range of emotions?, the excitement, the worry, maybe fear? euphoria? all wearing emotions that you go through you on the road to move to a different country, that different country could be anywhere in the world?
Is it so long since some of the people made the move there they've forgotten the range of emotions?, the excitement, the worry, maybe fear? euphoria? all wearing emotions that you go through you on the road to move to a different country, that different country could be anywhere in the world?
And there are others who won't come forward. They wouldn't stoop so low as to get involved in this, (like me).There is a negative side worth listening to. Personally I think it is mean when the positive stories get drowned..because really, I like to think positive people 'top trump' negative people...
I like it here. But I am one of the lucky ones. I've seen them come and go and to be honest, I would say the majority of expats are from a similar mould...and it's easy to question their motives and their suitability and now too - in recent years - the financial viability of their plan.
You deserve better. There is nothing wrong with dreaming. We've all done it. Infact, it's churlish to suggest otherwise. I would only knock the dreamers who can't back up their dreams with life experience.
Cliches...Rudyard Kipling's 'If' springs to mind.....(enough of that..)
sorry - I don't know what came over me...
When I first came to Australia I had already amassed alot of diverse experience and a lot of it was useful to live here, and opened a lot of doors - when I first discovered BE I had already spent a year here, and again, my experiences were different to the path many take. If you've spent the last 10 years with your hubby in a semi - there may be nothing to prepare you. For us also, we arrived on the cusp of a major life change, so it was natural for everything to be new too.
It's just that it's effing hard for newbies - with the house prices and Fx rate . This has been the case for at least 5 years, with no real letup. Really hard. Not impossible - there will be people swanning around yet. Infact there will be people wondering what all the fuss is about - having negotiated salaries of 270k-340k. That is the figure I heard the office girl mention the other day...
I don't really give toss about UK prices, not being British. All I can say is of price increases in OZ, those in UK between 99 and now can draw their own conclutions. Many of them seem to think only UK prices went up and Australia is still cheap as chips.... which of course it's not.
Let me ask you this, and hence my post you commented at.... How many
BE users have come here, smokers and drinkers, for reccie trip, bought it
duty free and then surprised it costs as much or even more, then in UK. As said, was bringing all sides, not just the usual housing cost, leccy and gas vs food talk.
and Australia is still cheap as chips.... which of course it's not.Let me ask you this, and hence my post you commented at.... How many
BE users have come here, smokers and drinkers, for reccie trip, bought it
duty free and then surprised it costs as much or even more, then in UK. As said, was bringing all sides, not just the usual housing cost, leccy and gas vs food talk.
Last edited by BadgeIsBack; Apr 13th 2012 at 12:17 am. Reason: typo
Apr 13th 2012 | 12:47 am
#119
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 279
From: God's country
Re: wow how do peeps do it ......
Butterfly and OP - people here (and I;m a newbie ) are just trying to give practical advice. We probably ALL would hate for people to come over with such a small financial margin and end up hand to mouth with a few things piling up then in dire straits . We were 1) lucky enough to be in the housing market 1993-2001 and made £100,000 in house buying/selling and 2) have a conversion rate of around £1-$2.80 (from memory).
It's simply NOT the same these days - even with a really good buffer it's bloody hard. You've already heard about dental/doctors costs and that's just ONE thing you don't have to worry about back home - I have a friend here who had to choose between sorting the car out for 12 months and her childrens' teeth. These are very real worries that you just don't get in the UK.
I don't believe people are being negative just for the sake of it - why would anyone do that?
Why on earth are we all on here asking for cheapest trainers/coffee machines/books etc if it's so bloody easy in this country for us all??
Butterfly - you said you didn't read all of the post but the OP is wanting to bring FOUR kids over on a salary of $60k and I don't get why you're blaming forum people for saying it like it is.
It's simply NOT the same these days - even with a really good buffer it's bloody hard. You've already heard about dental/doctors costs and that's just ONE thing you don't have to worry about back home - I have a friend here who had to choose between sorting the car out for 12 months and her childrens' teeth. These are very real worries that you just don't get in the UK.
I don't believe people are being negative just for the sake of it - why would anyone do that?
Why on earth are we all on here asking for cheapest trainers/coffee machines/books etc if it's so bloody easy in this country for us all??
Butterfly - you said you didn't read all of the post but the OP is wanting to bring FOUR kids over on a salary of $60k and I don't get why you're blaming forum people for saying it like it is.
Apr 13th 2012 | 1:14 am
#120
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 16,623
From: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Re: wow how do peeps do it ......
Butterfly and OP - people here (and I;m a newbie ) are just trying to give practical advice. We probably ALL would hate for people to come over with such a small financial margin and end up hand to mouth with a few things piling up then in dire straits . We were 1) lucky enough to be in the housing market 1993-2001 and made £100,000 in house buying/selling and 2) have a conversion rate of around £1-$2.80 (from memory).
It's simply NOT the same these days - even with a really good buffer it's bloody hard. You've already heard about dental/doctors costs and that's just ONE thing you don't have to worry about back home - I have a friend here who had to choose between sorting the car out for 12 months and her childrens' teeth. These are very real worries that you just don't get in the UK.
I don't believe people are being negative just for the sake of it - why would anyone do that?
Why on earth are we all on here asking for cheapest trainers/coffee machines/books etc if it's so bloody easy in this country for us all??
Butterfly - you said you didn't read all of the post but the OP is wanting to bring FOUR kids over on a salary of $60k and I don't get why you're blaming forum people for saying it like it is.
It's simply NOT the same these days - even with a really good buffer it's bloody hard. You've already heard about dental/doctors costs and that's just ONE thing you don't have to worry about back home - I have a friend here who had to choose between sorting the car out for 12 months and her childrens' teeth. These are very real worries that you just don't get in the UK.
I don't believe people are being negative just for the sake of it - why would anyone do that?
Why on earth are we all on here asking for cheapest trainers/coffee machines/books etc if it's so bloody easy in this country for us all??
Butterfly - you said you didn't read all of the post but the OP is wanting to bring FOUR kids over on a salary of $60k and I don't get why you're blaming forum people for saying it like it is.
unless people go without alot, all the time, on a permanent basis. Lots of us cut back, but I reckon a lot of us would admit to luxuries here and there - for example I just whisked home a bottle of cognac which wasn't cheap. If I was really skint that would not happen.
I kept this a secret but I took a paycut a year ago to get into a niche area and into an opportunity which is happening out west.
I've since been rewarded with a payrise, bonus x2, and backpay.
We've had to watch the pennies but chiefly we could do it because we have a small mortgage, by the standards of the day, we don't lease cars, and we don't buy buy buy...
