renth

My Mrs wants to move back to the UK, has done since we've been here - 5 years now.

With the exchange rate at almost 2:1 and house prices falling in the UK, possibly going to crash you can get a lot of house for your money.

I like the thought of a big house in the country BUT what if there's going to be a huge recession? I don't fancy being on the dole.

Your thoughts....

Amazulu

Didn't you sell up in Sussex last year? Could you honestly see yorself raising your children in the UK? You have made no secret of your dislike for the UK.

On the subject of the UK it depends who you ask. Some people seem to be struggling but talking to ex-colleagues over there and they have never been busier. Their salaries are going up and the companies they are working for are struggling to recruit decent staff. Sounds just like Perth! The Olympics, major rail and infrastructure projects etc are sucking uo a lot of people. A friend who does bathroom renovations is flat out and is booked up for the next year.

I think economically you would be okay but as for the lifestyle.....

spartacus

Never been a better time, financially, to move back.

But whose to say it might not be even better in 6-12 months time. Forecasting another couple of interest rate rises before the end of the year, plus a fairly steady housing market this side, against falling rates and property prices in the UK.

renth

I don't dislike the UK, but I do dislike living there and no, I think the kids are much better off here in Aus. But you know, there's not much you can do when the wife wants to go back is there?

sammyg

I've just been having a look in the area we came from and houses have dropped a bit - but not hugely all the 430k ones are now 400-410k, the 320k ones are now 300ish etc.

By the time you've managed to sell up here will the exchange rate still be 2:1 - maybe, maybe not...

Property market may have firmed up there and dropped here etc etc, so many variables.

But if you were to move TODAY, yes, probably a good time

NKSK version 2

Cripes!

You do realise that it doesn't matter what you do, your Mrs will be the number one factor?!

Still not sure that the UK is a place that I want to live. The only way I'd do it is if I could avoid all the negatives that I associate with the place.

So.....I'd need to be able to afford to get away to the sun at regular intervals in the winter (no chance of that). I'd also need to be able to afford to live in an area where I could send the kids to a great school OR preferably work at a private school and send them there.
Otherwise the reasons for moving back - family, countryside, culture, media, history - would become outweighed by the negatives.

Amazulu

Sure, but I reckon out of all the people on this website, you would be the ping pong poms!

renth

That's the problem. She'd like to move back to Sussex but I'm not keen on spending 3 or 4 hours of the day on the M25 or on a train to London. I'd be 43 or 44 when we go back and my skills are, fairly specialised. I can't see people queuing up to employ a middle aged "web accessibility specialist/content management system support person". Especially if there is a recession on...

Frankly, we'd be skint as ****, probably.

Brisben

Going to another country based n financials alone is not a good decision making tool in my opinion.

Look I would want what is best for my kids as my number one priority. Wifey comes second, I reckon.

Not sure when you last visited the UK but are you ready for that hectic stressed out lifestyle that you once left behind?

It is a tough decision, I would do a 3 month holiday if you can afford it. See if you settle into your old ways, you will soon be bored and restless.

I don't reckon your missing much though !

renth

I'm guessing your a single man!

My wife just thinks they're better off in the UK, mainly because she talks to her friends back there and their primary school kids are so far ahead. She thinks the education system here is crap.

NKSK version 2

I'm not so convinced about this - certainly at primary. I'm generally very happy with how my kids are gtting on - but bloody hell, I really need to stay on the ball!

spartacus

I agree, finanace alone isn't a good decision making tool, but when used along with other tools it is fairly effective.

Personally I'm more concerned about what will be best for my kids when they're grown and are no longer kids, than I am about the merits, or otherwise, of one educational system against another.

Cheetah7

Renth, don't you have any say in this?

Are your kids happy in Oz? Are you happy in Oz?

Surely your opinions need to be taken into consideration.

Santa

Hi Renth,

When we moved down from Perth our daughter spent 9 months at a local primary school, she then moved to a private Anglican school in Busselton and found that in several subjects she was behind. It would be intersting to know how she would compare to to a 14 year old in the UK now that she's spent a few terms at her new school.

Some friends of ours went back to East Sussex for an extended holiday some time ago, The idea was that they would stay with family and work after the Police checks came through (they are both nurses). After three months the husband was back in Australia working because despite his knowledge of ICU, A and E and Renal he couldn't pick up enough shifts to support the extened break. He made it back to the UK 6 months later just in time for Christmas and to bring his family back to Australia. They have no plans to return to England.

spartacus

Agreed PP.

Life is about compromise, but not to the extent of compromising yourself.

Shirley?