steve_kelly_and_boys

with regards to exchange rates

yes they are crap but just do what we and a lot of other people are doing and just leave the money in the u.k until the right time

might be a year might be another 5

just bring the bare minimum to set yourself up and once you are earning $$$ the exchange rate doesnt matter

koalakim

Glad you are finally getting to make the move Kapri! I remember your posts from way back but sounds like it's something you need to do, bit like us really it was a "what if we don't" situation, would we be always wondering.

Would I come now, mmmm....actually the exchange rate situation might be easier to handle as it's been bad for so long, you would lower your expectations with your UK equity, knowing it's not going to go as far. Our problem was not selling when we moved out and then when we did sell the pound was on the slide but of course with past history we thought it would be a blip and bounce up again...nope! So that in itself was a major disappointment and a big impact on everything, smaller house, bigger mortgage etc.

Looking back, I'd probably still have come when we did but would have done a few things differently, good old hindsight! Coming now, guess it would depend on the situation a few years on, maybe not if I was comfy in the UK especially now at the age we are. Probably would be best to just come here on hols and enjoy it without the hassle of trying to live here. I saw more of Oz before I lived here which was the whole point of coming to live here!

Bermudashorts

We came over mid July 2010, which was much the same as today, in that house prices in UK were depressed and the exchange rate was bad (although not as bad as today) at 1.7, but it was certainly as bad as anyone had seen it for a while.

It was a very different deal to those that moved a few years earlier than us, who were perhaps able to cash in and come over with a lot of AUD to get set up with. If somebody was able to do that, it might be hard to imagine how different things would be if it had not been the case, but we don't dwell on the might have been.

We have left money and house in UK and perhaps one day we will move it over, or maybe we will leave it there until retirement even. It has meant we are starting over here financially, but we have good jobs and it is fine. No regrets.

moneypenny20

We came on a whim. Were we in that position today, the house prices in both places plus the exchange rates would prevent us having a 'whim'.

abi31

yup still coming

still happy about it - we'll find out when we get there if we've done enough research, we'll find out if it's possible to make new friends, we'll find out if we really like the lifestyle like we suspect we will, we'll find out if we can get jobs that pay as well as our research shows.

Our only rules are a) we make our minds up if we're staying before our boy is at school and b) the bulk of our money stays in the UK until we've decided so if we go back to the UK we've only lost the price of an expensive extended holiday rather than everything we'd need to settle back in.

Bernieboy

Yer too bright for OZ,you'll be home for crimbo

verystormy

We would still have come, but that is because job wise it is a lot better for me here than the UK and that was the sole reason we came and are still here. We very nearly moved back at the beginning of the year but we both knew me working long swings away in Africa wasn't for us.

But, in a few years time my career will be in a place that would allow a much more office based role back in the UK or somewhere else - we are very keen on Vancouver. Then we may well leave.

Me and the wife have lived in several countries and realized before we came that Oz would offer some pluses but also negatives. We didn't have a big draw to Oz, it just offers more / better options for my career at the moment.

Personally, if I was in a job that I could do in the UK we wouldn't even consider Oz or we had, would have already left as after two sudden deaths in close family in the last 12 months, it drives it home that thisnis a very long way from friends and family. Add in the isolation of Perth compared to the ease of an easy jet flight to Europe and we can't understand the draw of it. If you just want sunshine, save the visa, move, setting up costs and buy a bolt hole in Spain.

smiling4

Good luck hun Ems x

scrubbedexpat055

Mad, No.......You will be fine

Kapri

Back at ya

lindseymac

We started our process almost 2 years ago now and just waiting for our house to sell. I got a job last April and visa ENS granted in Jan 12 so good to go. I now regret getting cold feet last summer when we were going to put the house on market, but stopped until the visa came through.
Of course now we are desperate to get going with the move and stuck in limbo.
We,re of to Perth and well aware of the price of houses etc, so different from our first visit 10 years ago when everything was cheap as chips.

I dont expect to move to paradise with a huge newbuild and 2 4x4 for the first few years anyway! but having the biggest house/car etc is not important to us. We are viewing the move as an opportunity and if it does'nt work then we will just come back to UK and start again,

eddie007

I'm thinking that if we had come out as a "we'll give it a go, but if it doesnt work we'll go back" experience we may have ping ponged already... I suppose I'm lucky as its a one way move for us... Makes it easier to suck it up... Its doesnt prolong the should we stay should we go debate... Getting my head down and getting on with it ... For better or worse, til death us do part

I dream of going back for a visit... But as HE and the kids are happy I would never demand to go "home" to live.... That and the grey nomads arrive in 4 weeks forever too.... Think they might be a bit pissed off if i turned round and said we're going back

lindseymac

Oh, I did'nt mean it as we would give up easily. Just meant that if we struggled being away from family it would'nt be the end of the world if we had to go back to UK. My husband has a disability which is helped by heat which is very much in short supply in Scotland so we very much see the move as for life.
Given that most of our families are a pain in the backside at the best of times, dont really expect it to be a problem. We have been over 4 times on extended holidays so dont have rose tinted sunnies on.