Re: Enough to survive?
 

So do I!

There are hundreds of apartments to choose from and now it's betting to the stage that you can negotiate quite hard on the rents (especially in Jumeriah Beach Residence etc). Although, you will need any potential employer to pay school fees as they are expensive here and will zap a lot of your monthly income if you don't. Also if you can get a job where your rent is paid, that will be a huge bonus, however, not many companies now offer that allowance (maybe only a percentage, like we get). Also make sure you get good family medical insurance included in in your employment package.

We have a good life out here. I've didn't work until recently (I work part-time to fit in with my family and we've been here two and a half years). DH earns a decent salary, however, it's incredibly easy to fall into the debt trap here. As long as you live within your means and don't try to 'keep up with the Jones' (unless you have the cash to do so!! :)), you'll be fine.

Re: Enough to survive?
 

Mirdiff will be an ideal area for you to live. It's near Garhoud (that's where I work and most of my colleagues live in Mirdiff). One of them has just secured a 3 bed villa there for 80K per annum!! Although villas at these prices don't come along very often!! But I know a few people who pay between 120-130k pa for a decent villa there.

Re: Enough to survive?
 

Let me give you the lowdown on living in SHJ and commuting to Garhoud:
2-2.5 hours of commute everyday (about 1 hr each way)...One lucky day per week that you get to your destination within 30 minutes...
This is if you live in Nahda or AlKhan/Taawon areas that are close to Dubai...
Costwise:
You will live in a 2BR apartment - 5,500/month
Utility fees (phone/internet/SEWA/Evision) - 1,300/month
Groceries (Carrefour/Spinneys) for 3 pax - 1,500/month
2 cars - 3,500/month (bank installments)
2 cars petrol/maintenace/insurance,etc - 2,000/month
Schooling - 2,500/month (You're British,life is expensive...I pay 1,500/month for my cost centre)
Boozing (youre still English,the pub is your second home) - 1,000/month
Clothing (You're English,but you still wear clothes and look like a gentleman) - 1,000/month for the entire family
Dining out (Your wife will leave you if you don't) - 1,000/month
That's 19,300AED per month...
So unless I forgot something, you'll live a good life...(He already said he's not bothered to save...So he wants to live life to the full,ie the "Lebanese" way...)

Re: Enough to survive?
 

lol Conf, you're posts are actually informative these days- you feeling ok?!

Re: Enough to survive?
 

I don't know what came over me...Must be the new glue...I changed brands...

Re: Enough to survive?
 

Thanks once again for the replies - very helpful indeed (just what I needed). I'm going to go away and do a bit more research, then no doubt I'll be back shortly with more questions.

Being able to live near where I'd be working (Garhoud/Mirdiff) is appealing. What are these places like to live in?

Re: Enough to survive?
 

Mirdif is up and coming.. rental prices are rising fast. Please remember that you have to pay a year upfront on the rent of a place here...

Re: Enough to survive?
 

In contrast to 4 cheques as is the norm in Sharjah...

Re: Enough to survive?
 

I will be your neighbour soon...

Re: Enough to survive?
 

Sharjah bound?

Re: Enough to survive?
 

why not?

Re: Enough to survive?
 

I'm not saying anything...I'm moving to Abu Dhabi...The Federal Decree was passed five minutes ago...

Re: Enough to survive?
 

lucky I'm off back to the U.K then

Re: Enough to survive?
 

i had no idea you were also a Shj man conf...

Re: Enough to survive?
 

he's that creepy guy in your elevator last night...think about it