brits1

Yes, cand of the same for us really...too busy at first trying to find home, jobs etc to realise we did not have really have anything else...then we travelled around W.Aus then the Eastern States....we stayed as long because mainly my dad....who lifes great for you there....the weather.....the beach...etc...you cannot do that here (he who is always abroad a few times a year and fits in a visit to Aus every year!!!) but if it is so wonderful why did he not retire here....he had the money....said he loved it here but when push comes to shove...he must know deep down that he would not have the lifestyle he really enjoys in the U.K...I think if we had the weather (only spring and autumn for me though) that we have here in the U.K a lot more people would not come over...so we stayed and now after over 9 years we are going home next year (08) had some good times but a lot of very quiet years as well....I do feel that I live like I would be if I was in my 80"s!!! (although my dad is 79 and he is never at home...he's in Spain at them moment with a load of the "Golden Oldies" in a wonderful hotel...all entertainment laid on for them and it the cost was really inexpensive....and he is having a great time...now that is what I invisage for myself and my hubbie!!!)
Some good times but not just for us anymore...
Jackie

brits1

Great news for you...it is nice to hear all to often people love to put the U.K down...(and Europe) hope it all works out for us when we come back home....when we went back for our second visit this year we just appreciated things even more than after our first visit...it is a wonderful feeling..I suppose the "once you loose it" kind of thing kicks in.
Good luck
Jackie

SarahJane2007

NOPE!

LouiseD

Eric if you don't mind. How long did it take you to get back to where you were financially?

Eric Hitchmo

Not really a case of getting back to exactly where I was before Louise. I mean, I'd be financially a lot better off if I hadn't have done the move, but I sold my house in the UK, didn't buy anywhere in Aus, and had a job out there that let me pay a decent flat rental and all the other stuff you need to shell out for. I just kept all my house sale money in the bank earning interest in the UK - I threw away some on cars, trips etc, but when I retuned I was still in a reasonable financial shape.

Cheers.

manc1

I know this is slightly of the thread title but I thought it was interesting. My friends sister has just returned to Australia after working in the UK for approximately 9yrs. She is Australian. She thinks everyday groceries are more expensive here than in England and the wages are considerably lower. She feels the standard of living in Australia that she was used to has dropped considerably. My wife and I also noticed last year that a lot of everyday grocery products were cheaper in Manchester than they were in OZ. I know when I first came to Australia this was never the case. Australia was always way cheaper.

Triboy

Been here 18yrs so I've seen a few 'cycles'. But food dropping in the UK and rising here has been a steady trend since about 2002 I'd say. Certainly one of biggest differences I've seen. My wife has been to the UK twice, in 05 and 06 and she can't believe the difference. In this regard (and many others) Aussies really live in the past about how cheap they perceive their country to be (and probably a few expats living in the past on how expensive they recall the Uk to be).

brits1

We came to Aus in 1989 and some things I found cheaper Petrol, homes and cars but I always found the food expensive and not a great deal of "choice"...nowadays I find the homes here in Aus are expensive..Petrol has really gone up from 57 cents to $1.25 in 9 years and food is still expensive but a bit more choice....clothes in Aus (quality ones) are expensive and finding decent leather goods ie shoes, bags etc at a reasonable price is hard.

Our last visit to the U.K (07) we found food cheaper than in 1998 (honestly) and eating out was really good quality (most places) and really good value...homes are expensive but they are here now in Aus...salaries in the U.K seem really good where ours here rarely seem to rise with the inflation...do I think Aus is cheaper....not really, it may have been in the past but not now...I hardly know anyone here who says house hold "bills" are getting more expensive by the .5 year..holidays (proper ones...on a plane) are a rare thing......and having a drink in the "local" costs us about $6/7 a glass for wine and $7.00 for a pint...sometimes more...and these are Suburb pubs not the "City" venues where you would expect to pay more...I would not like to come over to live at the present time unless I came with a "nice" amount of money......or a highly paid job.....
Have a good evening to everyone out there....just off for "tea" now...I should say "dinner" but well old habits die hard.....
Jackie..in Perth who never seems to have enough money....even though I hardly go anywhere.....oooooooorr...

brits1

My lovely,kind brother sent me a huge parcel yesterday with packets of Taxis, Gold Bars (not the real ones unfortunately) reakaways....99p buy one get one free and also a few Toffee Crisps (Christmas came early) he bought them from Asda and I also notice these packs were special Christmas ones with an extra 4 bars in each packet....great prices, great choc...what more can I ask for!!!!! they were even cheaper in Tesco's (my sister in law found out later) they had buy one get 2 free!!! plus 25% (they are really inexpensive anyway) off there already great clothes ranges.........
Jackie from Perth but made in Manchester and proud of it!!!!!

Stitch

I keep thinking that we will get over all that one day. Just can't see when that day will come! Trying to do all the positives but the financial side is just so cripling. I think I could deal with the family situation if I was able to own my own home and breathe a bit easier. As it stands it's rentals and inspections and not much funf for just now.

As for do I regret it.....jury is still out.

Cheers

Ginny

brits1

Ginny, how long have you been in Aus? we came out 9 years ago and only had a very small amount of money, it was hard but then houses were far cheaper than now and so were other things....we did say that if we now came with the same amount of money we would be finding it VERY hard indeed....most new migrants seem to come out with a lot of money usually made on their homes in the U.K and they find it great but still more expensive than they originally thought. If you really love the area where you are and would like to stay in Aus I would say can you not find an area that is "up and coming" near where you live but a little cheaper...? and do you get the $10,000 (not sure how much) first time homebuyers help in Queensland? when we came over it was not available and just typical of our luck about after 6 months of buying our first home it was introduced here in W.A boy were we sick!!! I do find it more and more expensive to just live a life outside of paying bills let alone the nice things like going out for meals etc which have certainly "gone up" since we arrived here in Aus...I have just had to buy a car as I was spending a small fortune on my car as nobody could find out why it kept not starting...stalling etc and this after a log book major service (which cost me a small fortune) and now I will have to find the money to pay for this new car....gulp....but you really do need a reliable car here in Perth/W.A we are fed up now and are planning to go home and see what happens there....we just need a change and to see our families and friends....so good luck and hope all comes okay for you....
Take care
Jackie

Stitch

Hi Jackie,

We've been here for about 18 months now. We first validated in 2003 and thought the cost of living was much cheaper. We were not one of the fortunate ones in the UK to make a few bucks on their house in the UK and came out with little in the bank. Now I didn't expect the house by the sea and sipping champagne by the pool but just to be able to own my home and drive a half decent car! Ha.....dreaming or what. We are just going through a bit of a hard time here just now and I know we need to find the positives etc. I know they will come just a bit fed up of all the blows just now. We do discuss regulary about heading back to the UK and it's something we haven't rulled out. I wish you the very best of luck and although it might be a struggle you'll have the family etc around you to keep you going.

Cheers

Ginny

kez81

dont regret it think we would have always wondered what if annoyed with myself that i couldnt see how good we had it in the uk though you dont know what youve got till its gone!

i think the you do need to give it ample time though know a couple that left after 6mths and heard they are thinking of coming back as they feel they never gave it a proper go.

manc1

Ned Kelly

lucy71

My DH told me last night that he feels that the last three years in oz have been a complete waste of time and he regrets coming here very much. However on the other hand he says that the lifestyle is better here, bigger houses, better weather etc. Only problem is we don't have a good social network of friends. I have found it relatively easy to meet new people as I'm a mum! but my OH has really struggled, partly due to his old job which involved working very very long hours plus he didn't join any clubs or put himself in a situation where he could meet new people. Our neighbours in the apartment we rent are contstantly changing so we haven't really met any new friends that way. So, he's very lonely, bored and had enough of Melbourne!