UK Expensive????
May 5th 2004 | 8:25 am
#46
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 55
From: ferndown dorset
Thanks Herman for clearing that up!I now know where the average is taken from! Obviously the rest of the UK is much the same LOL . This is exactly why people kid themselves into thinking the UK is cheap. As you must surely agree it is not cheap as cheap is relative to where you live and what you earn. (The point of this post). As you say your figures relate to the south which is precisely why I said its relative! You seem to be berating us for saying that the average UK wage is lower than quoted -which it is! The average wage for dorset is lower than 25k and yet we have sanbanks officialy the most expensive real estate per metre than anywhere in Europe. We ave an influx of people buying real estate in this area from London who are on high earnings and therefore house prices are rising out of most of the average wage earners pocket. This is how it is! It is not cheap to live here. Do you enjoy paying over the odds for cars, fuel, food, drink etc etc when across the channel you can buy the same (even UK made for so much less)?
Mart
Mart
Originally posted by Herman
Here they are!....
I (age 33) work in london as an accountant and earn £82k basic plus bonus.
My wife (age 30) works in London as a marketing officer and earns £38k basic plus share options.
My younger brother (age 30) works as an architect in Bristol and earns £38k.
My younger brothers girlfriend (age 27) works in IT in Swindon and earns £35k
My older brother (age 35) works as a chef in Bristol and earns £30k pa
My step brother (age 28) works as an architect in Nottingham and earns £32k
My step sister works as a procurement manager in Bristol and earns £38k
All of these people would take a pay cut in Oz, in my case of around 60%. Most of the people I know earn over £25k, but they do all live in the south west and south east. Just thought I'd clear that up for you.
Here they are!....
I (age 33) work in london as an accountant and earn £82k basic plus bonus.
My wife (age 30) works in London as a marketing officer and earns £38k basic plus share options.
My younger brother (age 30) works as an architect in Bristol and earns £38k.
My younger brothers girlfriend (age 27) works in IT in Swindon and earns £35k
My older brother (age 35) works as a chef in Bristol and earns £30k pa
My step brother (age 28) works as an architect in Nottingham and earns £32k
My step sister works as a procurement manager in Bristol and earns £38k
All of these people would take a pay cut in Oz, in my case of around 60%. Most of the people I know earn over £25k, but they do all live in the south west and south east. Just thought I'd clear that up for you.
May 5th 2004 | 8:39 am
#47
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 55
From: ferndown dorset
Thanks for the info. Its good to see some comparative prices and I must say we are aware that the prices are similar and wages are in general lower than the UK. I guess it really depends on where you perefer to be and wether you enjoy the Oz way of living. The reason for the post was to highlight our costs and to show that the UK is not cheap either! Trouble is you never know till you try things yourself. I am surprised at some of the posts because poeple seem to have assumed that they will be better of financially in OZ. We can only be finacially secure because we have money to bring with us. Coming back to England with little capital will be just as hard, as it is not cheap here either - good wages or not.
Originally posted by janeyray
Hi Lau and Mart,
I live in Perth and have done for over 15 months. You say the UK is expensive? Wait until you get here and you are earning $'s then you will realise that OZ isn't the cheap place many British people think it is. I know you came here on a holiday but to actually live here and earn the $'s is when you start to realise how expensive it can be.
You have made a list about costs, well I'll make one too, but remember you CAN'T convert back to pounds but once you live here you'll see what I mean.
Mortgage $840 a month over 25 years (in the UK we were paying 350 pounds but only had 14 years left on the mortgage)
Rates $1000 a year (We were cheapest band in the UK, can't remember how much but not as much as here)
Fuel 98c a litre for Diesel and use around $60 a week (UK used around 15 pounds a week)
Cigs same price as the UK, I don't smoke but have seen the prices
Wine starts around $7-$8 a bottle but same wines as Sainburys around $10. My dad came over in September and took great delight in telling the sales assistant that the same wine was about $2 cheaper from Sainsburys in the UK. My dad asked why, as it was made in WA?
Internal flights are cheaper than they use to be but again like you say, if you have children (no childrens prices on internal flights here) then the prices go up during holidays etc. You will also find that there are very few travel agents to pick from. You have The Flight Centre being the main one and a few little ones but they can't compete with Flight Centre who seem to have the market.
Flights to the UK from here are more expensive than the UK to OZ. I have managed to get return flights for us but it's 625 pounds one way, each! ($1500) there are cheape ones with Vietnam airlines but only by a few hundred dollars.
Sunday lunch in a reasonable restaurant would be anything from around $16 upwards, some restaurants in Hillarys from around $20 upwards. The fast food here is very cheap but than can get a bit much after the 1,000th pizza!!
I must admit the food we get in the restaurants is wonderful though!
I think the cheapest brand new car we've seen has been around $13,000 so the same as the UK. Only a small one though not a top V8 thingy.
We pay about $550 for two cars fully comprehensive, but the car values are $3000 and $8000 so I think thats about the same as the UK.
Car registration $210 every 6 months
House insurance $450
School Fees $900 a year/ $140 in a state school for books, pens etc
Shopping is by no means cheaper than the UK, honestly. The variety is terrible so you tend to stick to what you know. There are no naked beans for 9p if you're a bit skint one week. The cheapest loaf of bread is around $1.60 and thats about the same quality as a 15p one from Sainsburys. The beerl isn't cheaper especailly in a pub (if you can find one) hubby pays around $7 a pint in the Old Bailey in Joondalup!!!
Water rates, paid yearly $650 PLUS your water useage.
Gas is around $75 a month (Uk we paid 20-30 pounds a month)
Electric around $50 but when we had a pool that shot up to $150 a month
Telstra phone bill around $100 a month (UK about 30 pounds)
So from my calculations it's about the same. I'am not underminding your decision to move here, I just like to advice that the prices are not cheap. They are about the same. Some things here are cheaper than the UK, some things in the UK are cheaper than here. (internet for instance, that here is a joke)
In the UK my hubby was earning around 10 pounds an hour, I havd a part time supervisor job at Sainsburys and earn't very little!!
(around 5.50 per hour) but we were comfortable. We didn't worry about money. I had a horse and the job I had paid for his keep. We have one child who didn't go without.
Here we are financially worse off. I found it difficult to get a job so worked part time with horses. Hubby now earns $15 an hour and this is his fifth job in 15 months. So you can see, our wages are bad and yet we have to pay the same as we paid out in the UK? Many many people we have met from the UK earn no more than $22 an hour (electrician we know). I suppose it depends on what trades you have to offer. I don't know anyone on a higher wage than that, the average seems to be between $15 and about $22 an hour.
Good luck and I wish you well. Sorry for the long thread!
Please do not come over here thinking is it cheap, it is not!!
Hi Lau and Mart,
I live in Perth and have done for over 15 months. You say the UK is expensive? Wait until you get here and you are earning $'s then you will realise that OZ isn't the cheap place many British people think it is. I know you came here on a holiday but to actually live here and earn the $'s is when you start to realise how expensive it can be.
You have made a list about costs, well I'll make one too, but remember you CAN'T convert back to pounds but once you live here you'll see what I mean.
Mortgage $840 a month over 25 years (in the UK we were paying 350 pounds but only had 14 years left on the mortgage)
Rates $1000 a year (We were cheapest band in the UK, can't remember how much but not as much as here)
Fuel 98c a litre for Diesel and use around $60 a week (UK used around 15 pounds a week)
Cigs same price as the UK, I don't smoke but have seen the prices
Wine starts around $7-$8 a bottle but same wines as Sainburys around $10. My dad came over in September and took great delight in telling the sales assistant that the same wine was about $2 cheaper from Sainsburys in the UK. My dad asked why, as it was made in WA?
Internal flights are cheaper than they use to be but again like you say, if you have children (no childrens prices on internal flights here) then the prices go up during holidays etc. You will also find that there are very few travel agents to pick from. You have The Flight Centre being the main one and a few little ones but they can't compete with Flight Centre who seem to have the market.
Flights to the UK from here are more expensive than the UK to OZ. I have managed to get return flights for us but it's 625 pounds one way, each! ($1500) there are cheape ones with Vietnam airlines but only by a few hundred dollars.
Sunday lunch in a reasonable restaurant would be anything from around $16 upwards, some restaurants in Hillarys from around $20 upwards. The fast food here is very cheap but than can get a bit much after the 1,000th pizza!!
I must admit the food we get in the restaurants is wonderful though!I think the cheapest brand new car we've seen has been around $13,000 so the same as the UK. Only a small one though not a top V8 thingy.
We pay about $550 for two cars fully comprehensive, but the car values are $3000 and $8000 so I think thats about the same as the UK.
Car registration $210 every 6 months
House insurance $450
School Fees $900 a year/ $140 in a state school for books, pens etc
Shopping is by no means cheaper than the UK, honestly. The variety is terrible so you tend to stick to what you know. There are no naked beans for 9p if you're a bit skint one week. The cheapest loaf of bread is around $1.60 and thats about the same quality as a 15p one from Sainsburys. The beerl isn't cheaper especailly in a pub (if you can find one) hubby pays around $7 a pint in the Old Bailey in Joondalup!!!
Water rates, paid yearly $650 PLUS your water useage.
Gas is around $75 a month (Uk we paid 20-30 pounds a month)
Electric around $50 but when we had a pool that shot up to $150 a month
Telstra phone bill around $100 a month (UK about 30 pounds)
So from my calculations it's about the same. I'am not underminding your decision to move here, I just like to advice that the prices are not cheap. They are about the same. Some things here are cheaper than the UK, some things in the UK are cheaper than here. (internet for instance, that here is a joke)
In the UK my hubby was earning around 10 pounds an hour, I havd a part time supervisor job at Sainsburys and earn't very little!!
(around 5.50 per hour) but we were comfortable. We didn't worry about money. I had a horse and the job I had paid for his keep. We have one child who didn't go without.Here we are financially worse off. I found it difficult to get a job so worked part time with horses. Hubby now earns $15 an hour and this is his fifth job in 15 months. So you can see, our wages are bad and yet we have to pay the same as we paid out in the UK? Many many people we have met from the UK earn no more than $22 an hour (electrician we know). I suppose it depends on what trades you have to offer. I don't know anyone on a higher wage than that, the average seems to be between $15 and about $22 an hour.
Good luck and I wish you well.
Sorry for the long thread!Please do not come over here thinking is it cheap, it is not!!
May 5th 2004 | 8:53 am
#48
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 55
From: ferndown dorset
Re: expense is relative!
Hi jat,as this is a coming back post its really hard to try and give a positive reason for leaving the UK. Neither of us are slagging the UK, its just as you feel we have rose tinted specs for Perth many have the same view of the UK(it is not cheap if you live here, maybee if we moved up North it would be). The thing is we have familly and freinds in Perth we have a good financial situation and are keen to live somewhere new. As for schooling do you believe that the current structure for getting results for children at the expense of other curricular activities such as PE is better?
Good advice by the way give it a year We intend to give it 2 at least. I would say the same about coming back!
mart
I bQUOTE]Originally posted by jat
lou and mat
sorry to say this... but your heading for a shock.. i think perth is fantastic and was considering moving there myself - ive been in melbourne and sydney.....
however, the job opportunites in perth are very limited - you will be a foreigner - so you may find that ozzies are chosen over you - also perth is very perochial - and they look after themselves - even over the rest of australia...
i have ozzie friends in prof jobs and some them took 6 months to get work...
yep hilarys is stunning and i know it looks cheap when you look at the prices - i made the same mistake myself but when you are earning dollars its not cheap...
the facts are - you dont when your going to get work, you dont know what you will earn, the taxes are ridiculous - have you taken that into account... if you enjoy travelling take into accout the nearest city is singapore.. its expensive to travel too
you seem to slag off the uk for many reasons - but a holiday in perth for 3 week doesnt mean life here will be 'better' - they have the same problems here that they do back in uk -
if i lived in perth - i would rather send my kids to a school in uk over a private school in perth any day - the education system is shocking......
im not having a go....but it seems like your looking for etopia in perth - and its not......
my advice - dont sell up - give it a year [/QUOTE]
Good advice by the way give it a year We intend to give it 2 at least. I would say the same about coming back!
mart
I bQUOTE]Originally posted by jat
lou and mat
sorry to say this... but your heading for a shock.. i think perth is fantastic and was considering moving there myself - ive been in melbourne and sydney.....
however, the job opportunites in perth are very limited - you will be a foreigner - so you may find that ozzies are chosen over you - also perth is very perochial - and they look after themselves - even over the rest of australia...
i have ozzie friends in prof jobs and some them took 6 months to get work...
yep hilarys is stunning and i know it looks cheap when you look at the prices - i made the same mistake myself but when you are earning dollars its not cheap...
the facts are - you dont when your going to get work, you dont know what you will earn, the taxes are ridiculous - have you taken that into account... if you enjoy travelling take into accout the nearest city is singapore.. its expensive to travel too
you seem to slag off the uk for many reasons - but a holiday in perth for 3 week doesnt mean life here will be 'better' - they have the same problems here that they do back in uk -
if i lived in perth - i would rather send my kids to a school in uk over a private school in perth any day - the education system is shocking......
im not having a go....but it seems like your looking for etopia in perth - and its not......
my advice - dont sell up - give it a year [/QUOTE]
May 5th 2004 | 9:09 am
#49
Bitter and twisted
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 17,503
From: Upmarket
Mart
It is hard to generalise about costs and wages.
I would not like to have to buy a house in the Peak district now!
But then We have alwayws had good salaries.
Some of the most expensive houses in the country and the highest per capita income in England is in Cheshire but the opposite would apply in some parts of Manchester.
That is the problem with this type of debate - it is too generalised.
What matters is your own position.
For you it may be a good move.
I am not so sure in my case but then I no longer work. We will have to wait and see.
Best wishes
G
It is hard to generalise about costs and wages.
I would not like to have to buy a house in the Peak district now!
But then We have alwayws had good salaries.
Some of the most expensive houses in the country and the highest per capita income in England is in Cheshire but the opposite would apply in some parts of Manchester.
That is the problem with this type of debate - it is too generalised.
What matters is your own position.
For you it may be a good move.
I am not so sure in my case but then I no longer work. We will have to wait and see.
Best wishes
G
May 5th 2004 | 10:16 am
#50
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 55
From: ferndown dorset
Hi Aqua, your comments here seem to sum up what I said originally (you said that people who comment on the uk being expensive were talking Bllks) but it is expensive. You see a BMW for 19k would be cheaper here as it is made in Germany! (even Cheaper on the continent) But a 3.5 litre 24 valve mitsubishi solara is $29,900.00 (12458.33) compare the more expensive MITSUBISHI GALANT 2.0 Classic 4dr SALOON
UK RRP £15815 theres no comparisson Oz is cheaper and a far higher spec car. Depends if you want a BMW? I fancy a 1932 duece coupe with a 454 big block or a hemi and I its way too pricey for fuel here to even dream!!!
The thing is, my expenses are relative to the life I choose to have. You could choose to live in scotland in a nice cosy cottage miles from anywhere, live off the land, and life will be 'cheap' But beware, if you want to buy a Range Rover dont buy one here, go to sweden - its cheaper!
As for politics, do you know that the planned 60th anniversary of D-Day may not happen as the European Union don't beleive it is politically correct? I find that really sad. However, you might think it is politically correct (its all relative).
2.5 Hrs from London and still mega expensive!
Rental on a house 2 doors away 4 bed 2 bath 1,400 pounds a month. Not including any bills. British suburbia, not even near the sea.
Billabong Jeans in Bournemouth 95 quid, same jeans in Perth $125. I like billabong!
It's sad that you hate Australia so much, the thing is England is changing very quickly and some things are just as bad as in OZ. I hope you get back here and enjoy life as we dont get long! I'm looking forward to being in Oz just as much, I dont hate England, I just dont like what it has to offer us at this point in time.
Oh and by the way, Home and Away is way behind over here, almost light years. It's way way more advanced in Australia. (touche..)
Mart
UK RRP £15815 theres no comparisson Oz is cheaper and a far higher spec car. Depends if you want a BMW? I fancy a 1932 duece coupe with a 454 big block or a hemi and I its way too pricey for fuel here to even dream!!!
The thing is, my expenses are relative to the life I choose to have. You could choose to live in scotland in a nice cosy cottage miles from anywhere, live off the land, and life will be 'cheap' But beware, if you want to buy a Range Rover dont buy one here, go to sweden - its cheaper!
As for politics, do you know that the planned 60th anniversary of D-Day may not happen as the European Union don't beleive it is politically correct? I find that really sad. However, you might think it is politically correct (its all relative).
2.5 Hrs from London and still mega expensive!
Rental on a house 2 doors away 4 bed 2 bath 1,400 pounds a month. Not including any bills. British suburbia, not even near the sea.
Billabong Jeans in Bournemouth 95 quid, same jeans in Perth $125. I like billabong!
It's sad that you hate Australia so much, the thing is England is changing very quickly and some things are just as bad as in OZ. I hope you get back here and enjoy life as we dont get long! I'm looking forward to being in Oz just as much, I dont hate England, I just dont like what it has to offer us at this point in time.
Oh and by the way, Home and Away is way behind over here, almost light years. It's way way more advanced in Australia. (touche..)
Mart
Originally posted by Aqua2778
We used to live in the U.K and so it is not a new transistion.
We know house prices are expensive, but so what they are here too and getting worse. Where as UK prices have been high a lot longer and one day they will drop.
Petrol as @ yesterday in U.K was 76.9p per litre
An earlier post gave a rundown of expenses
9pnd for a lunch (so thats what about 18/19$ - average price)
5pnd for ciggys a pack of 20... i smoke and just paid $9.10 so they not that much different.
rent where i would live is around 300-400 pnds a month here $1064
food over there has more vairety, tasty meat, lots of special offers and free stuff.
cars are NOT expensive in comparison to here... lets see a brand new BMW 316i in the UK including VAT, plates etc is 19'450 pounds baSIC MODEL (that was checked on the bmw.uk site (which at current exchange rate would be approx 38'900 dollars) a BMW316ti (same car different branding) here costs $64'000 - $67'000 big difference to the U.K and basic conversion price huh.dont believe me go to http://www.bmw.com.au
Car tax over there is not $580(which goes up a lot every year, last year i paid 548) a year like the rego here. the car i looked at as based on c02 emmisions was 79 or 179 i cant remeber of the top pf me head, per year.
Council tax is as low as 700pnds so it depends where you live etc, and what band you fall in besides mum currently pays 1500 per year in rates,(2 years ago was $800) and you cant pay it monthly, either in full or 50/50 so makes a big dint in the pocket.
Hospital/GP/Dentists etc have a much higher standard of service than here in OZ and here it is all currently going to shit. as is education and dont even mention the backwards politics.
I dont have kids, mum and i are single and both qualified at decent proffesions
even if i did have kids i wouldnt send them to private as UK public schools are a lot more decent than here and believe me i have been to both, UK prior to coming here and then starting school here. School here is very expensive, and backwards.
The u.k is close to europe, you can to oz for 675 ($1350ish) return and here it is closer to the $3000 mark
So basically from most other posts it seems like the U.K is a lot better than here. Providing you earn a good wage... and i work at the moment a min of 40 hrs per week but often more so if the U.K basic is 35-37 whats the problem?
Im sorry but i have to aggree with the person who wrote the list of why i hate australia... touche.
I mean as far as i can tell it is all based on where you choose to live as to how much things cost and what you want to waste money on. Same here. But here the only cheap places are out in the bush.
Clothes are very cheap and better quality in U.K also average price for jeans here is $75 for a fairly decent pair, and then designer or levis etc are $150+ and yes you can get el cheapo jeans for $40 but they dont last long.
The only reason i cant make up my mind is because it is a big move and yes it may go wrong, but i dont like it here either never have and it wasnt my choice to come here as i was only 14.
All i can see is that if you live in London or similar then of course the cost of living etc is going to be bloody ridiculous... that would be like living in Sydney here. The tourist capitals of each country.
We used to live in the U.K and so it is not a new transistion.
We know house prices are expensive, but so what they are here too and getting worse. Where as UK prices have been high a lot longer and one day they will drop.
Petrol as @ yesterday in U.K was 76.9p per litre
An earlier post gave a rundown of expenses
9pnd for a lunch (so thats what about 18/19$ - average price)
5pnd for ciggys a pack of 20... i smoke and just paid $9.10 so they not that much different.
rent where i would live is around 300-400 pnds a month here $1064
food over there has more vairety, tasty meat, lots of special offers and free stuff.
cars are NOT expensive in comparison to here... lets see a brand new BMW 316i in the UK including VAT, plates etc is 19'450 pounds baSIC MODEL (that was checked on the bmw.uk site (which at current exchange rate would be approx 38'900 dollars) a BMW316ti (same car different branding) here costs $64'000 - $67'000 big difference to the U.K and basic conversion price huh.dont believe me go to http://www.bmw.com.au
Car tax over there is not $580(which goes up a lot every year, last year i paid 548) a year like the rego here. the car i looked at as based on c02 emmisions was 79 or 179 i cant remeber of the top pf me head, per year.
Council tax is as low as 700pnds so it depends where you live etc, and what band you fall in besides mum currently pays 1500 per year in rates,(2 years ago was $800) and you cant pay it monthly, either in full or 50/50 so makes a big dint in the pocket.
Hospital/GP/Dentists etc have a much higher standard of service than here in OZ and here it is all currently going to shit. as is education and dont even mention the backwards politics.
I dont have kids, mum and i are single and both qualified at decent proffesions
even if i did have kids i wouldnt send them to private as UK public schools are a lot more decent than here and believe me i have been to both, UK prior to coming here and then starting school here. School here is very expensive, and backwards.
The u.k is close to europe, you can to oz for 675 ($1350ish) return and here it is closer to the $3000 mark
So basically from most other posts it seems like the U.K is a lot better than here. Providing you earn a good wage... and i work at the moment a min of 40 hrs per week but often more so if the U.K basic is 35-37 whats the problem?
Im sorry but i have to aggree with the person who wrote the list of why i hate australia... touche.
I mean as far as i can tell it is all based on where you choose to live as to how much things cost and what you want to waste money on. Same here. But here the only cheap places are out in the bush.
Clothes are very cheap and better quality in U.K also average price for jeans here is $75 for a fairly decent pair, and then designer or levis etc are $150+ and yes you can get el cheapo jeans for $40 but they dont last long.
The only reason i cant make up my mind is because it is a big move and yes it may go wrong, but i dont like it here either never have and it wasnt my choice to come here as i was only 14.
All i can see is that if you live in London or similar then of course the cost of living etc is going to be bloody ridiculous... that would be like living in Sydney here. The tourist capitals of each country.
May 5th 2004 | 10:30 am
#51
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 55
From: ferndown dorset
Hi G, out of interest where are you headed and if you dont mind why? You seem not too keen?
I agree the debate is too general but hey its good to have a debate. the rubbish on the expats to Oz is mindnumbing sometimes LOL.
mart
I agree the debate is too general but hey its good to have a debate. the rubbish on the expats to Oz is mindnumbing sometimes LOL.
mart
Originally posted by Grayling
Mart
It is hard to generalise about costs and wages.
I would not like to have to buy a house in the Peak district now!
But then We have alwayws had good salaries.
Some of the most expensive houses in the country and the highest per capita income in England is in Cheshire but the opposite would apply in some parts of Manchester.
That is the problem with this type of debate - it is too generalised.
What matters is your own position.
For you it may be a good move.
I am not so sure in my case but then I no longer work. We will have to wait and see.
Best wishes
G
Mart
It is hard to generalise about costs and wages.
I would not like to have to buy a house in the Peak district now!
But then We have alwayws had good salaries.
Some of the most expensive houses in the country and the highest per capita income in England is in Cheshire but the opposite would apply in some parts of Manchester.
That is the problem with this type of debate - it is too generalised.
What matters is your own position.
For you it may be a good move.
I am not so sure in my case but then I no longer work. We will have to wait and see.
Best wishes
G
May 5th 2004 | 10:37 am
#52
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 14
Originally posted by lau and mart
And came back with knowledge that they had tried and failed rather than stayed put and never known!
And came back with knowledge that they had tried and failed rather than stayed put and never known!
You would surely no more "fail" to make it work in Oz than in the UK. Moving on can mean staying put, returning or trying somewhere else - anything, really.
(Lau and mart, this isn't directed at you, just picked up on "failed". You don't come across as the failing type - I'm sure if you returned your reasons would be like most people's: because you would want to or circumstances dictate.)
May 5th 2004 | 10:38 am
#53
Bitter and twisted
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 17,503
From: Upmarket
Originally posted by lau and mart
Hi G, out of interest where are you headed and if you dont mind why? You seem not too keen?
I agree the debate is too general but hey its good to have a debate. the rubbish on the expats to Oz is mindnumbing sometimes LOL.
mart
Hi G, out of interest where are you headed and if you dont mind why? You seem not too keen?
I agree the debate is too general but hey its good to have a debate. the rubbish on the expats to Oz is mindnumbing sometimes LOL.
mart
Guess at the moment I am 50/50
My sons live in Australia and I suppose I fancy an adventure.
I will go but will keep my options open. I have a good lifestyle here but I am only in my early 50's and like the idea of a challenge.
Don't know where I will go. Like the idea of somewhere near Sydney but my son lives in Adealide.
I'll go and have a look.Never been to Adelaide.
May work again so may go where the best job is. That or go where it seems best.
G
May 5th 2004 | 10:53 am
#54
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 55
From: ferndown dorset
It sounds great to be able to be so free spirited. Think thats why so many of us go to Oz for the adventure. But hey there's no harm in that. I've never been to Adelaide but I'd love to drive across the (yes I know very boring, before I get lots of posts) Nullabor. To me thats exitement. I really wanted to go back to Newcastle but it's really run down now. Gosford seems a nice laid back place form the time i've spent there if you have no young uns to worrry about.
Wish you all the best anyhow, Hope I too can roam around in a few years.
Mart
Wish you all the best anyhow, Hope I too can roam around in a few years.
Mart
Originally posted by Grayling
Good question Mart.
Guess at the moment I am 50/50
My sons live in Australia and I suppose I fancy an adventure.
I will go but will keep my options open. I have a good lifestyle here but I am only in my early 50's and like the idea of a challenge.
Don't know where I will go. Like the idea of somewhere near Sydney but my son lives in Adealide.
I'll go and have a look.Never been to Adelaide.
May work again so may go where the best job is. That or go where it seems best.
G
Good question Mart.
Guess at the moment I am 50/50
My sons live in Australia and I suppose I fancy an adventure.
I will go but will keep my options open. I have a good lifestyle here but I am only in my early 50's and like the idea of a challenge.
Don't know where I will go. Like the idea of somewhere near Sydney but my son lives in Adealide.
I'll go and have a look.Never been to Adelaide.
May work again so may go where the best job is. That or go where it seems best.
G
May 5th 2004 | 10:57 am
#55
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 55
From: ferndown dorset
SORRY! See what you mean. Meant that it is better to give it a go though and come back knowing you gave it your best. My folks were emigrating to Oz before I was born and didn't go because my Mums mum became very i'll. My dad had a job lined up as a forestry ranger, and to this day they still talk about the what ifs!
Mart
Mart
Originally posted by Jayell
Some people are seen as having "failed" for not wanting to be somewhere any more. Does this mean that those moving to Oz from the UK have "failed" to make it work in the UK? Doubtful.
You would surely no more "fail" to make it work in Oz than in the UK. Moving on can mean staying put, returning or trying somewhere else - anything, really.
(Lau and mart, this isn't directed at you, just picked up on "failed". You don't come across as the failing type - I'm sure if you returned your reasons would be like most people's: because you would want to or circumstances dictate.)
Some people are seen as having "failed" for not wanting to be somewhere any more. Does this mean that those moving to Oz from the UK have "failed" to make it work in the UK? Doubtful.
You would surely no more "fail" to make it work in Oz than in the UK. Moving on can mean staying put, returning or trying somewhere else - anything, really.
(Lau and mart, this isn't directed at you, just picked up on "failed". You don't come across as the failing type - I'm sure if you returned your reasons would be like most people's: because you would want to or circumstances dictate.)
May 5th 2004 | 1:05 pm
#56
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally posted by lau and mart
And came back with knowledge that they had tried and failed rather than stayed put and never known! Life is to short to be full of regrets!
And came back with knowledge that they had tried and failed rather than stayed put and never known! Life is to short to be full of regrets!
We have looked, tried and chosen a positive course !
This word "failed" should be banned !
May 5th 2004 | 1:19 pm
#57
Thread Starter
Homesick....
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 69
From: Melbourne (Ex Christchurch U.K)
Im sorry if i have caused any grief.
It's just that my mum and i are trying to work out if going home to the U.K after being in OZ for 12 years is a good idea.
I understand that like any country it all depends on your lifestyle choice, income and the area you live in as to expenses, But after doing a lot of research a lot of things seem to be better than what they are here in Melbourne. (we wont move to other states as sydney is way to expensive, qld is slow, nt/wa to arid and far, perth i have heard is ok and s.a is know as the city of churches... no thanks)
As is things like healthcare/pension schemes etc, here those two things are pathetic.
My mum has been a carer to her mum for the past 3 years as she has Alzheimers and lives off a carers pension which is laughable. A measly $360 a fortnight. My mum is soon to be 47 and has bugger all in Superannuantion due to not being in the work force long enough, she is currently living on bugger all, and before you say stick your grandma in a home , no we wont as she is not at that stage in her life yet. And there is a few year long waiting list for all nursing homes. Besides over here( and mum has been looking hard for the last 6 months) they wont employ you despite how much experiance because you "are too old". So it is not like she isnt trying.
Mum came here with expectations of a great life, but it all went down hill after being forced to leave her job.. her boss being a pri*ck (long story) and then her mum was diagnosed with alzheimers.
My mum (i help out when i can) is suffering as she is living off the crap benefit and struggles to meet ends meet with the mortgage bills etc. I basically keep her out of trouble.
I myself have never really liked it here as i have never "fit in" it has never been home etc etc etc and i came here without choice being so young.
So is it wrong for my mum and i to want a fresh start, in our "home" country and start again. Im proud of my mum for moving here all byself as a single mother. and you may see it as a mistake, but i see it as an experiance. Australia is not all sunshine, kangaroos and koala's beaches BBQ'S etc... Melbourne is cold and then has extreme summers...so no it's not all rosey. Unemployment is high, wages ARE lower than the UK and the cost of living is a joke, the government doest give a crap about people like my mum, the health system is falling apart, the politics are ridiculous and like someone said Australias ARE VERY IMMATURE. P.S It is rare to find a decent doctor, most clinics here are walk in wait and see a "i just printed my own degree, have some anti biotics" doctors.
So should we stay or should we go? I didnt want a bagging session of the U.K i just wanted some ideas.
As for people critising me about where i got my info from re: wages in U.k i have been looking thtough the UK employment/job adverts... and for the job i do here (same or equivalant)the wages offered where 25-55k depending on area/company.
It's just that my mum and i are trying to work out if going home to the U.K after being in OZ for 12 years is a good idea.
I understand that like any country it all depends on your lifestyle choice, income and the area you live in as to expenses, But after doing a lot of research a lot of things seem to be better than what they are here in Melbourne. (we wont move to other states as sydney is way to expensive, qld is slow, nt/wa to arid and far, perth i have heard is ok and s.a is know as the city of churches... no thanks)
As is things like healthcare/pension schemes etc, here those two things are pathetic.
My mum has been a carer to her mum for the past 3 years as she has Alzheimers and lives off a carers pension which is laughable. A measly $360 a fortnight. My mum is soon to be 47 and has bugger all in Superannuantion due to not being in the work force long enough, she is currently living on bugger all, and before you say stick your grandma in a home , no we wont as she is not at that stage in her life yet. And there is a few year long waiting list for all nursing homes. Besides over here( and mum has been looking hard for the last 6 months) they wont employ you despite how much experiance because you "are too old". So it is not like she isnt trying.
Mum came here with expectations of a great life, but it all went down hill after being forced to leave her job.. her boss being a pri*ck (long story) and then her mum was diagnosed with alzheimers.
My mum (i help out when i can) is suffering as she is living off the crap benefit and struggles to meet ends meet with the mortgage bills etc. I basically keep her out of trouble.
I myself have never really liked it here as i have never "fit in" it has never been home etc etc etc and i came here without choice being so young.
So is it wrong for my mum and i to want a fresh start, in our "home" country and start again. Im proud of my mum for moving here all byself as a single mother. and you may see it as a mistake, but i see it as an experiance. Australia is not all sunshine, kangaroos and koala's beaches BBQ'S etc... Melbourne is cold and then has extreme summers...so no it's not all rosey. Unemployment is high, wages ARE lower than the UK and the cost of living is a joke, the government doest give a crap about people like my mum, the health system is falling apart, the politics are ridiculous and like someone said Australias ARE VERY IMMATURE. P.S It is rare to find a decent doctor, most clinics here are walk in wait and see a "i just printed my own degree, have some anti biotics" doctors.
So should we stay or should we go? I didnt want a bagging session of the U.K i just wanted some ideas.
As for people critising me about where i got my info from re: wages in U.k i have been looking thtough the UK employment/job adverts... and for the job i do here (same or equivalant)the wages offered where 25-55k depending on area/company.
May 5th 2004 | 1:28 pm
#58
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 304
From: Scotland...
Re: expense is relative!
hi mart
i love perth its great - as i said i seriously have thought about moving there - in fact ill be there for 2 weeks in june visiting friends and i know whilst im there ill want to stay.... i say give it a go - you have nothing to loose... but like i say i wouldnt sell up just yet - think of it as insurance....
you can always sell at a later date.... you dont know how your going to feel - the initial stages can be great but once your in normal every day life you may think different so how great would it be if you wanted to return and you already had a home to go to.......
ive been here 5 years and im heading home basically in a nutshell to be closer to family and friends and partly due to my career and the want to travel...
i have absolutly no idea where ill end up - maybe back in london or edinburgh - and i may want to come back to oz - and if i do i will come back - but im treating it like an adventure - as nothing has to be forever .....
lifes too short so as you seem very keen to come over then do so but all i guess we are trying to point out here is that its not cheap like people think - thats such a common interpretation of oz by the way.. i actually did that myself
good luck in your decision
Hi jat,as this is a coming back post its really hard to try and give a positive reason for leaving the UK. Neither of us are slagging the UK, its just as you feel we have rose tinted specs for Perth many have the same view of the UK(it is not cheap if you live here, maybee if we moved up North it would be). The thing is we have familly and freinds in Perth we have a good financial situation and are keen to live somewhere new. As for schooling do you believe that the current structure for getting results for children at the expense of other curricular activities such as PE is better?
Good advice by the way give it a year We intend to give it 2 at least. I would say the same about coming back!
mart
I bQUOTE]Originally posted by jat
lou and mat
sorry to say this... but your heading for a shock.. i think perth is fantastic and was considering moving there myself - ive been in melbourne and sydney.....
however, the job opportunites in perth are very limited - you will be a foreigner - so you may find that ozzies are chosen over you - also perth is very perochial - and they look after themselves - even over the rest of australia...
i have ozzie friends in prof jobs and some them took 6 months to get work...
yep hilarys is stunning and i know it looks cheap when you look at the prices - i made the same mistake myself but when you are earning dollars its not cheap...
the facts are - you dont when your going to get work, you dont know what you will earn, the taxes are ridiculous - have you taken that into account... if you enjoy travelling take into accout the nearest city is singapore.. its expensive to travel too
you seem to slag off the uk for many reasons - but a holiday in perth for 3 week doesnt mean life here will be 'better' - they have the same problems here that they do back in uk -
if i lived in perth - i would rather send my kids to a school in uk over a private school in perth any day - the education system is shocking......
im not having a go....but it seems like your looking for etopia in perth - and its not......
my advice - dont sell up - give it a year [/QUOTE] [/QUOTE]
i love perth its great - as i said i seriously have thought about moving there - in fact ill be there for 2 weeks in june visiting friends and i know whilst im there ill want to stay.... i say give it a go - you have nothing to loose... but like i say i wouldnt sell up just yet - think of it as insurance....
you can always sell at a later date.... you dont know how your going to feel - the initial stages can be great but once your in normal every day life you may think different so how great would it be if you wanted to return and you already had a home to go to.......
ive been here 5 years and im heading home basically in a nutshell to be closer to family and friends and partly due to my career and the want to travel...
i have absolutly no idea where ill end up - maybe back in london or edinburgh - and i may want to come back to oz - and if i do i will come back - but im treating it like an adventure - as nothing has to be forever .....
lifes too short so as you seem very keen to come over then do so but all i guess we are trying to point out here is that its not cheap like people think - thats such a common interpretation of oz by the way.. i actually did that myself
good luck in your decision
Hi jat,as this is a coming back post its really hard to try and give a positive reason for leaving the UK. Neither of us are slagging the UK, its just as you feel we have rose tinted specs for Perth many have the same view of the UK(it is not cheap if you live here, maybee if we moved up North it would be). The thing is we have familly and freinds in Perth we have a good financial situation and are keen to live somewhere new. As for schooling do you believe that the current structure for getting results for children at the expense of other curricular activities such as PE is better?
Good advice by the way give it a year We intend to give it 2 at least. I would say the same about coming back!
mart
I bQUOTE]Originally posted by jat
lou and mat
sorry to say this... but your heading for a shock.. i think perth is fantastic and was considering moving there myself - ive been in melbourne and sydney.....
however, the job opportunites in perth are very limited - you will be a foreigner - so you may find that ozzies are chosen over you - also perth is very perochial - and they look after themselves - even over the rest of australia...
i have ozzie friends in prof jobs and some them took 6 months to get work...
yep hilarys is stunning and i know it looks cheap when you look at the prices - i made the same mistake myself but when you are earning dollars its not cheap...
the facts are - you dont when your going to get work, you dont know what you will earn, the taxes are ridiculous - have you taken that into account... if you enjoy travelling take into accout the nearest city is singapore.. its expensive to travel too
you seem to slag off the uk for many reasons - but a holiday in perth for 3 week doesnt mean life here will be 'better' - they have the same problems here that they do back in uk -
if i lived in perth - i would rather send my kids to a school in uk over a private school in perth any day - the education system is shocking......
im not having a go....but it seems like your looking for etopia in perth - and its not......
my advice - dont sell up - give it a year [/QUOTE] [/QUOTE]
May 5th 2004 | 1:52 pm
#59
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally posted by Aqua2778
Im sorry if i have caused any grief.
It's just that my mum and i are trying to work out if going home to the U.K after being in OZ for 12 years is a good idea.
Im sorry if i have caused any grief.
It's just that my mum and i are trying to work out if going home to the U.K after being in OZ for 12 years is a good idea.
You will probably never know that answer until you try.
Its guaranteed that you will get many conflicting opinions, and the more someone says do one thing, the more another will say don't !
You know how you feel...
Is it worth sticking in any one country, if you think you may prefer another.
You have OZ Passports ? so you can come back again (depending on finances)
You know the questions that you must ask yourselves.
The other answers you need are:
How much will you earn in UK
How much will it cost to live in UK
But the answers depend on where you live in UK
You have obviously looked at that already, so you must have an idea of things financially.
I think the answer is already in your head, and you just need someone to push you ?
Even if the UK is more expensive than you think, it will be something new for you. And that's why a lot of people move around.
My Grandad lived in one town all his life, and every holiday he went to Blackpool, with his workmates !
We don't live like that these days do we
Thats my thoughts
May 5th 2004 | 4:12 pm
#60
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 41
Re: expense is relative!
Originally posted by lau and mart
In general your comments about cost seem odd to me. We have just come back from three weeks in Perth and plan to return in the summer.
Expense is surely relative to the area you choose to live in and the salaries you earn. I beleive that the UK is very expensive. The cost of housing is massivley more expensive here than in Perth. If you want to live anywhere near the coast here you need upwards of half a mill! We live 20 mins outside of Poole and our 4 bed box is on the market for $740,000.00 £300,000.00!!! We can be in Hillary's living a stroll from the beach with a new house for less money. Sure live in Wales or South Cornwall and you can buy a nice cheap house but theres no work etc! My parents want a retirement apartment. They can buy a one bedroom/kitchinette/livingroom flat in Dorset but it will cost them £110,000.00 Compare that to retirement units in Aus and theres no contest.Most english coming here with the english pound look at it as you are. It all seems so cheap. When you are here though and spent all your english pound buying that lovely house and cars with no mortgage and then getting an australian wage it is an expensive place to live unless you are earning alot of money. WE arrived here 15 months ago along with some friends. We all felt the same until you are 6 months down the line. We are all finding it hard. The wages are bad in comparison to the cost of living.There are a hell of alot of kids over here in after school care as both parents have to work to get by. If you can work for yourself and earn decent dollars your laughing. Most english do have to start at the bottom and work there way up again in there career over here. Re do exams or courses so you have that all imported australian qualification. Bare this in mind when you do finally arrive. Its not all a bed of roses......
Wages here are good but boy do you have to work for them! And after all money does not buy happiness, all the hard work means no familly time or recreation time and that is what I find so hard about the UK. The culture here is all work and no play, if you want to earn big bucks you are expected to be on hand at the expense of anything else.
Daily life costs big here, pay for parking $9 for 2 hrs parking (not in town parking either!) Bus and rail is mega expensive £65 return to London and then the trains are so full you have to stand. FUEL IS NOT CHEAP. It is over half price in Perth. Sky (foxtel) with any access to sport is about £40 a month. Private school fees for my son are £21,000.00 a year LOL. ( I could Cry when I see the prices of the top Private schools in Perth) I could go on and on.
The thing is, I am moving to Aus because life here does not make me happy. Sure I have a great job, a big house (for UK standards), and a good lifestyle but I dont have time for anything. Everything is about what you own. Lets face it in the UK most of the time your indoors so everyone likes to have a houseful of nice things. But these things are expensive believe me. But hey as I said its all relative.
In general your comments about cost seem odd to me. We have just come back from three weeks in Perth and plan to return in the summer.
Expense is surely relative to the area you choose to live in and the salaries you earn. I beleive that the UK is very expensive. The cost of housing is massivley more expensive here than in Perth. If you want to live anywhere near the coast here you need upwards of half a mill! We live 20 mins outside of Poole and our 4 bed box is on the market for $740,000.00 £300,000.00!!! We can be in Hillary's living a stroll from the beach with a new house for less money. Sure live in Wales or South Cornwall and you can buy a nice cheap house but theres no work etc! My parents want a retirement apartment. They can buy a one bedroom/kitchinette/livingroom flat in Dorset but it will cost them £110,000.00 Compare that to retirement units in Aus and theres no contest.Most english coming here with the english pound look at it as you are. It all seems so cheap. When you are here though and spent all your english pound buying that lovely house and cars with no mortgage and then getting an australian wage it is an expensive place to live unless you are earning alot of money. WE arrived here 15 months ago along with some friends. We all felt the same until you are 6 months down the line. We are all finding it hard. The wages are bad in comparison to the cost of living.There are a hell of alot of kids over here in after school care as both parents have to work to get by. If you can work for yourself and earn decent dollars your laughing. Most english do have to start at the bottom and work there way up again in there career over here. Re do exams or courses so you have that all imported australian qualification. Bare this in mind when you do finally arrive. Its not all a bed of roses......
Wages here are good but boy do you have to work for them! And after all money does not buy happiness, all the hard work means no familly time or recreation time and that is what I find so hard about the UK. The culture here is all work and no play, if you want to earn big bucks you are expected to be on hand at the expense of anything else.
Daily life costs big here, pay for parking $9 for 2 hrs parking (not in town parking either!) Bus and rail is mega expensive £65 return to London and then the trains are so full you have to stand. FUEL IS NOT CHEAP. It is over half price in Perth. Sky (foxtel) with any access to sport is about £40 a month. Private school fees for my son are £21,000.00 a year LOL. ( I could Cry when I see the prices of the top Private schools in Perth) I could go on and on.
The thing is, I am moving to Aus because life here does not make me happy. Sure I have a great job, a big house (for UK standards), and a good lifestyle but I dont have time for anything. Everything is about what you own. Lets face it in the UK most of the time your indoors so everyone likes to have a houseful of nice things. But these things are expensive believe me. But hey as I said its all relative.
