Is anyone else struggling with the cost of living here? Our dollars seem to practically blow out the window. We dont have a big mortgage, are not frivilous or go out to eat a lot, the money just seems to disappear. Wages dont seem to be good compared to cost of living and I think I'll need to get a full-time job, not what I came here for .
I think I'm just on a downer, not homesick or anything, just struggling with the different way of life here. (Someone shouted at me for cycling on the road yesterday, I was gobsmacked)
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Better to have tried and failed than never tried at all
Hi Morven
I agree, the cost of living is getting higher, we have noticed that our food shopping is costing more these days, lucky you, we have a big mortgage and only hubbie works lol!!!
Sian xxx
This is what I've been saying on this site for ages , but every time I brooch the subject I am castigated from all quarters ... At last someone is on my wavelength .. There is a thread going around " how much money needed ?" , perhaps the posters should popin here and get the real picture . When we came to Australia , the cost of living was much cheaper here , but now , I have to say there is little or no difference , however , with lowers wage levels here we are in effect worse off .. It's not what we came for either..
Thought I'd just post some money facts, here's our monthly outgoings:
Mortgage $1800 (that's a $260,000 mortgage)
Food $1000
Phone(incl. 3 mobile topups) $200
Electricity $150
Foxtel+Broadband $120
Insurances (house, car etc.) $100
School (fees, lunches etc.) $100
After School care $170
Total $3640
That doesn't leave a lot for incidentals. I know there was a post flying about on could you live on $4000 a month. If you are on your own you could maybe but with two kids its tight. Plus joining a sports team here is astronomical. My son had to pay $100 insurance to play for the local soccer team plus pay $10 every time he played a game to pay the Ref. That adds up over a season. I personally think we have all missed the boat for the cheap lifestyle. House prices are rising daily as is food but the wages are staying the same. Who's winning here? I hate to say or think it but I think Australia is heading the same way as Britain, only the Aussies are getting pissed off that the Brits are coming in and taking the jobs! What jobs though? I am really struggling to get a permanent job, only managing to secure temp work at the moment.
As I said before, I think I'm on a bit of a downer so maybe I should shut up but the reality is cost of living is getting higher, no question about it, I just hope that maybe the up and coming election will change things a bit. Doubt it though
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Better to have tried and failed than never tried at all
We only have a mortgage so I guess that I am a lucky-ish one. However OH and I both work full time. We didnt expect to do anything less when we came here. We realised that we can still have a great standard of life while working full time.
Im a firm believer in life is what you make it. I was always brought up "if we dont have the money you just cant do it/have it/go there" I carry on like that now!
We have no kids to put through school so financially I guess tahat is a big Plus but in other ways it is not!
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Joanne
"POZZIE" - HAPPY AND LOVIN` IT
Location: From Bury,Manchester To Jimboomba, Brisbane
Posts: 6,425
In a way i understand what morven is saying ,but it dosnt apply for everyone.We did well out of our property in the uk and can afford to live here nearly mortgage free,we borrowed $20,000.I no longer work ,hubbys works 3 or 4 days a week.We have 2 kids ,one at kindy and one at school.The eldset attends scouts every week.We dont have the cash we had in the uk and we never will,but we have enought to survive on and have days out.We all see more of each other and everyone of us is much happier it has made us realise money isnt everything.We dont have Foxtel as we cant afford it and we manage,sometimes you have to comprimise to be happy.
Cal x
Movern33,
big hugs for all of ya.
Don't forget about life in the UK at the mo. You may get that big detached house yeh, but look at all the crime and anti social behaviour! Nobody cares about anybody but themselves over here. THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER!!! Hang on in there xxxxxxx:)xxxxxx
HI EVERYONE, I,M GOING THRU THE VETASSESS PROCESS AT THE MOMENT.JUST THOUGHT I,D KEEP A FEW IN TOUCH WITH HOW THINGS ARE GOING IN UK AT THE MOMENT. PETROL £1 A LTR , GOOD LOAF OF BREAD AT LOCAL COOP IS OVER £1 ,COUNCIL TAX KEEPS GOING UP , LOTS OF CITIES CONSIDERING CONJESTION CHARGING , LOCAL TEENAGERS THINK IT,S FASHIONABLE TO BE A GANGSTER. I,M NOT REALLY ON A DOWNER , I JUST KNOW WHY I WANT TO MOVE TO AUSTRALIA , THE UK IN GENERAL IS OVER POPULATED, YOU JUST CANT FIND SPACE. I,M A BUILDER AND WOULD LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN TO BUILD MY OWN HOME ONE DAY, IT,S NO LONGER AN OPTION HERE. I,M LOOKING TO WORK HARD AND HOPEFULLY REALISE MY DREAMS IN A LAND THAT IS,NT OVER POPULATED AND STILL HAS OPPERTUNITYS FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO WORK AT IT. HOPE YOUR ALL WELL AND TAKE CARE
PETE
I think I'm just on a downer, not homesick or anything, just struggling with the different way of life here. (Someone shouted at me for cycling on the road yesterday, I was gobsmacked)
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Hi Morven, felt really sad to hear your post and that someone shouted out you, miserable sods how dare they!! I suppose that didnt help your day!! I get this at work people being rude and it can pee me off for days.
Do you know what all what you have said is what I worry about, I know you can't have what you can't afford etc.. But I dont want to struggle, I want to buy my kid the latest board shorts if they want them..
I keep looking at the houses and thinking yep we def missed that boat. We are going to probably have to borrow about $100,000 (I hope no more), and my OH Refrigeration/Air-Conditioing Mechanic but not sure what he will earn in Oz, I have checked out all the career sights but i dont think they help much. Unless you know someone who can say 'There's this company and they are paying $$$' That would be good eh!!
I hope things turn around for you as I know all the hard work it took to get there in the first place.
.
HI EVERYONE, I,M GOING THRU THE VETASSESS PROCESS AT THE MOMENT.JUST THOUGHT I,D KEEP A FEW IN TOUCH WITH HOW THINGS ARE GOING IN UK AT THE MOMENT. PETROL £1 A LTR , GOOD LOAF OF BREAD AT LOCAL COOP IS OVER £1 ,COUNCIL TAX KEEPS GOING UP , LOTS OF CITIES CONSIDERING CONJESTION CHARGING , LOCAL TEENAGERS THINK IT,S FASHIONABLE TO BE A GANGSTER. I,M NOT REALLY ON A DOWNER , I JUST KNOW WHY I WANT TO MOVE TO AUSTRALIA , THE UK IN GENERAL IS OVER POPULATED, YOU JUST CANT FIND SPACE. I,M A BUILDER AND WOULD LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN TO BUILD MY OWN HOME ONE DAY, IT,S NO LONGER AN OPTION HERE. I,M LOOKING TO WORK HARD AND HOPEFULLY REALISE MY DREAMS IN A LAND THAT IS,NT OVER POPULATED AND STILL HAS OPPERTUNITYS FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO WORK AT IT. HOPE YOUR ALL WELL AND TAKE CARE 
