britsabroad2013

We are moving back to the UK and have booked a large move cube for our belongings. I am looking at shipping one large packing box via airfreight with the personal belongings for my son. He has jumper thing he loves to bounce in and it's an absolute lifesaver when I need to get stuff round the house. I've had a look into buying this again in the uk and it's pretty expensive. I'm thinking of shipping it in a large box and also taking some more of his toys back as the cube won't arrive for three months. Can anyone recommend a cheap company that can ship just one box? Seven seas have a two box minimum and it's $1,500 which is pricy. Any recommendations and costs that you might know of would be muchly appreciated! Sent using Poms in Oz mobile app

Shame I didn't see this thread earlier as we have been in Cronulla the last two years and it's a true gem in Sydney IMO. We pay $500 for a big two bed apartment, right on the train line a minute from the beach. We are moving back to the UK for family reasons but if your looking for value for money in Sydney look at Cronulla. Sent from my iPhone using PomsinOz

You'll be lucky to get a 3 bed apartment in Engadine for that price now. Sent from my iPhone using PomsinOz

That's a bugger. Maybe over time centres will be able to cope with the extra hours people are wanting. I really do believe in nurserys and think it's important for children to go and learn new skills. There seems to be such a strain on centre bother here in oz and more so in the U.K. Sent using Poms in Oz mobile app

I'm pretty much taking it as we won't get anything and if we get a few quid here a there it'll be a bonus. I never really had thought too much about women and their careers and the salary pay gap between men and women until these past few days. You can see why it does happen....there really isn't too much incentive to go back to work full time if at all when potentially for some people it could even end up costing them to go to work. It would be so much better for the economy if women could return to the workforce and contribute to workplace and pay their taxes. Sent using Poms in Oz mobile app

It's a difficult choice isn't it? Thanks for those links. I find the whole system rather confusing and have tried to understand what you can get and what you don't. It didn't look like you get much. I've just seen the 15 hours from 3 is being increased to 30 hours which is fantastic for families. Sent using Poms in Oz mobile app

Hi all, We are due to return to the UK in August. My baby will then be 10 months old and I plan to return to the workforce, for a break! Ha! I'm finding it really difficult to work out childcare rebates if any at all in the UK. So in OZ you get $7,500 a year towards childcare costs. Is there something similar in the UK? It is means tested? The cost of childcare is high in both counties by the looks of it but even with a decent wage it looks like your not left with too much after you pay for childcare? Does anyone have any advice? I'm trying to work out a what I may need or earn to make it worth while going to work. Sent using Poms in Oz mobile app

Hi all, We are moving back to the UK, flights booked for August and are just trying to finalise shipments etc. With help from family we have managed to buy a car that will be ready to go when we land in the UK. My question is in regards to car insurance. I have looked briefly on compare the market and the quotes I'm receiving are very high. I guess my questions are: - is it just because car insurance is expensive in the UK or do insurance companies just not like to insure expats who have not driven in the uk for a while (7 years in our case) - can anyone recommend any companies that are cheaper than others for people in this situation? Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated. Sent from my iPhone using PomsinOz

Thank you so much for your advice and help! These areas look like what we are looking for! I'm not sure our mere £330k will go too far though? It does seem we'll have to live a fair distance away from Bristol. Here's to hoping we might get jobs outside of Bristol [emoji849] We're originally from South East so used to high house prices but Bristol is pricy! I can see why, it's a great part of the world. Getting the train to work might be an option. I feel the sensible option is to rent. See where our jobs end up being and then hopefully buy as close by as possible. Thanks so much again for your help, it was wonderful. I will be sure to PM you if I think of anymore questions of the area. Are you still living in the area or in Aus now? Sent from my iPhone using PomsinOz

My husband and I are relocating back to the UK after 8 years in Australia. We are looking to move to Somerset. We are not originally from the area but absolutely love that part of the world. It's stunning! We don't have jobs yet (eeek!) but we are guessing our job will be most likely be in the Bristol area. We will rent first and then look to buy once we are more settled. Two questions I have are: Where is a good 'central location to rent a two bedroom house' Ideally would like a village or end of town location close to Bristol and secondly where are some good villages,l or small towns to live long term? We would be looking for a 4 bedroom house for around £330 ish mark. Looking for a 'family' area close to some nice walks. Easy access to the coast, good local pubs. Does anyone know much about Shepton Mallet? Any advice would be muchly appreciated! Also how's the job market in Bristol? Does anyone know? Sent using Poms in Oz mobile app

My husband and I are planning on moving back to the UK. We are both British and our son is Australia born. We have been away from the UK for 8 years. Upon return do we automatically qualify for family benefits such as childcare? I have no other what other benefits are available? My guessing you will need to be in the country for a while before you can claim? Is this also the same for NHS cover? It doesn't seem right that we havent paid any NI for so long and we could just walk back into the country and automatically get free health care? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Hello all, Ive tried googling this but I'm not getting a clear answer and was hoping someone may have been through something similar. My husband and I have property in the UK and savings in OZ. We want to get a will written but not too sure how it works when you have assets in different countries? Online it seems to say we would need two different wills for each country but I'm not too sure how that would work? Has anyone got any advice they could share? Thanks for for any help!

It has 116,000 in the detailed description, no wonder it's not selling!

Found it, you left a digit off the mileage, thought that was cheap! :wink:

Got any links?