Shifted to Australia on a Shoestring budget?

[purpletomato]

I would love to hear from you then!
Emmigrating with money and assistance would help but what if you are like me...

My family own a house in NZ and we work hard just to cover bill payments. We are considering New Zealand because we want to have a lifestyle...

Our situation:

We pay hiugh mortgage on our 3 bedroom house and there are five of us in the family including my parents.
My husband Ronny, was an accomplished singer, producer songwriter in Indonesia till he came to NZ 9 years ago. Now he works in a retail store where he is adored by his fellow colleauges and bosses.
My art career started in Indonesia in 1995 and here in NZ, I work full time in a retail store where I am adored by my bosses and colleagues too!

Ron's music career has been on stop for 9 years except for the occasional performance etc.
I restarted my art career in 2004 and wants to do more and grow as an Artist.

Our 17 year old son wants to be a film maker...

No matter how hard we work, we only have enough to pay for our high mortgage and bills... salaries in NZ are pathetic un;less you are highly qualified, which we are not.

...

Our plan/ thoughts:

One or both of us go over to Australia (Tasmania? Melbourne? Brisbane?)
to check it out and apply for work while there... (few days ponly as we are fiancially tight).

We go and work in say Brisbane first... and keep paying our mortgage...

If things go well... bring our son and parents over (if they want to follow us, I do have others in the family they can may not want to part with)... rent out whole house...
Or if parents decide to stay to rent out 2 of the 3 bedrooms.

Our questions:

1) Will we be able to live a simple life in Australia for starters and be able to pay for our NZ mortgage and other bills while incurring new bills in Australia?
(Average accomodation for a room per week, a unit/ house/ apartment per week in average place not expat deluxe type areas... heh ! heh!)

2) Will we be able to find jobs that pays at the very least $ 18 per hour easily?
( of course I hope for more since I have a vast of work expereince!)

3) How do we transfer money to NZ for bills?

4) How will we be taxed?

5) Will our Artistic careers be better off in Australia???

6) Which state would be better for us creative types?

:)
If anyone can answer my questions and share their life experience... it would be awesome!!! :)

:)
Expectantly,
Amanda

ps Anyone there needing a fantastic cook, housekeeper type couple?
we would not mind a situation where we couple work and live for a family / company taking charge of cooking, housekeeping etc. :)

[Stuju]

Hi Amanda,
I see you are new to the site, so welcome.
Sorry not going to answer any of your questions but just wanted to say
you have done some fine works, i particulary like "Love in Paris & Women in Worship"
Wishing you all the best
stuju

[taffy 62]

I am in Brisbane and rentals are expensive here I am half hour drive from the city and pay $370 a week for a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom townhouse.
The closer into the city you go the more expensive property becomes.
It all depends on what work you do the average wage in hospitality is about $17 per hour.
People I know work in offices and are on $25 per hour but that is in a law firm.
I came to Oz with a mortgage in the UK many years ago, It was hard as the house there was empty so we had mortgage and rent to pay. We got by but almost didnt if we hadnt had sold the house when we did I dont know what we would have done.
If you can get rent money for your house it would be easier.
Maybe Melbourne would be a place to look into there are lots of arts places there.
It may be also cheaper than living in brisbane as i think prices are coming down there where in brisbane they keep going up and up cause there is not enough to meet the demand of people moving to the area.

[purpletomato]

..for the compliments Stuju. :).

I appreciate your taking the time to pay me the compliments and for visiting my site! :)

Amanda


Hello Taffy!
Thanks for the input. $ 370 is just like renting in Auckland where I am.
I wish I know more about the suburbs as it helps with job seeking.

I am willing to do flatting and rent just a room for starters if it is just my husband and I. Are there places like that?

As it is I have no idea if where I am applying to will have good homes nearby or whether I will need to commute 1 hour to work. Where I am right now, I walk to work. :)

What sucks is the $ 13.50 - $ 14. 50 per hour pay... yikes! and my mortggae is over $ $2300 per month!

Thanks for your input.
Cheers,
Amanda