eribow

Wow! You have proved that determination pays off. You are a shining example of true determination. Mini you will be very proud. Well done!

Hi Perthbum, As frustrating as you can be at times with your Perth bashing...you do keep this forum on it's toes. It is all about perception. I get that you hated Perth...but then I'm 50... somewhat older than you... with a husband & 2 kids aged 9 & 13. We love it. Your perception is that it was rubbish. That is absolutely fine. Too us it is lovely. I'm only sorry you couldn't see it throughour eyes. But then, your circumstances were different.

Hi cara6, To a certain extent, if you do your research & appreciate the positives & negatives of moving here, you can soften the blow. The one thing you can't predict is how you are going to feel. A dogged determination to make it work, being open to change, & your natural adaptability as a person, are all factors that can make or break the whole experience. Although there are many reasons why people return to the U.K. the most common seem to be: Missing family & friends. Not securing a job, or unhappiness at work. Too expensive. Not making friends here. Not what they thought it would be. A feeling of not belonging. Some of these things you can prepare for & some, you can't. As Ali said, a career break is a good idea. So is gaining employment before you get here. It almost certainly will be more expensive to set up home here than you might have anticipated. You may have to take a step backwards materially & financially before you can move forward. I once read on here that the main difference in lifestyle is that you live your life outdoors in Australia. That is so true. It's just what people do. Personally I think it's great, it really is. It rarely rains in Perth, where I live. It is mainly warm, hot & dry. Do I think you are mad to move here without visiting? No, absolutely not. Just be certain of your motives for coming & weigh up whether you think you will have a better life here. You are welcome to PM me or look at my older posts, where you'll get an idea of how it worked for us. Good luck with your decision! Cheers, Erica

I agree

Your true, courageous & heart warming story brought tears to my eyes. How beautiful...as is your beautiful new born daughter. Congratulations to an inspirational family.

I can only agree with RockDr. It's a fabulously beautiful place. It reminds me of somewhere mediterranean. Great restaurants & pavement cafes. It has a lovely vibe about it. Lush, very green & tropical. Although we hired a car, we only used it to & from the airport & to Daintree rain forest & crocodile park. If you book somewhere to stay, try & make it walking distance from the shops & beaches, which are in close proximity to each other, anyway. I say this because, if like me & my hubby, you both like a drink, you won't need to take it in turns to drive. Everything is in short walking distance if you pick a central hotel. There are plenty to choose from. All in all, a perfect relaxing holiday destination for all age groups.

You sum up my sentiments exactly! Our house is full of gumtree furniture. There's nothing wrong with second hand stuff if you choose wisely. I do sometimes buy new...but it is usually in a sale. I know that second hand goods aren't everyones cup of tea, but living this way has enabled myself & my hubby to work part time & enjoy a good work life balance. Whilst more money would be handy, I personally find it's less about what you earn & more about what you do with it. I couldn't agree more with your statement that it's only as dear as you make it. The expenses involved with getting here in the first place though are an entirely different matter!

Have you seen the price of Heinz baked beans? $1.69 a tin. That makes them a luxury item. It could be just the rice for you, then! I only ever buy beans when they are on special...a dollar a tin. That puts them on a par with the u.k. I still can't get out of the habit of comparing u.k. & Aussie prices, although, as has been stated, you generally earn more money here. Although you can get reduced items at various times of the day, if you shop after 3pm you can get items that are still fresh with as much as 80% off. I've got a freezer full of meat this way. There's always specials as well. If you don't mind junk mail, you may get leaflets delivered that show you the latest specials. If you need peppers to add to a curry or chilli...then the jars of peppers are usually very reasonable. Otherwise, most shopping mals have good priced fruit & vegetable shops. There's an art to finding bargain food stuffs. Sometimes (as with the peppers) you just need to do some lateral thinking. Cheers, Erica

Hi there, If you are looking for value for money, Coles (as in supermarket) are miles cheaper than their competitors. They do cheap car insurance too. Cheers, Erica

Parleycross, Your expat shield link works a treat. I can now watch wanted down under in oz. I knew there had to be an easier way! Cheers, Erica