Hi
we are new to this site but have been in oz a year now and I'd like to share my 1st year with you all, not in detail but to give you all that are about to or thinking of moving to Oz an insight to what it's like from our point of view.
Im married to my wife and have to girls 11 and 6 and we live in Noosa Heads QLD
Im in hospitality and so is my wife and we found work pretty quick when we arrived.
our combined income is take home $1700 pw
We are no better off finically here than we were in the uk
We both earn double what we did in the Uk but most things cost twice as much
We rent a 4 bed 2 bath with pool in Noosa Heads for $500pw
food shops cost $250pw
phoneand Internet is $25 pw
electric is $30 pw
cars x2 petrol $60 pw rego $25 pw
insurances $20 pw
Foxtel $25pw
booze $50 pw
Mobile phones $15 pw
pool chemicals $10pw
Leisure and child costs $300 pw
so you see it mounts up without too much trouble! We have very little left after each week and there is always something to pay for out of the expected.....car trouble etc etc
So don't come here thinking its cheap or because your earning double what you will back in the Uk it you will be better off......you won't. However we are happier than we have ever been. We love the weather it's never too hot! We do so much more outside. Our kids do so much more than they did in the uk. We don't watch half as much tv and our girls do more hobbies and active things.
The first 6 months were pretty crap we missed people not the uk but people family friends we had to move our kids out of the first school due to bullying but they are now settled and happy we just hope it hasn't scared them first time round. They have little Aussie accents too!
The good days out do the bad days the longer your here....it's hard making new friends and starting a social network again but a year down the line our friends are growing.
I used to be money orientated and had my own business, drove brand new cars always wanted the latest gadgets and bought them.
i now work for someone drive a car 12 years old with 200k on the clock and couldn't give a shite about the latest gadget.....it doesn't matter anymore, can't explain it it just doesn't........maybe because there is not so much of a class system here?
Do I miss the Uk? Yes at times I miss some stuff but not enough to make me move back do my friends from the uk keep in touch ........yes they do but not as much.
Creepy crawlies.......there's loads but I've only seen a few, once you've seen a massive spider all the rest are small and after a year you stop worrying about them.....so my wife says
All those waiting.........don't do the sums and think you can't afford to make the move adjust and start again with a different outlook......your in a different country, adapt and you will be fine.
Best of luck too everyone.....it might not be for everyone but you must give it a go.
For us it changed our view on life and what was important.
Enjoy