fourcorners

Ha ha! Yes, it's very important to have fun. Although by memory most of that was the motorbike trailer. Not really that much fun in my opinion, but not an essential piece of life kit so it went into the fun category! It's going to be put to use later this week to take the motorbike for it's preliminary MOT, then all being well it's going to Exeter so get approved for road use in the UK then it'll get some number plates. OH rode it round the garden at the weekend and already knows he's going to have a lot of fun on it. He's missed it for the last few weeks! I'll have to do an update for June soon....

Ergh, I typed a long reply this morning and obviously forgot to press 'post'! We're a family of 2 adults and a 1 yr old. 3 bedroom detached cottage with oil fired central heating. We do have solar panels for hot water so that saves us a bit of oil when it's sunny! This is in Cornwall too so maybe cheaper than other areas (but lower wages perhaps). Hope that helps to put our figures into perspective for you.

We've been back just over 4 months now, and the last 2 months have been much easier financially than the first 2. I've kept a spreadsheet of our costs month by month and for living expenses we now spend about £1000 per month. That includes all bills, food, eating out, fun stuff/treats and running 2 cars (but not rent/mortgage). In fact here's a breakdown: [TABLE=width: 300] [TR] [TD=width: 75][/TD] [TD=width: 75]March[/TD] [TD=width: 75]April[/TD] [TD=width: 75]May[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Food[/TD] [TD=align: right]1064.83[/TD] [TD=align: right]612.18[/TD] [TD=align: right]596.72[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Household[/TD] [TD=align: right]819.33[/TD] [TD=align: right]369.49[/TD] [TD=align: right]144.79[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Fuel[/TD] [TD=align: right]64.81[/TD] [TD=align: right]272.64[/TD] [TD=align: right]221.37[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]BT[/TD] [TD=align: right]98.39[/TD] [TD=align: right]64.93[/TD] [TD=align: right]9.54[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Water[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD=align: right]31.82[/TD] [TD=align: right]31.79[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Council[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD=align: right]239.92[/TD] [TD=align: right]121[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]EDF[/TD] [TD=align: right]45[/TD] [TD=align: right]45[/TD] [TD=align: right]45[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]TV[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD=align: right]145.5[/TD] [TD=align: right]0[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Mortgage[/TD] [TD=align: right]0.24[/TD] [TD=align: right]0.24[/TD] [TD=align: right]0.24[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]EE[/TD] [TD=align: right]10[/TD] [TD=align: right]35[/TD] [TD=align: right]10[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Cash[/TD] [TD=align: right]90[/TD] [TD=align: right]80[/TD] [TD=align: right]165.08[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Fun[/TD] [TD=align: right]146.57[/TD] [TD=align: right]288.23[/TD] [TD=align: right]597.11[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Presents[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD=align: right]65[/TD] [TD=align: right]0[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Shipping[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD=align: right]124[/TD] [TD=align: right]0[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Books[/TD] [TD=align: right]2.17[/TD] [TD=align: right]15.89[/TD] [TD=align: right]8.46[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Life Ins[/TD] [TD=align: right]41.75[/TD] [TD=align: right]41.75[/TD] [TD=align: right]41.75[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Car[/TD] [TD=align: right]29.09[/TD] [TD=align: right]3747.14[/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Furniture + appliances[/TD] [TD=align: right]995.97[/TD] [TD=align: right]315[/TD] [TD=align: right]434.5[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Oil[/TD] [TD=align: right]212.31[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Dentist[/TD] [TD=align: right]18.5[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Boiler[/TD] [TD=align: right]3098.5[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Expenses[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD=align: right]26.49[/TD] [TD=align: right]-344.72[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD=align: right]6737.46[/TD] [TD=align: right]6520.22[/TD] [TD=align: right]2082.63[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] May's total includes just over £400 for a motorbike trailer, and £400 for a bicycle, hence why I now say we're on about £1000. We always pay annual premiums for any insurances and all our were paid in March and April (2x cars and house insurance). The household figures have come down a lot too but we've moved into our old house which was rented and needed a new boiler and other maintenance. The £1k food bill in March basically restocked our cupboard and we ate out a lot. I didn't do a spreadsheet in Oz but we paid everything from my account and paid $2k per month rent and $3k for living expenses each month. So, once things steady themselves, I'm sure you'll see a reduction like we have. We too had been looking for a sofa and on a friends advice went to the British Heart Foundation. Got a beautiful upholstered chesterfield for £200. It is shocking at first, but having done this 5 times in the last 10 years we knew what to expect. You get better at seeking out the places where you feel you're getting good value for money. And even I, who was desperate to move back, suffered a few weeks of culture shock, even though we moved back into our old house! I'm fine now, in fact loving each day and the opportunity we have here. We bought one of our cars from The Car People. We also bought a 2 year mechanical warranty which might just pay for itself this week as one of the suspension springs has snapped! Having freedom with a car is essential if you can afford it. My car is a 54 plate VW polo and it's fantastic! Bought from my uncle but at market value for £3k. Cheap to run and spacious yet easily fits down all the lanes. I'm waffling now, but get out there and start enjoying yourselves!

Sorry to hear your news but glad you were in the right place at the right time.

Well worth applying for child benefit straight away too. Even if as a family you earn over the threshold, if one of you isn't working you'll get national insurance credits. I've just sent off our application, was fairly straightforward and should hear back soon.

Yey! We are settling back in too, been back just over a month now which has flown by! I should start a thread soon when I have chance to sit down....

I know, and here it's been the hottest week I can remember, it's been 39+ since last Thursday or so! 40C today, then we're in Perth tomorrow for a few hours at 29C, then 3C when we arrive at Manchester at 7am!

1 day left!

12 days in Australia left!

Oooh that sounds ideal, thanks for the tip! I'm sure even OH wouldn't balk too much at $25 each, he's done a fair bit of flying over the last few years and did enjoy his frequent flyer gold status whilst he had it!

Sounds like a good outcome considering everything. Do you think there's a chance after a few months he will follow on? It might take something like this to make him realise what he has. Do you want him to do that, if you think one day the resentment can give way to love again?

Flights are booked! We're getting $3k from OH's company towards the flights, which covers them fortunately. We're off on the 13th of Feb via Qantas/Emirates. Got a buyer for the car too who's letting us keep it for another week or so. Just waiting on one more shipping quote than hopefully get the packing date locked in. All getting real now, bit apprehensive about flying with a 10 month old but we'll get through it!

Yes hopefully they'll think its too much hassle to find their own. We should know soon. OH has kept HR aware of our plans so it's not a shock to them!

Yes. We are on 457 visas. My OH handed in his notice on Tuesday and at the same time submitted a travel request form for us all, and copied in pages from the DIAC websites. They are responsible to remove you from the country if you request it. This is because Australia doesn't want people with expired visas to overstay in Australia if they can't afford return flights. It doesn't matter if you were made redundant or if it's your choice. For us, our sponsoring company have made it clear that they will not renew 457 visas or sponsor for permanent residency, so they can jolly well pay for our flights. Someone else who is on 457 has just left and had their flights approved, so we're just waiting for confirmation of ours. We picked out some flights, not too expensive but not the cheapest as we have a 9 month old, hopefully they'll just go along with our suggestion.

We are, probably flying on the 13th from Kalgoorlie to Manchester via Perth and Dubai. PM me if you think I can help and let me know all the details.