familywright

Thanks so much for your replies. I didnt mean to omit this part and I do apologise but I am actually the Australian in the family. For me, its coming home. I just want to be sure its the right thing for everyone.

Every person I have met around the world has heard of Brisbane

It depends on what you like. My husband thinks London is incredibly boring. He isnt a "cities" person.

We have been in Oz for 9-10 months now. We are at that stage now where we have to make a decision. This is a decision re selling our UK property and staying here in oz. We are so confused and honestly dont know where is the better place for our family. If we go back to UK: *no mortage and a bit of money to tide us over for a while- an "easy" life * no jobs- would have to start again (we are both 49 this year) *cheaper life, no school fees * back to the cold and damp * austere schooling, pressure of 11 plus, maybe not being able to get child back into his old school (child is 9 and in year 4 this year) * husband happy to just go back to trundling along the way we were If we stay: * starting from scratch with businesses - not an "easy" life * no proper jobs (we have been set back a good 6 months by some family issues) * leaving behind a pretty special UK property * better lifestyle for our child, he looks so much healthier and is happy * more expensive to live, school fees etc * better schooling in our view (nicer ethos in the system we are in, nicer clas environment, fab resources and no 11 plus pressure) * new lease on life - different challenges, not just doing the same old thing I think the thing that will swing it for us is whether or not we do feel life is "better" here for our family. If we could lift our property in UK to here or have some way of keeping it and buying here, It would be heaven. What are most people finding? Is life "better" here for YOU, especially for kids.

Hi. We are in a bit of a quandry. We have only been in Australia since April 2013 and have been renting our UK property out since May 2013. We havent made the absolute decision to stay in Australia just yet so, for all intents and purposes, this is still "our home" which we may return to. Since discovering that they may be a huge CGT on a sale of that house, (rental aside), should we decide to stay, we have been all in a panic. We feel that we are almost being forced into having to return to UK and/or even an early sale, which we are not quite ready for, to avoid a huge CGT on what is just our family home. (The rental part isnt even profitable, we are just doing it to avoid an empty house but we are aware of that year having to be figured in at some point.) Not sure where we stand with this change that is looming 2015. Can anyone make this clearer? Additional details: I am Australian and my husband is on a perm spouse visa.

Hi. We are in a bit of a quandry. We have only been in Australia since April 2013 and have been renting our UK property out since May 2013. We havent made the absolute decision to stay in Australia just yet so, for all intents and purposes, this is still "our home" which we may return to. Since discovering that they may be a huge CGT on a sale of that house, (rental aside), should we decide to stay, we have been all in a panic. We feel that we are almost being forced into having to return to UK and/or even an early sale, which we are not quite ready for, to avoid a huge CGT on what is just our family home. (The rental part isnt even profitable, we are just doing it to avoid an empty house but we are aware of that year having to be figured in at some point.) Not sure where we stand with this change that is looming 2015. Can anyone make this clearer? Additional details: I am Australian and my husband is on a perm spouse visa.

15mbps? How do you convert that? I used 4 GB in one day when I tried a hot spot. I need unlimited so need the big one I'm afraid. I also have had bad experiences with the non major internet companies but will look at that, Do you pay line rental? We dont. I also use internet on the phone? What does the $17 cover? I will be looking at that. Groceries include household goods - cleaning etc. I even shop at aldi! I'm thinking for 2 athletic people, they might be looking at high end products and possibly even supplements.

Oh yes, your partner will also need public liability/professional indemnity insurance

Hi, we have recently moved to Brisbane and some of your calculations are a bit out * you will not get a decent car for under $5000. We were determined to and got one for just under but it is a bomb. Most cars are usually just under $10000 (second hand). We pay around $55 per week petrol and the rego is $670 pa just as a guide. Insurance is separate. * food - you will need around $200 a week for groceries * internet with a decent carrier is around $120 a month (ours includes all line rental, phone calls to all aus and uk land and mobiles). I need good internet for my business * our mobiles are around $30 a month pay as you go * I dont know what you are imagining a PT will earn here but it isnt much * I have no idea what medicaid is (apologies if this is medicare and a typo) * minimum wage is $16.37 an hour but you will find a lot of jobs here are zero hours equivalents so you wont be able to guarantee the full time (sorry). * we have found it incredibly difficult to get jobs here and it has been 9 months, we are below minimum due to causal and abn hours. I would highly reommend trying to get jobs first. * you will have quite a few big hits at first - paying to get aussie licences etc, so watch that 3-4 month budget * we dont eat out as we cant afford it but I think a meal at a restaurant for 2 will be over $100 each time? * we havent got an elctricity bill yet but will let you know how much it is when we get it. (we are in a small flat)

Both sheldon and ormiston are ok. Sheldon has the better OP scores but I have heard talk of bullying. Ormiston is for science. maths kids but doesnt have the high OPs of other schools. You could look at chac, it is pretty good. Arenyou looking at primary schools too?

Hi. An update from us. We managed to find a little unit (3 bedroom) in camp hill for $350 a week. It is actually a small villa, like one in a retirement complex, so a bungalow rather than a high rise. There is no garden and the kitchen is not really designed to cook in but it will do us for 6 months anyway!

I am an australian citizen and my husband is on a spousal visa (permanent?) I am his sponsor.

annoyingly enough I was on £45K in UK I may just go back currently it is cheaper for us to fly home than it is to rent lol

family assistance? we don't get that by the way, we are looking south east as we are both employed in that area and the school is in camp hill

Oh I should mention where our money has been going initial outlay of $4K for a car, petrol, insurance, rego, food, bus fares, school fees (books, uniforms etc- minimal but still a cost), professional association fees and registrations on arrival, licences, phones, I have had a haircut this last 6 months and bought a box colour, mens haircuts, clothes for growing 9 year old (crikey the sun makes him grow).

We are currently looking for rentals (Brisbane) after struggling along for 6 months paying NO rent! (family). Yes, rents are high and I have to say we are really depressed about the whole thing. Its all well and good to suggest living in caravan parks etc ,(which we have looked at), but a safe environment is pretty high on the list as we have a child. (And I am actually Brisbane born and bred so can say that I have a good idea about how most in these here parts actually are). We are renting a property in UK (3 bedroom semi) for £750 a month. Our budget here is $400 a week or below. I only earn $1140 per fortnight and my husband has just got a job after 6 months of looking. We actually have no idea how much he will have until the first pay packet and it is variable due to shifts. We don't have a stick of furniture. It's pretty hard. We have been here 6 months and haven't done any sight seeing at all, except for the free stuff locally of course! Neither of us smoke or drink. Im keeping on looking ....

he is only 55!

Thanks all. He has a raft of UK licences and for Australia has a HR, and DA for general, scheduled and limo . (granted early due to his experience). He also has bus training.

It's my husband's employment . He owned a taxi company in UK and is after driving jobs. Prior to the taxis , he drove large waste trucks etc. So far he has applied for hundreds of jobs and had a few interviews but most have been a little "odd". "Odd" as in comission or % based or casual with unusual or not enough hours. He has had a few things that have been for a few days here and there but he just wants a job. Really, it's destroying him and he is heading into the spiral of depression. ETA We are in Brisbane

We have been here just coming up to six months now and its not looking good on the employment front so we will probably go back such a tragedy Has anyone else had to consider this due to unemployment?

We will probably give up/. Its been 6 months unemployed for my husband so we will go back to UK

Im not sure what a HNC is? (and Im in higher ed)

We have just finished 5 months and have 4 to go. We are looking at the end of may so to fly in June.

thanks guys.

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