noworriesmate

You can definitely bring them in your hand luggage - just declare them (I did this last week from Bali). They don't like you bringing them in your container or anything else like food stuffs, wine that you can bring in your hand luggage. One reason is that they have to find the items listed in the container, secondly they don't know where you obtained them from and can't ask you the questions that they can ask you in person. NWM

Also check out the tax situation - you can claim 10% of your rent as a tax write off for 'wear and tear' if the property is rented furnished, This can be significant depending on the location/rent etc NWM

That was the great thing about Nusa Dua, The whole area is in a security zone which means every car is checked prior to entry being given - I can understand that some may feel caged in but for us the holiday was the most relaxing we have had in many many years. If you stay in one of the many 4 and 5 star hotels in this region, you don't need to worry about security, your drinks being tampered with, being scammed etc. You just enjoy the great nights sleep, the pools, the beaches, the cocktails, reading books, the massages etc etc etc. If you want to experience the 'real' Bali then my guess is that this is not the location for you, same goes for an activity filled holiday, but for a place to rest and recuperate it doesn't get much better!! NWM

Actually, I'm back - had a totally awesome time staying in a hotel in Nusa Dua (Nusa Dua Beach and Spa). We needed a holiday that was a total break (not looking for night life or activities etc) so we were looking for a great beach & pools etc. The deal we got was with living social and it included spa treatments, breakfast & dinners, Afternoon cocktails. So basically all-inclusive in a 5star resort $3,000 for 10 days plus flights for the two of us which we got with Jetstar from Adelaide for $1,200-00 NWM

Go Matilda - superb company, their managing Director (Alan Collett) is often on here. NWM

I guess it's the same as saving but I was left heavily in debt after the GFC and have been working hard to clear various responsibilities since that date (2008). By the end of this year we will be debt free (except for the mortgage) for the first time in many years. My goal then is to work towards clearing our mortgage - the GFC has left me never wanting to be beholden to the banks for anything ever again. I am in the fortunate position of owning my own business, having built it up from scratch. It is currently my pension plan however even this scares me a little now. i used to think that I would be fine in old age, living off the proceeds it generates, however recent history has left me a bit more sceptical and I am determined to make sure there is a little more of a buffer than I once might have. NWM

Welcome to the forum! NWM

I agree - Go Matilda, they are registered accountants in Aus and the UK and deal with UK rental property. NWM

They do know and they won't like it but if you can get it past your shippers then go for it - the worst that can happen is that your container gets delayed waiting for a full inspection, your goods get confiscated, you attract a fine and you have to pay additional Aqis fees. NWM

It's fine if you are accompanying it but not if you send it in a container. NWM

Yeah I wasn't sure but I use it for making Chicken Balmoral (i.e. stuff chicken breast with Haggis and make a creamy/whisky sauce to pour over) and it's perfect. NWM

Pretty much anything is OK in reasonable quantities as long as it is unopened in it's original packaging and has the ingredients clearly labelled in English. I have even brought Haggis through (tinned) and declared it and it was allowed through despite restrictions on commercially importing it. As long as you declare it, the worst that can happen is they will confiscate it, unless of course you buy some special muffins from Amsterdam and try to get them in!! NWM

Unless you like Starbucks of course - didn't do well in Aus, people here have taste and ran them out of town!! NWM

from what I remember it was zero food items allowed in a container but you could bring those things in your hand baggage and declare them (I brought decaff earl grey teabags cos I couldn't find them over here) NWM p.s. I agree about the sarsons but the Aussie coffee is pretty damn good

I take your point but the issue is the starting point in the way the government deal with this. In law there is the presumption of innocence until proven guilty but the government has taken the view that some on here appear to in that EVERYONE who attempts to come to Australia by boat is doing so illegally. There are many of us who are really concerned at the way the current government is showing zero compassion and breaking laws in the meantime. I happen to have spent a fair bit of time talking with Asylum seekers and It really concerns me that the government are doing everything covertly, illegally and without ANY compassion. I am all for non-genuine asylum seekers being sent home but it MUST be after due process and within international law. Many of the actions the government is now resorting to is cruel by any standards and it is that that I oppose - not the sentiments of those worried about protecting our borders which I happen to also agree with. NWM

Yeah I thought so too. NWM

Think this might help too: http://www.scribd.com/doc/232839245/Statement-by-Legal-Scholars-Regarding-the-Situation-Concerning-Sri-Lankan-Asylum-Seekers NWM

I don't think your example works as the reason why businesses put things on sale is that they couldn't sell them at full price, ergo if they didn't sell them at discount they would lose the whole revenue from the item and therefore hit profits far more than they would by discounting them. My point is that I do not believe that it is OK for people to arbitrarily decide they cannot afford to pay off their debts which they took out in good faith, either for the reasons Pablo has stated or the ones you have. The right way to do this is to go through proper process, either through a debt management plan which often reduces the debt considerably, by negotiation withe the lender directly, or in the worse case scenario by going down the bankruptcy route. If people genuinely can't pay there are ways of legitimately dealing with this but IMO, simply deciding to walk away from ones obligations should not be one of them, but then again I believe the same with any agreement, whether it be debt, employment or even marriage. Yes agreements can be broken but if we don't do it the proper way society crumbles as eventually we are left with anarchy with everyone out for themselves - that's not a society I find attractive. NWM

Well - who is the bank?, were you meaning the staff who would end up losing their jobs, or the various pension funds who hold the shares that our elderly in society rely on? or were you meaning the fat cats who sit in their offices making all the decisions? Because if it's the last, their contracts are so tight they are set for the rest of their lives irrespective of the decisions they make. My point is, when people advocate sticking it to the banks, IMO all it does is perpetuate the problem in hurting the 'little man' who has done nothing wrong. I like your passion and the 'spirit' of what you say but in practice all it does is hurt more people - I can't go with that. NWM

Yeah, it took me a while too - I'm currently in the top 100,000 players out of everyone across the world LOL NWM

So @pablo, when you or others stick it to the bank, who actually is going to get hurt? NWM

so honestly - I am the only one playing? NWM

So how are people doing so far? Who is going to get the $500? It took me a while to figure out how to play but I'm on the right track now (I think) NWM

But that's like saying that because someone got caught for speeding my agreement with them should be void. If they are proven to have acted illegally in their transactions over any loans that people have taken out with them then the those people will receive compensation as per the ppi mis-selling scandal. It does not mean that peoples liabilities to those banks are now null and void. NWM

So what exactly did your bank do to you that was dishonest? did they lend you what they said they would lend you? did they breach any agreement they had with you? Defaulting on a loan is not illegal as long as it wasn't taken out fraudulently however I would dispute your statement regarding it not being dishonest if you are under financial pressure. My question would be, who decides whether you are under financial pressure? If it is the person who took out the loan then that sounds a bit arbitrary or biased to me. If it is done in negotiation with the lender then I would accept that being reasonable but just to decide that you can't afford it and to rely on the fact that you will be out of the country to cover you does not strike me as honest. NWM p.s. before people judge me as having a holier than thou attitude, I would guess that the debt I was left with after the GFC and which I will be trying to clear for some years to come would probably be more than most. I have just chosen to be part of the solution and not the problem!