Marisawright

Trying to decide whether to buy an annual sub to the National Trust or English Heritage - which one gives the best value if you're interested in stately homes and castles?

I have no family in aus. .All in UK. ...but aus feels like home to me...I feel like I belong there more than I do in UK. .I never expected to feel like that. ..everyone is different

I was exactly the same. Not at first - we started out in country Victoria which I didn't like at all - but for some reason, the minute I arrived in Sydney to suss it out for a possible move, I felt as if I'd come home.

However, Sydney's far too expensive now and besides, my oh can't live in a high UV climate, so it's not an option any more.

99% of long term rentals are unfurnished in Sydney. Furnished flats are usually short-term executive lets.

Hi,

 

Hello hoping pluto will help on this one

we have a rest home which has all alpinaces tested every year and this used to be done by a tag company Now it seems they wish to save money and use there own staff to test which I thought was ok as long as they were trained to use pat tester.

Tagging and testing regulations have changed a lot since they were first introduced. These days, most appliances don't need to be tested and tagged every year unless they're in a "hostile environment".

Ordinary electrical equipment which isn't in a "hostile environment" is tested every 5 years.

Unfortunately there are a few test-and-tag companies who don't let their customers know that, and happily go on collecting your money every year for testing that's not necessary. A reputable company will tell you what does and doesn't need testing.

I don't think it comes down to logical. To me it is memories. I have happy memories from England, and Boots and Marks and Spencer. So their is association.

I can understand that - like I said, I had fond memories of those stores too, but gradually as I kept going back every other year and feeling slightly disappointed, I realised they would never live up to those fond memories again! A couple of shops aren't that important in the scheme of things, but they are examples of how a country doesn't stand still while we're away from it. No matter how we might yearn for the country we left, many aspects of it just won't be there by the time we get back. That's just life.

last night my husband called to say that he is trying to be positive but just cant do it. He hates it there and says he thinks we are possibly making the worst mistake of our lives! So what now?

He's there, he's experiencing what it's really like - why doubt what he says? Just take a look around these forums and you'll soon find many, many people who arrived and realised the "dream" of a better life in Australia was just that - a dream.

I wouldn't be uprooting the family for just a "fun year" in Perth - I doubt it will be a fun year! It will take you a few months to get settled - during which time, no doubt, you'll do all the work of getting set up - then you'll have the "fun" of being the main breadwinner and dealing with a husband who's feeling miserable and probably emasculated by being unable to contribute.

Could you delay your move for a few months and persuade your husband to try another city? People assume Australia is the same everywhere, but it's not, and different cities suit different people - there are many people who love Perth but I wouldn't live there if you paid me, for instance! Sydney as it's far too expensive, but Melbourne could be worth trying. If you don't mind the heat, Brisbane is also worth considering.

I think he also needs to change his job search methods. Phoning recruitment agencies doesn't work - you need to rock up at the office and ask to see someone. He should still do that with the agencies he sent his CV to - drop in, see if he can see the agent for a follow up, and if they can't see him then and there, then make an appointment. Then he needs to ask them point-blank why he's not being considered - it seems strange that he's being told his application won't even be processed, unless there's something fundamental he needs to address, like getting qualifications recognised. He needs to find out.

Lizzie, I know I was one of the ones giving you the negatives - but on balance, I'd say that in your shoes, I would risk it, definitely. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. Most people contemplating migration would kill to have the safety net you're going to have.

Don't sell all your possessions - store them! Have a really serious declutter - we all have stuff that's not worth keeping, let's face it - and then put the rest in a self-storage unit. Sure it will cost you money but if it's possible you're coming back, it will save you far more than you'll spend on storage fees.

Ideally, see if you can find a storage place where you can pack everything into a pod or container. Then if you decide you're staying in Australia permanently, you just have to instruct them to put the pod/container on a ship and you're done.

And interesting Marisa, because my memories of Boots or Marks and Spencers have far outdone any memories of here!

How long ago were you in Boots and M&S? Was it recent?

You also have to consider that I lived in Sydney's Inner West with easy access to various huge Westfields shopping centres and the CBD. The big Soul Pattinsons and Chemist Warehouse there have far more selection than the big Boots in Southampton, IMO. I find Target undies more comfortable than M&S now too!

The reason it's cairns is we are living with my sister in law who owns a house out there and has been there for 7 years so she's kindly let us as a family leave with her for a year to experience it and make our mind up wether we would like to stay or not ...

Aha, that makes a HUGE difference. You're not going to have to worry about temp accommodation (which can add up to a surprising amount), buying all new furniture etc. Even if you have trouble finding work, you don't have the worry of finding the rent money.

So all in all, I'd say - stop worrying! The worst that can happen is that you have a year's holiday and come home. Yes you will probably worry about the kids but it's all manageable.

Buy some Vitamin B1 tablets when you get there and make sure everyone takes one a day - it keeps the mozzies away. I was given that tip by someone who lived up that way - I am a mosquito magnet usually and it worked amazingly well for me!

Hey mate , always wanted to give Australia a good go as always been the dream .

I can fully understand that. When I was growing up in Scotland, everyone knew somebody who'd gone to Australia and built a great life, sun and sea, good wages and a nice detached house with a big garden - which was possible 20 years ago. Then there was Home and Away (which, by the way, is filmed in an area where you'd need $2 or $3 million to buy a house). All that has combined to create a myth in British minds about this paradise of a country - when in fact it's not a paradise,it's just another country with its own pro's and con's.

The reality is that most people are not financially better off in Australia than they were in the UK. Salaries are higher but so are costs so it's swings and roundabouts. The economy isn't doing well so employment opportunities are no better than the UK. If you're beach-and-sport type people, and they choose the right part of the country, you may have a better lifestyle in Australia for the same money - but bear in mind that in many parts of the country, beachside suburbs are very expensive, so many Aussies live a long way from the beach.

I don't agree with Que Sera Sera, I think it's good that you're weighing up the options carefully.

Migrating is a very expensive business. It can easily cost you £10,000 by the time you're settled and working, and for some people it costs much more. Then if you don't like it, you'll need that much money again to go home - otherwise you'll be stuck in Australia until you've saved up enough to leave. So it is a big decision and you need to weigh up the risk.

I agree, judging by this forum, the biggest reason most people give up and go home is family and friends. Only you can judge how much you'll miss them. Are you the kind of person who sees the parents/grandparents once a month (in which case you'll probablyy be fine), or are you all in each other's pockets (in which case you'll feel terribly isolated in Australia)?

The other reason, which is the one I'd be most worried about in your case, is not finding work. I've seen quite a few people - especially tradies - come to Australia, be unable to find work, and then after 9 months or so they end up flying home and moving in with the parents because all their money is gone.

Thankyou I have been doing loads research but cannot find debts stopping people from going unless it was fraud or something thankyou for ur time

I think that's because very few people would consider migrating if they were in debt, because you need a LOT of savings to afford the move. Have you sat down and made a budget?

Air fares for the four of you;

Shipping costs for your belongings (or cost of replacing everything if you leave everything behind);

Temporary accommodation for a few weeks when you first arrive;

A car, plus insurance, road tax etc;

Enough money to pay the rent and feed the family for at least 3 months until you find work (and if you're going to Cairns without a job, I'd make that 6 months);

Deposit bond (four weeks' rent) for a rental place;

Money to service your debt.

That's just off the top of my head.

Not many people migrate to Cairns so you may not get a quick answer. Personally I wouldn't go there, mainly because I can't handle humidity. You've probably never experienced humidity, so it's hard to describe what it's like (I'm in the UK now and hear people complain about it being "muggy" on what feels like a winter's day to me!). On a hot day, humidity makes the heat feel much hotter, because the sweat can't evaporate off your skin. I find that very unpleasant, but some people don't mind it.

You get mosquitos all over Australia, but in Cairns they now carry dengue fever and Ross River fever which are nasty diseases.

It also can't give you the Aussie lifestyle you may dream about. You can't swim in the sea from November to May (i.e. summer) because there are marine stingers in the water - but actually the nearest beach is 20 kilometres away anyway. To be fair, some of the beaches have stinger protection and there is a huge artificial swimming lagoon in town.

Why did you pick Cairns?

Thanks Marisawright. Looks like I will have to wait until retirement to access the super then to avoid the tax hike.

 

That's certainly what I would recommend. Also, when you are ready to access the super, be sure to investigate the tax position again as things may have changed by that time.

hey if we're wrong whats the worst that can happen? a slightly nicer planet to live on.

if you're wrong in a few short years we'll slip past the point of no return, we wont have a planet capable of sustaining life.

 

Even without definitive evidence, the smart move is to do all we can to mitigate this, we wont get a second chance.

That's my view too.

Do you have a baby seat in your car? Do you have airbags? ABS brakes? Why? What are the odds of a child being killed in a car crash? I've found various statistics but it would seem the odds are less than 1%. Yet you take all those precautions to protect your family (and quite rightly too). You don't say "I'll wait and see if a crash seems likely, then I'll take precautions".

So, what would you say are the chances of all these scientists being right? Is it a 20% chance? A 10% chance? I'd say the odds would have to be more than 1% - so why on earth wouldn't you take some action to protect your family's future? Especially as, if the scientists are right, it will be too late to do anything by the time we're sure.

The other thing to consider is that if he wants to work as a joiner in Australia, he's going to have to go through the whole process of getting his qualifications recognised anyway, even with the partner visa.

My name is Nico and I am from Italy.

 

I read lot of posts on facebook about people who are really struggling for months in order to find a job in any sector.

 

 

At one time, it was possible to arrive in Australia and find a job very easily. Now, it's far more difficult. However as an Italian, I think you have an advantage - I notice that Italian restaurants and cafes in Sydney love to employ Italians!

The important thing is to walk into restaurants and cafes and ask - when you are a backpacker you can't just sit at the computer and post off resumes or phone up, you have to be there in person.

Put winter clothes in the container, even though you're arriving in winter - it's very unlikely you'll need them, other than the odd cardigan or jumper for cool evenings. Shoes are heavy so carry as few pairs as possible. It's true you may have to manage for up to 3 months till the container arrives, but it's surprising what you can manage without!

Unless you're sending off your container well in advance, you'll likely move into a house long before your container arrives. That means you'll have to buy sheets, towels, kitchenware etc - unless you take some in your luggage. We packed our good picnic set (plastic plates and cups, knives and forks etc) and have been managing with that for over two months (our boxes arrive today!), but I wish I had packed my kitchen utensils as there are some things I just couldn't cook without, so I had to buy new ones.

I agree, all valuables (including documents) need to go in your hand luggage - never trust them to checked-in baggage or the container.

Your good credit rating in Australia counts for nothing in the UK, as I know to my cost, so I can't see why a bad credit rating would even be looked at.

The thing is, though, places change all the time . We rarely visit the UK now, probably never will again but I know that each time we went there it was very different from the previous time. Maybe because of being from the South where you get loads of immigrants and all the houses are changed and the old people gone away? Last time I went in 2002 it was truly a foreign country. Lovely old buildings, heaps of history but I couldn't really relate to the people in the same way. I had changed and so had those I met. Nothing is forever I guess, shifting sands and all that.

So true! In my early years in Oz, I used to go home to see my parents every two years. I remember saving my money so I could go shopping, because the choice of clothing and quality leather shoes was so much better (and cheaper) in the UK. I also loved wandering round Boots and buying up all the gorgeous cosmetics and toiletries I couldn't get in Australia.

However, each time I went back, there were fewer bargains to be had - until I realised that for the price I was paying in M&S, I could buy clothes and undies at David Jones! Boots also lost its charm, as the range of products available in Australia equalled and even (in some areas) surpassed what they had.

It's only a minor thing but it's another illustration of how things can change quite dramatically so you should never assume "home" will still be the same if you return.

Hi Guys,

 

I move back to Scotland at the end of the year and would like to set up an account from Australia. Currently bank with Wespac and HSBC here and HSBC wanted $200 to set up my uk account. I will also be transferring circa $25K.

 

Anyone got any advice for me as i get back in December and would like to have a card to use when i arrive

 

If HSBC are actually able to set up an account, I'd pay them to do it. I tried to get an account set up from Australia and was told that new banking regulations prohibit that.

I got an account when I arrived in the UK, with Barclays, but I had to wait over a week to get an appointment and then another week or so to get the card.

I agree with QSS, the supermarkets are very much on par with Target and when we first moved out I really missed Next for my grown-up sensible work clothes and found Jacqui E and Susan good replacements so perhaps Next will suit you doing the reverse. BHS is pretty good too, I stocked up on vests and t-shirts for my hols and the quality is a bit better than the supermarkets.

 

Sorry, missed your post. As I said, I feel Sainsbury's and definitely Asda's clothes are closer to Kmart or BigW - poorer quality material/stitching and cheap acid-colour dyes compared to Target. I must check out BHS and Peacocks.

Marisa have you tried Sainsburys, Asda and Tescos? From memory the were very similar to Target also Peacocks. It's 5 years since I've gone shopping there though.

Things have changed then! I havent seen Tesco clothea but Sainsbury and asda are more like Kmart or BigW, both a step down in quality from target

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The rental is cheaper in those areas precisely because of the more awkward commute! However plenty of people do it. Best plan is bus to Chatswood then train. Driving to Chatswood is a nice idea but good luck finding a parking spot!

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I guess you're more of a Hobbs shopper than Matalan.

Never heard of either of those (they're not in Southampton), but it's more a question of age - I'm 60 so would look pretty silly in tiny-teeny shorts, skintight leggings or belt-like mini-skirts, which is all the shops seem to sell! However I don't want to look like an old lady either and also don't want to spend a fortune - a bit shocked at how dear Marks & Spencer and John Lewis are.

In Australia I'd mainly buy my clothes at Jacqui E, Sussan or Target.