Danners

My three (soon to be four) year old is missing his pals back home. Anyone around the Northern Beaches want to meet up at a park for a play date? Dan damnit, typo in the header - Elanora Heights!

thanks, this is probably what they were talking about

I'm moving on a 457 - someone mentioned that I might be able to offset my rent against my income tax. Are they barking up the wrong tree? I can do it in Hong Kong, where I live at the moment. cheers

Where are you going to be? Could do with meeting some people in the same boat as us!

Elanora Heights for the first month ... then who knows! Hoping to find something around Frenchs Forest / Forestville

We arrive on the 15th!

Less than two weeks to go. Anxiety levels are through the roof. This time in less than two weeks I'll officially be a PIO.

We stayed there too on our recce in July! Say Hi to Nicky!

Your arrival date in Oz was pretty much my arrival date on Earth! I hope that in 35 years I'll be able to look back on my decision to bring my family to Australia with no regrets

Hi, similar situation here. I'm moving with my company - also starting Jan 13th and looking to live North Sydney! My visa was taken care of by my firm (fairly large multinational with offices in Sydney). Approval process took 4 weeks from start to finish but this was all locked in back in July. My family and I all needed medicals before they were approved but it was a pretty painless process. In terms of temp accomodation, we found a one month let through North Sydney facebook groups. Then it's going to be a mad dash to find somewhere longer term when we get feet on the ground. All agents I've been speaking to are telling me the market is very fluid and there's no point even looking really until a couple days before you arrive as places go super quick. Would love to know how you get on - feel free to PM me.

Thanks, the bus does seem like a really good option. Maybe I'll just get a scooter for running around Cheaper and more environmentally friendly option than a second car!

1) Fine bars for selling alcohol to drunk people. I can't stress this enough - in the same way supplying alcohol to minors is illegal, selling more booze to already drunk people should be too. 2) More tax on booze aimed at specifically at youngsters (alcopops etc). 3) For people that are D&D, give them a choice of a) hefty fine, or b) mandatory alcohol education classes. 4) repeat offenders: mandatory civic service (cleaning streets on a Sat/Sun morning) or, last resort, jail. If only I were PM of the world...

thanks guys. I guess option b could be to cycle/scoot to my nearest train station. I'm just trying to figure out the logistics of working in the city but living as far away as is practicable

thanks vicky, much appreciated. Keen to find out about parking etc ...

Anyone do this? I'm looking to live around Forestville, Belrose sort of way and considering transport options. Cheers

Hi, I absolutely don't have expensive tastes I'm hoping I've aggressively overestimated, to be honest. For the car insurance (likely a 3-4 year old safe family car) I've tried to account for registration and everything (someone told me it's 400 on top of the fully comp insurance, or something) plus insurance for a little scooter. just realised two things. 1) I've double counted the reg fees, 2) I've grossly overestimated the train fare. Sweet, that brings it down to about 8k

Thank you. We are going to be in Sydney and my budget shows outgoings of 8500 (using pretty aggressive estimates) a month so looks like I'm in the right ballpark. Much appreciated

thanks, I have health through work and superannuation. But I'll up my food estimate I think, as you're not the first to suggest I might be a little low there. I'm on a 457 so no point in income protection as I'll be shipped out if things go bad! Appreciate the feedback!

Hi there, been running the numbers (or trying to) and would really appreciate a view on whether I'm being aggressive enough on some of the 'bigger' items. Family of four (kids 3 and 1) with one car, modest home about 45 mins train ride from the CBD. Me = working in the city, wife = currently stay at home mum. Thoughts welcome - thanks! [TABLE=width: 402] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD]Monthly[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]HOUSING[/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Mortgage/Rent[/TD] [TD]AUD 3,200[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Home Insurance[/TD] [TD]AUD 125[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]UTILITIES[/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Electricity, heating, water, refuse[/TD] [TD]AUD 250[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Phone and Internet[/TD] [TD]AUD 50[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Phone mobile[/TD] [TD]AUD 80[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Cable[/TD] [TD]AUD 120[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]GROCERIES[/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Groceries (food & household goods)[/TD] [TD]AUD 867[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Dining/Eating Out[/TD] [TD]AUD 433[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]TRANSPORTATION[/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Car Insurance[/TD] [TD]AUD 108[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Fuel[/TD] [TD]AUD 217[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Bus/Taxi/Train Fare[/TD] [TD]AUD 520[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Registration/License[/TD] [TD]AUD 50[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]CHILDREN[/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]School Fees[/TD] [TD]AUD 650[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]ENTERTAINMENT[/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Hobbies[/TD] [TD]AUD 500[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]

Thanks! Will be working in Sydney - currently trying to decide where to live. Somewhere on the train line oop North of the city seems most likely. I'm just looking forward to a change of enviroment - clean air, outside space woohoo

Hi, it's definitely happening. My visa was approved yesterday, the boy has a place at school, we have a house rental secured for a month. Arrival date, December 15 - just in time for summer Christmas. Now to start thinking about a more permanent abode ...