Melbpom

Hmm, I've just bought a buy to let and had to show a bank statement. Will avoid doing so next time.

Looking back I think that it can be hard as a young couple when there is no family around on either side to moderate behaviour and attitudes.

I think it would be worth paying for a bit of privacy, so I might try the solicitor. Are you having any success with your house search?

Is there any way to show proof of funds without displaying your bank statement? I'm in a similar position and looking at a cash purchase and wondered if there's another way, maybe the bank would certify that there are adequate funds or something like that.

I can't add to the excellent posts above, but in the short term what about going back to Cornwall and your folks for a holiday and enjoy what's left of summer? As the others have said look after yourself.

I've just moved to the Mount Waverley area and I'm a bit of a fan. I've lived in a few suburbs around Melbourne over the years and I wish I'd moved here earlier but the truth is that when you get locked into schools you tend to stay put. The train line here is a real bonus as is the proximity of Monash Freeway and there's a good local shopping square as opposed to a shopping mall. What I would advise is don't be put off by an older house. They can look a bit daggy but they can be very comfortable and be a bit cheaper to rent.

Anyone know if there are any other airlines that stop over in Dubai? I'd like to replace some gold jewellery that was stolen and to my knowledge Dubai is the best place to shop.

I didn't think I needed an appointment but it seems to be the new process at ANZ if you want to do anything other than telling transactions. That's ok but I didn't need an hour around Chadstone when I'm trying to get rid of stuff not buy more. I'll give it one more go tomorrow and try to get to Forex department myself.

Hi Jay Cee, Check with Centrelink, you may be able to retain your DSP payments overseas.

I'm about to transfer money from house sale also. I have a UK HSBC account and have transferred small amounts in the past. I went into my bank today and was told the only rate they would offer me was the published one, the young woman even gave me a slip with the exchange rate for $100 and said there'd be a fee of $32 on top of that. To think I'd made an appointment and waited an hour to get this advice. What I really would like to know though is what is the process for proving that money is from a house sale and not money laundering? I don't want the money rejected or held in limbo especially because I'm using a third party and not my bank for the transfer.

I have great respect for those who chose to stay but right now I reckon it's time for the OP to decide on her next adventure. There's a time at which women in their 50's and 60's (myself included) are free of child rearing and can take a risk, make a change, end the boredom. Don't stay because you think that's what's expected of you. In one of these forums someone mentioned flipping a coin (to decide whether to stay or go) and if you ask for best of three then you already know the answer.

You might have to start with temporary work through an agency. I worked for one briefly called Temporarily Yours and it was ok. If you have time on your hands consider a TAFE course. Good value and a great way to meet people and get a new skill.

Just out of interest I took a look at the first house we bought in 1989 for a grand total of $137,000. With the wonders of internet, you can look up anything. So at the time the average weekly wage was $26,000 and interest rates went high as 17%. So with a very basic calculation 90% of one wage covered the interest bill. Today the same house is estimated at being worth between $690,000 and $870,000 so let's take an average of $780,000 (bit of a stretch considering it's a rental now). Take an average weekly wage of $60,000 and interest rates of 5%. Again by the same basic calculation 65% of one wage covers the interest bill. Basically it's never easy.

Yes I know, but I thought bookings open a year ahead.

There's always the risk of delays and missing connections and surely a direct flight with no stop overs is less risk. I'm interested in this flight because I'll be travelling with my profoundly disabled son and the thought of getting on the plane in Australia and stepping off in London makes it doable rather the alternative of hours in airport lounges during stop overs. However I've not found any evidence that bookings have commenced hence my query.

Does anyone know if it's possible to book this flight yet? I've been searching Qantas's web site and can't find anything.

Wouldn't bother bringing cheap plastic kitchen containers. I've been through a few rounds of pantry moth and the critters got into all my containers even the better quality stuff. I've seen lock n lock advertised and would replace with these if I was replacing.

Hi Bubbs, you don't mention how old your children are. If they are about to enter secondary school I'd look to rent in a good state high school zone. Rental returns are typically 2 -3 % and most investors rely on capital gain rather than rental income. So the house may cost say $1.5 mil but the rent is say $35k per year. You probably don't want to be out of the property market for long so maybe put your capital into a rental property and negatively gear if you can.

With so much details available online and google maps allowing you to virtually walk down a road, I think it's doable especially if you have rellies close by to take a quick look over.

Has anyone used a buyers agent to purchase property in the UK while in OZ? I've asked rellies to view a couple of properties for me but for a variety of reasons I'm beginning to think I need a more professional approach. Would love to know if an agent has worked for other people?

Hi, Great to see the site back online. A quick query though, there used to be a private forum for MBTTUK, has this been discontinued?

Claire Creek Sparkling Moscato at $4.99 from Aldi. Great in warmer weather.

Hi Scousers1, in answer as to why my family moved back, well it started with my brother. I don't really think he settled and had always struggled financially. Now that he is back he has thrived and so has his Australian born wife and daughters. Only last week they were taking a mini break in Europe and that would have been impossible before. I have to give credit to his wife because she'd never been overseas and it could easily have gone pear shaped. I think this made my parents re-assess where they wanted to be and how they wanted to spend old age. The heat was getting to them as it does the ill and the old, and then there's their brothers and sisters. I've said so many times in the past that Australia's wonderful, I'd never go back and I think that's probably because I didn't have a choice, but now I have. My youngest is about to turn 20 and I've given him a ticket back to the UK for a holiday in June so that he can explore and stay with his rellies. I will miss him but I know he will visit and maybe when he leaves university he will find a job in Europe. I don't know when it's the right time to stretch the ties with children. If I felt he really needed me I'd stay. Regarding your daughter, could you book a trip back with her and give her a taste of Europe and family? I grew up in Crosby, just north of the city. I've assumed you are from Liverpool too, can I ask where?

Scousers1, so much of your history mirrors mine, I came from Liverpool and will have been here for 29 years come April. Similarly my parents came over and so did my brother. My story differs in that all my family have recently retuned and if I am to return also, it will mean leaving behind my youngest son. Don't give up on returning yourself. Are you sure your parents are too old to move? mine are mid 70's and managed no problem. I As for grandchildren it may be a long time before any come along and who knows were your daughter might be. She just might find Europe a whole lot more interesting (like my nieces do).

Hi Penang, I would be taking into account the ages of your children. Which of them would be ok if you dropped them off early / picked up late or are you prepared to pay for before and after school care? From a traffic perspective I'd try to live in Camberwell and travel against the flow to Burwood.