Blue Manna

13 hours ago, Toots said:

If you're still homesick after 20 years here, I'd say go back to the UK.  I think you will be far happier.  Start to make plans now even if it takes a couple of years or so.

Some people never settle. Even if they move back, it's not the same. Pandora's box. Sometimes it's safer just to never move. Ah, but until you do, you'll never know. There's no win win here. Just find the best compromise you can live with.

1 hour ago, Parley said:

Stay in Australia until your preservation age which is 60. Declare yourself permanently retired.

Withdraw all your Super if you like and then move back to the UK.

Only 7 years so not that long.

Depends on your balance perhaps but if you have a lot in Super that is what I would be doing.

Just what I was about to say. Plus, could they go back to live in Australia for a holiday long enough to declare residency (6 months?) when they are around 65-67 to get a full Australian aged pension? 

14 hours ago, Simontucks said:

Not at all, an aging population as many elderly retire to the coast of west Wales where I am, from all over the uk.covid changed a lot of people's lives,most wanted to move to the country or coast which has filled up Cornwall and Devon so we seem to be next. None of our youngsters stay in Wales as there's very little work apart from in tourism.

Housing,which was affordable 3 years ago has gone through the roof (something I know you guys are experiencing).our property has gone up nearly £150000 in 3 years. 

That will put a lot of pressure on an already struggling health system. 

6 hours ago, InnerVoice said:

You're not the first person to say how bad it's become, so I wouldn't dispute that at all. I haven't been back to the UK in 5 years so my personal experience is out of date, but I still have a UK mobile and frequently receive service texts from my old surgery informing patients not to come unless it's an absolute emergency, so I can see the system is really under pressure.

I appreciate that there's no getting around hip replacements but when it comes to minor medical issues my first port of call these days is google. The main reason being that I now have to pay for every doctor's visit, so I think about it like I do about any other service. I won't pay for something I can fix it myself. I'm no longer of the mindset that if I feel unwell then 'I need to see a doctor', because 99% of the time what I need is some basic medication and a rest.

Regarding your teeth, I'd consider stopping over in the Far East on you way to Australia and getting it done at a fraction of the cost. That's what my wife's doing next month. Can't beat a bit of medical tourism!

I get my glasses online, and I pay a quarter of what my optometrist charges . From the UK actually, but the far east would probably be cheaper. 

4 hours ago, Simontucks said:

I think we have to wait so long as we have a labour government running the NHS in Wales,an absolute shambles.i had a knee replacement 4 years ago in England and waited 2 years so definitely differs where you are

Are the Welsh a healthy people?

9 hours ago, InnerVoice said:

Well it'd be a nightmare if we didn't - half the male population would be transgendering at 59!  

I identify as a retired woman.

20 hours ago, InnerVoice said:

With all due respect I don't think that's correct. If you only take your tax-free lump sum (or part of it) and you haven't taken any income payments, you can still contribute the same amount to your UK private pension. However, once you take your first taxable income payment through drawdown, the amount you can then pay into money purchase pensions (e.g. personal, self-invested) is limited to £4,000 each tax year - but taking tax-free cash alone won’t affect that. 

What becomes limited is the total amount of tax-free money you can take after your first tax-free withdrawal. In total it can't be more than 25% of the value of your pension at that time, regardless of how much your pot grows in future. So you're right in that you probably wouldn't want start taking any tax-free sums until you're ready to retire, unless you needed the money for an emergency. However, if you knew you would be moving permanently to a country (like Australia) where your whole pension would be classed as an income stream, it may well be in your interest to take the 25% tax-free lump sum before you emigrated.

I stand corrected. I didn't know that. I had thought it was the 25%, but you are quite right. As long as you don't take taxable income you can still contribute the full allowance.

16 hours ago, Marisawright said:

If you'd said "we pay for it through our taxes", I'd have said nothing.    I guess I'm sensitised to the "we're entitled because we've paid our NI" idea because I have cousins in the UK, furious that they've got to wait a bit longer to get the age pension, because "I paid my contributions into NI so I'm entitled to get that money back".   

It is true though, that if you haven't made enough NI payments then you won't get a full UK pension, regardless of how much you have paid in tax. This can be very relevant for those who spent some time in Australia but have returned to the UK. So while the pension isn't funded by NI alone, NI determines whether you get it.

On 27/09/2023 at 07:05, Island said:

Thanks so much for your message - it was two years ago I wrote that - my boys are. now 16 and 18 years - the older one is thinking of going back for Uni next year after he finishes Alevels - they are having a great life of travel and diversity in europe but the pull of australia is still great and they still feel very Australian.  Did your kids move back first - and then you followed beanbear - did you tell them at the time you would follow in a few years? Did you move back to the same part of oz?  For my own part, I'm loving life in Bristol so much - love the woods, love the village life, love my job and the kids school and being in Europe - all the travel and the cold weather too (menapause!!) but I understand the pull for them and definitely want them to follow their dreams and return for uni if they still want to...and we will follow at some point...

At least you all have options which is good. I've always thought it a choice not a compromise between Australia and the UK, and I've always wondered what horrible things must have happened to those poor souls who run either of the countries down.

11 hours ago, InnerVoice said:

You mentioned in a previous post that you're still in Aus and intend to move back to the UK, but you didn't mention how old you are. If you're approaching 60 then it might be worth delaying the move until you are, so you get access your Aus super completely tax-free. You could take it in one lump sum and transfer it to the UK, where you could invest up to £20,000 year in tax-free ISAs both in yours and your wife's names. If you continue to work between being 60 and 67 then you could also make significant contributions to a UK pension fund, for which you'll receive tax relief at your marginal rate. Remember that once you're a UK tax resident, when you're 55 you can take a 25% lump sum tax-free from your UK private pension (if you have one). Unfortunately, if you're nowhere near 60 and intend to move back soon, then none of the aforementioned suggestions will be of much help.

As Marisa said, your UK state pension won't be affected because it isn't means tested. However, it's a taxable income stream so it will affect the amount of tax you pay overall, depending on how much income you have from other sources.

If large sums are involved here then it'd be a good idea to get some professional advice.

Good advice. But one point I will add is that if you take the 25% lump sum from your UK pension, it severely limits the amount you can salary sacrifice later on. So you don't want to take the 25% until you are in a position where you will retire, or still be working but not want to overpay your pension any more.

On 02/01/2024 at 10:32, InnerVoice said:

You're joking, aren't you? I've just paid $14 for a six-pack of Peronis and they've travelled 9,000 miles to get here!  

You'd pay $10-12 for a pint of peroni in a pub or a restaurant in Australia wouldn't you? Can't stand the stuff myself. More of a real ale person.

9 hours ago, Cheery Thistle said:

Hmm yeah I don’t really want to get into it but I’m not really ‘feeling’ any politicians at the moment. As you age you start to realise that none of them seem to have made things much better for the average person. SNP are making a huge mess just now. It’s definitely a case of choose your poison at the moment! 
I can’t quite put into words how bad Glasgow has got, especially if (like me) you remember how it was 20 years ago. It’s not just the shops, it’s the social problems too. They may have always been there, just more diluted but I do think that has also got worse. I can’t really see how it will recover, but I hope it does. 

It's depressing the state of UK politics. Just depressing. Might vote greens so at least the poor sod can get their deposit back.

At least in Australia they change their parties and leaders quite regularly.

Been a long time since I've been to Glasgow, but I was pleasantly surprised. Everyone I knew ran it down against Edinburgh, but I quite liked it. I take it it's gone downhill since my last visit, which must have been twenty years ago?

7 hours ago, InnerVoice said:

If it makes you feel any better I've just got back from the gym (first visit in a week), and I've put on a Christmas kilo.

Haven't felt well for all of December. Cold after cold. Or one long cold. Not sure, but felt like two. Haven't been sick sick, but just bloody miserable. Been walking, but nothing too strenuous. Coughing and continuously blowing my nose. Finally seems to be drying up. Maybe next week I might be able to do some proper exercise. Still. It's a good excuse for drinking whiskey. Tried monkeys shoulder for the first time. It's not a bad drop for a blend.

4 hours ago, Cheery Thistle said:

Snowing now! 

No pleasing some people.

3 hours ago, InnerVoice said:

I'm often calling out the BBC for Australia-bashing but on this occasion I think they're on the money. This disparity of wealth in this country is now quite shocking.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-67723760

Maybe for the next global financial crisis they should let the banks fail, not bail everyone out and let all the prices reset? Maybe, I don't know. I just don't see how this can go on.

3 hours ago, Cheery Thistle said:

Good God will it ever stop. 
In Scotland and feels like it has been raining since October without halt!! 

We have had quite a bit, but the garden isn't boggy, which is unusual. So maybe we haven't had as much as I thought.

2 hours ago, Cheery Thistle said:

Just recounting my own traumatic experience and explaining why we’ll be taking full cover.
 

My next door neighbour (and friend) also had a stroke (aged 43) 5 years ago and we waited 6 hours on that ambulance. We live a 5 minute drive from a hospital. The one where I had to drive my husband he was actually already at A and E in our local hospital and they said he would have to wait 12 hours for a transfer to Edinburgh RI. After me driving him through they sent him home, only for him to be transferred in 23 minutes the following day and operated on immediately for what they originally missed. How an A and E can have no available wheelchairs in a first world country in 2021 I will never understand. 
My reference to the ££ for the braces was for Australia (should have been $$ maybe) as it’s looking like she’ll have to wait until we get there for them. She would get them free here. 
My experience is real and valid. 
 

I was going to query that as my youngest was offered them free in the UK. 

I still haven't had a merry Christmas message from my father. He wasn't always a miserable old bastard. He was young once. He did send me a message to moan that I'd used all his broadband allowance up when I came to visit. So I can't complain I guess.

Christmas was never much when I was young.

But I try and make it special for my family. The meal is the big thing. Presents not so much now they are older. Quizzes and games all day. Cards in the evening. Continues into boxing day, and again on new year. My wife is really into it, and the kids love it. I hope they continue the traditions when I'm gone. We can but hope.

19 hours ago, Jehwal said:

Unfortunately i don't have an answer for but i do understand. Christmas is an absolute nightmare for me. It has gradually got worse as the years have gone on. It seems my family just expect me to do everything. I was burnt out before xmas and we had 12 here boxing day as well as Christmas day. Today i could not get out of bed until 2pm i was hurting from all the dishwashing , shopping etc. never again!!

If you cook, then you certainly don't do dishes. Are your family Australian? Australians aren't subtle. They don't take a hint. You have to be blunt.

1 hour ago, Tulip1 said:

You won’t get insurance on your mums car using an Australian license.  If you had a UK one you could but they do ask the question ‘is the driver a UK resident’  It’s the not living in the UK that is the issue, not just the license.  So, when the insurance  company asked that question/or it’s stated online, if you answer it correctly you wouldn’t be put on the policy.  If you answer it incorrectly (pretending you live there) the insurance is invalid and unfortunately it’s poor mum that will be in trouble as the policy holder is responsible for providing the correct information and ensuring the person driving her car has valid insurance. 

That's not necessarily true. But you would need to go through a specialist, and it would cost more. You're run of the mill insurance company probably wouldn't cover. The cost may make you consider other alternatives, but it's probably worth getting a quote. I think even some of the comparison websites may do non UK residents.

3 hours ago, proud preston said:

I’ve also thought about splitting it into 3 flights and staying a night in Singapore and then a night in Dubai to try and give the poor body and mind a break 

I do too, but the hassle of collecting bags and going back through check in is a turn off. Did someone mention airport pods? Would be interested if people have experience of those.

14 hours ago, Nemesis said:

I regularly go up to see my mum in deepest Wales. Has to be National Express coach and it takes 14 hours. I'd rather do the flight to Oz anytime! At least you can walk around, have a drink and a meal etc!!

Jesus! I don't know what would be worse. The journey or the destination?

12 hours ago, ramot said:

Perhaps you should question yourself if you aren’t entitled to use it

Why would I do that?

6 hours ago, Skani said:

I realise that but, AFAIK, all Australian  concessions/seniors cards (which vary from state to state)  have permanent residency as a requirement.  I would think that cricket  (which attracts many senior international visitors as spectators) would be loathe to offer a concession based on the date of birth on a foreign passport.  Whenever I've claimed a concession  I've always had to show or quote  my concession card number.  However, the OP may be lucky.  

I just use my father's concession card. No one has ever questioned it. Not sure if I should be worried about that?

5 hours ago, ramot said:

A friend of mine, age 80,  who is an artist, wanted to buy paint in Bunnings that apparently is popular with graffiti idiots. She had no proof of age that she was over 18 with her and so was refused her purchase. Had to go back later with proof!! 

Most of them just nick it. Should tell her to shove it down her pants next time and tell them she's trans if anyone questions it.