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Hoping to move to Sydney area - cost of living! WOW


NewBeginnings2012

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Hi All

 

Have to say a great website, really interesting discussions. Just got a job offer through which on paper looks attractive but take out rent, car leases, grocery shopping and school fees it makes a hell of a hole. Is there a really good website for drawing up a budget?

 

Does any know if you can have 2 cars on Novated Leases or is just one?

 

Also can the school fees be taken as a fringe benefit, I suspect not but thought I would ask.

 

Thanks

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What visa would you be going on? on a 457 in NSW you'll have to pay school fees even for a state school. Some of the private schools can actually work out cheaper apparently.

Sorry I'm not sure about fringe benefits/car leases etc.

 

Just a thought, but if you're working in the CBD (you haven't mentioned location in your post), would you need two cars? as probably easier to get public transport into the city than to drive and look/pay for parking. (obviously would need to get a house close to a transport link)

 

In terms of budget, I prefer to just use excel and have my own template, but there's a reasonably good one here http://www.kochie.com.au/20100704161/kochies-household-budget-template I don't like the way they've split things up, since I prefer to split more along the lines of necessities (rent/bills, groceries, 18 monthly trip home) vs optionals/postponables (car, other holidays, sporting/camera equipment, eating out/alcohol, clothing, etc). Since everyone's priorities are different, their budget should probably be split differently, and for example putting clothing shopping in the same category as food shopping just really doesn't work for me. But that budget does have pretty much all the categories you need to think about, so with a bit of re-arranging you should be good.

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For those not familiar to Sydney,it compared to say Victoria,is very expensive.Renting a 'Granny Flat" in a suburban backyard,could cost you $300-$400 p/w !!!!

Previously offered a Technical role up there,was paying around $90 k,it wasnt till i looked into renting up there, i saw the prices and yeah,just wow!!

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Hi thanks for that. Really useful. Yes a 457 visa. Job is Parramatta but probably looking to live in Castle Hills

 

Just had a quick look at the budget template and it mentions Council taxes. Someone else discounted these as not applicable, assume they are applicable then. Any idea of cost or where I might find it?

 

Sounds like we are on a similar page as far as approach to budgeting goes.

 

Regards

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Hi thanks for that. Really useful. Yes a 457 visa. Job is Parramatta but probably looking to live in Castle Hills

 

Just had a quick look at the budget template and it mentions Council taxes. Someone else discounted these as not applicable, assume they are applicable then. Any idea of cost or where I might find it?

 

Sounds like we are on a similar page as far as approach to budgeting goes.

 

Regards

 

 

council taxes are paid by the owner, so if you're renting they're not applicable to you.

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We are also looking at living in Castle Hill and will need to lease a car for work. We've done a lot of research, well as much as we can from the UK, but any local knowledge is a great help, car lease companies etc.

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Welcome. We are in the Hills, you will need to budget upwards of 550 per week to get a decent house, however there are also units if you are ok with that and you can get cheaper for around 450 if you look (Parramatta for eg). Council rates are paid by the owner. Consider whether the property has ducted air (hot/cold) as although lovely will also push the elec bills up a little bit. As for the commute into CBD it would be better to take the bus or train from Parra, but definitely not drive. PM me if you require any more local info and I will be pleased to help, we have been here almost a year now.

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