Rubbidydub Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Hi we are new to this site but have been in oz a year now and I'd like to share my 1st year with you all, not in detail but to give you all that are about to or thinking of moving to Oz an insight to what it's like from our point of view. Im married to my wife and have to girls 11 and 6 and we live in Noosa Heads QLD Im in hospitality and so is my wife and we found work pretty quick when we arrived. our combined income is take home $1700 pw We are no better off finically here than we were in the uk We both earn double what we did in the Uk but most things cost twice as much We rent a 4 bed 2 bath with pool in Noosa Heads for $500pw food shops cost $250pw phoneand Internet is $25 pw electric is $30 pw cars x2 petrol $60 pw rego $25 pw insurances $20 pw Foxtel $25pw booze $50 pw Mobile phones $15 pw pool chemicals $10pw Leisure and child costs $300 pw so you see it mounts up without too much trouble! We have very little left after each week and there is always something to pay for out of the expected.....car trouble etc etc So don't come here thinking its cheap or because your earning double what you will back in the Uk it you will be better off......you won't. However we are happier than we have ever been. We love the weather it's never too hot! We do so much more outside. Our kids do so much more than they did in the uk. We don't watch half as much tv and our girls do more hobbies and active things. The first 6 months were pretty crap we missed people not the uk but people family friends we had to move our kids out of the first school due to bullying but they are now settled and happy we just hope it hasn't scared them first time round. They have little Aussie accents too! The good days out do the bad days the longer your here....it's hard making new friends and starting a social network again but a year down the line our friends are growing. I used to be money orientated and had my own business, drove brand new cars always wanted the latest gadgets and bought them. i now work for someone drive a car 12 years old with 200k on the clock and couldn't give a shite about the latest gadget.....it doesn't matter anymore, can't explain it it just doesn't........maybe because there is not so much of a class system here? Do I miss the Uk? Yes at times I miss some stuff but not enough to make me move back do my friends from the uk keep in touch ........yes they do but not as much. Creepy crawlies.......there's loads but I've only seen a few, once you've seen a massive spider all the rest are small and after a year you stop worrying about them.....so my wife says All those waiting.........don't do the sums and think you can't afford to make the move adjust and start again with a different outlook......your in a different country, adapt and you will be fine. Best of luck too everyone.....it might not be for everyone but you must give it a go. For us it changed our view on life and what was important. Enjoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geraldine Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Great update, it's good to hear how you have adapted to a new way of life. Wish you and yor family lots of luck for the future. Geraldine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Del70 Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Thanks for sharing with us! Interesting post! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaffanZimbo Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Gosh you must have been reading my mind!! I have been hunting for posts on those who have recently moved with kids and up your post came! We are headed to Perth to validate our visas in 4 weeks and then make the big move in July 2015. Your post has reassured us that we will be making the right decision to move. Yes, we love the UK but we have never got used to the weather even after being here 13 years. We would love to move right away but need to sort out our finances, which will be made a lot easier when our youngest goes to school in September as we have a very large saving on childcare costs! Really briliant post. Thank you for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dani5 Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Thanks for the post.. really interesting for people like us who are making the move to QLD in September! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigyboy Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Hiwe are new to this site but have been in oz a year now and I'd like to share my 1st year with you all, not in detail but to give you all that are about to or thinking of moving to Oz an insight to what it's like from our point of view. Im married to my wife and have to girls 11 and 6 and we live in Noosa Heads QLD Im in hospitality and so is my wife and we found work pretty quick when we arrived. our combined income is take home $1700 pw We are no better off finically here than we were in the uk We both earn double what we did in the Uk but most things cost twice as much We rent a 4 bed 2 bath with pool in Noosa Heads for $500pw food shops cost $250pw phoneand Internet is $25 pw electric is $30 pw cars x2 petrol $60 pw rego $25 pw insurances $20 pw Foxtel $25pw booze $50 pw Mobile phones $15 pw pool chemicals $10pw Leisure and child costs $300 pw so you see it mounts up without too much trouble! We have very little left after each week and there is always something to pay for out of the expected.....car trouble etc etc So don't come here thinking its cheap or because your earning double what you will back in the Uk it you will be better off......you won't. However we are happier than we have ever been. We love the weather it's never too hot! We do so much more outside. Our kids do so much more than they did in the uk. We don't watch half as much tv and our girls do more hobbies and active things. The first 6 months were pretty crap we missed people not the uk but people family friends we had to move our kids out of the first school due to bullying but they are now settled and happy we just hope it hasn't scared them first time round. They have little Aussie accents too! The good days out do the bad days the longer your here....it's hard making new friends and starting a social network again but a year down the line our friends are growing. I used to be money orientated and had my own business, drove brand new cars always wanted the latest gadgets and bought them. i now work for someone drive a car 12 years old with 200k on the clock and couldn't give a shite about the latest gadget.....it doesn't matter anymore, can't explain it it just doesn't........maybe because there is not so much of a class system here? Do I miss the Uk? Yes at times I miss some stuff but not enough to make me move back do my friends from the uk keep in touch ........yes they do but not as much. Creepy crawlies.......there's loads but I've only seen a few, once you've seen a massive spider all the rest are small and after a year you stop worrying about them.....so my wife says All those waiting.........don't do the sums and think you can't afford to make the move adjust and start again with a different outlook......your in a different country, adapt and you will be fine. Best of luck too everyone.....it might not be for everyone but you must give it a go. For us it changed our view on life and what was important. Enjoy Great balanced post and can I say: you have hit the mark: it not all about being financially better off: it's the quality of life and for you and your experience so far, well done!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnaC Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Great to hear your experiences and glad your enjoying x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kapri Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Great post thank you. We are moving out to NSW in May and I have been worrying about money. I think you are right though - we will adjust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husker Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Great post! Glad to read about your insights on how you had to adjust lifestyles but in the end you are happier and I guess for a lot of us that's the bottom line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agibb83 Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Hi there me and my family of 3. ( 2 adults and 3 yo) how much should we be aiming to take over with us? We will try to take as much as possible , were heading to mandurah WA. , having looked at your first post it fairly looks like expected we know it ain't as cheap as uk for most things especially cars lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubbidydub Posted February 27, 2013 Author Share Posted February 27, 2013 Thanks for your replies so money to start off with...... We didn't take a lot to start with in the grand scheme of things and most of our money is tied up in property back in the UK so we were living on a budget. One thing you have to remember is until you are earning and spending oz dollars things are massively expensive with the exchange rate. heres a break down of what we paid out before we were earning dollars and what you may need. car rental for a week $500 holiday accommodation for a month $2000 bond and 2 weeks rent up front for perm rental $3000 used car $6000 kids school uniform and books $400 first food shop $400 safety net money $2000 then there's always bits and pieces to pay for driving license mobile phones etc they charge for everything. People have done it cheaper others have spent more but these are the things we had to pay out for before we were earning dollars. Both my wife and I also went out without jobs lined up. Its scary not knowing if your find work however if your prepared to get off your arse and take rejection on the chin something will come up, it might not be what you want initially (we r both on our 3rd jobs ) but it will always lead to something. all in all we took $17k with us and survived its not ideal going over on a budget but that's all we had and it was that or nothing. It had to work! We opened NAB bank accounts and they gave us a credit card so that's a safety net but in a year we r still yet to use it. We don't save much as we don't have much left to save! But we are living! Hope this helps and if you need anymore info without the crap and bull that goes with it just ask......ill tell it how it is from rainy QLD and from our families point of view. oh one other thing bring winter clothes even in QLD in June it was cold last year down to 3 degs in the evening and I kid you not one morning I had a thin layer of ice on my windscreen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tayloal Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Brillaint post Noosarites, thanks for sharing your 1st year with us and giving everyone a heads up on living costs and how you have adapted. I hope all continues to go well for you all ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kel87 Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Excellent post! Very helpful :biggrin: Glad yous are enjoying it out there! Can I be very nosey and ask if your 1700 take home per week includes any centrelink payments or do you also have that on top of your 1700? Or are you on a visa that doesn't entitle it? Reason I ask is I'm expecting a take home of 1200 a week without my husband working however we'll also have centrelink to boost that up slightly until/if he finds a job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calNgary Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 Great informative post and good to hear your enjoying life out here... Cal x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubbidydub Posted February 28, 2013 Author Share Posted February 28, 2013 Excellent post! Very helpful :biggrin: Glad yous are enjoying it out there! Can I be very nosey and ask if your 1700 take home per week includes any centrelink payments or do you also have that on top of your 1700? Or are you on a visa that doesn't entitle it? Reason I ask is I'm expecting a take home of 1200 a week without my husband working however we'll also have centrelink to boost that up slightly until/if he finds a job. Hi The 1700 is a joint wage after tax. We do receive an income from the Uk but that is kept in the uk for a rainy day and after uk tax there's not much left. We have to declare this income and we do not receive any money from centre link as we earn too much. We do however have to pay out child care for two girls during school holidays and that comes to $240 per week for 2 kids 2 days a week. so to answer your question the 1700 is what we take home no more no less we are however elf sufficient in Oz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubbidydub Posted February 28, 2013 Author Share Posted February 28, 2013 If anyone is confused about the change in my username from Noosarites to rubbidydub I will explain. we used to be members a long time ago and during our first year we have been busy and have not come on here. I couldn't rmember our original username so I made a new member up. After a good sleep it all came back to me and the kind admin team have merged my membership and I've kept my original username. Confused? Hope not! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattD Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 Thanks for such a great update! :biggrin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgt Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 Fab thread, you hit the nail on the head when you said there was no class system in oz ,that's exactly what is wrong with the uk, good luck and all the best Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westbound Posted May 18, 2013 Share Posted May 18, 2013 What a great informative post, thank you What visa did you go over on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wokos Posted May 18, 2013 Share Posted May 18, 2013 Thanks for a great post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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