Murta Posted April 27, 2013 Posted April 27, 2013 Well into my second week now and loving it guys! What a city! from the start things have fine smoothly, me oh 7 and 3 yr old flew dub.heathrow.kuala lumper.sydney. With Malaysian airline. Such a smooth flight the kids were fantastic and we were so prepared ....well thanks to APPLE! Held our breath to visa were activated ....all had a cuddle when that was done ha! staying in surry hills/ east redfern. Amazing place, been 9 yrs since I have been wow what changes. Leafy streets, fab weather....cafe lifestyle so apparently. Most people jolly and welcoming off us. Loads to do, bought a 4 combo ticket for aquarium, zoo Madame tausaad and centre tower thingy. Yes things are dear...been around Coles checking prices out but you know six of one half a dozen of another to be honest, you can shop around the aisles a bit and restructure the items t match your budget. Small little shops offer you great choice which compensate the prices. Met with a few job colleagues and seems jobs in my field are about and could negotiate a wage. Mst say a family of four would be on good wages at 150, they say over 137 is the barrier for obtaining child are tax rebates...need to , to learn a bit more about that. Pbeen round a lot of suburbs t date...falling in love with sutherland and mostly eastern suburbs . Our budget is 500-600 and I thinks so far this is doable. Will get to see the west this week and will learn more. meeting loads of dif families with diff option of school system. Private semi and public.....diverse experiences. Ad prices. this lace has everything we need from homesick food, accents and lifetyle. Yes the attitude is different I see, more up front. It is a long long way from home but so lovely . i could go on but any questions you have or things you want me to check out let me know...here for another week! But this reccie has swayed me big time to come here......!
Guest spreadingwings Posted April 27, 2013 Posted April 27, 2013 Some really lovely feedback here Murta, thanks for sharing. Sounds like you guys are loving it over there! How about a few pics to show us a bit of what you're seeing? You mentioned familiar accents. How have you found the composition of people you've met, in terms of Australian / English / Irish / South African / Other? Please keep sharing!
LKC Posted April 27, 2013 Posted April 27, 2013 I am pleased that you are enjoying it. We have been having some beautiful weather.
Guest The Pom Queen Posted April 27, 2013 Posted April 27, 2013 Coles and woolies in Sydney are fantastic they stock so much more than the Melbourne and Cairns stores. You even have salad bars like they use to have in Morrisons back home
Murta Posted April 28, 2013 Author Posted April 28, 2013 Some really lovely feedback here Murta, thanks for sharing. Sounds like you guys are loving it over there! How about a few pics to show us a bit of what you're seeing? You mentioned familiar accents. How have you found the composition of people you've met, in terms of Australian / English / Irish / South African / Other? Please keep sharing! will post a few pics when get a chance , yea we are hooked it is a fab city! I do still feel the larger group are Australian but with other decents.
d4ddyc00l Posted April 29, 2013 Posted April 29, 2013 Coles and woolies in Sydney are fantastic they stock so much more than the Melbourne and Cairns stores. You even have salad bars like they use to have in Morrisons back home Thats good to know - my wife will be happy! Funny you should mention Morrisons - I work at their head office in Bradford (sat there at my desk as I write this), and I'm going to be working at Woolies head office in Bella Vista starting 1st July. I'm expecting it to be at least a small improvement over Bradford hehe!
Robo234 Posted April 29, 2013 Posted April 29, 2013 Great update, glad your enjoyin it so much, this is why I feel we won't need a recci & Oh agrees as I just know I will Love Oz! & deffo fall in love with Sydney, it's just making sure I get my head round everything else.. research research research lol, keep updates coming when you get the chance
Murta Posted April 30, 2013 Author Posted April 30, 2013 Well guys half way through our last week here. Sydney is truly vibrant in every way. Been here 9 years ago and my go if I say it has changed 200% I might be under estimating. In my opinion. Men in suits with flip flops, quirky fashion on different at groups, non conforming fashion too.... I like that. But it is a city none the less, people smile more though (possibly cause I am looking deliberately) one sorry tale though my little one let go of my hand at the last min on an escalator of trip at first step and fell on his bottom ...me being transported up trying to get back down. Anyway of course my responsibility bla bla bal but none the less a young woman stepped over him and never helped. My opinion was that she had no choice but to pick him up. That had to go n my cons list today. Light heatedly I write that but nonetheless reminded me that it's a city all the same. so other things I have found is he difference with west and east, the price of child care...sweet mother of the Devine mercy as we say in Ireland ....... Extortionate... My little on is 4 in oct. thought he could start the system in jan but not to next jan. so 105 per day for him no idea whom or what type of care for my 7 yr old but half that again minimum. So 3000 per month. I think the 50 % rebate will be a help up to 7500 on each child....will have t see our eligibility for the benefits....Not sure what wage we will be on yet. Having spoken to our friends and went through their monthly budgets we feel we will struggle big time! Will give breakdown if anyone wants. So that's a biggie and is the crossroads we are at now.. Could go on but don't want to labour you all too much, ask away if you want to know anything I am finding!
Murta Posted April 30, 2013 Author Posted April 30, 2013 Meant to say for those who don't know that sydney zoo ...wild life is not taronga zoo. I bought combo tickets thinking it was the actual zoo, to rock up to taronga zoo with the wrong tickets. Very disappointing!
northshorepom Posted April 30, 2013 Posted April 30, 2013 Glad to hear you're having a good time! Oh, yeah, the tickets....always worth triple checking any transaction with Merlin Ents IME. One of my least favourite companies ever, I try and avoid them I was here in 2004 as well. Oddly I *don't* think it's changed that much. Just got a bit busier! I'm probably used to it/inured to it now having lived here for the past 18 months I am also glad you are seeing the realities of the cost of living here, for which a reccie can be well worth it. Housing costs in this city are massive, and childcare is another biggy. I wince when I see people giving a decent situation in Europe up for a $70K job in Sydney. Even worse when people tell them they'll be fine as plenty live on less than that.
Murta Posted May 1, 2013 Author Posted May 1, 2013 Glad to hear you're having a good time! Oh, yeah, the tickets....always worth triple checking any transaction with Merlin Ents IME. One of my least favourite companies ever, I try and avoid them I was here in 2004 as well. Oddly I *don't* think it's changed that much. Just got a bit busier! I'm probably used to it/inured to it now having lived here for the past 18 months I am also glad you are seeing the realities of the cost of living here, for which a reccie can be well worth it. Housing costs in this city are massive, and childcare is another biggy. I wince when I see people giving a decent situation in Europe up for a $70K job in Sydney. Even worse when people tell them they'll be fine as plenty live on less than that. I totally agree with you. The reality is shocking , with a 150 per year household income with two kids will be pure bill paying. Between rent 500 600 per week.etc whenwill we save for a flight home or deposit for a house. But this is the exact life we lead now in the uk. Might aswell have the sun, just in the financial injection to transfer us here!
Paul1Perth Posted May 1, 2013 Posted May 1, 2013 Meant to say for those who don't know that sydney zoo ...wild life is not taronga zoo. I bought combo tickets thinking it was the actual zoo, to rock up to taronga zoo with the wrong tickets. Very disappointing! Have you been a walk through the botanic gardens Murta? Well worth it. Walk from the Opera House to Woolloomoolloo or the other way. Great views and free.
Murta Posted May 2, 2013 Author Posted May 2, 2013 Sent a little time with an economist today who has me convinced that the cost of living is similar to the uk. The reason he states we shoot up to the 2/3 times the cost of living ratio is due to e housing market. So an interesting point along with all the other bits and pieces he was enlightening us on. Sat down and went through our figure etc and what child benefit and rebate meant etc bit more promising. Also my oh has popped in to a good few gyms etc and get the feeling there is work there too. Although he is in finance he has developed his lifetime interest in recent months in the uk...gymnastic coaching. So he introduced himself to a few coaches and was surprised how much possibilities there are in this field. Bless him he is so enthused. So a good day today.... greek Holy Week this week so surry hills is a whirl of greek ya yas preparing for the festivities . My kids being bilingual are loving the half and half culture.... Lovely feeling!
Murta Posted May 2, 2013 Author Posted May 2, 2013 Oh yes delved over the impressive harbour bridge and explored the north side a little bit. Somewhat night and day between the two areas. Didn't labour this too much though as think I am focused on the Eastern suburbs until work takes me else where
northshorepom Posted May 2, 2013 Posted May 2, 2013 Oh yes delved over the impressive harbour bridge and explored the north side a little bit. Somewhat night and day between the two areas. Interesting......in what way?
northshorepom Posted May 2, 2013 Posted May 2, 2013 PS don't want to be too much of a Jeremiah but it's not just housing that is more expensive. Most shopping also costs more, sometimes significantly so, eg clothes and shoes. Don't underestimate it
Murta Posted May 2, 2013 Author Posted May 2, 2013 Yea I won't .....even uniforms are dear .so keeping an open mind on that as really have cooked the books on a comparative level so leaving no stone unturned to the point I am over kill with them...they have to bear their souls to us lol Regarding the difference I feel it firstly is visually different houses are more expansive and universally more expensive...to rent I mean. Maybe e cause the CBd is the other side takes the bulk of the heavy traffic and tourism away in turn ay make it feel more peaceful? Only there one day mind.
northshorepom Posted May 2, 2013 Posted May 2, 2013 I guess it's mostly standalone (detached) houses on the north side, no matter what the suburb - always a few blocks of flats around of course, but you just don't get the terraces north of the harbour to the same extent I would consider the Eastern Suburbs to be more expensive than up here though, on the whole! Guess it depends what you're looking at. I'd live Inner West or possibly bits of the Eastern Suburbs if I had my way - I love the inner city buzz and closeness/convenience of everything, the sprawly burbs do nothing for me. But the wife is a suburban girl and it's "her turn" IYSWIM. Being close enough to work to cycle/run in, and handy for a train line, makes it bearable for me. The further flung suburbs that would require me to drive or endure 45+ mins on a bus, are beyond my personal pale. It's what stops me living on the Northern Beaches, lovely though they are Something for everyone in Sydney - so long as you can afford it
Robertsclan Posted May 2, 2013 Posted May 2, 2013 Well guys half way through our last week here. Sydney is truly vibrant in every way. Been here 9 years ago and my go if I say it has changed 200% I might be under estimating. In my opinion. Men in suits with flip flops, quirky fashion on different at groups, non conforming fashion too.... I like that. But it is a city none the less, people smile more though (possibly cause I am looking deliberately) one sorry tale though my little one let go of my hand at the last min on an escalator of trip at first step and fell on his bottom ...me being transported up trying to get back down. Anyway of course my responsibility bla bla bal but none the less a young woman stepped over him and never helped. My opinion was that she had no choice but to pick him up. That had to go n my cons list today. Light heatedly I write that but nonetheless reminded me that it's a city all the same. so other things I have found is he difference with west and east, the price of child care...sweet mother of the Devine mercy as we say in Ireland ....... Extortionate... My little on is 4 in oct. thought he could start the system in jan but not to next jan. so 105 per day for him no idea whom or what type of care for my 7 yr old but half that again minimum. So 3000 per month. I think the 50 % rebate will be a help up to 7500 on each child....will have t see our eligibility for the benefits....Not sure what wage we will be on yet. Having spoken to our friends and went through their monthly budgets we feel we will struggle big time! Will give breakdown if anyone wants. So that's a biggie and is the crossroads we are at now.. Could go on but don't want to labour you all too much, ask away if you want to know anything I am finding! Hi Murta love your update! Would very much appreciate a breakdown of costs if you are happy to provide. We are a family of 4 moving over to sydney later this year. Thanks!
Murta Posted May 2, 2013 Author Posted May 2, 2013 I guess it's mostly standalone (detached) houses on the north side, no matter what the suburb - always a few blocks of flats around of course, but you just don't get the terraces north of the harbour to the same extent I would consider the Eastern Suburbs to be more expensive than up here though, on the whole! Guess it depends what you're looking at. I'd live Inner West or possibly bits of the Eastern Suburbs if I had my way - I love the inner city buzz and closeness/convenience of everything, the sprawly burbs do nothing for me. But the wife is a suburban girl and it's "her turn" IYSWIM. Being close enough to work to cycle/run in, and handy for a train line, makes it bearable for me. The further flung suburbs that would require me to drive or endure 45+ mins on a bus, are beyond my personal pale. It's what stops me living on the Northern Beaches, lovely though they are Something for everyone in Sydney - so long as you can afford it absolutley I totally get that too.ok depending on the job location , we have feel inner city west or eastern suburbs are for us. The buzz is class. Love that for the kids too. Visited my friend in revesby and although lovely, big garden etc just was a transference of what we have at home and we want more in the initial years. Off course what you get for your money is huge the more out you go, but then the commute to more. Where are you currently?
Murta Posted May 2, 2013 Author Posted May 2, 2013 Hi robertsclan We have no idea of our wages only estimating 150k and gathering info from friends similar to us Monthly Rent 2600 Car insurance 200 tax and all the parties in the car House insurance 35 Mobile phones 100 Electricity 200 Water 30 Telephone 100 Health insurance 250 nib Traveling expenses 500 Super market 1000 Child care 2200 3 yr old and 7 yr old including rebate if earning household income of 150k Schools 500 (catholic When the two go but more likely will go public to reduce this cost) miscellanous 1000 outings , kids activities etc
Petals Posted May 2, 2013 Posted May 2, 2013 Sydney is captivating when first arrive from a cooler climate too. Bright and sunny, the harbour all that stuff. I lived on the North Shore, Neutral Bay and McMahons Point and got the ferry to work it was idyllic, however after a couple of years the cost of living there was way too much so me and my friends moved to Melbourne, different all together, love Sydney if you have mega bucks but Melbourne is easier on the pocket even now.
northshorepom Posted May 2, 2013 Posted May 2, 2013 Wahroonga. It's on the Upper North Shore, about 20km out of the city. I work mostly in Chastwood (8k out of the city to the north) or North Sydney (2k out of the city across the harbour) though so it's not so far out for me, if you see what I mean Both within cycling distance, and Chatswood within running distance, just. And it has a train line which makes all the difference. This far out without the public transport option and I think I'd be putting my foot down It's very leafy and lovely though (if you like that sort of thing). Looks like this:
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.