surfndirt Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 A fair few of them winners though are about to find there paper millions are not worth as much as they think they are. One of the guys round the corner from us emailed to ask if we would be interested in buying any of his toys. He works at my old site as a shift boss on $200k and has the big house and a garage full of toys. But just learned that on monday, along with a lot of others he will be losing his job and chances of finding something that pays even half that are zero. Panic is setting in. Seeing it a fair bit now. Geez, not a nice situation for him hey... Poor bugger. As someone else said, what's he floggin? Was seriously thinking about shipping a HSV back to the UK as they are very rare birds there and fetch a pretty good penny by all accounts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 But not everyone earns 5* salaries, I think that's the crux of the matter - what about the 'average' family, how do they cope? I think of ourselves as an average family - we just live within our means Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfndirt Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Not everyone is obsessed with money or status. A winner has nothing to do with financial gain and everything to with personal contentment and achievement (which means different things to different people) Maybe the Perth 'losers' Are those more preoccupied with material and financial wealth? Just my two penneth.... Couldn't agree more. That was actually the underlying point of my post and the sole reason my mate used to avoid these winners. A unique set of circumstances - not seen in the world for a long time have produced these 'winners' further to my description..... In fact it's the same all over Aussie really. For example, my bro in law is a panel beater in the NT and earns pretty much the same as me - a 10yr IT consultant with a 1st class degree. It's not socialism or anything else - it's just a bit broken :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfndirt Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 I will email the wife to pop round and get back to you by pm Yeah, I'm interested too.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1Perth Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Verystormy is evidently a thinker and realist. Having only spent 6 months in Perth (2x house breakins, 1x dirt bike stolen, 1x car breakin & a spray painted car) I'm going out on a limb here and going to put forward the hypothesis that both of the former are in pretty short supply ATM. Head in (Cottesloe) sand springs to mind. Very good if you are what my mate (paid off trendy pad in Northbridge) terms a Perth 'winner' - very average existence if not. 'Winner' A person or family that moved to Perth pre 2000 and had the genius idea to buy a house. Now has a very friendly banker from Westpac telling them on a regular basis that they are 'paper millionaires' hence why not take out some equity to; - Buy a new 4x4 ("I am a milllllllionaire in my new SUV - get out of my way scum, I am better - hence faster - hence move over so I can do 108kph") - Buy a new boat - Buy a new jet ski A Perth winner. I've gone wrong somewhere, came out in 92 bought the house in 93, paid $130,000 for it and still thought how are we going to afford that. Still got a mortgage today, might be due to us borrowing on it when we had the pergola and garden upgraded and going on the UK holiday we couldn't really afford. What the hell though, can't take it with us and we didn't want to scrimp and save and live on beans on toast just to pay the mortgage off. Don't have any of those things, well we have a 4x4 but it's a Nisan X-Trail, not a porsche or anything flash, no jetski, no boat, no pool. I reckon anyone that has moved to Perth, be it in the last 20 years or the last 2, and is getting by, affording to pay the mortgage and bills and still have a bit left over at the end of the month is a winner. It's just a great place to live. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Not everyone is obsessed with money or status. A winner has nothing to do with financial gain and everything to with personal contentment and achievement (which means different things to different people) Maybe the Perth 'losers' Are those more preoccupied with material and financial wealth? Just my two penneth.... In Perth money and status is absolutely everything to the locals. Do you live somewhere else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 In Perth money and status is absolutely everything to the locals. Do you live somewhere else? Thats a huge generalisation and untrue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1Perth Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Verystormy is evidently a thinker and realist. Having only spent 6 months in Perth (2x house breakins, 1x dirt bike stolen, 1x car breakin & a spray painted car) I'm going out on a limb here and going to put forward the hypothesis that both of the former are in pretty short supply ATM. Head in (Cottesloe) sand springs to mind. Very good if you are what my mate (paid off trendy pad in Northbridge) terms a Perth 'winner' - very average existence if not. 'Winner' A person or family that moved to Perth pre 2000 and had the genius idea to buy a house. Now has a very friendly banker from Westpac telling them on a regular basis that they are 'paper millionaires' hence why not take out some equity to; - Buy a new 4x4 ("I am a milllllllionaire in my new SUV - get out of my way scum, I am better - hence faster - hence move over so I can do 108kph") - Buy a new boat - Buy a new jet ski A Perth winner. You must have been in a dodgy area surndirt. We leave our cars out all the time, don't even have a garage, take them down the beach and leave them in the car parks, never had anything happen to them, or a breakin. I know there are some areas where I wouldn't want to live though. My sons ex lived in Mirrabooka and he always made sure his car was locked in the garage. I wouldn't call that suburb one of the worst either. We had 3 cars nicked in our last year in the UK and I thought we lived in a nice area there. Guess it's the price of progress, as places get to be big cities and grow from small towns the crime seems to increase exponentially for some reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfndirt Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 You must have been in a dodgy area surndirt. We leave our cars out all the time, don't even have a garage, take them down the beach and leave them in the car parks, never had anything happen to them, or a breakin. I know there are some areas where I wouldn't want to live though. My sons ex lived in Mirrabooka and he always made sure his car was locked in the garage. I wouldn't call that suburb one of the worst either. We had 3 cars nicked in our last year in the UK and I thought we lived in a nice area there. Guess it's the price of progress, as places get to be big cities and grow from small towns the crime seems to increase exponentially for some reason. Yeah, not sure if it was a bad area - I was in Manning? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1Perth Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 But not everyone earns 5* salaries, I think that's the crux of the matter - what about the 'average' family, how do they cope? We are what you would call average I guess, me never worked in mining or oil and gas, work in IT, wife is a part time nurse, having worked full time shift work for a long time to keep us ticking over when the kids were young. Not easy and she hated working weekends when me and the kids were off, but it had to be done. We have coped just fine though and never had a day where we regretted coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VERYSTORMY Posted July 11, 2013 Author Share Posted July 11, 2013 They must cope .. otherwise they wouldn't exist. Average household salary in WA is over $92k. That's a lot higher than most *cheaper* countries. Best data i coild spot says average is just under $85k a year. Of course that is an average and in WA skewed by people working in mining. The average household income in the UK is currently about 36300 pounds. On a flat exchange rate that is about $59000. Using the 2.5 conversion though that is often used on here then it is just over $90k would get the same sort of lifestyle. Most starting though is that the figure for the median - which in a skewed set of data is far more reliable and is what the biggest number of people earn is only $770 per week which is just over $40k a year. http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/mining-pay-packets-disguise-real-level-of-wages-in-wa-abs-20110830-1jjha.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicolac34 Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 We are what you would call average I guess, me never worked in mining or oil and gas, work in IT, wife is a part time nurse, having worked full time shift work for a long time to keep us ticking over when the kids were young. Not easy and she hated working weekends when me and the kids were off, but it had to be done. We have coped just fine though and never had a day where we regretted coming. I'm pleased for you Paul, there's nothing better than contentment and being happy with decisions you've made. Maybe I need to go on some thrify course or something?! Could do with some tips on how to live within my means - not sure I've done that since I wasn't allowed a credit card (before I was 18). We find it impossible most of the time - had a chat with the OH - right no more credit card spending - that's it! we said.... this morning he's just bought Russell Howard tickets on it as he's coming to Perth in May next year - $146.... he's got a bucks night at the Casino on Saturday.... $200+.... leaving party in Leederville on Tuesday.... $80... Hen party next weekend followed by the Good Food & Wine Show....$150...tickets $75...(it goes on like this) Guess we could say no to all these things....but where's the fun in that :biggrin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1Perth Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Couldn't agree more. That was actually the underlying point of my post and the sole reason my mate used to avoid these winners. A unique set of circumstances - not seen in the world for a long time have produced these 'winners' further to my description..... In fact it's the same all over Aussie really. For example, my bro in law is a panel beater in the NT and earns pretty much the same as me - a 10yr IT consultant with a 1st class degree. It's not socialism or anything else - it's just a bit broken :-) Why do you say that, just because you have a degree, have 10 years experience and work in IT do you think you should be on more than a lowly panel beater? It's a very skilled job that not everyone can do. I don't think things are broken at all. When I left school in 69 I went stright into the NCB and did and apprenticeship as a fitter. A lot of my friends went on to Uni. Fast forward 3 years, they were coming out of uni, looking for work, with loans or no savings. I was a qualified fitter, on continental shift work, earning more than my Dad, living at home and paying my Mum about 10 bob a week board. I was driving round in a Lotus Cortina, having about 4 lots of holidays abroad a year, in the pub every night, money wasn't a consideration, if I wanted to do something I did it. I could have bought a house cash at one time, the guys I worked with were always asking why I didn't, used to think what do I want a house for? Rather spend it on beer fast cars and faster women at the time. It's a bit like that for some now but I don't begrudge them. I'm a bit like you today. Went back to Uni at 30, finished my degree, started on a graduate training scheme and was back on less money than I was earning at 20. I chose to do it and it's worked out OK now. Wouldn't like to be in overalls and dirt, fitting still. My son works is a sparkie, works FIFO and earns more than me, for half a years work. Don't begrudge him one bit, was fully behind him not wanting to go to uni, he can do that later if he wants, or not. How did your mate pick who the winners and losers were? Did they have it tattooed on their forehead or something? It sounds like your mate was a bit of a winner himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flag of convenience Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 I agree it can be expensive. No more so then eating out that's for sure. See fuel is going up tomorrow too.. but at the end of the day, would you expect to pay 2* star prices to live in a 5* resort. just saying:rolleyes: So you equate living in Perth to staying at a 5 star resort? Really? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Exactly, if you've got it to spend it's your business! Just dont go moaning it's too expensive...life often is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1Perth Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 In Perth money and status is absolutely everything to the locals. Do you live somewhere else? That might be only in that dodgy suburb that you live in dusty. Where we live no-one gives a toss about money and status. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Ropey HOFF Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Best data i coild spot says average is just under $85k a year. Of course that is an average and in WA skewed by people working in mining. The average household income in the UK is currently about 36300 pounds. On a flat exchange rate that is about $59000. Using the 2.5 conversion though that is often used on here then it is just over $90k would get the same sort of lifestyle. Most starting though is that the figure for the median - which in a skewed set of data is far more reliable and is what the biggest number of people earn is only $770 per week which is just over $40k a year. http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/mining-pay-packets-disguise-real-level-of-wages-in-wa-abs-20110830-1jjha.html I have just googled this, it seems the average wage in the UK is over £30,000 for those living in London, those living elsewhere, it's a lot less. Mr and Mrs Average live on £16,034 THE typical British family has an income of £16,034 a year to live on, official figures released yesterday reveal. By: Sarah O'GradyPublished: Thu, April 25, 2013 1Comments Economists warn the rate of growth of household income has slowed Londoners enjoy the highest amount at £32,823 after tax, while workers in Nottingham struggle to get by on £10,834. However, economists warn that the rate of growth of household income has slowed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1Perth Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Best data i coild spot says average is just under $85k a year. Of course that is an average and in WA skewed by people working in mining. The average household income in the UK is currently about 36300 pounds. On a flat exchange rate that is about $59000. Using the 2.5 conversion though that is often used on here then it is just over $90k would get the same sort of lifestyle. Most starting though is that the figure for the median - which in a skewed set of data is far more reliable and is what the biggest number of people earn is only $770 per week which is just over $40k a year. http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/mining-pay-packets-disguise-real-level-of-wages-in-wa-abs-20110830-1jjha.html It's pointless trying to compare "lifestyle". I don't know anywhere in the UK I cold have the lifestyle I have here if I earned 1,000 times as much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flag of convenience Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Do you have ANYTHING good to say about Perth? Why don't you just live somewhere else? You work FIFO anyway so am sure you can find somewhere that would suit you for a week at a time! Because he lives here. Not a few of us don't find pleasure in what has happened here in Perth in recent years. Good to have a few folk awake enough and critical enough to critique the travesty that has become Perth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1Perth Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 I'm pleased for you Paul, there's nothing better than contentment and being happy with decisions you've made. Maybe I need to go on some thrify course or something?! Could do with some tips on how to live within my means - not sure I've done that since I wasn't allowed a credit card (before I was 18). We find it impossible most of the time - had a chat with the OH - right no more credit card spending - that's it! we said.... this morning he's just bought Russell Howard tickets on it as he's coming to Perth in May next year - $146.... he's got a bucks night at the Casino on Saturday.... $200+.... leaving party in Leederville on Tuesday.... $80... Hen party next weekend followed by the Good Food & Wine Show....$150...tickets $75...(it goes on like this) Guess we could say no to all these things....but where's the fun in that :biggrin: I think you hit the nail on the head with the credit card back when you were 18. Neither me or the wife had credit cards until we came here. If you work in cash you have control of the money, as soon as you go to credit cards it's like your not really paying for anything then the back statement comes and you think "how did that happen". That's exactly how the GFC happened, not only people living on credit but countries, thinking they could keep kicking it down the road till the next government came in, then it's their problem. I honestly believe the world has never seen or experienced what is happening at the moment. It's going to take years and years to wash through, if ever. Judging by your post you know exactly what you need to do to live within your means but you are carrying on as if it doesn't matter. Your choice but it's going to need repaying one day. It's a bit like someone overweight who wants to lose it but carries on eating the same stuff and not exercising. They know exactly what need to be done but they never do it. If me and the missus were in your position something would have had to be a no. Don't care just pick one or 2 and say no, can't afford it, have a night in and watch a movie.:cool: btw don't pay for a course, you know exactly what to do, you are just in denial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1Perth Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 So you equate living in Perth to staying at a 5 star resort? Really? I feel like that a lot of the time, most weekends really, only difference is we're back in our own beds, not paying some extortionate price for a hotel.:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Ropey HOFF Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 When we were in Perth the exchange rate was $2.3 to £1 and when were in Brisbane it was $1.6 to £1 and the wages we were going to get were going to be paid at the £2.3 rate. So based on that, we worked out that there was very little difference in the price of things compared to the UK. Yes, something's were dearer, but other things were cheaper, I think the main high cost item, is housing. If you are either renting or buying you are paying a lot for property, there's no doubt about that, but most of the wages are good for skilled migrants and we had no fears about whether we would live a comfortable life in Australia, that's what the Reccies are for and before anyone says, but .... You don't live here, I know that, but you don't live in the UK either where prices of things has shot up over the last few years and not many have had pay rises and millions have seen their income reduced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicolac34 Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 I think you hit the nail on the head with the credit card back when you were 18. Neither me or the wife had credit cards until we came here. If you work in cash you have control of the money, as soon as you go to credit cards it's like your not really paying for anything then the back statement comes and you think "how did that happen". That's exactly how the GFC happened, not only people living on credit but countries, thinking they could keep kicking it down the road till the next government came in, then it's their problem. I honestly believe the world has never seen or experienced what is happening at the moment. It's going to take years and years to wash through, if ever. Judging by your post you know exactly what you need to do to live within your means but you are carrying on as if it doesn't matter. Your choice but it's going to need repaying one day. It's a bit like someone overweight who wants to lose it but carries on eating the same stuff and not exercising. They know exactly what need to be done but they never do it. If me and the missus were in your position something would have had to be a no. Don't care just pick one or 2 and say no, can't afford it, have a night in and watch a movie.:cool: btw don't pay for a course, you know exactly what to do, you are just in denial. Yep, pretty much!! It's a vicious cycle though I have to admit - left university with 5 credit cards maxed out, 3 student accounts all maxed with overdrafts and a student loan. Added it up at one point and it was somewhere around the £45k mark - not bad for 3 years at uni, 21 years old and no job. 9 years later I have £800 of that original debt left, all paid back. Swore I'd never be in that position again....hmmmm! The thing about saying no....I have done for a few things believe it or not, all the girls are doing some burlesque classes, 6 classes on a thursday night $140 a pop - I'm the only one that said no because I thought it was expensive. Trouble is, we are still new here and trying to make friends, we've found saying no means you get left out of future things organised (and have lost one so-called friendship group this way). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flag of convenience Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Perth will in time to back to how it was pre boom, the cheapest place in Australia . And rightly so considering all the factors. It's funny how a city can go from the cheapest in Australia to the dearest within a decade with no improvements at all to justify them. How the minority have made it almost unaffordable to the majority . Correction needed.. Correction on its way Hard to see how it will pan out. Perth in the 90s was something akin to a branch office. I know they say the boom been twenty odd years in progress but it certainly did not feel that way in the period 96 through to 01. Wages were not up to much and house prices low with GST introduced followed by First Home owners grant in 00. What followed couldn't have been anticipated in around 03. Everything went through the roof. It took a few years to really work through the economy until it got to where we sadly are today. A lot of incomers of course sucked in by the big bucks, couldn't believe their luck many of them, which sold the place to many who a few years earlier may coloured their opinion with jobs being far less on the ground. We may well return to the job position but just how far costs will be allowed to fall will be interesting. The lower dollar depending on how low it finally falls may well do the intended job in the sense of eating away a lot of the over valuation/inflated prices of course which may be the preferred method to bring it under control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1Perth Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 When we were in Perth the exchange rate was $2.3 to £1 and when were in Brisbane it was $1.6 to £1 and the wages we were going to get were going to be paid at the £2.3 rate. So based on that, we worked out that there was very little difference in the price of things compared to the UK. Yes, something's were dearer, but other things were cheaper, I think the main high cost item, is housing. If you are either renting or buying you are paying a lot for property, there's no doubt about that, but most of the wages are good for skilled migrants and we had no fears about whether we would live a comfortable life in Australia, that's what the Reccies are for and before anyone says, but .... You don't live here, I know that, but you don't live in the UK either where prices of things has shot up over the last few years and not many have had pay rises and millions have seen their income reduced. I think the majority of people living in Perth and writing how bad it is here think things have only gone up in Perth Hoff. Maybe they think the rest of the World has stood still over the last 5 or 6 years. My son is in Barcelona this week, he was in London a couple of weeks ago and he was expecting it to be cheap. He found it expensive and said he would be glad to get to Spain. He had just been to the Greek Islands and Croatia so after that I guess London would be expensive. Apparently Spain is a lot cheaper too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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