Guest Hearne_Family Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Well, I will try to keep it as short as possible...just a quick recap of previous posts. We came out to Melbourne on a 457 visa in Feb, we sold up everything in the UK apart from my toolbox and set about building a new life in Oz. We didnt have much a of a budget but we did as much research as possible and we were sure that we could do it. We arrived to an empty house and a small amount of money to get started, first up was furniture, we used gumtree (Classifieds – Gumtree Melbourne Free Classified Ads – Gumtree Melbourne Online Community) and tried to get as much as we could from there, the main problem we encountered was having no way of collecting the items. We then turned to Fantastic Furniture (http://www.fantasticfurniture.com.au/default.aspx) we ended up getting a furniture package from them, it was $2k but we had most of the furniture we needed, we used Ikea for the kids beds. We found a 1994 Ford Falcon for $2k with Rego and RWC. Since then its been one hell of a ride! We got a tax rebate and used the money to get the car converted to LPG, its saving us a small fortune. My wife has tried in vain to get a job, with 2 children (2 and 4) she could only do casual hours and was competing with students who are cheaper to employ. However, things at my work have gone really well, I had a review after three months which went well, then last week I was promoted. We have settled in really well, made some great friends and work with some brilliant people. We feel like we are at home here, the kids love the space and the weather, the lifestyle is perfect for us and we love the surrounding areas to us here in Berwick. Now we are just a couple of weeks away from Christmas and the kids are getting excited, we are struggling to get into the Christmas feel as we are not used to this weather at this time of year. I guess the moral of my little adventure is: Do your research into living costs and really try to work things out before you leave the UK, adapt to the Aussie way of life, join in - dont sit it out and complain about how things are done here. Work hard and again accept the difference from the UK. It CAN be done on a tight budget, get out here, live the dream and love life. Dont be put off by those saying you need $40+k, Im not saying they are wrong, to them for what they wanted thats the right budget, however, if you are willing to make sacrifices and start at the bottom and work your way up then you can do it. Australia has been a revelation to us, we have settled in so well and we are so glad we bit the bullet and made the move, I hope in some way my story will inspire others to go for what they believe in, make the choice and have no regrets. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest33730 Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 What a great attitude to life - I wish you all the best but it seems you wont need it!! Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Terry What an excellent post, it is lovely to see people like yourself who just get on with things and work hard to get where they want to be. You should be very proud of what you have acheived. Congratulations on the promotion I am sure it is well deserved especially with your can do attitude. I know what you mean about getting in to the Christmas spirit we still struggle after 5 years, but hey you are together in a country that you love. Head off to the beach and have a BBQ with a few bottles of champers (no drinking and driving though lol) Kate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliott-Family Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Great post. Just goes to show that with drive and determination it is possible to start a complete new life on a limitted budget. We are a family of 3 with 2 dogs that will be heading out as soon as our house sells and looking at the housing market here we wont be heading out with thousands of pounds in our pockets; sadly. We keep having the debate of waiting till the market picks up to increase the equity in the house or take another hit in price and just go with less money? Well done and keep going Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpo1971 Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Well in, great post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GillianM Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Congratulations Terry on your promotion x what a good post x Have a Good Xmas Down Under x Gillian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest31881 Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 What a great attitude you have, I can only repeat what everyone one else has said. Well done... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyhus Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 I must admit it is easier to entertain the kids 4 hrs swimming today in either the sea, free local pool or a neighbours pool. and the kids are absolutley cream crakered. Cost me an ice cream at the beach. cheap day out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest prettyinpink Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Hi Terry I have to agree with you, ours is a very similar story and we too feel the same way you all do. My kids are a little older (11 and 16) but they both love it here and they have come on in leaps and bounds. I hope you enjoy your first Aussie Christmas and have many more to enjoy here together. Janette Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Mighalls Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Congratulations, Terry and well done! I just have one niggling issue to raise, but that may already have been taken care of. things at my work have gone really well, I had a review after three months which went well, then last week I was promoted. Was the promotion to a different position with your employer? If so, did the employer send in a nomination to DIAC and get prior approval for that position to be held by a 457 holder, or was it previously held by a 457 holder? If the answer is no to both those questions then you are in breach of the conditions of your visa and your employer will need to get that position nominated and approved for a 457 pdq. If, on the other hand, it is the same position with added duties and therefore a greater concomitant salary then you should be OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Ropey HOFF Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 I must admit it is easier to entertain the kids 4 hrs swimming today in either the sea, free local pool or a neighbours pool. and the kids are absolutley cream crakered. Cost me an ice cream at the beach. cheap day out. Hi andyus and Terry we are trying to decide where to go and we like the look of Brisbane and Melbourne but we are getting conflicting info about the weather. You see we want a house with a pool and to be able to go to the beach and swim in the sea. Is the sea warm and for how long in the year can you go to the beach on sunny warm days. If possible could you give us a breakdown of the monthly weather stats in your own words and just how long will we be able to use the pool. Any info would be much appreciated and just how does it compare to the uk, cheers jim.:jiggy: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hearne_Family Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Wow! I didnt think my post was going to be that well appreciated, I just sat down last night and thought I would give a quick update. Les Mighalls - My promotion means that I now have some authority over workers on the workshop floor, effectively I am still in my original job just with added duties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyhus Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Hi andyus and Terry we are trying to decide where to go and we like the look of Brisbane and Melbourne but we are getting conflicting info about the weather. You see we want a house with a pool and to be able to go to the beach and swim in the sea. Is the sea warm and for how long in the year can you go to the beach on sunny warm days. If possible could you give us a breakdown of the monthly weather stats in your own words and just how long will we be able to use the pool. Any info would be much appreciated and just how does it compare to the uk, cheers jim.:jiggy: The sea is warm at the minute (IMO) it was actually warmer in the sea yesterday that out of it but there was cloud cover and a breeze!! I have been here 11 months and not stopped going in it yet. I think it is more a matter of how quick you get aclimatized as mid winter here is like a british summer day. The sea takes your breathe away getting in and you do get cold after a while. Pool i haven't got one YET but will let you know when i do. I think you can prolong the use of them but using solar heating and covers. We are looking at houses at the minute and solar heating for the pool is something i look for. Saying that my 2 boys would break ice off it if it meant they go swimming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bod Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Well done mate you but a smile on my face. Happy Christmas and good luck next year John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wanderer Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Yep Terry. Great story, and great leap of faith - that you had done some homework paid off. Berwick is a great area and used to be an even greater village many decades back before suburbia took over. Took the local copper for a spin around some back streets in a Morris 1100 of all things for my drivers licence and it's possible to drift through a gravel coner in one and still get your licence or I did then. The pub also used to have a garden shed [in a garden] that served as a Cider Bar, all about 10%, about eight varieties in Jerry Can size plastic containers with little taps. Take the kids into Melbourne for the Myer Bourke Street shop window Xmas displays and watch the Casino Gas flares on the hour at Southbank amidst all the other lights and decorations. Helen, Big normal difference between Melbourner and Brisbane is humidity and you'll use a pool up there six months of the year as against barely three months in Melbourne unless it is heated [A solar system and heat retention blanket could give you another couple of months]. I say normal for whole country has been having something of a drought with occasional localised flooding here and there. Melbourne will get some summer scorchers [heat waves] of 40C+ [46-47 during bushfires early February this year] for a few days, a week say before a change and the Joke for Melbourne weather is [or used to be] - if you do not like the weather, wait a few minutes! Closer to southern [very Antartic cold] Ocean, always good for a cool change and thus Spring/Summer can be more unsettled weather. Brisbane will start to warm up during Spring [though about 35C for a few days near end of Winter this year] and you can have it about 30-35 for near four months or so, November/December to March and around high 20s to 30 a month or so either side of that and muggy humidity for weeks/months to go with it. If you've not experienced living somewhere that has high humidity with warmth, sweating like a pig kind of stuff, you may not like it. Water temperatures down Melbourne way will always be up to about 5C cooler than Queensland, but still mild compared to Irish Sea or English Channel etc. and plenty of people in swimming all through summer. You and your blood actually acclimatise, blood apparently thinning out when you live in a warmer climate, Victorians coming to Queensland for a winter break will wander around in shorts and Tshirt on balmy sunny 20C days whilst locals might be rugging up a bit, the old story being Vics would head to the Gold Coast for winter and Brisbanites would head to Cairns. Ideal life style. Two cheaper cottages Queensland April to October Tasmania November to March Work just six months in Queensland say so your income is spread over two tax years and you pay bugger all tax. $15,000 each Tax year will see you paying close to zero and you would not be much worse off than someone earning $50,000 in a full year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andromeda9 Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 good on ya Terry,lovely story,right attitude makes all difference,know it doesn't work out for everyone,but when it does its unreal to live in Australia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaniaColin Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 Great post well done, again we were similiar to you with the money we bought out to oz and we have survived too Tania X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cazz Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 Great to hear you're doing so well & enjoying your new life. Thanks for the very inspiring post. Have a great chrimbo. X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynne1266 Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Excellent post Terry, well done on getting the promotion, hope we'll be meeting you soon ! Lynne, Steve n family xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metoo Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Do your research into living costs and really try to work things out before you leave the UK, adapt to the Aussie way of life, join in - dont sit it out and complain about how things are done here. Work hard and again accept the difference from the UK. Terry I wish more people were like this chap instead of bitching and moaning about how terrible everything is after 3 weeks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olly Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Hi andyus and Terry we are trying to decide where to go and we like the look of Brisbane and Melbourne but we are getting conflicting info about the weather. You see we want a house with a pool and to be able to go to the beach and swim in the sea. Is the sea warm and for how long in the year can you go to the beach on sunny warm days. If possible could you give us a breakdown of the monthly weather stats in your own words and just how long will we be able to use the pool. Any info would be much appreciated and just how does it compare to the uk, cheers jim.:jiggy: Don't mean to jump into the post, but might mention that many people don't have pools in Melbourne, but prefer instead with the cooler climate down here to have an undercover outdoor area with a hot spa, bbq etc, then it can be used all year round. They can be easier to clean and maintain. We use pools here from maybe Nov-Feb, after that it is getting a bit cooler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jessijessi Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 i saw brilliant light from ur body. your experience really encourage me! let me feel i can do it better. Bless you and your family! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnaC Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 Well done on your promotion. great post, and gives those of us who dont have thousands in the bank still hope that we can follow our dreams to a better life in australia x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gazzman Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 Hi Terry .I Thought I was the only person who is going on a boot string .I am going with 5k in our pockets .Our house has dropped in value and we have sold it for what we bought it for .I was lucky my car sold for 5k .My way of thinking sounds the same as yours .(when you got nothing the only way is up All the best Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Les & Woz Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 Hi Terry So great to hear it has all worked out for you. Me and hubby leave UK on 30 Jan for Melbourne. We don't arrive til 23 Feb as we are having a holiday on the way. We are lucky enough to have relatives to stay with whilst we search for a house. The exchange rate is c*ap at the moment so that doesn't help. Down to around $1.74 to the £1.00! When we came out in 2007 it was $2.51 to the £1.00 - we would have been much richer! Only heard of one couple who returned after a really short period. Didn't give it a go I think, it is going to be hard at first not an easy ride. Hope you enjoyed Christmas and New Year in the heat. It's freezing here at the moment and it won't stop snowing!!! best wishes Lesley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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