Guest lendl1967 Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 Believe me that with the huge borrowing recently by KRudd we will inevitably be seeing the same things here when the Government changes and they have to start paying the money back, sounds familiar doesn't it ? Also the retirement age here is being raised to 67 before it is in the UK. It's a huge move but remember that the vast majority of people in the UK live happy lives, have money for holidays and their mortgage and to put plenty of food on the table. Chris, as I mentioned previously the financial positions vis-a-vis the debt of the 2 countries are totally different. Australia has the scope to borrow more if the govt takes the view that spending is the appropriate way to safeguard the economy. The UK does not have that option and will have to make huge interest payments just to stand still. The increase in retirement age is not linked to the performance of the economy - I'm not sure if that is what you are trying to suggest - its the result of increased quality of healthcare/standards of living/no more world wars since the 1940s. And now we have to pay for it by raising the retirement age - thats fair enough surely ? You neglect to mention that the UK will be raising the retirement age to 68 (albeit in 2044). This probably won't be an end to it. The vast majority of the people in the UK who apparently live happy lives (although how you reach that conclusion, from Australia, would escape an awful lot of people both here on this forum and in the UK generally) will not be living such happy lives by 2020 when the population has increased by another 5 million to 65 million (Office of National Statistics 2009 report). Where are they going to live ? How will they be educated ? What jobs are they going to do ? etc. etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoll Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 Chris, as I mentioned previously the financial positions vis-a-vis the debt of the 2 countries are totally different. Australia has the scope to borrow more if the govt takes the view that spending is the appropriate way to safeguard the economy. The UK does not have that option and will have to make huge interest payments just to stand still. The increase in retirement age is not linked to the performance of the economy - I'm not sure if that is what you are trying to suggest - its the result of increased quality of healthcare/standards of living/no more world wars since the 1940s. And now we have to pay for it by raising the retirement age - thats fair enough surely ? You neglect to mention that the UK will be raising the retirement age to 68 (albeit in 2044). This probably won't be an end to it. The vast majority of the people in the UK who apparently live happy lives (although how you reach that conclusion, from Australia, would escape an awful lot of people both here on this forum and in the UK generally) will not be living such happy lives by 2020 when the population has increased by another 5 million to 65 million (Office of National Statistics 2009 report). Where are they going to live ? How will they be educated ? What jobs are they going to do ? etc. etc. You can ask just the same questions of Australia you know. When you have one state that is virtually bankrupt (ask people in NSW how they think their state is faring) and ripe corruption in other states combined with what has been runaway borrowing and a disincentive tax for investments then you dont have that different a picture. The nowhere to live and jobs to do scenario is going to be a very similar picture. I'm not saying it is going to be worse (heaven forbid we have a socialist government for as long as UK did) but it isnt going to be comfortable for any western country for quite a long time. At least the UK now have a government which is going to work on fixing the problem, our numpties wont rest until they have driven us as far down the same garden path. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stovies Posted June 18, 2010 Share Posted June 18, 2010 Thats just it, i have also felt as though there isn't any choice anymore...I am ok for a few months and just get on with things here then i get a huge attack of unhappiness and fustration at feeling trapped here, oh and the lonliness sometimes is incredible. We probably should have gone back a few years ago and i think it would have been easier but i kept getting talked into staying. My mother goes into hospital today for an operation, nothing too serious but would really love to be there for her and would love my boys to be there to make her laugh. I am so scared about the future in the UK..the talk from there is of cut backs and higher retirement age etc etc...I don't worry about me its my boys i worry about, we may as well be retired the way our lifestyle is here in Australia!!:arghh: Funkymonkey, I know how you feel. We are returning to Scotland after being here for 12 years. It is a leap of faith. I kept trying and trying to settle but never felt it. I wish we had gone back home years ago. We have the big house, land, pool, etc and my husband has a well paid job, I don't have to work, etc, etc but, what do they say, all that glitters isnt gold (or something). After going back recently for a holiday, I really felt like I was home and felt just like my old self. I can't wait to return for good at the end of the year. What we will lose in "lifestyle"(Blah) we will gain in feeling real again, back where we belong! Try to stop doubting your decision and give it a bash. If you really hate it.... come back to Oz! Best of luck with everything! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest funkymonkey Posted June 18, 2010 Share Posted June 18, 2010 Thats just it, i have also felt as though there isn't any choice anymore...I am ok for a few months and just get on with things here then i get a huge attack of unhappiness and fustration at feeling trapped here, oh and the lonliness sometimes is incredible. We probably should have gone back a few years ago and i think it would have been easier but i kept getting talked into staying. My mother goes into hospital today for an operation, nothing too serious but would really love to be there for her and would love my boys to be there to make her laugh. I am so scared about the future in the UK..the talk from there is of cut backs and higher retirement age etc etc...I don't worry about me its my boys i worry about, we may as well be retired the way our lifestyle is here in Australia!!:arghh: Funkymonkey, I know how you feel. We are returning to Scotland after being here for 12 years. It is a leap of faith. I kept trying and trying to settle but never felt it. I wish we had gone back home years ago. We have the big house, land, pool, etc and my husband has a well paid job, I don't have to work, etc, etc but, what do they say, all that glitters isnt gold (or something). After going back recently for a holiday, I really felt like I was home and felt just like my old self. I can't wait to return for good at the end of the year. What we will lose in "lifestyle"(Blah) we will gain in feeling real again, back where we belong! Try to stop doubting your decision and give it a bash. If you really hate it.... come back to Oz! Best of luck with everything! Thankyou for your kind words, I know we have to do this but it doesn't make it easy. My Husband just got a "no thanks" from a job he applied to in the UK, now he is back to the " no one in the UK will give me a start" mentality. I feel absolutely awful making him leave a job he loves in a place he loves and is his home. BUT...I have tried and tried to be happy here, i look at what we have here and its fantastic, we are probably set up for the future here, but i am still not settled/happy/content inside. It is truly an awful thing to be going through. We had a third inspection on our house today by some people who are interested in buying it and they are an English couple, i think why can't i be happy here like lots of other people..it just hasn't happened. Just wish all this would go away and we could be settled and sorted somewhere!! You've been here 12 years, thats a long time to not be settled and isn't it terrible how we keep trying and trying to make it work when as Quoll has said if it hasn't worked in 5 years its probably never going to. Will your Husband find it easy to get a job back home? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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