Guest Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 you are asking the wrong question. Unless you want to die a rich sour bastard who has had a hell of a live. Live here is easy-going, not easy. Not cheap, but worth it. And the government is great for parents. you get the babybonus, and if you worked for more than 11 months, you get government paid maternity leave, on top of what your company pays. My boss gives you up to a year payed maternity leave, paternity leave, parent leave. 6 months is pretty standard. it is all great. Unfortunately, I got pregnant straight after arriving here and get nothing but the baby bonus. If you can wait, please do so, it is worth it. Childcare is expensive and you practically need to sign up before you get pregnant, which sucks. Financially, it all depends on what your standards are. We're coping with a couple of thousand dollars a month at the moment, as I work casually and my husband is an artist and needs to settle in first. It is fine. we pay rent and the bills, everything else comes from op-shops or freecycle. People have donated me stuff, like a fridge and a cot. Our house is half empty, but I am just so happy to be living here I couldn't care less (less cleaning though, I do care a little about that). I walk to work, the bus stops in front of our house so we haven't needed a car yet, but will get one soon. They are very expensive though! Much dearer than in Europe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourcorners Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 We first moved to Australia in 2006 and had about £1000 between us. Andy had a good job offer and I got one shortly after arriving. We were on about $140k between us in graduate mining positions. Starting from scratch, bought just about everything there, but still saved about $70k in 18 months. Enough for our house deposit when we moved back to the UK (in a round about way!). So we would have been fine if only one of us had worked (but living in Kalgoorlie you have to work otherwise you'd go mad!). Now we're considering moving back again, now that we both have 5 years experience and can at least double our current wages. Renting the house out here, our dream is to eventually get citizenship, start a family and have property fully paid off in both Cornwall and Australia. For us, Australia can give us that dream and I'm sure it can give you yours too. It does take hard work, but I believe that for the same hard work you get better rewards in Australia compared to the UK. The key thing is that you still have to work hard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 I got 0.05% pay rise the year before last, and so far been offered 0% this year! I know exactly what you mean about Scotland. i live in an unemployment blackspot, and its only because i left home to train as an aircraft engineer that i was able to get a decent career opportunity. ive worked all over the UK and Europe until i was finally able to get a job in Aberdeen and come home for a while. if it wasn't for the oil industry, there would be nothing in Scotland for me, especially not on the money i'm on. if i lose my job there, which is a constant possibility in my game, happens every few years, there is Bristow and Bond to try, but otherwise i have to move elsewhere to England where houses are more expensive and would earn less money, or because my wife has a career also, i might have to get digs and commute on shift. thats no life i want. i have the opportunity to move to Australia now and a good chance of moving with my company i work for now but on almost twice the money, so if i can im going for it. i dont even have any real savings to speak of and id be lucky to cover my mortgage if i sold up. all my money has gone into renovating the house for no added value! so screw it! we're going for it, and to hell with money! you cant take it with you, ok, well in this case you can! you have to live somewhere on the means you have available to you, why not do it somewhere else, where you might have a better life or at least a life experience that too many narrow minded people in this town/country/world dont seem to understand. why are we, the ones who want to broaden our horizons, made to feel like we are the idiots!? Thanks so much for your post! ive also been made to feel like a idiot for wanting a better life and some experiences. we havent even found a sponsor yet but ive already had lots of grief off some friends, they say they cant understand why id want to move across the world to live with one person and leave my family and scotland behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest36187 Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Families are the hardest thing when moving. Don't them put you off of living your life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 My family have been great but that's maybe cos I'm only researching the now. My friends found out I was going to the oz expo this weekend and haven't been very nice about it. They're all living their own lifes and I feel like I'm doing nothing and letting it pass me by Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Shields Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Life is short. Yes you will miss home all the good bits and you forget sometimes why you came.If they are real friends they will keep in touch .Your family will be upset .I left a son behind and yes it broke our hearts.With the internet you are only a click away and family love leaving snowy scotland for sunny Australia for christmas. Hope you read my private message to you. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest36187 Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Well said Jennifer x x x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 My 2 pence worth. End of the day you just hit the nail on the head with Scotland but its the same in the UK all over. Even though Oz is very expensive you will earn dollars and if you get work quick then you will be OK, besides the centre of a city isnt where you will probably live anyway so it will be a bit cheaper. Its swings and roundabouts. Oz is up at the moment and the UK down, when things switch around as they do on a 7 years cycle. (Oz economy is overheating so will need to come down or countries wont buy their resources which props up the country). My opinion is to hold out buying a house when there, rent and enjoy, when it comes tunbling down, buy then. Go for it its what you make of it. if you work hard then it will be fine. If you moan and procastinate then you will come home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 your right lifes too short. best of luck to everyone thats heading out, ill maybe get over one day soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenpasha Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 hi we moved to melbourne a few years ago from london 100k is plenty,shopping is similar to ours eating out cheaper its an easier way of life and trust me other opportunities will open up for you once you have been there a while,i say there as melbourne wasnt for us so we moved to the sunshine coast queensland,dont worry too muchjust go embrace and enjoy and ps 60k will be fine too as long as you try not to live above your means Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jadeanna Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 When people look at the cost of living in Oz they convert the price back to sterling. The pound has dropped against the dollar recently, so converting does not work. Inflation is very high in the UK right now. The rising prices are being hidden through loss in value and dodgy government figures. Energy prices are a good indicator of inflation. My colleagues in Oz managed to secure a 30% pay rise. They managed 3% here in the UK. Given the fact that inflation is realistically 10%, I can safely assume that my labor is will get me more in Oz. The UK is trying to hold back inflation right now. The real effect of inflation will be apparent here very soon. Anyway, at least your taxes get you some decent public services in Oz. In the UK it's all theft and austerity. Well Said:wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 yep well said!! i know nowhere is perfect but the uk seems to be getting especially bad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jadeanna Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Ireland is really bad also..... 4 billion in the 2012 budget coming in December , I hope I'm out of here before then!! Don't mind paying taxes when it's for good use, but not when it's to bail out bankers... I won't even go into it as that's a different forum altogether :@) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 totally agree jade lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 If bannanas are $15 a kilo buy apples. I just think there are alot of people managing ok in oz. Im thinking about how many bananas I can buy with the money ill save on expensive holidays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirsty M Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Hi Baxters2011, From your post it sounds like you are ready for an adventure and that you have a good nest egg behind you, so it could really work for you both. I am a fellow Scotty and moved out to Oz when I was 30, so 5 years ago. I met my husband in Oz and had my son there last year. I still love Scotland and plan to move back in a couple of years but there are so many more job opportunities in Oz at the moment and generally speaking the salaries are way higher. My husband is paid three to four times what he would be in a similar role in the UK and has had lots of opportunities for career progression, training, etc. I have a Recruitment and HR background and even for roles such as admin and reception you are paid a very minimun rate of $20 per hour in the CBD. Some things IMO are much more expensvie in Oz, particularly groceries and clothes. You can buy cheaper stuff if you shop around but you don't have the same choice. For a lot of people moving over now, it's not as good a financial move as it once was with the exchange rate and houses in Australia being very expensive (a generalisation again but true around the major cities). That said, if you are both working however, this isn't too much of a problem. A previous poster mentioned the rebates associated with childcare. I'm not returning to work at the moment so I don't know too much about it. Family Assistance help working families and if you are earning under $150k you are entitled to around $130 per fortnight and if earning under £98k you receive $180 per fortnight. This is from memory so might not be 100% accurate. On one wage it might be a bit tight but should be do-able and the $5k baby bonus would help you out too. You receive this is you are a permanent resident. In regards to health care, I had my son in a public hospital in Melbourne and it was great overall. In my particular hospital there were mainly private rooms and they are prioritised on a needs basis, not just if you are a private patient. As the hospital was full on the public side for the month of November, I was allowed to have a public birth but I had to attend a private obstetrician for my ante-natal care which I paid per visit, but received a medicare rebate. I would have had pretty much the same care if I had been a private patient so it seemed silly to me. We do have private medical insurance by the way, but it doesn't cover pregnancy. I never use it...well I tell a lie I did have a dental check up lately. A friends of mine recently had babies in Adelaide and in Sydney, all public and each had a good experience. Good luck with whatever you decide. Kirsty:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 I have a question... I will be a single parent moving to OZ as a nurse.. with regards to childcare how would this pan out for me? my children are 13, 11, 9.. When am I allowed if at all to apply for this rebate? As you know nurses dont work 9-5 are there childcarers who can do the nights and weekends etc; because here in UK there are non; hence why I had to get a live in au pair.. Are there any other options that I can do something similar with regards to childcare..? that is my worry, as I will not have anyone to fall back on if needed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 sorry i should probably start a new thread but im just quickly wanting to know what would be the mimimum money that couple could turn up in oz on a 457 sponsored visa?? im just asking 'cos i saw on a earlier post that a few people turned up with a few grand. just wondering how much we need to save up if dave ever gets a job offer :cute: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourcorners Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 We had about £2k between us but firstly Andy had a good job secured, and his company provided us with a month's accommodation. We made do with very little at first, as we had to save money for our house renting deposit (had that outlay before either of us got our first pay). We were careful to get a furnished unit in walking distance of the shops. It was then about 3 months or so before we bought a dead cheap car, and we tried not to buy much at all until all our stuff turned up. We had only just graduated though so used to a cheap student lifestyle, not sure if we could do that now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 we're in the very early stages of planning, still looking for a sponsor. we're going to leeds expo this weekend and theres apparently employers looking for excavator operators so hoping to get a sponsor or at least some more information. hoping that the employer will pay a relocation package but its probably a very long shot!! so if we get a sponsor very quickly then we'll be coming over on the very bare minimum, otherwise we'll just have to save save save and hope we get a sponsor within a year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fmck Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Hi scottishstacey. My wife mentioned relocation assistance. I think that may be stretching it in my case. I am just happy to have a sponsor. I hope you find a sponsor and live the dream. Don't worry about how much you have when you move. If necessary send your husband ahead to get established. Stay with family in the meantime if things are tight. In my humble opinion the lifestyle change does outweigh some of the costly negatives. To me the meaning of life is not a consumer here and now. It is about what we leave behind for our children. If you can make a move and give your children greater opportunities in Australia, then it is worth it. In the meatime do what you can to get there, even if it means re-training. It is the most natural thing in the world to want a better life. Some expect it to be given to them, whilst some are willing to work at it. I believe that if you go to Oz and socialise with people, you can make contacts and open pathways to new opportunities. I know a guy who managed to secure a good job in Brisbane because he has the patter and not much else. I don't believe that opportunities are so readily available in the UK. Don't even get me started on bankers. If politicians love them so much, they can bail them out with their fat pensions. I didn't sign up to slave for them. If you worry too much about the cost of moving, you remain in the trap. Yes you do get heavily taxed in Oz but, in my opinion you are left with the shirt on your back. I would put this down to strong unions myself. Australia also has a real economy with the vast natural resources. These provide real jobs for families. It's a choice between that or a UK call center. Australia is no Utopia, but you do have the opportunity to work for a better life. Sorry for ranting on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bubbly Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Good decision to move to OZ.. 60k is more than enough even in sydney.. and if you earn 100k two ppl its a bonus. I earn around 70k alone and have a house in Sydney paying mortgage. I have enough money to pay for mortgage and go out enjoy drinks and dinners twice a week... of course you have to watch what you spending on and try to save as much as you could, but weather is nice, things are bit expensive but if you shoop around you will find bargain. Groceries can be bought from local shops rather than big supermarket you will save bit there... you dont really have to go on private health.. as long as you are PR you will have medicare benifit.... Good luck Bubbly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Thanks fmck. I think relocation assistance is probably unlikely for us too but maybe im wrong. My boyfriend is a excavator operator and we've got tickets for the leeds expo tomorrow as we've read that theres going to be some employers there from the mines etc looking for operators. he seems to think they may offer a relocation package but im worried hes going to be a bit disapointed! so ive told him not to get his hopes up, the whole point of going to the expo is just to get more info so im sure we wont be too disapointed either way. Your right about letting him move over to get settled, we've been talking about that, im just worried that if he goes over himself i'll chicken out and want to stay here lol! If by some miracle on saturday we managed to get a sponsor who would pay a relocation package then i think the most we could save is a few grand and move in january ( im not even sure if they would wait that long!? ) I know that isnt a lot of money so not sure if it would be doable but we have no children, nothing that we'd ship over ( we live in a furnished rented house) so its pretty much just us and the dogs at a later date if they managed to pass all their health checks. As long as we had enough money to live and maybe a little to spare for a few treats i think we'd be very happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Ropey HOFF Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Hello all I'm starting this post as I really need help and advice. I sat on this website and another one last night reading horror stories and posts about finance issues in OZ...one whole thread of people saying don't do it, you will be left in financial ruin. If you do your research, you will find that there is only a tiny monority of people who post negatives about Australia, the majority of people who migrate love it and those that do come back, mention the missing of family and friends as their main reason. Fair enough look at the the posts from people who are coming back, or who have come back, but understand that these posters are vastly in the minority. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 exactly jim. when my friends found out that i was going to the expo you'd think i said i was jumping on a plane on monday. they kept going on about all these people who had went to oz and hated it and wanted to come back. For the number of people who hated it i bet its a lot lot less than the people who love it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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