The average livable wage?

[scooterdan]

Hey,

 

We have been here for 3 months only....and only one of us is working right now. I get paid more than i did in the uk and we survive on our one wage for now.

 

We still go out as much as we can and have food, drinks and if we cant we dont....simple as! We just live withing our means and if we cant afford dont do it.

 

The other day we went walking in Mount Lofty, the car park was 2 bucks and that was it (apart from the fact that we had breakfast in the cafe....which you dont have too) It was a great day out and cheap...!

 

I wouldnt swap my life here for the UK yet....

 

Dan

[Guest Deb17]

Hey,

 

We have been here for 3 months only....and only one of us is working right now. I get paid more than i did in the uk and we survive on our one wage for now.

 

We still go out as much as we can and have food, drinks and if we cant we dont....simple as! We just live withing our means and if we cant afford dont do it.

 

The other day we went walking in Mount Lofty, the car park was 2 bucks and that was it (apart from the fact that we had breakfast in the cafe....which you dont have too) It was a great day out and cheap...!

 

I wouldnt swap my life here for the UK yet....

 

Dan

 

Yeah Dan, but you're so young...you haven't had a life yet! :biglaugh:I can't even remember what it felt like to be 25!!!!

Try emigrating at 40, the experience is a bit different, believe me.

All the best though...

[Guest Nick11]

Yeah Dan, but you're so young...you haven't had a life yet! :biglaugh:I can't even remember what it felt like to be 25!!!!

Try emigrating at 40, the experience is a bit different, believe me.

All the best though...

 

Have to agree with you Deb on that one. It does get harder the older you get.

Plus the kids are a financial drain - the older they get!!! My kids are constantly outgrowing their clothes, eating more etc -

It's not about living within your means - its about clothing and feeding the kids - on a very tight budget. Made all the harder without any concessions for child care etc.

Now before people start critisizing 495 holders - yes we knew we wouldn't be entitled to benefits etc before we came - but 2 years is an awful long time!! More like 3 years with the backlog of visas til pr is granted!

 

It's the old chicken n' egg syndrome - in most cases it not financially viable for the wife to work as childcare costs outweigh wages.

 

A friend of mine was offered a job last week - it meant putting the kids in childcare full time - as she is on a 495 visa she has to pay full price for them. It would have meant she would have been earning under $100 a week full time. The government now pay 50% childcare costs for permanent residents - a big difference!

Thats why so many people are struggling.

[Guest sarahsmartiepants]

Yeah Dan, but you're so young...you haven't had a life yet! :biglaugh:I can't even remember what it felt like to be 25!!!!

Try emigrating at 40, the experience is a bit different, believe me.

All the best though...

Yes exactly, we did the struggling thing already when our kids were little, we came out the otherside and now we have started agin!.

Before anyone jumps, I knew we would be starting again, its just the fact the wages are lower, life isnt as cheap as we thought. They were my 2 disapointments coming here which is why I always harp on about it, in the hope it will educate those waiting to come!.

Just to add if it helps, we are not on temp visa either! And cant get benefits for the 19 yr old as he has a pt time job:arghh:!

sarah

[Guest Lulujim]

The main one being there is always some idiot ready to say "if you dont like you can always go home":mad:!

 

Bit harsh!! Alexis x

[Guest Shy Ted]

So what is an average livable wage?

 

Any quick question if anyone can advise. Apart from the mortgage rate, what would you say is more expensive on Oz than in the UK? Just about to move I am, and I'm leaving behind £1.31 a litre diesel, £170 a month council tax, £100 a month gas and electric and food prices going through the roof. Is it as bad as that?

 

Would you say if you were to go to Adelaide on equivalent wages to UK (at current xe rates, say) you would be finanically better off or worse off all things considered. Or is it about the same? I'm just a little confused at the mixed messages I am getting from my own research, my friends and family already living in Oz, and what I read on here. Can anyone make any sense of it??:confused:

 

I will be on a PR visa by the way.

[Guest Devon]

and food prices going through the roof. Is it as bad as that?

 

Sorry to disappoint ShyTed. I've lived in Adelaide for two years but been back in the UK for six and a half weeks now on holiday. I am really shocked at how much cheaper food is in the supermarkets here in the UK than in Oz. How much cheaper fruit and veg is and toiletries also!!!!! Clothes are also much cheaper and a better quality.

 

Saying that I can't wait until I get back home. Although just had to change my flight so got another four weeks here! Yes things are tougher financially but it is a happier place to be and even though it's cold there at present at least you can go out as this rain is horrendous and it is winter there at the moment after all!!!!!!

[Guest Shy Ted]

When you consider diesel has gone from 90p or so to 1.31 a litre, energy prices have gone up 30-40% and food prices across the board have gone up by 10% or so in the last 6 months it is that bad I think. It just seems to have come all at once as well.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1575614/Food-cost-increase-adds-andpound750-to-annual-bill.html

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/the-power-struggle-fuel-price-soars-oil-firms-profits-leap-home-bills-climb-818046.html

I want to try and make some cost of living comparisons really, taking into consideration all of the expenses that a family are likely to face, such as utlilties, council tax (equivalent), fuel etc etc as well as food expenses. Could you shed some light on that?

 

It is worrying that food is more expensive in Oz than in the UK though. I'll do a sample shop on Coles' website and see how it comes out! :unsure:

[Guest Devon]

Hi again Shy Ted.

 

Oz is suffering the same with petrol and food prices.

 

Yes it is harder on the financial side for most. Especially with lower wages. Some will tell you differently - some people still in the UK or recently arrived in OZ. Some people who say it is cheaper only say that on here not in person as they think they will be attacked on here for some strange reason!

 

Depends what you are really going for. We notice it more as I've not been allowed to work for two years (hence my temporary return to the UK) so we've only had one wage coming in. We have got by though. You may find it hard or you may be one of the lucky ones who doesn't. I can assure you though that although I am shocked by what is cheaper here in the UK there are some things that aren't. Not that I can think of any at present with all these goodies shouting out at me!!!!

 

Oz is definately a happier place - all the miserable people here!

 

So long as you don't go with the grass is greener attitude and have your eyes wider I am sure you will be ok. Hope so anyway - you will never know unless you try!!!!

 

Good luck

[Guest sarahsmartiepants]

The main one being there is always some idiot ready to say "if you dont like you can always go home":mad:!

 

Bit harsh!! Alexis x

I think you might of misunderstood me!

I said .......I think there are less shiny happy people than you think Deb.....they just dont like to admit it for some reason or another! TThe main being there is always some idiot ready to say "if you dont like it you can always go home"

It was a whole paragraph explaining why I think some people dont admit the truth on forums, I was not saying "if you dont like it you can go home"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sarah

[Guest tiggs]

So what is an average livable wage?

 

Any quick question if anyone can advise. Apart from the mortgage rate, what would you say is more expensive on Oz than in the UK? Just about to move I am, and I'm leaving behind £1.31 a litre diesel, £170 a month council tax, £100 a month gas and electric and food prices going through the roof. Is it as bad as that?

 

Would you say if you were to go to Adelaide on equivalent wages to UK (at current xe rates, say) you would be finanically better off or worse off all things considered. Or is it about the same? I'm just a little confused at the mixed messages I am getting from my own research, my friends and family already living in Oz, and what I read on here. Can anyone make any sense of it??:confused:

 

I will be on a PR visa by the way.

 

 

as G in on more or less the same wage as in the uk i guess this is a question for us!

 

well first off tax is higher here - plus you pay the medicare levy on top. So the 'same' wage gives you less in your hand.

 

i know you said leaving out mortgage but we have a much bigger mortgage here than the uk (due spending savings to get here, paying off all our uk debts and buying a bigger house) Then the interest rate is much higher. However all these things are personal choice. Being debt free (other than the mortgage) is a great feeling and one that we are going to stick too.

Rents are much cheaper here and we could have rented a nice house here for a lot less than we are paying for our mortgage.

 

Utility bills - our gas and elec bills are about the same as the uk - water is more expensive here plus we were not on a meter in the uk which makes a big difference.

Council rates - much cheaper than the council tax

 

Food bill here is about the same as the uk (now that i have a handle on it - be prepared for bigger bills when you first arrive till you get yourself organised) On the other hand i find the quality of the food here much better and we are definintely eating more healthily with more fruit and veg etc and better quality ingredients in our meals.

I am pretty sure if i shopped in the uk in Asda and bought all the no frills things i could buy my shopping for quite a lot less - but i would be seriously cutting back on the quality of the food - so imo that doesnt really count as a comparison.

If you buy fruit and veg in season the prices are great - if you try and buy the same list of things each week you are going to find that firstly you cant always get everything and secondly it costs you a small fortune. Eg this week cucumbers in coles were $2.80 so i looked for alternative salad ingredients that were a better price.

 

Insurance is a LOT more expensive here - we are paying twice what we were in the uk for house and contents insurance. we did find a good deal on our life insurance but it is a policy that doesnt have fixed premiums so as we get older no doubt it wont be such a good price. If you want to run your own business be prepared for your professional indemnity insurance to be a small fortune!!! (and i am not exaggerating!)

We dont have medical insurance so dont know the prices for that but be prepared for your dental etc here to be private practice prices in the uk - oh and dont forget ambulance cover otherwise a trip to hospital will get you a big bill! A trip to the docs will set you back about $35-$40 dollars but if you are pr you get some of that back from medicare. Also no free prescriptions for children.

 

Car - you dont need an mot or road tax but rego is a lot more expensive than i was expecting (but it does include third party insurance). It is considerably more than the road tax tho i know the road tax in the uk is set to increase by a lot. Again insurance is more - bit of a nasty surprise that one.

Fuel about $1.60? a litre on cheap day (i think as i dont use much and i havent filled up for a few weeks!) This is cheaper than the uk but take into account that when we arrived last december it was $1.20 a litre.

 

Have i missed anything? If i have let me know and i will try and add it.

 

Overall i would put the cost of living here higher than the uk - but i think the point is if you are coming here beacuse it is going to be cheaper to live then you are going to be dissapointed. If you are coming for all of the positives that oz can give you (despite the fact you are probably going to be less well off - at least for a while) then you will be fine.

 

Adele

[Guest sarahsmartiepants]

 

Insurance is a LOT more expensive here - we are paying twice what we were in the uk for house and contents insurance. we did find a good deal on our life insurance but it is a policy that doesnt have fixed premiums so as we get older no doubt it wont be such a good price. If you want to run your own business be prepared for your professional indemnity insurance to be a small fortune!!! (and i am not exaggerating!)

We dont have medical insurance so dont know the prices for that but be prepared for your dental etc here to be private practice prices in the uk - oh and dont forget ambulance cover otherwise a trip to hospital will get you a big bill! A trip to the docs will set you back about $35-$40 dollars but if you are pr you get some of that back from medicare. Also no free prescriptions for children.

.

 

Overall i would put the cost of living here higher than the uk - but i think the point is if you are coming here beacuse it is going to be cheaper to live then you are going to be dissapointed. If you are coming for all of the positives that oz can give you (despite the fact you are probably going to be less well off - at least for a while) then you will be fine.

 

Adele

You can also get medicare on a temp visa, there are those that say you cant, but they are victims of the different government bodies not knowing what they are talking about, unless you are from Ireland there is a reason why you cant get medicare then, but not sure what it is someone else will

sarah

[Guest tiggs]

You can also get medicare on a temp visa, there are those that say you cant, but they are victims of the different government bodies not knowing what they are talking about, unless you are from Ireland there is a reason why you cant get medicare then, but not sure what it is someone else will

sarah

 

thanks for pointing that out sarah

we are on a pr visa and i dont know the rules for those on a temp

 

Adele

[Guest Shy Ted]

as G in on more or less the same wage as in the uk i guess this is a question for us!

 

well first off tax is higher here - plus you pay the medicare levy on top. So the 'same' wage gives you less in your hand.

 

i know you said leaving out mortgage but we have a much bigger mortgage here than the uk (due spending savings to get here, paying off all our uk debts and buying a bigger house) Then the interest rate is much higher. However all these things are personal choice. Being debt free (other than the mortgage) is a great feeling and one that we are going to stick too.

Rents are much cheaper here and we could have rented a nice house here for a lot less than we are paying for our mortgage.

 

Utility bills - our gas and elec bills are about the same as the uk - water is more expensive here plus we were not on a meter in the uk which makes a big difference.

Council rates - much cheaper than the council tax

 

Food bill here is about the same as the uk (now that i have a handle on it - be prepared for bigger bills when you first arrive till you get yourself organised) On the other hand i find the quality of the food here much better and we are definintely eating more healthily with more fruit and veg etc and better quality ingredients in our meals.

I am pretty sure if i shopped in the uk in Asda and bought all the no frills things i could buy my shopping for quite a lot less - but i would be seriously cutting back on the quality of the food - so imo that doesnt really count as a comparison.

If you buy fruit and veg in season the prices are great - if you try and buy the same list of things each week you are going to find that firstly you cant always get everything and secondly it costs you a small fortune. Eg this week cucumbers in coles were $2.80 so i looked for alternative salad ingredients that were a better price.

 

Insurance is a LOT more expensive here - we are paying twice what we were in the uk for house and contents insurance. we did find a good deal on our life insurance but it is a policy that doesnt have fixed premiums so as we get older no doubt it wont be such a good price. If you want to run your own business be prepared for your professional indemnity insurance to be a small fortune!!! (and i am not exaggerating!)

We dont have medical insurance so dont know the prices for that but be prepared for your dental etc here to be private practice prices in the uk - oh and dont forget ambulance cover otherwise a trip to hospital will get you a big bill! A trip to the docs will set you back about $35-$40 dollars but if you are pr you get some of that back from medicare. Also no free prescriptions for children.

 

Car - you dont need an mot or road tax but rego is a lot more expensive than i was expecting (but it does include third party insurance). It is considerably more than the road tax tho i know the road tax in the uk is set to increase by a lot. Again insurance is more - bit of a nasty surprise that one.

Fuel about $1.60? a litre on cheap day (i think as i dont use much and i havent filled up for a few weeks!) This is cheaper than the uk but take into account that when we arrived last december it was $1.20 a litre.

 

Have i missed anything? If i have let me know and i will try and add it.

 

Overall i would put the cost of living here higher than the uk - but i think the point is if you are coming here beacuse it is going to be cheaper to live then you are going to be dissapointed. If you are coming for all of the positives that oz can give you (despite the fact you are probably going to be less well off - at least for a while) then you will be fine.

 

Adele

Hi,

 

Thanks for taking the time to pen this excellent post, it is exactly the kind of insight I was looking for. I am a little organisation crazy unfortunately, and I like to spreadsheet outlay, expenditure etc so I know what is coming and going in advance. A bit geekish I know but there you go.

 

Luckily we're going to be avoiding a mortgage and the company will be paying for my car which is good as they look like crippling expenses! Our motivation to move is borne out of seeking a better environment for my children to grow up, and a lifestyle change for me, so it can't come soon enough (i.e. before this job kills me!!). Cost of living comparisons doesnt really come into it, but forewarned is forearmed as they say, and your post has provided some great insight.

 

Now, where are those golf clubs.....................

 

All the best,

Richie

[Guest katsmajic]

That was a really good post Adele.

xxxx

[Guest tiggs]

Hi,

 

Thanks for taking the time to pen this excellent post, it is exactly the kind of insight I was looking for. I am a little organisation crazy unfortunately, and I like to spreadsheet outlay, expenditure etc so I know what is coming and going in advance. A bit geekish I know but there you go.

 

Luckily we're going to be avoiding a mortgage and the company will be paying for my car which is good as they look like crippling expenses! Our motivation to move is borne out of seeking a better environment for my children to grow up, and a lifestyle change for me, so it can't come soon enough (i.e. before this job kills me!!). Cost of living comparisons doesnt really come into it, but forewarned is forearmed as they say, and your post has provided some great insight.

 

Now, where are those golf clubs.....................

 

All the best,

Richie

 

 

lol i know where you are coming from with the spreadsheet thing - i do the same thing

you are right that the cost of living shouldnt really influence your decision - but you have to be able to survive financially and as you said - forewarned is forarmed!

 

lol at the golfclubs - you will have to give my OH a shout when you get here he would love to have an excuse to go golfing!

Adele

[Guest tiggs]

That was a really good post Adele.

xxxx

 

 

Thanks kat

how are things with you? missed you at the last BE meet

 

Adele x

[Guest danlee101]

Just a quick one on typing replies and losing them.

 

Type your reply in Notepad, get it right and then copy and paste into the forum. That way, if the forum mucks up and you lose it, pop back to notepad and paste it in again.

 

I do this because I have suffered before