recent Perth newbies

[Rendleroo]

Thanks for the Weston clan, I really appreciate it. It's hard to know what is the best way round to do things. We are heading over in a few weeks, and have yet to finalise holiday let/temporary accommodation, and the schools don't open until feb either do they? I'm hoping the schools are used to people arriving and doing all of this. I start my new role on 24th feb so I'd love it if we could have everything sorted before I start if poss. I'm sure it's easier once we get there and can deal with it for real though ay?!

[Rendleroo]

And thank you rosmoyne, that's really reassuring that we are looking at the right schools! X

[tayloal]

Tayloal where was the farmers supermarket your went to - $11 kg for tiger prawns wow!

 

dxboz, the farmers market was in Ocean Reef, it's called Farmer Jacks, some of the price surprised me, they may well have been specials but it seemed great value to me!

[Bibbs]

If I use the exchange rate, it's bloody expensive. $12 pints are the norm. So $100 on a quiet night out is easy.

 

If I use the "what I spend my salary on, and what I've got" rate, I'm a lot better off. Bigger house, newer cars, better "stuff".

 

I used to have to save for man-toys in the UK (iPhone, iPad, game consoles, computers, tools, watches), and take a few months to buy the expensive stuff. Now I just go and get it when I want it.

 

But then I don't have kids and the expense that comes with them.

[nicolac34]

We go to the Spud Shed in Jandakot (open 24 hours) for our veggies and our meat and then go to Coles for everything else. I've found that the Spud Shed is more expensive for items like jars of sauces, packet pasta, bottled squash, cereal - that type of thing because they don't have many to choose from. Whereas if I go to Coles I can pick the one that's on offer and save myself a few dollars.

 

Does mean shopping turns into a bit of an expedition, Spud Shed for meat & veggies, Bakers Delight for bread (nothing compares to fresh bread!) and then Coles for all the other bits. If we need household items and toiletries there's an extra trip in there to Chemist Warehouse or Big W.

 

We probably spend around $150-$200 a week on the main food shop and little trips to the supermarket during the week, but that also includes additional items you need occasionally like deodorant or washing tablets and there are just two of us.

 

I don't really know how the cost of living compares to the UK now to be honest, after bills we try and live on a budget of $500 per week and that's got to cover food and petrol and any other incidentals - going out, clothes, trips to Bunnings. Most weeks we manage it, but it's hard sometimes. I think to be comfortable we'd prefer a budget of $750 a week if we could.

[Candygirl]

I agree with what has been said already.

 

We have been here for 3 months now and have been earning Dollars for a few weeks. I shop at Woolies, Spud Shed and the Reject Shop. I do find it a bit annoying going to three different shops, but in the long run I find it more economical to do this. I go to the Spud Shed once a month to stock up on veggies and meat to put into the freezer and then do a weekly "small" shop in Woolies each week. We are finding things comparable with the UK. When you look at the prices when you first get here, they will seem a lot, but honestly, after a short while, it all becomes relative.

 

Renting and/or buying at first also seem ridiculously expensive, but you have to consider what you are getting. We are 10 miles from the CBD and pay 525 per week for a 3x1 on a large plot. We would never get that 10 miles from London.

 

We have recently bought a new car. We went in to purchase a used car, but it actually worked out cheaper to buy new from the showroom.

 

We still seem to have a lot to pay out for at the moment and are still finding our "money routine" as we are both paid fortnightly. We have just had our first water bill and it was the princely sum of $9.67 for 6 weeks, which we found to be incredibly cheap.

 

I pay $30 a month for a prepaid Optus mobile. This gives me unlimited calls to UK, local and QLD (I assume the rest of Oz, but we have only called QLD so far) and unlimited internet access. OH has a work mobile. Petrol/diesel is defo cheaper.

 

Our only major gripe is the cost of eating out. We find that you pay a lot for sub-standard food. We have yet to find a decent Ruby in an Indian restaurant. We were in Kalamunda yesterday and had a 1/2 shandy and a print of Stella and that was $15 so a bit dearer than the UK.

[beandownunder]

thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread, I don't mind shopping around for different things in different shops. I really posed the question as due to lack of child care/family support when we arrive I probably won't be able to work initially. We have been looking into the sort of salary my OH would need to be earning to support us all during this time and it's hard to work out from lists of data how the day to day finances would be.

I know there are a lot more important things in life than money and that comparing dollars to pounds is unrealistic but at least, thanks to your replies, I have a bit of an idea.

Has anyone brought their car with them? we have two, one worth a lot, one worth a little, but after your comment Porty I wonder if it would be worth bringing them both? I may contact iron lady imports for a quote but wondered if anyone had done it independently. I know Lou8670 asked this lately so will check on that thread too.....

Many Thanks Everyone,

Bean x

[odies]

very honest nicolac, that sounds more like what I would do and spend thanks

[Bibbs]

Has anyone brought their car with them?

We had a Toyota 4x4 and a 2 sporty Merc.

 

It would have been worth us bringing both, but the hassle involved, we didn't bother.

 

If it is something special, do it.

 

If it's a diesel BMW 1 series I wouldn't (but then I'm not a fan of BMWs or diesels).

[odies]

i have looked on the iron lady website and think it seems ok and looks to take a lot of the hassle out of bringing the car.

[taylors4]

In answer to the original question by the OP, we are worse off. OH full time trades person being paid the going rate, me part time supermarket worker, we are skint most of the time. Granted we came with not a lot of money, as our assets are in the UK. We are renting our house in the UK and are constantly bringing money over here to pay our way. We have no debts in either country and are mortgage free in the UK.

 

We though if we were earning Aussie dollar, we would be able to pay our way here no problems, we are in no way extravagant. Our rental is 470 per week. We have realised that the kids will need to be put into private for secondary school, which to be perfectly honest we cannot afford here on the wages we are on. We were much better off in the UK. Which is a bit sad really considering that we came here as work was so tight I the UK.

 

Think long and and hard before you come here. I think it all depends what sort of job you do, we are restricted being on a 489 visa, as I have found it almost impossible to even get a look in at an office job, plenty of experience and qualifications, but for some reason get no joy.

 

We are considering a return to the UK, as we can't afford to live here, although we love it.

 

Everyone has has a different experience, and this is ours.

Edited January 14, 2014 by taylors4

[elfie]

I would say for the first 6 months all you do is pay our money hand over fist. You have to pay to open a gas and electric account which I thought was a bit of a cheek but you soon get use to it ...........

[Lou8670]

So sorry Taylors4 to hear that financially you're worse off. I hate hearing stories like yours but best people hear both sides.

 

As you're on a 489 where are you living and working? What did you both do in the UK? It might help others to make an informed decision.

 

I hope things improve for you guys and everything works out for the best no matter what you decide.

 

Lou

[verystormy]

It depends a lot on the individual.

 

For us food is the big one we find expensive. We were used to having a couple of excellent butchers near by the specialized in organic rare breed meats and lots of wild game. Here that is ridiculously expensive. Likewise organic veg.

 

Eating out we also find expensive. Well that's an understatement and the quality often isn't there. Though we have found a few places we like - off to one next week for my wife's birthday (Nobu)

 

Domestic bills are on a par.

 

Electrical items are pretty good value. Our tv died the other day and managed to get a good sized toshiba smart tv for $225.

 

Cars are a total rip off and you need to be a bit more careful as there is no MOT here.

 

Houses are expensive. On a par with London, so if coming from other parts of the UK they can seem VERY expensive.

 

The thing though is salary. People need to research what their occupation pays. It isn't the same as the UK and a job in the UK that might pay vary badly may here pay very well. But also the opposite. A job may pay well in the UK and badly here.

[verystormy]

Just two others

 

Medical. The medical system is different. So a couple of years ago I needed an ambulance. Following week a bill appears for about $600. A visit to the GP is likely to cost as there are not many bulk billing where we are (free) so a visit is about $34. Drugs can a

So be expemsive. I had a prescription for some antibiotics that came in at over $200.

 

Booze can be horrendous. Some of the smarter bars in Perth charge up to $15 a pint. I have been charged $20+ for a double vodka and lime. Don't even think about good scotch!

[odies]

Taylors , thank you for your honesty , we really need both sides to a story not just the sun so thanks for that. I hope things do get better and work out for you though.

 

I agree verystormy eating and drinking out is very expensive and I wonder if that is why everyone entertains at home. I do like to eat out and go for drinks as I do not always want to tidy up after having people around. Nobu is very expensive so have a good time.

[taylors4]

So sorry Taylors4 to hear that financially you're worse off. I hate hearing stories like yours but best people hear both sides.

 

As you're on a 489 where are you living and working? What did you both do in the UK? It might help others to make an informed decision.

 

I hope things improve for you guys and everything works out for the best no matter what you decide.

 

Lou

 

Hi, yes we are living and working in mandurah. No shortage of work for OH, but I can see why all the Aussie bricklayers end up at mine sites tbh. I am working in coles on a 12 hour a week contract, that seems to be the standard contract they give out. To be honest I don't mind it though. Back in the UK I have always had a PA/secretarial job, last on with the NHS, again part time and the money wasn't great. OH worked for himself, which has been a real struggle for the last 6 years or so now in the UK. I love Perth though and I do want to give people a balanced view, and yes, it seems not everyone gets on so well here. I'm not an Aussie basher, love the place and have met and worked alongside some really lovely people. My OH says the same.

 

When we were in the planning stages, I remember asking if we were committing financial suicide, and no we haven't really, but we feel if we commit to staying here until our kids finish their schooling, which would be 7 years, we may well do just that. So think we are going to quit whilst we are ahead.

 

If we sold our house in the UK, we could again live here in a nice house mortgage free, but still think we wouldn't be as well off as in the UK,

 

I went to the dentist as I lost part of my filling, $260 for a repair job, didn't even have an injection, 5 mins work! My friends daughter has some decay in 3 of her milk teeth, they want $175 each tooth to extract, so she's wiggling them like mad to get them out.

 

On the whole though a lot of things here are about the same as the UK in price, swings and roundabouts really. Clothing though is expensive and no as much choice. Love the UK high street.