Another Living Costs question... (457 Visa, partner, 3 kids ... fed up of the UK....)

[Guest pablo]

hi there,

 

just about to take the plunge with the family (my other half and three kids!)... looking for some similar experiences!

 

Nervous as hell about coming, although the amount of people that say they have no regrets, so I want us to try it.

My job has offered me $80,000 gross salary which seems great - but due to the local living costs, it might no be so great. We'll have a little cash to bring once we sell our car, although this wouldn't last long, especially with 1-way flights & removals - so I'm trying to compare our costs to income to make some the dream doesn't become a pipedream!

 

Based on current taxation, $80k would give me $60,453 take home ($5037.75 per month)

 

I want to live near to Perth as that's were the office will be, and dont' want to travel for hours in and out of work as I'd like to spend more time with the family. I know living closer will be more expensive :-( although there would be some savings in fuel, and of course my time in travelling.

 

Anyway, I've worked out the following as being the most 'realistic', although realise there is always a variance at the end of the month!

 

4 Bed House (Rent) $2,167.00 (unfurnished)

Council Rates in Rent

Water Use $25.00

Building Ins. in Rent

Contents Ins. $60.00

Electricity $150.00

Gas $100.00

Phone Line $35.00

Medical Insurance $150.00

Car's $1,000.00 (two cars, family car for the partner & kids, and a small run around for me, for work).

Food $1,000.00

 

This means monthly living costs of $4687, leaving only $350 for .... well for everything else.

 

tia

[Nutnudger]

Hi Mate

you are missing home Internet from your list unless you added it in with your phone bill

 

Mark

[Guest pablo]

ah yep - the most important utility of all! :-)

 

I forgot to mention, there are child benefit cuts coming in the UK, albeit we wouldn't qualify for anything in Oz on a 457 visa anyway..... I also understand that the 'living away from home allowance' has also gone too :-(

[elfie]

i would also allow more for medical cover, renting you do not pay council rates or water rates you only pay water consumption your phone line with internet would be a lot more than $35 a month

80k would not leave a lot of room to save after paying living expenses the wage sounds great but everything costs also

[nicolac34]

I think on that sort of wage you can't be spending $1,000 a month on two cars.

 

You might have to think about buying some old clunkers to tide you over until either you're both working or you're settled in and know how much things cost. We bought a working Hyundai Excel when we first arrived for $1,500 and it was very efficient on fuel, $40 would do 500kms.

 

Also factor in mobile phones, pay as you go would be about $30 a month each.

 

Broadband is going to be around $50-$100 depending on your package (we pay $79 for unlimited)

 

Foxtel might be a luxury too far, but that's around $100 a month.

 

Might want to budget more for medical insurance, we pay $268 a month as a couple (but I know there are cheaper if you forgo some options)

 

Every month there are things that crop up that you haven't budgeted for, a buffer of $350 is not enough for the whole month.

Edited November 15, 2012 by nicolac34

[Guest stinka]

you also need to take into account school costs....you get given book lists etc and they can come to a few hundred dollars. my son's calculator for year 11 is $200 alone!!!! and then extra curricular activities.....my two children swim at a club and that is nearly $300 per MONTH!!!! i agree with the car advise, i wanted a brand new car or newish car when we arrived, but ended up with a hyundai getz for $4k and it costs around $40 per week and i do roughly 400km a week

[Guest pablo]

Really appreciate all the comments and help.

 

It would look like my income will be lower than my outgoings!