Going back .. should we do it?

[Guest thebaddeleys]

Hi everyone,

 

Well me and my husband have been here since October and we loved it when we first got here but as time has gone on we have found Australia to be increasingly expensive, especially as the wages are much lower than in the UK!

 

Is anyone else feeling this too?

 

I think we would stay here if the wages were more in line with the cost of living... but right now we are contemplating going back to the UK.

 

Any advice or experiences would be grateful x

[Guest happy feet]

sorry things aren't working out for you, must admit i am scared about coping money wise. As i am not there yet ( 4 weeks to go) i can not commit, but if you are enjoying life in Oz, try sticking it out as this country is going down the pan (imo)...

 

Good luck with what ever you decide

 

cara xxx

[Guest thebaddeleys]

Hi,

 

We do enjoy life in Oz, the kids love it, running around in the sunshine its great fun! But reality kicks i when you get to the end of the month and your living on fresh air alone!

 

If we were paid the same as we were in the UK we'd probably stay but were not and this is leaving us with a massive decision to make... one that i don't really want to make if i'm honest.

 

We also miss our family too, the grandparents etc. The fact that we don't get any time to oursleves now that we have no support in terms of babysitters.

 

It is driving us mad as we are so 50/50 and we just wish that the right decison was clearer and more black and white!

 

Thanks x x

 

sorry things aren't working out for you, must admit i am scared about coping money wise. As i am not there yet ( 4 weeks to go) i can not commit, but if you are enjoying life in Oz, try sticking it out as this country is going down the pan (imo)...

 

Good luck with what ever you decide

 

cara xxx

[Guest Lulujim]

Tricky one..... I'm really worried about the cost of living and lower wages (OH is halving his wages here and don't think cost of living is half??) BUT to do things here is so damn expensive - and all we'll do with the kids in Oz is free things like going to the beach etc...

I know from ex-pat friends it's very hard not to look back at the UK through rose-tinted glasses.... I would suggest a trip back to the UK. I know it'll be costly, and as things might be tight already - it prob seems crazy... but if you come back and remember why you left in the first place then it'll save you a fortune and a lot of upheaval and stress.

Also the weather is SO cold here at the mo, and dark by 3.30pm - it's pretty miserable to be honest!

[Guest Martin and Val]

Sorry to hear that your thinking o going back!

We also arrived during October and we have no intention of going back at all. Val has found work and as yet I haven't.

Personally, although we agree you do spend spend spend when you first arrive things have now calmed down since getting our container and we do generally feel the cost of living here is lower than that of the UK.

Obviously we wish you good luck with whatever decision you make but think very carefully before you head back to the UK.

It really is falling apart and we firmly believe the future here to be a more promising, you just have to stick it out.

Good luck

Martin

[Guest wemadeit]

I understand your feelings - but I believe you will regret it a great deal more if you don't at least give it a year. We have been here for 2 months and are struggling to find work - but realise that so far, the way of life is far better than the UK - better weather, safer and more family orientated. Are you on a Permanent residency? We are on a temporary visa and although we have bad days - we are committed to at least a year - more likely 2yrs - seriously consider your decisions before getting on the plane. We too have 2 young children and find them hard work being around 24/7 - but they love it here!! If you ever want to meet for a drink - drop us a PM.

 

All the best,

[soccer65]

I understand where you are coming from, we too have not arrived in Adelaide as yet. we were supposed to come out with £20.000.As you can guess we have not got this anymore and we only have £10.000 my oh thinks this is enough to start a whole new life on, i dont...... i think we will face the same dilemma as you in a years time. However we both have jobs to go to so we are lucky in that aspect. But i also have to agree with the others, this country is the pitts, it wont be long before you will crave the nice weather, although anti depressants may help.... no seriously write down the pros and cons of staying in oz and going to the uk im sure the weather isnt the only cons of this country. good luck hope you make the right decision.

[Guest cazzie]

Hi there,

Sorry to hear about your concerns - what a horrible position to be in. I have been here since September but do feel that the cost of living compares quite well to England - apart from the costs of buying a car. Generally, I think food and bills are a bit cheaper but at the end of the day, living on fresh air is just not feasible as it will make you miserable. As you say, the wages are lower than the UK and you have to manage. A really difficult one as the weather and cheap activities such as going to the beach really do make up for a lot of the negatives of back home. As for missing the family, for me that is the hardest thing and not to be underestimated, especially the supportive network of babysitters, shoulders to cry on etc. I am sure if you posted on PIA for a babysitter, you would find a willing and sensible teenager, otherwise PM me and I would be glad to help you out occasionally.

Good luck with the decision making and in the meantime, enjoy the sunshine.

[Diane]

When we arrived, a very wise longterm expat told me it takes at least 18 months to feel settled. I laughed at the time but she was soooo right! Everyone goes through ups and downs and personally I think you have to give it a bit longer. Not sure if either one of you is working, but there are so many things to do here that don't cost money, and a lot of the social life includes kids, so perhaps give it a few more months - at least till the end of summer! - and see how things feel then. I certainly don't think things cost more here, but then I understand there are a lot more deals in the UK now as they fight the credit crunch and restaurants/shops etc try to stay in business. This time of year is always the most expensive, with Christmas, summer holidays, school and club fees due, I must admit, but it evens out over the year.

 

What was it that made you want to leave the UK in the first place? Do those reasons still apply? We miss rellies like mad too, but to be honest, when they visit us we have far more quality time with them than we ever had whilst living just down the road from them. When you first arrive, there is that "on holiday" feeling, and I guess for you guys that has now worn off and the rose coloured lenses have disappeared, but make a point of going down to the beach, going for a family bike ride, going for a walk to Morialta, taking a few cheap snags to a free park bbq somewhere, or heading off to one of the many free community tennis courts, and try to remind yourself of the good points of being here before rushing into what would have to be an expensive decision to turn your backs on it all so soon.

 

Diane

[Moosh]

Maybe someone in the UK can put the costs of their bills and then someone in Adelaide can put the costs of their bills and see how they compare.

 

It took me 2 years to settle but I know that I'm better off here in Oz. Everyone is different though and it also depends on what jobs you do. I arrived with no money and no possessions and feel I have achieved so much and wouldn't be able to have the things I have here if I was in the UK such as a 3 bedroomed house and I'd have to work in London to match my money.

 

Best of luck in your decision. I know it will be a hard one for you.

 

Michelle

[Guest thebaddeleys]

Hi ,

 

Thank you so much for all your words of wisdom. I can fully understand all your points of view and I had the same opinions too until now.

 

For us Australia was about more family time, a better work life balance, about the kids being outdoors more as that is what they love! Less crime and a better education.

 

Having come to Australia we have found that my husband is working harder and longer hours (he used to work from home in the UK, start at 8.30 and finish at 5.30pm) he now gets up at 7am and doesn't get home till 7pm.

 

The kids do love the outdoors just as we thought, but when winter comes I am wondering if it will be just like being in the UK , nothing to do!!!

 

There is certainly less crime so that has met our expectations.

 

As for better eductaion, I have found that private school is most favoured here and this costs money ($4k), yes it is alot less than a UK private school but you can get good schools in the UK without going private.

 

most of you have put that there are many free things to do here and everything costs money in the UK, but there are only so many times you can go down the beach before the novelty wears off.

 

I know this all must sound very negative (sorry), but I am trying to be realistic as the last thing we want to do is go back and realise we made the wrong decision... that would be awful.

 

We feel that Oz is not more expensive we are just paid a third lower in my husbands wage so the value of our money is not the same.

 

Please keep responding as your thoughts are invaluble x

[Moosh]

What job does your husband do?

[Guest thebaddeleys]

What job does your husband do?

 

He works in sales for the mobile network 3, in the business sector. but he sells to retail too so if anyone needs a mobile PM me and we can get you a really good deal! x

[Guest massive]

Hi Sorry to hear you are feeling a bit mixed up , we arrived in september and although we are both working and had sold our home in the uk so property wise we will do heaps good I understand what you mean about the cost of living .

 

We have always said we would give it three years and on very bad(homesick days ) I wish we'd said 1year but our children love it and this is why we came for their for future so that makes me focus for a while .

 

Do you have children ? and depending on your visa have you been to centre links, because I am shocked at how much is available , we are on similiar wages as in the uk and never got anything apart from family allowence there, however we get help with childcare cost and have been told whist we are renting we may get some help with that.

 

Try and take it a week at a time when you think of all the efoort it takes to get here it would be a shame to back especially whilst its summer

Take care

[Guest thebaddeleys]

Hi Sorry to hear you are feeling a bit mixed up , we arrived in september and although we are both working and had sold our home in the uk so property wise we will do heaps good I understand what you mean about the cost of living .

 

We have always said we would give it three years and on very bad(homesick days ) I wish we'd said 1year but our children love it and this is why we came for their for future so that makes me focus for a while .

 

Do you have children ? and depending on your visa have you been to centre links, because I am shocked at how much is available , we are on similiar wages as in the uk and never got anything apart from family allowence there, however we get help with childcare cost and have been told whist we are renting we may get some help with that.

 

Try and take it a week at a time when you think of all the efoort it takes to get here it would be a shame to back especially whilst its summer

Take care

 

We have two small children aged 1yr and 3yrs old, and can't afford to put either of them into playgroup/kindy/nursery.

 

We are on a 457 temp visa for 4 years, so we are entitled to absolutley nothing through centrelink which is really rubbish as we need all the help we can get!

 

Our aim is to be settled somewhere by the time our eldest starts school in 2 years we we really need to know by this coming december what we are going to do!

 

I just wish I knew what to do but I don't know either way as there are good and bad things about Oz and the UK. x x

[Guest massive]

Hi

I have sent you a pm hope it helps:unsure:

[Guest wemadeit]

..............a very tricky time for you all!!! We are on a temp 3yr visa, and it is a nightmare when you know you have to wait to PR status before you are entitled to centrelink benefits - but go back to the reasons you came here in the first place - yes the beach novelty will wear off - but you are in a great country - which is only just going into deficit and has immense natural wealth - where in the UK they are £1 trillion in debt - I believe we are in a better equipped country to deal with recession!! Are you guaranteed your jobs back in the UK if you return - they are having a really bad time over there? Did you sell your house before you came? Does the 457 visa allow you to go home and return at a later date?? I have met people and heard from people (ping-pong poms!) who go home and realise the mistake they have made and have come back!! What are your family/friends opinions back home in the UK?

We have bad times too - particularly as finding work is much harder than we thought - but the effort and cost it took us to get here is too great to not give it at least a year - plus we have met some great friends - don't be too hasty in your decisions................................and maybe come along to the next meet up for PIA...............

[Guest HALT]

We have been here for 1 year exactly. We still don't know if we want to stay. Some things here are more expensive for sure. Utilities in SA are the most expensive in Oz and that is official.

We have spent over £20,000 savings (all we had) in sorting things out here, getting very old second hand cars, stocking the larder from scratch etc. We are still paying a mortgage in the UK and yes the house is rented but the rent does not cover the mortgage. We are both working and have well paid jobs. I have 2 kids both in state school. I really wonder how everyone manages to live a debt free life because we don't go out. Been out once on our own since we have been here, we don't smoke, hardly drink and are always short of cash. What are we doing wrong? Lots of hidden costs. We are not entitled to medicare, have a minimum of $500 dollar excess on our medical insurance. So basically have to pay for everything. Fuel is cheaper but you pay a fortune for an Australian licence and car tax. I agree that lots of things are free to go to but by the time you pay for your picnic, or an ice-cream or parking. The costs mount up.

We feel we still need to give it s bit longer before we make any real decision. As has been said i think 18 months is needed to really settle in. For those coming over bring double the amount of money you will think you need especially if you have not sold your house. Unexpected expenses always happen.....

Good Luck with a very hard decision.

[Guest thebaddeleys]

..............a very tricky time for you all!!! We are on a temp 3yr visa, and it is a nightmare when you know you have to wait to PR status before you are entitled to centrelink benefits - but go back to the reasons you came here in the first place - yes the beach novelty will wear off - but you are in a great country - which is only just going into deficit and has immense natural wealth - where in the UK they are £1 trillion in debt - I believe we are in a better equipped country to deal with recession!! Are you guaranteed your jobs back in the UK if you return - they are having a really bad time over there? Did you sell your house before you came? Does the 457 visa allow you to go home and return at a later date?? I have met people and heard from people (ping-pong poms!) who go home and realise the mistake they have made and have come back!! What are your family/friends opinions back home in the UK?

We have bad times too - particularly as finding work is much harder than we thought - but the effort and cost it took us to get here is too great to not give it at least a year - plus we have met some great friends - don't be too hasty in your decisions................................and maybe come along to the next meet up for PIA...............

 

We are not guaranteed our jobs back in the UK which is a concern, we would have to get a job back there before we went back.. if thats what we decide.

 

Our house in the UK is being rented currently as we couldn't sell it as the housing market was in such a state.

 

Our visa would allow us to go home for a holiday but not indefintley as we are tied to the company that my husband works for as they sponsored him to come out here. But he doesn't like his job and this is a major concern for him as he has to do it 5 days a week!

 

I'm so confused!!!!!

 

Yes maybe we will come to the next meet up, when is it?x x

[Guest Libby1971]

Give yourselves time...your OH has not been here long and is still proving himself in the Aussie workplace. Yes his hours are longer and the pay is different. I have no wish to be rude but there are many others in the same position. You give the reasons that you came here for and you find you have met them. In a couple of years, or sooner, you might find yourself going back to work or even working now part time.

 

Aussies have different priorities when it comes to education. Here the whole child is taught including socialising, life skills rather than just being able to answer the questions that the teacher has had to deliver. As a teacher, standards are limited at the moment as there is no National Curriculum but there wasn't one when I was a child either and it does not appear to have done me much harm. Kids of primary school age tend to go to state schools. It is more the kids of high school age who go to private school. But be warned...one of the more expensive schools in Adelaide and considered one of the better ones was surprising in terms of discipline and structure. However, I work at one now that is very good. Please do not use league tables as the basis for determining if one school is good and another bad as they are very false. If Headteachers are fixed on raising the standing of school in the league tables, some teachers are instructed to teach strictly to the test...my OH was told that from Jan to May he was to teach only English, Maths and Science in order to improve SATS results. The kids were bored and so was he within 3 weeks. My children are more relaxed at school here.

 

Many people coming here go backwards before they go forwards. Give yourself time to really go through the options and look at the career prospects for yourself and your husband, and the all important money factor, before making the decision.

 

I went back to the UK in Sept/ Oct for the first time since we arrived in Apr 2007. It was great seeing family and friends again, but I knew it would be. However, I came here for my family and my children and having gone back to the UK I am adamant that this is the best place for my children to be. That doesn't mean I am 100% happy to be here, and I do find it tough sometimes, but I made the choice to come and I am staying! You don't have to make the same decision as I did and in your case it is harder as you had family support...we had no close family near us, none at all if truth be told, but I am here, ready to be a babysitter if you need one.

[Guest njacinthebox]

Hi,

 

I was reading your thread with interest. We have been here since August, my husband is a qualified electrican and he cannot find work!! We have lived in Australia before for over 2 years, one year in Sydney and one year in Perth and he always had work, never been out of work in his life, he now has a full oz electrical licence (which he did not have in Sydney or Perth) and can still not find work!!!

I think it is very expensive here. We will be returning to the UK very soon if he does not find work and will have to sell off stuff to do so.

We arrived with £20,000 and there is only me, hubby and our daughter aged 12 and it has all gone. Dont think we have been living it up, just surviving, paying rent and bills for 5 months !

We are permanent residents so we also get a certain amount of help from the government which I believe alot of visa types dont get.

I am trying to be honest and can only try to warn people who are coming out here and think its paradise, is not !

I have spoken to alot of people, particularly nurses who come out here and find that the particular job description is not here when they arrive. Once you are out here alot of people seem to say 'give it 2 years' why? is that the magic number? or is that when you just become too broke to return and are stuck here.

I am trying to be honest for people coming out who are (as I was myself) caught up in the excitement of new life and dreams come true and get here and reality hits in and its bloody hard!

I wish you good luck and hope you make the right decision.

Jacqui

[Guest thebaddeleys]

Hi,

 

I was reading your thread with interest. We have been here since August, my husband is a qualified electrican and he cannot find work!! We have lived in Australia before for over 2 years, one year in Sydney and one year in Perth and he always had work, never been out of work in his life, he now has a full oz electrical licence (which he did not have in Sydney or Perth) and can still not find work!!!

I think it is very expensive here. We will be returning to the UK very soon if he does not find work and will have to sell off stuff to do so.

We arrived with £20,000 and there is only me, hubby and our daughter aged 12 and it has all gone. Dont think we have been living it up, just surviving, paying rent and bills for 5 months !

We are permanent residents so we also get a certain amount of help from the government which I believe alot of visa types dont get.

I am trying to be honest and can only try to warn people who are coming out here and think its paradise, is not !

I have spoken to alot of people, particularly nurses who come out here and find that the particular job description is not here when they arrive. Once you are out here alot of people seem to say 'give it 2 years' why? is that the magic number? or is that when you just become too broke to return and are stuck here.

I am trying to be honest for people coming out who are (as I was myself) caught up in the excitement of new life and dreams come true and get here and reality hits in and its bloody hard!

I wish you good luck and hope you make the right decision.

Jacqui

 

sorry to hear your husband can't get any work, you must be gutted to have gone through all that money so fast... but it goes nowhere doesn't it!

do you think you will go back to the UK, would you stay if your husband had a job?

It does look like paradise when you first get here but when the holiday mode where's off its just as hard as being in the UK!

 

x x xx

[Guest njacinthebox]

I believe food is more expensive, running a car is more expensive (taking away the price of petrol) but then bearing in mind probably doing alot more mileage. Clothing is more expensive and its crap! I think education is not as high as in the UK, again various areas probably vary. I have heard horror stories about the health service from nurses who have come over from the UK. Outside living is good if you wear a body net ! :-) Ummm not alot of positives there. Have met some lovely people. Now can return to UK having lived year in Sydney, year in Perth, year in Adelaide, visited Queensland for 2 holidays, had the experience, miss my family and realise that blue skies and sea is not all there is to life, drugs is a problem here and in contrast to the violence in UK, there is so many deaths for young people on the roads here you have to ask yourself about that too when considering comparisons.

It is very unlikely that we will be here into the future is the answer to your question.

Good luck with your decision though.

Jacqui

[Guest caoimhe]

We are not entitled to medicare, have a minimum of $500 dollar excess on our medical insurance. Good Luck with a very hard decision.

Sorry to contradict but you should be entilted to medicare through a reciprocal agreement between OZ and UK. We are on temp visa and have medicare cards.

Give them a call and check

[Guest redfoxy]

Feel so sorry for thebedelys !! Yes we are on SIR 495 temp visa and we got medicare card !!! Ii took me 3 months to find work. I cnagedmy CV to sound less pomas and shortened it too and I got a job. I was so lucky that someone gave me a chance, yes I am on lower wage than the UK but you dont expect to come to a new country and start were you left off !! I was with my last company for 10 years. It must be much harder with children in tow too and family back in the UK is a big pull, I understand that. But the UK is falling apart, there is a huge recession, jobs are evenmore scarce and property is not selling. My husband is not fond of Adelaide and this makes me feel a little un settled, he was spoiled with Perth !! I wish I had more words of comfort for you but if you are not happy and cant settle amd make it work then home, even if things are grey and miserable, overcrowded and hostile then home is still sometimes a better place !! good luck what ever you decide !! I feel for you xx