Budget for arrival!

[Guest Drumms]

Hi everyone,

 

We leave the UK for Adelaide in November. We are having a number crunch this weekend to work funds out. Trying to think what we will be paying out for over the first couple of weeks on arrival. We have budgeting for rental, car hire etc.

 

But what other costs do we need to consider, ie TV license, drivers license, Internet, phone and any other costs. Also, first food shop, as your starting a fresh, like salt, pepper, tom sauce, loo rolls, BEER!

 

Any feedback is very much appreciated!

 

Kerry & Steve

[Guest Guest75]

Take out TV license - you don't need one here........and it shows:realmad:

 

Working out an exact figure is hard.

 

Some you will pre pay such as first rental and car rental.

 

What time-scale are you looking at??

right up until you move in to a long term rental??

[Selah]

Make sure you get your mobile phones unlocked in the UK then you can just buy a sim card for as little as $2. Phones can't be unlocked here unless you can do it by code. You can get portable broadband but you also get up to 2 free hours of internet time per day at the library. My wi fi is working here thanks to someone else not locking their account but that's luck of the draw. Be prepared to spend hours researching mobile phones, internet providers and land line packages as it is much more confusing here with hidden costs. You can get yourself locked in for a very long time if you are not careful. Good luck!

[Jimjustin]

Hi Drumms.

 

We have been here for 4 weeks now so have recent first hand experience.

 

The mobile phone tip is good- if you have 2 unlocked phones then get 2 sim cards. Put a lot of credit on one and give that number to people. Then just use the second one to contact each other to meet up after interviews and the like. You'll find you spend most of your time together initially so you only really need one. The other thing is if you have one number to give out, leave that phone with your partner while you are in interviews and things so you dont miss any important calls. Its worked for us with job calls, estate agents etc. You'll find if you miss someones call its not that easy to get hold of them again! We got 2 vodafone sims here very cheap.

 

We got a vodaphone mobile internet dongle here working on 3G. It costs 200 dollars for 12GB and is valid for a year so unless you use internet ALOT it will last a long time. We've used ours a fair bit and haven't used 1GB yet. Ive seen 12GB dongles a bit cheaper than that since but vodafone are ok for coverage. The connection speed does depend on a few things though- mainly signal strength, but also weather, and internet traffic.

 

Drivers licences are more expensive here and you pay for them annually. It wasn't cheap for the year either. If you are only temp residents you dont actually need an oz licence. You only have to get an Oz licence within three months of becoming perm residents. I got one but only because I took my wifes surname when we married before coming over so its good for photo ID here.

 

We were going to spend about 20000 dollars on a car but having spent the first few weeks looking for jobs, cars and houses and not getting anywhere, we bought a cheap runabout for 4000 dollars instead, just to allow us to concentrate our efforts on the more important things, ie. jobs and houses. It also left us a lot more money as funds if we dont get work for a few months.

 

Grocery shopping is a bit of a shock- most things are a bit more expensive, some things a lot more. Most fresh produce though is the same or a bit cheaper. You wont go hungry! We've been going to some of the bargain shops where you can buy brand name toiletries (palmolive, colgate etc) and the like much cheaper than coles/woolies etc. Be prepared to try a few aussie brands too. We've found if something seems too cheap to be true, it usually is! As a friend of mine used to say "buy cheap, buy twice."

 

The biggest problem you'll face is the exchange rate- you're coming over at the worst time in history for the dollar/pound rate. We got it pretty bad, but the pound has dived again since then so not good news I'm afraid. We have brought over an initial set up fund, and left any cash for buying houses etc in the UK until the rate improves.

 

The only real answer to your main question is actually quite simple- just bring as much as you possibly can to make it as easy as you can once you get here. We've worried about a few things since we arrived, but because we saved hard and went without a bit in the 12 months before coming over, money hasn't been one of them. Yet!

 

All said though and money aside, its well worth the move, we are enjoying it here. People go on about standard of living a lot- for me its about quality of living, and the quality of life here is better, regardless of money sometimes. Some of the really good stuff money can't buy anyway. Blue skies, lovely beaches, amazing wildlife, and friendly people, all make for good times for free.

 

We've found our best days so far have been the cheapest. Fish and chips by on the beach at henley- sunset, 20 dollar dinner, million dollar views. Take the free city bikes out from the various stations around the city- just show ID and take them all day for free. We've cycled around all the parkland, riverside, and cycle paths, stopping for a picnic in the Botanical Gardens- Great afternoon out, and free.

 

Good luck on your move, take a bit of time to settle in once you get here, and you'll be fine.

 

Cheers, jim.

[sueoc]

Don't worry,

We got settled here,with next to nowt,and as jim says,the best times when you get here are free,and there are loads of them!

[scooterdan]

We arrived here with $10000 and got rental, car basics etc....you dont live like a king but hey....

 

Also there is nothing wrong with the aussie brands in supermarkets......y spend $3 for bread when u can spend $1.50!!

[Tamara (Homes Down Under)]

Hi Kerry,

There will be a welcome pack in your short term rental that will take care of items like salt, pepper, bread, milk, eggs etc so you won't have to worry about that.

You will have other costs to consider when you move into an unfurnished rental though.You will have to lodge a bond with the SA authorities and this can be $1600 to $2000. Your electricity could cost you $100 per month but this can be much higher if aircons are not used carefully and dryers are used for clothes. There are costs involved with children at schools and these differ from school to school. Expect at least $700 per child excluding the uniform. You will have water to pay for at your unfurnished rental as well and this works on a sliding scale of charges depending upon your usage.

If you want a phone this will be about $30 per month with Telstra for a basic plan. Broadband will add another $50 to $60 for an average connection.

To run a car is not cheap. the car licence alone will cost $50 per month and then there's insurance which mmay be another $50 or so.

There are ways to keep living costs down though. The supermarket chains have plenty of specials and the shops have continual sales!

You may get some help depending upon your visa. There is family asistance for the kids and there's rent asistance depending upon your income.

It's expensive to set up a new life....but it's well worth it!

 

Tamara

[Guest mayjess]

We arrived here with $10000 and got rental, car basics etc....you dont live like a king but hey....

 

Also there is nothing wrong with the aussie brands in supermarkets......y spend $3 for bread when u can spend $1.50!!

 

10,000dollarsor10,000pouds

 

mayjess

[Guest guest4504]

Hi Kerry,

There will be a welcome pack in your short term rental that will take care of items like salt, pepper, bread, milk, eggs etc so you won't have to worry about that.

You will have other costs to consider when you move into an unfurnished rental though.You will have to lodge a bond with the SA authorities and this can be $1600 to $2000. Your electricity could cost you $100 per month but this can be much higher if aircons are not used carefully and dryers are used for clothes. There are costs involved with children at schools and these differ from school to school. Expect at least $700 per child excluding the uniform. You will have water to pay for at your unfurnished rental as well and this works on a sliding scale of charges depending upon your usage.

If you want a phone this will be about $30 per month with Telstra for a basic plan. Broadband will add another $50 to $60 for an average connection.

To run a car is not cheap. the car licence alone will cost $50 per month and then there's insurance which mmay be another $50 or so.

There are ways to keep living costs down though. The supermarket chains have plenty of specials and the shops have continual sales!

You may get some help depending upon your visa. There is family asistance for the kids and there's rent asistance depending upon your income.

It's expensive to set up a new life....but it's well worth it!

 

Tamara

 

' Expect at least $700 per child excluding the uniform '

 

 

What is this for ? month, term ? hope you say a one off!

[scooterdan]

10,000dollarsor10,000pouds

 

mayjess

 

$10000....still here 2 years later!

[Guest Drumms]

Thanks Tamara, we were only talking yesterday about how to get to the shops when we arrive as there will be 20+family and friends at the airport and imagine that day is already planned! Having supplies waiting is great, thank you.

 

How was the trip to New Zealand? Any pointers, good campsites etc.

[Tamara (Homes Down Under)]

New Zealand was brilliant...we are already planning our next visit.It was our first break in 10 years though!

We flew into Christchurch then went to Dunedin (which was a surprise...great place!). We then went to Queenstown which is brilliant..then Greymouth ( Franz Joseph glacier on the way)and Picton...then accros to the North island...Wellington, Ohkune, Rotorua, Papamoa and finished in Auckland.

We stayed at top 10 sites (in challets) for our entire stay. (Google the top 10...they are good!) Get a discount card and get 10% off. If you do the camper route expect to pay $20 per person per night on the sites (new Zealand dollars).

Great experience...just needed more time! Missed out on Milford sound in the South island but will do it next time.

Enjoy!

See you soon.

[Guest mayjess]

This is very comforting

 

Mayjess