High cost of living bla bla bla....:)

[Arwen]

You might want to check out the posts above which point out that actually kids here less outdoor lifestyle. Summer, parents are worried about the sun and winter it is bucketing down with rain. There also arent the big parks and things that exist in UK cities because keeping such a thing watered would not be practicle.

In our suburb alone we have 5 parks with playgrounds. Lots of cycle paths around. Yes it can be hot and in the last few weeks of heatwave my children have spent time in the pool and at the beach. Slip slop slap and it is perfectly safe to be out if you avoid the hottest time of the day, particularly when it has been as hot as it has. My children go on bike rides early or late to avoid the heat of the middle of the day. It doesn't bucket it down with rain the entire winter and as most Aussie haters are keen to tell us about the UK you can have just as much fun in the rain. Wellies and a rain coat and you can have a lovely walk with the children. After all kids love splashing about in puddles.

[ali]

You might want to check out the posts above which point out that actually kids here less outdoor lifestyle. Summer, parents are worried about the sun and winter it is bucketing down with rain. There also arent the big parks and things that exist in UK cities because keeping such a thing watered would not be practicle.

We haven't found that, my 12 year old is out all the time, in the pool, playing soccer, skate park ... We've only once had a soccer game cancelled in 5 years (due to lightning).

[PerthPomToBe]

That's codswallop! I have never been anywhere else in the world where the kids are more catered for than here! In my suburb alone there are at least a dozen play parks that I know of! Most of the big parks are all shaded for the kids. We have got a fantastic outdoor lifestyle, you just have to be sensible like going out early in the day or later afternoon. There are always free events for the kids all over the metropolitan area. The parks are always clean and well maintained. Not like the UK where u will find glass bottles and sometimes even needles!! There is absolutely no where else in the world I'd rather be bring up my child!

[Give me a break!]

Lots and lots of big parks here, far more than where I came from in the UK! and yes there are times when the children find it too hot outdoors usually mid afternoon, and about 10 days a year!, As for the rain, really no, there arent a lot of days either where it rains continually like the weeks and weeks that it goes on for in the UK. For goodness sake have you seen the huge lush green park that is Kings Park with its HUGE play areas. See lots of people slag off the new housing estates but they are all planned around lots of open communial GREEN parks!

[StraighttothePoint]

There has got to be more opportunity here for the kids to be outside doing stuff surely? It is a sporting heaven for them as well as having all the other usual outdoor amenities. The problem though is at what age they "turn" and go to teh dark side. When they go to teh dark side you will notice it staright away. I have no idea the age of the kids in question in the posts above but mine "turned" when he hit 14 and three quarters!!

Up until then it was beach, bike, park et al. At the point of "turning to the dark side" he got lost in technology, garage bands, football on Fox, Facetube, Twatter and Youbend. He just became a teenager. Out of it now though and at uni, job and lumps of common sense in his satchel. He came through it and saw the light.

So maybe the question is not is it better here, which I honestly believe it is, but how do you help them not "turning" and "going to the dark side"? I am sure that many here may stay on the straight and narrow and become sports buffs and outdoor fanatics but not all will. Peer pressure here is the same as anywhere and so good luck to you all trying to keep them going for that early morning cycle, the Friday nights at the indoor volleyball and the body boarding.

I just failed but hey I can live with it........

[StraighttothePoint]

I just wanted to add something, having just came over in October I know what the prices are like in the UK and here in Oz and to be honest with all the price increases in the UK lately there isnt much difference now as to how much things cost on most everyday things. Even my car is only just marginally more expensive here that in UK. When you take into account the current exchange I dont see a huge difference for most things. Yeah some things are more expensive but some things are cheaper too. I think it swings both ways.

I tend to agree with you on that as long as you can get that 3:1 ratio on wages a lot of posters talk about on these threads. If you say earn $30k in the UK and get $90k here then maybe you will be in the same boat financially on that example. You may not be better off but no worse off.

However the problems I notice here are that not all people coming across get the job, and therefore the salary, they thought they would and end up taking a lower paid job. Suddenly that 3:1 ratio is out the equation and every week that goes past more and more dip into their cash savings. Cash savings dip, income lower than expected and therefore not good in the short to medium term.

Also there are hidden things here that hit you. Healthcare and dental care both optional but things that you get pushed towards, car purchase tax which is just a way of slugging you for more tax, higher taxation here, education costs because some people feel that the WA State schools are not for them, two cars because they live in the sticks due to having to buy a cheaper house, a pool because what is the point of coming all this way and not having a pool, a bigger house because they are and so by default bigger running costs and so on.

Yes I know that the above are mostly optional but they are things that are here and people either strive for them and borrow to get them quicker. This is probably why we get the feeling it is more expensive here because our wants and needs are greater than from where we came.

I always think struggling or being poorer in Perth is a very hard thing to be. It is shocking at any time but being in that state in a very wealthy city must hurt that bit more.

[Legal Angel]

Hi Piccolo

I'm over from Tipperary since last September 2011 and to be honest, I've I had my chance again, I wouldn't have come.

Can I do a few comparisons with you:
Rent
I rent a tiny, tiny 3x1 for $360, NOR 40klms north of the CBD - its not easy getting a rental and the real estate leases/agents are extremely strict and loaded for the landlord - I had to wait 3 weeks for my oven to be fixed and when my lease finishes in a month, I have to wait until they say I have returned the house in the same/good condition - I might have to wait 2 weeks for my bond to be returned - what am I to use for the bond for the new rental? You have to have liquid cash. My house was robbed the week after christmas. I had insurance but that doesn't relax me - In Ireland I could bascially go anywhere, day or night, even in Dublin. Catch the DART, no problem, here they have to have transit police due the the violence - its sad but its true - I don't feel safe here.
In Ireland, though I couldn't sell my house due to the economy, I wasn't being held hostage by a landlord/agent. I could have a dog if I wanted and in fact, I had a dog and a cat.
I am a well paid legal secretary in the CBD - but the commute is 1 hour - and my 10 year old daughter has to be up at 6.30am, leaving the house for before school programme at 7.30am - and I don't get back to pick her up until 5.30pm - that's a hell of a day for a young child.
In Ireland I worked part time, with a part social welfare payment as I'm a single parent - I paid my mortgage and had a much better life/work balance. Here I see my poor beautiful daughter for 2/3 hours per day - in Ireland I picked her up from school at 2.30pm and had 6 hours with her.
AND and this is a huge generalisation, the people in rural Ireland where I lived, were a damn sight friendlier. I have had a few children over for play dates, yet my daughter has only been asked back to one home - what is wrong with the parents - would they want their child treated in this shabby way - they may not wish to be my best buddy, but ignoring a child is cruel. And I had, and thank god, still have great friends in Ireland - its tough for me here because I work in the city and I'm away from my house/suburb for 12 hours a day - I can only really socialise at the weekend - I have family here but the novelty of having the irish relatives over has worn thin and we are on our own.
Much easier in Ireland - and no, in the extreme heat people aren't out and about and the kids are not outside playing - unless its in their own pools, and if you rent, you can't put a pool up.
Yes you guessed it, I'm going back. Not sure when, probably not this year as my house is rented to the local county council, but I'd rather be monetary poor in ireland than isolated with no chance of ever owning a home (due to my age and being a single parent) in Perth.
I am very sad that Perth has not lived up to my expectations - and I don't think they were unrealistic - I lived in Perth many years ago and lived in Melbourne for almost 20 years - so its not that I'm not used to the australian life - just that after returning to and living in Ireland for the last 15 years - my focus is on family work/life balance and an easier more relaxed lifestyle. Its not that we don't go out - my daughter does swimming (which she also did in Ireland); shes in Girl Guides and joins in after school sport - we make the effort, its just so much harder than in Ireland. I just don't fit in here.
I'm sorry if this is not what people want to hear - maybe tomorrow I'll be more positive, but to be honest, I am so lonely and disillusioned, I looked at return flights today. I know you have to give it a few years, and I need to save some more before we go back, but going back we are and I can't wait.
I'm not sorry we tried it but don't burn all your bridges before you come - can you rent your house to the County Council?

[piccolo]

H Legal Angel, thanks for your post. It's an interesting read. You do sound quite lonely and I'm sorry for that. It can't be at all easy being a single parent in a new place. We are planning to rent our house to the council but they did say there's a clause in the 4 year contract that allows us to move back in whenever we want. The rent won't cover our mortgage payment but we'd be supplementing from Oz (not that much). I hear everything you're saying and I really really don't mean to be insensitive so please don't take this the wrong way but I have to ask....do you think you might feel differently if you had someone to shoulder the burden with you, like a partner? I know myself that I couldn't do this on my own so for that, I think you are incredibly brave. I just wonder if having to do it alone has impacted on you and compounded all the things you've mentioned? Of course I could be wrong and Perth just mightn't have been for you anyway!

I'm hoping when we get there that I won't have to work or if I do, it'll be part time as I do want to be with my baby who's 1 and I also would love to have another baby within the next year hopefully. My husband's salary might be enough to sustain us, not that we're expecting this high luxury life at all!! We live in a very very tiny house in Dublin that is 200k in negative equity currently so anything would be an improvement on that!! We reckon our budget for renting in Oz will be $400 a week but we haven't settled on a suburb until OH gets work.

Yes the Irish are friendly but at the moment, our neighbour is dealing drugs from her house and anti-social behaviour is a regular occurrence in our little cul-de-sac. I don't want my child to grow up around that, this area is not the best but we paid a FORTUNE for our house in 2006! It's very disheartening. We have both been to Oz before so have an idea of aussie values and also the social problems present, we're not foolish enough to think they don't have their prolems too. We would be VERY selective in choosing a suburb for this reason.

Anyway these are my thoughts I guess. I hope that life picks up a bit for you. My sister arrived home last Sat after just 5 months in Kingsley, Perth wasn't for her but I think she knew that going out there and did it for her OH.

[clairmathews]

Hi there, My name is Clair. We are looking at moving to Perth next year or how ever long it takes to do the big move. Would you be able to send out some prices to what things are bills, food etc. I really want the lifestyle but a little scared about the move. Many Thanks Clair.

[piccolo]

I think there are prices on this thread no? You could google cost of living in Perth v UK and you get directed to a great site that shows you right down to price comparisons on milk, beer, wine, petrol, cars, rent etc.. Cant remember the name of it though sorry!!