UK economy comes to a standstill

Generali

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Are you thinking of emigrating for good, or going for a long visit?

For good or until the kids finish education at least. We were going to go before I got this great hedge fund opportunity. Now that's no longer in the offing there's not a lot to keep me here.

England is a great place to raise kids if you're rich IMO as you can buy privilage in a way that you can't in most other industrialised countries. If you're just rubbing along (ie salary < £100k in the SE) then I think we can have a better life elsewhere. Elsewhere being Australia.

dopester wrote: »

Interesting that Australia and China should get merged in this discussion.

I'm not an expert on the Aus economy but would imagine bleaker times if and when China and India slow-down and the Aus resource boom begins to decline.

The Aus economy will suffer if/when Asia does. If you're going to be poor better to do it somewhere nice and sunny I reckon!

harbinger13

Generali wrote: »

For good or until the kids finish education at least. We were going to go before I got this great hedge fund opportunity. Now that's no longer in the offing there's not a lot to keep me here.

England is a great place to raise kids if you're rich IMO as you can buy privilage in a way that you can't in most other industrialised countries. If you're just rubbing along (ie salary < £100k in the SE) then I think we can have a better life elsewhere. Elsewhere being Australia.



The Aus economy will suffer if/when Asia does. If you're going to be poor better to do it somewhere nice and sunny I reckon!

You are suggesting £100K combined family income - I guess.
True less than 100K with a family is difficult - with 2 kids even more of stretch I assume.

However with the same $100K a family can live well in US - not in the exact city, but suburbs are good enough. Education is much better - ONLY IF THE STUDENTS ARE READY; but when the student gets to college its all together a different ball game; students have a lot of debt on their head by the time they are through undergrad.

In Aus - I have seen only the coast cities (southern mostly) which run well and survive. Interiors are not for daily/monthly wagers. Aus has the Mining and associated industry and service sector (in terms of IT) thriving. There seems to be no other income generation unit - at least principle income generation. The tourism sector is good - but depends on seasons. In fact (sorry to raise this but ..) racisim against the Chinese is higher than the colored skin. I found that a little odd - but in Sydney and Melbourne the Chinese (and its mafia) run/own a lot of stuff.

So as of now it is destined to be 'Country for old men'. But it is a great place to enjoy outdoors - much better than the US (unless you are in Arizona or Montana or one of those middle of nowhere places).

Oh before I close - Aus the fuel is cheap - better than UK worse than US. I believe 42p < 73p < 109p - US, Aus, UK.

Cruising with windows rolled down, the mild hot air gushing in and warming the interior - listening to music - with your shades on - PRICELESS.

Generali

harbinger13 wrote: »

You are suggesting £100K combined family income - I guess.
True less than 100K with a family is difficult - with 2 kids even more of stretch I assume.

However with the same $100K a family can live well in US - not in the exact city, but suburbs are good enough. Education is much better - ONLY IF THE STUDENTS ARE READY; but when the student gets to college its all together a different ball game; students have a lot of debt on their head by the time they are through undergrad.

In Aus - I have seen only the coast cities (southern mostly) which run well and survive. Interiors are not for daily/monthly wagers. Aus has the Mining and associated industry and service sector (in terms of IT) thriving. There seems to be no other income generation unit - at least principle income generation. The tourism sector is good - but depends on seasons. In fact (sorry to raise this but ..) racisim against the Chinese is higher than the colored skin. I found that a little odd - but in Sydney and Melbourne the Chinese (and its mafia) run/own a lot of stuff.

So as of now it is destined to be 'Country for old men'. But it is a great place to enjoy outdoors - much better than the US (unless you are in Arizona or Montana or one of those middle of nowhere places).

Oh before I close - Aus the fuel is cheap - better than UK worse than US. I believe 42p < 73p < 109p - US, Aus, UK.

Cruising with windows rolled down, the mild hot air gushing in and warming the interior - listening to music - with your shades on - PRICELESS.

Exactly. If you're trying to buy a house for £3-400k, run a car (or maybe 2) and pay school fees maybe even £100k won't do it.

AU$100k will provide a very nice lifestyle in Sydney even ($25k for rent, $25k for living expenses, $25k tax and $25k savings I reckon) and perfectly attainable without having to work a million hours a day in a job I don't really enjoy any more.

Living in the US has never appealed - the hours are too long, they hate cyclists with a passion and the food isn't up to much for the most part I understand. Cycling and cooking/eating are my passions so that's no good!

Chris2685

Wow, I thought this was meant to be a money saving forum, and you guys are talking about paying school fees!?

It's fairly easy to live pretty comfortably in this country for around 2k a month as far as I'm concerned, even in the South East (maybe not central London though!)

MissMoneypenny

Generali wrote: »

The first time I went there, a dead redback was found in a baby's crib. I thought that if that's rare enough to make the newspaper (Sydney Morning Herald no less) then it must be rare.

My sister found a redback in a bedroom hotel in Melbourne, or rather her young children did. They ran out screaming "redback". It was the first redback my sister had seen and she lives in the bush. The schools teach the children how about the dangers in Oz. If you see a snake - walk back 10 places quickly then turn and run. The daugher of my BILs work colleague, got killed by a croc while on her year out.:eek:

Schools - my sister said she feels they are behind the UK, so she sends hers to private school. Friends who have moved out there as children said they found the schools were behind the UK also, but I would guess it alters from area to area just like the UK.

Generali wrote: »

AU$100k will provide a very nice lifestyle in Sydney even ($25k for rent, $25k for living expenses, $25k tax and $25k savings I reckon) and perfectly attainable without having to work a million hours a day in a job I don't really enjoy any more.

Sydney is dearer to live in than London according to my Aussie friend's daughter, who lives in Sydney and lived in London for a while. My friend lives on the outskirts of Sydney. The Brit expat list seems to confirm how expensive Oz has become
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=540344&page=103

We have been going into the cost of living in Sydney as my son has a chance to work there. He hasn't traveled that part of the world yet:D

sarkin

Generali wrote: »

The first time I went there, a dead redback was found in a baby's crib. I thought that if that's rare enough to make the newspaper (Sydney Morning Herald no less) then it must be rare.

Apparently you have to be pretty weak already for the spiders to finish you off and generally you need to go out to the middle of nowhere to see snakes.

Shark attacks are rare too.

Salties are the things that worry me. That and road train drivers.

Generali may I bring to your attention the box jelly fish, when I was out in Oz this was the one I was most worried about.

http://www.barrierreefaustralia.com/the-great-barrier-reef/jellyfish.htm

sarkin

and sea snakes

http://homes.jcu.edu.au/~sci-bhl/

sarkin

Plus our man in the bush Steve Erwin came acropper with one of these http://marine-life.suite101.com/article.cfm/stingray_tail_carries_weapon

Generali

sarkin wrote: »

Generali may I bring to your attention the box jelly fish, when I was out in Oz this was the one I was most worried about.

http://www.barrierreefaustralia.com/the-great-barrier-reef/jellyfish.htm

I read an interview with a diving instructor a few years back. He had broken his legs and pelvis in a motor bike accident and he still reckoned the most painful experience of his life was when he wiped a piece of box jellyfish tenticle from his diving suit across his eyes.

sarkin wrote: »

Plus our man in the bush Steve Erwin came acropper with one of these http://marine-life.suite101.com/article.cfm/stingray_tail_carries_weapon

Yeah, that was the least surprising headline I think I ever read.

"Bloke who messes with deadly animals killed by deadly animal: 'He had it coming to him says absolutely everyone'."

harbinger13

Chris2685 wrote: »

Wow, I thought this was meant to be a money saving forum, and you guys are talking about paying school fees!?

It's fairly easy to live pretty comfortably in this country for around 2k a month as far as I'm concerned, even in the South East (maybe not central London though!)

Acceptable point of view. In UK generally the schooling is turning out to be a Postcode Lottery. In Aus - the schooling system - is not too crowded and subdivided - hence it is a better prospect; the only good option for education would mean resorting to Private schools. This does up the expenses.

Certainly as you said, 2K is good for living - but as always the level of comfort is relative.

Not trying to raise an argument - but trying to present an alternate view.