I'm a British citizen and spent most of my life living in South Wales. I do desperately miss it and my family - My visa here is only valid for another 6 months but (at great cost) I can apply for a visa that would be permanent after a few years (as long as I keep my nose clean and abide by the requirements of the visa, so to speak).
I live in Australia. 9hr time difference and an expensive flight to get home (24+ hrs) . I'm aiming to always visit at least twice a year (I'll be visiting this December and then either coming home in April or visiting later in the year again) where possible. But it is a tough journey.
If it was down to just emotion I'd be coming home (as in the uk) in April and never returning to Australia. The reason why I'm stuck is because of money. I feel like a cunt to put money above family.
I can't speak for all of Aus but here my expenses are similar to that of the UK. My cigarettes are considerably more expensive but for example, renters aren't liable for council tax or water and I don't have TV license. My rent is £100GBP a month more expensive but I live right near a shopping centre and in a lovely area with reliable public transport vs in the middle of nowhere with only a police station and unreliable train station so everything evens out. But my income is considerably more (more than double in GBP).
I never earned more than £24k in the UK, was on 21 when I left and could probably earn up to 30k if I moved to a more expensive part of the UK but here I earn approx £66k. I'm quite lucky as there's a shortage of my profession here at the moment and I know some roles in my field don't pay as well, I did get quite lucky.
I can actually live here. I can save, I can go out for dinner, I can DO stuff! I don't panic if something breaks and then I need a new pair of shoes and also my credit card bill is due all in the same week. I wouldn't call myself rich but I certainly am not poor anymore. I'm not driving around in a Lamborghini but I am happy with my financial situation for the first time in my life.
Stuff seems to work better here in general for example I'm entitled to healthcare like a resident or citizen under the reciprocal healthcare agreement. I can go online and get a GP appointment at 2hrs notice with any GP without having to register in advance, pay nothing for it and only pay $2-$10 for my prescription costs if applicable I don't know how it works in other states though, but that's how it works here. But in my home town you have to be poised on the phone at 8:30am when they open if you have a hope in hell of getting an appointment before the week is out and that's if it's something reasonably urgent. I've unfortunately had a few encounters with the local Gp (abscess, infection and a sprained ankle ) but I've never had to experience what I have in the UK re waiting times and being shoved out of the door in 2 mins.
My mum and sister are laying on the guilt trip now though. Isn't family more important than money etc? You rarely need to use the NHS, you don't need to apply for an expensive visa to live here forever and so forth.
Wwyd? Am I being sensible or selfish? on the one hand I feel bad for putting money over family but on the other hand they aren't the ones living on sweet fuck all after bills and rent, scrimping and saving to afford a pair of work shoes (which is what I'd be doing back home)
I feel confused and at a loss regarding what to do
Short summary; here my life is better, I live in a better area in a better house with a garden vs a flat with no garden, healthcare is better and my working conditions are (slightly) better but my salary is considerably better. I'm no longer poor.
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AIBU?
Aibu to not know if I'm selfish or sensible?
30 replies
ConfusedExpat · 16/10/2017 09:50
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