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Original poster

Thinking of moving back to the UK, could I live on this?

71 replies

AllThreeWays · 14/04/2019 01:32

My partner died 6 months ago and I am feeling overworked and lonely. The city I live in in Australia is renowned for being unfriendly.

I am considering moving to the UK, I am a citizen but haven't lived there since I was 9. I have a teaching degree in Design and Arts, would have about £300000 from the sale of my home and a pension of $26000.

I have to work fulltime in Australia as the pension isn't enougj but I feel it may be enough over there.

What do you think? Are those amounts doable? I would like to work part time and make some friends. I would like to live in a village and I have a DS7.

Opinions?

OP posts:
Original poster
AllThreeWays · 14/04/2019 01:33

£26000 I should say, not $

OP posts:
INeedToGetHealthy · 14/04/2019 01:34

I have heard that Australia is much more expensive to live in now. So it may be a good possibility of you being better off over in the U.K. I'm sorry for the loss of your DH too.

WaxOnFeckOff · 14/04/2019 01:37

Is that pounds or dollars? If pounds then yes, it would be enough. You could buy a property outright depending on where in the country you want to be, so no mortgage and that income would fund a nice lifestyle especially if you had part time work as well.

Sorry for your loss.

Original poster
AllThreeWays · 14/04/2019 01:38

Thanks Ineed, the city I live in is particularly expensive. I could probably go rural here too and be ok. But rural here means long distances and a harsh climate.
I feel I may make friends easier in the UK tol, call me crazy.

OP posts:
Original poster
AllThreeWays · 14/04/2019 01:39

Yes all amounts converted to pounds.

OP posts:
Wigeon · 14/04/2019 01:40

Sorry for the loss of your DP. Whether that’s enough depends on how much you might earn working part time - that’s totally dependent on what you are planning to do, and where; where in the UK you might want to live, and what kind of living standard you expect. Do you want to buy a home with your £300k? Or rent? London and the south east is far far more expensive than other parts; rural is likely to be cheaper than a city (but again, depends).

Whereabouts are you thinking you might live?

WaxOnFeckOff · 14/04/2019 01:41

Definitely doable OP. Have you any ties in the uk? Any ideas on where you want to be?

carrie74 · 14/04/2019 01:41

Yes it all sounds very doable, albeit dependent on where you want to settle (ie not London).

And having a DC of primary school age would give you a great in to meet people.

I'm so sorry for your loss x

Original poster
AllThreeWays · 14/04/2019 01:44

I was considering cornwall or somerset. I don't really know as I lived in Henley when I was little. I know that is to expensive.
I would like a cottage with a garden, I need a studio space and a big kitchen.
Thinking of teaching, either part time secondary , or adult classes, textiles and fashion are my major.

OP posts:
WaxOnFeckOff · 14/04/2019 01:45

Id try to buy house and car outright. Then you'd just have council tax, bills, food and insurance etc. Away from really expensive areas it would be fine.

WaxOnFeckOff · 14/04/2019 01:47

I could only help with areas in Scotland in afraid but sure people here would be able to help. And yes, having a school age child will help with making friends. Good luck with it all.

ImaLumberJack · 14/04/2019 01:49

Somerset would be ideal and you would be fine.

Original poster
AllThreeWays · 14/04/2019 01:52

I am worried I am romantisizing my childhood. I lived in a cottage called Mays Green near Harpsden.
It had an open fire, oak tree and about an acre of land. Walks in the woods and a small village school are my memories. But I am mainly concerned about making friends. I have one friend near Guildford but my remaining UK family are very old.

OP posts:
Italiangreyhound · 14/04/2019 02:24

OP I am so sorry for your loss.

Can you come back to the UK and see how it is for a holiday?

Can I also ask if you have had grief counselling etc?

Whether it is easier to make friends here, or not, I have no idea. I have traveled in Australia. It's a beautiful place, but I was younger and no kids etc then. I think it's worth being cautious and doing your own independent research on costs etc and visiting the place you want to live before selling up etc.

All the very best.

springydaff · 14/04/2019 02:29

I'm so sorry for your loss Flowers

Tho it's probably not advisable to make a move, especially such a big move, when you are newly bereaved. 6 months is no time at all. By all means look into it but hold off for at least the first year, if not two. xx

Original poster
AllThreeWays · 14/04/2019 02:36

That is good advice Italiangreyhound and springydaff.
Am considering taking a year off as I feel so overwhelmed, my job is quite stressful.

OP posts:
LiliesAndChocolate · 14/04/2019 02:43

I live in Australia, and plan in going back to Europe, France in my case, once the kids have finished their schooling and fly with their own wings to Uni wherever they want.
We have lived in many countries and on a social point of view, it has been the hardest.
It is extremely expensive, healthcare included even with a very high private, and very very dull.
Yes Australia has a beautiful scenery. But it is not enough. What makes you happy in a place is not the view, but the people.

I would go back but you need to consider your son. He just lost his father, losing all he has ever known might be terrible.

Taking him out of school now and go to UK and have a look around until you find a place with the good feeling. Your memories will be altered , we tend to remember the good and forget the bad.

I am sorry for your loss.

Original poster
AllThreeWays · 14/04/2019 02:46

At is a very good point Lilies, I am glad you agree about the social aspect of Oz. I was beginning to feel li,e there was something wrong with me. (There still could be lol)

OP posts:
Original poster
AllThreeWays · 14/04/2019 02:48

Gosh, I wish we could edit appalling typos 😶

OP posts:
Italiangreyhound · 14/04/2019 02:52

Not sure why i said it was a beautiful place, that sounds dumb now! Sorry. For you it is also a place that holds lots of memories. Coming to the UK may be good but to be honest it's quite a miserable place at the moment, lots of fear over bloody brexit!

I asked about counselling because I think you need to come to terms with your loss before making any big decisions.

I agree with LiliesAndChocolate "I would go back but you need to consider your son. He just lost his father, losing all he has ever known might be terrible."

I do remember watching a documentary about life in Oz and it did talk about some of the issues for foreigners there. But you have lived there since 9 so i am not sure if that applies for you.

Anyway, I really do wish you all the very best.

Thanks XXXX

Krimpy · 14/04/2019 02:53

I am very sorry for you and your son's loss, OP. I don't think now is the right time to be making any major lifestyle changes. It's certainly possible that you may be romanticising your childhood, which is quite understandable, but on the other hand maybe this move will be perfect for you both. Give it a year and then reconsider. Rural communities can be quite guarded against incomers so maybe a biggish/market town might be a better option.

Krimpy · 14/04/2019 02:55

@LiliesAndChocolate speaks a lot of sense

Itwouldtakemuchmorethanthis · 14/04/2019 02:56

In the southwest that would be enough for a nice life. Not an acre of land but a small house with a garden. I’d do it, but I would move fairly soon so ds can settle well before secondary.

chocolateroses · 14/04/2019 02:58

Sorry for your loss OP.

I just moved from a London Borough to a more rural location. It was only an hour away from where I was but I love it. People are just so lovely and friendly, and I've made lots of friends through school.

However, it's taken a good year for those friendships to spark and grow, and I have three DC of different ages which helped introduce me to lots of mums naturally.

I would worry that you'd have a while to make friendships. In a new country with no ties, this could be a lonely time - especially after a loss such as yours? I'm a (very) socially awkward person though so maybe that's just me...

I would definitely consider a holiday before the move, maybe with a little house hunt so you could see the sort of houses you could get and meet some locals.

chocolateroses · 14/04/2019 03:01

Ps- I work part time which is lovely, I've got work friends too and it's helps stop me getting lonely.

I think I'd be tempted to do it OP