Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you pay £20k for a year in Sydney?

175 replies

DilemmaDame · 27/02/2018 23:32

Not an AIBU but a WWYD.

Have NC’d for this as very outing.

No kids (and don't want any)

29 and 31

Married

One of us has a City-type job; one of us has a media-type job.

Own two properties in London: one flat (rented to long-term tenant) and one house (would rent out if accepted posting)

Together currently earn £165,000

Spouse with City-type job has been offered 12 – 24 month posting to Sydney with right of return to UK (would slot back into same role / position / team).

Should be good career-wise (expanding network, new work, new challenges, fresh environment)

Company would cover both spouses’ flights (at start and end of posting), shipping allowance for personal possessions, apartment for 2 weeks while a rental is sorted out, but no other benefits / perks.

The catch is that spouse with City-type job would need to accept a drop in salary (£20k p.a.) for duration of stay in Sydney.

Mortgages back in UK can still be covered easily, and there would still be plenty to live on and to enjoy a nice lifestyle with, but £20k is a huge sum of money.

If you were me / us, WWYD?

OP posts:
GreenSeededGrape · 28/02/2018 08:12

As someone who moves employees from around the world into Europe, it's not a pay cut. You can't just take your current salary and convert to new currency. There will be internal benchmarks set. You might be able to negotiate a bit more but I would be surprised at much more.

Having said that, absolutely I'd go! I've lived in many places around the world and had to fund myself and find own jobs. This isn't a real 'adventure' it's the spoilt person's way Wink

DontCallMeCharlotte · 28/02/2018 08:15

I'd go in a flash. Easiest WWYD I've ever seen. Have fun!

orangesticker · 28/02/2018 08:17

We did this nearly 20 years ago when you were able to get $4 to the £1 and we were very comfortable - we got our rent tax free - so half price and a two business class trips home a year.
The best bit was the holidays whilst there, we had amazing holidays and the food was incredible, but I think London has caught up on this front now.
Working environment was fairly aggressive and no where near as polite as we were used to. People were very small minded compared to London, not everyone of course, just more people were - maybe they were just more vocal.
We stayed for the two years but we were glad we didn't have to stay any longer. I have siblings in Australia - so we still visit and enjoy the holidays but we never wish we'd stayed. I think we'd consider taking a £20k hit if we loved to travel - but it sounds like you don't and if that's the case I wouldn't bother.

Vangoghsear · 28/02/2018 08:23

Grab the chance and go! (and don't come back to Brexit Britain).

AgnesBrownsCat · 28/02/2018 08:24

Go ! I don’t even earn £20000 a year. On those salaries it’s not a deal breaker .

Globetrotter100 · 28/02/2018 08:25

OP your employer needs to include tax filing services at both ends for the duration of the tax years covered.

I'm assuming you'd be going on a 457 visa? If so, pretty sure you can't pull out your compulsory pension contributions on departure. You'll pay tax on these going IN and if you take them out when back in UK (at pension age) you are taxed AGAIN here also because it works the opposite way around and there is not dual tax agreement covering pensions in force.

You'll also be liable to pay tax on your London property in Oz and will need accounts to be structured on the (different) tax year there. As well as filing in UK as a non-resident landlord too on the UK year. You claim back tax already paid (the dual taxation agreement covers this aspect) but you do need to do this.

Plus side, you'll get full UK personal allowance for both ends of split years which should help...

I'm a dual citizen who has lived in and loves both London and Sydney. Sounds like a great opportunity but could be a big administrative headache which your employer can resolve.

Argeles · 28/02/2018 08:33

@expatmatt78

Just because something has not happened to you does not mean that I’m ‘talking nonsense!’ I cannot believe your audacity to accuse me of lying just because you haven’t had the misfortune that we had during our visit.

It’s great for you that you love Sydney and have had great experiences, but we did not.

You have your opinion based on your experiences, and I have mine based on my experiences. Let’s agree to disagree.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 28/02/2018 08:35

In reality, £20k is about 6-7weeks pay for you (between you), isn't it.
Is it really such a big loss? Not if you look at it like that, in my view.

So I would do it because it would be an adventure, something to look back on in future years - a horizon expander, if you like.

It's not a permanent move (which requires an awful lot more soul searching) - it's just a placement. Give it a go! There are of course negatives to being so far away from the UK (not least the flights back!) and it will be different, but it's not nearly as bad as one poster suggested! I don't live in Sydney, I'm in semi-rural NSW, and it's fine really. Except for the fecking relentless summer which just will NOT feck off this year! But y'know, if you like that sort of thing, then why not?

Want2bSupermum · 28/02/2018 09:10

When I worked in big4 here in NYC (left last year) they brought over lots of people from the UK on placements paying them 'less'. They were 1 or 2 rated employees and hired at pay levels of 4 rated employees. They were paid off with guaranteed career advancement back home.

Honestly it was awful to see so many Brits taken advantage of. If you work for big4 I would recommend transferring only if you want to make partner and it being effective shortly after your return. If you aren't sure that you want to make partner do a 3 month placement instead. Same benefits without the pay cut. Normally the 3 month placements are due to excess work and the client picks up your expenses.

Argeles · 28/02/2018 09:14

In reply to a few other posters who are in disbelief over what I posted about my experiences, they were unfortunately true - I do not lie!

Racial incident - Manly Beach.
Taxi incident - from Central Sydney to Parramatta.
Drug incident - Penrith.

For balance, I have a relative who has lived near the centre for 1 year (they relocated from another Australian City as they were bored there), and this person loves it.

I guess that the city just didn’t appeal to DH and I, and with our experiences added to the mix, it put us off.

cambodianfoxhound · 28/02/2018 09:19

Go definitely. Life is about so much more than money, and you will be earning plenty for a decent life. You don't have kids to factor in. What an adventure.

I did something similar and never looked back. The enriching life experience of living somewhere completely new, travelling in a different part of the world.

Opportunities like this don't come along very often. Take it!

Bluelady · 28/02/2018 09:21

I'd go in a heartbeat if I were in your position. You won't notice or think about that £20k in a couple of years time. It's not even as much as that after tax and NI.

Your parents are probably more motivated by missing you than really and truly thinking you're crazy.

specialsubject · 28/02/2018 09:23

Could be interesting. As long as you aren't just swapping one desk for another. No point crossing the planet if all it means is different office and different pubs, you need time to see something of the place.

Hillingdon · 28/02/2018 09:24

Please please go you lucky thing. DH had an opportunity many many years ago before children. I wanted to go but he didn't want to leave his family. No option to come back to same role.

KNOWING WHAT I KNOW NOW - I WOULD GO!!

SilverySurfer · 28/02/2018 09:25

HuskyMcClusky
What a bunch of risk averse mithering fun sponges there are on this thread !!!

Yep! Can’t figure out if they’re boring as hell or just jealous 🤔

I might be boring but definitely not jealous. Lived abroad happily during two periods when younger - just have zero interest in going to Australia for several reasons but hey, feel free to judge, it's what we all do on here.

anotherchangetomyname · 28/02/2018 09:25

Sounds a brilliant opportunity and the figures add up. Go!

JackieReacher · 28/02/2018 09:27

something for media spouse to consider - from where I sit in media, people who go to Oz for a short time tend to get very significant promotions because their major market experience is highly valued there and they often retain that level of seniority on return. It's done wonders for a few careers in my business.

Dcdfcdfc · 28/02/2018 09:36

I have the perfect solution.
Stay in the UK but go on a month long trip to somewhere amazing and blow the £20,000 - it be far more fun, far less stress and something you remember forever.

You could travel business class and stay in lovely hotels.

There, I've sorted out your dilemma. 😊

MarshaBradyo · 28/02/2018 09:39

Sounds good to me dcd

OutyMcOutface · 28/02/2018 09:46

@Althea Australians (those who live in cities) are less friendly than Brits-I grew up there. Believe, I can see a huge difference. They are also extremely inconsiderate and have very little awareness of other's needs or how to behave themselves. The only positive is that Australians are less likely to judge if you are rude yourself because they wouldn't even notice in the first place. They are also generally much louder then British. It's fine if you are used to bad manners or of you are living a more suburban/rural lifestyle but if you are living in a city cebtre with becomes very draining very quickly. Even I find it irritating after a few weeks and I have spent the majority of my life there. Australians are laid back about everything. Including basic manners. If that kind of thing bothers OP she would be well advised not to live there. I wouldn't do it again unless I was living in a 'rural' area on the edge of which city it was that I needed access to.

OutyMcOutface · 28/02/2018 09:49

@Argeles you haven't been very careful about where you have been going have you? Thwre will of course be 'incidents' in the tougher parts of town just as there are in some parts of London. Your experiences aren't really typical.

OutyMcOutface · 28/02/2018 09:52

@Desgusting I meant city dwellers (who are of course the vast majority of Australians so hardly a 'sweeping' generalisation). Rural folk are by and large very lovely from my experience.

DeadGood · 28/02/2018 09:55

I have to say I agree with Outy - the Australian character is laid-back, but not particularly “nice” or kind. That’s fine, but I do think lots of people associate the relaxed attitude as friendliness, which it is, to a degree, but the other side of that coin is disinterest or even rudeness at times.

Personally OP I would go. It’s a fun city. I’m amazed that your parents are questioning it, and agree with a PP that they are thinking of themselves, not you right now.

Also ... I must admit I’m finding it quite tiresome reading all of these helpful comments from posters who are appalled at the package you are being offered. Not all relocation packages are the same and we have no idea what level the OP and her partner are at. Yes they should negotiate but no, they shouldn’t “walk out of the room” because they aren’t being offered extra cash on top of all the relocation assistance, to cover the “inconvenience” of being offered a comparable position in a beautiful city.

Argeles · 28/02/2018 09:55

@OutyMcOutface

I thought Sydney centre and Manly Beach areas would be fine - certainly wasn’t warned about anything in these areas.

We had to stay in Penrith, as we were staying at an Australian friend’s house, and just used to travel to the train station to travel out of the area and saw the drug incident on the way to the station during the early afternoon.

midnightmisssuki · 28/02/2018 10:05

we were offered something similar many years ago (in Asia though) - my dh was in banking and they offered him a salary which was lower than his salary here in the UK - this was because the tax in the country was lower so they said in reality - he would still be making more. We said no - dh was afraid that when we moved back here and if ever he had to look for another job, his last drawn salary would be that of one that was much lower (to reflect the tax drop). My friends brother lives in Sydney - he hates it but is there for the money (hes in banking too and on a v.good pay). Rent is expensive and no way will you find somewhere in 2 weeks I would go and see the place before making a big decision like this...