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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you rather stay in U.K. or aus

260 replies

whytesnow · 02/01/2023 23:40

And what's your reasons? Just had a crazy idea to move over as I don't have any commitments here and life is getting boring for me here

OP posts:
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psychomath · 03/01/2023 00:00

I wouldn't consider moving there myself, mostly because I have the impression everything is very spread out compared to here - I remember someone explaining to me that where she lived was considered part of Melbourne even though it was a 30 minute train journey from the city centre - and I can't drive. Plus the cost of rent is insane even by UK standards, and it's a long way from any other countries (except New Zealand), and if I was there for more than a few years I think I'd miss being able to go on short holidays abroad. It does look like an incredible country though and I hope to visit one day for sure, it just wouldn't be where I'd choose to live personally.

Jimboscott0115 · 03/01/2023 00:05

The cost of housing and cost of living is extortionate which immediately puts me off.

The wages are higher but when I did the sums about 5 years ago taking all of this into account I would have been a fair bit worse off financially for a similar lifestyle - things like a weekly shop were going to be significantly more expensive (75% more or thereabouts).

Womencanlift · 03/01/2023 00:08

I couldn’t live that far away from family. Even though I live away from them now, I know I could get home reasonably quickly if needed and with aging parents that’s a massive consideration for me

Even when my parents are no longer here, I don’t think I would like to be so far away from my wider family

KnickerlessParsons · 03/01/2023 00:12

U.K. all the way. Aus is too far from anywhere else - even NZ is a four hour plane ride - and everywhere in Aus is too far from everywhere else in Aus, yet everywhere looks exactly the same.
The TV is crap. There are sharks in the sea. The food isn't good. Amazon service is poor. It's v hot in the summer. They aren't very nice to the indigenous people.

Cas112 · 03/01/2023 00:13

Jimboscott0115 · 03/01/2023 00:05

The cost of housing and cost of living is extortionate which immediately puts me off.

The wages are higher but when I did the sums about 5 years ago taking all of this into account I would have been a fair bit worse off financially for a similar lifestyle - things like a weekly shop were going to be significantly more expensive (75% more or thereabouts).

The wages match the cost of living so that argument doesn't really matter.

I did a couple of years OP and came home because I was planning on doing some travelling but then covid happened and I have since made a family here but one day I hope to go back and move there permanently. Just a whole better standard of living there, the UK is depressed and on its knees, nothing compared to what you will have there

Keyansier · 03/01/2023 00:19

UK all the way. Can't stand Australia. Horrible weather, horrible accents, horrible animals, horrible lifestyle, horrible everything. Personally not for me, I'm afraid!

Aprilx · 03/01/2023 00:38

Are you entitled to a passport or visa? The question could be moot otherwise.

bumblefeline · 03/01/2023 00:41

I have never been to Australia so I can't compare. We had the chance years ago but never took it up. I like having easy access to so many beautiful European countries so I'm glad we didn't go.

echt · 03/01/2023 00:43

Australia is fucking awful in every way possible. Stay where you are.

notsosoftanymore · 03/01/2023 00:46

I've been to Australia. Trip of a lifetime. Love the friendly people, the outdoor lifestyle, the humour, the positivity, a still young country with a future. The UK is just finished, we need a change of government and it isn't going to happen soon. As for the NHS, from today's Guardian

"The deaths of an estimated 300 to 500 people each week caused by delays in emergency care is “not a short-term thing”, a senior UK health official has said.
Ian Higginson, a vice-president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, warned about attempts to “discredit” figures estimating that as many as 500 people are dying each week because of the delays."

We are sitting ducks. I know Australia has a shortage of GPs but at least there is a health service still in existence!

StrawHatOnTheParcelShelf · 03/01/2023 00:47

Keyansier · 03/01/2023 00:19

UK all the way. Can't stand Australia. Horrible weather, horrible accents, horrible animals, horrible lifestyle, horrible everything. Personally not for me, I'm afraid!

I'm going to vote for Australia just in the hope that the OP can avoid having to mix with people who have your outlook on life.

Back to the OP though - what draws you to Australia? What are the pros and cons of staying where you are?

Original poster
whytesnow · 03/01/2023 00:55

What draws me to aus is the weather healthy lifestyle when am here and it's cold i don't want to leave the house, workout or go a walk but in the summer i love doing those things.I love that it's just like the U.K. but sunny almost all my friends have settled down here I split up with my ex a year ago so newly single, plus they have changed the age to 35 for a working visa I will be 34 this year

OP posts:
Aprilx · 03/01/2023 01:07

whytesnow · 03/01/2023 00:55

What draws me to aus is the weather healthy lifestyle when am here and it's cold i don't want to leave the house, workout or go a walk but in the summer i love doing those things.I love that it's just like the U.K. but sunny almost all my friends have settled down here I split up with my ex a year ago so newly single, plus they have changed the age to 35 for a working visa I will be 34 this year

Well a WHV sounds like it would be a great idea for you, but that is not moving there, it is an extended holiday with some (limited) working rights. You are not going to be able to stay at the end of it unless you are in a serious relationship with an Australian resident or citizen or are eligible for a skilled migrant or employer sponsored visa.

I have dual citizenship, I have been back in the UK about five years after living there for give years. The job opportunities were better in UK, particularly for my husband who is very niche. We might go back to live there one day when he is ready to retire or semi retire. Both have pros and cons.

Aprilx · 03/01/2023 01:14

I am just going to comment on your weather and healthy liftestyle. Firstly your lifestyle is all you, you either choose to be healthy or you don’t. If you don’t currently have a healthy lifestyle, then arriving in Australia is not going to change that.

I also think much the same about being “outdoorsy” you either are or you aren’t. I am not especially outdoorsy, but I am a darn site more likely to be outdoors in the UK than Australia. The UK has e temperate climate, it is easy to live in and never really brutal. Australia climate is brutal in comparison.

I love both countries, as I say I can see pros and cons to both, but I sometimes think lifestyle and weather is misunderstood. Another misconception like that is “work life balance” as if everyone clocks off at 4pm to go to the beach. 🙂

Rtmhwales · 03/01/2023 01:19

I've lived in both the UK and Aus as an expat to both countries.

Hands down Aus for me. I found the people happier and the quality of life far better. But that's just me, as an individual.

Never quite understood the vitriol about Australia and America on here.

Sugarfree23 · 03/01/2023 01:20

The UK is screwed if I could leave taking my family I would.

Mentalpiece · 03/01/2023 01:22

Can I pick the UK please.
For no other reason that Australia has lots of horrible spiders and snakes ( other creepy-crawlies available ) which terrified me of coming across when I holidayed there.

ouch321 · 03/01/2023 01:22

No way. Eight legged monsters are plentiful there.

mackthepony · 03/01/2023 01:25

Not sure about the hate for Australia is, as a PP said?

I spent a year there eon a working holiday visa that the op is looking into and could not have enjoyed it more.

Do it op, apply and go.

As for this comment :

Horrible weather, horrible accents, horrible animals, horrible lifestyle, horrible everything

^

Really?? Bit unnecessary

UnadulteratedCat · 03/01/2023 01:25

I am in Australia. have been for 12 years from Devon. I have lived in Far North Queensland, country Victoria and now Northern suburbs of Adelaide.

The cost of living was a huge shock seeing as I came from minimum wage/benefits in UK. We have worked hard and now DH is in defence so are doing ok.

I had to stop comparing prices as £ to $ and instead as % of hourly rate or similar. It really helped change that mindset.

If you come over don’t imagine it will be the same. Brands are different but equally good. Fresh food is amazing so I don’t know why pp said food is crap.

Generally it is what you make of it. It can get unbelievably hot but winters depending on where you are can be quite nice. Qld was like mild uk summer but Vic was rather chilly but not freezing.

I will probably never go back to uk to live unless something awful happens. It’s been hard being away from family but again make the most of any phone calls/ visits.

if you can get a work visa you should try it.

percypal · 03/01/2023 01:25

I absolutely could not cope with the spiders

UnadulteratedCat · 03/01/2023 01:27

I’ve never seen a wild snake 🐍 and while there are plenty of spiders, you need to understand them and how to stop the bad ones. My kids learn all about them in kindy and school and tell me which are good and bad etc. we do a spider spray every 6 months to stop them coming in the house.

We have kangaroos living at the end of our street so that’s pretty great.

silentpool · 03/01/2023 01:28

I've lived in London and Melbourne so...

I often don't recognise Australia from the snide comments on here - maybe they went to Queensland and didn't like it? I have a very nice quality of life here and overall spend less on rent, transport etc than I did in London.

Compared to London, it's cleaner, less rubbish and dirt around. I get into the GP when I want and public transport is clean. Food quality is great. People tend to finish work at 5ish and take their lunch break, so there is a decent work life balance.

It all comes down to what you want. If you want to be popping across to Europe frequently, don't come here. If you want an easy going life, with lots of opportunity to spend time outdoors, Aus will suit you. Its not some kind of paradise but I feel my quality of life is better as a single person.

If you don't like baking heat, don't go to Queensland - try Melbourne or Tasmania. What have you got to lose?

DeirdreRashid · 03/01/2023 01:28

What @KnickerlessParsons said about them being not very nice to the indigenous populations. That’s why I couldn’t stay. The UK is bloody fantastic in comparison. Also weather. Actually far easier to have a healthy outdoor lifestyle here in our temperate climate than in Oz

percypal · 03/01/2023 01:28

Send me some of your spray for the baddies we get here sometimes!!