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Living overseas

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Original poster

bloody hell - HOW MUCH!!

36 replies

eidsvold · 14/08/2007 07:06

Was thinking it would be nice to get dh's mother to come out here for a while - coming up to 1st anniversary since his dad passed away. Figured some aussie sun etc after that might be the tonic she needs.... well okay coming from her end.

I thought it might be cool to fly over with the dds to visit for a little while and then we could all fly back!!

For me and three dds - almost $7000 - well better get saving if we are all to go back for a holiday to visit with family. On one income - it is not quite possible just yet! If you added spending money and car hire with some accommodation thrown in for us to travel a bit with the dds when there.

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SittingBull · 14/08/2007 07:19

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SittingBull · 14/08/2007 07:19

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sunnydelight · 14/08/2007 07:20

Is there any way she would travel by herself? It's a lovely idea to go over and bring her back, but a hell of a lot of money!!!

I must admit when DH blithely said to everyone as we left the UK "we'll be back every year" I was thinking "how the hell will that work" (there are 5 of us and DS1 counts as an adult for flights).

Hope you work something out; it would be a really nice thing to do for her. I know from experience that the first anniversary can be pretty difficult.

BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 14/08/2007 07:39

What is that in GBP ?

SittingBull · 14/08/2007 07:50

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BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 14/08/2007 07:52

Holey Moley... before you buy an ice-cream as my mother would say.

arfishy · 14/08/2007 08:05

That's a lovely idea for your MIL Eids. Why don't you do an Ebay challenge to try to raise some cash, and a garage sale?.

I am still getting over the shock of coughing up for my trip back home (and I don't get holiday pay so it was $$$ losing 3 weeks wages on top of it all).

DD keeps asking if we can go back to visit Grandma and see how the ponies are getting on. I start hyperventilating whenever the subject comes up and checking out the 7 days in Fiji for $299 packages instead.

I raised $300 in a couple of months just by putting all my $2 coins into a little jar. I used it for pre-trip spending (of the entirely gratuitious variety).

phdlife · 14/08/2007 08:13

yes the 3 of us are planning to visit Aus via LA at Christmas and tix are going to set us back nearly £3000 - at least that was last time I looked!

ghosty · 14/08/2007 08:20

It is a lot Eidsvold, isn't it? The last time we went back (two years ago, for my sister's wedding) my DH said it was the last time he wanted to spend NZ$10,000 to see my family for the whole of his precious 3 weeks annual leave ...
As much as I miss my family I agree with him and so we won't be going back until we have had proper family holiday, just the 4 of us, somewhere lovely. We are saving up for that now so I don't know when the UK will come up again ....

dejags · 14/08/2007 08:28

Holy Cow Eidsvold!

$7000!!!!! eeek. Sheesh I won't be seeing my folks in a long time.

$7000!!!

Jackaroo · 14/08/2007 09:09

Ah, I'd better retract my promise that we'll be back mid-sabbactical to see my parents and brother and friends... I'm not spending that kind of money if we're only away for 2 years (only? It's only taken me a week to get that blase about going away!).

sandcastles · 14/08/2007 09:18

Oh well...that's us pretty much grounded for a while then.

Original poster
eidsvold · 14/08/2007 10:41

Big Do was yesterday sittingbull - black trousers and sandals with a wrap style empire line shirt - white background with red and black splashes.... looked good.

That was to fly singapore airlines - could have gotten it a little cheaper flying JAL but that makes for a longer flight - and long stopovers in an airport with three littlies.

I was just dreaming - no way we could afford to do it on one wage - that $7000 is without DH!!!

We keep dropping hints about how lovely it would be for her to come here and see us. I think once she made the trip - she would be okay.

OKAY - selfishly I would love to catch up with wonderful friends that I made when we lived there who helped dh and I through some very tough times just after dd1 was born and I would love for them to see how fab she is doing now as well as meet dd2 and dd3.

As I said - if I was working too and back teaching and earning what I used to then realistically after childcare - my wages would be for us to do as we pleased!!!!

Have told dh if he wons anything substantial on the lottery - a trip back to the UK - business class if possible would be warranted!!

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sibble · 14/08/2007 20:13

that's part of the reason why I've not gone home this year $10k NZ before you kiss the tarmac is alot of cocktails in fiji or in my case new sofas etc....

TheQueenOfQuotes · 14/08/2007 20:17

It cost us £3500 just for the flights when we flew back out to Zim with the DS's to visit DH's family - shockingly expensive...and that was before we included car hire, petrol, accomodation, food etc etc

Original poster
eidsvold · 14/08/2007 23:31

or in our case - lots of therapy for dd1 and work done on the house!!

I know we will go eventually - probably better when the dds are a bit older to 'appreciate it'.

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Califrau · 14/08/2007 23:39

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Original poster
eidsvold · 14/08/2007 23:42

having said that when it really matters - last year when we got news of FIL being diagnosed with very aggressive cancer and then passing away a relatively short time later - we were able to find the money for DH to make two trips back within 3 months.

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ghosty · 15/08/2007 00:27

That's different though Eidsvold. We would find the money if we had to (any family crisis) but I have done it a few times now (for 'pleasure') and by the time you have spent the money, suffered jetlag with small children, had a few family rows , got back ache from sleeping on sofa beds, jostled for space in one small kitchen designed for one family and not two .... you wonder what the point is ...
I miss my family and would love to see them every year, but even if we had the $7000 I doubt we would do it every year ... it is too hard.

Albus · 15/08/2007 01:49

Oh blimey, tell me about it! I am desperate to go back as is DS but my boss, his wife and 7 year old just flew back (same family make up as me) and it cost 23,000 reais, I only earn 1,800 per month There is absolutely no way I will ever be able to afford it

Original poster
eidsvold · 15/08/2007 05:12

that is right ghosty - we would have so many people to see and if it is anything like when I would come home - everyone expects you to go to them - and for some relies and friends it is okay but it got tiresome.... and not having your own space with three little one would be a nightmare.

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MrsJohnCusack · 15/08/2007 05:43

yes we waant to go back next year, but have NO IDEA how we will pay for it! costs so much even before car hire, food etc. once you get there

robinpud · 15/08/2007 07:01

This is exaclty why we are spending a fortune doing as much as possible ( nowhere near enough!) whilst we are here. There is no question of usbeing able to afford to come back before the kids are much much older.

Ghosty- treat yourself to a holiday in far north QLD next July. Fantastic scenery, the weather is a great bonus after the cold of Melbourne, wonderful beaches, cheap accomodation.. shall I go on?

SweetyDarling · 15/08/2007 09:05

Do you have no fregquent flyer points? If you combined everyone's points it might go some way towards getting at least one of you a free flight?

sibble · 15/08/2007 20:40

my cunning plan though is to pay for my sister to come here, one flight being cheaper than 3 (4 wiht dh, not that staying with my parents for a month gets him whip whooing from the roof tops so it's usually 3) having said that the tight * is swimming in the azures with dolphins as I type so not sure she's as hard up as she makes out