New series of Wanted Down Under

[sailorsgal]

I think it starts next week.

Yes! the shopping list winds me up!

But sparkling- new Zealand had school fairs!?!?

Oh yes, that's true shake. They don't have those in the UK.

I only saw the first 10 mins of this then had to do some work

I just thought he was a twit and she had her head screwed on.

Quelled surprise they didn't go

Thanks, I thought that, he does the same job as my dp which is very frowned upon calling yourself an engineer when you dont have the degree, he will be a mechanical fitter/technician!

I am not surprised they didnt go either the dad seemed desperate to run away from something

My lovely nephew and his family live in Oz. They have a Victorian house which they have remodelled, it looks fabulous (on line ). But they have a SMALL garden and have to park on the street so it's not just modern houses that have limited outdoor space

We certainly couldnt afford a bigger place in Australia than where we are in teh UK (we did look ;)) I think its really only if you're selling a london place, and then, of course, you could actually afford a much larger place anywhere else in England (and a more outdoor lifestyle etc etc!)

There seems to be some unfounded utopian belief about Australia (and America when I was growing up). Was it an exchange rate thing a generation or two ago? Was there a time when selling a house here would mean a life of luxury there? Certainly in Melbourne I was in a v/nice middle class area and new uni lecturers, architects etc and people didnt tend to have pools or much bigger houses than their euqivalent would here - perhaps bigger plots as often a bungalow rather than a house.

Was there a time when selling a house here would mean a life of luxury there?

Pretty much. at one point Australia was rock bottom for eating our, food shopping etc, but it seems we have caught up with the rest of the world.

And in some cases, we are ridiculously expensive due to taxes (particularly alcohol, v heavily taxed)

Bit different today- kids are older than you usually get on WDU. Seem like a nice family- no idiots so far!

Wonder what's the catch with that first home. Price seems way low.

On the website it says they are fed up of struggling to make ends meet in uk and think Oz offers a better life but judging by other comments on here they are seriously misguided

Sounds as if the mum is worn out constantly keeping her head above water and wants a change.

Aww, this family is lovely.

Too lovely! I'm not enjoying as much I'm being a cow

Nah all the weeping is giving me the rage.

Yes, blub blub blub all the live long day

I like the eldest DD saying she'd do anything for them... except move to Oz!!

Ah sad that catch up says she had to leave NHS to earn more money.

I don't think they'll move- kids are at a crucial stage for school and relationships. I predict we ll see one of the kids on wanted down under in 10 yrs time with a husband who don't want to move.

When kids are aged16-22 there is never a good time for everybody.

Interesting the weekly shop was cheaper. Looking at their list the only branded item was Flora spread. Everything else was generic basic food - tomatoes, wholemeal bread, milk etc. Maybe the other families eat more processed foods. Though they didn't have yoghurt on the list - that was the killer in previous episodes!

Did they mention what her salary was as a nurse in the UK? Are the kids bleeding her dry? Is this why they're so financially troubled?

Surely the kids will leave home soon and be less of a financial strain on her. A move like this seems like too little too late.

They have since moved to a cheaper, smaller house in the UK. Not sure what her salary was though it was over the threshold for tax credits.

legs - how on earth was their shop cheaper in Australia? We only eat "real" food and found that even fruit was expensive, bread was really expensive.

I think it only really works if the ratio between the money the job pays and living expenses increases. Most people are paid more there but its mroe expensive to live - but some trades in particular pay more proportionately than over here maybe?

I might be drawn back into watching one of these ;) I find all the cliches sooooooo cringeworthy. So many people ask us why we dont live in Oz as we easily could, as if it some utopia!

I know these moves are not purely for financial reasons but I wonder how long it takes to break even on a move like this.
Once you've taken into account: real estate fees, flights costs, shipping fees, refurnising a house, getting new school uniforms, flying your pets over, paying for visas, flights home because grandma has suddenly been taken ill, money on 'holidays' back home to catch up with family/friends when you'd rather go trekking around SE Asia etc.
Obviously it depends on what the difference in earnings is. But when you see families saying "we'll be £3000 better off a year", I wonder in what year will you be better off.