Advice: For Relocation to Australia in Jan 09
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I am also planning to be relocating to Sydney in end'09 too. Now trying to do homework on housing, jobs..etc.
Well Mid, my advice is not to start any big movement of bulky personal items yet. Settle down before you make the decision on shipping your TV, sofa etc. Its a bit of a culture shock initially for S'porean to relocate. Some just can't get over the differences is lifestyle and culture shock...(well just watch out for the drunks)
I suggest you get a course in TAFE before trying out for Plumber or Electrician. Its not the same content as those offered in ITE here.(being a plumber also cross my mind too...haha..i hear they pay a ton for plumber service there..\o/ )
Anyway, have fun..ps..admin & clerks are paid about 60K annual (b4 tax),accountants 120k .. i am sure we will find a job..finally a 9 to 5 job :DDDD
be positive!
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I've tried renting out my home while I was in USA/Thailand 2 years ago.
But this time, I am selling because I needed a strong back up of cash to ensure that I will be welcomed & comfortable anywhere.
Sg not like US or Oz where the rental is taken care of by the Agencies. There will always be issues which will require your personal attendance in sg to clear. Have your parents involved with the rental of you flat and I wish you good luck.
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i leave in 4 months. i guess what you bring over depends on whether you are alone or you have a family in tow. if you are alone, it is better to travel `light', i guess.
for me, my family is going, so i will get a 20 footer to pack my things in. i reckon if i sell my stuff here, i.e. bicycles, books, microwave, lcd tv, shelves, tables, etc., it will fetch pittance and i have to fork out considerable monies to get the furnitures and essentials up again. i am also pretty attched to my belongings, so I prefer not to dispose them unless unncessary. i am leaving the fridge and washing machine behind though. i was told the config for fridge space down under is different so, it's better to buy there. also, for washer, u need one with a dryer too for winter.
as for my current place here, i will weigh the option of renting or selling. if i sell, most probably the bulk will go back to CPF. if i rent, i can use some of that to defray my costs when there. i also plan to continue the education endowment i am paying for my kids here.
getting a job is still the biggest concern. m trying to get a transfer there but i am planning for the worst case scenario. having said that, based on my initial calculations on living cost for my family, i can probably last about 4-5 years there without much worries about monies. after that, if i am still jobless, then i think i got problem
regardless, i think my life will definitely be better, judging from the frens i have been in contact with.
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looks like you have plan it out pretty well. Good Luck.
Btw if you are planning not coming back to SG ever. go to CPF board and withdraw all your CFP. (condition is that you cannot work in SG anymore unless you top up your CPF again) - i checked..you can do that..no point letting all those money sit there..
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my warp thinking is to let the cpf money sits there first. when i am older and need it, and indeed i am not coming back to singapore for good, then i will withdraw.
singapore gahmen has a long memory, i don't want to give them a reason to corner me unnecessary. so far, i live without really giving a hoot of my cpf money, so i think i can still remain so for the time being.
thanks for the tip.
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Originally posted by 2oz:
looks like you have plan it out pretty well. Good Luck.
Btw if you are planning not coming back to SG ever. go to CPF board and withdraw all your CFP. (condition is that you cannot work in SG anymore unless you top up your CPF again) - i checked..you can do that..no point letting all those money sit there..
I didn't know about that condition. *plots and schemes*
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ha, just a tinker. The interest rate for Oz bank is now about 8+%. I wouldn't give a hoot about what the gahmen thinks (i am just a small fly for them to care, based on 1000 ppl leaving a yr, i am just a 0.1% fly hehe) .if my CPF saving can give me a nice return in OZ that can sustain my stay there so much the better..Also if worst comes, i just top back the money in CPF. Somehow a returning "citizen" have more status...haha just my thinking..
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now, can you withdraw just like that? i don't think so. i believe you need to renounce your citizenship b4 you can take the monies out of the cpf.
and to take up aussie, i think you need 3 yrs, rite?
so, you money will be sitting pretty here for a while yet.
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Ya its true. you need to give up citizenship or PR. if you have either. But it only takes 3 weeks to process and get your money.
To get Oz citizenship you need 3 yrs (min). true.
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all the best in your impending move, 2oz and redDUST. :)
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Thank you.
just saw this in the news. Singapore now rank 13th most costly city to stay in the world :O.
http://se.mercer.com/costoflivingpr
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Ok dear people, some updates:
I have done my medical check up and also gotten my "CNCC" from the police stating that I am a good boy..lol....by monday, will complete the visa application process and should be hearing from the oz high com in 3-6 mths. Hopefully, will get the visa.
However, recently there's a lot of negative comments and remarks about my decision to move from people around me. Furthermore, my mom and sister are not supportive. Lots of stress and pressure on this.
Anyway, I need comments, advice and suggestions about to renting a place which is affordable and near a train station in case I not getting a car anytime soon. I have some on the list like, Strathfield. Paramatta, Epping, Hurstville.
Thanks in advance.....
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Originally posted by Mid9Sun:
Ok dear people, some updates:
I have done my medical check up and also gotten my "CNCC" from the police stating that I am a good boy..lol....by monday, will complete the visa application process and should be hearing from the oz high com in 3-6 mths. Hopefully, will get the visa.
However, recently there's a lot of negative comments and remarks about my decision to move from people around me. Furthermore, my mom and sister are not supportive. Lots of stress and pressure on this.
Anyway, I need comments, advice and suggestions about to renting a place which is affordable and near a train station in case I not getting a car anytime soon. I have some on the list like, Strathfield. Paramatta, Epping, Hurstville.
Thanks in advance.....
Sydney? - Avoid redfern, cabramatta and bankstown.....those are shit areas
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Originally posted by Mid9Sun:
Ok dear people, some updates:
I have done my medical check up and also gotten my "CNCC" from the police stating that I am a good boy..lol....by monday, will complete the visa application process and should be hearing from the oz high com in 3-6 mths. Hopefully, will get the visa.
However, recently there's a lot of negative comments and remarks about my decision to move from people around me. Furthermore, my mom and sister are not supportive. Lots of stress and pressure on this.
Anyway, I need comments, advice and suggestions about to renting a place which is affordable and near a train station in case I not getting a car anytime soon. I have some on the list like, Strathfield. Paramatta, Epping, Hurstville.
Thanks in advance.....
Mid9Sun, How old are u? If u are still young and have the profession, then u can give it a try. If things are not going well as what u expect, just back sg. You have to make a clear mind.
I also make my mind... will fly to aust soon.
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Well, I am 30+ so this is the turning point in life where I decided to change the course of my life.
Like you said, I am going over to do my best and try thinks out. ...
When you be going?? Sydney too?
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Originally posted by Mid9Sun:
Furthermore, my mom and sister are not supportive. Lots of stress and pressure on this.
There are reasons why they may be concerned.1. You did not make any commitment to still support your mother.
2. You did not convince your sister that you will still be a good son and wont dump your aged old parents on her.
3. You have the finances to go over Australia and wont need financial support from your families.
4. You did not at least give them a couple of hope that the family can get together or holiday together either in sg or oz.
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Originally posted by viciouskitty74:
There are reasons why they may be concerned.1. You did not make any commitment to still support your mother.
2. You did not convince your sister that you will still be a good son and wont dump your aged old parents on her.
3. You have the finances to go over Australia and wont need financial support from your families.
4. You did not at least give them a couple of hope that the family can get together or holiday together either in sg or oz.
Yeah I gave all the assurances and promises as I can. But I guess its hard to convince them still since its all still empty words. So I can only prove it in deeds.
Guess only can prove to them give time ... ..haizzz
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Sorry about my harshness.
As a sister, I have more then my fair share of my baby brother punking out on these overseas issues.
Here's one example of a conversation that totally got to me.
Me: Why dont we try, maybe give about $100 a month into mom's account from now on.
Ss: I am a housewife, where to get $$$? besides baby brother is responsible for her since she sold her flat to finance his overseas studies.
Bro: I am a student now. Where got $$$, when I return after getting the degree, whcih none of you sisters can ver get. I can 'guang zhong yeow zhu' brings honour to the family and let mom live inluxury in condos.
..........
todate. that 'guan zhong yeow zhu' fella since 2004 still has mother living in a rented hdb room in punggol.
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"well every house has a difficult sutra"
In my case, they are more worry about practical reasons and $$$ is not an issue.
My sis is afraid that she cannot cope if she's alone taking care of mom who is suffering from some depression and from her angle, i am selfish son/bro who abandon the aging mom and expect the sister to take care of dear mother.
I cannot fault her for such reasoning which I might feel the same if the table is turned
Other things I dont worry much, but this one weighs heavily on me.
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Things was really bad when I was left alone with my mother.
There was some talk that her misbahaving is probably due to menopause and I tolerated as much as I could.
It was so bad, that when my sister request for my mothers aid in USA, thus taking my mother off my hands for 3 months at a stretch, it was a godsend.
Maybe you might consider sharing your mother between Oz and sg and discussing with your sis on it? It helps to assure your sister that you both work out a timetable after you settled in Oz.
Your mom may benefit from a change in enviornment as well as some hope that she & your sis is losing you forever.
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Well I already stated that she's extremely welcome to go with me, but of cos she turned me down flatly and no way I can get her to move her butt even an inch.
I even roped in my relatives who are all supportive and did even tried to talk to them both. So far my mom seems to softened her stand but my sister said " I cannot stop him but I wont give my blessings" ...
..zzzzzzzzzz
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Originally posted by Mid9Sun:
Well I already stated that she's extremely welcome to go with me, but of cos she turned me down flatly and no way I can get her to move her butt even an inch.
I even roped in my relatives who are all supportive and did even tried to talk to them both. So far my mom seems to softened her stand but my sister said " I cannot stop him but I wont give my blessings" ...
..zzzzzzzzzz
I still say your sister has a reason to be insecure.Your mother, like all mothers used to living in Singapore, will never agree to move over with you.
But 3 months out of a year, she will not mind going there for a 'holiday'.
When you have kids, then you can most likely have her stay about 6 months to a year there.
Give your sis some time. She will drop by for holidays eventually. Especially if you are buying the air ticks.
Heck, I steadfastly refused to go overseas about 8 years back. But now i am uprooting myself, so never say never.
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Yeah... already decided..they like it or not..I will move and then prove that I am not abandoning them....
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Originally posted by Mid9Sun:
Yeah... already decided..they like it or not..I will move and then prove that I am not abandoning them....
I brought both my parents over , secured a bond for them to skip the queue. They thought I will run off but I did not. Just need time.
End of issue from my aunts and uncles. Only issue is my grandmother who thinks I am taking one of the primary sources of her allowances away.
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Originally posted by viciouskitty74:
There are reasons why they may be concerned.1. You did not make any commitment to still support your mother.
2. You did not convince your sister that you will still be a good son and wont dump your aged old parents on her.
3. You have the finances to go over Australia and wont need financial support from your families.
4. You did not at least give them a couple of hope that the family can get together or holiday together either in sg or oz.
I don't see how parents should hold back their children if it is for the better. Frankly it is all money issues.
My parents backed me up but had no expectations for me to secure their residency in Australia. I became their sponsor because my dad was so keen on it and I didn't want to disappoint him.