My First Year and A Half in Melbourne!
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ahhh....so deska ne.Originally posted by Rhonda:jetta and littlestream!!
The dried flowers? The humidity is so low here and the sun's so strong during Spring / Summer that all I had to do was place them on my generous kitchen window sill and let them dry naturally.
In the box are daffodils, strawberry flowers, baby roses, carnations, freesias, alesias, alstromerias, and other flowers I've yet to find out the names of.
I think I shall get a guidebook to Australia's wildflowers and shrubs and trees etc to learn more and immerse in my life here. 
(I've already gotten hold of a pictorial guide to all manner of poisonous creatures here! )
littlestream, if you ever come to Melbourne, my welcome mat will be rolled out just for you!
And if you wanna eat Mee Siam, no problem - your wish shall be my command!! same here i tink. they just hang it up to dry.
wah, u really into nature ah? actually, we got many parks to venture but too bad, i'm not the walking kind. mind u, i don't even walk the malls except for supermarkets.
hee hee.....thanks thanks......hao gan dong leh. i was speaking with my sis last nite and she asked if i wanna go with her to melbourne early next year. nearly next year, i can't leh.
she was telling me about all she had to do to settle her son into uni. wah lau, no car beri jia lat leh. and my golly, the rental is crazy. i tink she said she was paying over A$2k a month!!!! holy cow!
but hey, yah....if i ever visit melbourne, i wanna knock on your door, baby!
and hey, keep your updates coming. really pleasure to read. we've got nothing much to share 'cos we've been here so long. so day in day out also sama sama. *yawnz*
oh, other than bitching about the coming winter.
thanks, rhonda -
I love what you did with the dried flowers!! You're very artistic
And wow.. ur apartment looks very homely indeed! So glad ur enjoying life in Melbourne! -
littlestream, you're right about the rentals here! It's gone up a fair bit since I arrived here. The property prices have increased so much that Aussies are feeling the pinch and it's getting harder and harder to make a living. I think there have been 2-3 interest rate hikes since I came, and they're talking about yet another one soon!
Basically, I came here too late, I think. A few years earlier and I would have settled in nicely my own small apartment / townhouse but the prices now are ridiculous! It's going to be a crazy game of catch-up - by the time I save enough for the downpayment, the prices would have risen AGAIN!
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the power of a dual income household, ahem! If you know what I mean! It's too hard for a single to make it here at this stage, without sacrificing shopping and all that! -
THank you! Thank you!Originally posted by SydneyLibrarian:I love what you did with the dried flowers!! You're very artistic
And wow.. ur apartment looks very homely indeed! So glad ur enjoying life in Melbourne!
All of a sudden, I've been experiencing lots of ideas flooding into my brain. I'm thinking of getting rid of my uncomfortable, creaky futon couch that's now more of a permanent double bed in the living room for moi because it's more comfortable that way. Since I don't have guests over much anyways and since I don't think I can accommodate any more sleepovers because of space limitations, I'm going to make my place a truly bachelorette pad. I wanna get rid of that couch eventually and in its place, get a really comfortable recliner sofa, like the American LazyBoys.
Gotta shelf that plan for now though... too expensive! -
WOOHOO~~~~ oh, Rhonda!!!!!Originally posted by Rhonda:littlestream, you're right about the rentals here! It's gone up a fair bit since I arrived here. The property prices have increased so much that Aussies are feeling the pinch and it's getting harder and harder to make a living. I think there have been 2-3 interest rate hikes since I came, and they're talking about yet another one soon!
Basically, I came here too late, I think. A few years earlier and I would have settled in nicely my own small apartment / townhouse but the prices now are ridiculous! It's going to be a crazy game of catch-up - by the time I save enough for the downpayment, the prices would have risen AGAIN!
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the power of a dual income household, ahem! If you know what I mean! It's too hard for a single to make it here at this stage, without sacrificing shopping and all that! I am so happy for you!!! As I am typing, I am beaming with joy!!! Gong xi gong xi ah!!!! -
Hang in there. The real estate bubble here is slowly deflating after 5 years of record ridiculousness.Originally posted by Rhonda:littlestream, you're right about the rentals here! It's gone up a fair bit since I arrived here. The property prices have increased so much that Aussies are feeling the pinch and it's getting harder and harder to make a living. I think there have been 2-3 interest rate hikes since I came, and they're talking about yet another one soon!
Basically, I came here too late, I think. A few years earlier and I would have settled in nicely my own small apartment / townhouse but the prices now are ridiculous! It's going to be a crazy game of catch-up - by the time I save enough for the downpayment, the prices would have risen AGAIN!
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the power of a dual income household, ahem! If you know what I mean! It's too hard for a single to make it here at this stage, without sacrificing shopping and all that! 
The average home here costs $600K. Sickening!!! Your day will come. Affording a place that is. -
Erm... why are you so happy?Originally posted by littlestream:WOOHOO~~~~ oh, Rhonda!!!!! I am so happy for you!!! As I am typing, I am beaming with joy!!! Gong xi gong xi ah!!!! 
I say I'm HOPING nia! I don't even have a man in my life right now! -
That's terrible!!!Originally posted by jetta:Hang in there. The real estate bubble here is slowly deflating after 5 years of record ridiculousness. The average home here costs $600K. Sickening!!! Your day will come. Affording a place that is. We'll have generations of youngsters not being able to afford to buy their own home at all unless they come into some grand inheritance! Imagine being slave to your mortgage for the rest of your life!!
It's getting really bad here. If you live in the outskirts, the prices of houses are much lower but then, you'll HAVE to have a car and insurance, petrol, road tax, repairs and maintenance, etc sure ain't cheap!
Either ways, it's becoming tough to make a living. Inflation's so high everwhere, you wonder if *touch wood* times are ripe for a recession. Not a nice thought but it's a self-regulatory measure to take the heat off over-heating markets.
I shall quickly get my PR so that in the unlikely event of losing my job, I can claim $$ from the govt here! 
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There's an ad on TV now that makes me realise how much I do prefer life here.
As the elections are approaching, Labour and Liberal have been airing ads on TV to try to win more voters. In one ad, a videoclip is shown of John Howard's face on some banner touting how well things have become under him and a voiceover of him saying that "Australians have never had it better" or something like that...
Then, zoom in to a housewife with her kids in the background saying, "Really? How can you say that when my kids will probably never be able to own their own homes?" and something about the IR laws making life tougher for the man in the street.
Then the housewife looks squarely into the camera and says something like, "With all due respects but Mr Howard, but you're out of touch!"
Now, THIS is the kind of politics I like! I love watching John Howard and Kevin Rudd fight it out! The media coverage here gives fair game time to both. Unlike in Singapore, where the PAP is always portrayed as White Angels and the opposition... wait a minute... WHAT opposition?! -
Originally posted by Rhonda:Erm... why are you so happy? I say I'm HOPING nia! I don't even have a man in my life right now!
oops, pai seh. mis-read. -
Are you sure you don't live in San Diego?Originally posted by Rhonda:That's terrible!!! We'll have generations of youngsters not being able to afford to buy their own home at all unless they come into some grand inheritance! Imagine being slave to your mortgage for the rest of your life!!
It's getting really bad here. If you live in the outskirts, the prices of houses are much lower but then, you'll HAVE to have a car and insurance, petrol, road tax, repairs and maintenance, etc sure ain't cheap!
Either ways, it's becoming tough to make a living. Inflation's so high everwhere, you wonder if *touch wood* times are ripe for a recession. Not a nice thought but it's a self-regulatory measure to take the heat off over-heating markets.
I shall quickly get my PR so that in the unlikely event of losing my job, I can claim $$ from the govt here! Sure sounds alot like what's happening here. Many people were outpriced so they trekked up to the next county and bought there. That's a solid 90 min drive one way. Some have bought even further north than that. Because of the high cost of living here, last year San Diego recorded it's first ever decline in population. Many have uprooted for cheaper pastures. As for us, bo pian. Here is where we have to be for the next 8 years at least. -
hi,Originally posted by Rhonda:That's terrible!!! We'll have generations of youngsters not being able to afford to buy their own home at all unless they come into some grand inheritance! Imagine being slave to your mortgage for the rest of your life!!
It's getting really bad here. If you live in the outskirts, the prices of houses are much lower but then, you'll HAVE to have a car and insurance, petrol, road tax, repairs and maintenance, etc sure ain't cheap!
Either ways, it's becoming tough to make a living. Inflation's so high everwhere, you wonder if *touch wood* times are ripe for a recession. Not a nice thought but it's a self-regulatory measure to take the heat off over-heating markets.
I shall quickly get my PR so that in the unlikely event of losing my job, I can claim $$ from the govt here!
If you have conducted your research on real estate purchasing and investment, there are various techniques and strategies to leverage resources to make your home purchase. No one plans to be a slave to their mortgage for life. I do plan to pay off my home loan within the next few years plus 1 investment property every year after.
No I do not have any grand inheritance.
I'll give you a plan to work on so as you can get into your first home.
Nurse A makes around 75000 a year (+1 makes 75000 per year)
Nurse B makes around 75000 a year (+1 makes 75000 per year)
You need to do your full calulations on it. If you are unsure, drop me a message, I'll send you a spreadsheet.
Nurse A & +1 buys a brand new house (investment property) for $450,000
Nurse B & +1 buys a brand new house (investment property) for $450,000 next door to Nurse A & +1
Interest rates is around 9%
Nurse A & +1 rents Nurse B & +1 house for $1
Nurse B & +1 rents Nurse A & +1 house for $1
Nurse A & +1 installs Aircon and other stuff due to Nurse B's request.
Nurse B & +1 installs Aircon and other stuff due to Nurse A's request.
Basic tax laws.
Because both your (Nurse A & B) houses are investment property, you are able to claim the following.
1) Interest rates for the loan.
2) property depreciation
3) Cost of any installation. Aircon & stuff
4) depreciation of the stuff in your property (curtains, aircon)
5) Cost of all repairs
You will be claiming a fair bit from the gov. This is known as negative gearing. This technique will work if both (Nurse A & +1) are earning good income.
Why is this legal, if you follow Oz election, you might find out that Kelvin Rudd is given housing allowance because of his job. He is paying rent to his wife. -
I am also been staying around 1.5yrs in the states, but I am not as happy and as excited like u. The way I picture of USA is not the same compare to the die hard series or those AV that I have watched
Anyway glad u enjoy ur stay -
I tink it depends on which part of the States bah.Originally posted by SpeedStar:I am also been staying around 1.5yrs in the states, but I am not as happy and as excited like u. The way I picture of USA is not the same compare to the die hard series or those AV that I have watched
Anyway glad u enjoy ur stay
I know someone who was so pro-America and then when he eventually live there, all the "impressions" that he had of America got crushed. He was so disappointed and left the country.
But then again, there are "success" stories. So, really, it's never the same scenario for everyone. If you really wanna, you gotta try to know and then take it from there. -
if all else fails, Rudd can go back to eating his own earwax to gross everyone into voting for himOriginally posted by Rhonda:Now, THIS is the kind of politics I like! I love watching John Howard and Kevin Rudd fight it out!
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Originally posted by whitsundays:Nurse A makes around 75000 a year (+1 makes 75000 per year)
Nurse B makes around 75000 a year (+1 makes 75000 per year)
You need to do your full calulations on it. If you are unsure, drop me a message, I'll send you a spreadsheet.
Nurse A & +1 buys a brand new house (investment property) for $450,000
Nurse B & +1 buys a brand new house (investment property) for $450,000 next door to Nurse A & +1
Interest rates is around 9%
Well, I won't complain AT ALL if I earned A$75,000 a year!!
BTW, I never look at Gross Income - I always consider Nett Income and close one eye to the )(*@)*(#&*#@%!!! taxes that I had to pay so that I won't bleed to death from the heartache! -
hey i am going to aus in 2008, i waant to collectt he flowers and plants...and bring back to sing when i come back here next time...is it allowed?
heard aus is strict abt this -
when are you going to mel?
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They are strict about what you bring into Australia, and less so about what you take out (as long as it isn't endangered).Originally posted by JayJay3335:hey i am going to aus in 2008, i waant to collectt he flowers and plants...and bring back to sing when i come back here next time...is it allowed?
heard aus is strict abt this