Repatriating back to Australia single dad

[Hanuman2547]

23 hours ago, Kenny202 said:

I'm a bit on the fence about that. As far as education yes definitely better in Australia and maybe more opportunities but I spent the latter part of my middle years basing all of my life around children's education, private schools etc and not one of my children picked up the ball. Was a waste of money and effort really. A lot of that depends on the kid. Funnily enough they are all doing well now. After leaving school with poor results 2 went through all the hoops to qualify for Uni and both have medical degrees now and study junkies. And as far as better quality of life.....sitting in traffic every morning, to go and sit in an office or otherwise chained to a job you hate for the rest of your life, then retire and die...albeit with a lot of toys and assets, not sure that's the good life. Don't forget he has Aussie citizenship so he can take advantages of all of those opportunities later on. Life here is good in many ways. For some anyway. Why very hard for Thais to live in another country. My son being half Aussie / Thai and pretty much looking 100% farang will definitely have an advantage. 

My Thai wife and I moved to Bangkok when our two luk krung boys were 4 & 2.  They attended good Thai schools.  When they were 16 and 14 we returned to the USA so that they could go to high school there in preparation for attending university in the USA.  It worked out well and they both graduated from university.  At 33 & 31 they are both doing well in their chosen careers.  They occasionally visit Thailand but not that often.  My oldest one actually handles the Bangkok account of the high tech company that he works for.

[davidst01]

On 5/23/2019 at 9:44 AM, Hanuman2547 said:

Not being from OZ, I'm not up on all the government options available to you.  However, your son will definitely have a better life growing up in a western nation when compared to Thailand.

a better life according to you? ha ha. Everyone's different

[BritManToo]

17 hours ago, madmen said:

Kids come first or dont make them. !st world education or risk them ending up in a thai 7/11 for life

Lots of folk are happy working in 7/11, and can afford to buy their own homes.

My 30yo son back in the UK works in the Co-Op and is happy enough, but will never own his own home.

 

Education isn't for everyone, some just aren't interested, some just aren't bright enough to benefit.

[madmen]

3 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Lots of folk are happy working in 7/11, and can afford to buy their own homes.

My 30yo son back in the UK works in the Co-Op and is happy enough, but will never own his own home.

 

Education isn't for everyone, some just aren't interested, some just aren't bright enough to benefit.

Sure but manual labour here is poorly paid where in the west it can pay huge $$. Think of plumber or electrician , Air con technician ( just paid 800 baht for a repair)working in the mines, even painters get A thousand a week or more

These are all paid peanuts here .so much more opportunity for children to prosper in 1st world there is no denying it.

 

Once they finish their education they can go back to Thailand to live if they want so have 2 choices

[BritManToo]

2 hours ago, madmen said:

Sure but manual labour here is poorly paid where in the west it can pay huge $$. Think of plumber or electrician , Air con technician ( just paid 800 baht for a repair)working in the mines, even painters get A thousand a week or more

These are all paid peanuts here .so much more opportunity for children to prosper in 1st world there is no denying it.

 

Once they finish their education they can go back to Thailand to live if they want so have 2 choices

I disagree, most people aren't all that adventurous and tend to stay where they were brought up or went to high-school/University. Even if it's not that great a place.

Earning a lot of money isn't all that important, and for most of us a woman we don't like will take it all away from us anyway. I wasted 30 years of my life earning 'big money', instead of being happy and having fun.

[richard_smith237]

On 5/23/2019 at 7:01 AM, Kenny202 said:

I'm a bit on the fence about that. As far as education yes definitely better in Australia and maybe more opportunities but I spent the latter part of my middle years basing all of my life around children's education, private schools etc and not one of my children picked up the ball. Was a waste of money and effort really. A lot of that depends on the kid. Funnily enough they are all doing well now. After leaving school with poor results 2 went through all the hoops to qualify for Uni and both have medical degrees now and study junkies. And as far as better quality of life.....sitting in traffic every morning, to go and sit in an office or otherwise chained to a job you hate for the rest of your life, then retire and die...albeit with a lot of toys and assets, not sure that's the good life. Don't forget he has Aussie citizenship so he can take advantages of all of those opportunities later on. Life here is good in many ways. For some anyway. Why very hard for Thais to live in another country. My son being half Aussie / Thai and pretty much looking 100% farang will definitely have an advantage. 

He will only have an advantage if you give him one which means doing the best you can for your child - putting him in a Thai School is not doing the best you can. 

 

 

[SheungWan]

If you have enough money to live in Thailand indefinitely, then I would be inclined to stay. What you have you hold. This also assumes no setting up of businesses or seeking employment in LOS. The one counterbalance would be if you had an immediately saleable employment skill in Australia. IMHO.

[SheungWan]

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Lots of folk are happy working in 7/11, and can afford to buy their own homes.

My 30yo son back in the UK works in the Co-Op and is happy enough, but will never own his own home.

Education isn't for everyone, some just aren't interested, some just aren't bright enough to benefit.

Buying own home on 7/11 salary? Really?

[SheungWan]

6 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

He will only have an advantage if you give him one which means doing the best you can for your child - putting him in a Thai School is not doing the best you can.

Doing the best is cutting your coat according to your cloth. Kid in Thai school may be the best available option.

[user305]

On 5/22/2019 at 10:37 AM, mike787 said:

Everything happens for a reason.

This statement is the literary equivalent of patting someone on the head.

 

On 5/22/2019 at 9:44 PM, Hanuman2547 said:

Not being from OZ...your son will definitely have a better life growing up in a western nation when compared to Thailand.

Depends on what you think they'll want out of life.  Western nations tend to have some of the most educated and highest compensated workers, but also much higher rates of loneliness and depression.

[BritManToo]

7 hours ago, SheungWan said:

Buying own home on 7/11 salary? Really?

10K a month will get you a 600k home loan.

You can get a condo in CM or a house in the burbs for 750k.

But lots of people live as couples, with 2 incomes, where I live there's often 3 or 4 wage earners in one house.

[simple1]

On 5/23/2019 at 11:34 AM, Peterw42 said:

The OP is right about access to super they added years a couple of years ago, born before 1960 its 55, born 1961 it 56, 1962 its 57 etc. So if OP is born 1963 he has to be 58 to get super. (any super prior to 60 year old is taxed)

Also they have newstart program now if you are over 60 and do some volunteer work (i think its 10 hours a fortnight) you dont have to look for work.

The asset test for newstart is $400k and money still in a super-fund isnt counted. you dont have to spend your savings to get newstart.

 

 

You can apply and get the pension without the 2 years, the 2 years is to do with whether you can take it overseas. You can arrive the day before your 65th birthday apply and get the pension the next day, you just cant take it overseas for another 2 years.

Takes about 13 weeks for Age Pension application to be processed. If on NewStart or not, can apply for Age Pension prior to Age Pension commencement date.

[steven100]

On 5/22/2019 at 8:14 PM, Kenny202 said:

What is the situation in Australia now? It would be very likely I would have to be on some unemployment benefit in the short, maybe long term. I assume there would be supplements / benefits for my child, maybe rent assistance etc. I remember some time back basically if you were over 50yo in Australia they didn't even expect you to look for a job. Do you qualify for this if you have Superannuation or money in the bank?

Kenny,  I'm not a single dad but I can answer a few questions for you ....

Australia is expensive, try buying any item for the household or groceries or electricity or rent any accomodation. Thailand is still way cheaper and easier to get anything done.

You will be entitled to newstart allowance which you will receive with rent assistance and child allowance. ( but don't for a second think this will be any substantial amount ) ... you will be living like a porper, very frugalent and watching every cent ... basically you will be living fortnight to fortnight on budget meals etc ...

Being over 50 doesn't mean you don't have to look for work, you will still have to contact ( I think it's 10 or 20 employers a fortnight ) 

Your superannuation is taken into consideration, however .. in your case I doubt this will affect your benefit, however if you have money in the bank ... they will expect you to survive on that first.

good luck,  but I would think carefully before contemplating such a move.  Is going from hot to hell worth it ??

[DavisH]

10 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

He will only have an advantage if you give him one which means doing the best you can for your child - putting him in a Thai School is not doing the best you can. 

 

 

Not all Thai schools are rubbish. If you were involved in education here, you would know that. Plenty of their graduates go on to study and / or work overseas. Even though they study in Thai language, they can do well in SAT's - not too hard given the SAT maths is only up to 10th grade level in Thai schools. Most of what I teach in maths in my school is more advanced than 10th grade in a western school. many of these The famous Thai schools are very difficult to get into though. Thus there is a great disparity in the quality of schools (their students, actually) nationwide. 

 

[Nemises]

Surely you would be better off staying here....
 
I would not move back to the nanny state... (AUS)

It will be incredibly expensive. Everything adds up there. Bills are out of control there. 
 

Agree 100%.

Here’s some current cost of living comparisons between Sydney & an Isaan city:

Sydney (AU) Vs Isaan (TH):

Apartment rent per month:
AU 45,000baht (unfurnished)
TH 4,000b (furnished w/- AC & WiFi)

Electricity (per KWh)
AU: 10b
TH: 4b

Whiskey (700ml bottle):
AU: 900b
TH: 340b

Local food (per meal at restaurant)
Aus 300-400b
TH 75-90b

2hr oil massage
AU 3,000b
TH 500b

Gym & pool:
AU 6,500b per month
TH 650b (includes towel & WiFi)

Cinema:
AU 500b
TH 200b

[Sticky Wicket]

On 5/23/2019 at 10:01 AM, Kenny202 said:

I'm a bit on the fence about that. As far as education yes definitely better in Australia and maybe more opportunities but I spent the latter part of my middle years basing all of my life around children's education, private schools etc and not one of my children picked up the ball. Was a waste of money and effort really. A lot of that depends on the kid. Funnily enough they are all doing well now. After leaving school with poor results 2 went through all the hoops to qualify for Uni and both have medical degrees now and study junkies. And as far as better quality of life.....sitting in traffic every morning, to go and sit in an office or otherwise chained to a job you hate for the rest of your life, then retire and die...albeit with a lot of toys and assets, not sure that's the good life. Don't forget he has Aussie citizenship so he can take advantages of all of those opportunities later on. Life here is good in many ways. For some anyway. Why very hard for Thais to live in another country. My son being half Aussie / Thai and pretty much looking 100% farang will definitely have an advantage. 

I think the kids grow up slower here and tend to enjoy their childhoods without as much peer pressure, school pressure .

Obviously education is important but all my friend's kids in the UK are stressed in their schools with the current system.

Remember most of the jobs that our kids will end up doing haven't even been thought of/created yet!

My daughter is super happy in her only little way and I want her to enjoy her childhood. 

Her English is pretty much perfect and she doesn't have any Thai accent whatsoever. 

That should hold her in good stead if she wants to live here long term as the general level of English is not improving. 

 

The Ed systems are pretty antiquated all over the west and don't really prepare for the 2030's and after. Still learning a lot of stuff that is irrelevant in modern life.

 

Also once they mature they will have a better understanding of where they want to specialise and can always go back to UK/Aus as and when to pursue that. 

 

[Sticky Wicket]

On 5/24/2019 at 2:37 AM, madmen said:

Kids come first or dont make them. !st world education or risk them ending up in a thai 7/11 for life

I'm not sure that is as true as it used to be.

I think the education here is poor, but it's not amazing back home either.

There are a lot more people making good money across the world who don't have qualifications galore.

Think of the debt you have to acquire to get a decent degree

[4MyEgo]

On 5/22/2019 at 11:14 PM, Kenny202 said:

The thought of selling up again here and starting again in Australia, not to mention the expense makes me feel sick. Coming here I lost so much money selling everything for next to nothing in Oz then turning around and paying full price for everything to start new again here. 

Personally I would suggest you not return to Oz just yet.

 

Sure you came here as many do, the power of the pussy is overwhelming for most, suffice to say it takes years of planning to retire comfortably in any country, albeit it Thailand, and even then plans don't always work out, e.g. you lost 40k finishing off your x girlfriends place, me 40k lost on a company that went into receivership last week on the ASX, shit happens, you get back up, dust yourself down and reassess and move on, either stick to the plan or in your case look at maybe relocating somewhere closer to the coast to enjoy some time along the beach with the little fella in the afternoons/evening when the sun has gone down. As for the 40k that I lost, I did make 35k tax free during the year from the ASX so it didn't hurt as much as it should of, but a loss is a loss, because you have expenses all the time, and I would say that the 35k would be about right to cover my expenses, suffice to say, it's still out of my own pocket.

 

Australia especially Sydney are very expensive, and sure Thailand has and is also going that way, but mainly for imported goods, so you have to choose what your eating and drinking and perhaps do it the Thai way to sustain your existence here.

 

Forget about immigration here, just do the paperwork every 90 days, do the annual thing and have the money in the bank when required and look at it as renewing your licence as much as it pisses you off. The 90 day thing, I have to travel an hour 20 minutes by car, so I make it a day out with the Mrs after we drop off the kids to school, lunch and shopping after immigration, then pick the kids up after school.

 

Your kid will be fine here, e.g. I brought 2 kids with me, now 5 & 10, the plan is to go back when they finish school to get the AAP, if I qualify and the kids can decide what to do, e.g. they can work in a 7/11 in and get an hourly pay rate ranging from an average of $8.06 to $13.92 an hour, or 1,408 baht to 2,433 baht per day, naturally this would be bottom end stuff in choices, but if they don't have to pay rent or food etc etc, they could save it all, as the lower amount wouldn't require tax payable on it, the higher amount would be something like $1,408 in tax rendering them 528,865 baht for a 46 week year, after taking 2 weeks of public holidays out and 4 weeks annual leave out, now when you compare that to a 7/11 worker here over the same period, they would get 10% of that.

 

What I am trying to say is, don't focus too much on their education, a short period of working time in Australia, e.g. 5 years, could give them a house paid off here, furnished and a car, i.e. he would be debt free, just depends what he would want in life.

 

We all know life here is not easy, the heat, the mossie's, the Thai's, the government etc etc, you should think at least here all your looking at is Thai's, don't forget Australia is multicultural, but hey, you just have to focus here, duck and weave, because if you think Australia is not a controlled state, and if you think life will be better there in your circumstances, then best you make the move.

 

Put yourself forward first, your partner and kid/s after you, you would be surprised how your kid will survive, like the rest of us, no hand outs, own mature entry education with 2 pieces of paper after years of studying that serve no purpose today, property in my situation was my only lift upwards, not the 6 figure salary I was on, although it did help maintain the cost of living and difference between the rents and mortgages to get me where I am today.

[KhaoYai]

I don't know anything about Australia but my first thoughts would be my son's education and future life chances.

[4MyEgo]

10 hours ago, KhaoYai said:

I don't know anything about Australia but my first thoughts would be my son's education and future life chances.

Let's just put it this way, unless your prepared to work your soul to the grave to earn a modest $ and pay for the expensive cost of living in Australia, your son's education and future would be a waste of time growing up in Australia, in other words, it's a tough gig on a single wage.

[steven100]

Kenny,  just to give you a couple of examples of food prices ...

One cup cake at the market in Brisbane is $6 .... or 132 baht

One lime at the market is $1.50  .....  or 33 baht 

[Odysseus123]

8 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Let's just put it this way, unless your prepared to work your soul to the grave to earn a modest $ and pay for the expensive cost of living in Australia, your son's education and future would be a waste of time growing up in Australia, in other words, it's a tough gig on a single wage.

Nonsense.

 

Anyway,I will let this fellow Aussie have his breathing space and make his own decisions-best for his family and best for his son.

[4MyEgo]

2 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

Nonsense.

 

Anyway,I will let this fellow Aussie have his breathing space and make his own decisions-best for his family and best for his son.

Nonsense says you, too advise anything else than what I said in my previous post would be irresponsible.

 

Perhaps Mr Odysseus123 would like to back up his wisdom.

 

The average wage in Australia 2018 according to the BOS was $719.20 provided you can find a full time job, as most jobs are part time, remove your tax from that, e.g. $87 which includes the Medicare levy of 2% as I last recall it was, and if included in the tax scale then adjust that to $73, one would then be left with $646.20 of which he would no doubt have to rent something like a one bedroom unit, now at the bottom end of the scale I found one on the Domain website in a place called Caringbah which is about 40 minutes out of Sydney where I believe the original poster is from or around and for the price of $350 per week it's he's, no parking and tight as a dog box, now that would leave him with $296.20 per week to pay for bus/train fares to get to and from work, say $30 per week modestly leaving him $266 odd dollars to survive on, electricity, say $56 a week if lucky, mobile say $10, and your down to $200 a week to survive on.

 

Now if you think it's still nonsense Mt Odysseus123 you now have your chance to prove what I said in my earlier post to be nonsense, if you can't then I suggest you say nothing, because your comments could cause this guy a whole lot of unnecessary future grief, and just in case you haven't heard, he has been through enough as it is.

 

In other words, how can he afford to educate his kid in Australia if he himself cannot survive in Australia with the cost of living as it is today.

 

Enough said ! ! ! 

[steven100]

Don't kid yourself ....

Australia is expensive and the quality and service you'll receive is crap.

Try buying a coffee and a donut in town.

Try renting a dog box 15 klms from the city.

Wages are stagnant if not gone backwards.

No such thing ( or very rare )  to obtain a full time job anymore, most young folk have 3 jobs and total 20hrs per week. 

House rent is exorbitant.

House prices are over the reach of most young folk.

Electricity is priced as one of the most expensive countries in the western world.

 

Why do you think the RBA will lower interest rates come June  ? ...... because the economy has gone to shit. The Australian economy is in far worse shape than the government is letting on.

[Odysseus123]

33 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Nonsense says you, too advise anything else than what I said in my previous post would be irresponsible.

 

Perhaps Mr Odysseus123 would like to back up his wisdom.

 

The average wage in Australia 2018 according to the BOS was $719.20 provided you can find a full time job, as most jobs are part time, remove your tax from that, e.g. $87 which includes the Medicare levy of 2% as I last recall it was, and if included in the tax scale then adjust that to $73, one would then be left with $646.20 of which he would no doubt have to rent something like a one bedroom unit, now at the bottom end of the scale I found one on the Domain website in a place called Caringbah which is about 40 minutes out of Sydney where I believe the original poster is from or around and for the price of $350 per week it's he's, no parking and tight as a dog box, now that would leave him with $296.20 per week to pay for bus/train fares to get to and from work, say $30 per week modestly leaving him $266 odd dollars to survive on, electricity, say $56 a week if lucky, mobile say $10, and your down to $200 a week to survive on.

 

Now if you think it's still nonsense Mt Odysseus123 you now have your chance to prove what I said in my earlier post to be nonsense, if you can't then I suggest you say nothing, because your comments could cause this guy a whole lot of unnecessary future grief, and just in case you haven't heard, he has been through enough as it is.

 

In other words, how can he afford to educate his kid in Australia if he himself cannot survive in Australia with the cost of living as it is today.

 

Enough said ! ! ! 

So..in actual fact you know nothing about Australia, eh?

 

And have spent the interval desperately checking up on the internet-strange reality nah?

 

A place called "Caringbah"..forsooth..

 

I,for one, would not advise the poster until I knew what his assets,income and support network actually are.One presumes that he would not go back to his home country broke and unsupported whist contemplating taking a small child back as well.

 

On the other hand if he does go back and gets re-established then he might be able to offer the child (in time) a very good future.

 

(Oh and try to ignore Steven 100's posts as well as they will do your head in..????)

[mfd101]

A great deal depends on your earning power if you were to return to Oz and have skills that are saleable.

 

My point is that the reason why everything in Oz is so expensive is because all the workers - of all kinds - are paid so much! The 'minimum wage' is AUD720 a week (≃ $37K pa). If your taxable income is less than $67K, you get a 'low income' tax offset. The median f/t earnings is $82500 ... and so on.

 

Without that kind of earning power, life back in Oz would be pretty tough.

[4MyEgo]

3 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

So..in actual fact you know nothing about Australia, eh?

 

And have spent the interval desperately checking up on the internet-strange reality nah?

 

A place called "Caringbah"..forsooth..

 

I,for one, would not advise the poster until I knew what his assets,income and support network actually are.One presumes that he would not go back to his home country broke and unsupported whist contemplating taking a small child back as well.

 

On the other hand if he does go back and gets re-established then he might be able to offer the child (in time) a very good future.

 

(Oh and try to ignore Steven 100's posts as well as they will do your head in..????)

Where do you get off, Steve100 is as true blue as you can get em from what I have read from his posts, yes that's right, you must be one of those TVF who are only interested in having a go without substantiating anything, that and must be a Pom ?.

 

If you have ever read one of the original posters many posts in other forums as well as this one, you would become familiar with who he is, what his assets are and what family support he has in place, but no, you know nothing and I am wasting my time with another one of those TVF members who knows nothing, suffice to say I am off to provide advice to those who ask for it, substantiated of course, as opposed to giving advice that is straight out of one's mouth unsubstantiated.

 

Next ! 

[4MyEgo]

2 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

A great deal depends on your earning power if you were to return to Oz and have skills that are saleable.

 

My point is that the reason why everything in Oz is so expensive is because all the workers - of all kinds - are paid so much! The 'minimum wage' is AUD720 a week (≃ $37K pa). If your taxable income is less than $67K, you get a 'low income' tax offset. The median f/t earnings is $82500 ... and so on.

 

Without that kind of earning power, life back in Oz would be pretty tough.

Someone who knows what he is talking about.

[madmen]

6 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

A great deal depends on your earning power if you were to return to Oz and have skills that are saleable.

 

My point is that the reason why everything in Oz is so expensive is because all the workers - of all kinds - are paid so much! The 'minimum wage' is AUD720 a week (≃ $37K pa). If your taxable income is less than $67K, you get a 'low income' tax offset. The median f/t earnings is $82500 ... and so on.

 

Without that kind of earning power, life back in Oz would be pretty tough.

A lot of that would be tied up in house loans ,car loans, school fees, etc etc in fact most ozzies are in debt to their eyeballs.

 

o 

[totally thaied up]

Where as one sickness (like is happening to a friend right now) over a period of a month can wipe your entire life time savings in Thailand.