Going to Australia with €10,000 savings. Am I wasting my money?

roro1990 · 29-01-2015 04:05PM

Agricola wrote: »

Thats the point of view of someone who would abhor the whole "lets go to Oz and get twisted with other Irish people on a fruit farm" idea. But if you are that way inclined, at 24 with zero commitments and plenty of dosh, go right ahead.

Well that's not exactly what I had planned to do. I like a drink yes, but 2 people I know that went to Oz say they were never hanging around with any Irish people over there.

mzungu · 29-01-2015 04:06PM

Do it OP, only young once. Live the dream.

Daenarys · 29-01-2015 04:07PM

roro1990 wrote: »

Cheers. any particular recommendations for places to live in? I'm torn between Syndey and Melbourne. Did you do farm work at all? How long did the 2k last?

I went to Sydney because I knew a girl who would put me up for a few nights for free. 2k didn't last long and believe me when I was there it was cheaper than it is now. You'll be fine with 10k, lots of room to find your feet and change things if needs be.

I've soft hands so I didn't do farm work

I did office temping, bar work, cleaner, anything I could get my hands on to fund the rest of my travels around. I LOVE Sydney and I will go back. Melbourne is a fabulously relaxed city to live in aswell though.

Einhard · 29-01-2015 04:09PM

Do it. Seriously, if it feels right, then go for it. This is my third year in the UAE and it was the best move I could have made. I'm moving to China in August for a three year contract and, while part of me is scared sh!tless by the prospect, I'm also excited as hell. I was in a different position in that I had to move to get a job but if you love travelling, experiencing new people and cultures, then there's no better way than living abroad.

As for the teaching, I am one and it can be tough especially if you're shy (which I'm not). However, from what I understand of Korea and the rest of Asia in general, the students are exceptionally motivated and well behaved, so maybe take that into consideration before writing it off completely.

Good luck!

roro1990 · 29-01-2015 04:11PM

Einhard wrote: »

As for the teaching, I am one and it can be tough especially if you're shy (which I'm not). However, from what I understand of Korea and the rest of Asia in general, the students are exceptionally motivated and well behaved, so maybe take that into consideration before writing it off completely.
Good luck!

Yeah, I was thinking that maybe i'm over exaggerating how tough it would be to stand in front of a class when you're shy but I dunno. Good post though

roro1990 · 29-01-2015 04:15PM

dRNk SAnTA wrote: »

OP, I was in your exact position 3 years ago when I went to Australia.

From my experience:
- Given current exchange rates, your euros don't go very far over there. So just get on the plane and make your money in AUD rather than Euro.

- You'll need the euros you have to get your first hostels, find a job etc. Go to Asia on the way home, not the way there. Otherwise you'll probably blow too much of your money on cocktails and massages and you'll regret it when you're panicking for a job in Sydney/Melbourne/wherever.

- If you've got enough resources to last a few weeks in Australia without a job, then you'll have time to search properly and pick something half decent up. I'd just graduated and it probably took me 4 weeks to get something decent, it all worked out in the end.

- Worst case scenario is you come back home early. No big deal.... Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Cheers for the helpful post, only noticed it there now. Asia is unavoidable as I have a flight to BKK booked already. I'd like to think I have the discipline to not spend much over in Thailand having been there twice and knowing how much of my budget can go on booze.

Quick question, how much roughly would you reckon I'd spend in 2 months of looking for a job? I'm putting that down as my limit on finding a job and if I don't I'll either come home or maybe try teaching English. Also, which city did you live in? I'm torn between Sydney & Melbourne

AgileMyth · 29-01-2015 04:25PM

OSI wrote: »

Living with the mammy and daddy like all 20 somethings before they go travelling to "spread their wings"

I saved six grand in six months in my early 20's working in a minimum wage job and living alone.

Then spent it in Asia.

Currently saving for round two. Living in a different country to mammy and daddy now.

Saving money is not hard to do.

mad muffin · 29-01-2015 04:32PM

Dr. Mantis Toboggan wrote: »

The worst thing about Australia is that it's full of Australians.

7 posts in… you guys are getting slow. :rolleyes:

2smiggy · 29-01-2015 04:33PM

take as little euro as possible, leave it with your parents (provided you trust them) and they can deposit more if necessary.

stop in thailand on way over. you won't spend too much there really if you fly into islands from kuala lumpar. bangkok is expensive, the islands are cheap and good fun.

like someone mentioned, only the desperate, and hipsters, go on farm work. unless it's on a proper farm and you drive a truck or combine, not one of the donkeys picking fruit. if you need it to do your 3 months rural work , the whole of south australia counts as rural, so go work in a bar in Adelade, much easier. plus side you don't have to deal with the australians that do the fruit picking. think Deliverance.

if you don't know many there, easiest thing head straight for sydney. easiest to pick up work quickly. very very expensive, especially with the conversion at present, but once you start work you will only be spending the money you make and not your savings.

i was there for a year 10 years ago, and back 2 times in last few years. definitely worth going. many of my friends are still there, and some are back, but got their residence and can return there if they want.

edit: only seen you are flying through bangkok , islands are still cheap to get to, but KL is much better option. also likes of Bali very cheap from KL

handlemaster · 29-01-2015 04:38PM

roro1990 wrote: »

What's up AH? I'm 24 and disillusioned with life at home. Social life is sh*t as mates are all whipped, weather is ****, hate my job and I love travelling. I have 10k in the bank and am thinking of going on the 1 year Oz working holiday visa.

My plan is to spend a month in Thailand, a country I've been to twice and adore. My spending will be minimal as the previous 2 times I drank way too much. This time i'm there for relaxation, food and gym.

After that I plan to fly to Sydney on 14th March. I've no idea what job I even want over there and that's the part that worries me. I'm going without a real plan of action. I've also heard Sydney is extremely expensive so i'm starting to doubt if I should even start there. Maybe go to the farms and build up more savings doing the fruit picking work?

Or alternatively, maybe I shouldn't go to Australia at all. I had been thinking of going teaching English in Thailand or possibly South Korea but the issue with that plan is that i'm shy as **** and the thought of standing in front of a class right now terrifies me. Another idea would be to try my hand at starting an online source of income while living in Thailand.

If anyone has any actual advice on my situation that'd be nice. I expect a lot of piss taking posts with this being AH but hopefully some decent perspectives.

'
whats the 'mates are all whipped ' :-/ are you into some bondage games with the lads ?

roro1990 · 29-01-2015 04:41PM

handlemaster wrote: »

'
whats the 'mates are all whipped ' :-/ are you into some bondage games with the lads ?

Lame effort...

kingtut · 29-01-2015 04:47PM

Deleted User wrote: »

going to a place full of Irish people drinking in irish bars, only jobs you can get is working with other irish people on a farm. Think about it.

I take it you've never been there then.

krustycustomer · 29-01-2015 04:57PM

Go, loads of Irish there should be taken as a positive, I'm aching to go. Forget the negative views of people saying its full of Irish - So is Ireland! Embrace them over there, best crack and good source how to get setup. There's reasons so many have fled. Potential to make money, good weather, social life, work/life balance in a native English speaking country.

aido79 · 29-01-2015 05:12PM

2smiggy wrote: »

take as little euro as possible, leave it with your parents (provided you trust them) and they can deposit more if necessary.

stop in thailand on way over. you won't spend too much there really if you fly into islands from kuala lumpar. bangkok is expensive, the islands are cheap and good fun.

like someone mentioned, only the desperate, and hipsters, go on farm work. unless it's on a proper farm and you drive a truck or combine, not one of the donkeys picking fruit. if you need it to do your 3 months rural work , the whole of south australia counts as rural, so go work in a bar in Adelade, much easier. plus side you don't have to deal with the australians that do the fruit picking. think Deliverance.

if you don't know many there, easiest thing head straight for sydney. easiest to pick up work quickly. very very expensive, especially with the conversion at present, but once you start work you will only be spending the money you make and not your savings.

i was there for a year 10 years ago, and back 2 times in last few years. definitely worth going. many of my friends are still there, and some are back, but got their residence and can return there if they want.

edit: only seen you are flying through bangkok , islands are still cheap to get to, but KL is much better option. also likes of Bali very cheap from KL

Working in a bar won't get you a second year visa no matter what part of Australia you are in.
OP you should definitely go but don't be in any hurry to get to Australia. Go through Asia where your money will go alot further and you will experience alot more different things that you wouldn't in Australia. Teaching English is a good option at your age and will probably be of more benefit to you in terms of life experiences than picking fruit in the backend of Australia. I live in Australia and have no plans to ever leave so obviously have nothing against the place but I think at your age Asia would be a good experience. I've seen alot of young Irish guys come here with lots of money and no real qualifications and piss their money away and really struggle. Another piece of advice would be to leave some of your money at home as an emergency fund.

AgileMyth · 29-01-2015 05:16PM

OSI wrote: »

You saved a grand a month out of €1,400 while paying rent and bills and feeding yourself?

Not far off it. It was slightly short of six grand and slightly longer than six months.

roro1990 · 29-01-2015 05:18PM

aido79 wrote: »

Working in a bar won't get you a second year visa no matter what part of Australia you are in.
OP you should definitely go but don't be in any hurry to get to Australia. Go through Asia where your money will go alot further and you will experience alot more different things that you wouldn't in Australia. Teaching English is a good option at your age and will probably be of more benefit to you in terms of life experiences than picking fruit in the backend of Australia. I live in Australia and have no plans to ever leave so obviously have nothing against the place but I think at your age Asia would be a good experience. I've seen alot of young Irish guys come here with lots of money and no real qualifications and piss their money away and really struggle. Another piece of advice would be to leave some of your money at home as an emergency fund.

Thanks for the advice. My main concern about teaching is the fact that I am really shy as in the kinda guy to go red when I'm the centre of attention (such as in a classroom). If I wasn't shy I'd honestly love to try it.

In terms of qualifications, I have a decent bachelors degree so i'm not doing too bad there. I've been around a bit of Asia, I saw Thailand, cambodia (only briefly) and Laos. The teaching would be cool to do but if I do that, then save up more and go to Oz, by the time i'm back in Ireland in say 2.5 years, employers might frown on me being that long away. I dunno tho i'm probably just being pessimistic

CPSW · 29-01-2015 05:18PM

Go for it, one regret I have is that I never did the same thing when I was your age.

Best of luck

RobYourBuilder · 29-01-2015 05:31PM

roro1990 wrote: »

Thanks for the advice. My main concern about teaching is the fact that I am really shy as in the kinda guy to go red when I'm the centre of attention (such as in a classroom). If I wasn't shy I'd honestly love to try it.

Teaching may help you overcome your shyness and become a little bit more confident in yourself. The kids probably wouldn't even pick up on it.

roro1990 · 29-01-2015 11:38PM

RobYourBuilder wrote: »

Teaching may help you overcome your shyness and become a little bit more confident in yourself. The kids probably wouldn't even pick up on it.

True. But going to Oz for a year may also increase confidence as its a naturally sociable environment with loads of backpackers to interact with and lose my shyness with. I'm torn between the two though to be honest. It's either go to Oz and look for a job for 2 months or go to Thailand/South Korea and try teach English. I'm just worried if I end up doing both that my chances of employment when i'm home will be slim

fuzzydunlop85 · 29-01-2015 11:42PM

I'd head to Korea personally, great food, free apartment, cheap booze , hot women and you'll save about 5 grand a year if you have your wits about ya. Lots to see and do and pretty cheap to do it!

tomwaterford · 29-01-2015 11:44PM

roro1990 wrote: »

True. But going to Oz for a year may also increase confidence as its a naturally sociable environment with loads of backpackers to interact with and lose my shyness with. I'm torn between the two though to be honest. It's either go to Oz and look for a job for 2 months or go to Thailand/South Korea and try teach English. I'm just worried if I end up doing both that my chances of employment when i'm home will be slim

this is Ireland...your chances of getting a good job will be slim anyway

im ina very similar position...o=im half thinking of going the end of the summer...where all going well I should have 16K saved up....all going well....will deoend on other things
was hoping to go to Thailand....but cant seem to get anyone yo go....so fcuk it..il go visit me friends

deos anyone know what areas are going well over there at the min?

roro1990 · 29-01-2015 11:45PM

fuzzydunlop85 wrote: »

I'd head to Korea personally, great food, free apartment, cheap booze , hot women and you'll save about 5 grand a year if you have your wits about ya. Lots to see and do and pretty cheap to do it!

I'm extremely tempted but my original plan is Oz. Maybe if that goes tits up or if I have a change of heart when i'm in Thailand.

As I mentioned earlier in the thread the whole shyness and teaching doesnt sound like it'd be a good mix for me at this moment

Venus In Furs · 29-01-2015 11:45PM

You're young, no ties, 10 grand saved, love travelling... no-brainer IMO - go!

roro1990 · 29-01-2015 11:46PM

Venus In Furs wrote: »

You're young, no ties, 10 grand saved, love travelling... no-brainer IMO - go!

Haha simple and straight to the point. You're right I should go. I'm just having natural doubts about it I suppose cause its so close to the time I leave

RADIORAT · 31-01-2015 01:22AM

Bad Bad Judgement and Bad Bad Life planing.

Some people seem to think that life should be all about doing what your little heart desires.
Some people actualy do what their little heart desires.
Some people actually regret doing what their little heart desired when the penny drops and they have no future cause they have no training or education to arm themselves for their future.

Be responsible. Go to college. Earn the right to earn a living. Then Holiday when you can afford it.

good luck.

crazygeryy · 31-01-2015 01:25AM

Look i wouldn't normally do this but there's a horse running at haydock tomorrow in the 215.pm me its a sure thing.

thelad95 · 31-01-2015 01:34AM

RADIORAT wrote: »

Bad Bad Judgement and Bad Bad Life planing.

Some people seem to think that life should be all about doing what your little heart desires.
Some people actualy do what their little heart desires.
Some people actually regret doing what their little heart desired when the penny drops and they have no future cause they have no training or education to arm themselves for their future.

Be responsible. Go to college. Earn the right to earn a living. Then Holiday when you can afford it.

good luck.

Judging by the block capitals in your username, I'm not sure how serious an account this is but a lot of people regret not doing what they wished to do in their youth. Training and education can be secured at any age but travelling can often be a young persons game BEFORE they are tied down by kids or a mortgage. You're last point about him being responsible is irrelevant as he can actually afford this trip and he intends to seek out employment in Australia.

wretcheddomain · 31-01-2015 01:37AM

Look at what happened in Sydney a couple of months ago - the Sidney Siege - do you really think you'll make it out of Sydney alive given it's a haven for ISIS extremists?

berger89 · 31-01-2015 01:49AM

Hiya OP, best of luck! man after my own heart!

First off, absolute best of luck to you. Went to South America last year for a few months..best experience ever.

Anyways, I've only heard good things about Melbourne..and I think it's consistently rated alongside Vancouver in the top 3 best cities in the world (possibly for chilled out or something), so i think I'd herd there. Sydney is very urban and metropolitan..kind of like Dublin. I was there years ago but only for a few weeks. Melbourne strikes me a place like Galway or Cork.

I wouldn't be worrying too much now about your job prospects for when you return from your travels. That should be the least of your worries

You are going on the adventure of a lifetime (cliche, I know, but it's true!)

RADIORAT · 31-01-2015 01:49AM

Not sure I get the point about my username. The point about posters question is this as far as I can determine.
Ten K is peanuts to travel for a year on in the hope of maybe scrounging a bit of work here or there on the way at invariably low low pay. Its not my little 10 to lose but I am offering him the benefit of my very considerable experience as a very well traveled person and an employer.

If poster completes his education he can write his own job ticket in future. He is 24. not 44. Plenty of time to travel anywhere he wants so take the pain, earn the gain and have a ball.

regards.

Going to Australia with €10,000 savings. Am I wasting my money?

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