​The cold weather is biting hard at the moment, and it is certainly taking its toll on me; my arthritis is playing up something chronic. This is the worst time of year; I absolutely hate living in Perth during the winter. Heating is the biggest problem —  trying to keep houses, designed for the Australian climate, warm, is an almost impossible task. We did purchase the biggest electric heater we could find, but even that only takes the edge off the cold. Thankfully the West Australian Government will be paying our electricity bill for a while, as they are for everyone here, so we don't have to worry about the cost.

I have been impressed by just how much the state pays towards our bills. I pay a direct debit of $130.00 a month, which under normal circumstances is more than enough to cover our costs, so we have built up quite a surplus in our utility account. Watching the news from the UK, it seems you are paying a fortune for your gas and electricity; in Western Australia, things are very different. Costs are very low and the Government subsidises essential utilities to a huge extent. After substantial tax cuts, from the federal government at the beginning of July, and a pay rise for both of us, we are actually starting to feel the benefits.

It is true to say that the cost of living in Australia is high. Today we did our weekly shopping in Coles and spent another $400.00; that's how much we spend each week, and it goes up all the time. There are only two million people living in Western Australia, so the choice of supermarkets is far more limited than in the UK. However, wages are particularly high; I earn four times more than I earned in Britain, and life is good financially. 

There are many aspects of my life in Australia that I would like to change; however, to be financially secure, saving for the future, going on holiday when you want, and not scrimping and scraping to make ends meet, is everything to me. Western Australia is the place to make money, but this is just a stepping stone for us, a ten-year plan, before we decide what to do next. For now, we are happy enough, and thankful for the chance to rebuild our lives in Australia, one of the most beautiful places on Earth!
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