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[tessibean]

Is there a living-on-student-loans-or-dear-god-what-have-I-done-D: community on LJ for Australians? Or, are there any tips that anyone would like to give me about living cheaply on a day to day basis in AUS?

Furthermore:
I promised the boy that once I move there, I'm going to take Sundays to make his/my lunches for the week. I plan on making week

Comments

[windypoint]

I've tried to write a reply three times, and each time it turns into a long rant about how the system here is deliberately set up to make things hard for poor people to migrate here.

Make absolutely certain you understand EXACTLY what your visa class means. Be aware it may take you ages, and leaving and re-entering (IF the visa is approved) Australia to get certain types of visa class change. Be aware that much government assistance that poor Australians rely upon to live decently and especially study tends to be denied to migrants who have not served a lengthy waiting period (is it 2 years?) from the time they enter the country after obtaining a permanent residency class of visa.

[tessibean]

I should mention that I'm only going to be living there3 for 6 months, as part of an exchnage program, lol. So, I shouldn't have problems with immigration.

[beatle2102]

If you really need to buy a slowcooker or pressure cooker, buy it used. Crockery, cook-ware, plastic containers, etc , all tend to be a bit more expensive in Oz than here (I'm assuming you're in the States). If you buy anything new there, you either have to lug it back (annoying and expensive) or sell it at a loss when you leave (also annoying and expensive). Australia has a fairly large second-hand market, particularly as far as op-shops (like the Salvo's, Lifeline,) are concerned (the Trading Post is also a good bet -- it's a weekly newspaper of classifieds for just about everything). Since you're only going to be there for six months, you don't really need brand new stuff (if at all). It's unclear from your post, but if your partner is living there permanently, then it's possibly worth buying a pressure cooker, but be prepared for a bit of sticker shock. It's not going to be a whole paycheck, but it'll still be more expensive that you're probably used to. Again, I'd really advise checking out op-shops. They're quite clean, and have

[tessibean]

Thanks!

Yes, my boyfriend is a perm. resident. I may end up donating a slowcooker to him, or selling it to some mutual friends of ours while I'm there.

I'll be there from July-December, and in South Australia.

Thank you for the advice :)

[trishalishous]

IF you hear of any AUS communities (or even make one) let me know.

I hate being broke :-(

[teacuptempest]

I bought my crockpot for...$80 brand new. it's definitely saved my ass a few times, and the pressure cookers are about the same. it's not too bad.

I live in Melbourne in a big house and I'm going to University and I live comfortably as a student on $400 a week. That pays all my bills, rent, transport, entertainment etc. I get nothing from Centrelink [government assistance] and I work to support myself, about 25-30 hours a week work with 15 hours a week university. So I do pretty much 60hr weeks but its worth it.

[drummbellina]

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