It's Our 3rd Year Living in Perth Australia!

Three years ago, I stepped into the portals of this beautiful country Australia. No older cousins, no aunts and uncles, no relatives. I'm on my own but I'm not alone. I have several friends who, just like me, are newbies to this place. And that made all the fun, discovering things accidentally. Serendipity! Mostly are bits of humour! I couldn't help but smile (actually laughing out loud) while I reminisce my few "FIRSTS" in the Land Down Under. I would like also to reminisce my friend's Tips Before Travelling to Perth and also included here how we survived our first few years starting-up a totally new life chapter.


MY FIRSTS, OUR FIRSTS

First Phone conversation with Aussie.
Aussie: What is your date of birth?
Me: February 19, 2011
Aussie: Is that your date of birth?
Me: (Being not used to their diction and intonation I thought she was asking the date of my ARRIVAL IN PERTH. PERTH and BIRTH do sound the same isn't it? Hahaha!)

First Order of Pizza.
Aussie: Can I have your name please (He is talking to my husband)
Husband: Lito.
(The order came and written in the receipt is "Ligo")

Second Order of Pizza
Aussie: Can I have your name please.
Husband: Lito. (Trying to imitate Australian accent)
Our order came and written in the receipt is "Little".

Third Order of Pizza
Aussie: Can I have your name please.
Husband: Lito. L.  I.  T.  O. (he spelled)
Our order came and written in the receipt is LIDO.

So from then on, my husband used "James" as his pseudonym in ordering pizza. We never had problem with spelling after that and all receipts are correct (Except that my husband's name is not James!)

First Time To Do Grocery.

Believe it or not, it took us 3 hours to do grocery for a $50 worth grocery. Why? It's not about the long queues or whatsoever but because my friend Cherryl and I kept on converting the goods' prices into PESO.

First Time To Buy Appliance/Gadget
Isn't it that if we buy any gadget in the Philippines we usually have the box opened, switch on the gadget, test run it, etc. even if you end up not buying it. In Australia, you can't test run an appliance or gadget like cellphone or laptops before buying it. The commodity would come in fully-sealed box. But good thing about their customer service here is they would totally replace the unit if you found it defective and you even have an option to totally return the unit and refund your money 100% (as long as it is still within warranty). I had an experience buying a heater brand: Rinnai, after a year of using the heater it suddenly stopped working! I had to go back to Good Guys store to have it replaced. Unfortunately, there were no available stock anymore because it is summer season already so they gave me an option to refund the total cost of a brand new one. What a good customer service isn't it?


First Time To Know That 

• Chemist here means drugstore/ pharmacy outlet. And a full-blooded Major in Chemistry here is called Scientist. Interesting!
• You need to make an appointment to see a GP (doctor) in case you feel unwell.
• You need to fill your own gasoline tanks. (Thanks to Kuya Elison Palos for teaching me how to drive and orienting me how to fill my car's gasoline tank).
• There are no House-helpers here. Unlike in the Philippines, people tend to have one house helper and one "yaya" if you have a baby/toddler even if you are having hard time making both ends meet. In Australia, you have to know every DIY! You have to be a "jack of all trades", from house cleaner, to cook, car washer, and sometimes mechanic, barber, hairdresser, gardener, laundry maker, etc.. Thanks to my wonderful parents, me and my siblings were raised without a house helper so I got used to this set-up early on.
• The grocery counter would ask you "any cash-out?" when paying for your grocery. This is fantastic! You can actually withdraw cash from the grocery counters if you are paying thru EFPTOS, saves time queuing in ATM booths. No charge at all.
• If you buy grocery in small quantity only, counter would ask you "Do you need a bag?, Do want your receipt?" (Well, I included this because I know that in the Philippines, Filipinos are used to have their groceries bagged instantaneously when buying in small quantity or in bulk).

TIPS FOR NEWBIES-TO-BE IN PERTH
First timers here like me had bunch of questions that was faithfully answered by my friend who has been here in Australia for quite sometime. Most of it are what to bring and what to prepare. Very helpful list (especially newbies in this place who doesn't have any single relative to guide them).

Before Even Travelling/ Migrating

Since I would be spending money hard-earned in the Philippines in my first few weeks here in Australia for my living expenses, my friend gave me a list of stuff which I can bring (and not forget to bring) along so I don't have to spend much while I'm not yet earning dollars.
a. Documents
b. Philippine driver's license (Professional or Non-pro will do) - This is a MUST!. If you can't drive yet its time to start taking lessons before you even migrate.
c. Clothes: working clothes (plain, comfortable, decent shirts will do), malling, party dresses, home clothes (suitable for summer). Include lots of underwear & few socks.
d. Phone with roaming simcard
e. Shoes
f. Bags for working
g. Bible & rosary
h. Accessories - watch, jewelries, belt, etc.
i. Medicines for travel & for home use: biogesic, diatabs, medicol, tuseran. Usually they will ask for prescription here before they allow you to buy prescription medicines like antibiotics, etc., so buy all those critical medicines you may need. Keep your prescription record with you for immigration checking purposes. Prescriptions done overseas is not usually acknowledged by pharmacies here unless you see a GP here to issue an equivalent Australian prescription.
j. Make-up
k. Hangers with built-in clips (preferably the round ones)
l. Sewing kit
m. Perfume
n. Feminine wash
o. Nail cutter/clipper/pusher (note that you can't find any nail pushers here)
p. Cookbooks (albeit Internet is widely used already)

Perth Frugal Living Tips
We survived our first three years in Australia by living a simple but wonderful life. Basic necessities like food, accommodation & utilities are always a priority. (Please note that we are not misers or cheapskates! We do have an ipad, iphone, laptop, etc. My point is we  enjoy present life but we don't forget to save and invest for tomorrow. Afterall, that is one of the ultimate reasons why we decided to sample life here in Australia). With our three years of living here, experience is really the best teacher. Here are some helpful tips to lower spending but still reaping the optimal benefits.

Food & Grocery
Grocery can be done in Woolworths, Coles, and IGA, and many more. As a personal preference I go to Woolworths most of the time since its near our place and prices are bit cheaper than in IGA. Also, one should avail the Everyday Rewards Card for promos and fuel discounts.
Asian Stores are also handy for your usual Filipino condiments like mama sita's, bagoong, patis (fish sauce), etc. and frozen fish like milk fish, tilapia, frozen veggies like malunggay, saluyot, etc.
For fruits and locally grown produce, Spudshed is the best/cheapest place to buy. 
For fresh fishes,  you can buy in Canningvale Market every Saturday morning. Wide range of seafood selection is available.

Appliances, Furniture, Used Cars
If looking for second hand cheap appliances like TV, washing machine, microwave oven, rice cookers, etc. go to the website of gumtree at gumtree.com.au. If you are lucky some items are also for free as some Good Samaritans loves to donate online. Other stuff like baby strollers, car seats, toys and clothes are also available at very low prices (Babyhood is ephemeral anyway, clothes are easily outgrown by baby in just a matter of month). This site is very helpful for singles/families who are just starting life from scratch. For brand new appliances, choose those with high star energy ratings and high star water ratings to save on electricity consumption and water consumption, respectively. Note on the pictures below that brand X is more energy efficient than brand Y.

Example 1 of Energy and Water Rating pasted in Washing Machine brand X.

Example 2 of Energy and Water Rating of Washing Machine brand Y.

Salvos, Good Sammy and Vinnies outlets are also places where second hand clothes, appliances and furniture, etc., are donated by Good Samaritans, so prices are relatively low, and in a way you are helping out someone in need since all proceeds goes to charity.


Accommodation
For accommodation, e.g., Kwinana Area, choices of accommodation are: 2-bedroom unit, 3-bedroom villas/houses, 4-5 bedroom houses. Depending on how many companions you have, choose just enough number of bedroom houses as the rental price usually increases as the number of bedrooms in the house increases. Another tip is to choose a rental house with built-in solar panels to save on electricity bill. Choose  a house with a gas stove instead of electric stove since gas is cheaper than electricity. And choose a house with no/minimal care gardens to save on water consumption for reticulations, especially if your rental contract falls mostly on a summer season. To scout for rental houses you can visit the websites domain.com.au and realestate.com.au.

So far, as a summary, our three years living in Perth is light & happy, blessed, fruitful and wonderful and we give back all the Glory and Praise to the Lord Almighty, Who has been always there watching and guiding us all the way.


Journeying with Passion,
Net