Advice from those who have been flatting

[steve_t]

$900 owed over the last 6 weeks = $150 a week including food. And there's setup costs included in that so it's probabaly even cheaper each week.

Sounds like a good deal to me, if you're getting power/phone/internet included as well, that's an awesome price.

A$150 a week could easily get you a fully furnished flat in Perth incl all utilities and you'd be able to choose to live with more likeminded people

[Smifffy]

$900 owed over the last 6 weeks = $150 a week including food. And there's setup costs included in that so it's probabaly even cheaper each week.

Sounds like a good deal to me, if you're getting power/phone/internet included as well, that's an awesome price.

Have to agree there. Also be interesting to see if he moved out, whether his new flatties would be prepared to front him just under a grand while he got his shit together...

[Latte]

A$150 a week could easily get you a fully furnished flat in Perth incl all utilities and you'd be able to choose to live with more likeminded people

Really?.... fark


/edit

Did a look for apartments/units and cheapest was $200

3 Bedroom house was $350 - so $120 per person, plus utilities and food.

just off realestate.com.au

[Smifffy]

Really?.... fark

Yeah, there are some awesome deals:

http://www.realestate.com.au/rent/in...rounding=false

[steve_t]

Yeah, there are some awesome deals:

http://www.realestate.com.au/rent/in...rounding=false

And also here
http://flatmates.com.au/places?area=13

James, find some 18-23 year old females to live with

[rachprice]

I lived in Brisbane for a while and organised my own food, cost be about $50 a week to eat well, I ate steak and chicken and fish but lots of veges and stuff

It can be done

[Smifffy]

And also here

James, find some 18-23 year old females to live with

Then a couple of times a week, when you are sick of mac & cheese, go round and visit your dad for tea...

[ducatilover]

How much exactly are you paying? More than any other people in the same relative situation?
I'm paying around $110, plus my own food. i can live veeeeery cheaply and healthily, growing veges helps keep costs down.

[scissorhands]

Move in with some WA girls and forget about saving money.

Or get to know 'never lived with father' and his quirky ways. My dad is gone and I wish I bought him more things like meals and the odd beer, once they're gone....

If they are just goldbricking on your money and not treating you right............ but you gotta weigh up if they are, or have, helped you financially in other areas... its give and take.

Sounds like your only missing out on some food money, which cant be that much per week, if you still mainly eat the shared food

[p.dath]

It's their place, and they set the rules for living there - not you - so you need to either abide by them or move out.

There are a lot more expenses than just food at the supermarket - are you planning on buying your own cleaning products as well when it is your turn to do the cleaning?

[steve_t]

It's their place, and they set the rules for living there - not you - so you need to either abide by them or move out.

There are a lot more expenses than just food at the supermarket - are you planning on buying your own cleaning products as well when it is your turn to do the cleaning?

You don't often find the words '18 year old bloke' and 'cleaning' in the same sentence

[wysper]

but lots of veges

I'm sorry, what?


mwaahhahahahah

[jafar]

So my situation is this.

I have moved to Perth with my Dad to try to get him set up here so he can save some money and not have to sell his house back in NZ. His workmate also came over with us. We are 'flatting' together in a house sharing rent, power, water, internet and food equally.

I took about a fortnight longer to get a job than either of them who got jobs with-in days of getting here. I owed approximately $900 in rent,food and set up costs which date back to about 6 weeks ago. This is all to my father.

As I now have a job I have gone about paying back this money however in doing so I have come to realise how much they have been spending on food. As I also came to Australia to save as much money as I can to go on my O.E and then on to Uni I now want to buy my own food. However bringing this up created a big argument despite what I thought were valid points regarding the equity of the current arrangement (I work shift work and sometimes miss dinner.) I don't expect either of them to start eating noodles and sausages like I want to but I dont want to eat chicken or steak every night either.

I am only 18 and have never lived with my father before nor have I flatted. Their views were that I was an ungrateful little prick (my fathers words) and that I thought I knew everything. They also thought I wouldn't be able to save more money buying for myself anyway.

And although I'm sure I can come across as knowing it all I don't appreciate the condescension I received when simply requesting that we review our living arrangements. So my question is what would be in my best interests given the above. Should I suck it up and spend more on food than I would like (I believe I could save $50 a week here) or should I persist and buy my own food anyway or even look for somewhere else to live as that was mentioned a few times as well.

Also comments on your flat arrangement and how that worked? Any other advice I could possibly use.

James

I've got my own place & 3 flatmates, I share the food with one of them & the other two share between themselves. The deals were done BEFORE they moved in. It is a pain to change it after the event.
Set up costs were covered by me, it is my place & they didn't have to cover what had already been done, in your case there would have been substantial set up cost that you are now having to repay, once that is done the weekly costs will go down.

I seriouly doubt that you can save $50.00 per week on the grocery bill, in fact I doubt you can save much at all buying for one as opposed to buying for three & splitting the costs. You have said they are having good meals ( chicken steak etc). These foods when cooked @ home are not that expensive, chicken is near the same price as sausages when you work it out on a per kg basis. Steak is a little dearer but is good food. Add more vegetables into your weekly grocery budget & cut back on the meat will save you a little, stir frys & curries also make the food $$ stretch a little as well.
You can't last for long on crap like noodles or mickey D's. Many have tried, none have succeeded.

[Mom]

Sorry O.T. but....
$200 p/w !!
My kids pay $60 no wonder they won't shift out

My eldest left home to go to Uni and had to pay $185 a week, board. On top of that she had to pay for her own personal shampoos etc, and her washing. All good. My son left home and had to pay $185 for a tiny room in a shared apartment, with fuck all facilities. When my youngest left school with no clear idea of what she wanted to do, we started to drift into a place far too comfy for her.

I told her her board would be $150 a week (she about shit) and of that I would put $50 a week into a savings account for her when she left home. She asked what would happen if she had a poor week (she was working part time) would she still have to pay $150? YES! I doubt any landlord would take pity on yhou having a poor week love. I dont think you do your kids any favours undercharging them board.

[Hopeful Bastard]

Im currently living in Lower Hutt and am paying $215 a week for a 3bdrm house with a decent size lounge and bedrooms. We have the Internet and phone line. We are living quite happily and soon to be getting sky TV and still live comfortably.

So for the price you are paying, Its not alot really if you are getting food on your plate. Although, I can relate to someone eating more than their share of food bought, But we dont bother about it as my brother and myself live pretty cheaply.