Grocery Price watch - July 2009

Here are some list of grocery items for the month of July to give an idea of how each item cost.

Amount	Items	Store
$ 7.00	tiger prawns / .5kg @ 13.99/kg	haymarket
$ 6.40	tilapia 5.99/kg	haymarket
$ 0.79	shang hai boy .79ea	chinese shop
$ 0.20	chillies long .020kg @ 9.99/kg	chinese shop
$ 1.49	tomatoes 1kg	Aldi
$ 2.39	smartbuy cage eggs 600g	Coles
$ 1.50	coles bread roll 6pack	Coles
$ 0.59	sb coles pasta 500g	Coles
$ 0.78	choko .260kg @ 2.99/kg	chinese shop
$ 0.67	snow peas .075kg @ 8.99/kg	chinese shop
$ 0.64	mung beans .215kg @ 2.99/kg	chinese shop
$ 9.22	breast fillet 1.154kg @ 7.99/kg	Joes Meat
$ 5.00	streets blue ribbon 2L ice cream	Coles
$ 0.98	garlic 4pack	Coles
$ 35.98	Kaset Jasmine rice 17.99/10kg x 2	Coles
$ 0.90	couliflower	Coles
$ 0.39	carrots .197kg @ 1.98/kg	Coles

Cost of living in Sydney, Australia

Idea about cost of living in Sydney, Australia

Assumption:
- the amount provided are calculated assumptions

Monthly Budget: $2000.00



Cost / Desription Details

$300.00/wk   - Rent:  1 bedroom unit
- Rental fees are paid weekly
- Refer to domain.com.au or realestate.com.au to get an idea on how much is the rent in the area

$50.00/wk    - Food: groceries
- take away expenses or dining out in a restaurant is not inlcuded

$150/pq      - Electricity bill:
- Bills are usually paid quarterly
- No water bill if you are renting in a unit as water usage was usually covered by the landlord

$140/mo      - Train fare: Flexipass / good for 30 days
- cheaper to buy momthly train ticket than daily or weekly.
- distance covered is about 30kms

Computation:

300/wk x 52 wks =  15600.00 / 12 months = $1300/month (rent)
50/wk x 52wks = 2600 / 12 months = 216.00/month (groceries)
150/pq x 4 = 600 / 12 months = 50/month (electricity bill)
140/mo (transportation)

1300 + 216.16 + 50 + 140 + 300 (for miscellaneous expenses) = $2006.00

--------------------------------------------
Total monthly budget = $2000.00 (roughly)
--------------------------------------------

Thank you...

Thanks to Gee and John Family

... and Lola and Brian

... and Flynn

USS Kitty Hawk visit Sydney

American Aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk visits Sydney last July 2007

IOM Manila

IOM offer special airfare for first time migrants.

Benefits includes an assured 40kgs baggage allowance.

Note: Better compare the rates between IOM and other airlines for better deals.

Actual cost last June 2007:

Airfare - $390 x 2 person  @ P47.65 (exchange rate) = Php 37,167.00

Plus taxes - Php 4844 x 2 = P9,688.00

Total cost of 2 tickets PHP 46,855.00 (one-way airfare)

IOM special instruction:

=====================
- Deposit the amount to any China Bank branch account of:

IOM INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION.

- After deposit, send copy of deposit slip thru email, or by fax.

- They will request issuance of e-tickets after confirmation of payment.

- They will forward e-tickets to your email once issued by Qantas.

=====================

IOM Manila

Tel. 848-0083

ASPC Processing timeline

ASPC Processing timeline ( approximately 8-9 months before med request)

================
May 30, 2006 ------- Birth Cert from NSO (East Ave)
Jun - Jul 2006 ------ IELTS preparation
July 08, 2006 ------- Written exam 8:00am (AIM Conference Makati)
July 11, 2006 ------- Speaking exam 2:40pm (7/F Salustiyana bldg. Paseo)
July 21, 2006 ------- IELTS Result (7.0 overall)
July 15, 2006 ------- Passport renewal (City Hall)
July 24, 2006 ------- COE
July-Aug 2006 ------ Misc docs completion (TOR/Diploma/BC/Training Cert / etc...)
Aug 09, 2006 ------- Docs Notarization
Aug 11, 2006 ------- DIMA form completion
Aug 12, 2006 ------- FedEx pickup - 1:42 PM
Aug 13, 2006 ------- Arrived at FedEx location (Subic Freeport) - 6:58 PM
Aug 14, 2006 ------- Departed FedEx location (Subic Freeport) - 12:04 AM
Aug 14, 2006 ------- In Transit (Alexandria AU) - 10:24 PM
Aug 15, 2006 ------- On FedEx vehicle for delivery (Adelaide Airport) - 8:35 AM
Aug 15, 2006 ------- Delivered (Adelaide AU) - 10:57 AM recieved by .Virginia
Oct 18, 2006 -------- Acknowledgement letter from ASPC
Oct 19, 2006 -------- Charge on Credit Card
Mar 05, 2007 -------- CO assignment / Med and PCC request
Mar 14, 2007 -------- Medical at Nationwide / NBI at ParkSquare (HIT) -> Carriedo
Mar 16, 2007 -------- Claim NBI Clearance at Carriedo
Mar 16, 2007 -------- Sent required docs to aspc.region.4@immi.gov.au
Mar 26, 2007 -------- LCU recieved med result according to tracking number signed by ALEX
Apr 09, 2007 -------- Email LCU and DIAC for followup (reply on April 15)
Apr 30, 2007 -------- VISA Grant 2:36pm
May 2, 2007 -------- Visit VIA visa evidencing (8:50am) and finished at 9:20am
================ ================

Case Officer assingment in 6 months and 3 weeks

ACS Processing timeline

Visa Type: Skilled Independent (136)
ACS Processing timeline (takes 8 - 10 weeks)
================
Mar 01, 2006 = FedEx pickup- 2:00pm
Mar 02, 2006 = FedEx transit from Subic - 2am
Mar 03, 2006 = ACS acknowledgement (according to FedEx) - 1230pm
Mar 08, 2006 = ACS acknowledge via email
Mar 16, 2006 = Charge to credit card
Mar 09, 2006 = Status (To be allocated via email)
Apr 09, 2006 = Status (In Process)
May 02, 2006 = Status (With Accessor)
May 09, 2006 = ACS Result (Snail mail)

================ ================

Note:

Skills nominated --> 2231-11 but was acessed by ACS to be suitable under 2231-19