So, I'm reading with great interest...
as potential Bermuda expats (can you be that?), have some questions.

If I'm going to pack most of my worldly possessions into a box and move as far around the world as we possibly can (in Australia now), we want to know that after 3 years (or 6 years?) we come back to Australia with some cash in back pocket.

Every post talks about expensive living.  Granted, the rents are high, but I'm really starting to wonder if Australia shouldn't be on that 'expensive place to live' list as well - as an example -

I am a teacher, gross about $60,000 AU$.  (Add about 5% exchange rate to US$, if my maths is right, and taking into consideration Bermuda tax, that's about $60,000 in Bermuda money).  Aust govt takes 33% off the top - I take home about $40,000 net of that.

Comparing costs as per Jimmy's post - last month we paid rent $1100, phone and internet $300, electricity $130.  Grocery-wise - milk costs about $3.50 for 2l (about that half gallon, I think?), bread ranges from $2 for nasty cardboard white sliced to $5 for something interesting from the bakery;  eggs = $3 per dozen;  one-meal size bag of mixed salad = $4; strawberries $4 for about a dozen (I don't know how many strawberries are in a pint!!)  meat - mince = $11/kg, grilling steak = dodgy stuff for $13/kg [$26 per lb?] or really good stuff $20-30/kg;  liquor - 750ml rum = $35;  etc etc.  A rum and coke at the local pub costs $5, and my daughter parties on $10 cocktails (so she tells me).

I see that groceries are more expensive - but they're not double, or more, going by the lists people have kindly gathered and posted.

So here's the thing - if I am keeping pretty much all of that $60,000, I am still better off by $20,000 on those figures.  If the recruitment agencies are to be believed (and I say that tongue in cheek, given some posts I've read!) teaching salary is $70-80,000.  If my partner is working as a refrigeration mechanic, SURELY we should be able to stash away some useful funds by the end of the time..... or what am I missing?  We are one of those 'smug-married' couples mentioned in an earlier post, who won't be looking for nightclubs as primary source of entertainment.... 

Dose of reality required, please?  [with apologies in advance for the maths content - I know it's Saturday night there!]

Jillian (and Peter)

No wonder nobody replied to you post...

 

How funny is that?  Reality and I quit Bermuda to move to Brisbane!

I'll have to recover from my laughing fit after reading your post, but for now I'll just say you'd have to have 'roos lose in the top paddock to move the other direction.

Jillian, your agency is quoting you an accurate figure, I believe.  I worked at the Ministry of Education as a summer student some years back and that number sounds about right for teachers salaries (in the public system anyway).  It's all done on scales and back then entry level salaries for teachers was around 50-60k (this was around 10 years ago). 

Just note that most of the teaching positions on the island which are available to expats are for middle school level and up as, apparently, there are enough Bermudians available to teach at the pre-school and primary level.  Special education is in high demand.  Also, if you're able to teach more than one subject (e.g. history and PE, maths and science, etc.) that puts you ahead of the game as well.

Your other half should make good money in his trade so you both should do well.  My friend's husband worked for Bda Air Conditioning for a few months (went home because he missed his now wife).  He did say that the 'helpers' tended to leave something to be desired but that, overall, it wasn't a bad job.

Cost of living in Bermuda is expensive but if you manage to find a reasonable place to live, don't party or travel too too much and get around with a moped, you should be able to stash away a little something, I think.

Also, I wouldn't recommend packing and bringing your worldly possessions, it's best to bring the bare minimum with you.  The Customs officers love to burn you with duty and if you don't have receipts, they get to assign what they think is a reasonable price and tax you on it.  There are always house sales where you can pick up great electronics and furniture at a decent price because of people selling their things when they leave the island.  I'm sure you've heard of e-moo as well - lots of good deals on there too.

I hope this helped answer some of your questions.  Feel free to ask if you need more info; this board is a wealth of information, as others have mentioned before. 

How about the likely scenario that you quit after three months when you discover just how badly screwed up the system is?  Your fixed costs of moving will have been sunk and you won't get another work permit in another sector.  Your husband will still be waiting for permission to seek employment, or for a 'fast-track' permit, so there won't be anything on the income side of his equation to help out.

I've personally worked in the schools (as an IT consultant), and we have a close friend who was an expat teacher there (including the "special needs" as Wassup mentioned), and you really wouldn't belive the stories of abuse I could recount.  (OK just one; our friend was disciplined after she spoke up about another teacher hitting a student - the expat must have been the liar in spite of the evidence, right?)

Perhaps you'll be one of those to turn a blind eye and stay, telling yourself you can endure it for the money and hoping you can make a difference.  Either way, good luck and enjoy comparing how much you've saved with your smug-married friends.

You will hear what you want to hear. 


You have no idea.  But thank you for your condescension for my efforts to give you some perspective before you commit to a huge life change.


[editor's note: fix that darn quote box.]