When we landed in Australia in May 2016, we didn’t feel any rush. We had savings, we had a plan, and we felt we had time.
We were wrong about that last part. Not because we did anything reckless, but because we never stopped to work out how quickly our savings were going.
I’m sharing what our first six months really looked like because I don’t want you to find out the way we did.
If you’re planning a move, or you’ve just arrived, I’ll show you what we’d do differently and a few small habits that could make your first months feel steadier.
What our first months really looked like
First, we set up the practical things, like our accounts. Then we spent the first month or two finding our feet.
We weren’t driving yet, and we didn’t know how public transport worked. So we mostly left the house when we were going somewhere with our in-laws. We went to church. We went to parties with their friends. We went into the city and explored the area where we lived. We even took an interstate trip with them.
We ate out. We bought things we thought were cheaper in Australia than where we came from, because they were. Each purchase felt small and sensible on its own.
Looking back, we were spending like tourists, and we didn’t have an income yet.
I don’t say that to judge us. Everything around us was new, and it felt good to enjoy it. But we were living as if we were on a long holiday, and we weren’t.
We were looking, but we weren't in a rush
My husband started looking for work as soon as we arrived. I want to say that clearly, because it matters.
Nothing came back. There were no follow-up calls and no interviews. It took about a year before he finally secured a job.
But in those early months, we weren’t treating the search like a countdown. We knew we had a long stretch ahead of us, and that made it feel like there was no urgency.
We also hadn’t worked out how fast our savings were going down. Our plan was built around nine months, and we hadn’t checked it against what we were actually spending.
If you’d like to see how we worked out the gap later, I wrote about it in our article on how long your savings could last when you move to Australia.
When reality hit
About six months in, it hit us.
My husband still didn’t have a job, and our savings were running low. It felt like a quiet “wait, what are we doing?”
It wasn’t a dramatic moment. There was no single bill or bad day. It was more of a slow realisation that the money was going out each week, and nothing was coming in.
That was the point where we stopped acting like tourists. We weren’t going back. We were building a life here, and we needed to start making decisions with that in mind.
What we'd do differently
If we could go back to our first month, these are the three things we’d change.
1. Set one clear goal early
For us, that goal would have been to establish a steady income as early as possible, without waiting for the perfect job.
My husband was already looking for work, but we could have been more deliberate about broadening our options and reviewing our progress each week. Casual, contract or permanent, it wouldn’t matter. The aim would be to get a foot in the door.
When you’re new, it’s easy to wait for the perfect job. But any steady income could change how those first months feel, even if it isn’t your long-term plan.
This is what we’d choose for our situation. Yours may be different, and some visa conditions affect what work you can do, so please check yours with the Department of Home Affairs or a registered migration agent.
Even if work isn’t your goal right now, choose one. A clear goal gives the first months a direction.
2. Pause the spending that can wait
We’d skip most of the eating out. We’d hold off on buying things that could wait, even when they looked like a bargain.
We’d also try not to compare ourselves with friends and family who had been here longer. It’s easy to feel you should keep up with them, going to the same places and doing the same things.
But they were at a different point from us. They had already settled in. We were still starting, and we needed to establish ourselves first.
None of this means you can’t enjoy yourself. It means choosing what you spend on while you wait for your income to begin.
3. Explore for free
We would still explore. We just wouldn’t spend much to do it.
You could look for parks, walks, libraries and free community events near you. Your local council website is a good place to start, since many councils list what’s on in your area.
You don’t have to see everything in your first month. You’re not a tourist who has to fit it all in before you fly home.
You live here now, and you have all the time to discover it.
That thought changed things for us. Once we understood we were staying, the pressure to do everything straight away disappeared.
What we think those first months would have felt like
I often wonder how different those six months could have felt if we had made these small changes at the start.
We probably would still have felt nervous. Starting again in a new country is a lot, and a goal doesn’t remove that.
But I think we would have felt more in control. We would have known how many weeks our savings could cover. We would have had one clear thing to focus on each week. And the “wait, what are we doing?” moment may have come as a quiet check-in much earlier, instead of a surprise at month six.
That feeling of control is what we want for you. It isn’t about being perfect with money. It’s about seeing where you are while you still have room to choose your next step.
What helped us stretch our savings
This post isn’t only about regrets, so I want to share what helped.
In our first year, we received some support from Centrelink, and it helped our savings last longer than they would have on their own. Without it, I don’t think they would have stretched as far as they did.
I’m sharing this as our own experience, not as something you can count on. Payments and waiting periods depend on your situation, including your visa. Please check with Services Australia for what applies to you.
If you've just arrived and this sounds familiar
If you’re in your first few months and you recognise yourself in this story, you’re not behind. You’re still finding your feet, and that’s normal.
The only thing I’d gently suggest is to pause for a few minutes and take stock. It doesn’t need to be a big financial exercise.
Here are three questions you could write down:
- How many weeks of savings do we have left at our current spending?
- What is the one step we can take this week toward steady income?
- What is one expense we could delay or reduce for now?
Write the answers on a single page. If the first answer surprises you, that’s useful information, and it’s better to see it early.
You could also make this a weekly check-in. Compare what you’re actually spending with what you have left, so you can see whether your savings are lasting as expected or whether something needs to change.
To get a realistic number for your monthly costs, you could try our free Australia Cost of Living Calculator. If you’re still planning a rental, our article on how much money you need before you can rent in Australia shows what we learned there.
If you’d like a simple starting order for your first months in Australia, here’s a free guide we put together from our own experience.
Looking back, the lesson wasn’t that we should have enjoyed Australia less. It was that “we have time” can feel true while your savings quietly shrink. A clear goal and a quick check-in could have made those first six months feel much calmer for us.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I wait before looking for work in Australia?
There’s no rule that fits everyone. In our experience, my husband started looking as soon as we arrived, and it still took about a year. Starting early and giving yourself a plan could help, whatever your timeline is.
Is it okay to take casual or contract work at first?
For us, we’d say yes. We’d see casual or contract work as a way to get a foot in the door and bring in some income. Whether it suits you depends on your circumstances, and your visa may have conditions about work. Check them with the Department of Home Affairs or a registered migration agent.
Is it wrong to enjoy Australia in the first months?
Not at all. Everything is new, and it’s good to enjoy it. What we’d change is how much we spent while we had no income. Free parks, walks and community events can give you the same feeling of discovery.
How do I know how long my savings will last?
Take your available savings and divide them by what a normal month costs in your city. Our Australia Cost of Living Calculator can help you estimate the monthly figure, and our savings article walks through the steps.
Can I get Centrelink support when I first arrive?
We received some support in our first year, but eligibility and waiting periods vary depending on your situation and visa. Please check with Services Australia for what applies to you.
