Help me decide...AKA Someone tell me what to do please!!

Ok... Let me lay it out for you :D
Moving from Perth to Melbourne is EXPENSIVE. Anyway you look at it. It sucks. BUT, there are a few options I have. Well, 3 really.
1 - Drive across - removalist for moving.
2 - Drive across - hire a trailer and move myself
3 - Ship car - removalist for moving - fly across.

Should be noted that all of these options involve me travelling alone with a 14 month old and a 4 year old. :pray:

Option 1: Approx $1000 to drive over (excluding service/prep the car for the drive, say $600) + approx $1600 for the removalist = $3200.
Allowing about 5 days to do the drive, having to stop every few hours, drive and amuse the girls, deal with grumpiness and extreme prices across the desert.

Option 2: Approx $1300 to drive over (extra petrol money for having massive trailer hooked up) + $600 to prep car + $900 for the trailer = $2800
Allowing about 5 days to do the drive, having to stop every few hours, drive and amuse the girls, deal with grumpiness and extreme prices across the desert. Plus I have NEVER driven a car with a trailer :redface:, let alone a 10x6 metre furniture trailer with 1000kg of stuff in it, across a desert. Alone. :o
Probably by far the cheapest option $ wise, but not sure if I can do it.

Option 3: $600 to ship car + $700 for flights + $1600 for removalist = $2900


The variable being of course the cost of petrol across the Nullabor, the cost of preparing the car and the cost of food/accom on the road.

I am really lost. I don't want to commit to driving a trailer etc across with the girls and get stuck whoopwhoop wth a screwed car or hitting a kangaroo or something like that, which I cannot afford and will totally leave us stranded. Although these things are all unlikely, I am a worrier about this sort of thing. Plus, seriously lacking faith in myself at the moment.

The EASIEST is of course option 3. I have to do basically nothing but survive a 4 hour flight with the girls, BTDT.

Of course, I have about half the amount of money I really need, NO idea how I am going to afford to do anything, but where there is a will there is a way (right...RIGHT???)

Secret option 4, in case of severe money fail, is sell car (about $7000) use money to pay for removalist and buy $5000 when we get to Melbourne. Really don't want to do that, but if push comes to shove, that is the go. Car goes up for sale May 25 unless I have the money to move it.

Anyway...what would you do? Advice, experiences, anyone? :( Help me please.

Given the cost of driving is close to the same as flying, I say fly. And don't hesitate to sell the car if that's what it takes. I know buying a car can be a real pain but that injection of cash to help you move would be a great stress reliever.

We rented an old bomby car off a little family company in Eltham once and they had weekly rates. Could be an option if you arrive carless and need to be able to get around for a while... like, to buy a car!

maybe PM clover and get some more info about the drive - she has recently done it - so you can be comparing apples with apples, IYKWIM?

but if the difference is only around $100 between flying and driving, fly fly fly!! (although I guess you could sell the trailer when you get over there, and recoup some of the money...?)

I would go with 3 unless you want the experience.

You can get cheap accommodation sure. But how quickly do you want to get here?

I wouldn't do the trailer thing. BTDT and it was a constant worry that it would get stolen. Not fun.

i would definitely go with option 3. and i agree re-the car, if you have to sell it, sell it. it'll save you the hassle of changing the plates over anyway :)

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#3 fly over.

I would do #3 as you don't need the stress of finding accommodation, potential breakdowns and petrol prices on top of everything else. Don't make it harder for yourself. I would also sell the car if you have to.

I'd be selling up and flying over.

Sell the car, but what about furniture? It might be worth your while to sell that too and buy other stuff when u get to melbourne. That will cut removalist cost and also storage costs while waiting to get a place in melbourne. Plus it's nice to start afresh!

Hi,
we did this move about 3 years ago now and I know how hard it is to decided. I weighed it all up and in the end we flew over here. The stress of driving ontop of moving just was a bit to much. It worked out more expensive to drive for us aswell.
Good luck

Hun, do the easy option, you have been through so much stress lately, give yourself an easy path for a while. With #3 you also know exact costs and there will be no hidden surprises ie, blown tyre, car troubles.

Do three. Seriously. Much better option. 4 isn't to bad either.

Or option 5 - screw melbourne and just come to Brissy ;-)


Cat xox

What if you have car trouble along the way. you would need to have a bit of cash for that. overheating, getting a flat, hitting a kangaroo.....Id fly for sure. its cheaper and someone else said sell the car to help you move, then you save yourself $1600 and make some cash too. im sure the busses are ok in melb untill you can afford to get a new car!!
Dont be ashamed to take the 'easiest' option....none are really easy! good luck with the move!

Fly. Definitely.

Fly. Make it easy for yourself. It's been hard enough getting this far.


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Fly. If you can, sell everything and take the cash. You can pick up furniture on freecycle or gumtree. You can get a cheap car. If you do need to ship furniture, get it down to the bare minimum and see if you can get it on the back of someone elses's delivery to save money.

This is one of the most stressful things you can do. Make it as easy for yourself & the kids as you can.

Fly!! No way I'd drive that far with my kids!!

yep, number 3.

Option 3, and sell the car if you need to in order to raise the funds. Moving a long distance is not fun, make it a little easier on yourself by avoiding unnecessary stress and boredom

$100 more not to have to drive 2 children across the desert on your own? It's a no brainer.

Maybe sell the car and buy another one to save the shipping cost? Will the stamp duty for a new car cost more than shipping? Cars in Perth are cheaper aren't they? Or is that just a myth?

Just fly, believe me, it is much easier

I'm in the fly camp too, especially if there's very little $ difference.

Driving with a trailer *anywhere* is hard work and stressful, even without kids in the car. Driving with a massive furniture trailer if you haven't towed before for 5 days with kids is lunacy. Let alone factoring in the "what ifs" - such as blowing a tyre or other mechanical failure.

Sell the car, take the cash and fly.

Looking at your options, maybe flying is the better idea? I already had a trailer & we've only just finally bought a car big enough for us so I wanted to keep it.
I wasn't going major city to major city & there are no flights out here, so flying wasn't really an option for us.

Any centrelink loans you can apply for? Coz thats what I used.

:)

Fly. Bear in mind bringing car over from perth & getting vic rego req roadworthy certificate. Sometimes it's not worth it.

Definitely won't do the trailer
- slows u down
- more petrol

In terms of time ure gonna take, if u want to avoid the roos, dont drive dawn or dusk which means more time req. also time difference means u lose a bit of time each day. So might end up longer than you think.

If u want the experience of the nullabor for all then drive.

Good luck!


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Fly, absolutely. Mum drove with my brother and I when we were 5 and 4 from Toowoomba to Melbourne, and all I remember of it is that it was hell. Scary, stressful, not fun at all.

I would sell the car and fly hun. The less stressful.it is for the kids the easier they will be to manage iykwim. It also costs a bit to change rego & everything. I definitely wouldnt be driving with a trailer but that's just me.

sent from my watzamajig so may not make sense....

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Given the cost of driving is close to the same as flying, I say fly. And don't hesitate to sell the car if that's what it takes. I know buying a car can be a real pain but that injection of cash to help you move would be a great stress reliever.

We rented an old bomby car off a little family company in Eltham once and they had weekly rates. Could be an option if you arrive carless and need to be able to get around for a while... like, to buy a car!

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Don't happen to still know their names? lol

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maybe PM clover and get some more info about the drive - she has recently done it - so you can be comparing apples with apples, IYKWIM?

but if the difference is only around $100 between flying and driving, fly fly fly!! (although I guess you could sell the trailer when you get over there, and recoup some of the money...?)

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Yep! Great minds ;) I messaged her yesterday. Would be hiring the trailer, so don't have to worry about selling it.

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I'd be selling up and flying over.

Sell the car, but what about furniture? It might be worth your while to sell that too and buy other stuff when u get to melbourne. That will cut removalist cost and also storage costs while waiting to get a place in melbourne. Plus it's nice to start afresh!

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Yeah, I am already selling or leaving just about everything, already culled it down to the bare minimum. Also already have a house to move into - I wasn't leaving until I had somewhere to go, so that is all sorted.

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$100 more not to have to drive 2 children across the desert on your own? It's a no brainer.

Maybe sell the car and buy another one to save the shipping cost? Will the stamp duty for a new car cost more than shipping? Cars in Perth are cheaper aren't they? Or is that just a myth?

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Not really no...the on road costs are a bit less, but in my bracket of <$6000 car, it really is 6 of one... :D

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Looking at your options, maybe flying is the better idea? I already had a trailer & we've only just finally bought a car big enough for us so I wanted to keep it.
I wasn't going major city to major city & there are no flights out here, so flying wasn't really an option for us.

Any centrelink loans you can apply for? Coz thats what I used.

:)

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Nope, can't rely on CLink unfortunately, but *may* be getting a FTB payment from a couple of years ago which would save my arse, but I can't rely on it til it happens itms.


Thanks everyone :) I really do think 3 is the best option in the sane part of my brain. In the emotional part, I thought the drive would be good for me. Cathartic and maybe a bit empowering? Over romanticised or what? lol
Am going to be booking the flights this week.

I am reluctant to sell too much more of the furniture and things - the girls need some sort of continuity. That's why I bought Charlotte a new bedroom suite a few weeks ago. She desperately needed one and this way she isn't sleeping in a strange bed when she get there itms.

Thanks for all your help :) I think maybe I just needed to hear I am not being weak by taking the easy option. :hug:

Fly fly fly!!!!

I've never moved quite that far but I did a move with DD's father (pre dd) from Wollongong to rockhampton and I hated it (and I was 18!!)
I've driven locally with a trailer load of furniture and it's no fun at all, so would never consider that much of a distance.

Good luck with the move and your new life in melb

Fly hun, this will probably be one if not the most stressful times in your life, you need to do everything possible to make it easy on yourself. agree on selling everything as you can pick things up so cheap sometimes practically giveaways, we have a spare toaster and i bet all the BB'ers have at least one thing stashed in their garage that could help you out. put out a list of what you need so we can see what ee can help with .

Just wanted to say please ask us Melbourne girls for help! We have a shed full of stuff that might help. Put a list together of things you need and I'm sure between us all we can help (my brother is going os soon and needs to ditch some stuff too).

Definitely fly. I've towed horse floats for a lot of my adult life and "cathartic" is not how I would describe a long distance drive with something that sways more in the wind, adds massively to fuel consumption etc. Parking anywhere is a nightmare if you're not well practised with a trailer of any kind and you just don't need that kind of stress. What you've done and are doing on your own is empowering enough for the time being I think!

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What you've done and are doing on your own is empowering enough for the time being I think!

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Absolutely! I would definitely fly hun.

I'd be constantly worried that someone was going to unhitch the trailer and nick off with everything while you were asleep!
My crazy sister drove a car for a lady from Melbourne to Cairns. The woman had a bub and wanted to fly but still take a boot full of gear. She advertised on Gumtree, and my sister found the ad. Sister needed to get to Cairns from Melbourne with 2 cats and a car full of gear. It was win-win. They had some serious proper paperwork and sister and lady went halves in the gas.
Maybe someone can drive your car to Melbourne for you?

Id do number 3. I will add we moved half hr down the rd & removalist was 2k, so if u can get someone to do it for 1600 from perth t melb & they have a good rep & that includes insurance id be booking with them before they change their mind

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Id do number 3. I will add we moved half hr down the rd & removalist was 2k, so if u can get someone to do it for 1600 from perth t melb & they have a good rep & that includes insurance id be booking with them before they change their mind

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PMSL Yeah, I am really not taking much - about 12 cubic metres. The original quote I got was almost $2500. Had to cull!

LS, there is a company called rentabomb that do secondhand hire cars - might be what you're looking for

personally, I'd sell the car, pack the furniture if you're intent on taking it, and fly. It's stressful enough travelling with kidlets without factoring in all the what if's of going across the nullabor...

I'd say it would be less cathartic and more masochistic. Stop beating yourself up. This is not your fault. Take the easy options, ask for help if you need. You're dealing with enormous emotional, physical & financial upheaval as it is. It's ok to do the bare minimum and not be able to cope with everything. You dont need to flog yourself whilst doing it.

Getting on that plane is going to be cathartic. Raising 2 girls on your own will be empowering enough. Let go the superfluous and focus on what matters most.

fly over, you may think the drive will be carthardic, but in reality you will be stressing, it will make the change harder. The flight is quick, its a clean cut. Ot will make the change, your new adventures much nicer and with a happier start I would probably sell the car too, great chance to start a fresh with a new car and new house :)

I drove Katherine NT to Canberra with my hubby straight down the centre... If I had the option I would have flown! Driving along those kinds of highways can be quite scary, and I cant imagine doing it with 2 little ones! I thinking flying is defs the safest option plus its just as fun looking out the window of the plane ;)

I'd DEFINTELY fly considering there is very little difference on price, and think about the convenience and ease for you and your kiddies.
Not to mention the fact, that like you say, something COULD happen to the car, and you just don't have the money for it, it's better not to take the risk of you really cant afford it.
Like others have said, perhaps sell most/all of the furntiure too? It'd save you tonnes on moving costs, and you can buy new (2nd hand) stuff in melby on Gumtree or FB garage sale sites.

Perhaps to save more money, sell the car, then it's even cheaper to fly over (dont have to transport the car) and buy one over there? Depending where you live in melb, you may not need transport *as* much, so can survive a few days without it.

*hug* good luck hun, whatever you choose


Sent from the land of "iSomethings" so forgive me for any spelking misstaks ;)