Hello fellow Frugalites :)

I am an expat from southeast asia moving to Syd for a job and I wanted to see if my budget is too low or too high. I am single and in my 30s.

My pay is 51K net for 1 whole year. I have multiplied my budget for 52 weeks (1 year):

Rent: 230 pw = 11960 (sharing w/ 3 pax in a 3BR house)

Bills: 70 pw = 3640

Food: 100 pw = 5200

Misc: 100 pw = 5200

I have not included in the calculation money that I will send home and other expenses that I will be paying back home and some savings to put aside maybe. Is my budget realistic for Sydney? I will be living up north near Dee Why. I’m pretty simple and have exercise, hiking and movies to keep me entertained.

My employer is open to increasing my pay if it’s too little for me but I want to be realistic if that doesn’t happen or get approved by the big bosses. I accepted this job because it’s far better than what I am earning back home and have had to shoulder some responsibilities when my dad lost his job in the pandemic. My contract is only for a year and I want to be smart about handling money matters.

Hope you can enlighten me and if you happen to live in the north beaches would love to get some tips on how to save better.

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Thank you.