A recent job posting from Indeed.com requires, “You must have a very organized and efficient filing system; we are not making any room for mistakes.” If you’re applying for an office job, you’ll most likely be required to have a filing system in order to store various documents and reports. While you’re busy sorting through piles of paperwork, you might be tempted to scale back on some of those expenses you think you don’t need to incur. After all, you’re paying rent anyway, right?
Well, yes, you’re paying rent, but the IRS considers all of those miscellaneous costs and expenses you incur while performing your job functions to be job-related. For that reason, you’ll need to include those costs in your job-related travel and entertainment allowances. Since you’re not required to submit a detailed expense report for these job-related costs, it’s a good idea to ask your manager if he’ll sign off on your half of those payments. Otherwise, you’ll need to wait until you’re paid in cash to be able to claim that amount. You won’t be able to include those job-related costs in your car and house insurance premiums though, as they’re not considered to be a part of your job. If you have a mortgage, you’ll need to make sure that your mortgage provider knows about your new job. They may require you to provide evidence that you made the proper notifications. Otherwise, they may consider that you’re a risky borrower.
The Average Cost of Living in Australia
If you’re applying for a job in Australia, you’ll need to take into consideration the cost of living in order to determine how much you should be sending. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the cost of living in Australia as follows:
- Homes: $484 per month (in 2018)
- Transport: $187 per month (in 2018)
- Child Care: $125 per week (+/- $567 per month)
- Groceries: $375 per month (+/- $749)
- Health Care: $848 per month (+/- $1,280)
- Funeral Expenses: $7,000 (+/- $7,000)
- College Tuition: $15,600 (+/- $7,200)
- Rent: $479 per month (+/- $1,344)
- Vehicle Loans: $487 per month (+/- $1,187)
- Watch: $1,000 (+/- $1,000)
- Lifetime Mortgages: $11,000 (+/- $11,000)
- Misc Costs: $2,500 (+/- $2,500)
Those are the average costs of living in Australia, as calculated by the BLS. Keep in mind that cost of living varies from region to region within the country. According to Numbeo, the cost of living in Sydney is the highest in Australia, and the cost of living in Perth is the lowest. If you’re planning on moving to or from Australia at some point, make sure you factor in the cost of living differences when you’re deciding how much you should be sending. Moving to a new country is not easy, and you want to be sure you’re not sacrificing any financial stability by moving abroad without considering the cost of living differences.