Lol, I think I am extremely lucky but I do not actually live in Australia as such, I live in the UK but am lucky enough to spend just short of six months a year in Australia, best of both worlds so to speak.

The UK economy is up the proverbial just like in the US and the Aus economy is strong, too strong some would say, so I see it from both sides.

10 years ago when things were the other way round we had a much higher standard of living while we were in Australia as most of out income is from UK pensions, now the $Au is so strong our buying power has effectively been cut in half so that no longer applies.

Mind you hot and humid as it is here at the moment the exchange rate does not make me want to go back to a cold and damp UK winter!