Having a baby ? $5000 for you !

Yes, if you plan to have a baby, come to Australia ! $5,000 cash is waiting for you….

(Well, there is a bit of catch though: you need to be permanent resident or citizen to Australia – but this is another matter)

Started 1 July 2004, Australian government – with the intention of boosting the population and not merely depending on immigration – introduced $3000 one off cash payment of “baby bonus” for every parent that giving birth a baby. The amount increase to $5,000 from 1 July 2008.

I missed out the bonus. My daughter was born just couple weeks before 1 July 2004. This year, for my 2nd baby – expected a boy- I would also miss the $5,000 offer, as it’s predicted to be due on mid of June… (again? what a precise timing ) Instead, I would only received $4,187 – (2007’s rate).

Wedding Day in Sydney: add good choir to the equation

It’s always beautiful to talk about Wedding Day !

We want it to be perfect. Perfect weather, perfect dress, perfect decoration, perfect singing, perfect ceremony, the right church and priest, the right wedding favor, the right guests, the right present and of course with the near-perfect person that we want to spent the life with. Why ? Because we supposed to have it only once in our lifetime. (Apparently it’s become harder and harder these days)

Because of this intention, then the cost of decent wedding day is become more expensive each day. And almost always, a wedding become over-budget.

For some of us who dream about perfect wedding in the church, one of important component is to have a choir in the wedding ceremony. Some 15-20 men and woman who sing in Tenor, Bass, Alto and Soprano in perfect harmony. “Wow, forget it ! How can we afford to hire proper choir for our wedding day, it just too expensive !” … or is it ?