Looking at moving to the UK with the Family - any Tips/Thoughts/Considerations

[malmacdowall]

.. and... 1 year ago, I moved to London time goes too quick :!:

I remember I was scared out of my wits, asking a certain member from here many questions, thinking I couldn't do it. In the end, I did Ok and worked it all out for myself

I'm in the same position now...... Looking at moving to the UK with the family.....

Do you mind if I ask you a few questions....?
I've heard it said that "if your paid the same figure in pounds, then it's about right" ie.. If I'm paid $80k in Aus then 80k pounds should be what I need to live the same .... Any truth to this?

 

[Flashback]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

I'm in the same position now...... Looking at moving to the UK with the family.....

Do you mind if I ask you a few questions....?
I've heard it said that "if your paid the same figure in pounds, then it's about right" ie.. If I'm paid $80k in Aus then 80k pounds should be what I need to live the same .... Any truth to this?

I wouldn't think so. Of course, it depends on so many different factors. In my experiences though... those earning around 80k in Aus generally would expect to earn anywhere from 30-50k GBP from what I've seen.

 

[Flashback]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

I'm in the same position now...... Looking at moving to the UK with the family.....

Do you mind if I ask you a few questions....?
I've heard it said that "if your paid the same figure in pounds, then it's about right" ie.. If I'm paid $80k in Aus then 80k pounds should be what I need to live the same .... Any truth to this?

Oh, and sure feel free to ask any questions! I know how overwhelmed I felt when I was moving here.

 

[malmacdowall]

Thanks flashware,

So here's a few to kick it off....

Any words of wisdom? What did you wish someone had told you before you left?

Would you say the cost of living is higher in Aus or UK?
When you work in the UK being paid pounds, do you pay tax in Aus or in the UK?
Would you recommend taking out health insurance in the UK( I have it here in Aus)?

How Does the public school system in the UK compare to Aus ?

So many questions but these are a few we (SWMBO and I) have been wondering about....

 

[Mal]

When I was in the U.K. I had recruiters go huh.when they learnt what I earned in oz. Salary has gone up since then and pound has.dropped so their jaws would just about fall off now. Ps. My wage isn't excessive compared to others in it technical roles.

 

[rechoboam]

Thanks flashware,

So here's a few to kick it off....

Any words of wisdom? What did you wish someone had told you before you left?

Would you say the cost of living is higher in Aus or UK?
When you work in the UK being paid pounds, do you pay tax in Aus or in the UK?
Would you recommend taking out health insurance in the UK( I have it here in Aus)?

How Does the public school system in the UK compare to Aus ?

So many questions but these are a few we (SWMBO and I) have been wondering about....

Hmm
Try to get your national insurance (NI) contributions refunded when you leave. Get health insurance via BUPA or others, it's of variable usefulness. Are you staying for years? They had a tax-deductible investment program (ISAs in my case) which may be useful for a ten year horizon.

Public school (like in Australia) is variable but can be atrocious. Cost of living was higher in the UK but Aus is catching up. Much much cheaper out of London. Dont be afraid to eat in English restaurants, the quality can be great.

Other things- ice skating in the Strand, long walks in Oxfordshire, rural Scotland is magical, Eurostar, Easyjet, Christmas concerts at Kings College Cambridge chapel..

 

[Flashback]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

Hmm
Try to get your national insurance (NI) contributions refunded when you leave. Get health insurance via BUPA or others, it's of variable usefulness. Are you staying for years? They had a tax-deductible investment program (ISAs in my case) which may be useful for a ten year horizon.

Public school (like in Australia) is variable but can be atrocious. Cost of living was higher in the UK but Aus is catching up. Much much cheaper out of London. Dont be afraid to eat in English restaurants, the quality can be great.

Other things- ice skating in the Strand, long walks in Oxfordshire, rural Scotland is magical, Eurostar, Easyjet...

I'm not sure I agree on Eurostar and/or Easyjet :shock:

I'll have a read through and reply later, have a pretty busy day at work today (then again.. when don't I these days? :-|).

 

[rechoboam]

I'm not sure I agree on Eurostar and/or Easyjet :shock:

I'll have a read through and reply later, have a pretty busy day at work today (then again.. when don't I these days? :-|).

Wait til you commute in London, that's tiring! Maybe wear a surgical mask like in Japan otherwise black dust comes out of your nose from the Tube.

I loved Easyjet. I commuted fortnightly- they happened to fly to my little town from London and were cheap and reliable. Then again I was pretty broke.

 

[Flashback]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

Wait til you commute in London, that's tiring! Maybe wear a surgical mask like in Japan otherwise black dust comes out of your nose from the Tube.

I loved Easyjet. I commuted fortnightly- they happened to fly to my little town from London and were cheap and reliable. Then again I was pretty broke.

I'm lucky (or unlucky, depending on your view on life ) in that I live in Zone 1 (Central London). I am moving out further shortly (you can only guess why ...) to Zone 5 which will then give me a 30 minute commute in on the overland train each morning. Still, at least it's not the tube. I hate the tube! Although it's not all that bad during winter as it helps to warm up

 

[Flashback]

Thanks flashware,

So here's a few to kick it off....

Any words of wisdom? What did you wish someone had told you before you left?

Would you say the cost of living is higher in Aus or UK?
When you work in the UK being paid pounds, do you pay tax in Aus or in the UK?
Would you recommend taking out health insurance in the UK( I have it here in Aus)?

How Does the public school system in the UK compare to Aus ?

So many questions but these are a few we (SWMBO and I) have been wondering about....

I believe my circumstances were a lot different to yours, as I moved over without any idea where I was going to live/work which added a bit of uncertainty. Luckily finding a place wasn't TOO much of a chore, and with you living much further out I believe it should be much easier as you won't be battling for space with Uni students just arriving for the start of the year like I had. That being said, it wasn't too bad and in the end I found a great place that I'll be sad to move out of in a month's time.

I think the cost of living is variable and it's hard to compare like for like. Some things are less, some things are more. Travel, much less. Overall I find at the end of the month, even with traveling and normal costs etc. I still end up with kitty in the bank, but I only have myself and SWMBO to look after (who contributes her own share anyway).

I earn pounds and pay tax in the UK (make sure you arrange a National Insurance Number). I remember coming across so many different viewpoints on how this should be done, etc. and was almost stressing out about it, but in the end it was a simple and painless process.

I've not personally taken out private Health Insurance over here (have not really had a need) so unable to advise on that one. That reminds me though, I should cancel my policy back at home as I'm not going to be back in Australia for a while.

In regards to opening a bank account, try to get your name on a bill/lease agreement before you move over here, so that opening an account is much easier. Failing that the method I used was to have one of my c/c statements changed to a friends address (who I stayed with when I first arrived) and then using that was able to get an account.

Good luck! If you have anymore questions, shoot away.

 

[Mal]

Instead of cancelling health insurance in oz, u can postpone it for up to 5 years.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using AustFreqFly

 

[Flashback]

Instead of cancelling health insurance in oz, u can postpone it for up to 5 years.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using AustFreqFly

Interesting! That period of time may well be just right

I'll give them a call tomorrow morning.

 

[stryker]

I believe my circumstances were a lot different to yours, as I moved over without any idea where I was going to live/work which added a bit of uncertainty. Luckily finding a place wasn't TOO much of a chore, and with you living much further out I believe it should be much easier as you won't be battling for space with Uni students just arriving for the start of the year like I had. That being said, it wasn't too bad and in the end I found a great place that I'll be sad to move out of in a month's time.

So, how did you manage to get permanent residency in the UK?

Citizenship by Decent, or what?

 

[Flashback]

So, how did you manage to get permanent residency in the UK?

Citizenship by Decent, or what?

I don't have PR. I'm here on a working visa.

 

[malmacdowall]

Thanks for the ideas, particularly putting the insurance on hold.... Will look into it.....

So other questions I have been pondering:
- furnishings - Do I move a container load of furniture from our house in Oz to the UK or just rent it / buy cheap over there?
- Frequent flyers - I am currently a platinum Velocity member but given a number of international trips and family trips that could be coming between the UK and Oz, do I concentrate on getting status with Etihad?

Or keep up with velocity and try to use Virgin Atlantic over in the UK?

Thanks again everyone for all your help.

 

[Flashback]

Thanks for the ideas, particularly putting the insurance on hold.... Will look into it.....

So other questions I have been pondering:
- furnishings - Do I move a container load of furniture from our house in Oz to the UK or just rent it / buy cheap over there?
- Frequent flyers - I am currently a platinum Velocity member but given a number of international trips and family trips that could be coming between the UK and Oz, do I concentrate on getting status with Etihad?

Or keep up with velocity and try to use Virgin Atlantic over in the UK?

Thanks again everyone for all your help.

If you're only coming here for 2 years, I'd leave it in Oz. A lot of places here rent out "with furnishings" anyway. It is quite reasonably priced here to purchase, though.

I'd stick with your VA membership, still gives more options.

 

[notzac]

I'd stick with your VA membership, still gives more options.

Agreed - on the proviso you'll be able to do the 8 flights a year to actually keep the status. I don't know if it's clear whether those 8 flights need to be VA operated or marketed - never had a need to find out.

 

[JetLagged]

One thing I don't think you mentioned is - where in the UK are you planning on settling? That makes a huge difference in suggestions and opportunities, as well as potential problems.

One thing you do need to think about, wherever you settle, is the local school district. What sorts of schools are available in your area - as someone else said, some state schools (public schools are what we here in Aus call non-government schools) are fantasic, others are more like the old 'To Sir with love' - crumbling buildings etc). Same for Public Health - once you have your Insurance number, look at where to 'sign up' for the medical service. Again, some public hispitals in the UK are excellent, the one next door can be a sorry state.

Do your homework on another area as well: double taxation. If you continue to earn money here in OZ, say from renting out your current home, then there has been cases where this has been taxed here and abroad (a friend of mine was in exactly the same situation) - and also in relation to your income in the UK. Better to be sure than sorry.

As to costs of living: fuel is higher, meat is atrociously more expensive (get used to pork sausages rather than beef, btw), 2nd hand cars are a lot cheaper, as to is a number of public transport systems.

Ahh yes, the Scottish holidays; the Lakes district; the pub meals; Christmas in the UK feels like Christas - cold, snowy etc - mind you, don't expect to be warm again until Easter or longer!

 

[ozavanti]

As to costs of living: fuel is higher, meat is atrociously more expensive (get used to pork sausages rather than beef, btw), 2nd hand cars are a lot cheaper, as to is a number of public transport systems.

Would have to agree with JetLagged about those few things, but if you manage to settle in a village or similar then look out for local village markets, which have some brilliant fresh fruit, veggies, condiments, meats etc. at a much better quality (actual red meat vs the awful supermarket stuff) and very good price. Additionally there are also a lot of farmers markets (Farmers Markets In The UK) or farm gate shops which are sensational.

I'd even say that new cars are cheap in comparison, especially the so called premium brands here in Australia (albeit downspec'ed in some cases).

And as for travel - the tip i learn't was to book very early and you can get ridiculous prices on tickets compared to Australia. If you try and go on a last minute trip you get slaughtered.

Lastly - it can get damn cold, but the best purchase you will make is some english purchased coats which have a lot more thermal mass compared to those we get here.

 

[Flashback]

One thing I don't think you mentioned is - where in the UK are you planning on settling? That makes a huge difference in suggestions and opportunities, as well as potential problems.

As to costs of living: fuel is higher, meat is atrociously more expensive (get used to pork sausages rather than beef, btw), 2nd hand cars are a lot cheaper, as to is a number of public transport systems.

Ahh yes, the Scottish holidays; the Lakes district; the pub meals; Christmas in the UK feels like Christas - cold, snowy etc - mind you, don't expect to be warm again until Easter or longer!

I believe they're looking at somewhere in Oxfordshire. Yep to the meat... that's for sure. That's why the first thing I do every trip back to Aus is a BBQ with a nice big steak

I'd even say that new cars are cheap in comparison, especially the so called premium brands here in Australia (albeit downspec'ed in some cases).

And as for travel - the tip i learn't was to book very early and you can get ridiculous prices on tickets compared to Australia. If you try and go on a last minute trip you get slaughtered.

Lastly - it can get damn cold, but the best purchase you will make is some english purchased coats which have a lot more thermal mass compared to those we get here.

Of course those European branded cars are cheaper here. Less distance to travel

With booking early, I actually don't find that to be so much of a problem here. Maybe with flights to Australia at certain times of the year, but outside of that it's open game. Especially for intra-euro travel. Only just 2 weeks ago, I booked the majority of travel/hotels etc. for my parents, who arrive in a few days. It actually ended up being cheaper than when I looked 3 months ago. YMMV but I generally find this to often be the case.

Also... it doesn't get THAT cold here, but I do much prefer the cold anyway so maybe rose tinted glasses or something like that