I was so pleased you secured a job. You have done so well.Accomplished so much in a short time. Your landlord would get on my nerves too. you would think they would have turned the t.v down when they know you are on the phone. It would be hard for me to keep my patience so well done.

lol

they did the cement stuff yesterday and its done - altho' the grit tracked in is evident on the nice wooden dining room floor ...

the good thing was I fell over the day before my interview on the driveway - so I didn't fall down in my interview suit which would have been a disaster!

anyway they have gone out for a bike ride so I'm going to make the most of the next couple of hours of peace!

Congrats on the job, Englishmaple

Sorry to hear about the living situation, but you sound like you are well on top of researching your options.

The school year should finish around the 3rd week in July - my son's school breaks up on 18th July but they can vary a wee bit. They will usually go back some time in the 1st week of September.

Maybe having a job will help you deal with the less than idealic accomodation situation for a while? You've a huge thing checked off your list. At least for me, that would make it easier to tolerate life's other annoyances.

And - yikes the taxi fare! I didn't realize you were that far away from your job.

Car rental for a while?

You could consider getting a private car owner to drive you, to and from work, on a contract basis.
After thinking about it you have mentioned several times that you would like a car. I don't blame you. It provides another place to have some privacy.
I might be inclined to buy the cheapest car out here. If it breaks down you go to the next one and so on.
Cheers

Thanks for the feedback.

I've just been trying to crunch some numbers to figure out the best way to proceed.

My gross salary is going to be 18,120. After tax and NI it will be 1,273.03 a month according to an internet calculator I used.

I also deducted 6% of the gross figure of my salary (18120) to cover pension deductions - which works out at 90.60 a month.

So I'm estimating that after tax, NI and pension deductions I'm going to be left with around 1182 a month.

Out of that I have to deduct rent (460) and food (going to estimate 80 - altho' I spent a lot more this month but then I went away and did a lot of stuff I wouldn't normally do!). I also have some subscriptions (for eg 9 pounds a month to cover glasses and eye tests as well as some professional memberships).

I'm still in the process of crunching the numbers but, to be frank, it's not a lot after rent and food are removed!

I will continue to get some spousal support from Canada till 2016 but I don't know how much tax I'm going to end up paying on it (I need to see a UK accountant to figure that out - plus I will need to budget for said UK accountant to do a UK tax return as well as budgeting for my Canadian accountant to do my final tax return in Canada next year!).

So I don't want to count on the money from the spousal support as I don't know how much of it will be left after paying taxes and accountants.

But realistically, when I look at the studio apartment rents - it's still way too much for me to afford - because in addition to the actual rent charged, I would have utilities on top plus council tax - I don't think I would get much change out of 900 pounds.

That's a lot when you think that I'm going to start with around 1182 a month net (and I haven't subtracted yet things like haircuts, replacing clothes and shoes - altho' I'm a cheap shopper! I do the charity shops!).

And oh I did think I would like to have a holiday at some point!!

So I'm thinking that I have 2 choices -

1. Stay in a shared rental in the area I'm in but buy a car for work

or

2. Move to the city I would be working in and do a shared rental there but don't buy a car.

The second option would save me some money but would be an upheaval in terms of location - and I'm not really keen on it because I don't know what I would be moving to in terms of people I would be sharing with (moves are really stressful). Also, I've already found a really nice meditation group where I am, so moving would mean leaving that group and all the nice friendly people I've met through it. And I have reconnected with some people I knew before I moved to Canada - and it would be a wrench to leave that too.

Plus I do like the little town I live in.

Running a car would cost a lot more (so would take a chunk out of my limited income). However, if I did have it, it would give me more options in terms of moving (if I wanted to move out of my present place and see if I can find another house share somewhere a little bit cheaper in a few months when I'm more settled in my new job) and more options in terms of work - for instance so many jobs require cars these days. As well, I could go for days out to things locally which I can't do at the moment easily as public transport is very expensive and some lovely places just aren't accessible unless you have a car.

I'm wondering whether this all makes sense though? So any thoughts or feedback would be appreciated.

Maybe once I have my probation passed and can figure out my next few months expenses, I'll be able to figure out whether I can get a mortgage with the money I was going to put towards my pension. However, I did go to a couple of estate agents today and 1 bedroom properties in the area I'm in are going for 150K and 179K ... and 1 estate agent told me the average rent people paid around here is 700 - 800 a month ...

.. to be honest it was a bit depressing but I think I'm just feeling a bit overwhelmed after a very busy week. It wasn't easy preparing for interviews while having my landlord and his girlfriend spend the whole week with me. I am looking forward to having some peace and quiet on Sunday evening and into the week ahead. Maybe then I can think a bit more clearly.

At the moment I feel like I need to make a decision about whether to get a car or not get a car but if I don't get a car then I will have to move to the city I will be working in (which is Winchester) - which would necessitate another big upheaval and I wouldn't know anyone there at all apart from the people I met at work. It's a nice city but I do like where I am more.

On the other hand, buying a car is a big decision and running it will add to my outgoings ...

if you have any wise words send them to me! I don't want to make a rash financial decision and I need to be careful with my money.

Oh I should also add that my belongings from Canada should arrive at my present place in June - it's going to be quite a squash sorting that out but with the rental prices being what they are, I just don't think renting a studio or an apartment is feasible?

I should also add that I am going to look into housing associations but my understanding from talking to someone about it locally is that the ones around here focus solely on people in need so people like me who have some savings won't be considered - I'm too well off to be needy but at the same time the market is so crazy around here that a lot of housing is not affordable for me.

Of course, long term, I guess I could end up moving to another part of the country if I change jobs. One thing I am planning on doing is starting the Health Care registration process so that I can call myself a social worker in the UK - once I have that, it might open up more employment options which pay more in the long term - its figuring out what the best decision to make in the short term while I'm in transition with everything.

I really do loath the UK housing market!

I just read in to-days news about the percentage of Brits who have second homes, the percentage is quite high which in turn makes for a shortage of homes and sends the prices high. Bad for first time buyers like yourself.

I know it does help but impressed with how much your salary will. Think positive and keep your eye on your gross income.

OK now I'm going on Rightmove and get a list of flats, in Winchester, and I will arrange them with the lowest price first.

One other thing, if it was me I wouldn't bring up your disability with your employer because after all he doesn't know what he is getting as it is.

Cheers

Maybe this one

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-...-44918963.html

or there are a lot of "park homes" that are very reasonable if you wanted to buy.

I would buy a car. My thoughts are that

1. a car would allow you greater housing options since you wouldn't be limited to places you could walk/take the bus to work from.

2. it will give you freedom to explore and get out of the house more easily when you need a bit of quiet away from your landlord

2. You can always sell the car if you later decide you want to move in to the city. Buying a car is much less upheaval than moving to the city and right now you have been through so much.

A couple of great points there, Cheers. I also wouldn't mention the disability to your employer. You need to sell yourself, why would you go in and point out anything negative? I know you're trying to be fair but, turn it around, if you had gone to the interview and they had said, "This will be your office. It's a great office except the heating doesn't always work," (he he), you'd be focused on that. It would have put a little downer on the job for you. You'd be wary, just waiting for that heating to be temperamental. Is that how you want them to be thinking of you?

There's always ways round that - Dragon Speak, send your dictation to a transcriptionist (I'm not advertising, moderators, honestly!) or even suggest after a month or two that the office as a whole send out their dictation as a time/cost saving exercise.

And also the park homes. I've been looking on Right Move as well lately and I'm surprised by all the park homes. I don't remember there being so many of them when I lived in England 20+ years ago. They seem like great value or am I missing something -- does anyone here know?

Re: car

Have just been looking at rental rates for cars. It looks to me like I could rent a mini for a month for just over 300 pounds. I don't know whether this is a good deal? But it occurred to me that I could try driving to work from where I am for a month on a rental car and just seeing how that works? And if it turns out to be too much, then I'll move to Winchester.

Re: disability
I don't think it will be an issue - particularly in this job as I think I'll be able to hand write my notes (which are strictly confidential - they are medical - so no farming out notes to others!!). But it would be fair to let them know in a positive way so that if I need a more ergonomic set up with typing that that can be arranged. The UK government give employers money for such alterations so I don't think its a big deal (the culture here is significantly more disability friendly than in North America - something I have really noticed since I got back). If the workplace computer isn't set up ergonomically it would be a big deal in terms of causing me a lot of pain! So I will see how things go - I think I have to have a medical so it will probably get covered then.

I don't have an issue bringing it up in a positive way - ie as a minor thing that I need accommodation for. I have a lot of good skills (I am realising this more and more after months of trying to get work in Canada and feeling completely devalued from the lack of it) - the interviewer told me I was a very very strong candidate and interviewed well above the level of all the rest - so they are very very pleased to have me. I think its a very North American thing to think that a disability is a "negative". I was stood in a supermarket today and noticed to my astonishment that they now have checkouts which have hearing aid loops for people who are hard of hearing! And everywhere I go I'm struck by how many accommodations are being made in the built environment not only for the disabled but also the aged - North America is quite frankly in the dark ages in comparison.

And yes, 18K is a good salary - it's just that the price of property to rent here is way out of whack with salary levels - which is why many people are struggling.

I have been told by career advisors at the National Career Centre that a well paid job starts at around 20K. When I get my professional social work registration I would be looking to earn 25K as a social worker.
I'm not one to chase the money (otherwise I wouldn't be struggling to restart again financially at 50) but a couple more thousand would make a big difference in terms of being able to save a bit more and live more comfortably (I do not want to stay in a shared bedroom forever!).

Congratulations on getting the job-It gives me hope for when I make the move in August. :-)

Hi Englishmaple Congratulations on the job, that's a huge achievement!

Re your options, I'll weigh in with my opinion I think that you've been through so much upheaval in recent months, that the less changes the better for now. I have no doubt that you'll eventually achieve all you're aiming for but as it's still early doors for you a 'softly softly' approach might work best for you.

I absolutely agree that you need a car, not just for work but to have the ability to get yourself out and around. Is hire purchase (not sure what it's called in the UK) an option, rather than buying one outright? I know that it works out more expensive in the long run so cash would be cheaper overall, just a thought to add to the mix if you'd rather keep the cash as a buffer.

Re accommodation - where you are doesn't sound very satisfactory, especially when your things arrive from Canada. You mentioned that you've joined a meditation group and that the people are nice - could you maybe ask around there? Especially if there are any nice people who live alone :-) It may be wishful thinking on my part, but people who take the time to mediate might be understanding of the need for a bit of peace and quiet.

You could also put an 'accommodation wanted' advert in the local paper, and on community notice boards such as libraries etc. That way, you have the opportunity to say exactly what you're looking for, eg
'Professional, mature woman looking for house share. I'm friendly, quiet and tidy and my ideal housemate would be similar. Access to a small (medium?large?) storage area preferred'.

Another thought - are there any storage facilities within cooee of you? Something else that I'm not sure of the term used there, but those blocks of storage units that you rent by the month. They're as cheap as chips here but I realize they might not be there.

Re buying a property yourself - after you get your Social Worker accreditation you may want or need to move where the work is, so perhaps buying a property might be a medium term goal rather than a short term one?

No idea if any of that is helpful or useful, but the more opinions you get the better I think! I wish you the very best of luck - you've already achieved two of the hardest things - the move and the job - and I honestly believe that it's onwards and upwards for you from now on

Just a quick update.

Have decided to go for the buying a car option as it will give me more flexibility.

Am off to test drive a Hyundai 10i tomorrow!

The jobcentre have also given me a discount card which halves the cost of my bus fare (and trains if I choose to use them). It lasts 3 months.

I can't get a credit card until I get on the electoral roll (I want to pay for a car with a credit card to make sure I get the consumer protection) - and I checked today and I won't be on the roll until July (they only update once a month, no exceptions).

Haven't got the start date for my new job yet but I may travel by public transit and take a taxi for shifts when the buses aren't running - just for a couple of weeks until I can get a credit card - and then I will buy a vehicle.

Things a bit brighter since I last wrote which also helps.

Also, just to add, if you are going back to the UK do not buy an Orange pay as you go phone - I have since discovered that EE and Orange have a rotten reputation (see: http://eecomplaints.co.uk/home.html )

I myself am having to pursue a complaint with them at the moment - they debited 25 pounds from my bank account in May but did not credit it to my telephone account and have shown no urgency about sorting it out (this took place weeks ago).

So stay away from them! My landlord says Three are good and I really wish I had gone with them.