Yep, he's mine. We would love to be in Derby or Manchester area (family and friends) but it all depends on job opportunities, I guess. I believe my Hunny is getting a bit wobbly with nerves, and I doubt we'll be so desprete as living at 1400 a month... Prolly more like 1800-2000. Plus we are very frugal, live debt free, and no school needs as our children are at home. We will have a little savings but I imagine it'll mostly go to rent paid in advance since we'll have no credit history in the UK.

We don't do TV, so though we'll still need to pay the licence, there is nothing to induce us to buy a TV or pay for cable (or whatever it is called there), we spend minimally on clothes, don't eat out except for rare treats, cook at home (LOVE cooking/baking!!), and don't expect fancy holidays (why travel far when there is SO much history staring you in the face from your front door?!?!), our kids don't take expensive lessons, we're not pub-goesers (though I think the occasional visit to watch a match might become a habit for Hunny once we're there, he's not a big drinker. I honestly think we'll be okay.

We MAY buy a car, but more than likely get public transport working in our favour... That's one thing that we have not had access to the past 18 or so years here in Canada, it'll be a treat to save on car insurance for a change!

We will need to save a bit for returns home to Canada for our older children's college graduations and eventual weddings and such, but bit by bit slow and steady we'll get there. I'm not anxious about anything...

Blessings!

If you don't have a telly you don't need a licence

We will because we have a laptop on which we COULD watch BBC, and the rules state that IF you could watch TV on ANY type of screen, you have to pay it. That's fine, we don't mind. The BBC sometimes has some good history documentaries we watch for school. On the computer that is.

Blessings!

In which case I take back some of my earlier negativity. But beware that public transport in rural areas is often dire to the point of impracticality, and as your children grow they'll be exposed to all manner of peer pressure which has a financial aspect to it.

However, good luck

Well even though I feel you would have managed on £1500 a month it will be significantly easier on £1800-2000.
Public transport in rural areas isnt obviously as frequent as in the bigger towns and cities but is still very good. We are in a small village but have a regular bus service.
I dont think you will need a TV license to be honest, even though you can theoretically pick up BBC on your laptop I dont think it would count.
You do sound as though you live a very minimalist lifestyle so you will be fine.

...in your limited experience.

Personally I would pay the license just to be able to watch the BBC documentaries, I still dont think you would need one though

For THEM, not me. Ask my older two, almost 21 & 19... We haven't paid for their activities or "extras" ... Ever? If they wanted it, they needed to earn and save for it. That's real life, baby... The age of entitlement never reached our doors, because we slammed them right in it's face when it first came knocking. Freebies handed on a silver platter only ever led to onething, a welfare (benefits) mentality. It is wonderful to have something like "last resort assistance", but it should always be treated as such... Last resort ONLY, and only till you can get your feet back under you again. Jmho.

Blessings from the hard as nails Mama.

If you watch TV on your laptop, I think it is right that you are not liable to pay for a licence unless you watch live TV. You are OK watching catch-up.

Exactly, at the moment you only need the licence if you watch or record live TV. If you watch only teh watch again stuff you will be fine...for now. It may well change in the future.

Link here explains the relationship between iPlayer and TV licence. Not needed if you are watching catch-up TV via iPlayer.

I disagree with Chris... I think you need to factor more for rent. Rents and demand for rentals have risen quite a lot since the mortgage crisis. I rent out a small two bedroom house in a good area with a good school but there are better areas around sort of thing for £575 a month. Rented it out first time it was viewed, anything lower than that the compromise is going to be area and state of the house. Both of those make a difference to quality of life.

I think you can manage to live on £1500 but it will be a budget for every penny sort of thing, no satellite tv, very cautious regarding food budgeting. It's unrealistic to say anything else. I certainly wouldn't factor in replying on external government help as you have no idea whether you would be able to have that, other than child benefit I guess on that salary. Still that goes on shoes etc..

I don't agree with that honestly. I think it's always down to the work ethic of the parent and how that is displayed, what value they place on school etc. I'm glad to be able to offer my children opportunities I never had. My parents were never able to afford those music lessons I so desperately wanted. Not that I blame them in any way of course not, but they were very poor, grandma bought me the clothes she wanted to wear- I felt daft in school that sort of thing. But that's life. Everything makes us stronger.

It would be very, very tight in many parts of the country. In many parts of southern England the rent on a three bed house is going to be best part of £1,000 if not more. In the north a rent would maybe be £500 a month, but add on council tax and a few bills and very quickly down to £100 a week to live on.

Okay, chime in:

Can a family of four, being careful, live on 1700£ a month in...

Manchester?

Derby?

Devon?

York?

(Continue the list, I'm still learning the geography...)