Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Thanks for all the welcome backs!! I was back in the USA for 6 months through the worst winter for decades.. managed to survive.. but my heart was never happy really, even over Christmas my children were with their Dad, so didnt see them much at all..they are not happy of course that I am making my life here.. but I really dont feel guilty about leaving anymore and that was the main problem for me, always at the back of my mind.. but when I realise they really only wanted me when it suited them, I just know I have to think of me now.
I was always afraid of being ill and I went through a bad time during those 6 months, really down etc.. could have done with a doctor.. but struggled on.. dont want to do that anymore.
I have my pension and do a little job so live a good life now..with no money worries or struggles.
So glad to hear you are well and happy Rodney and your mum is too.. thats brill. Last time I was here you were going back to vegas for a visit I think.
Hope all went well, Curly tops.. we need to catch up, do you still have my email address..best wishes to everyone hugs xx

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

I've emailed you, hope it's the right address.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Im glad you've got it all figured out, just enjoy life in the UK, the kids will visit you when they really need to, I knew the guilt was eating you up, you just cant live life for others, you have to be happy in yourself thats first and foremost.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Lestergirl, Glad to hear that you are now able to move back again and you sound as though you will be able to settle a bit easier this time. Best wishes to you.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Hey Lestergirl r u back in the UK now

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Lestergirl
I felt the same way about my health as I was approaching my older years before I left the U.S. ----- worried about the co-pays, worried about whether or not my Jobs louzy health insurance would pay for this treatment or that, this operation or that, if a particular drug the Doc prescribed would be covered or not, or will I have to pay the full price for an expensive drug not covered,

and in the last couple of years of my life in the USA as I was approaching my 65th birthday ---- the last Job I had DID offer health insurance but it was very limited in what it covered and with high co-pays and deductibles, and in any case the Jobs deductions from employees pay checks was so high that very few could afford to enroll ----- leaving most including myself with no health insurance at all period!!!

So those last two years of mine in the States was to me very worrying, hoping that I would not get really sick that I needed to see a Doctor,

Now Im home I have no worries when it comes to health care, I can get as sick as I want and immediatly go see my doctor, and never being turned away, without ever fearing a huge bill or bills coming through the mail that I couldn't pay, and being chased by a collection agency for years and years :eek:
Good for you lestergirl, Im so glad you now realise that you have to be thinking of YOU now, and YOUR life, we only get one of em you know!!!!
so again I say welcome back home, and this time I have a feeling that you will stay ;)
Don't Worry be Happy!!! :thumbsup:
Rodney.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

That's how I feel Jasper. I have no insurance and until you are in that situation it's very worrying. I worry on daily basis and working an $8.40 an hour job with no health insurance is horrible. I am glad Lestergirl made the decision to move back. I know it's not an easy one cause I am in a similar situation. I am happy for you Jasper that you no longer have the worry about becoming ill.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Rodney,
I saw this BBC documentary on immigration into Britain 2014 and it was very informative for me. Some of it was about the immigrants in Southampton, not far from you right? It said the majority of British people believes something must be done to stop the large amount of immigrants coming in especially by the major political parties.
One of the things that I found interesting is that immigrants that came into the UK years ago want the tide to end. Why? Because they are able to undercut them in wages and also when they open up businesses that compete .

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Hello morayeel
I have never seen you on here before so a big welcome from me to you,
yes its very hard and worrying to live in the U.S.without any health insurance at all, especially when one gets older and things in your body start to go wrong,
and you cant go to a Doctor to get it fixed,
life in the US is good if you have fairly good health insurance, I lived there for 36 years before I came home to England to live out my days!!!
while I was young and even right up until I was 63 I had decent health care in most of the Jobs I had, and I was making good money most of the time too, no complaints there, I will never knock America, I had a good life, and I was reasonably happy,I had a good Job working with some really nice people, then the 2008 crash happened and like many people I was laid off along with 32 others, so I took unemployment benefits for 6 months ---- first time for me in all those years, then I finally found a Job after about 100 applications, a low paid Job like yours, $8 per hour 30 hours, so I cleared around $180 per week after taxes, my rent was $750 per month so my wages didn't even pay the rent for my one bedroom apartment in Vegas, had to dip into my savings to pay the bills and eat a little, I eventually applied for food stamps, I qualified of course for the max amount which I think then was $160 per month loaded on a pre paid card like a debit card ---- which I was very grateful for, it kept my belly full, this company did offer health insurance but they would deduct $45 per week from each employee, hence nobody enroled in there plan, otherwise they would be left with next to nothing in there pay check,

So tell us a little about yourself if you dont mind ;) you dont have to though,
how long have you lived in U.S. how old are you, and have you any plans to come back home, or is it not possible right now, married, single, male , female, kids ---- no kids ----- or you could just say mind your own freaking business :ohmy: ;)
Take care
Rodney.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Hi Rodney..thanks so much for replying. I am just in from my stint at wallyworld. I worked 1-10pm tonight so drinking my nightly beer. I am 51 years old . Married at 19 to an American Man. I have a daughter 29 and 2 grandkids who live up the rd from me. I babysit them on my days off. I love them to bits. My husband, well , its a long story.... He worked at Sams club for a number of years. Last Dec he quit, said he couldn't do it anymore. He took his 401k out and put it in the stock market. Said he could make money. Unfortunatley it hasn't happened. He hasn't worked since Dec. I have been working and in the dilemma of should I just pack it in and go "home"or stay here. My daughter said I should go home!! cause she knows how hard it is to make it.. We have out trailer up for sale. If I go I want to take my dogs. Love them to bits. My family in Scotland is supportive of me, especially my sister. She said it would be hard for me to find a place that accepts pets. I have saved $6,ooo so that would be my airfare, my dogs airfare and then rent money.My husband wants to move to the U.K. !! We could go via Ireland and do the surrender singh route. I am not sure what I want to do . I am sure that I don't want to live in the U.S for the rest of my life! I miss the U.K. Don't want to grow old over here. I am forever in a quadry.I drive myself nuts each day!

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

just read the last 2 from Jasper123 and Morayeel very interesting reading, right now we are in the same boat as Jasper was so we have also decide to go back to the UK next year to be also near our grandchildren who we miss growing up. I would like to keep in touch with you guys if that is OK

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Be glad to keep in touch.. Good that you'll see your grandchildren. In my case I would be leaving mine! cant' ever see retiring in the the U.S. I work with a lot of 70 to 80 year olds!! I was talking to my co worker Robert this evening Even tho his wife is on disability he has to pay $40 each specialist visit for her and meds that cost over $100. He says he'll never be able to retire. Very sad..

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

The prospective of having to spend all our savings on US retirement healthcare was a major reason for us to return to UK.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

John
Yes that was also my Major reason to return home, that --- and I wanted to spend time with my Mum and look after her the best I can,

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

cityboys yes of course I would be glad to keep in touch with you,
on this site You will find lots of people who are coming home or have already come home who are/were in a simular position as me, everyone on here are expats, and you will learn a lot from all on here, if you have any questions or concerns all you have to do is put your feelings in a post whatever they are and you will always get helpful advice and answers to your questions from people on this thread,

morayeel,
before I left the States I worked with an 84 year old man and his 82 year old wife, they both were still working, they told me that they will never be able to afford to retire,
and over the years at other Jobs Ive had in U.S. I have seen the same story with senors working into there 70's and 80's ---
I know over here in UK people also work into there later years way past retirement age but it seems that you see that much less here in UK, and here when you do see it, it seems that they do it mostly cause they prefer to keep busy, and they enjoy the social aspect of being around there work colleges still,
but in the U.S. I found that in most cases it was because they had no choice, more seniors are not home owners in the US so they have to pay rent, and with also all there bills and food etc to pay for they find it difficult or darn right impossible to survive on a small social security check of around say $1,000 per month or less, (and you would be surprised at how many people's S.S. is around $1000 or less) just think ----- once medicare have taken there big slice of around $140 from the $1,000 theres only $860 per month for them to live on, and so rent/bills/food etc out of that and theres nothing left or most likely most would be very much in the red!!!
and then these people have to also think of all there co-pays, $20 to see a doctor, $50 to see a specialist, then the prescription co-pays of $10 to $20 each item, and if they have to have MRI's or other like treatment a big co-pay is needed like $400 to $600 I think, and if they ever have to spend any time in hospital well then that is an altogether different story :eek: ----- hence there need to work until they drop!!! especially for a single pensioner on his/her own with only one S.S. check coming in, pensioner couples have it a little easier with two S.S. checks coming in, its always easier for couples period!!!! working or retired!!!!

I know here in the U.K. pensioners also still find the need to keep working to be able to survive, but its much less cause here we have that safety net in place, pensioners here can get there rent paid for if there income is low, and if there savings are below £10,000, also there council tax is paid, so that alone is enough so most pensioners can just relax after 65, but then add to the pot the wonderful NHS, no cost for health care no matter what, free prescriptions for everyone past the age of 60, free bus pass, £200 each person per year for heating allowance (every pensioner gets that!!!!) etc etc
I mean it just dont get any better then this does it!!!