Bsidebaby

What with all the doom and gloom reports about mass unemployment, redundancies, companies closing down etc etc is anyone still contemplating returning to the UK - if so have you jobs to go to? Will you have enough to get a mortgage etc? Are you worried about the economic horror stories.

We have been planning to return from canada but dont want to end up worse off because of it.

What are your thoughts and experiences if recently gone back?

Kath & Graham

We have been back a year now and IMO its very bleak back here, there are so many places closing etc, I know a few people who have recently lost their jobs in the motor trade and catering side of things and looks like things are not gonna get much better over the next year.

That is MY OPINION but I can say even food etc have gone up dramatically petrol is down but food is up.

Can honestly say, Im worried for the kids future.

Kath

OH and BTW this is how ridiculous the PM is - hes putting 1 billion pounds of our money into some dealership abroad (cant remember name) what about good old Woolies he could have done something for this country instead!!!!

Jerseygirl

It's the same here in the US and Canada.

bev1

My daughter is flying back to the UK with her grandparents tonight and we fly back in 10 days, just tying up last loose ends with house and stuff.

yes i am worried about the childrens future and my dad keeps telling me about the mess the Uk is in.

But we miss everyone and just want to feel at home and we'll deal with what ever is ahead of us. We will return and no doubt it will be tough. Atleast i can pop round to my sisters to moan about it

Good luck with your decision

dunroving

I think regardless of what a mess the UK is or is not in, you can't underestimate the value of family and social support.

For people whose main reason for returning is to be close to loved ones, and who will have the support of close relatives and friends, economic discussions are relatively peripheral.

Think about George Bailey in the movie "What a Wonderful Life" - wasn't he "the richest man in town"?

Mummy in the foothills

Yes it's pretty bad/bleak in California our home has lost almost 50% of the value it had a couple of years back.

dunroving

Whoa. I guess you'll be hanging around a while, then?

The effect of house price trends on mobility will be interesting to see over the next few years. I think a lot of people just can't afford to do anythng but stay put for now ... if things continue as they are, I could be one of them.

.Ariel.

It's the same in Italy too (where I am).

Mummy in the foothills

Yeah we won't be moving for another 3 years or more But luckily we didn't fall for using our home as a Credit card and only owe a tiny amount on it, it's still worth more than we paid and if we sell and pay off the loan we'd have enough for a small home back near my Mom, I'd like a bit more as I don't want a house payment at all when we go back.

onepearlyb

Despite the belief that Oz has escaped all the craziness going on, there was a report on the news just lastnight highlighting how they are certainly not being affected by it all. Infact, they think they are going to take a massive hit from it THIS year.
You can't avoid it no matter where you are. I really wish people would stop slagging off the Uk during this recession.
Job losses here in Oz last year alone were pritty staggering.

Believe me - it is not just the Uk - it's all over.
Just depends where you want to be located during it all!

Nu-Shooz

It's a good idea money wise. As for jobs it depends on what you do, not every single person is affected by the recession, life still goes on.
I would rather be happy and poor, than rich and unhappy.

Fleaflyfloflum

Yes!! It is a good time to go back. Think outside the square...

When you go back house prices will have dropped big time therefore getting you a bargain. Retailers are practically begging you to buy their stuff, so yet more bargains galore to set up your new home.

What field of work you are in will denote job prospects. For us the recession is irrelevant. In fact jobs for OH are booming in last 3mths.

Even setting up a business... sit back, think, think think... what sort of business could you set up in this climate? What will people be needing and requiring regardless of the recession? Thats what I am doing.

jonfrank123

We are moving back in June from canada, I have a business in the UK which has been growing despite the recession. I work with many people from the UK who's businesses are doing well. Just because there is a downturn, doesn't mean every one will go broke.

Don't read the papers, or listen to people full of bad news, times are hard, they have been in the past and we made it through. Also it's going to hit Canada big time, they are lagging behind because oil prices held up for a while and kept them going. Personally I think a lot of Canadians are delusional to think the world problems are going to somehow miss them.

Best of luck

Jonathan

BristolUK

One thing you can rely on in the UK, though, is the health and welfare system.

No matter how bad things get, benefits are at an amount that one can survive on taking all things into account.

One can't say that about many other countries.

In Canada, for example, Benefits don't help with mortgage interest and there are no rent allowances - just a little extra if your rent makes up a bigger than normal portion of your income and in some provinces you may not qualify for any benefits at all if you live in someone else's household. It's expected they will support you.

Even adults who are right at the bottom and qualify for "everything going" still have to pay something for prescriptions and if they need dental work, some provinces will only cover extractions, not treatment (fillings etc) of teeth.

Bsidebaby

Hi there what sort of jobs are you and hubby in?

i agree house prices would be on our side but we would need jobs almost immediately and with 3 kids in tow getting into good schools, getting a GP and dentist would be paramount too. after being out the country 2 years(will be 3 by the time we would return) we would have to catch up on NI too. I would be looking for admin jobs of which there still seem plenty (looking on job websites etc) and my OH would look for work at local airport probably but I am worried that a 2/3 year gap on our CV would be detrimental to us getting interviews despite our vast work experience history in the UK.

I would love to set up a business - tried that here and it didnt work out but i feel UK and its people/society are more receptive to the sort of business i was trying to do here so who knows?

how long you been in Oz and when are going back to UK?