Originally Posted by morpeth

Thanks, I just asked the same question at a local employer. My oldest son I have been discussing his moving back to the North East. He spent summers in Northumberland growing up but been away for a while now. Comparing the life he could have in Northumberland vs his life in USA, he would have a better quality of life in Northumberland with exception of the price of a decent home.

Originally Posted by Pulaski

Scottish banknotes aren't legal tender, even in Scotland. Curiously Bank of England banknotes aren't legal tender in Scotland either!

The Scottish and Irish banks treat their own banknotes as a marketing overhead as there is no purely financial imperative for them to issue their own banknotes, and they can only issues notes backed 100% by a matching deposit with the Bank of England, otherwise Scottish and Irish banknotes would increase the money supply, but the deposit with the Bank of England takes the same amount of money out of circulation.

Why are you concerned, and why do you need more than a few anyway?

You usually get half-decent notes from a cash point because ratty notes might jam the mechanism.

I use very little cash, and if it wasn't for pocket money for my daughter I could survive on $20 for three months in the US, and most of that would go on small tips. I would bet that £20 would last me six months in the UK.

Originally Posted by Celticprince_86

Huh, what a marvellously complicated money system Britain has! No notes are legal tender, yet they are usually accepted as payment.

I got my notes from a money exchange place, so with 1-2 exceptions they're what people had left over after a trip to the UK, so are in well used condition. I am worried that they may not be in good enough nick to be accepted, though I suppose they wouldn't have been given to me if they were in too poor condition. I have £320 so it's a fair amount of money.

Originally Posted by Celticprince_86

Huh, what a marvellously complicated money system Britain has! No notes are legal tender, yet they are usually accepted as payment.

I got my notes from a money exchange place, so with 1-2 exceptions they're what people had left over after a trip to the UK, so are in well used condition. I am worried that they may not be in good enough nick to be accepted, though I suppose they wouldn't have been given to me if they were in too poor condition. I have £320 so it's a fair amount of money.

Originally Posted by old.sparkles

Not sure I'd call £320 a 'fair amount'

Originally Posted by old.sparkles

Did you buy a return ticket to the UK? What are your plans financially? £320 will not go far.

Originally Posted by Pulaski

It is unlikely that they are too worn to be used - there are some pretty trashy notes in circulation in the UK, but if you are worried that they are too worn to be accepted you should be able to exchange them at any bank. Certainly having writing on them isn't at all unusual and in no way invalidates them.

Originally Posted by Celticprince_86

...Nope, one way, NZ-UK. My plan is to have a job and accommodation sorted between now & Nov 23rd....

Originally Posted by durham_lad

In 2013 we spent a few nights in a farmhouse b&b near Twice Brewed with our son, and on the drive back to N Yorks we went via B roads through some of the villages, and he said that he would love to live in a small place in Northumberland or North Yorkshire. (He was born in Middlesbrough)

Originally Posted by durham_lad

I've just been looking at this myself as our son moved to the US when he was 4 and now in his 30's is moving back in October. Since we have a Jobs Centre Plus on the high street I even walked in and asked about it.

As the others said, you have to be a UK resident to apply for a NINO but not having one doesn't prevent you from applying for a job.

Originally Posted by morpeth

The other thing that impresses me for a young person moving back to the UK is the various ways of investing. ISA's have higher limits than US IRA accounts, and the peer to peer lending sites have a few that offer a decent return on extra cash one wants to earn interest on, and a lot simpler to use and set up than my experience in USA. Over time it seems easier to build up savings in UK ( whether it happens for most of course another matter).

Originally Posted by Celticprince_86

I now have £320 in mostly "well worn" 20's which cost me $622. Not a bad exchange rate, but I would have liked more.

Originally Posted by yellowroom

Have you got any fivers? The old paper fivers ceased to be legal tender a couple of weeks ago, only the new plastic ones (with a clear window like NZ$) are legal now.

Originally Posted by Jerseygirl

Banks will exchange them for the new notes.

Originally Posted by durham_lad

I've been impressed with ISA's and their ease of use with no penalties or time limits on withdrawals. (We both have cash ISAs) These days the first £1,000 of interest in non-ISA accounts is also tax free.

Originally Posted by yellowroom

Have you got any fivers? The old paper fivers ceased to be legal tender a couple of weeks ago, only the new plastic ones (with a clear window like NZ$) are legal now.

Originally Posted by old.sparkles

What do you do for a living? Oh, and what area are you headed to? You must have family in the UK - will they be able to help initially? I know a few recruiters in the UK but all down South. If it helps, I can put you in touch.