But for me in the usa the health care cost is the biggest one.
Now the uk yep....the NHS not great, i agree..but it don't cost you a arm and a leg ..No punt intended..

weather better here in Florida..
weather sucks in the uk..
food the same i feel..
Tv ..same i feel....good & bad
people here in the us better outlook i feel..
miss the ukc sense of humor.....don't have it here anyway in Florida..maybe up north east the us..

I hate banks period anyways....but the credit card charges they get away with here in the us is day light robbery....that should be capped big time..

the us loves late charges....i know its the same in the uk but here there is no slack what so ever...just any excuse they charge you.....again us banks piss me off...

Yep there is pros and cons on both sides of the pond uk/usa

we all could bitch about this & that, but as the saying goes..when in Rome and all...
just have to suck it up.....what can one do?

Compare, say, Falmouth, Cornwall and Tampa Florida. How does it work out then?

Just saying, it's too general a comparison, I think,

Bev

This seems like a rather random selection of aspects of society - what about sport, culture, religion, topography, history, quality of local services ...?

It's so difficult to compare the US to UK as the US is so huge and varies so much from state to state. Also, life in the US vs. UK depends so much on your social and economic status ... I think the UK wins hands-down for the unemployed and people of low income, for example, but I think the middle-class probably have it better off in the US (depending largely on whether they have employer-sponsored health care) ... as for Florida having better weather, that is debatable, especially mid- and southern Florida, which are horrendously humid and hot for much of the year.

Banks are as crap and manipulative in the UK (if not more so) than the US). And the current government is completely lacking the b*lls to do anything about it.

Have to agree majorly on one point .. life in the US without adequate health care coverage is scary.

I'm living in Sarasota Fl, which is a beautiful place.

However, I miss England so much! I bought a house here a few years ago (during the "peak") and it breaks me to think that I might not break even if I sold.

I feel there is no culture here, and the beaches and sunshine - well, the novelty has worn off for me. AFter taking a trip to England last month, I realised how homesick I was. But, i would be going back as a single person, and I think it would be much harder...

Not a moment goes by without me thinking whether I made the right move to the US.

I feel for you...in the same boat but add to that three older teen kids who wouldn't be eligible for university without winning Lotto.

Sorry to hear that...such a difficult situation.

There are so many of us in the same situation. I guess we all can only do the best we can, given the facts and awareness we have at the time. I bought a house in the middle of a shaky marriage, at the peak period, and now will lose everything I put into it trying to sell. But, despite being divorced, having lost and about to lose more money, I am no longer dependent on anyone forcing/persuading me to do something I don't want to do. That is priceless. Money comes and goes, but our days on this planet only become fewer.

aes1.. well said.......how you doing? you still have plans to return to the uk?

I lived in Miami before moving to Vancouver. Definitely agree about the weather thing. You convince yourself that all will be well in life if I have the sun each day. Reality tends to be different as the sun becomes part of the background of day to day life. Someone who has not lived in a warmer climate won't understand this. Having said that, Miami was intolerable in the summer, what with the tropical storms and the humidity. Plus its not a very livable place - i much prefer vancouver.

How about somewhere more cultured in the US, its a big place with considerable differences from state to state?

Yes, Jaxlad, that is still my plan, though the housing market is not agreeing with me on this Still trying to 'get rid of' this house! I must admit, though, as winter continues in sunny Charleston (even when you live in a warm climate, a drop from 80F to 40F can get to you!!), I am slightly anxious about moving back to a climate as unpredictable as in the UK. These old bones don't like the cold any more!! So I am looking at Malta - and shall probably dream about living there until someone points out a big negative about it!!! It does seem less expensive to rent there than in the UK. Would love comments from anyone who has been to Malta recently!!

aes...yep im with you about the temps and with the uk getting a bashing the way it is today ect, im glad im not there yet....but saying that Florida beleive it has a cold snap going on right now..

I understand bout the house market had that house for sale for 3 mths without a veiwing and knocked off 20k from it also to date...i might have to knock a bit more off here in a min to get some interest....but i won't give it away...
Any offers or veiwings on your house yet?

Not sure about malta but hear it's a nice place tho...

It's been a few years I'm afraid but I really loved it there. It's vibrant and the weather is lovely. It's one of the places I want to visit with my hubby and kids as I have friends with property there who obviously love it. It has stunning buildings that have that North African influence, great history, some interesting theater......

Well, that's all so positive, I am sorely tempted........from what I have read it is cheaper to live there than the UK, and it is only a hop, skip and a jump away if need be. Where do your friends have property? I am not sure which are the best areas on Malta to live in. Anyone know how to get an EU card for health benefits if not yet a resident in the UK again? In other words, going to Malta ( for 6 months) before returning to the UK from the US.....is that possible??

Jakslad - no, nothing on the house. Thinking about renting out but wondering what tax implications are of that, if no longer resident in US, and then returning to sell a year later.

[QUOTE=Jakslad - no, nothing on the house. Thinking about renting out but wondering what tax implications are of that, if no longer resident in US, and then returning to sell a year later.[/QUOTE]

Hmmm not sure about the rental idea in your town hon....ive been there in Florida trust me....as if things went tits up with ya tennants and all...the courts here in Fl anyways, don't protect the landlords as much as i wished....yep they get found guilty by the court and all that...but try and get ya money from them....its a nightmare....im in the middle of that crap for 10k now...and im lucky one who has a lien on her house now....at least i have something if she sells her house in yrs down the line..."maybe"
Besides not sure what sort of rental price you get...will it cover ya loan/property taxes...and capital income taxes....? you have to weigh all that up.....it all depends of how much you want out..

it do suck this market....they say its going to get better this year but im not holding my breath....

I think they're in St Jules, St Julians.....goodness, can't remember. They have a very old and quirky apartment there which they spend a few months in each year. There are some beautiful restaurants I remember too and people are super friendly.

So, I may be in the same boat as you with my home. If we can't sell it we'll have to rent it out but apparently in Canada you get immediately charged 25% tax each month and then a further 25 when you sell. Yikes. I'm not sure how it works here or the States though so I need to check this out. I know in the UK I had no capital gains to pay as I'd lived inthe property for 3 years. It was great. It was an easy process.

I hope all goes well for you.