Originally Posted by magistrate

Hi Again,
hit a snag re us returning to the UK in 2 weeks .We need to hire a car a couple of days after we arrive but when I look at the car rental companies in the town we are staying in the uk they need a credit card ,we do not have one in the USA as we gave it up a year ago and although we have a bank account in the UK we do not have a debit or credit card and it would probably take too long to get a card processed before we need the vehicle .Any ideas please .

Originally Posted by windsong

I understand completely, Idy. I wish I had a relative or two over there just in case I got in a bind.

I think perhaps it's very early days for me yet. I need to learn more about how the UK is today so I know what I am going to, especially when it comes to housing. Once I begin collecting social security and my pension. I do plan to work over there until 65 but the SS and pension will be nice "security".

Someone told me the British pensioners only get about 40 pounds a week. However do they survive on that, especially with the price of housing???

Originally Posted by cheers

Are you aware that grocery delivery is a big think in the UK? All the supermarkets do it and in some towns they run a shuttle bus.
On the car thing. You can use Zip car or similar. You book it and just go and pick it up at its parked place. You can pay by the hour or day.

Originally Posted by Beedubya

None of us can turn back the clock...........we have all (most) of us made bad financial decisions of one kind or another.........let's face it if we had a million £££££££££ in the bank we wouldn't be on here endlessly talking about it, we would be on the next plane out or the QM2 and on our way and setting ourselves up in a nice cosy cottage in the Cotswolds...........but we don't so we have to do the best we can.

As you have no family over there then the only person you are losing face with because you haven't "made" it in the USA is yourself..........so you either stay where you are because it is easier to stay stuck in lots of ways, or you feel the fear and do it anyway!!

I do feel a big block to a lot of people going back home is they don't want to answer questions of family and friends - that they feel like a failure or a loser, and I know for sure that is what kept me here when we first emigrated........BIG mistake number one!!!

Nothing could be further from the truth, we who go home with very little are not failures - at least we had the courage to try it and it didn't work, so what?

We just pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down, and start all over again, I feel a song coming on.

Originally Posted by ldyinlv

I will get SS also, but I have a few years to go until then, so hopefully i will be able to get a job..even though at my age I do worry about that too. What ever happens, either way I am going to have to start over..so as I said, my choice is there.
You may not have family Wind, but you will have a lot of friends now from this site..

Originally Posted by windsong

Cheers - No, I had no idea about that at all. That is wonderful!! Even the shuttle bus is terrific!

What is a Zip car. Is it like Hertz rentals - renting a car? Is it expensive?

Originally Posted by Beedubya

None of us can turn back the clock...........we have all (most) of us made bad financial decisions of one kind or another.........let's face it if we had a million £££££££££ in the bank we wouldn't be on here endlessly talking about it, we would be on the next plane out or the QM2 and on our way and setting ourselves up in a nice cosy cottage in the Cotswolds...........but we don't so we have to do the best we can.

As you have no family over there then the only person you are losing face with because you haven't "made" it in the USA is yourself..........so you either stay where you are because it is easier to stay stuck in lots of ways, or you feel the fear and do it anyway!!

I do feel a big block to a lot of people going back home is they don't want to answer questions of family and friends - that they feel like a failure or a loser, and I know for sure that is what kept me here when we first emigrated........BIG mistake number one!!!

Nothing could be further from the truth, we who go home with very little are not failures - at least we had the courage to try it and it didn't work, so what?

We just pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down, and start all over again, I feel a song coming on.

Originally Posted by cheers

See the things you find out on this forum?

Read all about it.

http://www.google.com/search?aq=0&oq...UTF-8&q=zipcar

http://www.zipcar.com/london/check-rates

Originally Posted by ldyinlv

Amen Bee,

I am a little humiliated about coming home with my tail between my legs, but no one can judge me unless they have walked in my shoes..

Originally Posted by windsong

I understand completely, Idy. I wish I had a relative or two over there just in case I got in a bind.

I think perhaps it's very early days for me yet. I need to learn more about how the UK is today so I know what I am going to, especially when it comes to housing. Once I begin collecting social security and my pension. I do plan to work over there until 65 but the SS and pension will be nice "security".

Someone told me the British pensioners only get about 40 pounds a week. However do they survive on that, especially with the price of housing???

Originally Posted by windsong

That's exactly what it is, Bee - feeling a failure - at least today. I think having a permanent job would perk me up no end.

Also, I don't think it would be too wise of me to go back until I begin receiving social security at 62 but I may be wrong on this one. I am looking at social security as a cushion. If I don't have it when I first go back and I should happen to be unemployed or lose a job, oh my! I wouldn't be able to pay rent and would be out on the street. Not too much different from here.

Originally Posted by Mummy in the foothills

It's not £40 a week it's more like £90 and some change. That the state pension my Mum gets. Plus private pensions she's doing really well, more than enough to visit us in the US twice a year and my sister in Spain annually too.

Dh and I aren't eligible to collect US pension till 67 from what I can see, that seems a bit off I thought it was 65.
Rents seem pretty high some areas but if you look about you can find nice places for less through the estate agents and the local paper.

Originally Posted by Beedubya

Oh me too Jackie believe me!! My family are good though I have to say as I told them my "story" last year and they told me I was crazy to come back here to a lifetime of unhappiness and of course as you all know my guilt about my kids/grand-kids over rode everything else.........

And you know your family are probably just glad to have you back now you are on the mend and are more concerned about your health than mere money and possesions, and half of these thoughts and feelings of what other people think of us are in our own heads anyway!!

Originally Posted by Mummy in the foothills

It's not £40 a week it's more like £90 and some change. That the state pension my Mum gets. Plus private pensions she's doing really well, more than enough to visit us in the US twice a year and my sister in Spain annually too.

Dh and I aren't eligible to collect US pension till 67 from what I can see, that seems a bit off I thought it was 65.
Rents seem pretty high some areas but if you look about you can find nice places for less through the estate agents and the local paper.

Originally Posted by windsong

Still, that's only 360 pounds a month. Most rents are around 600 pounds a month. Does she own her own home outright? Even so, though, I thought a week's groceries was around 60 pounds. And what about utilities? I still don't know how she does. I need to learn more about what things cost over there, I think.