OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
#7861
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,197
Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
oh thanks for the info about the Bank......OMG panicking now.....
I still cant decide how to get my stuff back, I plan on having 3 excess suitcases, only allowed one bag with BA....I have 23 years of married life here plus all my stuff from before.
I bought 3 boxes at the weekend, and have started to put stuff in there for my children. I have saved their first pair of shoes, first party outfit, cub scout uniform, blankies, sun hats, wnter hats and mittens from when they were babies
and then all the drawings and cards they made me over the years. I shall keep a few for me but the rest I will put in the box for them, I even have their letters to Santa aw. and baby teeth. Oh dear.....
Been really ruthless though..as I said before somewhere Goodwill love me!
Rodney I remember when you were counting down the days....seems like yesterday.
Don how far from Leicester are you, and how is your wife finding the UK?
I still cant decide how to get my stuff back, I plan on having 3 excess suitcases, only allowed one bag with BA....I have 23 years of married life here plus all my stuff from before.
I bought 3 boxes at the weekend, and have started to put stuff in there for my children. I have saved their first pair of shoes, first party outfit, cub scout uniform, blankies, sun hats, wnter hats and mittens from when they were babies
and then all the drawings and cards they made me over the years. I shall keep a few for me but the rest I will put in the box for them, I even have their letters to Santa aw. and baby teeth. Oh dear.....
Been really ruthless though..as I said before somewhere Goodwill love me!
Rodney I remember when you were counting down the days....seems like yesterday.
Don how far from Leicester are you, and how is your wife finding the UK?
Good luck Charley, I know this sorting/throwing out/giving away is gruellling and painful....
letters to Santa and baby teeth...ah bless.
Tina
#7862
Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
There was a young lady from Leicester,
every guy in the street had caressed her.
So Sorry - got carried away! We are about 35 miles, from Leicester.
Tippawan, is far happier, than I have ever seen her. _ I think it is the fact, she has green fingers - seeing things sprouting before her eyes./ - She has grown loads of Potatoes (Which she never ate in her life) and now loves the new ones..Chillies, Garlic, and loads of Tomato plants, and a large patch full of lovely looking letuces (even in the litle wee front bit of garden)...She seems to have far more energy than I ever had - and I don't like sitting around. I am busy composing next year.s calendars - which hopefully my Doc, will again buy in large numbers! You will be welcome to visit - you can have our phone number, or email - any time. Love Don
#7863
Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Supl. Ins $154.17
Part B Medicare $96.50
Prescription Insurance $39.00
Prescription out of pocket $70.00 per month
$359.67 Total for the month
and gas is $3.569 per gallon
Thats a joke because as we have said on here before they get you on the gas there so to some degree it offsets the free NHS.
Now we all use this as a barometer but we don't know what either of our governments are going to do to change things. There are threats on each side of the pond.
At this point I think you are on the better side of the pond.
Sales tax/VAT here is around 6.25% OR 3% on food.
I think I'm going to make a spreadsheet and put down how much I will need when I land to pay each month.
Some posters can get tired of this but here are some I can remember. Rent, County tax, auto ins. auto road tax, flat insurance, food, petrol.
Cheers
Part B Medicare $96.50
Prescription Insurance $39.00
Prescription out of pocket $70.00 per month
$359.67 Total for the month
and gas is $3.569 per gallon
Thats a joke because as we have said on here before they get you on the gas there so to some degree it offsets the free NHS.
Now we all use this as a barometer but we don't know what either of our governments are going to do to change things. There are threats on each side of the pond.
At this point I think you are on the better side of the pond.
Sales tax/VAT here is around 6.25% OR 3% on food.
I think I'm going to make a spreadsheet and put down how much I will need when I land to pay each month.
Some posters can get tired of this but here are some I can remember. Rent, County tax, auto ins. auto road tax, flat insurance, food, petrol.
Cheers
The British State Pension is approximately $707 per month for a full pension for a single person. It is $1,130.00 per month for a married couple.
I would imagine you and your DW's US social security is probably double that?
#7864
Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
oh thanks for the info about the Bank......OMG panicking now.....
I still cant decide how to get my stuff back, I plan on having 3 excess suitcases, only allowed one bag with BA....I have 23 years of married life here plus all my stuff from before.
I bought 3 boxes at the weekend, and have started to put stuff in there for my children. I have saved their first pair of shoes, first party outfit, cub scout uniform, blankies, sun hats, wnter hats and mittens from when they were babies
and then all the drawings and cards they made me over the years. I shall keep a few for me but the rest I will put in the box for them, I even have their letters to Santa aw. and baby teeth. Oh dear.....
Been really ruthless though..as I said before somewhere Goodwill love me!
Rodney I remember when you were counting down the days....seems like yesterday.
I still cant decide how to get my stuff back, I plan on having 3 excess suitcases, only allowed one bag with BA....I have 23 years of married life here plus all my stuff from before.
I bought 3 boxes at the weekend, and have started to put stuff in there for my children. I have saved their first pair of shoes, first party outfit, cub scout uniform, blankies, sun hats, wnter hats and mittens from when they were babies
and then all the drawings and cards they made me over the years. I shall keep a few for me but the rest I will put in the box for them, I even have their letters to Santa aw. and baby teeth. Oh dear.....
Been really ruthless though..as I said before somewhere Goodwill love me!
Rodney I remember when you were counting down the days....seems like yesterday.
#7865
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Toronto, but not for long, Inshallah
Posts: 248
Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Hi Barb, Yes, we were shocked at how fast we sold. I do believe this move was written in the stars, because as soon as we made the decision, everything has happened very fast and pretty smoothly too, except for the banking part! Finally got my UK HSBC account opened, after 7 weeks, but of course the postal strike didn't help. We will be looking for a house in Devon.
#7866
Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
A lot of it depends on how much you make (in order to make comparisons to British people's living expenses).
The British State Pension is approximately $707 per month for a full pension for a single person. It is $1,130.00 per month for a married couple.
I would imagine you and your DW's US social security is probably double that?
The British State Pension is approximately $707 per month for a full pension for a single person. It is $1,130.00 per month for a married couple.
I would imagine you and your DW's US social security is probably double that?
#7867
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Back home now in my home town in England U.K. after 36 years in U.S. now retired and loving it,
Posts: 3,208
Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Hello everybody, I have just been listening to the news on the wireless and it said that the Queen is very busy sending out all the certificates to all the people who have just turned 100 years old, ---- due to the ever increasing amount of people living past 100 these days, it concluded the story by saying that there are over 10,000 people in the U.K. who are over 100,
So folks theres still hope for all of us, Hmmmm me thinks I had better see if I can cut out those 3 Cigs a day that Im hanging on to
So folks theres still hope for all of us, Hmmmm me thinks I had better see if I can cut out those 3 Cigs a day that Im hanging on to
#7868
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2010
Location: US
Posts: 4,224
Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Go out for a nice walk for me.
#7869
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Now Devon
Posts: 951
Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
aries, I think your post got a bit lost in all the upset but I just wanted to say that I feel for you and I hope it all works out.
You do sound as though you have a lot of doubts beyond the usual 'last minute panic' type feelings. Don't forget, it's never too late to change your mind if you decide this move just isn't for you.
Or maybe I'm reading it wrong, in which case please don't take offense as none is intended. I just feel bad reading how worried you are.
You do sound as though you have a lot of doubts beyond the usual 'last minute panic' type feelings. Don't forget, it's never too late to change your mind if you decide this move just isn't for you.
Or maybe I'm reading it wrong, in which case please don't take offense as none is intended. I just feel bad reading how worried you are.
Yes sorry Aries, as Sally so rightly says your post did get lost in the kerfuffle.
Just wondering what your grand "plan" is, you are selling your house, getting a plane from Adelaide to Heathrow, and then what??
Do you have family or friends to stay with in the interim and if I may ask what made you decide after 51 years in Australia you had had enough? Was there a defining moment or has it slowly chipped away at you?
I'm not sure if I would ever have been brave enough to come back here with no family or friends........I do have overwhelming admiration for those of you who do...........
Just wondering what your grand "plan" is, you are selling your house, getting a plane from Adelaide to Heathrow, and then what??
Do you have family or friends to stay with in the interim and if I may ask what made you decide after 51 years in Australia you had had enough? Was there a defining moment or has it slowly chipped away at you?
I'm not sure if I would ever have been brave enough to come back here with no family or friends........I do have overwhelming admiration for those of you who do...........
There are no other plans except to sell the house, and tomorrow someone is going to grill me on just that. She thinks I should find a retirement village nearer the city.
As for a defining moment, I suppose my 3 months in Germany in 2009 created the displeasure with my current situation. Arriving back at Adelaide Airport, I experienced a horrendous taxi ride for the 40 minutes ride home, I was dumped at the gate, no help along the drive with my luggage, and my house looked pitifully run-down and forlorn. All my services had to be reinstated, so after being with friends in Germany every day, I was alone until my phone and internet were online.
Within weeks I received documents relating to an outstanding FOI with my local hospital, which caused me immense distress and dangerously high blood pressure, and I was taken to Emergency by ambulance. I've been fighting them with issue after issue since 1997, on one occasion using a lawyer and receiving damages. No one ever wants to admit fault, and they do their utmost to cover up whatever the cost to me. A senior health service manager said that I've become a target for abuse.
So that alone may be a good reason to leave, moving to another part of Adelaide would not enable me to escape it all.
I do have an older brother and sister in England, plus their families, but I've lived this far away for so long, they regard me as merely a visiting colonial. They also live in counties north of London, whereas I wish to be south of there, preferably by the sea. My sister also has her house for sale, so they don't want anyone cluttering the place.
I'm not sure that brave is a good word to describe me, perhaps unrealistic might be better.
#7870
Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
In the US, i.e. capitalism, they give you more money, but you have to handle the other incidental expenses yourself.
Not saying one is better than the other, it's just handled differently.
#7871
Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
That's correct. All these things are given to you in a way that is in line with socialism. You are given a lower pension amount, but then they hand out bus passes, council tax discounts, and fuel allowances, to up your pension amount. The choice is made for you.
In the US, i.e. capitalism, they give you more money, but you have to handle the other incidental expenses yourself.
Not saying one is better than the other, it's just handled differently.
In the US, i.e. capitalism, they give you more money, but you have to handle the other incidental expenses yourself.
Not saying one is better than the other, it's just handled differently.
Both systems are capitalist but one leans more towards individuals fending for themselves while the other system tends towards collective responsibility.
Definitions aside though, I do think old people in the UK end up far better off. There is no way my gran would be receiving the level of home care she's getting now if she lived here in the US. She would have been shipped off to a home long ago. Maybe that's the way the current govt. will take things in the UK too, but for now the care has been more than generous.
#7872
Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
I do have an older brother and sister in England, plus their families, but I've lived this far away for so long, they regard me as merely a visiting colonial. They also live in counties north of London, whereas I wish to be south of there, preferably by the sea. My sister also has her house for sale, so they don't want anyone cluttering the place.
#7873
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Back home now in my home town in England U.K. after 36 years in U.S. now retired and loving it,
Posts: 3,208
Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Me and Mum pay £120 per month between us,
#7874
Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Hi Rodney, I did know that but I believe pensioners are entitled to rebates and/or council tax benefits which vary by locality and also depend on how much you have saved. I don't know the details but I'm pretty sure my gran gets a sizable benefit.
#7875
Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Rod, Have you asked at the Coucil offices, as to whether your Mum qualifies for ''Pension Credit''? I am fairly certain that she does, and if so, that council tax would then be waived. I would check, M8 - Regards Don