Originally Posted by chris955 (Post 10805978)

As has been said unfortunately ex pats love to run the country down and in my experience come out with the most ridiculous 'facts' about this country and of course the locals lap it all up. I can only speak for us of course and I can say hand on heart that we certainly arent finding it expensive, the opposite in fact. Yes petrol is more expensive but I now pay £20 road tax as opposed to $600 registration. There are many similar experiences but of course I cant comment on Canada.

Originally Posted by Maltoo (Post 10818686)

and cars get more miles to the gallon/liter than here in the US. The car we rented in December got 60 miles to the gallon on ave! Amazing

Originally Posted by Homeiswheretheheartis (Post 10811412)

Quality of life on 35,000 pounds a year. Well my husband earns 36,000 pounds a year and in the UK we had a fantastic life. Only left temp for my husbands job 2 years ago. Been back for extended visits and have friends in very similar positions money wise as ourselves.

Earning 36,000 pounds - two adults two kids aged 10 & 12 - Lifestyle

Husband works, stay at home wife.

Own small 3 bed, on-suite detached house (bought before housing rise)

Own 2 secondhand cars (approx 4 years old)

Take one week holiday to France each year in May/June school hols.

Have weekends approx 3 weekends away a year in the UK. Days out about 1 a month, but always use vouchers and take food.

Own 2 mobiles, 1 being on a contract of 35 pounds a month, average model, one pay as you go very basic and don't care about the look.

Shop in Tescos and local shops spending approx 100 each week on food. (Husband is a giant).

Clothes shop in Tescos/M&S/Asda and sometimes Next.

Are careful with utilities as these are what I feel have gone up the most. But not to the point I'm cold anything, just put on a jumper instead of turning up the heating. (which we should do anyway).

Can save towards Christmas, kids own normal stuff, eg xbox, and kindle, no phones (to young I feel).

I do feel that if we hadn't bought before the housing rise, it would be harder for us as we only have a low mortgage of 300 pounds a month. I think we would need about 40,000 if we didn't have a low mortgage.

I'm in the US and we spend more here that in the UK as our lifestyle is different, not better, just different.

We actually with extras earning approx 46,000 pounds a year in the US, live in a big house, have hot weather always:thumbdown: Have access to a pool and lots of entertainment (Las Vegas), but none of this has replaced that feeling of belonging, a comfortable feeling that is priceless.

Our yearly holiday was in France and cost all in with spending approx 1,500 pounds at a lovely holiday park (french ones are lovely don't think Haven). My kids say its the best holiday in the world, and they've been to Florida and all the parks there! Believe me that was much more expensive.

So if you think my life in the UK is a reasonable life I would say the UK can still offer a good life for people on middle salary. If you are horrified by my basic happy life and shopping at tesco for clothes is the worst thing ever, then maybe the UK will seem expensive.

Originally Posted by chris955 (Post 10818817)

Average mortgage outside the SE is around £600 a month which is still a sizeable chunk each month.

Originally Posted by dunroving (Post 10818825)

A £600 a month mortgage would give you about £100k - I don't know of any houses that cheap.

My mortgage is for over £600 and it's only 1% interest, on £150k.

Originally Posted by dunroving (Post 10818825)

A £600 a month mortgage would give you about £100k - I don't know of any houses that cheap. ....

Originally Posted by Editha (Post 10818855)

But the average mortgage isn't 100%

Originally Posted by Pulaski (Post 10818874)

But then there's your down payment on top of what you're borrowing, plus any gains you've made on prior houses.... it's not as if there are many first time buyers putting down £30k and borrowing £270,000 to buy a £300,000k house! If you bought a £100k house ten years ago, paid down some of the (£90k) mortgage and can now sell it for £200k, you'd probably have around £140k to roll into your next house, approaching half the cost of a £300k house.

Originally Posted by dunroving (Post 10818900)

No, but most first-time buyers will have only 10% deposit, or less. I don't remember saying anything about buying a house worth £300,000.

Edited to add - if you bought a house 10 years ago, it's not likely to have doubled in value (except maybe in certain areas like London and the SE). I bought a rental property in 2004 and am currently selling it for about 85% of what I paid for it.

Originally Posted by britwhore (Post 10808391)

I think it all depends on where you live. Some things are more expensive. Renting in or near London is about the same as New York City and some areas of LA so I was prepared. Furnishing a home can be expensive - why are sofas so bloody dear? Unless you happen to like two-tone "European looking" sofas and then you're fine (no offense to anyone) Popping into Homebase and B&Q was a shock. It's a lot more expensive that Home depot.

Food shopping is cheaper and the quality is better. Mobile phone contracts/SIM only is a HELL of a lot cheaper than what we were paying in LA. TV/phone is cheaper but they still haven't figured out landline calls vs mobile calls and everything has a bloody 0845 number that charges you. Ridiculous.

Public transport is expensive.

Petrol is expensive.

We go back and forth to be truthful. Husband still hasn't found a job and it's been nearly a year. I've booked a few acting jobs and the pay is laughable compared to LA. I may have to go back to LA just to make some money.HUsband and I spoke yesterday and if he doesn't find a job by the end of the year we'll probably move back to LA. It's been a VERY costly mistake but what can you do?

I'm always intrigued how my friends over here bitch about not having money but they always have the latest gadgets and go on holiday every year!!!

Originally Posted by Editha (Post 10819040)

According to the BBC website, the average property in the UK is now worth £238,976, but the average is inflated by the huge price rises in central London. In the West Midlands, for example, the average is only £172,455.

The fact is, however, that property prices are now beyond the reach of most first time buyers, a housing crisis which is regularly reported in the news.

On the other hand, if you are a returning ex-pat, the fall in the value of sterling and the stagnation of house-prices over the last few years, are all to the good. The money from the sale of your house abroad will buy you a bigger house in the UK than at any time this century.

Originally Posted by dunroving (Post 10818706)

The fact you bought your house before the price rise makes a difference. A typical 3-BR mortgage outside of London/Southeast could easily be £1,000 per month these days. I think it is the single biggest change behind whether a given salary is "enough." Being mortgage-free is probably worth an additional £16,000 in salary (gross).