Would you rather live in the UK or US (Telegraph Article)
Jan 16th 2008, 7:33 pm
#76
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,181
Re: Would you rather live in the UK or US (Telegraph Article)
Even if the second part is true (and I don't believe it), the first part is more than enough to make a difference. Who cares how much a pint of milk costs if you can buy a house for $100,000? The UK housing market is creating a population of haves and have-nots, depending on whether you bought a house pre-boom. If you bought recently, milk or bread that's 5p cheaper isn't going to help any. 
Will you EVER get it that it is not just about flucking houses?
Jan 16th 2008, 7:36 pm
#77
Banned
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 172
Re: Would you rather live in the UK or US (Telegraph Article)
Oh aye, have to agree. But ... I think the difference between "cheaper" (ha!) and "more expensive" areas in the UK has narrowed a lot (i.e., there's hardly anywhere in the UK that's now "cheap"), whereas in the States, the difference in prices between NY/DC/SF, etc and NC/TN/MO, etc. is bigger. (In other words, you can still find a decent house cheaply in some states and towns in the US, whereas there's hardly such a thing in the UK).
I looked at a job in Sand Diego about 6 years ago and realized I'd either have to live in a shoebox or commute for over an hour. No thanks to either option ...
I looked at a job in Sand Diego about 6 years ago and realized I'd either have to live in a shoebox or commute for over an hour. No thanks to either option ...
Average Cost: £230,474
Detached: £353,096
Semi-detached: £206,054
Terraced: £183,410
Flat: £206,048
Somr people coming back after few years away are in for a shock.
Jan 16th 2008, 7:39 pm
#78
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,181
Re: Would you rather live in the UK or US (Telegraph Article)
A house is just a place where you sleep and store stuff. And most people own way more stuff than they need.
Jan 16th 2008, 7:50 pm
#79
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7
Re: Would you rather live in the UK or US (Telegraph Article)
Have any of you been back to the UK recently? We have just returned from a 2 week trip. We are lucky enough to do this at least yearly and every time we arrive there we are struck by how much more lawless the streets are, how difficult it is to make even the simplest question understood by any one serving in shops or on the phone; and how much government intrusion there is into the lives of our family and friends. Taxes are really high, the health and safety rules are putting a lot of our friends who have small firms out of business with their regulations and overheads. There are now waiting lists to go onto waiting lists in hospitals, so that the administrators can say the official waiting lists aren't big. You can't leave anything in your car or it is 50/50 in places like London, Bristol or Manchester to name a few, that it would be there when you get back. My husband has always put on his rose coloured glasses when back in the UK and talks a lot about moving back, but even he this time said he didn't know if he could face that. Yes, I agree, we get sick and have no healthcare, we are going to pack the sick person in a crate and ship them home for treatment, but otherwise, I'm staying here in the US, where we can at least go out for a meal midweek and not have to have a damn good reason for doing it!
Jan 16th 2008, 8:07 pm
#81
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: Would you rather live in the UK or US (Telegraph Article)
Have any of you been back to the UK recently? We have just returned from a 2 week trip. We are lucky enough to do this at least yearly and every time we arrive there we are struck by how much more lawless the streets are, how difficult it is to make even the simplest question understood by any one serving in shops or on the phone; and how much government intrusion there is into the lives of our family and friends. Taxes are really high, the health and safety rules are putting a lot of our friends who have small firms out of business with their regulations and overheads. There are now waiting lists to go onto waiting lists in hospitals, so that the administrators can say the official waiting lists aren't big. You can't leave anything in your car or it is 50/50 in places like London, Bristol or Manchester to name a few, that it would be there when you get back. My husband has always put on his rose coloured glasses when back in the UK and talks a lot about moving back, but even he this time said he didn't know if he could face that. Yes, I agree, we get sick and have no healthcare, we are going to pack the sick person in a crate and ship them home for treatment, but otherwise, I'm staying here in the US, where we can at least go out for a meal midweek and not have to have a damn good reason for doing it!
Jan 16th 2008, 8:23 pm
#82
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Vermont
Posts: 3,264
Re: Would you rather live in the UK or US (Telegraph Article)
Yeah, I'd sell one of my kids (not really, well almost) for a trip home, I've been here 2 and half years and can't afford one.
Re: Would you rather live in the UK or US (Telegraph Article)
Jan 16th 2008, 8:44 pm
#85
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: Would you rather live in the UK or US (Telegraph Article)
So...guessing here...you're a septic and he's a Brit. You lived in the UK but didn't enjoy it. Now you're out here, he fancies going back home but you're dead against it.
Jan 16th 2008, 8:49 pm
#86
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Would you rather live in the UK or US (Telegraph Article)
Oh aye, have to agree. But ... I think the difference between "cheaper" (ha!) and "more expensive" areas in the UK has narrowed a lot (i.e., there's hardly anywhere in the UK that's now "cheap"), whereas in the States, the difference in prices between NY/DC/SF, etc and NC/TN/MO, etc. is bigger. (In other words, you can still find a decent house cheaply in some states and towns in the US, whereas there's hardly such a thing in the UK).
Jan 16th 2008, 9:26 pm
#88
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,010
Re: Would you rather live in the UK or US (Telegraph Article)
Good point ... that's one of the benefits of being in education ... there are schools all over ...
Jan 16th 2008, 9:41 pm
#90
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Would you rather live in the UK or US (Telegraph Article)
aye, that's got to be a good one...and some really good tech type uni's in Maine, and even better nursing type places....so how's your hunt for another stint going?