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Originally posted by southcoast Quote... As for groceries, I thought it was only Superwalmarts that sold fresh foods. The nearest SuperWalmart is at least 35 miles away and not worthwhile. We shop at the grocery chains such as Harris Teeter, Kroger and sometimes Food Lion. I have not heard of Harris Teeter or Food lion, I found Kroger to be expensive. Walmart- pack of Pampers Diapers $9.99 Kroger- pack of Pampers Diapers $14.99 If your from London, you probably shop at the higher end of the market, us low-life country bumpkins, just have to make do. As it is I'm a Costco member (you have to pay to be a member) and the savings are tremendous. The quality of the food is higher than at SuperWalmart and the nearest Costco is much closer than the nearest SW. I'm just particularly picky about food quality so I have views when it comes to food. To anybody who's moving to the US from the UK: bring your own teabags if you're a tea drinker bring your own breakfast cereal (if you dare), if you like British style breakfast cereal NC Penguin |
good idea...
Originally posted by Vicky88 Just want to make sure that you have gotten into the habit of clipping coupons as it can save you a fortune. I only shop at supermarkets that double the coupons. I put the money aside and in the past 4 months I have saved $225 just by cutting the coupons out of the Sunday papers. My wife has a Starbucks every saturday morning, and you can pick up the early sunday edition newspaper (with coupons) for 50 cents... one week we saved nearly 15 bucks, x 52 weeks =$780 (that will nearly pay for a short vacation). |
You are lucky getting triple coupons. Here in California getting double coupons is a big deal, as it all used to be single coupons only. That has been the one positive to come out the declining economy.
Re breakfast cereals. I have found a couple I love. Try puffed kashi and Cream of Wheat. I think both are yummy. However, if you are into the sugar laden variety you won't like them. Also I find I buy different things at different supermarkets. Cheese is cheapest at Trader Joe's. Fruit and vegetables is best at Whole Foods or Henry's. Day to day products I buy at Ralph's or Von's. Ralphs = Kroger's I believe. |
Re: good idea...
Originally posted by southcoast Yes we have been doing that, My wife has a Starbucks every saturday morning, and you can pick up the early sunday edition newspaper (with coupons) for 50 cents... one week we saved nearly 15 bucks, x 52 weeks =$780 (that will nearly pay for a short vacation). You're not country bumpkins! If you can afford to shell out for a Starbucks every weekend, then you must be "rolling in it" or plain crazy to pay that much for coffee :D NC Penguin |
Re: good idea...
Originally posted by NC Penguin ------------------------- You're not country bumpkins! If you can afford to shell out for a Starbucks every weekend, then you must be "rolling in it" or plain crazy to pay that much for coffee :D NC Penguin I on the other hand refuse to "shell" out $4.00 for a cup (sorry venti) of watered down mud...lol By the way, I have over 360 PG tips sitting in my kitchen cupboard...(my mother brought them over on her last trip).. |
Count me in as plain crazy as I've also become a Starbucks addict even though I know their coffee isn't that great. Think it's part of becoming a local.
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Wow, how does anyone ever get the idea that it is cheaper to live in the US?
Bristol is a pretty expensive part of the UK but my electricity, gas and water together cost less per month than the electricity prices I've been told of in Dallas. However Southcoast, you would be lucky to get a house on the southcoast of the UK with two bedrooms and small garden for £150,000. A fairly small three bedroom house here in Bristol in a not so great area is currently priced at £277,000 - that is the only thing so far that seems to be cheaper than the UK. That and the fact that the houses are generally twice the square footage. My husband is going to be working in Garland so I better read up on those traffic regulations. I am already dreading having to take the driving test. Thanks for all your help everyone. Looks like I'm going to be an avid coupon clipper! |
I think one reason we find it cheaper because we came from an expensive part of the UK. Also we find the tax rates lower here because it is possible to deduct so much.
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Originally posted by snorkmaiden Wow, how does anyone ever get the idea that it is cheaper to live in the US? Bristol is a pretty expensive part of the UK but my electricity, gas and water together cost less per month than the electricity prices I've been told of in Dallas. However Southcoast, you would be lucky to get a house on the southcoast of the UK with two bedrooms and small garden for £150,000. A fairly small three bedroom house here in Bristol in a not so great area is currently priced at £277,000 - that is the only thing so far that seems to be cheaper than the UK. That and the fact that the houses are generally twice the square footage. My husband is going to be working in Garland so I better read up on those traffic regulations. I am already dreading having to take the driving test. Thanks for all your help everyone. Looks like I'm going to be an avid coupon clipper! Financially your husband must being paid more to work in the U.S, otherwise why go to all those lengths to come here... When I left the U.K over 3 years ago, I was a electrician, I couldn't afford a house, so I rented a room with friends etc, I drove a 1998 ford transit complete with designer rust..I had no savings...no career path, basically no future. My first 2 years here was financially tough, but my wife and I now drive a brand new 2002 car, we have savings, the potential to buy a brand new custom home. Last year I had 10 days vacation in England, 5 days in Aruba. I am also into windsurfing and brought a brand new board and complete rig for half the price it would of cost me in the U.K. I have a great job and work with fantastic people with a career path. Garland is a HUGE city, if your husband has a job there, then try looking for houses in Rowlett and Rockwall, it would be 10-15 min commute to Garland. Rockwall is beautiful it has a very rich area but also VERY affordable homes, and its right by the lake, its stunning driving across there in the mornings when the sun is rising. One last thing I know the electricity bill seems high, but that is only during the VERY hot months June,July & August. the rest of the year it will probably be $150 right down to $90-100. Houses generally do not have gas, so its just water and electric. If you have anymore questions, please feel free to ask. |
Originally posted by southcoast Please do not get the impression that its all expense here in the U.S, because everything is relevant....i.e You can earn ALOT more here in Dallas than you can in the U.K. Financially your husband must being paid more to work in the U.S, otherwise why go to all those lengths to come here... When I left the U.K over 3 years ago, I was a electrician, I couldn't afford a house, so I rented a room with friends etc, I drove a 1998 ford transit complete with designer rust..I had no savings...no career path, basically no future. My first 2 years here was financially tough, but my wife and I now drive a brand new 2002 car, we have savings, the potential to buy a brand new custom home. Last year I had 10 days vacation in England, 5 days in Aruba. I am also into windsurfing and brought a brand new board and complete rig for half the price it would of cost me in the U.K. I have a great job and work with fantastic people with a career path. Garland is a HUGE city, if your husband has a job there, then try looking for houses in Rowlett and Rockwall, it would be 10-15 min commute to Garland. Rockwall is beautiful it has a very rich area but also VERY affordable homes, and its right by the lake, its stunning driving across there in the mornings when the sun is rising. One last thing I know the electricity bill seems high, but that is only during the VERY hot months June,July & August. the rest of the year it will probably be $150 right down to $90-100. Houses generally do not have gas, so its just water and electric. If you have anymore questions, please feel free to ask. Thanks for the info, we had already started looking at the rental places in Rowlett. My husbands new boss had recommended both Rowlett and Rockwall and now we are just waiting for the visa process to complete, then my hubby will get over there and find us a house. It does seem we will be paying a lot less tax so hopefully that will make up the difference in the utility bills and apparently the weather is something to look forward to, being somewhat warmer than good old England! |
Re: Cost of Living
Originally posted by snorkmaiden Hey Everyone, I've been reading your posts for the last couple of weeks and they are really helping us get a handle on moving over to the US. My husband has accepted a job in Dallas, Texas and we are moving over at some point in Feb. My question would be, how does the cost of living compare to the UK? We currently live in Bristol, England and the utility prices my husbands employer is quoting look around double what we are paying in the UK. I know their petrol is cheaper! We have four children so our cost of living is already pretty high. American friends we have are constantly telling us how much cheaper things are in the States but is it really cheaper to live there? Thanks. |
Re: Cost of Living
Originally posted by snorkmaiden Hey Everyone, I've been reading your posts for the last couple of weeks and they are really helping us get a handle on moving over to the US. My husband has accepted a job in Dallas, Texas and we are moving over at some point in Feb. My question would be, how does the cost of living compare to the UK? We currently live in Bristol, England and the utility prices my husbands employer is quoting look around double what we are paying in the UK. I know their petrol is cheaper! We have four children so our cost of living is already pretty high. American friends we have are constantly telling us how much cheaper things are in the States but is it really cheaper to live there? Regardless of how expensive you think it is going to be over here, you will be paid in US $ which will be substantially more than you would be getting in the UK. I am sure your husband did not take this move for less money. Therefore forget about how much things cost in the UK and just go with the flow. Thanks. |
re: cost of living
ARGH dont get me started on the price of fresh produce here !
I've learnt to shop at farmers markets for all my freshables and freeze them for later use. This year i'm going to have a go at growing my own. walmarts "special" offer of $1 for 2 rather old and sad green peppers is a joke. Back to the seed catalogues Jan :) |
Re: re: cost of living
Originally posted by jan_michigan ARGH dont get me started on the price of fresh produce here ! I've learnt to shop at farmers markets for all my freshables and freeze them for later use. This year i'm going to have a go at growing my own. walmarts "special" offer of $1 for 2 rather old and sad green peppers is a joke. Back to the seed catalogues Jan :) Jan_Michigan, My local farmers markets are closed for the winter so I'll have to wait to get really fresh fruit and veg (and other goodies) in spring. Also, I don't have greenfingers (have a green thumb = US speak) so I won't be growing my own produce... BTW, do you live in Michigan? If not, whereabouts in the US do you live? NC Penguin |
cost of living
I go to Morrison's and pay 70p+ for 2 sad-looking bell peppers. Compared to that, $1 is quite cheap, but Walmart does try to get away with retail 'murder' when it comes to what they sell sometimes.
I pay £50+ p/m electric, £32 p/m gas and £22 p/ for water. At todays exchange rates thats $80, $51 and $35 respectively. That seems to be right in line with what some are saying for Texas. If you figure that some houses only have elec and water, add the gas + elec together. Its about the same, barring the massive overspend needed for summer A/C. I've never lived anywhere that had A/C before. I just paid £51.68 to put 69 liters (approx 18 US gal.) of Diesel in my car. That is over $83, and that only gets me 2 weeks of to work-and-back travel :-( . I work 15 miles from home. Some things are *surprisingly* cheaper here like some Avon stuff. But food wise, the US invented commercial breakfast cereal as its known now. The only 'british' cereal I can see anyone missing is Weetabix and that is available at some Kroger's. Generally I would say the overall cost of living for necessities (not counting surf boards, boats etc!) is lower in the US. The supermarket prices here (UK) are shocking, although I still think that $2.something is expensive for shake n bake. |
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