Get here on your own dime! Advice required.
#61
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 39
Re: Get here on your own dime! Advice required.
Food, subjective, but good quality and fresh, no.
Insurance, definite no.
Taxes, no and far more hidden taxes.
Cable/internet/phone, no.
Utility bills, no. Electric is probably about the same, gas for heating about the same in our current place but then it costs far more to heat/cool depending on seasons.
Petrol, on it's own, yes, but over all cost of running a car, no. Drive more, drive further, costs more to insure, more to maintain, tyres and exhaust don't last nearly as long due to road conditions, far more toll roads which cost more, parking costs a hell of a lot more, there's sales tax on second hand cars. Etc.
Insurance, definite no.
Taxes, no and far more hidden taxes.
Cable/internet/phone, no.
Utility bills, no. Electric is probably about the same, gas for heating about the same in our current place but then it costs far more to heat/cool depending on seasons.
Petrol, on it's own, yes, but over all cost of running a car, no. Drive more, drive further, costs more to insure, more to maintain, tyres and exhaust don't last nearly as long due to road conditions, far more toll roads which cost more, parking costs a hell of a lot more, there's sales tax on second hand cars. Etc.
I drive much less here than in the UK as my job has changed, so my car running costs are lower.
My car insurance is over 50% less here, for a much more powerful car.
My TV and internet is around 30% lower than the package I was on in the UK, and it is much faster here. But I must admit its no where near as good as Sky back home.
Food again is subjective, we shopped at Asda / Tesco back home (so not Waitrose or M&S!). But our 'weekly' shop has gone down about 20% now shopping in Whole foods and Pavilions mainly.
I guess we are all different, just adding my colour to the conversation.
#62
Re: Get here on your own dime! Advice required.
Food, subjective, but good quality and fresh, no.
Insurance, definite no.
Taxes, no and far more hidden taxes.
Cable/internet/phone, no.
Utility bills, no. Electric is probably about the same, gas for heating about the same in our current place but then it costs far more to heat/cool depending on seasons.
Petrol, on it's own, yes, but over all cost of running a car, no. Drive more, drive further, costs more to insure, more to maintain, tyres and exhaust don't last nearly as long due to road conditions, far more toll roads which cost more, parking costs a hell of a lot more, there's sales tax on second hand cars. Etc.
Insurance, definite no.
Taxes, no and far more hidden taxes.
Cable/internet/phone, no.
Utility bills, no. Electric is probably about the same, gas for heating about the same in our current place but then it costs far more to heat/cool depending on seasons.
Petrol, on it's own, yes, but over all cost of running a car, no. Drive more, drive further, costs more to insure, more to maintain, tyres and exhaust don't last nearly as long due to road conditions, far more toll roads which cost more, parking costs a hell of a lot more, there's sales tax on second hand cars. Etc.
I drive much less here than in the UK as my job has changed, so my car running costs are lower.
My car insurance is over 50% less here, for a much more powerful car.
My TV and internet is around 30% lower than the package I was on in the UK, and it is much faster here. But I must admit its no where near as good as Sky back home.
Food again is subjective, we shopped at Asda / Tesco back home (so not Waitrose or M&S!). But our 'weekly' shop has gone down about 20% now shopping in Whole foods and Pavilions mainly.
I guess we are all different, just adding my colour to the conversation.
On taxes, however, I agree, even including health insurance as a de facto tax, I pay a lot less than in the UK, but then unlike Bob, I don't live in Massachusetts!
Last edited by Pulaski; Mar 6th 2014 at 8:18 pm.
#63
Re: Get here on your own dime! Advice required.
I drive much less here than in the UK as my job has changed, so my car running costs are lower.
My car insurance is over 50% less here, for a much more powerful car.
Food again is subjective, we shopped at Asda / Tesco back home (so not Waitrose or M&S!). But our 'weekly' shop has gone down about 20% now shopping in Whole foods and Pavilions mainly.
Driving less is rare though and well, your car is 10+ years old, that's to be expected. But then it all depends on the levels of cover, but having insurance being less is rare.
Food is massively variable, cost changes a fair bit from season to season and location makes a massive difference.
A bakers dozen of corn up where we lived in ME, $1...down our way, $3 for a half dozen. A pound of cod $7 v $15, lobster $6 a pound compared to $15 but then spices and herbs are massively more cheaper here than what we experienced up there. Move over to the next season, and it's a very different story again.
But at the end of the day, it's all a bit irrelevant if one doesn't have the start up costs available and as mentioned, coming here with no US credit or driving history adds a lot of unexpected deposits to a lot of simple, every day utilities for many people.
#64
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 39
Re: Get here on your own dime! Advice required.
We were lucky enough to get a large (taxable) cash allowance when we moved. So we didn't have to touch any savings.
We've spent close to $20k all in to move here I would estimate, and the cash allowance is all but gone.
Maybe I'll recoup it with all this cheaper food and car insurance
#65
Re: Get here on your own dime! Advice required.
Now this is something we can agree on . Without a bunch of cash to get going, you're going to find it almost impossible.
We were lucky enough to get a large (taxable) cash allowance when we moved. So we didn't have to touch any savings.
We've spent close to $20k all in to move here I would estimate, and the cash allowance is all but gone.
Maybe I'll recoup it with all this cheaper food and car insurance
We were lucky enough to get a large (taxable) cash allowance when we moved. So we didn't have to touch any savings.
We've spent close to $20k all in to move here I would estimate, and the cash allowance is all but gone.
Maybe I'll recoup it with all this cheaper food and car insurance
#66
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 39
Re: Get here on your own dime! Advice required.
I didn't say I was given $20k, i was given much more, but $20k is what i have to spend after taxes are taken into account.
#67
Re: Get here on your own dime! Advice required.
IF you read my post carefully you will see I was very careful with my wording.
The bit about making quarterly (pre)payments still applies too.
#69
Re: Get here on your own dime! Advice required.
Because interim/ advance payments of tax are expected quarterly. Following two years when I owed federal tax >$1k (but less than $3k), I was sent quarterly payment vouchers by the IRS. I didn't actually use them because knew I wouldn't owe taxes the followinh year, in part because I added a little to my payroll withholding. That said, as far as I can tell the IRS doesn't care, so long as you're close to fully paid by 12/31.
#70
Re: Get here on your own dime! Advice required.
That last part isn't true. Penalty payments don't apply if you have paid at least 100% of the US income tax you owed in the previous tax year (or 110% when you're above a certain income level). Expats new to the US therefore don't have to worry about making estimated payments in the first year.
#71
Re: Get here on your own dime! Advice required.
That last part isn't true. Penalty payments don't apply if you have paid at least 100% of the US income tax you owed in the previous tax year (or 110% when you're above a certain income level). Expats new to the US therefore don't have to worry about making estimated payments in the first year.
#72
Re: Get here on your own dime! Advice required.
That last part isn't true. Penalty payments don't apply if you have paid at least 100% of the US income tax you owed in the previous tax year (or 110% when you're above a certain income level). Expats new to the US therefore don't have to worry about making estimated payments in the first year.
http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-...stimated-Taxes
#73
Re: Get here on your own dime! Advice required.
We moved out here 10 years ago, on a partial 'own dime'.
Company sponsored my husband's L1-A VISA and agreed to sponsor the green card. We had about $20K in addition. This covered one way flights out here, cost of packing and shipping all of our stuff in a 20ft container, 1 month of temporary accommodation.
Although it would have been nice to have the full relocation package, we knew we wanted to live and work out in the US and this was our best shot and we took it with open hands.
We have never looked back!
Company sponsored my husband's L1-A VISA and agreed to sponsor the green card. We had about $20K in addition. This covered one way flights out here, cost of packing and shipping all of our stuff in a 20ft container, 1 month of temporary accommodation.
Although it would have been nice to have the full relocation package, we knew we wanted to live and work out in the US and this was our best shot and we took it with open hands.
We have never looked back!
#74
Re: Get here on your own dime! Advice required.
We are coast people and would prefer to live close to the sea on either coast.
The problem is we were completely focused on the San Francisco area and now it's sort of been thrown open to anywhere we want.
My wife wants to live in a city (which is unrealistic if she wants a house with garden) but she wants the "bohemian" feel. We used to live in Crystal Palace in SE London and she wants to replicate that place. A town in spitting distance to the big city but has nice bars and restaurants in the town with the city being a train journey away. We currently live just outside Brighton in East Sussex and we love being by the coast and we love Brighton as it's a "little" big city. My does not want to live in "commuter town hell" or "small town Hicksville" - her words not mine. Personally I want to move somewhere with good people where I can join the softball team and live the dream
Basically I can choose to go to the west coast and hope to negotiate a salary which will allow us to live comfortably or go for another role and choose to live anywhere with good internet.
The problem is we were completely focused on the San Francisco area and now it's sort of been thrown open to anywhere we want.
My wife wants to live in a city (which is unrealistic if she wants a house with garden) but she wants the "bohemian" feel. We used to live in Crystal Palace in SE London and she wants to replicate that place. A town in spitting distance to the big city but has nice bars and restaurants in the town with the city being a train journey away. We currently live just outside Brighton in East Sussex and we love being by the coast and we love Brighton as it's a "little" big city. My does not want to live in "commuter town hell" or "small town Hicksville" - her words not mine. Personally I want to move somewhere with good people where I can join the softball team and live the dream
Basically I can choose to go to the west coast and hope to negotiate a salary which will allow us to live comfortably or go for another role and choose to live anywhere with good internet.
Re San Francisco, its a great city, those who suggest it is full of tramp piss don't know the place and flew-in from the boonies for a weekend walking around the tramp-piss sector. Note that it is small compared to London, more like a big town by comparison. Rent is expensive.
4-bed right next to Golden Gate Park
In reality you might consider Daly City
#75
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Get here on your own dime! Advice required.
If your missus wants a "bohemian" type feel and you like Brighton, I get the feel that you are probably left-wing types. From my extensive BE monitoring over the past few years, it's the commies who have the most trouble settling - take note of that.
Re San Francisco, its a great city, those who suggest it is full of tramp piss don't know the place and flew-in from the boonies for a weekend walking around the tramp-piss sector. Note that it is small compared to London, more like a big town by comparison. Rent is expensive.
4-bed right next to Golden Gate Park
In reality you might consider Daly City
Re San Francisco, its a great city, those who suggest it is full of tramp piss don't know the place and flew-in from the boonies for a weekend walking around the tramp-piss sector. Note that it is small compared to London, more like a big town by comparison. Rent is expensive.
4-bed right next to Golden Gate Park
In reality you might consider Daly City