chrisfromusa

Life isn't roses at all here. I can't wait to leave the country, and by the way, don't make climate the #1 reason for you to move out of the UK. You have better worker's rights, healthcare, and good vacation time to boot. Why throw all that away to live here?

Manc

I never booked my holidays a year in advance in the UK.

elfman

Having to book your time off a year in advance? WTF are you talking about?

Mummy in the foothills

Me neither, we always did the cheapy last minute deals for holidays in UK.
I agree no worry about medical in UK and much better paid vacation time off. Dh worked 18 years in the boat business (Amazing what he'd do so he can race about on boats that cost more than our house, but he loved boats), all vacation had to be taken when the shop closed for Christmas an new year, so we never had a summer holiday in 18 years and as the years went by they reduced his medical cover, due to rising costs, till he had to leave and go work somewhere else just for the medical cover and retirement, so now he's on year 5 of mind numbing boredom.

juliecalifornia

I'm a newbie here, but thought I'd put in my 2 cents.......I was brought up abroad as a kiddie and ended up back in the UK to do higher & further education and hated living there as it seemed so expensive and depressing than other countries. Then finally got my dream to move to the states and lived in Northern Cal for 7 years and realized the states is not all it's cracked up to be. Even moving to PA isn't great, but it beats N Cal!!!

Every country has it's ups & downs. US is definitely cheaper to live and a better standard of living than the UK, but it doesn't have the culture or history. It doesn't have free healthcare, workers rights and a lot of things are more complicated.....taxes etc. But, we have cheap flights, cheap housing, cheap cars. It's all a trade off as far as I'm concerned.

I guess the grass is always greener. Just keep the Cadbury's choccie coming ... can't beat a good old whinge with a fellow Brit though!

Elvira

I know a woman who spent years mucking out stalls at the veterinary schools' animal pens just so the family would have health care cover...

This is an intelligent woman without any formal qualifications, who could potentially have pursued any number of professional avenues, but since her husband ran his own small business, she did what she had to do.

In the end the university took pity on her and transferred her to a mind-numbing desk job.

Land of opportunity or what...

Manc

neither does the UK.


Yours Pedantically.

juliecalifornia

I beg to differ. I know the UK taxes allegedly cover UK "free" healthcare, but you have to compare it to the ridiculously expensive US healthcare and insurance here.

Overall I pay the same taxes & deductions from my salary here that I paid in the UK, but here I pay out of pocket for healthcare (even with good insurance) and back in the UK all I would have paid is for prescriptions. Here, I am also concerned that any prescriptions written and procedures ordered are because my doctor is being a back-hander by the drug companies and hospitals.

Manc

differ all you want.

but generally when I "pay for" something, then I regard it as "not free"

britvic

Sally Redux

That has to be the most bizarre justification ever for shorter vacation time

Elvira

YMMV, of course, but as a generalisation I would dispute this.

Unless you're just talking about accumulating tons of WalMart crap and the like, and living in a large house made of sticks but benefiting from a 2-car garage.

Sally Redux

I would, too, but I live in one of the most expensive parts.

StaryandStripey

Well....I'm always up for a challenge!

I've had it all, lost it all, been homeless, and started again from nothing, so I don't think there's much that the US can throw at me that will cause any great damage (except healthcare costs).

I AM prepared (mentally) for an eventual move to the US. Plenty of homework and research will be done so that I can 'integrate' successfully in my community

Anyway, it's an adventure, and I've had plenty of those!

AmerLisa

Both my mil and my husband's aunt have and have done it for years. My husband's aunt works for Tescos, she was not allowed to take time off for our wedding, 10 years ago because it wasn't already booked. My mil is a nurse, her holidays have to be booked a year in advance, it has been that way since I've known her, 12 years now.