Re: What would make you move back to the UK?
 

So much depends on where one lived in the UK and where one lives here--it's impossible to generalise.

My husband worked in the City, 9-10 hr days and 3 hr commute (90 min each way) on top of that. Here he works 9-10 hr days with a 10 minute commute--suddenly nearly 3 or so free hours a day. Extra time to spend with his children, which makes them and him v happy. His salary here is the same as it was in London and he negotiated for 4 weeks hols time.

We can afford for me not to work here, but I work part-time (from home) consulting for the same company I worked for in the UK (again, same wage). In the UK I was not allowed/equipped to work from home so again I dealt with the commute.

We both encountered difficulty in looking for work outside of London, as we're in specialised areas that are primarily city based. However, my husbands US division has 14 offices here--big cities and mid-sized so we had some flexibility. Our other options were Paris and Geneva-and we chose to come here, primarily to be near his family.

The equity in our London flat (2 bed-tiny) enabled us to 'upgrade' to a 4 bedroom home here--something we never could have done in London, without mortgaging our lives away. I like that my children have a big garden to play in and lots of children nearby.

Crime here is contained, primarily, to one 'bad' part of town, and we feel very safe. We can walk into town for the usual high street errands (bank, post office, pubs, cafes) and feel perfectly safe. I've never been followed home or had someone attempt to snatch my handbag. We have an excellent kerbside recycle programme/facilities here and clean streets-our London borough had neither.

Our car payment is the same as our London travel card, and we bought one second-hand car. Taxes are lower, due to all of the deductions here: property tax, mortgage interest, etc. Our property tax here is the same as our London council tax--and we couldn't deduct council tax.

Are there things I/we miss? Of course. All in all it's the lower mortgage and tax breaks/reduced taxes that give us a financial advantage here, and at this point in our lives that is a priority. This, and the reduced commuting time/increased free time.

However, obviously that is not the same situation for those living in higher priced areas, or for those who moved from places priced more reasonably than London or the south. It's not the same for people who live in bigger cities where they do have to deal with crime, long commutes, etc. Here we have a 20% reduction in outgoing expenses, and we know that's not the case for everyone--but it's what works for us.

What would make us move back? A salary that is aligned with the local costs (or lower taxes), the opportunity to work outside of London, and the ability to realistically afford a home and save appropriately. We will move back, but timing is dependent on my husband's career. At some point we will buy a place outside of London (not sure where yet) and hope to someday call that home...just not sure when that will be.

Re: What would make you move back to the UK?
 

You forgot to mention....so are their paychecks. :mad: :beer:

Re: What would make you move back to the UK?
 

We know it's going to be bloody hard at first, but I'm at home and know how things are done, we will get on and do it, stuff we have acquired over here dont mean shit, it will all come again in time, we ain't going to starve, it will not be our own roof over our heads, but we will be much happier in our every day lives, and I know I will be doing alot of this :) :D :) :D :)

Re: What would make you move back to the UK?
 

I moved back to the UK from the US a few months ago and my experience is that the whole "rip-off Britain" thing is overdone. We were pleasantly surprised by the cost of living and actually have more disposable income now than we did in the US.

Obviously personal circumstances vary and if you are an American tourist in the UK or a Brit on a shopping weekend in NYC then your view is going to be coloured by the free-falling "Bush peso" now worth a measly 50 pence.

Re: What would make you move back to the UK?
 

You did a lot of talking about London but when you talked about your life in the US, it was all just 'here'. Give us a clue, just whereabouts is 'here'. ;)

Re: What would make you move back to the UK?
 

I'd like to know why you think you can't as well. For my circumstances, the boot is definately on the other foot - I could find myself a far better job (and better paying also) than the shite I have had to put up with in this country, where you have an uphill struggle if you can't tick the degree box, regardless of your vocational training and experience.

Re: What would make you move back to the UK?
 

Great news Rompers, so your doing alot of this :) :D :) :D as well.

Re: What would make you move back to the UK?
 

Thanks, yes. How long have you been back?

Re: What would make you move back to the UK?
 

Not back yet, should be off by September :)

Re: What would make you move back to the UK?
 

September 07 I'm assuming.

I'm really enjoying being back. I don't want any Americans here to take this as criticism of the US. I had a fantastic time and think the US is a great country but there is no place like home and Britain is definitely mine.

Re: What would make you move back to the UK?
 

Things are sooooo cheap in Britain...we just got back from a vacation in the north....a US gallon of petrol, 3.8 litres, was ONLY :mad: $6.64 US... .92p x 3.8 litres x 1.9 exchange rate ??

Re: What would make you move back to the UK?
 

defo k for that rompers :)

Re: What would make you move back to the UK?
 

07 it is :) last comment is very true in our case.

Re: What would make you move back to the UK?
 

Petrol is much more expensive in Britain because about 80% of the price is tax. The price differential on most other items is much lower (as I'm sure you know which is why you used petrol as your example.)

Funnily enough our motoring costs in the UK are much lower than in the US as so much more is within walking/cycling distance so we spend less on petrol...and get some exercise and fresh air at the same time...and cause less damage to the environment.

Re: What would make you move back to the UK?
 

Sorry about that! I thought I had location on my profile. We're in Ohio-Columbus.