MielieSpoor
Expert Member
Thanks. Got a wife and two kids, eldest grade 1, so there are a lot of things to consider should this go through. I am however hoping that it will.
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Thanks. Got a wife and two kids, eldest grade 1, so there are a lot of things to consider should this go through. I am however hoping that it will.
NarrowBandFtw
Honorary Master
:crylaugh: I can relate, married a Latvian, people generally have at least heard the name of Romania before, not so much when it comes to even lesser known and much smaller countries
I think its because most of them changed names over time & some sbroke away from their *marriages* after WW2:crylaugh: people generally have at least heard the name of Romania before, not so much when it comes to even lesser known and much smaller countries
And we all know Czech no thanks to Krejcir
Family of ours moved over to the UK this year. . . They are not really high earning individuals and are probably earning just enough to live, plus they have 2 kids. Everything is good for now while they still have some SA savings left, but once that is gone in a few months then I think the reality of what they have done will sink in.
The Voice
Honorary Master
What is "not really high earning"? What do they do? Where do they live?
I don't know what they are earning but I am pretty sure it is minimum wage or there about. He works in a shop as a sales person and she is a pa. They are near Bath.
Dave
Honorary Master
Living outside London that should be reasonable, a PA should be on £25k+ a year and even as a minimum wage salesman he should be on at least £15k.
£40k outside of London would be comfortable, especially if the kids are school going age.
It is definitely doable. Hell I am even considering doing it with my family, I'm just not sure it is worth it. Having a house and cars here, almost paid off vs selling everything to move over and start again.
I find this site very helpful, https://www.numbeo.com/
Basically average cost to survive in that part of the country is about 3300 p / month incl rent. With a combined salary of 3400 p it can be done, but at what cost. Very little money left over to try and save, travel, spoil the kids etc. . .
theratman
Honorary Master
Agree with some of these including:
What I don't agree with are:
Cons of U.S.:
1. Extremely corrupt government (e.g. Hillary Clinton makes Zuma look like a saint).
You lost me thereI have a friend who worked for Hillary for many years, I'd be interested to hear your POV and give him a heads up
Pros of South Africa:
5. Fairly good public health care system
Really??
I have a friend who worked for Hillary for many years, I'd be interested to hear your POV and give him a heads up 
US healthcare for the public is awful and private is extremely expensive. Have family that are doctors and nurses in NY and SF.
Mephisto_Helix
Resident Postwhore
there is a ton on that site that is very very wrong dude ...... I know 2 guys with wife and 2 kids who while not living luxury, are living quite ok on 2.5k a month. And they both manage 2 big holidays a year, so make of that what you will.
Dave
Honorary Master
Those figures are out, I had a quick look on gumtree and a 3 bedroom house in the surrounding suburbs can be found for £1k or less a month.
£2k a month for everything else is a lot of money to live on. Remember, no security costs, no school fees or books, no medical aid costs...
Other monthly necessities:
Gas and electric, around £80-100
Phone and internet £25
Council Tax (rates) £100
TV licence £11
SkyTV £20-50 (depending on package)
airborne
Honorary Master
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In the US if you have no health insurance and need big medical procedures you are absolutely screwed and US healthcare is ironically one of the the most expensive globally, they take price gouging to a whole new level.
In Sa if you are stony broke you can still get hugely expensive operations done for literally free and some aspects of Sa government hospitals are world class, granted not the healthcare you want to rely on in an emergency but is at least there.
Taking "big" vacations in the UK is a totally different story to Sa, you can get peanut price flights to most of the top destinations in Europe and I'm sure if you bargain hunt some decent enough accommodation can be had as well.
Foxhound5366
Honorary Master
:crylaugh: I can relate, married a Latvian, people generally have at least heard the name of Romania before, not so much when it comes to even lesser known and much smaller countries
Lol, one of those cases of 'I'm from Latvia' and the other person says 'Bless you'? Don't make me google the country, I don't want any more proof of how the formal education system had gaping holes in it. I'd rather just look back on it with found memories involving chemistry and calculus and girls ... mostly girls.
silverfoxrox
Well-Known Member
100%
I checked my health care - I pay $150/m (pre-tax I think), which covers both my wife and myself, and includes dental and vision coverage. My company pays an additional $1k/m for this. It is fairly typical to get similar coverage for semi-professional positions. These days there are whole ranges of coverage you can get for much less if you have to self fund. For the cheapest plans price generally depends on income.
For those with no medical (and you really have to be below the poverty line to not afford it), there is free medical, but it really does suck. I would certainly choose SA private health care over it any day, but I would probably take it over public SA healthcare (there are still a few good public hospitals in SA, but from what I've heard, they're simply too packed to rely on).
silverfoxrox
Well-Known Member
Agree with some of these including:
What I don't agree with are:
Cons of U.S.:
1. Extremely corrupt government (e.g. Hillary Clinton makes Zuma look like a saint).
You lost me there
I have a friend who worked for Hillary for many years, I'd be interested to hear your POV and give him a heads up
Pros of South Africa:
5. Fairly good public health care system
Really??
Cons of South Africa:
8. A culture of activism and protest. Many do not like this, but I see it as a sign of freedom, and people who really care about their country and are trying to fight to make it better.
I doubt many of those who are protesting and call themselves 'activists' are actually just that. The loudest especially. They're mostly misguided individuals who want attention.
Everything is relative here. Does SA have the best public health care system in the world? No...it doesn't compare to any of the Scandanavian countries i'm sure. However, it has one, with world class doctors practicing at them. Is it less than ideal to go to one? Yes, but again, at least its there for those in need. The U.S. has almost nothing (VA hospitals are the only public hospitals, and they are always trying to cut those too).
As for Hillary....that is maybe a whole other thread
But in short, all of the wikileak emails that have come out this year have confirmed how she likes "pay-for-play" politics. Basically, the entire time she was Secretary of State, she was arranging private meetings with wealthy businessmen from other countries in exchange for 'donations' to her private "charity". First of all, as Secretary of State she was not supposed to have any ties to her foundation anymore (conflict of interest). Second of all, when those wealthy people make large donations (millions), you don't think that is going to affect her foreign policy decisions? (Might explain all of the senseless war-mongering in the ME and defence deals made while she was Secretary of State). Honestly, she makes Zumas relationship with the Guptas look like a joke. Zuma screws over South Africans with his deal, but at least he isn't screwing over the whole world and starting endless wars. But anyway, others here probably don't want to read too much politics on this thread
silverfoxrox
Well-Known Member
You're right. That's not bad. However, part of the problem is all of the companies that don't pay out benefits for their employees. Or the increasing amount of companies hiring 'temp workers' for years on end so they don't have to pay out benefits (sick leave, vacation, maternity leave, medical insurance, etc). For those millions of people that have to buy medical aid (or now they will be severely fined, thanks to 'Obamacare') not subsidized by their employers, the prices are not affordable (again, imagine you had to pay $1150 for your family instead of $150). My understanding is that there are some further subsidies now to help people get reduced medical insurance if they don't have the means....however, the system is hard to navigate.
Obamacare is in the order of $100/m for the poor (there's a minimum or 2.5% of salary up to a maximum), and it can be paid pre-tax. Also, this covers doctors visits, Meds, etc. it's not just a hospital plan. Also, my plan is for two adults, and includes $3k dental/year each and two pairs of glasses and/or contact sets, each.