Yeah, boil tup city living is not for most. Even in our town where family is, down at the coast - is too much for us and so we will be moving closer to the country side.
-
Join the MyBroadband community
South Africa’s biggest forum. Discuss, discover, and connect with thousands of members.
-
Question of the Day: Which is the most hair-raising South African mountain pass you've driven?
Immigrating to the UK
- Thread starter AchmatK
- Start date
Yeah, boil tup city living is not for most. Even in our town where family is, down at the coast - is too much for us and so we will be moving closer to the country side.
Tman*
Executive Member
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2012
- Messages
- 7,408
- Reaction score
- 8,843
The Kings heating is expensive and winter is around the corner!
Tman*
Executive Member
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2012
- Messages
- 7,408
- Reaction score
- 8,843
After being in the UK for a little over a year, I couldn't really fault Cape Town after my recent visit to be honest. It feels very European. Its clean, there are ample safe walking, hiking, cycling trails everywhere. Service is good and fast, loads of visible policing and security. Heck, even the My City busses look great!
However, I noted that COCT is taking tips from California on how to deal with the homeless problem nogal. Homeless camps popping up all over, saw a growing encampment by the Castle, with others popping up under bridges. Its a bit of a buzzkill to see a Bergie taking a piss as you take a sip of your morning coffee. I realise this is a classic "not in my back yard" problem with no easy solution.
However, I noted that COCT is taking tips from California on how to deal with the homeless problem nogal. Homeless camps popping up all over, saw a growing encampment by the Castle, with others popping up under bridges. Its a bit of a buzzkill to see a Bergie taking a piss as you take a sip of your morning coffee. I realise this is a classic "not in my back yard" problem with no easy solution.
As I understand it, the City do not have jurisdiction over the Castle grounds and therefore powerless to do anything about it.
The Voice
Honorary Master
Nah, doesn’t go to His Majesty. It’s a 3rd party that UKVI are using who are extorting people (ILR biometrics were “free”).
Hybrid or permanent? Commuting is an option, although it can get expensive and you get issues with delays, strikes and so on. You can get a decent amount of work done on some of the trains as well if you reserve seats
I guess there are a few factors, but would suggest looking at surrounding areas, routes and costs for comparison.
It also depends where in london, I can get into london paddington pretty quickly (around 30 minutes at most and that is catching 2 trains, one to reading and then another to paddington) but then getting to certain parts of london can take a lot more than that depending on where it is etc
heartbroken
Expert Member
I’d be interested to know if anyone took a significant pay cut with the move across? Was it worth it?
From what I’ve been seeing on linkedin and hearing people stress about £2000-odd for a spousal visa etc, it seems like I am earning significantly more in SA as a contractor to UK companies as compared to being an employee IN the UK.
I am really considering the move, but it seems like I am earning way more than I could in the UK and I am not sure I could cope with a downgrade.
From what I’ve been seeing on linkedin and hearing people stress about £2000-odd for a spousal visa etc, it seems like I am earning significantly more in SA as a contractor to UK companies as compared to being an employee IN the UK.
I am really considering the move, but it seems like I am earning way more than I could in the UK and I am not sure I could cope with a downgrade.
Sinbad
Honorary Master
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2006
- Messages
- 88,632
- Reaction score
- 41,143
Contractors do earn more. It seems.
But then you also need to take pension, holiday, sick leave and other perks into account at which point it becomes less of a difference.
heartbroken
Expert Member
This is true. Also it’s extremely stressful when transitioning when a contract ends, you can sometimes have weeks of no income.
Mephisto_Helix
Resident Postwhore
I think no matter what you earn, 2k is still a big bloody chunk of cash, especially here. My sister earns about 4k and she had to pay the kids ILR (or whatever the kids one is called), think it was 1.4k each and it's a whack of cash regardless.
Yup, people underestimate just how much £2000 is.
I’ve spent nearly 3 months in London this year (need to be careful, at 3 months I would be required to file returns). So back to my pre-Covid pattern. I usually stay in the City of London (“square mile”) area so I can walk to work, and personally like it a lot. Easy access to a bunch of areas, and not quite as hectic as SOHO and such.
Personally, I wouldn’t do the commute from outside, but it does depend on financial situation, and of course whether or not you have kids.
Personally, I wouldn’t do the commute from outside, but it does depend on financial situation, and of course whether or not you have kids.
I doubt most people are taking a downgrade. A lot of those complaining are I believe people who are still in the process, or have only recently moved, so are still on “SA savings”.
There isn’t a simple multiplier for the UK though - depending on you and your skill set, people seem to earn anywhere from “the same” to “8x” after a few years. The floor for the USA tends to be a lot higher.
Mephisto_Helix
Resident Postwhore
^ Think that's also the case ja, still going through the process is a huge strain so any lump sum is going to throw you. I remember when I came over, no house or car to sell, after the dogs and airfare, only had 1400 pounds to live on and on day one, a taxi ride cost 200 
The panic was real, lol
The panic was real, lol
Dave
Honorary Master
only had 1400 pounds to live on and on day one, a taxi ride cost 200
What did you do? Take a taxi from Heathrow to Yorkshire?
Sinbad
Honorary Master
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2006
- Messages
- 88,632
- Reaction score
- 41,143
Don't think anyone on a normal salary in UK can absorb that kind of cost without feeling it...^ Think that's also the case ja, still going through the process is a huge strain so any lump sum is going to throw you. I remember when I came over, no house or car to sell, after the dogs and airfare, only had 1400 pounds to live on and on day one, a taxi ride cost 200
Especially if you don't have savings.
I'll most likely open an interest free credit card account to do my wife's payments and then pay it off over a year or so.
heartbroken
Expert Member
Thinking in terms of cashing in SA savings or a SA salary to pay for everything I agree it might be a huge shock. I think I've been lucky, I've been earning £ for the last 5+ years and I am now in the contractor trap where the avenues leading to ILR/Citizenship seems like a downgrade at face value. I think I will need to get over the monetary mind-block and start considering the other benefits. That or I need to get better at searching for permanent jobs.
Similar to cguy, I am now on 8 weeks in the UK already for the year, another 2 weeks in November for business meetings and then I am done until January. For the short work trips, I value the commute above all else and usually end up somewhere close to Waterloo (normally use the we work there as base for meetings). Two weeks back I stayed in Shepherds Bush but I almost died from the heat on the central line. I wouldn't stay in Central(ish) London permanently though, I would go crazy by month 2. I've been looking at places like Newbury (dependant of course on the potential new job being hybrid).
Similar to cguy, I am now on 8 weeks in the UK already for the year, another 2 weeks in November for business meetings and then I am done until January. For the short work trips, I value the commute above all else and usually end up somewhere close to Waterloo (normally use the we work there as base for meetings). Two weeks back I stayed in Shepherds Bush but I almost died from the heat on the central line. I wouldn't stay in Central(ish) London permanently though, I would go crazy by month 2. I've been looking at places like Newbury (dependant of course on the potential new job being hybrid).
heartbroken
Expert Member
I spend more than that per 2 week trip, especially when you start slamming down £7.50 beers. I can't imagine how it must feel like starting a new life on £1400, that takes some serious guts, kudos!^ Think that's also the case ja, still going through the process is a huge strain so any lump sum is going to throw you. I remember when I came over, no house or car to sell, after the dogs and airfare, only had 1400 pounds to live on and on day one, a taxi ride cost 200
What did you do? Take a taxi from Heathrow to Yorkshire?
Due to unfortunate circumstance; I had to take a Taxi from Heathrow to Hastings, in July. £280 later…