Thinking of Moving to the UK

[Mypro-D]

So Ladies and Gents as the title reads I am considering a big move.

Its quite scary but rather exciting all at the same time.

I feel its time for a change as I have been doing the same thing for the last 8 years and I need to make a move. I think I am young enough to do it now and do not want to get to my thirties and regret not doing it!

The problem is I have no job there. I have a good job here and do not pay rent, electricity water bla bla bla. Stay in a nice house with stunning views, drive a nice car earn good money etc etc. BUT, I feel as though I am going no where and maybe moving out the old nest might do me good! The cost of living here is extremely expensive and if I had to leave home I really do not think I could maintain my lifestyle without the help of my father.

I realise I am extremely privileged to be in this position that I am in at the moment but I also feel that I need to try and make it on my own.

Do you guys have any suggestions? I am very good with Computers etc and they are a passion of mine but the field I have been in the last 8 years is the motor industry, selling trucks believe it or not.

I was looking at going to Solihull, close to Birmingham. I have alot of Family in the UK, Mom, Grandparents etc so I will have some support structure there too.

Maybe this is a stupid idea though, thoughts?

Thanks

 

[Dolby]

Quick question : in the past 8 years when buying your nice car and collecting your decent salary at month end - did you ever think of moving out?

 

[Ricard]

Its a tough choice, and people will call you mad and stupid in the same sentence. It's neither, it takes guts as you are starting from nothing again. (Your credit rating does not follow you!)

The cost of living is not as bad as some people want you to believe, sure it is expensive compared to Rand's, but no-one in the UK earns Rand's ..

If you are in the IT industry, then I would suggest looking in the M40 corridor as that is where most tech industries are.

The weather is shown to be crap, but flying to Spain for the day is something I do regularly - this applies to any part of Europe.

I left an awesome job in SA for a 2 yr adventure, my plans were scuppered when I got my dream job in the UK..... now I am staying.

 

[Mypro-D]

@Dolby, The thought has crossed my mind yes. BUT, why move out and live in a place a quarter of the size and just mange to get by every month? I am lucky enough to go overseas every six months and I use the money that I do not spend on Rent etc to travel the world whilst I still can. A big part of the move would also allow me to travel for more at a fraction of the cost.

@Ricard, awesome stuff! I am not in the IT industry no. I sell Trucks haha. I dont mind the weather in fact I rather enjoy cold rainy weather. I know it is different once you are there and it rains for three months etc but I do think that I can handle it.

 

[DerpiesFreud]

Stayed in UK for a while...missed the chaos and life of SA,no J walking,vandalism is bad,teens are idiots,taxis,biltong,everybody was cold and life was busy
but it definitly has its positive side,just not for me...

 

[Hosehead]

Also considered moving there recently but when I had a good look at the jobs available (not IT) I realised it might be several months before I landed anything. It's next to impossible to apply from here because they all want postcodes in the application and what do you do when you get called for interviews? You have to be there obviously- but if you have a support system there in place to tide you over you are already leagues ahead of the bloke just landing with a suitcase. (Well not the Romanian Blokes)
Anyway I scrapped my decision to emigrate there but will try another province at home.

 

[zippy]

You can't apply for a job in the UK without having the right to work there. If you have that then you can apply from SA. Most first interviews are by telephone.

I assume OP has a British passport or EU passport already. Without it getting a visa to work is now near impossible.

There are loads of IT jobs available in the UK in various programming roles. But. Big but. They want experience. Min 2 years. Also, they expect a university level qualification. Agencies filter out apps without uni degrees. Very hard to get an interview without it. Not impossible. But near impossible. But if your family knows someone, you might get something.

 

[Mypro-D]

I am not sure if I would look at going into IT. Maybe Virgin Media? I dont know.
The commercial sales guys get paid quite well there but I am guessing all the laws etc would be different.

I have been looking at the jobs there and yes I agree it might take a while to land something decent. Luckily I would be able to stay somewhere for free until I find a place that I can settle.

 

[Cube3]

Maybe go there first or a nice long holiday, check out the job market, experience the weather. There are a lot of "nice" places to live, countryside and towns made of cobblestone and facebrick.

 

[noxibox]

Stayed in UK for a while...missed the chaos and life of SA,no J walking,vandalism is bad,teens are idiots,taxis,biltong,everybody was cold and life was busy

No jaywalking in the UK? Wherever did you go that there was no jaywalking? It's not cold if wear the right clothing.

The cost of living here is extremely expensive

You're in for a rude shock if you think it is otherwise in the UK.

 

[Safferbeauty]

It is good to go and experience the UK but it's not a place for living. You either can or you can't. It is expensive living there. If you looking for the grass to be greener it isn't always greener. Make sure you take a decent amount of money with you if you go, if not more.... Trust me UK is not all it's made out to be. I know of a lot of unhappy people over there

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

No jaywalking in the UK? Wherever did you go that there was no jaywalking? It's not cold if wear the right clothing.


You're in for a rude shock if you think it is otherwise in the UK.

Such bullshyte, seriously. Every single friend and family member over there has not once ever mentioned struggling to keep up with food costs. Even the more extravagant among them pay no more than 400 pounds a month for family groceries.

 

[noxibox]

Such bullshyte, seriously. Every single friend and family member over there has not once ever mentioned struggling to keep up with food costs. Even the more extravagant among them pay no more than 400 pounds a month for family groceries.

None of my friends or family here or there struggle to keep up with food costs. But I know that people there have the same problem with escalating prices. The complaints were the same there as here. And just as here many people are struggling to keep up with inflation. Anyone going over there expecting everything to be cheap is most certainly in for a rude awakening. Anyone who tells me "if I had to leave home I really do not think I could maintain my lifestyle without the help of my father" here is in for a shock if they believe they're magically going to be able to live large in the UK.

Had the same thing with people moving to the US thinking they'd have all this spare money, only to discover living there isn't as cheap as they'd been lead to believe.

Better that those who are considering these things go with reasonable expectations.

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

Ok so here, I have a grocery bill of almost R6000 pm - 5 people - we by no means eat like kings (there's mince and chicken instead of steaks and roasts) but my boet, in the UK of course, pays something like 80-120 pounds a month for 3 and they eat way way lekker.

How is that similar.

 

[MickZA]

Ok so here, I have a grocery bill of almost R6000 pm - 5 people - we by no means eat like kings (there's mince and chicken instead of steaks and roasts) but my boet, in the UK of course, pays something like 80-120 pounds a month for 3 and they eat way way lekker.

How is that similar.

Britain: The Bainton family of Cllingbourne Ducis spend £155 on their weekly food shop. They list their favourite foods as avocado, prawn cocktail and chocolate fudge cake with cream

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2319825/The-great-global-food-gap-Families-world-photographed-weekly-shopping-reveal-cost-ranges-3-20-320.html

 

[Griz]

Apparently London is less than 50% English now.

 

[Mypro-D]

Anyone going over there expecting everything to be cheap is most certainly in for a rude awakening. Anyone who tells me "if I had to leave home I really do not think I could maintain my lifestyle without the help of my father" here is in for a shock if they believe they're magically going to be able to live large in the UK.

I dont expect to lead the same lifestyle I lead here if I move across. If I had to pay for Food,Rent, ADSL, DSTV, Rates and Taxes, Electricity, Alarm, Armed Response and Insurance I would need to have 15 to 20 k extra every month. This money that I save by not having these things I use to Travel as I said in my OP.

Food in my opinion is alot cheaper there than it is here. Our Woolworths bill alone usually exceeds R 10k a month for three people. There you can buy alot more for your money than what you can buy here even if you are converting to rands. Travel is alot cheaper there and I think you I could see a lot more of the world. I looked at tickets to London for Friday and your looking at R 35k. Nevermind spending money and hotels.

Anyway, I do not exepect everything to be greener I really dont. I am just asking if anyone has had any experiances. I have heard mixed ones from friends and family too. My Brother has tried to go there twice and twice he has ended back up at home.

 

[Mypro-D]

Apparently London is less than 50% English now.

This is true, everytime I go there it gets less and less English

 

[Solarion]

The biggest difference between here and UK is the quality of life aka the lack of crime, the affordability of food and clothing, affordability to own a car. Renting a can be expensive and the weather can be a bit much for some, but it's a mindset thing and what you make it. If you go the with a good attitude and willing to make initial sacrifices and adjustments, you'll love it there and call it home. Go there with a negative attitude that things will suck and it won't work out and you'll be back here in weeks I promise you.

 

[Rocket-Boy]

I dont expect to lead the same lifestyle I lead here if I move across. If I had to pay for Food,Rent, ADSL, DSTV, Rates and Taxes, Electricity, Alarm, Armed Response and Insurance I would need to have 15 to 20 k extra every month. This money that I save by not having these things I use to Travel as I said in my OP.

Food in my opinion is alot cheaper there than it is here. Our Woolworths bill alone usually exceeds R 10k a month for three people. There you can buy alot more for your money than what you can buy here even if you are converting to rands. Travel is alot cheaper there and I think you I could see a lot more of the world. I looked at tickets to London for Friday and your looking at R 35k. Nevermind spending money and hotels.

Anyway, I do not exepect everything to be greener I really dont. I am just asking if anyone has had any experiances. I have heard mixed ones from friends and family too. My Brother has tried to go there twice and twice he has ended back up at home.

Your brother probably ended up back at home because by the sound of it your father pays for everything.
Its hard to go and make your own way when you are used to it being made for you.