Thinking of Moving to the UK

[ant_man]

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.

+1

 

[NiTeD]

Wow R10k & R6K pm, what are you people eating?

 

[Mypro-D]

I would like to do it in my own. But here i just feel that I wont be able to. I don't know. Lots to think about!

 

[zippy]

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

Actually I found it cheaper. Yes London is pricey, but get out of London. You start out in London, only because you the most chance of getting a job there. But once there, look to move out.

I'm happy where I am. Lifestyle is a lot less stressful than SA. I can park my car in the street. Can walk around in the evening. I dont have to worry about crap like will my medical aid cover this or that. I have superfast broadband for cheap. Unlimited fibre-optic for $38 per month. Thats the total cost including line rental. Public services work. Bus are safe. And reliable. Trains are on time. There is loads entertainment close by. Jazz clubs etc. And if thats not enough. France, Spain etc. are close by.

For me the hard part was the 5 years applying for visa renewals all the time. That can be stressful. You dont know if you will see on the news tomorrow that they have changed the immigration rules and you wont be able to renew your visa. But thats all done now. I have perm residence.

There are other alternatives to the UK as well. I dont think its really about whether one country is better to go to than the next.

I think its more about the individual and whether that individual can go through the transition and fit into the culture sufficiently.

Some people will just be better of staying in SA. Thats fine.

 

[chrisc]

Yes, but whereabouts in the UK are you going to live? London is really nice, but helluva expensive (transport and housing especially) and in the provinces you don't earn that much.

Stayed one year in Leicester and 18 months in Edinburgh. Edinburgh was by far the nicest place, friendly people, nice shops, plenty to do in the cultural sense. But its £59 first class by train and £110 to fly to London (one way) when you can get cheap tickets on line

 

[zippy]

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.

lol. Escalating prices.

What do you think the inflation rate in the UK is ?

 

[zippy]

Yes, but whereabouts in the UK are you going to live? London is really nice, but helluva expensive (transport and housing especially) and in the provinces you don't earn that much.

Stayed one year in Leicester and 18 months in Edinburgh. Edinburgh was by far the nicest place, friendly people, nice shops, plenty to do in the cultural sense. But its £59 first class by train and £110 to fly to London (one way) when you can get cheap tickets on line

I earn decent money "in the provinces". It depends on the job. If you sweep the streets, life is gonna be challenging. In any country

 

[Maverick Jester]

OP- given that you are still dependant on your father or family for your finances, would this still apply should you move to the UK? Given that you would be there without a guaranteed job, it seems like you would need that. Have you looked for positions within your field?

 

[Mypro-D]

I have looked, I am not entirely dependent on them right now. I could move out etc and support myself but then all the luxuries in life would have to stop. It is nice to stay at home as I don't have to do Ironing, cooking etc etc. Nothing to pay and so fourth. If I had to move there I could support myself for the next 6-12 months without finding a job. I have saved a lot over the years. Obviously I would not want to live somewhere with no income but I cannot expect to walk into a job.

 

[Maverick Jester]

I have looked, I am not entirely dependent on them right now. I could move out etc and support myself but then all the luxuries in life would have to stop. It is nice to stay at home as I don't have to do Ironing, cooking etc etc. Nothing to pay and so fourth. If I had to move there I could support myself for the next 6-12 months without finding a job. I have saved a lot over the years. Obviously I would not want to live somewhere with no income but I cannot expect to walk into a job.

Well, seeing as you have a support structure there, and that you seem young enough to be able to make as a serious change as this, I say go for it. If you even have the smallest opportunity to move, I would encourage it...

 

[Rickster]

Wow R10k & R6K pm, what are you people eating?

Too high or too low?

 

[noxibox]

Yes, but whereabouts in the UK are you going to live? London is really nice, but helluva expensive (transport and housing especially) and in the provinces you don't earn that much.

If you're coming from South Africa housing and transport are going to seem expensive anywhere that isn't a rural backwater. Housing particularly.

Stayed one year in Leicester and 18 months in Edinburgh. Edinburgh was by far the nicest place, friendly people, nice shops, plenty to do in the cultural sense.

Scotland and the Scottish are great. But the very short winter days are a bit of a pain.

lol. Escalating prices.

What do you think the inflation rate in the UK is ?

I know exactly what the overall inflation rate is and the food inflation rate as well. I even know what percentage of their incomes people are spending on food on average. It's not relevant however what the relative inflation rates are. The simple reality is that people's incomes are not keeping pace there. But don't worry I'll be sure to tell all those people in the supermarket that it's just their imagination.

I dont have to worry about crap like will my medical aid cover this or that.

Instead we had to worry whether the NHS was going to give treatment now or put us on a waiting list because we weren't sick enough in their estimation.

And reliable. Trains are on time.

Trains usually were. Buses not really. I lost count of how many times I missed my train because the damn bus was late. Although it was always entertaining having the driver travel at breakneck speeds to try to make up the time. Good drivers though, they knew just how fast those buses could take a corner. Then there was the occasion when we were all waiting for the last bus and it never turned up at all.

Apparently London is less than 50% English now.

Well that's an improvement.

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.

Was cheap to buy, but not so much to run and keep licensed.

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.

Renting is very expensive, buying even more so. I like the weather, but then I am English.

Wow R10k & R6K pm, what are you people eating?

Probably a lot of readymade meals and such. We don't restrict ourselves and buy whatever we like eating, and it comes out nowhere near R6,000 for three people.

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.

We spent slightly more there than here, and that was just using the local supermarket. Crisps were crazy prices, but chocolates and other sweets were cheaper. Various other fresh foods were more than South Africa.

My Brother has tried to go there twice and twice he has ended back up at home.

The place is not for everyone, just as not everyone can cope with South Africa (or any frontier country).

 

[Mortymoose]

Think that you are stuck in a rut, change your local job, ask your dad to help you finance a small franchise, work at it and expand, build an empire...

 

[gregmcc]

London is horribly expensive. Sure you earn more but housing/rental costs a lot more there.

You are better off working outside of London.

If you are good in IT there are tons of jobs here.

 

[Keeper]

Wow R10k & R6K pm, what are you people eating?

I was thinking the same thing.
Whatever they are eating, it's roughly the same price as all 3 of them eating 3 x Steers Mega Ribster + chips meals every day.

Yeah... I'd do that

 

[Ricard]

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.

Its a mindset... If you have the attitude of "this place sucks" then you will go back to SA - most people want to move to the UK and keep their braai, biltong and boerewors; that is half the problem.

Its not easy to leave friends and your comfort zone - and on the days when you are feeling down, you will remember the good times in SA. How you deal with the emotion is how successful your move will be.

 

[zippy]

OP, there is a diverse range of opinions and experiences. It's up to you to make a success of it, if you do go. Not the UK.

Go with a positive attitude. Accept that there is a chance things won't work out. It will have been an adventure even if you have to return to SA. A life experience most don't get.

All the negativity about how expensive it is, is complete bs. The same rules that apply in SA apply in the UK. You will struggle if you don't get work. If you get a low paid job, in a high cost area you will struggle. This is no different to any country. You will need to compromise on things while you get started, but 2 or 3 years and you will be back on par.

I don't know about your line of work.
There is shortage of skilled workers in the UK. There are too many unskilled/low skilled workers. The economy is starting to take off. The motor industry at the moment is experiencing large growth.

Do some research first to see if there are jobs in your line of work. If you already have a British or EU passport then start contacting agencies. If you don't I assume a qualify for an ancestral visa, otherwise I can't see you getting a visa anyway .

 

[Mypro-D]

Thanks Guys.
I am certainly doing my research . As above, I wanted to hear from the guys that have been there and done that. It is difficult to take all the factors in and wanted to see if I have missed anything.

@zippy, thanks. Thanks goodness I do have a British Passport otherwise I would not be considering this whole thing.