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Topic: Saving up $$ to move to the UK  (Read 1324 times)

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Saving up $$ to move to the UK
« on: November 14, 2016, 04:04:50 PM »
We are considering a move from the US to the UK (Glasgow or Edinburgh) to be closer to my husband's family.  The move might only be for one year (or longer if we like it there).  It will be my husband and 14 year old daughter.  My husband and daughter are both dual citizens but I am a US citizen who lived in the UK from 1988-1991.  Stupidly I left a month before I could apply for citizenship (the rules were much easier then).

The more I look into it, the more expensive it will be for us to initially move there. Here are some moving related expenses I have come up with.  Is there anything I am forgetting? It just seems like so much money to spend especially if we are only going to be there a year.  All amounts are in UK pounds.  Once we are there is 4000-5000 pounds a month a decent amount for monthly expenses?  We plan to rent a garden flat or terraced house in the West End of Glasgow.

4 months pre-paid rent @ 1300 per month - 5200      
Deposit 2 months rent -2600      
Utilities deposit -500      
Dogs to fly on same flight - 700      
Used Car deposit - 2000      
Buying house hold items -   1000      
Spouse visa and National Ins -1795      
Spending $ for first month (will live with relatives) -1000      
Shipping costs   -1000      
US moving (moving our furniture to our basement) -   1000      
flights over (will use air miles) -   0      

Total - 16795      


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Re: Saving up $$ to move to the UK
« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2016, 04:33:10 PM »
What about eating out , entertainment and tourism?  A restaurant meal for 4 is 30 - 70 quid


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Re: Saving up $$ to move to the UK
« Reply #2 on: November 14, 2016, 04:35:02 PM »
How many dogs and what size are they?  That estimate is WAY to low.

I flew two cats 6 years ago and it cost $3,300 (all in).  A VERY good price would be $1500/per dog.  Plus the vet visits before hand, crates, etc.  The fees on the UK side are about £400 per animal.

I'm not familiar with Glasgow and cost of living, so can't help there.

But yes, the UK is very expensive.  It would be very expensive to move for only one year.  Moving is expensive - full stop.  International moves are crazy expensive.  Doing it twice potentially in two years would be a big outlay.  But the dollar is a lot stronger than the pound now (and likely to continue to overpower it), so it's not a bad time to convert from USD to GBP.


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Re: Saving up $$ to move to the UK
« Reply #3 on: November 14, 2016, 04:36:30 PM »
What about eating out , entertainment and tourism?  A restaurant meal for 4 is 30 - 70 quid

Where do 4 of you eat out for £30?!?  We went to Five Guys last weekend.  Me and husband each had a cheeseburger, two year old had a hot dog, we shared a fry, and two sodas.  It was £33. 


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Re: Saving up $$ to move to the UK
« Reply #4 on: November 14, 2016, 04:36:37 PM »
Add 100 per month for council tax if they have that in Scotland, and 45p per mile to run your car.  It's 60 quid to fill the tank. 

Add 100 quid for tv license


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Re: Saving up $$ to move to the UK
« Reply #5 on: November 14, 2016, 04:40:44 PM »
Where do 4 of you eat out for £30?!?  We went to Five Guys last weekend.  Me and husband each had a cheeseburger, two year old had a hot dog, we shared a fry, and two sodas.  It was £33.

I was thinking about subway or something.   I can't go near 5 guys because my kids think they are entitled to a £5 shake each. 

Yesterday we had a £80 meal at Ask, even with %40 off the mains from vouchercloud .  We won't be doing that again soon!


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Re: Saving up $$ to move to the UK
« Reply #6 on: November 14, 2016, 04:44:15 PM »
What about commuting costs?  My train ticket is £10 per day to go into central London, for a distance of something like 11 miles.  My neighbor bikes it!


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Re: Saving up $$ to move to the UK
« Reply #7 on: November 14, 2016, 04:46:37 PM »
My council tax in the Southeast is £250/month.   :\\\'(  I'd kill for £100/month.

And good point about mobile phones, cable, internet, etc.  She may have included that in the utilities number though.  I'm metered water now but before the meter went in they wanted £1320/year!  With the meter we are about £500/year if that.


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Re: Saving up $$ to move to the UK
« Reply #8 on: November 14, 2016, 04:50:58 PM »
What about telephone/ broadband?  £40 per month for internet, maybe £80 per month for the whole family to have smartphones. 

Add some money to buy at least one desktop computer £400 , printer and maybe some tablets.  Your daughter most likely will need this for school.  And £100 for school uniforms.  Your daughter will want to go on the school ski trip, that's £500 . 


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Re: Saving up $$ to move to the UK
« Reply #9 on: November 14, 2016, 04:56:25 PM »
I think your 5k per month is relatively accurate, that's roughly where we are for London with two kids.  Edinburgh should be cheaper but I'm not sure


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Re: Saving up $$ to move to the UK
« Reply #10 on: November 14, 2016, 05:03:10 PM »
Thank you for all your replies.  My expense estimates were more for the moving expenses rather than month to month living.  That I am not sure but hope to spend no more than 5000 pounds per month.  What do most of you spend on utilities for a family of 3?


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Re: Saving up $$ to move to the UK
« Reply #11 on: November 14, 2016, 05:08:35 PM »
I'm in the Southeast of England, so not apples to apples:

Council tax:  £250
Sky (Cable):  £110 (internet, phone, movies, sports - this is much higher than most people)
Gas/Electric:  £60
Water:  £40
Car insurance:  £60
House insurance:  £60
TV license £12.50
Mobile phones:  £40 for two (SIM only plans)

Will you need childcare?  That's my biggest bill.  £1118/month.


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Re: Saving up $$ to move to the UK
« Reply #12 on: November 14, 2016, 05:33:41 PM »
After reviewing many of your replies, here is the month budget I came up with:

Monthly Expenses            
Rent   -1300      
Utilities -500      
Car/insurance -   300      
Train pass -100      
Groceries -500      
Council Tax -225      
Entertainment, eating out, etc -   1000      
Misc.   -175      
  Total (without private school)   -   4100      
            
School fees (if we do private)      1000      
      Total with private school - 5100      


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Re: Saving up $$ to move to the UK
« Reply #13 on: November 14, 2016, 05:46:35 PM »
Probably really high for council tax.  Mine is exceptionally high but would rent for much more than £1300 a month.  I own a rental property that rents for £1,350 a month and it's council tax is £125/month.  I'm also in the SE England so going to be much different pricing than Glasgow.

We spend a lot more than £500/month on food but we are an allergy family, so lots of alternative products and such.  But we VERY rarely eat out, so wouldn't go anywhere near a fraction of £1,000/month for eating out/entertainment.

All in all, £4k a month is likely to be very realistic and generous.  After all that would need to translate to an annual salary of about £75k a year which is likely pretty huge for Glasgow.  Hopefully you could get by on much less.   :D


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Re: Saving up $$ to move to the UK
« Reply #14 on: November 14, 2016, 06:07:43 PM »
Thanks for your response KFdancer.  I know it would be hard to get that much in Glasgow.  It seems like Edinburgh has more IT jobs for managers in that range.  I would prefer to be in Glasgow because that is where our family is, but would consider Edinburgh since it's not that far away.   He is hoping to work for his US company remotely, since US salaries are usually double).  Even if we are taxed 50% we should be able to have 4500 left monthly.  If I get a job that will help also.  If he could find a UK job and they help with relocation expenses we wouldn't need to save up as much money and I know some jobs provide cars so that would be a huge help.

Does anyone know if your UK job helps with relocation expenses are they able to find you a flat so you do not have to pay so much rent up front?



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