Is it drastic to move to UK at 51 during the recession? Pros and Cons Please???

Hi there, in 3 weeks I am off to UK, Ilford to be correct. Family and friends are more worried about me, than myself. They think I lost my mind to leave everthing behind especially during the recession time and to move to such expensive place.
Well I am worried believe me at my age (51) it is a bit scary, but deep in my heart I know that what I want to do and I know it will work out. I do have a spousal visa, I do have a spouse in UK, I do have solid experience in Hotel Industry. Worst comes to worst I always can come back. I still have my own condo and some savings to back me up.

Can you guys share how long it took you personally to find a job? I will take any job to start with.
I know I read somewhere that I shouldn't compare the money I made here and money in UK. Some of you actually mentioned, that money you are making in UK takes you way far than in US. Is that so? Did your move to UK cost you a fortune?
Can you please list all Pros and Cons.
Thank you

Ilford is not expensive -- I go there for my bargains!! 

I moved here at 48. It would have been easier at 30, for sure. My ability to handle novelty ain't what it used to be. But I'm getting on fine, thanks.

Except...errr...I'm still unemployed. Not looking for full-time employment, though. My husband is freelance and works from home, so I need to do that, too, so we can mesh schedules and lifestyles.

I *knew* this would be a problem. I'm terrible at freelancing. There is not an entrepreneurial bone in my body. Before I moved, DH was like, "oh, don't worry about it. You'll pick up work no problem!" I should have made him write that down and seal it in an envelope.

I moved to Scotland at 48 and got married.  I worked for temp agencies in the clerical field and was working permanent part-time when I retired at 55. 

I think I adjusted well because I was older.  But that's me.  The weather sucks but otherwise I love it here and would never move back to the US.  With all the discussion going on about the health care problems in the US I'm even more grateful that I've got the NHS for old age. 

It was hard for me at 29 to make a move from Alabama to Northern Ireland!!!  I came for the same reason you did: a spouse.  Your friends and family are right to worry about you, it means that they care a lot about your well being.  Just reassure them that you are happy and in love with your spouse and need to be here with him/her (you didn't specify!)  Once you're here it's not as expensive as you might think, especially when you're getting paid in pounds. 

But best of all, remember that you're coming to be with the one you love :-)

Just remember, you and your spouse need to put lots of effort into your marriage to keep it happy - that's true even in non-international marriages!

I was 48 when I moved as well, but I came as a STUDENT at that age - that's more than 4 years ago, before the recession, but I have been working in a permanent position that I had no difficulty finding - and I was 50 when that happened, and married by that time.  Still married.

The hardest thing, money-wise, it getting yourself to stop comparing between the two countries, but I think it's a natural thing to do - it took me at least a year to stop doing that, and I think I stopped because I was earning pounds (in a part-time job to start with) and I was starting to forget prices in the US as I became more familiar with prices in the UK.  It's definitely a learning process.

Best of luck on the move!

We are still contemplating this ourselves.  My husband will be 48 in January.  He is a UKC and has lived in the US for 10 years.  We have 3 young children together (8, nearly 4 and one that is an infant-- we're late bloomers).  At a time when men his age are about to become grandfathers, we have a full nest!  Not only do we need to be concerned about retirement, healthcare, mortgage payments, etc. but making a life for our kids as well. 

We were going to move back as early as December, but our plans have been moved back to Spring so we can have time for our son to finish up the school year, put money back, and to make sure we aren't jumping into it too soon.  Secondly, my husband has been trying to find a job from the US and while there has been a lot of interest in his CV, there is not a solid, confirmed offer on the table.  I do not think it is impossible to find a job there at this moment, and it would probably be harder for him to find a job here in a city that boasts that it's "recession-proof."  It also helps that you already have your visa and can arrive there and start job-hunting.

I do not think that it is drastic to move at 51 in a recession. We also have been weighing the pros and cons.  I would love to get some feedback as well to reassure myself that my husband isn't making a decision on thinking the grass is greener.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of aging in the UK?  Retirement?  Social services/benefits?

Without going into the finer details yet, I would like to get a general idea of what you think so far.

You can be forced to retire at 65.  That is one big issue.

You can be forced to retire at 65.  That is one big issue.

Why?  I mean, I don't mind retiring at 65 when the prospect of having to stay on the job until 72 in the US is a big probability.  Work until you fall over dead is the going trend in America...Oftentimes, the older person gets pushed out of his job at 50 something so the company can hire someone for less money.  The 50 something person then takes a job as a greeter at Walmart or cashier at Home Depot.  If he's lucky he can get a paper route with all the college kids. 

Yes, it's a tad worrying when you have a decent job in the US at age 65+ and you know you haven't an ice cube's chance of getting anything if you move to the UK.

It is one thing to retire at 65 because you want to, it is another to be forced to. 

It is fine if you have the money, but if you don't, then what? 

They don't have Wal-Mart greeters here so if you need money you are sol. 

State Pension here is only 95.25/week for one or 152.30 for two. 

It is one thing to retire at 65 because you want to, it is another to be forced to. 

It is fine if you have the money, but if you don't, then what? 

They don't have Wal-Mart greeters here so if you need money you are sol. 

Too true.  Losing your job here in your 50s or 60s is more or less a forced retirement, and there's not much to fall back on.  It makes me fear for all the baby boomers.  I have dicussed this with my parents- the retirement issue.  They are lucky, and if it weren't for my mom's teacher retirement, they would never retire!

Are there any pros? 

There are lots of pros, and lots of cons, it totally depends on the circumstances. 

But I would say it is more difficult to find a job if you are an older worker in the UK.  The OP is moving to be with their spouse. 

If they were a single person moving over, without major work experience being able to land them a great job, then I would have some reservations.  Unless they had some major cash.