Orange County to Nottingham (maybe)

Hey everyone. I am a Canadian expat that has been in the US for 7 years. I am getting my US citizenship on the 28th of February.

I was offered a job in Nottingham last week. It's an opened ended assignment so I could end up there for long enough to apply for residence. It's a 30% pay cut, but the thing is I have been wanting an excuse to go to Europe for years. I have an application on my desk for a 1 year visa to France, just because they offer Canadians the opportunity to work/visit to take in the culture.

So I know this is something I have wanted to do for a long time, but for some reason I have this insane fear of doing it. When I came to the states I was a lot younger (19) and perhaps foolish. I just jumped in and didn't even think of consequences. This time maybe I am apprehensive because I am older and know the drills and systems. That being said, I am excited about the opportunity but I am just full of fear. That's not my style, because I consider myself somewhat of a Buddhist so I should just roll with the punches.

This is something that is pushing me along and I am very interested in it. My family and friends have all suggested I do it knowing my passion for everything Europe and common sense tells me to do it too. So why am I sitting here nervous/scared instead of excited??

I have a little while to decide which gives me lots of research time.

Anyway, hi! (and what do you think?)

Hi Volit, welcome!!

Fairly new to this board as well, but absolutely understand your sentiment, even down to the Buddhist thing 

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.  Might as well send in the applications and see where it leads.  Apprehension is natural as we age, and it also helps us to keep our wits about us, something we didn't consider in the romance of our youths 

I am certain there are many famous quotes that express the sentiment that it is usually the opportunities we don't take that give us regret vs. those that we do take in life.

Hope you glean great information from this site and the members here, and no matter your decision, glad you are here!

Hello and welcome!  For me, I always think, well if it sucks you can always go back!  Although, I'm finding that difficult myself at the moment.  But, I'm of the adventurous, try it perspective.  Plus, if it does suck here, you have two choices of where to 'go back' to.   Good luck with your decisions! 

Thanks for the welcome and thoughts!

Luckily my parents have offered my old room in the house as a fall-back point. They know full well I am not the kind of guy to want to take them up on that. But they said if I needed it their door was open. So that's a very nice thing to know. It's a lot easier making the decision when I know all I need to do is buy a plane ticket and start over in Canada.

Now my only challenges are selling my cars (upside down) and coming up with cash to pay them off. Perhaps having such a large time frame is a good thing - and being impulsive has its place but not at the expense of common sense.

Welcome to UKY!

Definitely ask away here- we're happy to answer anything 

Welcome to UK-Yankee.  About a 100 years ago I lived on Balboa Island and loved it.  I agree - nothing ventured, nothing gained.  You're young; this is the time to spread your wings.  All the best to you.

Now my only challenges are selling my cars (upside down) and coming up with cash to pay them off. 

Volit,
Is it an option to keep the car and store it somewhere?  I am also upside down on my car, but it's a great car and I don't want to give up the security of having a car to drive when I come home for visits or if I decide to move back.  So I'm just going to store it with my grandparents and keep on making those payments!  (which sucks, but that security blanket is worth it to me)
And welcome to UKY!  I've found this site to be EXTREMELY helpful.  Hope you find the same.

I just received a loan yesterday to pay off the upside down on one of my cars. I am listing it for sale this week and hope to have it gone soon. The second car I have arranged a deal with my ex-wife where she will take the car and pay the payment she would have on her lease had she gotten it, and I pay the balance. So my payment will be around £300 until the vehicle is at par at which point it will be sold (2 years or so)

If that wasn't an option I would more than likely voluntarily repo the cars and walk away and hope for the best.

Lesson learned: NEVER again in my life will I finance a vehicle. Under no circumstances. I've been burned for 6 years on cars.

Unfortunately they did not accept my counter proposal. So at this time I am stuck paying for my past mistakes in another way. Until I can pay off my debts I am stuck here.

Sorry to hear that volit.  What was the counter you referred to?  I totally understand your sentiment on auto loans.  I've only taken 2 in my adult life.  Paid the first off (first car out of college) sold the 2nd after fuel costs went nuts (it was a v-8).  I'm driving a 13 year old car right now, I'm the 2nd owner and it's still in great shape for its age.   I'm hoping to find a solid lead to get a work visa sooner rather than later since I don't qualify to become an ex-pat based on finances alone.  If only I could win the lottery lol. Don't want to buy or lease anything else and then have to deal with it when I come abroad. I've already managed to secure a decent little M3 from a friend in London who is happy to let me have it for only the tax and transfer fees etc. Crazy good friend he is, now if I can just put the rest of the picture together.....

Any chance you could sublet the lease?  I know there is a website in the states where people place ads for leases/pick up leases.  If interested let me know I'll see if I can find that site.

It's not a lease, and I am upside down - meaning only someone with a lot of mental issues would take over the payment.

Ah yes, sorry apparently multi-tasking too much and missed that part

I do hope there are some other options and you don't have to walk away from the job offer if you're not inclined to do so.  Would be a shame for certain 

No worries bluestar. It happens! 

It has certainly put a wrench into my plans, no doubt. I would be able to leave today if I didn't have these cursed cars. Timing is everything, and now just isn't the time to go. So I'll work to pay this stuff off and do my thing, and hopefully an answer or solution will present itself soon.

Update: One of the cars is SOLD! Got rid of it saturday. One step closer to the goal. I also found out my partnership is on the verge of collapsing. What a difference a week can make. This decision seems to be making itself.